lauren alaina

Live at American Idol: Final Performance Night Falls Flat

After three months of buildup to the grand finale of American Idol season 10, we have to say we were kind of let down by night one. Sure, we saw Lauren Alaina overcome a blown vocal chord to snag the judges vote for the night and enjoyed Taio Cruz performing live (David Cook was pretaped, *feigning shock*), but something was missing and we can't seem to put a finger on it.
So what was going on in the Nokia Theatre when the cameras weren't rolling? And why was Scotty McCreery answering for Lauren in the postshow press conference?
MORE: Scotty McCreery on American Idol Finale: "This Isn't a Competition"
If it wasn't already obvious, American Idol's two night finale kick-off wasn't the stuff past shows were made of. After weeks of rehearsal and preparation, we were surprised at how edgy everything felt. And not in a good way.
Although Nokia Live was packed with 7,000 screaming fans holding up neon signs and getting riled up over the sight of the 11 eliminated contestants sitting in the front row, the intimacy and warmth of the usual Idol stage setting was no where to be found.

Michael Becker / FOX; Adam Rose/FOX; ABC/ERIC MCCANDLESS

Scotty and Lauren were visibly nervous, the judges seemed to show zero emotion during their performances, and it was difficult to truly enjoy the show when people's Twitter alerts were gong off right and left.
Of course, there was one cute moment we caught when the show cut to commercial. After round two when the judges finally gave their first critiques, Scotty began to exit the stage before Lauren. Not wanting to be left behind, she ran after Scotty and embraced him in a huge bear hug from behind before they disappeared backstage. Clearly there isn't any tension between the two.
They made this more evident postshow when the two stopped by the press room to talk about the final showdown, that to many, didn't really seem like much of a battle. Lauren, unable to speak due to doctor's orders to stay on vocal rest, had a pen and writing pad in hand which she used to write her answers to questions. Scotty, the gentleman that he is, helped Lauren out by reading her answers to the press room, an act that was not only endearing and sweet, but showed how much he cares about her.
When asked how they felt about their final performances, both had positive things to say, but didn't seem to have their usual sparkle.
"For me, I went out there and did my best and left everything out on the stage," Scotty said. "So our work is done and now it's up to America."
Lauren's response about her final performance? A short and sweet note: "It was good."
Who are you voting for to be the next American Idol? Do you think Lauren's blown vocal chord affected her performance? Did you like the first night of the finale? Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments!