‘Idol’ shocker boots rocker

Did I not say last week that May is the month of all months to watch TV?

Well, if you don’t watch TV, for crying out loud, don’t start watching now because you will be hooked for life.

As I said last week, May is sweeps so the networks pull out all the stops. But the biggest moment in television this week was completely unscripted and no one saw this one coming.

That’s right, this week’s TV Talk is all about the top-rated show in the country with a weekly average of 30 million viewers, “American Idol.”

Wednesday night, “Idol” fans gave 26-year-old rocker Chris Daughtry the boot from the show.

Loud cries of “no” and “boo” came from nearly everyone in the audience.

Aside from Daughtry, no one was more shocked than the judges. Simon Cowell himself said Daughtry could win the whole competition. Paula Abdul was nearly floored and Randy Jackson was speechless.

How did this happen when Daughtry had been a fan favorite since early on?

With two back-to-back weak performances from Katharine McPhee, the buzz around the boards was that she, not Daughtry, would be sent home.

This week’s “Idol” kicked off on Tuesday with Daughtry, McPhee, soul patroller Taylor Hicks and crooner Elliot Yamin taking a trip to Graceland for Elvis Week. The final four got a personal tour from Priscilla Presley and worked on their favorite songs with famed producer Tommy Mottola.

Daughtry sang “Suspicious Minds” and “A Little Less Conversation,” while McPhee chose to sing “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love.”

Hicks secured his spot with his renditions of “Jailhouse Rock” (he performed an encore on Wednesday’s show per special request from actress Rebecca Romijn) and “In the Ghetto.”

Yamin made it through to the next round with “If I Can Dream” and “Trouble.”

What can I say … you just can’t write shockers like this.

• Lanaly Cabalo, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.