After the shocking and saddening eliminations of my favorite two "American Idol" contestants of the season, Lilly Scott and Alex Lambert, the last thing I felt like doing on Thursday night was partying. Or so I thought. Because then again...what better way to mourn this week's bummer results than by pouring out a little Coke in honor of this week's castoffs, at Fox's official top 12 party?
The dozen Season 9 contestants (along with past Idols like Justin Guarini, Kimberley Locke, and this week's results show performers, Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre) all hit the West Hollywood nightclub Industry after Thursday's controversial show. And I was right there with them--cuddling up with real live Idols and with souvenir theme pillows, and drowning my post-elimination sorrows in "Idol"-logo'd buckets of mac 'n' cheese and martini glasses filled to their sugared rims with Idolicious cocktails. (A jalapeño-infused vodka elixir dubbed "The Judge's Wrath" seemed like an ideal adult beverage of choice, after Thursday's results had left me in such an agitated state.)
And then, to further lift my spirits, I channeled Crystal Bowersox (one of my favorite remaining female contestants this season) by donning a dreadlocked wig for this fun photo opp with my Yahoo! TV cohorts Matt Whitfield and Chrissy Le Nguyen:
Meanwhile, outside on the red carpet, Crystal and the other finalists fielded reporters' questions and got accustomed to the sudden glare of the spotlight, before finally re-entering the club to relax and party a bit themselves.
So Season 9 may not be as big a cause for celebration as past "Idol" seasons (in my opinion), but after the top 12 soiree, I'm definitely in a better mood. I'm just disappointed that I never got a chance to party with Lilly Scott, because that girl always seemed like a lot of fun.