Alexis Grace is in the audience, I bet she’s wishing the judges had used their save for her. David Cook is coming up later, even though I know it’s a pre-taped performance, I can’t wait. I am certainly an unabashed Cook fan. I don’t think my Idol experience will ever measure up to last season’s win.

We get the Ford video early this results show. I really hate these things and I understand the contestants don’t like them either. I don’t blame them, the filming of them take away from rehearsals. And now, the group sing. Honoring Randy’s former band, Journey with “Don’t Stop Believing”. Scott is ‘playing’ the keyboards on stage. There has been debate about over the “pre-recording” of the group songs. This certainly was because when Scott did his solo his mouth was no where near the damn mic. I kinda feel sorry for him.

Now, we get to the results. No, wait, behind the scenes film first. Damn filler. Matt as impersonater. Danny does Matt, Anoop does Kris, Allison does Danny. Good to know they can laugh at each other.

Results. Megan is first up. Megan, Matt and Kris all stand up. Ryan send them all over to the other side of the stage. Adam, Lil and Allison all stand now. Ryan send them to the center of the stage. Danny, Anoop and Scott are left on the couches. One of these groups is probably the bottom three. My guess is the first group but if so, I’m surprised to see Kris there.

Back from commercial and we have Cook’s performance of “Come Back To Me”. Cookie is looking awesome. Of course his mom is in the audience. Awwwww. I will fully confess here that I am singing along. I may have the entire David Cook album memorized. He just said he’s extended his tour. I must check his website to see if he’s added stops in my state. I WANT TO SEE DAVID COOK!

Back to the results. Kris, is safe. Lemme guess, one from each group is in the bottom three. Matt, is safe, after a bad joke from Ryan. Megan, is in the bottom three. Lil, is safe. Allison, is in the bottom three again, boo! Adam, is safe. I so called it, one from each group. Danny, is safe. Scott and Anoop now. Anoop is in the bottom three, Scott is safe. BOOOOO!!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! *FLAIL* There was just a commercial for a local college that is going to be hosting David Cook on May 27th!!! I know what I want for my birthday now!

Lady Gag is on now and the TV is on mute. She’s kinda annoying.

Allison is safe, leaving Anoop and Megan standing there. I’m hoping for Megan joy Corkrey to go. It’s Megan!!! *sigh of relief* Ryan asks Simon if they’re going to use the save. He’s honest and says that with respect (I kinda doubt that) they’re not going to even contemplate it and that this is her swan song. She seems to be okay with this. I’m sure someone will pick her up and sign her.

This American Idol season finale confirmed what was evident last year as well: The triumph of authenticity. Authenticity in personal branding for real estate agents is the most important lesson from this show.

Both finalists are genuine and unpretentious which is what America responded to with a record breaking 100,000,000 (approximately) votes. The fact that more people identified with, and voted for, Kris did not take away from Adam’s success. Nor, did it take away from the other contestants in the top five– Matt, Alison and Danny who also exemplified authenticity. Certainly, last year’s “Battle of the Davids” was not a war between opponents, but two distinct styles, each with an authentic brand signal.

All five finalists this year were clear examples of distinct brand categories:

• Kris – soft rock
• Adam — hard rock
• Danny – pop
• Alison — rhythm & blues- female
• Matt — rhythm and blues-male

The nature of the American Idol competition is such that only one person wins. That is not the case in the real estate marketplace. They could have structured the Idol competition so that there was a winner in each brand category. This would then better mirror the competitive landscape in real estate where there can be a market leader in each niche such as condos, waterfront properties, individual neighborhoods, etc. It would also mirror the voting public who votes with their dollars when they actually buy songs or albums. Those who prefer rhythm and blues would not necessarily buy Adam’s albums.

In your real estate practice, always keep this in mind: The fact that people like to do business with people that represent their personal values means that there is always room at the top. There is plenty of business for excellent real estate agents. The key is to make your brand signal so clear and strong that you attract your ideal clients and make it easy for them to identify you as their ideal agent as fast as possible. Simply stated, personal branding, done right, accelerates the match making process and is especially satisfying when that signal is authentic.

This concludes our American Idol series on personal branding. We hope you enjoyed it!

Author: Ron Seigel
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rates

Misty May Treanor’s injury was bad enough that it required surgery. Misty injured her achilles tendon while practicing for Dancing With the Stars last Friday. Representatives say that she is doing “fine” and is at home recovering with her husband Matt. Doctors estimate that it will be at least nine month before she’s seen out on the volleyball court again. “I would come back to the ballroom if they asked me back,” May-Treanor said on Monday’s DWTS broadcast. Because of Misty’s injury none of the other dancing couples were sent home, giving all of those receiving the lowest votes a week’s reprieve.

Esquire magazine has named Halle Berry the sexiest woman alive, for this year at least. Six months after having a baby, Berry wasn’t sure how to respond to the news of this announcement. “I don’t know exactly what it means, but being 42 and having just had a baby, I think I’ll take it.” Exactly how Berry garned this title, I’m not sure. She doesn’t have a new movie coming out, in fact it seems the only big thing she’s done this year is had her baby. That’s not exactly a huge accomplishment, even at 42. So, enjoy the momentary splendor, Halle, for next year someone else will take the title from you.

Finally, some odds and ends from around the entertainment world. The FX show “The Riches”, starring Eddie Izzard and Minne Driver, has officially been cancelled. There will not be a third season. Jason Priestly is coming back to 90210. But not onscreen. Sorry fans. Priestly is going to be behind the camera, directing the shows 18th episode, slated to air this spring. Also Shannen Doherty is nearing a deal to come back for two more episodes. Want to own a piece of Buffy-related property? Both Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt are putting up their homes for sale. Great if you just happen to have $3 million or so in spare cash.

Okay, Ryan is saying 107 are safe, last night it was 104, where did those extra 3 come from?

We see the contestants forming groups.

Tatiana (of the annoying laugh) is shown taking control of her group. Rose is grouped up with Bikini girl and two others. Danny and Jemar’s group are shown rehearsing in the kitchen. Tatiana is not happy with her group and tries to get into another. But is rebuffed.

Back from commercial break, Tatiana is causing all kinds of trouble. But she gets with her original group. Things seem to be sorted at the end of the night, but maybe not.

Katrina seems to have abandoned her group. We get drama from other groups, especially with whiny emo gay boy (Nathaniel). UGH. These parts of Idol set off my embarrassment squick. I just can’t watch but feel compelled to at the same time.

It looks like Katrina may have quit. She is in her room, acting sick. We get lots of footage of groups rehearsing. Tatiana’s group is over it’s problems.  Katrina has shown up! So maybe she hasn’t quit. What will her group think? They don’t seem happy with her.

Well, that’s half the show waisted on drama and rehearsals. There had better be some DAMN good singing to make up for it. I’ve never watched audition rounds or Hollywood week in the previous two seasons I’ve watched and now I think I know why. More about the drama and emo and trainwrecks and less about the singing. Which is one of the problems that Idol seemed to have in the past. Let’s hope that by the final 36, the wrinkles have been ironed out. Even more so by the final 12.

Simon warns, “Forget the words, you’re out.”

India, Justin, Kris and Matt aka “White Chocolate”. I love what they did with “I want you back” by theJackson 5. And they all get through.

Jorge and Nick are through.

Alex, Ryan, Ann Marie and Emily. Aka Action Squad. Emily is forgetting the words. Alex and Ann Marie get through, it’s goodbye to Emily and Ryan. Emily maybe you can get back with her band.

Montage of insults from Simon.

Danny, Jemar, Taylor, and one other decide to go a capella. Simon calls it good. All go through after a brief bit of drama from Simon.

I missed the names of some of the really good performances. But now we have group diva with Katrina and Rose. Lauren and Jasmine put up with them both, God help them. Simon is not so approving of Katrina. Only Jasmine gets through. I knew that Bikini girl wouldn’t last. She ends up arguing with her group to the bitter end.

David Osmond is gone. Deanna Brown is also gone. Brad will be disappointed.

Tatiana’s team is up. They sucked . Compared to the first group who sung the same song anyway. But apparently they judges didn’t think so as all four get through. Excuse me while I look away as Tatiana makes it all about her.

Nathaniel, Nancy and Kristin. They’re murdering Duffy’s “Mercy”. Nancy doesn’t make it but the other two do.

Montage of disappointments and successes. 75 made it through. More next week!

We get a medley of hits from the Top Ten as a group sing. The girls play the Supremes. Duet between Lil and Matt. Allison and Scott. And now all of them. Commercial break.

Ford commercial time. I know Ford is a sponsor, but do we really have to suffer through the damn things. They’re so lame.

Performance time by season two winner Rueben Studdard. Ryan called him ‘beloved’. By who? Clay is the better selling, better sounding, more famous of the season two finalists. And his outfit looks, like Brad said, a couch cushion gone awry.

Adam is standing up. He’s so safe I’m typing this up before Ryan gives the result. Duh, he’s safe. Matt’s up. Matt is in the bottom three! WTF?!?!?!?!?! I think the judges would save Matt. Kris is next. I just misheard what Ryan said. Kris is safe. Micheal and Lil are both up now. Even though Lil foundered I think this is also a duh moment. Lil is safe and Micheal is in the bottom three, again.

Now we have another performance. Smokey Robinson with Joss Stone. Smokey is looking damned good for a man who’s almost 70.

Back to the results. Allison stands. She’s so safe. Anoop (my boy!). He’s SAFE!!! Danny. He’s safe. Scott and Megan are both up. I could see either in the bottom. Scott is in the bottom and Megan is safe. All three are at center stage right now. Scott is safe. Sarver had best be going home, that’s all I’ve got to say.  There is no way in hell Matt will go away.

Stevie Wonder is up now, with another medley of Motown hits, all his of course. He’s getting pudgy and bald. Why am I not surprised that Paula is up and dancing? She’ll dance at just about anything. Now Randy and Kara are both standing and dancing.

Micheal is going to sing for his survival. But I don’t think the judges will save him. The judges say they haven’t made a decision. They argue amongst themselves and can’t make up their mind. Simon steps up and calls it, he’s going home. He’ll get picked up by someone.