"Countdown to the Crown": Episode Four -- Talent, and Surprises!!

January 23, 2009

The final episode has shown, and NOW it is in your hands, America!!! The clock is ticking, and only time, will tell just who the lucky four contestants are who get your vote to move on to the semifinals.  But first, for a little recap:

So, they announce that the team that wins the final team challenge will ALL win a gold sash, and that the final challenge is an original talent show.  Each team has to create a 3-minute talent show, and the team who does the best job of showcasing talent, entertaining and utilizing teamwork wins.  I thought it was really cute to see the contestants really get original with things! One team WROTE a song, and another did a big ‘ol a cappella rendition of Amazing Grace with harmonies for cryin’ out loud! There was everything from serious ballad songs with dance accompaniment to a fun skit really poking fun of themselves as well as the consultants. And the guest consultant was Miss America 1981, Susan Powell (again with a former Miss A as a guest consultant – woo hoo!)

In the end, the green team came out on top, and each member was awarded a gold sash. It was at that point that the consultants were told that they had a four wildcard picks to award the final gold sashes to. They could look back throughout the whole Countdown to the Crown process and choose four additional contestants who have shown promise in all areas. The four wildcard choices were Alabama, California, Iowa and Kansas.

So, the complete list of gold sash holders are:
Indiana
Georgia
South Dakota
Florida
Texas
Virgin Islands
Delaware
Idaho
Hawaii
Wisconsin
Ohio
Alabama
California
Iowa
Kansas

To vote, simply text the state name of the contestant to 97979, or you can vote online at www.tlc.com/missamerica. Tell your family, tell your friends! But whatever you do, VOTE!!! This is it – It’s your chance to really be a part of the process, folks.  I cannot wait to see what happens at the finals!!!

*On a side note:  Vegas is GREAT!  I am staying right at the Planet Hollywood hotel where the pageant is being held, and Miss America’s picture is EVERYWHERE – billboards, blinking signs, hanging signs, TV screens, and even on my keycard!! They are embracing this pageant wholeheartedly, and it is really great to see. I even heard people talking about it at the airport today (“Hey, did you guys know that the Miss America Pageant is happening here this weekend at the Planet Hollywood?? Yeah, we should try to go!”) 

I love it. I’m seeing family members with picture buttons of their contestants on, and tons of folks wearing Miss America “garb” – from crown pins to sparkly crown t-shirts. I’ve already had a chance to see a few of the contestants on their way into rehearsals, and can I just say that they look even MORE beautiful in person?? They all look so tiny and fit – it makes me quite reminiscent of my competition days *sigh*. I also was able to run into Art McMaster, the CEO of the Miss America Pageant himself – it’s so wonderful to see and be around all these great people again. As Art said to me today after I told him how glad I was to be a part of things in some way, “They always come back!”  Yes, Art – I guess they do. :) 

Comments

[jt]

Miss Indiana was awesome she was so sweet and seemed very surprised that she won. Great job!!!

[darby]

If you thought you could vote from all 52 contestants, then clearly you did not watch the show at all - what would be the point of the gold sashes if viewers could vote for just anyone?

[Pam]

Secret needs to learn how to show their product more creatively. The same commercial on literally every commercial break. Where's my TVO

[Mackenzie]

Yay for Katie Stam!!!She was my favorite from the first episode of MA: Countdown to the Crown. To me, she seemed the most obvious winner I've seen in years. Beautiful, talented, lots of smarts and genuinely sweet. The perfect Miss America!!

Re: the reality show, I thought this year's show was MUCH better than last years. The girls were treated with a lot more respect this time around and the focus wasn't solely on their looks.

[Nick]

Actually I was amazed that three of my top four picks made it the end. The judges NEVER agree with me! I would have been just as pleased if Miss Georgia or Miss Iowa would have won. As for my other pick, Miss South Dakota, you wuz robbed, girl! You should have been in the top five as well. Now go enter Miss USA; you'd give those girls a big run for their money!

[Nick]

I was thrilled by Miss Indiana's win -- Home State pride of course (I'm a native-born Hoosier), but also because I felt she, along with Miss Georgia, seemed like genuine 21st century women. I was terrified that woman from California would win. She was too retro for words! After the major blunder of last year (no disrespect meant to Miss America 2008), it was refreshing to see this pageant finally enter a new age.

[philomene]

Hello...
Does anybody know what music was playing during the evening gown presentation?

[Kimberly]

WOW, That was a great pageant. However, did anyone else see the resemblance in the winner and Rachel McAdams from the Notebook?!? It's amazing!

[Lauron]

Ms Georgia should have won! she is the bomb! I feel cheated! RECOUNT!!!!!

[Ethan]

Good luck ladies, here's an article predicting the top 15, pretty much everyone that I think should be in it!
http://thepopfix.com/2009/01/24/there-she-is-miss-america/

[Taylor B]

I <3 MISS PENNSYLVANIA

[Jennifer E.]

I'm so ready for the pageant to begin!!! Let's show them FLORIDA, ALABAMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, & KANSAS what ya'll can do!!!!

[delish!]

Guys, MY opinion I believe is the only one that matters...actually I stole it from THEPOPFIX. Here's what they have to say! it's interesting!!

http://thepopfix.com/2009/01/24/there-she-is-miss-america/

[julia]

Miss Georgia has SO got them beat........... duh~!!!!!!
Miss Idaho has no chance! FWIW I voted:
Indiana
Georgia
Kansas
California

[Taylor]

Miss Indiana for sure :) Go katie!

[Anne]

Miss MAINE rocks!! She is such a wholesome young woman with incredible talent and poise.

[Jessie B]

Miss South Dakota Alexandra Hoffman is the absolute best contestant for Miss America 2009. She has this competition hands down. Everyone who has met Alexandra is proud to know her and is cheering for her!

[Laura Theus]

Miss Florida is going to rock it tonight on stage tonight!!! I can't wait to see her talent...the costume is amazing!!!! Go Becky!!! She's smart, beautiful, talented, and a good person...watch out for this one!

[Nicole]

Wow, a lot of folks seem to be upset that they couldn't vote for any girl in the group of 52... I honestly don't mean to sound snarky, but have you been reading this blog? I'm assuming that many of you may have come to the blog for the first time to voice your disdain, and I'm sorry for that because I did my best to explain the process of the gold sashes earlier to everyone. The whole point behind the gold sashes was to give the contestants something to compete for in the reality show competitions, thus "winning" the right to be in the pool of contestants that America could vote for. I'm sorry that there was confusion, and I know that the whole process wasn't necessarily explained as best could be. But I do hope that you took advantage of the chance to have a voice in the competition, and to support a girl who really came across as genuine to you during the reality series, even if she wasn't from your home state.

[Nelson]

We were supposed to have until 1600 today to vote, but that appears not to be the case. FWIW my votes:
South Dakota
Alabama
South Carolina
Ohio

[Jennifer E.]

I really don't know if I like all the gold sashes and I know I didn't like Miss America 1981's attitude on the show last night. I'm from Florida, and when I first saw Miss South Dakota and Kansas I said, "Wow"!!! I also love Florida and Alabama...they should be the top 4 in the end!!!!

[Jessi]

When does voting stop? Can I still text in my vote????

[disappointed]

On the broadcast they said you could vote until noon on January 24, but the voting was closed way before this????????

[jay]

Miss Kentucky is going to win....duh! Other girls shouldnt even try to beat her. Go ahead...be jealous like i know you are!

[Alain Cloutier]

Many of you seem to be really desapointed because you thought that they were going to let the tv veiwer vote for who they like. Be happy, you have the chance to vote. I am from Quebec, Canada and here we don't have this chance.(America ??? Hum !!!!) But I can understand your frustrations. Personnaly, I am comfortable with the concept of the ''gold sashes'' This concept give chances to contestants who could not otherwise have the chance to participate at the final. This concept give chance to the contestants who come from less populous states. This does not detract from their great talent.
Personnaly my vote goes to Miss Wisconsin Briana Lipor.
Excuse my poor english !!!

Alain

[nichole]

hey miss iowa you csame to my school and made a good reputation to younge students iam so proud that you are goiung this far i want you you you to gert crowned so bad i will watch you with a inspiration and always look up to you. eventhough you live in a small town big dreams come out of it thats why i have a inspiration for you . thankyou so much for visiting my school. good luck yto everyone but, miss iowa you have a chance.

[Jerika]

Miss South Dakota has it hands down!!!! i hope she wins!!

[Marion]

What a joke. I thought that you were going to let the tv veiwer vote for who they liked. Boy was I wrong. So I will not vote for anybody. I know that one veiwer will not hurt but I hope there will more that feel the same way I feel that you miss lead us in to thinking that you could vote for any the 52 young women.

[Marty]

I thought that on the last night that you could vote for anyone,but that was not what the show want.
I was going to vote Mss Tennessee. But seeing that you are not going to give me a chance to I will not vote for anybody.

[Laura]

Miss Indiana has it hands down!!

[Jan]

I'm dissappointed! I wanted to vote this morning (Saturday) and apparently the voting is closed already? I can't find it ANYWHERE. I guess I missed the deadline information.

[Kelly]

What is up with that?? We wanted to vote from all 52 contestants. We will also abstain from voting. Let's at least make this fun & fair.

[Gale]

Throughout the entire four weeks, Miss Indiana has shown great consistency. She comes across as being a very sweet girl and also well liked. Indiana has never had a Miss America and I sure hope that this is their year. Good Luck Miss Indiana!!

[Stephen Balcom]

Georgia has been my favorite since the start,but along the way,have"fallen" for So.Dakota and Alabama.;great to see all 3 are in it! (An aside to the judges:listen to America! Our choice last year was Utah,Jill Stevens-she would have made an awesome Miss America!). Steve

[breesie]

I just have to say that I am entirely uncomfortable with the concept of the "gold sashes" . Allowing America to vote 4 of these young women through to the top 15, in a competition that determines who will hold an important position in representing our Country seems like a good idea on the surface. But we are truly on a slippery slope, fraught with opportunity for misuse of power. A reality show can be edited any way that a producer or an editor chooses...to show a person in a positive or negative light. So, Americans who are casting votes, do so with limited information that has basically been spoon fed to them. In the end, it is truly the producers/editors who have the power to make the decision as to who goes on to the final 15, because they can give as much or as little air time to the Golden Sash contestants as they like, and they can show them in whatever way that they choose.
The Miss America Pageant has worked hard through the years to maintain its integrity. I believe that this show cheapens that image and calls that integrity into question.

[Candace]

I am so excited!! Miss California is a great person! I worked with her for a while and she is very hard working and passionate.

[Amanda]

Yay Emily, Miss Kansas! She's an incredible young woman, and I'm so glad that she's got a shot. I'm not sure that I like the voting system, either...so who knows, maybe they'll change it next year.

[J Waggs]

I have to say I'm very disappointed in Miss Texas. She came off as a dizzy blond. I thought Miss Alabama is a great choice to be crowned.

[Toni]

I had NO problem with Alabama's bio loading..........it is a great one. Sorry you can't read it.

[cherie]

Not sure I like what I was allowed to chose from tonight except Miss Alabama and Miss South Dakota. Being in pageants for years growing up and judging as well as coaching many Miss LSU contestants, I like what the new idea for the show has done, however if you are going to allow America to vote then...I would prefer to pick out of ALL THE GIRLS!!!

[Fred]

I was SO disappointed in this show. Last year's show rocked, having a BOTTOM 3 and a TOP 3. That way they all get to see their strengths and weaknesses. And the judges this year..are terrible!!

why didn't all 52 girls get to walk out there tonite? I wanted to vote for 3 other girls NOT up there, and this seems so unfair to me!

[Pat Wyatt]

I guess I misunderstood! I thought we would get to vote on all 52 women! This is NOT what I was planning. Go Miss Missouri!!! I wanted to give my vote to Lacey Fitzgerald! I wanted to choose my own person for the extra four spots. I guess that we can only choose from the producers list and I'll abstain!

[Holli J]

Love how the show has updated for the interactive view, but some of the bio's are not loading. i.e. Alabama. Needs to be fixed to make sure voting is fair.