By Mike Mitchell Naperville Sun
Gina Glocksen was speechless. Her eyes welled up; she rocked back and forth with her face buried in her hands. She was devastated.
The rest of the contestants looked equally stunned. “Idol” contestant Leslie Hunt was going home, as more than 30 million viewers decided that the 24-year-old Chicago contestant hadn’t performed well enough to advance to the next round.
Glocksen, the 22-year-old rocker from Naperville, had advanced to the next round of the hit reality show—but her joy only lasted until Hunt was dismissed. Hunt, who grew up in St. Charles and is engaged to a man from Naperville, was roommates with Glocksen throughout the competition.
Glocksen told The Sun shortly before the semi-finals that the two developed a relationship and were rooting for one another. Fox’s cameras remained focused on Glocksen’s face as she continued to weep.
Hunt, though apparently disappointed and surprised, closed the night out with her jazzy rendition of “Feeling Good.” As the credits rolled, Hunt joked about her decision to scat in her previous performance.
“Idol” judges thought Hunt’s Wednesday performance was average—not bad.
The jazzy style might not have charmed voters, since most viewers are young and prefer rock or pop. Her dismissal was particularly surprising since she was asked to stand next to contestant Antonella Barba, when announcing the results.
Barba’s Wednesday performance was labeled the worst showing of the night by “Idol” judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell. Meanwhile, Barba’s name was all over the news this week after some racy photos of the 20-year-old surfaced on the Internet.
Even Cowell said that the best singers don’t always advance, shortly after Hunt was cut.
Glocksen will join the final 16 contestants next week and will have to continue without her roommate. It’s interesting to see whether voters will warm up to Glocksen after she stated in previous rounds that she was only concerned for herself in this competition.
The next episode of “American Idol” will air at 7 p.m., Tuesday on Fox.
March 1, 2007
I can't believe they cut Leslie and not Barba. It must nice to be pretty, when you don't have any talent. Did anyone actually see Barba's performance.........she stunk! I hope Gina continues.
Leslie over the Barba doll? Where has America gone when 5th Grader is the most popular show and Leslie leaves IDOL? GO GINA!! As Chris states..GINA IS MY IDOL!