[silent_jonny]

“Welcome! I'm telling you right now, it's the most fun you'll have at FR" ~ Conservativebabe

“I think I get more excited about the thread than the actual show” ~ Retrokitten

“Wow, this place is smokin’ like a 2-for-1 happy hour comin’ up on 8pm :)” ~ Twin2

[silent_jonny]

This thread has truly been an oasis!
Texasflower ~ May 19, 2005

.

All of the American Idol threads this season have been dedicated in memory of Tammy Gammon. She had such a good time here, laughing, surrounded by her friends—I don’t know of any other place on FR where honoring her would have been more appropriate.

This is our third Idol thread and it will likely be the last for 2006, the last for Tammy. But all future Idol threads, if I have anything to say about it, will carry TEXASFLOWER in the keywords as a continuing tribute to our friend and a reminder to us all to be kind, considerate and compassionate—and to always root for the underdog :)

Please remember Tammy’s family in your prayers on May 18, her birthday. She would have been 47.

God bless them.
God bless you all.

.

“Texasflower helped make the AI threads so much fun. She always made me smile. FR will not be the same without her.” ~ Retrokitten

“I simply adored her ability to butt heads and loved reading her posts. She was always there with the perfect hug or hatpin, whichever she felt was most deserved.” ~ Doodlelady

“The sweetest, funniest, kindest poster on the AI threads where I had the honor of ‘meeting’ her.” ~ Jrabbit

“Texasflower was an integral part of our ‘American Idol’ gang. She was always sweet and upbeat and kind to all.” ~ Palladin

“In the beginning of November I was thinking about her because the town I work in was having their elections and it reminded me about her Dad going to vote in the ambulance … I loved her and miss her.” ~ No More Apples

“She was unfailingly polite, and more than that. Kind, thoughtful, patriotic, encouraging. A blessing. She was one of my most favorite FReepers, and I do not say that very often. She was exceptional.”

“We never truly know how deeply our lives touch others. I certainly never communicated fully to Tammy how much her posts lifted me up, and I regret that. I assumed she would continue to be there and I would be able to keep responding to her appreciatively.

“We will know in heaven the effect of our lives, when everyone gathers around the Lamb's throne and all our hearts are open and all our secrets known, and we have till forever to tell one another how God blessed us through each other …” ~ GretchenM

Texasflower

Prayers & Condolences

.

“She'll be a light here forever” ~ Doodlelady

.

[silent_jonny]

The Final Four
(in alphabetical order)

Chris Daughtry
26
McLeansville, North Carolina

Taylor Hicks
29
Birmingham, Alabama

Katharine McPhee
21
Sherman Oaks, California

Elliot Yamin
27
Richmond, Virginia

.

You can’t judge an apple by looking at the tree
You can’t judge honey by looking at the bee
You can’t judge one by looking at the other
You can’t judge a book by looking at the cover

Oh can’t you see
You misjudged me

-- Willie Dixon

[silent_jonny]

(((American Idol Ping)))

NEW THREAD!

Click here for Pics & Bios of the Top 12

Click here for Pics & Bios of the Top 24

As always, if you want on or off this ping list, just let me know :)

[silent_jonny]

10,000th Post Winners!

Texasflower ~ May 26, 2005

Retrokitten ~ March 9, 2006

MaggieF ~ May 2, 2006

[silent_jonny]

For The Record

American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part II)

	Posted by silent_jonny On General/Chat 03/24/2006 9:00:43 PM PST · 11,384 replies · 123,210+ views FOX ^ | 3-25-06 American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part I)
	Posted by silent_jonny On General/Chat 01/16/2006 4:00:11 AM PST · 14,693 replies · 125,996+ views FOX ^ | 1-16-06 American Idol 2005--Live Thread
	Posted by silent_jonny On General/Chat 03/15/2005 5:53:32 AM PST · 10,810 replies · 104,482+ views

[silent_jonny]

The Final Four arrive at Graceland (May 6, 2006) Photos from GrayCharles.com
>

Fans display homemade signs

[silent_jonny]

Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley arrive to meet the Idols.

"Oh my gosh! I've been a fan of the show since ... its invention. It's fun for Lisa and I to watch it," Priscilla Presley told The Commercial Appeal Saturday afternoon.

She and her daughter had lunch with the contestants earlier in the day.

"I think it's a great thing. I love the fact that these are people from all over the United States who probably would never have had the opportunity to be in this position," she said.

"They are very talented kids. And their attitudes are just great. Even though it's such a huge competition, the camaraderie between all of them is really inspiring. They root for each other."

Calling Elvis "the first Idol," she said the show's presence at rock legend's home was quite appropriate.

"But Elvis, too, had to audition," she said. "He was laughed at. He was basically booed off stage. He had to struggle with the fact that he came from very humble beginnings and didn't have opportunities to have others experience his talent."

commercialappeal.com

[silent_jonny]

Up to the gates of Graceland …

[silent_jonny]

Exterior shots of the mansion.

The rehearsal area.

[silent_jonny]

Thanks to Sirlinksalot for providing the links to the above news and photos.

[sirchtruth]

I don't watch, except when Taylor and Chris are on and I told my wife Taylor let "them" change him too much. Taylor needs to get back to being Taylor Hicks and he'll definately be a contender.

Out of all of them, Taylor and Chris are real...I haven't seen enough of Katharine or Elliot to know.

What am I doing? I don't even watch reality shows and think they're stupid, and here I am commenting on one!! HELP!

[Always Right]

The only question left is who will be in the finale with Christ.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

[silent_jonny]

I don't know if we'll reach 10,000 posts again with this thread, but according to my public school mathematical calculations, whoever hits post #3921 will be our

30,000th
Poster!

Now that will surely deserve a special prize ;)

[retrokitten]

I can't believe we are on thread 3!!! And holy crap, I have a quote at the top! The pics of them arriving at Graceland are really neat. They seem just as excited to see everyone as the fans are to see them.

My only question is....what the hell is this????

Is that Pricilla? Or Lisa Marie? Or some kind of animatronic robot humanoid like creature?

[Mark was here]

Top 50? Thanks Jonny for all the work you put into this thread.

[conservativebabe]

jonny, the new thread looks fantastic, as always! Once again, you have managed to combine the fun, humor and sentimentality of what this thread means to all of us.

This thread is my absolute favorite part of FR and I never feel more at home and among friends as I do when I come here for the show. The times when it is not possible for me to be here live, I am very disappointed, but always look forward to reading the posts the next day.

If I could just go mushy here for a moment... I am sure that Texasflower must have felt exactly the same way I do about being here and I am also certain, that you having dedicated this to her has not only made her proud, but has also honored her in a way for which we are all glad. Keeping her memory alive for as long as this show and this thread remains, is a wonderful tribute and I am sure that we all agree on that. Bless you my sweet friend, what a kind heart you have.

For some reason, this season feels different. I don't know if it's because of my own personal path and experiences that have happened along the way this season. Maybe it's because I have come to know you all better, maybe it's because of this particular top 4 with Elliott and Taylor, or maybe it's all of those things. But, I will be truly sad when it comes to a close in just a few short weeks. However, I will anxiously look forward to next season.

So, I just wanted to go all soft to let you, jonny, know how much I appreciate you and what you do to bring this thread to us each week and how much it really has made me smile.

Thanks also, to my friend retrokitten for always making me laugh. And to kevkrom, commish, and SirLinksalot and others for their enjoyable show summary's and ratings. Though, we don't always agree, it is fun to read.

Thanks to all the participants that make this place what it is.

Here, here, jonny on a job very well done!

I must go grab a tissue now. Yes, RK, I am such a girl! (sniff, sniff)

[Apple Blossom]

Thanks for the new thread! Looks great!

[Feiny]

What is with all the posts being removed already? How does that affect the number? I declare myself poster #30,000.

[DouglasKC]

Thanks for the new thread Jonny...marking for later.