I have to admit, zazzy, that sometimes the things that you've pointed out as pimping seem a little over the top (or more like coincidences than conscious pimping) but I do not doubt that the producers do try to drive particular angles.

This is probably a thought for after the season, not for final 3 week, but I wonder how one would look at the long-term effects of pimping, and when certain pimping techniques are employed. How much pimping was done in earlier seasons, and how much of the later season pimping was driven as a response to things that happened earlier?

I think with the whole notion of "America Voting" the producers do resort to promoting certain agendas where they can. America has shown some predictability in voting (the rally for underdogs, for example.) With due respect to Taylor Hicks and his fans (of which I know there are some here) I'd guess that an AI producer doesn't necessarily want to be stuck with another one of him.

One thing was pretty clear to me, though, last night. Lee got the choir of angelic voices descending upon him as he stood awash in bright white lights. The camera angle was looking up at him, creating a sense of rising or uplifting.

Casey stood center stage singing "Daughters" with very little in the way of any production values at all. The camera was mainly looking at him from a diagonal, downward shot. "Tamping down" indeed.

How is that an even playing field? Lee's "moment" was partly him, but largely created for him with smoke, lights, timing, camera angles and inspirational backup singers. The song itself lent itself to a moment, and the production staff spackled it all in with fancy stuff.

(Thank goodness they didn't employ the barfo-cam that they used on the Lee/Crystal duet last week. I'm still recovering from that.)