I don't think it takes a genius to realize that if you perform first on American Idol, and the voting doesn't start until an hour later, you probably won't be remembered by as many voters as the person who performed last. So, what does that mean? I think it means, while you won't necessarily get voted off, when you perform first, the cards are stacked against you. Of course, if you're great, you're great. But, if you're just "okay"...first is not a great place to be.
In a report from today's USA TODAY:
In 69 finals episodes, 20 singers in the No. 1 spot have been voted off, seven more than would be expected based on statistical probability, says Nick Straguzzi, co-founder of WhatNotToSing.com, which collects and analyzes Idol data. In four out of six weeks this season, the first finalist has been in the bottom three, twice being eliminated. "The No. 1 slot is by far the most dangerous for finalists," Straguzzi says.
What perhaps is more interesting is knowing how the order of the weekly performances is decided. In the report:
The Producers decide the singing order except for the finale, which is a singer's choice after a coin flip. (Only one finale leadoff singer, Ruben Studdard, has won Idol.) They vary the order each week to be fair, but also try to arrange singers and their songs to make the most entertaining show, executive producer Ken Warwick says."It's worked out with two things in mind: where the kid (performed) last week, and if it's a slow, 'dirgey' ballad, I try not to open with that," he says.
Point is, save the best for last, unless that contestant performed in the last spot in the week before.
What do you think? Ultimately, shouldn't the order in which the contestants perform be random every week?