Idol Thoughts - And then there were Nine

Another Wednesday, another Idol sent home--the only question: whose Idol adventure is cut short? Read on to find out how things went down on tonight's show...and to save you even more time than usual, let's just assume all of the normal tom-foolery goes on--stuff like the Idol group sing, the Ford commercial starring the remaining Idols, and other silly stuff that leads us up to one Idol leaving the stage for the last time.



Before any elimination stuff could go down, Ryan invited Reuben Studdard--aka the Velvet Teddy Bear and Season 2's Idol winner to the stage to sing a song...likely off of his new album. Reuben appeared to have dropped a few L-B's and was looking mighty smart in his shiny, charcoal three-button suit. He sounded good and seemed to really enjoy being back on the Idol stage. After the song Ryan inquired about Reuben's recent wait loss to which he said he is now a Vegan and working out.



Old Idol out of the way, it's time to find out who's safe and who's going to be around for another week to sing for your votes and move one step closer to the ultimate goal of becoming crowned the Season 9 American Idol.



Ryan started with Lee Dewyze. After a recap of the judges comments including Simon's "it was the night of your life", Ryan told Lee to sit down, he's safe! Casey James was next and Ryan asked him how he is going to challenge himself as some of the judge's suggested he do if he moves forward. Casey struggled to come up with a good answer, so Ryan stopped him and told him he is safe this week. Aaron Kelly was put through the torture of listening to the judges bantering with Ryan about how young Aaron is supposed to sing about love having never been in love. After all of that, Aaron was safe. So that leaves Siobhan and Katie--one of these girls is going to be asked to take the first seat on the elimination stools. And that Idol wannabe is...Katie. Siobhan is safe, but was reduced to tears as Katie made the long walk across the stage and the judges continued their debate about the type of artist Katie should be.



With the remaining five Idols still wondering their fate, Ryan found Justin Bieber--the 15-year-old YouTube wonder and Usher protege in the audience. And speaking of Usher, as the guest mentor this week, he was asked to perform a song complete with his sexy dancers.



Back to the elimination process...



Didi was run through the drill and asked about her use (or lack of use) of the guitar and then she was told to join Katie on the stools. Michael Lynche rose from the couch, listened to more judge's comments, and then was asked to walk over to Ryan's pedestal where he learned he was safe and then treated Ryan like a rag doll. No shock here--Crystal was safe. Two Idols left on the couch and one stool still vacant--would that stool hold Tim Urban or Andrew Garcia? Tim was made to explain his constant smiling--he's clueless...and in danger of going home because he is the third member of the Bottom 3. Andrew lives to sing another week.



As usual, Ryan sent one B3 back to safety and this week's lucky stay goes to Katie. So will the ride end for Idol's version of the "Cat with 9 Lives" or are we going to say goodbye to a talented singer who just can't seem to pick the right song enough to gain a following?



To find out we have to wade through a number by Diddy himself...or you could do like I did and fast forward through it.



And now for your results...Tim is safe and Didi is in danger of going home unless the judges use their save. To help sway their decision Didi selected "Rihanna" by Fleetwood Mac as her "save me" song. And as the judges deliberated...my DVR recording shut down and I was forced to go to my back up Tivo for the final results--thank God for technology.



So will the judges use their save? Simon was the bearer of the good or bad news and he took his time delivering the verdict which was...NO! Didi's ride is over and Idol is all the worse for it--it's no secret that I think Tim should have gone home long ago. Didi is going to be missed as we make our way to finding this Season's Idol.



And that's how things went down tonight. Tune in next Tuesday when the Idols perform for your votes. Until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't' have to.



Charlie

Idol Worship - The Top 10 Usher in a Little R&B

It's Tuesday night and that can only mean one thing around these parts--someone went home!...on Dancing with the Stars, that is. In case you didn't watch the first elimination of DWTS's 10th season, Shannon Doherty was sent packing. The Bottom 2 were Shannon and Pamela Anderson! I know, who would vote for Kate Gosselin?!

Anyway, we have more important things to consider as the original reality juggernaut, American Idol, was on and tonight the Idols are teaming up with Usher to learn how to deliver a solid R&B hit for your votes.

• The first Idol to gain pearls of wisdom from the one-named wonder was Siobhan Magnus. When she met Usher, Siobhan admitted to being nervous, but was still in good enough voice to impress this week's mentor. For her R&B hit, Siobhan selected "Through the Fire" by Chaka Chan. From the first note, you could sense that this year's surprise Idol wasn't in best of voice. The song was a bit subdued to start and with her background singers on stage with her, Siobhan tried hit her famous big notes, but seemed to be doing more screeching than singing. Song over, judging time here and Randy gave her props for taking on a big song, but noted she was a bit off tonight. Ellen rambled on, said it wasn't her best performance, but compared Siobhan going early in the show to "having dessert before the meal". Kara said in spite of an off night, she is "still a great singer". Simon thought it sounded like she "ran a marathon and was singing all over the place"--he also admitted to "getting bored with the screaming at the end". After Simon's comments, Ryan opened the door for additional judging by the other three judges and they pretty much said the same thing, but with different sayings such as Ellen's "gilding the lily" comment when describing the overdone try at hitting big notes. On with the show...
• Casey was the next Idol to take direction from Usher. Casey went with a Sam and Dave hit, "Hold On I'm Coming". As Casey was practicing his song with the Usher, he forgot the lyrics, but covered them up with a clever lyric--"I forgot the lyrics" in perfect rhythm. So how would he do when it counted? Well, dressed in a blood-red shirt and playing a matching electric guitar, Casey had the crowd rocking with him as well as the brass section and three backup singers who flanked him on the left and right, respectively. I enjoyed the performance, but how would the judges view it? Randy called it "another hot night for you". Ellen felt it was "a little generic" and wished he would have sung another song. Kara went further and suggested he go beyond the limited range which he shown so far. Simon said it "was your strongest performance so far". He thought it showed a "completed different side as an artist".
• Usher's next pupil was Big Mike who brought his guitar to his master class. Usher admitted that chicks dig "a guy who can play a guitar and sing"--sounds like someone has a crush on Big Mike! :) With "I am Ready for Love" by India Arie, Mike sat on stool behind the judge's table, strummed his guitar and sang to an adoring audience full of Idol Worshippers. Randy was happy to see Mike come back to the guitar and "show your sensitive side". Ellen found Mike's performance "beautiful", but admitted that she doesn't like "people talking behind my back or singing behind my back"--cue the giggles. Kara liked the performance even though she had never heard the song before he selected it. Simon thought that he could finally take Big Mike serious as an artist.
• Didi selected "What Becomes of a Broken Hearted" due to the emotional connection she had with the song. She even shed some tears during her time with Usher which lead Usher to say he "believed her". Dressed in a lovely floor length, sparkly dress and looking very old-Hollywood, Didi stood at center stage and put her who heart into the song even going for a few Siobhan-like notes. Randy felt the performance "flat lined...it never quite caught". Ellen booed herself (as she has done before), but thought it was "way dramatic". Kara said Didi "lost your way" and longed for her to go back to her singer-songwriter roots. Simon agreed with Kara, called the performance "old-fashioned", and compared it "one of those dance shows where someone destroys a song"...not exactly an endorsement for your votes. And as if Didi wasn't feeling awful enough, Ryan badgered her to tell the world why she picked a song which is so emotional for her. When she wouldn't give in to Ryan's sick prodding (even the judges asked him to ease up), Ryan said she sang it for "someone...and we'll leave it at that". Thanks, Ryan, you have now made Simon look like a nice guy!
• Rounding out the first half of the Top 10, Tim Urban, hooked up with Usher to work on the Anita Baker hit, "Sweet Love". Usher advised Tim to picture a girl and sing to her. As Tim started singing to that special girl, he looked straight in the camera and I'm pretty sure he didn't blink for the first 45 seconds of the performance. But then he started making his way to the middle of the stage and started closing his eyes (for emotional emphasis, no doubt) and continued to butcher a great song. Randy compared it to a "singing waiter...and pedestrian...but it had no vibe" and encouraged Tim to "put a little grease on it". Ellen called him "adorable" because there is a drinking game at home where the viewing audience drinks every time she says the word, then wondered why he chose that song. Kara asked why he took the soul out of the song and then got perturbed that he was laughing through her judging. Simon said it "doesn't matter what we say...the audience is going to vote for you...and you'll be here next week". Sounds like Simon is on to the "vote for the worst" thingy.
• Next up was Andrew who chose Chris Brown's "Forever". When Andrew first met with Usher he showed tons of nerves and forced Usher to take off his signature shades and asked Andrew to get real. That swift kick got Andrew in the right frame of mind as he headed to the stage where Ricky Minor, a box drummer, and the string sectioned joined him on and near the stage. The judges have been very hard on Andrew pretty much since he did his special thing with Paula's "Straight Up", but as I was listening to Andrew I thought he might have found a bit of the magic again. But how did the judges hear it? Randy started by saying "Andrew is back" and said he "loved the outfit...and it was your best performance for a LONG TIME". Ellen said Andrew is back and then gave him some dental advice. Kara called it "one giant leap in the right direction". Simon said it was "miles, miles better than we've heard from you in the last few weeks", but called his personality "boring". He encouraged Andrew to start showing some personality which caused a bit of a riff between Andrew's mom and Simon--don't worry no punches were thrown, but there was some hugging.
• When Katie got together with Usher she said it wasn't the first time she met the heart throb. According to Katie, she met him during a visit to Epcot, but his bodyguards wouldn't let her take a picture with him--and then he reminded her that she wouldn't get any special treatment from him. But how would the audience give her any special treatment (in the form of votes) when she took on Aretha's "Chain of Fools"? Randy thought Katie's performance "was one of the best of the night" even though it was a bit disconnected and compared her to a "young Christina". Ellen liked the performance, but wanted her to "make it a little younger and more current". Simon thought Randy's comparison to Christina was a bit premature and then continued his disagreement with Kara regarding the type of artist Katie should be--Simon says she should go country while Kara thinks she would be better as an R&B/pop artist.
• Leon "Lee" Dewyze was asked by Ryan how he was going to "create a moment" as suggested during last week's show by the judges. And then Ryan told the world that Lee is suffering from walking pneumonia. Lee worked on "Treat Her Like a Lady" by Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose. Usher encouraged Lee to have confidence and believe in himself "otherwise no one will". When Lee hit the stage he started slow and built to a nice crescendo and then dropped it back down to a simmer before hitting the chorus a second time and putting his stamp on a great R&B classic. The crowd loved it, but Lee still looked a bit worried about the judge's comments. But he needn't fret--Randy praised the performance as his best; Ellen and Kara echoed Randy and Simon went further suggesting Lee "go home, watch the show back, and realize that tonight is the night your life has changed". Looks like Lee had his moment!
• Crystal had a surprise for the judges and audience tonight, but she wasn't able to hide it from Usher for he suggested she play the piano and sing her song selection, "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight. So with the cat out of the proverbial bag, Crystal took to the stage seated behind the Idol grand piano and flanked by three back up singers (just like the Pips!). When Crystal is on--which is every week save one a couple of weeks ago, she is definitely in a class of her own. Randy loved the performance, as did Ellen and Kara. Simon thought it was great "although with the back up singers it seemed a bit old-fashioned", and cautioned her to not "let this process suck the life out of you". Crystal tried to defend her decisions, but I think she missed Simon's point--he even said she is the one Idol who actually knows who she is and he doesn't want her to lose that identity.
• The last singer tonight, Aaron, got together with Usher to work on Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine". As they worked on the song, Usher encouraged Aaron to really emphasize the part of the song where he sings "I know" over and over and over--and to make it special. A great piece of advice, but how would it translate when it was for the votes? Randy said it "started it a bit rough". Ellen liked the song choice and showed good confidence for 11--yet another age-related joke. Kara wasn't over the moon for it and Simon said it "wasn't as good as last week", but pretty much guaranteed Aaron's safe return for another performance next week.

With all ten performances in the can, it's time to select the Bottom three. This week I believe Tim, Didi, and Andrew are in trouble. Tim will likely survive due to the "worst" vote, so that leaves Didi and Andrew to sweat it out...and I believe Andrew will go home despite a strong performance.

Tune in tomorrow night to see how your votes were tabulated and who will be around next Tuesday for another round of judge's comments. Until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to.

Charlie

Idol Thoughts - The Top 10 Are Revealed

It's Wednesday and if you check your Idol calendar, you know that means it's time to say good-bye to one of our Idols. Will it be Paige, Tim, or Andrew (my B3 predictions from last night) or will we see a surprise in the B3 and force the judges to use their save so early in the contest?

Well before we find out how your votes were distributed among the Top 11, we were "treated" to the dreaded group sing--and this week's number was the Wham! classic "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go". It was a fun song some 25+ years ago when George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley donned the sweet white tees and bopped around the stage, but this is one song that should be locked in the vault and NEVER EVER performed again--especially by lip-synchin' Idol wannabes.

Once the silliness of the group sing and the awful Ford commercial was over, it was time to check in with the Idols who were seated on the elimination couch where Ryan asked lame questions of Casey (something about messing up during rehersal, but not during his live performance) and then Ryan pointed out Sioban's friends who are known as the "Sioban-bies" who were decked out in makeup that looked like blood. Then it was on to Katie and the "sweet" story of her father who is so nervous come show time that he is spending the evening at a local watering hole. After a quick check in with Big Mike and his daddy duties, it was time to look for the B3.

Starting with Sioban, Ryan ran down the judge's comments, asked her a quick question, and then sent her to safety meaning she is the first member of the Summer Idol Tour! As Sioban celebrated, Ryan asked for Lee and Casey to stand up, relive last night, and then...remain standing while Ryan checked in with Tim and Paige. Tim defended his decision to slide across the stage saying he "had fun and was there to entertain the fans", but the fans apparently didn't feel entertained because their lack of votes sent Tim AND Paige to the B3. So that means Lee and Casey got their Tour tickets punched--three down, seven to go.

Before learning more Idol fates, Ryan cut to commerical with the promise of a performance by last night's mentor, Miley Cyrus. When we returned we found Miley seated at the piano to sing "When I Look at You" from her new movie The Last Song. I'm not a big fan of Miley Cyrus, but she can actually sing fairly well--and my little girl just LOVES her.

Back to your results...and our search for the third member of the B3.

Aaron pulled himself up and then sat back down becoming the fourth Tourer. And after much debate about comments made by the judges last night, Didi was also safe--5. Big Mike went through the drill and was also told he would join the Tour (6). As expected, Crystal was told she is safe and the seventh member of the Touring Idols. The eighth member will be either Katie or Andrew with one of them joining Paige and Tim in the B3--and that person is Katie! Andrew is safe and number 8 on the Idol Tour.

Ryan invited the B3 to the middle of the stage and sent Katie back to the couch--9. So the final Tour spot will be either Tim or Paige...but we'll have to suffer through a Demi Lovato/Joe Jonas duet first...or will we?! Thank you DVR! :)

As I sped through the duet and a few commercials, I stopped in time to learn that Tim is safe--WHAT THE...?! Are you kidding me? This kid is awful...but Paige has been just as bad and wasn't even given the chance to sing for her life or the judge's save. Before giving her the mic, Simon said regardless of what happens with her "save me song", she would be going home. Ryan gave the go-ahead to roll the recap of Paige's time on Idol and then asked her to sing "All Right Now".

Quick observation: when Tim walked back to the Idol couch, he wasn't greeted by a single Idol--I don't think the kid has any real talent, but that's just not right.

Anyway, your Idol Tour is set with 9 good singers and one not so good one. I guess the Vote For the Worst guys are happy.

And that is how elimination night number two went.

Tune in next Tuesday when the Idols take on R&B Soul with Usher as their mentor. It should be a good show.

Until next time, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to.

Charlie

Idol Worship - Eleven Idols Take on Billboards #1's

It's Tuesday night and time for another round of Idol wannabes singing for judge's guidance, audience praise, and your votes. Tonight the Idols take the stage with the opportunity to be in the Top 10 and a place on the Idol Tour.

The Idols will have the opportunity to select songs that hit the top spot on any of the Billboard's many charts--Rock, Country, Pop, etc.. And tonight's mentor is none other than 17-year-old Miley Cyrus.

• The first Idol up is Lee Dewyze who chose "The Letter" by Joe Cocker. Miley's advice to Lee was to give the audience a few notes that they wouldn't otherwise expect. Lee was joined on stage by the brass section and three back up singers as well as some flashy and colorful lighting that gave sort of a jazzy-psychedelic feel. In the past Lee has struggled to make much of a connection to the audience, but I thought he did a nice job of engaging them and the crowd let him know their appreciation with lots of applause. Randy thought he "knocked it out of the box". Ellen compared Lee's performance to a pen that loses ink, but that you "lick it and it comes back". Kara thought he "raised the bar and made a comeback" and he now "owns the stage". Simon thought he sounded good, but selected a song that didn't tell us much about the type of contemporary artist he will be. Simon had a point, however the Idols are more concerned with earning votes and gaining a following and I think Lee did both.
• Paige worked on the Phil Collins standard "Against All Odds" with Miley who pointed out that she was sounded a bit pitchy--sounds like the Dawg is influencing the young one. Paige decided to start her performance seated on the steps at the back of the stage sporting a new pair of very high heels. As I listened to her singing all I could think about was how pitchy she sounded--oops! Randy called it "honestly terrible"...and I couldn't agree more. He did offer that she may still be battling to get her voice back after being sick last week. Paula, er, I mean Ellen complimented her look and credited her with not falling off her heels. Kara said it was the "worst vocal" she had ever heard from Paige and also accused Paige of not competing anymore. Simon asked Paige how she felt she did. Paige said she had fun. Simon said it sounded like "there were five of you singing" and agreed with Kara about no longer competing. Ryan asked if she had lost the competitive spirit to which she said she has struggled with song selection, but she is still looking to stay in the contest. If this is truly a singing contest, I believe we found the first member of the Bottom 3.
• Hoping to stay out of the B3 for the second week in a row, Tim Urban worked with Miley on one of the WORST Queen songs of all time--"Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Miley encouraged him to "push the limits and have some fun with it"...I recommend the same thing because he is truly working on Idol borrowed time. OMG! As he hit the chorus, he slid across the stage--FOR REAL! Who is this cat?! And now he is in the mosh pit at the front of the stage and all the while he sounds absolutely Karaoke! The song is finally over and now it's the judges turn. Randy reminded him that it is a singing contest and said the only good thing was the slide! "the vocals were terrible". Ellen said it felt "like a High School Musical audition...corny...and didn't get it". Kara said "little girls will love it" and reminded him that he hasn't "earned it yet...and hasn't sold millions of records". Simon said the "sliding around distracted from the song" and was "surprised that that was a number one song". Looks like Paige has may have company in the Bottom 3.
• Hoping to reverse an awful trend as well as meet a not-so-secret crush, Aaron met up with Miley to work on "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. At the end of his session with Miley he asked for a hug and then professed his love for her. Battling a case of laryngitis and tonsilitis Aaron walk on stage with the audience doing that silly arm wave showing their love for Idol's youngest finalist. Compared to the last two performances, Aaron sounded like a recording veteran, but let's find out how the judges heard it. Randy said he had a few pitch problems, but said "I'm a fan, I'm a fan!". Ellen credited Aaron with have a pitch-perfect voice (usually) especially "for a third grader"--which got some laughs. Kara said it was the best song selection of the night. Simon called it "very brave" and offered that "for your age, you're making yourself a bit old-fashioned" and then he all but guaranteed Aaron his spot in the Top 10. Ryan gave out his numbers and said "give it up for David Archuleta"--oh, so Ryan's getting in on it now...funny!
• Crystal Bowersox got together with Miley to work on "Me and Bobby McGee" and have Miley sign her guitar because she likes to get "powerful women to sign it". Never thought of Miley as powerful, but what do I know--I was never asked to be an Idol mentor...and I'm well past 17. But enough of that, let's see how Crystal does with the Janis Joplin classic. I'll call it good, but nothing special--unless you call standing on a Persion rug special. The audience loved it and Randy said she "slayed it...and is an American Idol". Ellen claimed clarivoyance admitting that she heard the song on the radio recently and wished Crystal would sing it--and here she is doing just that. But she encouraged Crystal to start connected better with the audience. Kara asked if she would ever put the guitar down to which Crystal said "I have big plans for next week". But before the ink could dry on that contract, Simon said he wouldn't "change a thing...I've heard Pink a version of that song...and that was just as good."
• Miley admitted to falling in love with Big Mike as he sang "When a Man Loves a Woman" to her during their mentoring session. So channeling his soulful, romantic side and joined on stage by a piano player and a string quartet, Mike set out to woo all the ladies and give the guys something to think about. In past performances Mike has shown a level of arrogance that I have found off-putting, but tonight I thought he showed some constraint and offered an honest performance that lets us see the type of artist he is. Randy agreed with me and said Big Mike can "sing the I don't know what out of who you are everytime you hit the stage"--and I'm NOT paraphrasing! Ellen felt it was "a safe choice, but it was like driving the speed limit". Kara said he hit all of the notes, but called it "boring" and with "too may riffs". Simon said he made it "very loungy", but said he had lots of charisma. Mike is likely safe, but he split the judges which means he has some work to do.
• Trying to secure his place in the Top 10, Andrew chose Marvin Gaye's "I Heard it Through the Grapevine". While working with Miley, he was having a difficult time remembering his lyrics, so Miley suggested he loose the guitar and loosen up a bit. So sans guitar and joined by Ricky Minor on bass and three backup singers, Andrew set off to win votes--he even threw in a bit of moonwalking during a few bars of non-singing time which I'm sure will rub Simon the wrong way. When the song ended and the judgin' began, things went from bad to worse. Randy said "it wasn't good...the wrong song". Ellen said she loves him, but that performance isn't going to get new votes. Kara said he needs to find the "Straight Up" moment because he is missing something. Simon said "maybe we over rated that moment in hindsight, it wasn't like we were listening to Beethoven for the first time"--wait a minute, Simon, this is a singing competition and I don't remember any Beethoven songs having lyrics...but I digress. Simon went on to pretty much verbal-spank him and accuse him of "not knowing the type of artist" he is. Looks like we may have the third member of the B3...
• Matching Miley year for year, 17-year-old Katie Stevens went to meet with the established pop start. Katie asked for advice on how to deal with negative comments (like those she has received from the judges)--I say toughen up, young Katie and enjoy your chance on the biggest stage a girl your age could ever have. And speaking of big and girl, Katie selected Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" as her Billboard #1. I wan't blown away by the performance and neither was Randy, but he liked that she is listening to the judges and trying to be younger. Ellen said it was her "best performance to date". Kara heard pitch problems, but that she is finally in the right lane--pop with R&B leanings. Simon noted that meeting Miley was the best thing for Katie and disagreed with Kara (again) about the type of music best suited for her (he still believes she is a country singer). He ended by saying she had a good performance.
• When Casey met Miley he admitted to being a fan...of her dad's! And then they worked on his performance of "The Power of Love" by Marin's own Huey Lewis and the News. So with his electric guitar he set off to rock the house. Casey was joined on stage by Ricky on Bass, Ricky's lead guitar guy was on Casey's right, and the horn section was above him adding a real News feel to the song. Randy admitted to being a fan and said Casey is "probably the best musician ever on Idol" but he wasn't a fan of the song selection. Neither was Ellen. Kara told him he is "in a zone!". Simon was Negative Nelly and wondered aloud what Kara is listening to..."it was old fashioned and exactly like Huey Lewis' version 25 years ago". To help explain how two people can hear the same song so differently, Simon simply said "I'm English". Now that makes sense!
• Tennessee natives Didi and Miley got together to work on "You're No Good" by Linda Rondstadt. Didi asked Miley if she ever gets nervous...uh, yes, she may be a pop princess, but she's also human...or is she?! Didi chose to do a jazzy version of the song and slinked around the stage while Ricky Minor worked the stand up bass while Ricky's lead guitar guy was strumming an acoustic guitar sitting on the stage. Randy liked the look and idea, but felt she struggled with pitch. Ellen struggled with Didi's song choice. Kara wondered if she was trying to be someone else. Simon picked up on the irony of the lyrics and didn't think it sounded like her. For her part, Didi said she fears being pigeonholed and wanted to show her other sides--hopefully the other side isn't her back side walking off the Idol stage for the last time.
• Closing the show with "Superstitious" was Idol's own odd-ball, Sioban--and I mean that in the most positive way. Sporting a make over verging on unrecognizable and being joined by what looked like most of the Idol band, Sioban took full advantage of being the last voice the audience will hear before dialing and texting with their votes. Randy gave her mad props. Ellen evoked Oliver asking for "more please". Kara said it "wasn't your best performance, but the end note...how do you not say that is amazing?" Simon said that the audience will be split--some will love it while the other half will hate it. Then he made a plea with 10 of the 11 Idols to "start pushing yourselves, make better song selections, and making yourselves relevant...because tonight wasn't good for me"...cue the boos!

BTW: The one Idol not subject to Simon's warning was Crystal--the same Idol he warned last week to not get the crown fitted for her head just yet.

So with eleven performances in the can and the phone lines open, it's time for me to pick the B3. I believe Paige, Tim, and Andrew will find themselves in danger of going home with Tim finally getting his walking papers...or at least he should.

Tune in tomorrow to find out how your votes affected the Summer Tour and to hear Miley perform on the Idol stage.

Until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to.

Charlie

Idol Thoughts - The First Cast Off

Happy St. Patrick's Day and welcome to the first of what will amount to eleven eliminations as we search for the next American Idol.

Before the voting results were revealed, we had to endure an awkward exchange between Ryan and Simon regarding what Simon termed Ryan's "agressive eye balling" last night--not sure if he meant during the show or after, but the way they were going at it, you could flip a coin and still not be sure.

Simon also took a moment to explain that the "Judge's Save" is in effect again this year. For those of you unfamiliar with this move, here's a quick explanation: if the judges decide that America voted the wrong guy/girl off in a particular week, the judges can "save" that contestant and no one gets eliminated that week. But here's the catch: the judges have to be unanimous in their decision to save the eliminated Idol, they can only use the save until the Top 5, and if they use the "save", the next week becomes a double-elimination event. Got it? Good!

Now let's check out Elimination Night #1...

To kick things off, Idol invited back Season 7 winner, David Cook, who hit the stage with his band and threw down a nice little "Jumpin' Jack Flash". When he was finished, he chatted a bit with Ryan plugging his upcoming album and a trip to Africa in support of "Idol Gives Back".

After a four minute commerical break and the return of the lame Ford commercials starring the Idols (sans Casey who was battling the flu), it was time to start the eliminations.

Paige was the first to learn her fate. You may recall I predicted she would be in the B3...I was right! One for one on the young season. As she made the long walk to the other side of the stage, Ryan asked Lee to stand up and reminded him of the judge's comments from last night which included Simon's charge to gain some confidence. Lee said he has not choice, but to figure out how to calm the nerves and he is going to have to since he is safe. Sioban was next on the chopping block and Ryan told her to sit back down because she too is safe. Young Aaron rose to his feet and found that he will live to sing another song. The final two Idols on the top level were Andrew and Tim--both of whom I thought would be in trouble...I was only half right as Tim was sent to join Paige and in danger. So now I'm batting .667...in case you keeping track at home.

Before learning who the final member of the B3 is, I'm going to try to redeem myself and predict that Lacey Brown will fill out the B3 trio.

The only thing standing in the way of finding out if I am back on the mark or not is a performance by Orianthi--the guitar playing girl from Down Under who made such a splash on Michael Jackson's "This is It" rehersal movie.

At the 34 minute mark, Ryan recapped what has happened so far with the top row of the Idols and then he started torturing the bottom row.

First up was Didi who heard the glowing remarks from the judges and then sat down relieved with the knowledge she is still in the game. Crystal Bowersox had a chat with Ryan about her performance the previous night--first about her dad and then about the perception that she has the Idol crown "in the bag"...she denied thinking that way and then Ryan gave her the good news--she's safe.

Katie was asked to stand up and them address the judges about the mis-leading direction they have given her over the past few weeks--Kara said Katie's biggest struggle is with pitch and that she should focus more on R&B/pop, but Simon interjected that she should do Country...so she's still confused, but she's also safe.

Back to the results...and Big Mike who defended his awkward dance moves from last night and then sat back down while Casey and Lacey stood up. One of these two is going to be in the B3 and that person is Lacey...meaning I'm back in business! So if you count my mulligan (good Irish term on this awesome St. Patty's Day), I'm back up to 75%!

Ryan gathered the B3 to center stage, asked Ellen if the "save" is worth using tonight (she couldn't say), so Simon said "yes, one of them is worth saving". And then Ryan sent Tim back to the safety of the Idol couches. WHAT!?!?! Are you kidding me?! How many lives does this kid have? I guess the "vote for the worst" folks have made their mark already.

So with Paige and Lacey still in Idol limbo, Ryan introduced Kesha to the stage who "performed" (a loose use of the term) some crazy song complete with dancing TV sets.

Instead of putting myself through the pain of watching Kesha, I opted to fast-forwarded through the song so I could learn who is the first to go...which turned out to be Lacey Brown meaning Paige is safe and Lacey is forced to sing for her life. She chose to sing "The Story" while the judges pretended to debate the merits of using their "save". After the song, Simon made it very clear that they were unanimous in their decision to not use the save and thus we said good-bye to Lacey.

BTW: In case you are keeping track, this year's elimination song is "Leave Right Now" by Will Young.

Tune in next Tuesday night when the remaining 11 Idols sing for your votes. Until then I will continue watching TV so you don't have to.

Charlie

Idol Worship - The Top 12 Rock the Stones

The stage is set, the judges are in their seats, and the audience is wound up tighter than one of Simon's shirt--it must be Idol time!


Tonight the Top 12 Idol wannabes are poised and ready to sing their collective hearts out for your votes and the theme tonight is one of the all-time greats--the Rolling Stones. I must admit that I often struggle to find the relevance of the theme nights offered by the Idol producers and tonight was no exception. Do the Idol folks recognize that the Idols range in age from 16-27 while the Stones are in their 60's and have been around for nearly 50 years?! But that's the game and here's how things went down...

• Michael Lynche lead things off with an jazzy version of "Miss You". It was an interesting interpretation and the crowd really seemed to enjoy it. Randy was the first judge to weigh in and before he got into his critique he threw out the "in it to win it" line that we will definitely hear about 100 times this season. Ellen was equally impressed. Kara felt it was important to ramble on about Mick Jagger before complimenting Big Mike. Simon went the other way and said he sang it well, but his dancing was "corny" and furthered the salt-in-the-wound judging by saying it was verging on "desperation". Ryan took exception to Simon's comments and walked down to the judge's table and implored Simon to offer more constructive criticism--and we are off to a very odd Idol start...welcome to Idol Season 9!
• Next on the Idol stage was Knoxville, TN native Didi Benami who chose "Play with Fire" from the Stone's catalogue. Didi has struggled a bit with song selection throughout the last several rounds, but I thought she chose a good song and made it work with her style. Randy agreed with me and said Didi not only sang about fire, but she was "on fire"! Ellen pulled a Paula and offered little more than pointless dialogue. Kara said Didi is making the right kind of progress and improving on the show. Simon admitted to being a fan of Didi's and called the performance "solid, but not brilliant".
• Idol hearthrob Casey James mounted the stage with his electric guitar and gave his interpretation of "It's All Over Now". He gave a nice bluesy feel and seemed to really enjoy himself on the stage. Ellen started her comments by saying that there were a lot of women who were going to like Casey..."and then there are women like me...(big pause followed by laughter)...blonde...I loved it". Kara said Casey is finally getting closer to being a rock star (something he failed to do a couple of weeks ago). But Simon felt Casey didn't take advantage of the situation and gave what amounted to an "audition performance".
• Hailing from Amarillo, TX and dressed in an off the shoulder black-on-white stripped shirt, mauve bustier, tight black skirt, and 6" black heels, Lacey Brown took the mic and offered her take on "Ruby Tuesday". Flanked by a string quartet on stage, Lacey worked the stage a bit before selecting a seat on the Idol stage steps to finish her song. I thought she was a bit shaky with her vocals, but Randy felt she "held it together" and delivered "the most interesting song tonight". Ellen observed the same thing I did about Lacey's stage movements and called the performance "sleepy". Kara was 50/50--she liked her voice, but heard some missed notes. Simon noted that Lacey performs "like an actress" and needs to "stop over-thinking" things.
• Taking his turn on the Idol stage, Andrew Garcia picked the classic "Gimme Shelter". Randy called it "pitchy" and said it "wasn't great", but Ellen thought it was his "best performance yet", and Kara felt Andrew didn't connect with the song--she wanted "more intensity" because the song was written about the Vietnam War...Simon took her to task and thinks she is taking things too literally. He was fairer in his criticism saying Andrew "gave it 100%", but that he sounded better in rehersal. Mixed results indeed.
• The youngest girl in the Top 12, Katie Stevens, has been critized by the judges throughout the last three weeks for singing songs that that don't match her age group--and now she is forced to select from a catalogue of songs that were old when her parents were young! Katie's selection, "Wild Horses" seemed like a good choice, but I'm not sure it really worked for her--it was slow, she was seated on a stool most of the song, and her dress was a bit distracting. The judges disagreed with me. Randy felt it was a "strong performance", Ellen thought she "sounded amazing" and complimented her song choice, Kara said while it wasn't perfect, Katie is heading in the right direction, and Simon said for the first time in awhile Katie selected the right song and then shamelessly plugged the fact that he recently recorded that very song with Susan Boyle (she of "Britian's Got Talent" fame).
• Comeback Kid Tim Urban (or as I like to call him "Helmet Head") chose "Under My Thumb" and gave it what I'm pretty sure he meant to be a Reggae feel--too bad the band and the audience (with their waving arms) weren't in on it. When the song ended, Randy questioned the Reggae decision and Ellen started to boo herself (before the audience) and said she "felt like I was at a resort drinking a pina colada and listening to someone trying to sing". Kara gave him props for "doing something totally different with the song"--but it still wasn't good, Kara. Simon said the song is boring to start and Tim's version didn't work and "was a crazy decision". Oops! Sounds like Tim's ride on the Idol train could be derailing soon.
• This year's oddest (in a good way) contestant, Sioban Magnus, went with "Paint it Black". Seated on the red glowing Idol steps and rocking an Idol makeover, Sioban started the song quiet and quite boring, but then she walked down the stairs, hit center stage and began to hit her stride including replicating the note she surprised the Idol world with a couple of weeks ago. The judges all loved the performance--Randy loved the drama, Kara thought Sioban brought back the memory of Adam Lambert, and Simon said it was the "performance of the night" and let her know that people will be divided on the performance...which he assured her is a good thing!
• Former paint store clerk and Chicago native, Lee Dewyze strapped on his acoustic guitar and sang "Beast of Burden". With his radio-ready voice Lee delivered a good performance. Randy thought he sounded like a mix between Rob Thomas and Dave Mathews. Ellen didn't feel it quite came together comparing it to a "hospital gown"--that's what you get when a comedienne judges a singing contest! But Kara said she wanted to "celebrate Lee's growth" in the competition. Simon started by saying how much he likes Lee from his life story to his talent, but felt he didn't have as big of a moment as he should have because of his great voice and talent and said he needs to shine...and to "stop thinking other people are better than you". Excellent advice, Mr. Cowell--now get back to work, Lee!
• Next up was Paige Miles who chose "Honky Tonk Woman" to win your votes. Upon hearing her song selection I was reminded of the challenge she has faced the past several rounds with the song choice--the judges have all complimented her voice, but have cautioned her about the songs themselves. Paige gave the song a bit of a country/gospel sound and the crowd seemed pleased with her decision as was Randy, Ellen, and Kara who gave her credit for doing well with a voice that is a bit under the weather (laryngitis). Simon said she sounded good considering the laryngitis, but also felt it was a bit generic and she needs to figure out how to connect better.
• Aaron Kelly whose mom's name is Kelly Kelly--kind of like Woody's girlfriend on Cheers, and who is from a small town in PA with only about 50 houses and one stop light took to the stage next and sand "Angie". Giving the song a soft country feel and showing off a new Idol 'do, Aaron had the kids in the front section of the Idol audience swaying with him while he enjoyed his time on stage. Randy said the "tender moments" during the song really showed that he was "born to sing". Ellen thought Aaron joined Sioban as the "performances of the night" while Kara said he delivered a "powerful performance". Simon admitted to feeling a bit of fear for Aaron upon hearing that it was Rolling Stones night, but gave him credit for picking a good song for his vocal abilities calling it "believable" and "one of your best performances to date".
• In the coveted "close the show" slot, early favorite Crystal Bowersox was in the position to end the show on a very high note with "You Can't Always Get What You Want". Walking to center stage carrying her trademark acoustic guitar and looking as if she was born to sing, Crystal delivered a typical "Crystal performance"--solid. Randy felt there were a few missteps, but it was still a very good performance. Ellen said she saw a bit of personality tonight and encouraged her to "have more fun on stage" because she sings so effortlessly. Kara didn't think it was her best vocal performance and cautioned her to not act as though she "has the competition won". Simon went a few steps further saying Crystal came out tonight "100% the favorite", but that she was beaten by Sioban tonight. In spite of the judges warnings, I am pretty sure Crystal is still safe.

But you know who isn't safe, that would be those Idols who find themselves in the Bottom 3 tomorrow night. If you ask me--and I'm pretty sure you are going to do so, I predict the B3 inhabitants will be Andrew, Tim, and Paige. And the Idol who is going home will be the Comeback Kid, Tim Urban.

Tune in tomorrow to see how the Idols fare when your votes are counted. Until then, I will continue watching TV so you don't have to!

Charlie

Meet the Season 9 Idol Wannabes

Are you ready for some singin'?! I'm talking Idol singin' fun and it begins tonight. The Season 9 Top 12 have been found and are ready to sing for your votes. But before you start your fingers a dialin', you'll need the all-important scorecard to get to know the Idol wannabes...and you've come to the right place.



We'll start with the judges since there has been so much made of who's new, who's leaving, and who's providing valuable input to our Idols.



First up, the Ellen-phant in the room. As strange as it sounded last summer when the announcement was made that our Paula was leaving TV's top rated show, it was even more shocking to hear that Ellen DeGeneres was going to slide into the seat left vacant by Paula and give advice to a group of up and coming singers. Ellen made her debut during Hollywood Week and has done a reasonably good job of helping guide this year's group of young people--my advice to her would be to stick to helping the kids hone their performance skill, something Ellen has mastered in nearly 30 years of performing on stage and TV.



The other news that rocked the Idol world was Simon Cowell's announcement that he is going to leave the show at the end of the season. After crowning the 9th American Idol, Simon is turning his attention to finding the next "It" guy or girl on his show "The X Factor"--the same show that spawned the likes of Leona Lewis in the UK. There have been many rumors about who will replace Simon (no one really can, right!). The list of rumored replacements includes Howard Stern (likely more a negotiating tool for the Shock Jock), Piers Morgan (the first Celebrity Apprentice and a current America's Got Talent judge), and Tommy Mottola (former Mr. Mariah Carey and Sony Exec). But for this season, we have Simon and that makes it worth watching.



Rounding out the judging table are Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi. Randy has been a mainstay from the beginning and continues to provide advice that floats between the sweetness of Paula (and now Ellen) and the edgy of Simon. He still says things like "that just didn't work for me, Dawg" and "we got a hot one tonight!", so you pretty much know what you're going to get with Mr. Jackson. Kara, on the other hand, has taken a slightly different approach from her debut season last year. Besides having gotten married since we last saw her, she has developed a bit of a soft spot for some of the contestants--even going so far as to have a bit of a crush on one and crying after another sang a particularly moving song. Perhaps sitting so close to Paula last year rubbed off on our Miss Kara!



But enough about the judges, how about the contestants?! That's what you want to know about. So here goes...in no particular order, here are your Top 12 Idol Wannabes:

1. Didi Benami (23) from Knoxville, TN. Didi has taken criticism from the judges when she ventures outside of her comfort zone which is more of a guitar strummin', coffee shop sound. Like most of the other contestants this year (and in years past), she is really going to struggle with song selection. She tried to go up tempo during an earlier round and the judges kicked her around so much, she looked like a soccer ball with tears. I don't expect her to win, but she could be around for awhile if she picks the right songs.


2. Sioban Magnus (19) Cape Cod, MA. Sioban is one of the more "out there" contestants this year. Back in Cape Cod she makes her money as an apprentice glass blower and her personality might be considered just as unusual. She isn't afraid to take on big songs as was evidenced by her "slaying" an Aretha Franklin classic during an early round. As long as America can get past her obvious lack of "traditional" social skills, her singing can take her a long way in the show.


3. Paige Miles (24) Naples, FL. Simon said Paige has the best voice of all of the girls, but she struggles with song selection. As Randy often says, "this girl can blow", but in Paige's case he may be talking about the result of her song selection. I don't anticipate a long stay on the Idol stage for Miss Paige, but...we'll just have to wait and see.


4. Casey James (27) Fort Worth, TX. Casey, or has is better known, Kara's Crush! is the oldest contestant to make the Top 12 this season. When Casey auditioned in Denver, Kara was so taken with his look that she asked him to take off his shirt--I guess she is still smarting from the bikini girl incident that dominated Season 8. Anyway when Casey was allowed to sing, he generally nailed it. The only time he faltered was when he tried a bit too hard to be a rock star and focused too much on playing the electric guitar during his performance--hey, Casey, this is a singing contest, remember?! Regardless of any missteps he has taken or might take in the near future, Casey should be around until the end because he is one of the more talented singers--male or female...and he looks good, so the ladies will like him.


5. Tim Urban (20) Duncanville, TX. This year's mystery man. Tim didn't originally make it out of Hollywood Week as he was sent home in favor of another boy who was invited to the Top 12 boys (Top 24 overall), but due to some fluke about which I don't have the details, Tim was invited back to the Idol stage and by some stroke of luck is part of the Top 12. The guy has absolutely zero charisma and stage presence, is only a marginal singer, and hasn't wowed the judges often, but America voted him into the Top 12 and now it's up to him to prove me wrong (like Kris Allen did last year). But I expect Tim's luck to run out in the first few shows--unless the "vote for the worst" folks have their say.


6. Lee Dewyze (23) Mount Prospect, IL. Lee is one of my favorite contestants this year. He has serious raw singing talent and whether he wins Idol or not will find himself on the radio by next year. Simon agreed with me saying Lee has the best voice of all of the boys this year. Lee reminds me a lot of Elliot Yamin from Season 5 (?). When he sings it seems to be so effortless. I look for Lee to be around until the end.


7. Crystal Bowersox (24) Elliston, OH. Crystal is the early favorite to win the Idol crown this season. She has received rave reviews from the judges and the voters just love her. Her presence has been so important this season that Fox switched the order of performances a full night to accomodate a brief hospital stay for Crystal--the boys performed on Tuesday and the girls Wednesday one week giving Crystal the opportunity to continue her run on the show...and it was well-deserved because so far she has been the most consistent of all of the performers.


8. Michael Lynche (26) St. Petersburg, FL. The new father and resident strong man, Michael Lynche has quickly made his mark as an overall talent on the show. Called "Big Mike" by the elfen Ryan Seacrest, Michael brought Kara to tears with his performance last week of "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush. The only thing Big Mike needs to avoid is overconfidence. He can sing, work the stage, and entertain the viewers and audience alike, but he has an air of "of course" about him that could rub people wrong. Like Crystal and Lee before him, I expect to see a lot of Big Mike this season.


9. Lacey Brown (24) Amarillo, TX. Lacey was "this close" to making to the Top 36 last year, but instead the judges selected Megan Joy (she of the many tatoos and crazy/jazz singing voice). That rejection lead Lacey to try one more time and this year it paid off nicely for her. The judges have been a bit hot and cold with her, but her last performance solidified her selection in their eyes. I'm not sold on her because I'm not convinced she's sold on herself. When pressed on the type of artist she is, she says she isn't just one kind of artist which is another way of saying she doesn't know.


10. Aaron Kelly (16) Sonestown, PA. This season's youngest contestant, Aason is also this year's "feel good" story. Aaron has been raised by his aunt since he was very young. Apparently his parents didn't offer a very good living environment for him, so he went to his aunt who he calls "mom". It is a really sweet story and one that is reflected in his singing. He tends to lean toward the Country lane when given the opportunity and has delivered some moving performances of some big cross-over hits. Aaron could be around for a while provided he gains a bit more confidence in himself.


11. Andrew Garcia (24) Moreno Valley, CA. Andrew's story definitely rivals that of Aaron--his parents were in gangs and he grew up in a very difficult environment. Andrew is also a father of a young child and trying to give his family a better life than he had. To help achieve that goal, Andrew hit an early home run during Hollywood Week with an awesome acoustic take on Paula Abdul's "Straight Up". Unfortunately, Andrew has spent the better part of the rest of the show up until now trying to replicate that lighting in a bottle moment. I'm pulling for him, but, again, song selection is going to be the key to his staying power on the Idol stage.


12. Katie Stevens (17) Middlebury, CT. Katie is the youngest girl to make the Top 12 and has really struggled to be a 17 year old on the show. Her voice gives her the ability to sing older songs, but her experience doesn't make them that believable. If Katie can get past--you guessed it!--song selection, she could last a few extra weeks. She is really a middle of the pack kind of contestant and probably lucky to have made it this far in the contest. She is very likable, cute, and has a strong voice.

And that is who America selected to sing for your votes starting with tonight's show when the Idols will channel their inner Mick Jagger and sing hits from the Rolling Stones.

Tune in later to see who did well, who stumbled, and who is in danger of going home.

Until then, I will continue watching TV so you won't have to!

Charlie