Month: February 2009

Kris Allen? Did anyone see that one coming?

Posted by seighinger – February 26, 2009

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I'm not sure anyone was talking about Kris Allen's forgettable "Man in the Mirror" performance after Wednesday's show.

Two weeks of Idol elimninations, two surprises.

Kris Allen’s inclusion in the final 12 was a major shocker, but it probably was not as a big of one as the week before when Michael Sarver got the pass. Still, did anyone see this one coming?

Kris Allen?

Allen’s forgettable “Man in the Mirror” performance Wednesday failed to register even a ripple in water cooler discussions the following morning, at least not in any of the discussions I was a part of or the various Web site comments I checked.

Kris Allen?

If nothing else, it should assure all conspiracy theorists the show is not fixed. If that were the case, Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle (or Tatiana Del Toro from the previous week) would have somehow made it through.

Kris Allen?

Who knows, maybe we have the start of a great Idol storyline developing, I don’t see that happening, but rumor has it I have been wrong before.

A few comments on the other two, Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert, who advanced:

Allison Iraheta: The girl “blew it out the box” again with her encore performance of “Alone.” If not for the shock factor of Kris Allen advancing, Iraheta could have been the headliner for a second straight night.

Adam Lambert: OK, I liked his version of “Satisfaction” a little more than I did the night before, but I still wouldn’t buy the record.

THANKS FOR PLAYIN’

These were the participants sent packing:

Mishovanna Henson, Matt Breitzke, Kai Kalama, Jeanine Vailes, Jasmine Murray, Jesse Langseth, Matt Giraud, Megan Corkrey and Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle.

Biggest surprise: Corkrey. I thought she was a lock after Wednesday night.

BEST BET FOR A WILD CARD SPOT

Corkrey. She’s a judges’ favorite, and she’s talented, too.  And in case you are wondering, I think we have seen the last of Nick/Norman. (I’ll miss him, though.)

RANKING THE TOP 6

If the finals started today, here’s how I would seed the six who have qualified so far:

1. Danny Gokey: As of this writing, I’d gladly settle for a Gokey-Iraheta finals.

2. Allison Iraheta: I cannot wait to see her sing again in the finals. Remember last year when a guy named Cook came out of nowhere? There seems to be one of those every year, and Big Red could be that one of 2009. But she definitely needs to work on her mic skills.

3. Alexis Grace: In the past two weeks, I’ve probably heard more buzz about Alexis than any other contestant.

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Will Adam Lambert touch enough of Middle America to be a championship threat?

4. Adam Lambert: Judging by some of the comments on the previous blog, apparently I am not alone when it comes to this fellow. For me, the jury is still out on whether he will touch enough of Middle America to be a true championship threat.

5. Kris Allen: This is one of the biggest surprises in recent years.

6. Michael Sarver: Someone will eventually have to finish 12th, and right now I’d say Michael has the inside track.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Nice to see Brooke White back on the show, especially sitting in front of the piano where she was at her best a year ago. She performed her first single, “Hold Up My Heart.”  She sounded great and I loved the big, gold hoop earrings.

Amazing. 25 million people voted this week, up from the first week’s 24 million.

Paula looked a bit more awake Wednesday night.

There is still no reason for the results show to be more than 30 minutes, except of course to sell more commercials.

Glad to see Jeanine Vailes decided to wear those shorts again for the group number.

Those “Hell’s Kitchen” commercials are really getting annoying.

I’m going to have to see “Slumdog Millionaire.”

A bit of a feud between Simon and Kara?

NEXT WEEK’S SEMIFINAL ROUND OF 12 PARTICIPANTS

The final semifinal session actually has the makings of the strongest of the three. Lil Rounds, the much-heralded Felicia Barton (according to the cyber universe), Jorge Nunez, Scott MacIntyre and Taylor Vaifanua look like a quality corps of frontrunners.

Felicia Barton
Lil Rounds
Taylor Vaifanua
Jorge Nunez
Scott MacIntyre
Kristen McNamara
Kendall Beard
Ju’Not Joyner
Von Smith
Arianna Asfar
Nathaniel Marshall
Alexander Wagner-Trugman

Big Red wows ‘em in second round of semifinals

Posted by seighinger – February 25, 2009

There’s a new play-uh in town. Welcome to the game, Big Red.

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I get the impression that Allison Iraheta has no idea just how good she could be.

Allison Iraheta, the girl with the quirky attitude and flaming red hair, has established herself as a bona fide Idol title threat. Her performance during Wednesday night’s second semifinal round was so boffo box office that if I’m Danny Gokey, I’m thinking twice about having this competition wrapped up.

Iraheta blasted “Alone” — the 1986 power ballad from Anne Wilson of Heart — to a level that had never before been reached before on Idol. Other contestants have tried, including Carrie Underwood, but none — repeat, none — blew us (and by “us,” I mean me) away like this girl.

And she’s only 16, yet her stage presence, the way she worked the crowd — even he way she moved with the microphone — resembled a seasoned pro. I get the sense she has no idea how good she really is, or could be. Hopefully, she will be around for a long time this spring.

Allison was the one real shining star in the second wave of semifinalists. He’s how I ranked Wednesday night’s performers:

1. Allison Iraheta
Song: “Alone” by Heart.
Comment: If she is not in the final 12, I may surrender by American Idol For Life card. The girl is a natural.
Randy comment: “You just blew it out the box!”
Kara comment: “This girl is serious. You don’t even know how good you are.”
Chance of survival: See you in the finals, Allison.

2. Megan Corkrey
Song: “Put Your Records On” by Corrine Baily Rae
Comment: She’s way different, in a good way. She’s as understated as Allison Iraheta is over the top. Remember Maria “Midnight at the Oasis” Muldaur? She kept popping into my mind the more Megan sang. Great performance.
Paula comment: “You’re interesting, you’re relevant.  The camera loves you.”
Simon: “I hope America votes for you.”
Chance of survival: Excellent.

3. Adam Lambert
Song: “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones.
Comment: I’m just not completely on the bandwagon yet. I was certainly glad he sang a Stones number instead of another Cher effort, but when I hear “Satisfaction,” I don’t want to hear it in a falsetto. I want to be won over by Adam Lambert, but I haven’t been yet.
Simon comment: “There were parts that were excruciatingly bad and parts that were brilliant.”
Chance of survival: Excellent.

4. Jesse Langseth
Song: “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes.
Comment: There is potential here, and I hope she advances. I was not as blown away as I thought I would be when I heard her song choice. “Bette Davis Eyes” is another of my all-time favorites, and maybe I expected too much. I hope she gets another chance, either in the finals or the wild-card round.
Paula comment: “I found you captivating. You’re cool, and you have an identifiable sound.”
Simon comment: “You are forgettable.”
Chance of survival: 60-40.

5. Matt Giraud
Song: “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay.
Comment: Maybe I am a majority of one, but I enjoyed his performance. I’m a sucker for those raspy-voiced singers. I also thought he connected well with the audience. After all four judges gave him a thumbs down, I found myself shaking my head. Was I listening to the same thing they were?
Kara comment: “You blew me away in Hollywood, and tonight you did not blow me away.”
Chance of survival: 50-50, at least in my mind.

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Admit it. Norman Gentle makes you laugh.

6. Nick Mitchell/ Norman Gentle
Song: “And I Am Telling You” from Dreamgirls
Comment: I’m glad “Norman” showed up. Admit it, you laughed, too. Do you have the feeling we have not seen the last of him? Can he sing? About as well as me (OK, a little better than that), but the guy is entertaining each and every time out. He may actually advance to the final 12 on America’s vote, but his act may get tiresome soon after that. Right now, he’s still a novelty.
Simon comment: “I pray you do not go through to the next round.”
Kara comment: “You wear the same shirt, like Simon, every week … and you’re not a terrible singer.”
Chance of survival: 50-50.

7. Kai Kalama
Song: “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?” by Jimmy Ruffin.
Comment: Kai’s a guy I wanted to do well, but felt he played it way too safe with this kind of song. I even yawned halfway through the performance.
Simon comment: “I thought the performance was quite corny.”
Chance of survival: None.

8. Mishovanna Henson
Song: “Drops of Jupiter” by Train.
Comment: There were a few moments when I thought we might have a breakout moment here, but there not enough of them.
Kara comment: “I want you to loosen up.”
Chance of survival. None.

9. Matt Breitzke
Song: “If You Can Only See” by Tonic
Comment: Nice guy, I’m sure. Not American Idol material, though. Totally forgettable performance.
Simon comment: “You have not done yourself any favors with a song like that.”
Chance of survival: None.

10. Jasmine Murray
Song: “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles.
Comment: Wow, I expected so much more from Jasmine. I loved the song choice, but it was so uneven, and at the beginning it was even unintelligble.
Simon comment: “I’m a little disappointed, because I like you.”
Chance of survival: None.

11. Kris Allen
Song: “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson.
Comment: Rather boring, but his biggest problem may have having to follow Allison Iraheta.
Simon comment: “The chicks are going to love you.”
Chance of survival: None.

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Well, at least Jeanine Vailes has nice legs.

12. Jeanine Vailes
Song: “This Love” by Maroon 5
Comment: Jeanine was one of those we have not seen until now, and what does she do? Plays the Haley Scarnato card by showing as much leg as possible. Her interpretation of the Maroon 5 song was forgettable, but the outfit alone deserves to be in the finals.
Paula comment: “Jeanine, great legs.”
Simon: “It was terrible.”
Chance of survival: None.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Glad to see Ryan decided to dress up for the show. Nice golf shirt, buddy.

Simon returned to the right side of the judges’ table, where he belongs. The universe simply was not aligned a week ago when he sat on the left.

One of my goals this year is to rent the past seasons of “24″ and watch them nonstop. I have never seen the show, but the commercials look so intriguing.

Hmmm … Julia Roberts is in a new movie, something called “Duplicity” with Clive Owen. Remember when she was one of the young stars in “Mystic Pizza” way back when?

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon Cowell: Simon was especially succinct. As usual, he pulled absolutely no punches. I still think, however, that he and the rest of the Fab Four missed the boat on Matt Giraud. Score: 9.
Paula Abdul: She appeared to be drowsy, and her speech was slurred. At times, she was downright goofy. Score: 4.
Kara DioGuardi: Kara and Simon remain the only two judges with a real clue. I have learned to trust what she says. Score: 8.
Randy Jackson: The Dawg seemed to stray with many of his thoughts. There was no real pattern to his observations, but at least he never entered the goofy zone. Score: 6.

Semifinal standings: Simon 19, Kara 18, Randy 16, Paula 12.
Season standings: Simon 119, Kara 99, Paula 81, Randy 73.

JUDGES TITLES
Auditions: Simon
Hollywood Week: Simon

Tournament finals set: Is David Cook the one to beat?

Posted by seighinger – February 24, 2009

The voters have spoken. The field is set.

The inaugural American Idol Fans Tournament (AIFT) will field a championship lineup that includes Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Brooke White, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, David Cook, Kellie Pickler and Kelly Clarkson.

Those eight advanced from four different “regional” tournaments over the past month. The top two vote-getters from each four-person regional moved on to the finals. The regionals had been assembled via seeding from the recent Idols Project: Top 50 countdown. The top eight-ranked males and femals from the countdown were eligible for the tournament.

Finals voting begins today and runs through March 8.

Here’s a rundown on the finalists:

Carrie Underwood: She won what turned out to be the toughest regional. It was a tight, three-way scrum also involving Chris Daughtry and Bo Bice.

Chris Daughtry: Will Daughtry pick up the Bo Bice voters?

David Archuleta: He was never challenged in a regional where the best struggle was between Brooke White and Ruben Studdard.

Brooke White: We love Brooke, but she has no chance. She’s the equivalent of a mid-major in the NCAA Tournament, and she’s not Gonzaga.

Kelly Clarkson: She had another easy ride to the finals. I think she will be involved in a three-way battle for the title with David Cook and Carrie Underwood.

Jason Castro: Jason, Brooke and Kellie will battle to avoid the basement.

David Cook: I think he’s the artist to beat. He collected the highest percentage of votes of any of the regional champs, and he’s still a hot ticket.

Kellie Pickler: She shocked the world when she held off Michael Johns to claim the runner-up spot in the Simon Regional.

REGIONAL VOTING RESULTS

Kara Regional:
x-Carrie Underwood, 36.5 percent
x-Chris Daughtry, 31.0 percent
Bo Bice, 27.0 percent
Mandisa, 5.4 percent

Randy Regional:
x-David Archuleta, 36.8 percent
x-Brooke White, 27.1 percent
Ruben Studdard, 25.7 percent
Fantasia Barrino, 10.4 percent

Paula Regional
x-Kelly Clarkson, 37.7 percent
x-Jason Castro, 26.1 percent
Clay Aiken, 24.6 percent
Kimberly Caldwell, 11.6 percent

Simon Regional
x-David Cook, 38.2 percent
x-Kellie Pickler, 25.0 percent
Michael Johns, 22.1 percent
Kat McPhee, 14.7 percent

After Lambert, this week looks like a crap shoot

Posted by seighinger – February 22, 2009

It’s time for round two of the semifinals, which has been pushed back to Wednesday night because of President Obama’s scheduled address to the nation.

The contestants:

Adam Lambert
Megan Corkrey
Kris Allen
Mishavonna Henson
Matt Breitzke
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Jasmine Murray
Kai Kalama
Jesse Langseth
Jeanine Vailes
Nick Mitchell

lambertBest bets to advance: Lambert, Langseth, Corkrey. (Note: Last week I picked Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Jackie Tohn. I call that a “Meat Loaf,” for all of you ’80s music fans, because Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.)

Lambert has received almost as much attention as Gokey and needs a killer performance to stay within striking distance in the hype department. And he has to lose the black fingernail polish. Let’s be honest — that will not play with middle America’s voters.

langsethLangseth is my semi-dark horse pick, and I’m pretty sure there will be no in-between ground with her. She will either be tremendous or entirely forgettable. We did not see much of her until cutdown night in the judges’ mansion, and that snippet sold me on her potential. She might be a unique hybrid between an Amanda Overmyer and Jackie Tohn. She doesn’t have Jackie’s alleged attitude problem, nor does she have Amanda’s far-out hairdo. But she does the same kind of scratch voice that we (and by “we,” I mean “I”) like.

corkreyCorkrey is another semi-reach because of how so little we have seen of her, but she has a unique look, is a little quirky with that arm full of tattoos and a pleasant voice. The pleasantness of the voice is in stark contrast to the rest of her look and story.

Next in line: Murray, Mitchell, Iraheta, Kalama.

Murray’s definitely a talent, but I worry about her aloofness, or what seems to be her aloofness. And then there’s Mitchell, a.k.a. Norman Gentle. I don’s know what to expect from him, and that’s why I’m anxious. How can schtick carry a guy? Iraheta and Kalama are gut calls, again based on what little we have seen of them.

The results show will be on Thursday night.

John Wayne, Amazing Grace and The Hero advance

Posted by seighinger – February 18, 2009

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Michael Sarver pulled off the first of what is sure to be many shockers this season by advancing to the final 12.

It’s American Idol. There’s going to be surprises in the vote. It’s a given.

The first of Season 8 saw Michael Sarver advance to the final 12 with favorite Danny Gokey and America’s new sweetheart, Alexis “Amazing” Grace. Sarver’s advancement was not the only surprise from Wednesday night’s results show, but it was certainly the biggest.

Michael is the big galoot from the Texas oil fields, who said his friends probably think he’s a sissy for being in this competition. Michael is now officially the John Wayne figure in this competition, the guy in the white hat who has obviously struck a chord with American voters.

In all honesty, as much as I like Michael’s story of wanting to change his family’s life and his nice-guy persona, he did not deserve to advance. I had him ranked No. 10 during Tuesday’s first semifinal round.

Some thoughts on the other two qualifiers:

Alexis Grace: She looked cute in that little hat while accepting more plaudits from the Fab Four. Alexis is now definitely in it to win it.

I thought her encore performance of “Never Loved A Man” was better Wednesday night than her debut on Tuesday. That’s what a shot of confidence — like making it to the final 12 — can do for a girl.

When she was awarded one of the three spots early in the hour-long show, there were nine remaining contestants who had to know Danny Gokey had one of the remaining two positions locked up, leaving eight for that last spot. I figured it would come down to Jackie Tohn, Ricky Braddy, Tatiana Del Toro or Anoop Desai. I was oh-so-wrong.

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I never really doubted Danny Gokey would make the top 12 and Tatiana Del Toro would not. OK, maybe I was worried for a minute.

Danny Gokey: The Hero advances, to no one’s surprise. But I will readily admit I was more than a bit nervous when the final qualifying seat came down to Danny and Tatiana. Would it be one of those cruel Idol twists of fate, or would common sense prevail? On this night, it was common sense.

Danny sang Mariah Carey’s “Hero” as the show drew to a close, and sang it just as well as he did the previous night. Seriously, can he be beaten?

THANKS FOR PLAYIN’

These were participants sent packing:

Casey Carlson, Brent Keith, Stephen Fowler, Ricky Braddy, Anoop Desai, Jackie Tohn, Stevie Wright, Anne Marie Boskovich, Tatiana Del Toro.

Biggest surprise: Tohn. I’m still having trouble comprehending this one.

BEST BET FOR A WILD CARD SPOT

Tohn has to be a favorite, with Braddy and Desai dark horses. I think Tatiana blew any chance she had with the court of public opinion with her sobbing at the end. The rest of those who got the axe took the news with class and maturity. All the support Tatiana (re)gained on Tuesday night went right out the window when she turned away from several of the other contestants who tried to console her.

A final Tatiana note … On the way home from work Wednesday I was listening to the baseball channel on Sirius XM radio, and the entire conversation centered in American Idol and Tatiana.

“She is the most annoying person in the history of the show,” said the radio host, whose name escapes me as I write this.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Wow. Ryan reports 24 million votes were cast Tuesday night, 10 million more than this time a year ago.

I was hoping the dreaded group number would be discontinued, No such luck. Wound up being another three-minute segment for Casey Carlson to annoy us with her facial gestures.

Daughter Sarah watched with me Wednesday night and informed me Kara annoys the living heck out of her. “They need to go back to three judges,” according to Sarah. I think Sarah was simply having a blonde moment.

Nice to see Carly Smithson and Michael Johns make guest appearances. Carly looked great! If 2009 Carly had been 2008 Carly, last year’s Idol might have seen a completely different outcome. Did Michael’s jacket look a couple of sizes too small, or is my fashion sense completely comatose?

NEXT WEEK’S SEMIFINAL ROUND OF 12 PARTICIPANTS

Adam Lambert
Megan Corkrey
Kris Allen
Mishavonna Henson
Matt Breitzke
Allison Iraheta
Matt Giraud
Jasmine Murray
Kai Kalama
Jesse Langseth
Jeanine Vailes
Nick Mitchell

Saving the best for last … but the rest was pretty bad

Posted by seighinger – February 18, 2009

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Is there any doubt who the early favorite is to win American Idol this year?

So much anticipation, so many bad performances.

The first round of Idol semifinals was borderline disastrous. Thankfully, we had Danny Gokey and — brace yourself — Tatiana Del Toro.

Gokey was on a completely different level than any of the other singers, and he seems to be getting better each time we see him. It was no accident he was saved for the final performance on the first Tuesday elimination show. He’s already the star of the season, and it’s just February.

But Tatiana? Who saw THIS coming? Give the girl her props. On a night when so many of the contestants were … well, awful, Tatiana was like a breath of fresh Caribbean air. I’ll be shocked if she is not one of the three who advance to the finals out of this first-round batch of disappointments.

The top male and female votegetters, plus the next highest in the ballot, will move on to the championship round. The other nine have a shot at one of the three wild-card berths following the semifinals, but unless you are friend or family of most of them, I wouldn’t be holding my breath.

Here’s how I ranked Tuesday’s performances:

1. Danny Gokey: Believe the hype. If there had been a doubt who the favorite was to be the next American Idol, his “Hero” by Mariah Carey should have spelled it out loud and clear. I’m not only on the Danny Gokey bandwagon, I’m driving it.
Kara comment: “You give us all hope.”
Paula comment: “Two words. Sold-out arenas.”
Simon comment: “I like you, I’m not just buying the hype yet.”
Chance of survival: Are you kidding?

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The Puerto Rican princess may be a drama queen, but she was good on this night.

2. Tatiana Del Toro: Who is this girl? I had the exact same thought as Randy when hearing she going to sing “Saving All My Love For You” by Whitney Houston. I was ready for a complete and utter disaster, but our Puerto Rican princess was — shall I say it? — borderline great. The female vote definitely comes down to Tatiana, Jackie Tohn and Alexis Grace.
Paula comment: “You are the most-talked about contestant on the show. I just don’t know who you are.”
Simon comment: “You are a complete and utter drama queen. You are desperate to be famous.”
Chance of surviving: Good.

3. Ricky Braddy: We finally got to hear the mystery man. About five notes into “Song For You” by Leon Russell, I knew the Internet buzz about thus guy was accurate. He’s good, he’s real good.
Kara comment: “You have an incredible gift.”
Chance of surviving: 50-50

4. Jackie Tohn: Of all the songs to choose from, why “A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis? It did not showcase her vocal ability at all. I’m worried about her advancing.
Kara comment: “You can work a stage, girl.”
Chance of surviving: 50-50.

5. Anoop Desai: “Angel of Mine” by Monica seemed a perfect choice for the smooth sounds of the Anoop Dogg. He didn’t completely nail the song, but on this night, he was definitely in the upper tier.
Paula comment: “America has connected with you.”
Chance of survival: 50-50

6. Alexis Grace: I was not as crazy about her interpretation of “Never Loved A Man” by Aretha Franklin as the judges, but it was more than acceptable on a night when there so many downright disappointing performances.
Kara comment: “The genie is out of the bottle now.”
Chance of surviving: 50-50

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Stephen Fowler will be remembered more for forgetting than he will be for singing "Rock With You."

7. Stephen Fowler: He received a chance for redemption after flopping late in the Hollywood Week and chose “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson. It was an uneven and rather uninspiring performance.
Randy comment: “It’s not the joint for you to be singing. It was not good.”
Chance of survival: None.

8. Anne Marie Boskovich: She’s got some chops but absolutely no stage presence, which showed in her “Natural Woman” performance by Aretha Franklin.
Kara comment: “That song is so big that you have to nail it if you are going to sing it.”
Chance of surviving: None.

9. Brent Keith: A forgettable version of “Hicktown” by Jason Aldean, which was too bad, because he has that likability factor.
Simon comment: “It was forgettable.”
Chance of surviving: None.

10. Michael Sarver: A major, major disappointment. I thought he had the potential to be the next Josh Gracin, but he might be no more than the first Michael Sarver. I’m really confused by this performance. I expected so much more.
Kara comment: “You’ve got more in you (than that).”
Chance of surviving: None.

11. Casey Carlson: Casey can be thankful Stevie Wright was in the competition, because her rendition of the Police’s “Every Little Thing (S)he Does Is Magic” would have been the worst of the night.
Simon comment: “The singing was atrocious.”
Chance of surviving: None.

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Clip and save this photo. You'll never hear from Stevie Wright again after that atrocious performance.

12. Stevie Wright: There is simply nothing positive to say about Stevie’s attempt at “You Belong To Me” by Taylor Swift.
Randy comment: “It was not hot for me.”
Chance of surviving: None.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Was that Ted Danson in the audience?

Having the parents and family members in the red room was a horrible, awkward idea.

Did you notice Simon was sitting at the left end of the judges’ table and Randy the right? I believe in past shows at the stage of the competition our bombastic Brit was always on the right. Will we have a more liberal Simon? Nahhhh.

There were way too many glitches. There were at two problems with microphones during contestant interviews, plus a problem with the tape of Brent Keith.

The softer, kinder season of Ryan Seacrest continues. The lad was wearing a cardigan, for crying out loud.

ARCHULETA, WHITE ADVANCE TO TITLE ROUND

As expected, David Archuleta dominated the past week’s voting to win the American Idol Fans Tournament (AIFT) Randy Regional, but what was not expected was Brooke White upsetting Ruben Studdard for the second qualifying position. Fantasia Barrino was not a factor.

Archuleta and White now join Kelly Clarkson, Jason Castro, David Cook and Kellie Pickler in the finals. The eight-person championship lineup will be completed with this week’s Kara Regional. Voting in the AIFT finals is scheduled to begin Feb. 24.

Results from the Randy Regional:

David Archuleta, 36.8 percent
Brooke White, 27.1 percent
Ruben Studdard, 25.7 percent
Fantasia Barrino, 10.4 percent

PAST RESULTS

Paula Regional

Kelly Clarkson, 37.7 percent
Jason Castro, 26.1 percent
Clay Aiken, 24.6 percent
Kimberly Caldwell, 11.6 percent

Simon Regional

David Cook, 38.2 percent
Kellie Pickler, 25.0 percent
Michael Johns, 22.1 percent
Kat McPhee, 14.7 percent

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon Cowell: Simon pulled no punches, and I had no real problem with any of his evaluations. He may have been a bit harsh on Jackie Tohn, but overall, he was spot on. Score: 10.

Paula Abdul: Did you think she looked like Goldie Hawn (with brown hair, of course)? Paula was traveling to the beat of a different drummer at some points, but at least she honed in on Stevie Wright’s terrible performance. Score: 8.

Kara DioGuardi: She’s not afraid to speak her mind, and I believe what she says. I can’t say that all the time about Paula, or even Randy. But when Kara (and Simon, of course) open up, I’m all ears. Score: 10.

Randy Jackson: The Dawg is out of the house. Much of what he says at this stage is useless, but he’s always enthusiastic. Just gimme the feeling, Dawg, Gimme the feeling. Score: 10.

Semifinal standings: Simon 10, Kara 10, Randy 10, Paula 8.

Season standings: Simon 110, Kara 91, Paula 77, Randy 67.

JUDGES TITLES

Auditions: Simon

Hollywood Week: Simon

Handicapping the field of 36

Posted by seighinger – February 15, 2009

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We’re only a matter of hours away from Tuesday night’s start of the Idol postseason, so let’s have a little handicapping fun.

Here’s my overall top 10 going into the round of 36, followed by my picks for this week:

OVERALL TOP 10

1. Danny Gokey: Right now, this is his world and the other 35 are merely passing through. Can he deliver a killer performance Tuesday night?

FYI: He enjoys salsa dancing.

2. Jackie Tohn: She is one of two potential superstars from the female division entering the semifinals, but she, too, needs to come out smoking.

FYI: She has an associate’s degree in psychology.

3. Lil Rounds: This is the other possible showstopper among the girls. I don’t think Lil has the potential to deliver a knockout number like Jackie can — but “Li’l” Miss Dynamite might be the steadier of the two.

FYI: She has been singing since she was 3 years old.

4. Adam Lambert: Talent-wise, he’s at least comparable to Gokey, but it will all come down to how he presents himself. I hope he has sense enough to get rid of the black finergnail polish.

FYI: He has been involved in musical theater the past eight years.

5. Jesse Langseth: We really hadn’t seen much of her until the cutdown show … and holy crap, the girl is good! Was this a mirage or not? If not, watch out, world!

FYI: She has an 8-year-old daughter.

6. Taylor Vaifanua: There is a wealth of talent in this participant. I just hope she cuts loose. She has seemed almost too reserved, too polite. America could really fall in love with the girl from Keokuk.

FYI: She stands 6-foot-2 in high heels.

7. Alexis Grace: Each time I see her I like her a little more. I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t advance to the final 12.

FYI: She was a member of the concert choir at the University of Memphis.

8. Jorge Nunez: One of the most engaging contestants, if Jorge can showcase enough versatility he could be this season’s true surprise.

FYI: He is fluent in French.

9. Scott MacIntyre: He’s a lock for the final 12, but after that it might get difficult.

FYI: He attended graduate school in England.

10. Kai Kalama: This one’s just a hunch. I like his voice.

FYI: He can play the ukelele and drums.

On the bubble: Allison Iraheta, Anne Marie Boskovich, Casey Carlson, Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Kristen McNamara, Kendall Beard, Stevie Wright, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Michael Sarver, Matt Breitzke, Stephen Fowler.

The jury is still out: Ricky Braddy, Von Smith, Nick Mitchell, Kris Allen, Ju’Not Joyner, Brent Keith, Mishovanna Henson. Janine Vailes, Arianna Asfar, Felicia Barton.

Pack your bags: Tatiana Del Toro, Nathaniel Marshall, Alexander Wagner-Trugman.

TUESDAY’S 12 SEMIFINALISTS

These three should be favored to advance: Danny Gokey, Jackie Tohn, Alexis Grace.

These eight should be very competitive (this is a great group of 12): Michael Sarver, Ricky Braddy, Anoop Desai, Stevie Wright, Brent Keith, Anne Marie Boskovich, Stephen Fowler, Casey Carlson.

This one has ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE: Tatiana Del Toro.

Huge news! Pacitti bounced from semifinals, ruled ineligible

Posted by seighinger – February 12, 2009

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Joanna Pacitti out, Felicia Barton in.

Pacitti, who made Wednesday night’s final 36 cut, has been ruled ineligible. The news came from a Fox Network press release early this morning.

Pacitti had been the center of controversy through much of the early competition because she had already starred on Broadway and had a previous recording deal, but the elimination allegedly stems from a relationship she has had with two members of one of the controlling companies of Idol.

“It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue
in the competition,” stated the Fox press release that announced the show’s full roster of semifinalists.

Barton, 26, is from Virginia Beach, Va., and auditioned in Louisville, Ky. She has received very little air time, but had developed a strong Internet following.

Loved the new format and singoffs … Can’t wait for Tuesday

Posted by seighinger – February 11, 2009

And now the real Idol fun begins.

We survived the auditions and tolerated Hollywood Week. Now, it’s time for the eliminations to start. The field is set — bigger this year at 36, instead of 24 — as we start to slowly work out way to the final 12.

I’m excited. Seriously, I can’t wait for next Tuesday and the first round of 12 semifinalists.

Danny Gokey will enter the round of 36 as the prohibitive favorite, at least in my mind. But each and every year, a star emerges, a surprise that draws us to this show like Jamocha Almond Fudge ice cream does to Baskin-Robbins. David Cook was that unheralded wannabe a year ago.

There will also be serious flameouts from those we considered star material at the outset. Remember Ace Young?

Here are some thoughts following Wednesday night’s cutdown show:

Biggest surprises, in no particular order:

– The “sing-offs”: Who knew this was coming? What a great idea. Idol promised some tweaking this season, and that’s exactly what we’ve received. I was nervous just watching. I can’t imagine what the participants were feeling.

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A powerful voice and 16 years old?
Allison Iraheta is a dark horse.

– Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell: I never thought he stood a chance. Did you?

– Stephen Fowler: Talented, yes, but he failed — twice — late in Hollywood Week by forgetting his lyrics. That used to mean an immediate exit.

– Tatiana Del Toro: Let’s be honest, they put her through for one more week of annoyance. She is like a train wreck, and people like to watch train wrecks. I’m not sure which was more disappointing, her getting through or Norman/Nick. At least Norman/Nick seems like someone you’d want to want to come over to your house and play Scrabble with.

– Jesse Langseth: I had not heard her that much until last night. I think she could be top 10 material.

– Allison Iraheta: Another girl I had not heard that much. What a powerful voice, and she’s only 16. A real dark horse to watch.

– Joanna Pacitti: She oozes star power, but like Stephen Fowler, repeatedly forgot her lyrics. She will either blossom before our very eyes or disappear quickly. There will be no middle ground.

– Anoop Desai: Yes, Anoop’s in the house, as Randy reminded us (again). He’s in a tough opening group of 12, but he might be able to snatch that third automatic qualifier spot (see below).

Biggest disappointments

6a00e5508a2f6388330111685c7bf6970c-800wi
Jamar Rogers didn’t get in, but
Norman Gentle did? That’s a crime.

— Jamar Rogers: I thought he was a lock. The judges blew this one, and blew it badly. This was a crime, considering a few who DID get in (namely, Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell). Was Jamar one of the best 36? Definitely. Could he have made the final 12? Possibly.

– Frankie Jordan: She was good enough to be among the top 36.

– T.K. Hash: Probably should have been given the nod over Stephen Fowler.

– Reggi Beasley: Borderline, but definitely better than Norman/Nick.

No surprise, but was I especially glad they made it:

– Scott MacIntyre: How could you not smile when he found out the answer was “yes”? Hey, I wiped a tear away.

– Danny Gokey: I think he’s the Chosen One.

– Lil Rounds, Alexis Grace: I’m rooting for the moms.

– Jackie Tohn: Right now, the best girl in the competition. I would love to see a Danny Gokey-Jackie Tohn finals.

THE FIRST ROUND OF 12

Each Tuesday for the next three weeks will be a semifinal round of 12. The top three votegetters advance to the finals. At the end of the semifinals, the judges will pick three wild cards to make the final field of 12.

Here’s the first 12 who will perform Tuesday. Nine will go home on Wednesday.

1. Tatiana Del Toro

2. Jackie Tohn

3. Casey Carlson

4. Ricky Braddy

5. Anoop Desai

6. Stephen Fowler

7. Anne Marie Boskovich

8. Michael Sarver

9. Danny Gokey

10. Stevie Wright

11. Alexis Grace

12. Brent Keith

RANKINGS, RANKINGS, RANKINGS!!!

On Monday, watch this space for my top 10 overall going into the semifinals, plus a breakdown of the first round of 12.

The game is officially on!

IDOL THOUGHTS

During a commercial break, I went to the kitchen and got some Frosted Flakes. I noticed disgraced U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps on the box. I better hang on to that one. It will probably be a collector’s item since Kellogg’s deep-sixed Michael following his drug-related indiscretions.

No “Lie to Me” last night with Idol on for two hours. Bummer.

I enjoyed this cutdown show more than any ever. Loved the new format.

Gazing at the initial round of 12 semifinalists, what strikes me most is that it is stronger than at least two of the final round of 12 from recent years.

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon Cowell: This is the time of the season when Simon gets his game face on. Score: 10.

Paula Abdul: Kudos to Paula. Wednesday was the finest show of the season. She actually added a lot to the telecast. Score: 10.

Kara DioGuardi: Same with Kara. She’s going to be a heavy hitter the rest of the way. Score: 10.

Randy Jackson: I think the Dawg’s best days are to come. I hope. Score: 6.

Final Hollywood Week standings: Simon 35, Paula 31, Kara 28, Randy 18.

Season standings: Simon 100, Kara 81, Paula 69, Randy 57.

JUDGES TITLES

Auditions: Simon

Hollywood Week: Simon

Oh, Danny Boy! Gokey is definitely the man to beat this season

Posted by seighinger – February 10, 2009

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance … I hope you dance.

In every Idol season, there are about a dozen of what we like to call MOMENTS. Normally, they occur in the finals, those individual performances when you get that chill running down the back of your neck and can actually feel how special a particular song is made by one of the Idols.

Remember “Imagine” by David Archuleta and “Hello” by David Cook a year ago? Now you have the picture.

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Danny Gokey may have had
the first “moment” of the season.

Surprisingly enough, the first moment of ’09 occurred Tuesday night during Hollywood Week when Danny Gokey sang “I Hope You Dance,” the song that brought country artist Lee Ann Womack to fame nine years ago. It was such an unexpected choice for Gokey that I seriously doubted he could pull it off.

Obviously the guy knows what he is doing. He possesses that unique blue-eyed soul and is blessed with a voice that lies somewhere in between Rod Stewart/Steve Forbert/Bonnie Tyler, and he simply owns the stage. He can make any song an instant classic. Case in point was Anne Marie Boskovich’s rendering of the same “I Hope You Dance” later in the show. Her effort paled in comparison and made us appreciate how special Gokey’s performance had been.

Gokey clearly has established himself as the man to beat this season. Even though we won’t know who reaches the final 36 until tonight, and the final 12 is almost a month away, mark down Danny Gokey to be around this crazy little TV show we call American Idol until late May. We have been singing his praises since his audition, and Tuesday night only cemented his presence in this competition.

Right now, everyone else is fighting for No. 2.

Ten other thoughts about last night:

• Adam Lambert is an exceptional talent, but my gut feeling is he’s not Idol championship material. I’m not saying he won’t be around a long time — I’m still predicting a Lambert vs. Gokey finals — but I still feel like I’m sitting through some theater performance every time he sings. With Gokey, I’m at a concert.

6a00e5508a2f6388330105371f4b56970b-800wi
Norman Gentle or whatever your
name is, it’s time for you go to.

• Isn’t it about time to send Norman Gentle home? Enough is enough.

• Scott MacIntire, the almost blind guy from the first week of auditions, finally made another appearance of some length, and he was even better than the first time around. He clearly needs to be at a keyboard. What a great voice and feel he has for a song. The brutal truth, however, is his physical limitations may hurt him as the eliminations continue, but what a great story and inspiring talent.

• Jamar Rogers continues to grow on me. I hope he makes the round of 36. He’s got that aura about him that makes me think we could see a real talent develop over the coming weeks if he survives tonight.

• I was disappointed we didn’t get to see more of Jackie Tohn. As it stands right now, she is definitely top five in the finals material. I still worry about the facial gestures, though.

• Anoop Desai continues to sneak up on us. Anoop Dogg can definitely sing.

• I was glad to see Michael Sarver make another cut. The oil rig worker still reminds me a lot of Josh Gracin, and every competition needs the guy in the white hat.

6a00e5508a2f63883301116859f556970c-300wi
Don’t you just want to reach out and
smack annoying Tatiana Del Toro?

• Tatiana Del Toro annoys the living heck out of me. I will concede
she has impressed me in Hollywood – a little bit, though let’s not get
carried away — but if she survives beyond the top 36, I want a
Congressional hearing called.

• Jorge Nunez is another guy who is winning me over. I enjoy his sincerity.

• I was sorry to see 16-year-old Leneshe Young axed. If ever there had been a story to root for, it was her. She and her family have been homeless much of her life.

IDOL THOUGHTS

It looks like a star-studded field is lining up for the finals of the American Idols Fan Tournament (see below). I’m hoping for a blog record for votes cast come finals time. The most states and foreign provinces that have ever been represented in a single poll on this site is 25 continental U.S. states and six Canadian provinces. We have never received a vote outside North America. If anyone knows a friend in Mexico or France or Sri Lanka, give ‘em a call — and the Web site address. Friends, we’re talking possible history!

If there would ever be a Mount Rushmpre of Idol, who would be represented. I think Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson would be givens. How about the other two? Hmmmm….

Wasn’t it painful to watch Stephen Fowler forget the words TWICE? Yet he made it through to tonight. Go figure.

Don’t forget about Lil Rounds. She’s been kind of downplayed since her audition, but that girl has some pipes. (Or as Kara likes to say, “chops.”)

CLARKSON, CASTRO MOVE ON TO FINALS

Kelly Clarkson and Jason Castro have advanced from the Paula Regional to the finals of the American Idol Fans Tournament. Balloting began today in the Randy Regional (at right) with the top two votegetters advancing to the finals to join Clarkson, Castro, David Cook and Kellie Pickler. Cook and Pickler advanced from the Simon Regional.

Castro’s narrow victory over Aiken for the second spot in the Paula Regional has to be classified as at least a mild surpriuse. I figured Clarkson and Aiken were virtual locks to advance to the finals. Who knew?

Two more top votegetters from the Kara Regional will eventually complete the Great Eight field. Voting in the AIFT finals is scheduled to begin Feb. 24.

Here’s how the voting looked for the Paula Regional:

Kelly Clarkson, 37.7 percent
Jason Castro, 26.1 percent
Clay Aiken, 24.6 percent
Kimberly Caldwell, 11.6 percent

PAST RESULTS

Simon Regional

David Cook, 38.2 percent
Kellie Pickler, 25.0 percent
Michael Johns, 22.1 percent
Kat McPhee, 14.7 percent

JUDGES SCORECARD

Simon Cowell: Not much from the bombastic Brit on this night. Score: 5.

Paula Abdul: You go, girl. Nutso was practically in charge last night! Score: 9.

Kara DioGuardi: She’s a natural in the holding room when it’s time to award the good — or bad — news. Score: 6.

Randy Jackson: The Dawg came up for air last night. We had an actual Randy sighting. Score: 7.

Hollywood Week standings: Simon 25, Paula 21, Kara 18, Randy 12.

Season standings: Simon 90, Kara 71, Paula 59, Randy 51.