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Syesha Exits 'American Idol,' Clears Way For The Davids

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 15, 2008

It'll be David versus David.

Syesha Mercado was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday night, paving the way for the expected showdown between David Archuleta and David Cook.

Mercado, a 21-year-old actress from Sarasota, was the last woman standing on the top-rated Fox contest.

While other contestants floundered, Mercado challenged herself with ambitious song choices such as Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come." She showed more personality - and lots of leg - while swiveling her hips in a glittery gold minidress for a rendition of "Proud Mary." She cried when Paula Abdul gave her a standing ovation last week.

With Mercado out of the way, "Idol" can now fully hype the David vs. David matchup.

There's Archuleta, the 17-year-old singing prodigy from Murray, Utah, with the overly involved stage dad. And there's Cook, the 25-year-old former bartender from Blue Springs, Mo., with an emo edge that the angelic Archuleta lacks.

Jack Black's Joke Confirms Jolie Twins

Angelina Jolie is indeed expecting twins, and it was Jack Black who let the news slip with a "Brady Bunch" crack.

Long rumored to have two children by Brad Pitt on the way, Jolie confirmed the news during a side-by-side "Today" show interview with Black, her "Kung Fu Panda" co-star. The two are in Cannes, France, promoting the animated film.

The twins will be the fifth and sixth children for Jolie and Pitt. She didn't volunteer the information until Black joked the couple will "have as many as the 'Brady Bunch' when you have these."

"It's confirmed?" followed "Today" interviewer Natalie Morales.

"Yeah, yeah, we've confirmed that already," Jolie said. "Well, Jack's just confirmed it actually."

'Commandments' Props On Auction Block

Thou shalt find the Ten Commandments up for bid this summer.

A pair of faux granite tablets that Charlton Heston cradled in the 1956 epic "The Ten Commandments" is expected to fetch up to $60,000, said Marc Kruskol, a publicist for the auction Profiles in History. It is the fourth set of tablets from the film that featured Heston as Moses.

The five-piece costume Heston wore in 1959's "Ben-Hur" - the film that won him a best actor Oscar - is also among the 1,000-plus pieces of Hollywood memorabilia the auction is selling. The central piece is the dark green caftan worn by Heston's Judah Ben-Hur in the scene when he hears Jesus give a sermon.

Heston died April 5 at his Beverly Hills, Calif., home at the age of 84. The auction runs July 31 to Aug. 1.

Today's Birthdays

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is 71. Actor Chazz Palminteri is 56. Baseball Hall-of-Famer George Brett is 55. TV personality Giselle Fernandez is 47. Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler is 27.

CORRECTIONS

It is the policy of The Tampa Tribune to correct all errors of fact. To report an error, call (813) 259-7600 or e-mail news@tampatrib.com.

CORRECTION: Jake McFadden is a defensive back on the Sickles High football team. His first name was incorrect in Wednesday's Sports section.

CORRECTION: Bridget McKenna plays tennis for Freedom High School. Her first name was incorrect in Sunday's Sports section.

Source: The Associated Press

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