Teen contestant booted off show after revote

3/25/2005
BY BLADE STAFF
Viewers didn't like Mikalah Gordon, 17, of Las Vegas.
Viewers didn't like Mikalah Gordon, 17, of Las Vegas.

When the votes were finally tallied last night, high-schooler Mikalah Gordon became the latest finalist to be voted off American Idol.

Gordon, 17, of Las Vegas, is a junior at Cimarron-Memorial High School and performed "Love Will Lead You Back" during Tuesday's show. The night's theme was No. 1 hits.

That performance, and those of the other singers, actually was replayed Wednesday night after the wrong voting numbers were posted for three contestants at the conclusion of Tuesday's program.

Fox opted for a revote after Wednesday's one-hour show featuring the taped footage of the 11 remaining contestants and live input from the judges and host Ryan Seacrest.

Judge Simon Cowell was the harshest critic of Gordon's performance, saying, "It was a complete and utter mess."

Randy Jackson, another judge, said, "I miss the young, fun, energetic Mikalah."

Gordon's exit leaves four women and six men as the show's remaining contestants.

Over 31 million votes were cast by viewers, who opted to knock off Gordon.

Anthony Federov and Nadia Turner were among the bottom three vote-getters.

The three judges, including Paula Abdul, narrowed the field from thousands of hopefuls nationwide, but viewers decided the final dozen.

Once they are whittled down to two finalists, they will battle it out live from the renowned Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on May 24. The new American Idol will be crowned on May 25.