For two months we've heard the judges predicting a female's taking the Idol title this season. After last night's less-than-stellar showing from at least six or seven of the 12 female finalists, tonight's Top 12 men could either prove distressing if that's true the men can't measure up to the bar set last night -- or uplifting if the judges are wrong. I sure hope it's the latter. Let's go and for more follow on Twitter, too, @HowardCohen
"The girls blew it out," last night Randy Jackson lied to the guys in his bid to offer advice.
Todrick Hall shows how to turn Kelly Clarkson's smash Since U Been Gone into something that could never be a hit. A tuneless mess. An even more inauspicious start to the show than Paige's last night. "It was verging on stupid what you did," Simon said. Todrick transformed a hit into something that rhymes with hit.
Aaron Kelly courts dismissal by singing a song with a title like Here Comes Goodbye, a piece of typical Rascall Flatts maudlin tripe, but the 16-year-old kid has charm to spare and a big voice that can approximate the original vocalist but transcend it through personality and likability -- not to mention a pretty big voice for the youngest contestant. No goodbyes for a couple months. He's a Top 5 finalist, no doubt. Now he just needs to avoid becoming samey and too ingratiating like David Archuleta two seasons ago.
Is Jermaine Sellers' mike on? Oh yes, there it goes. Now he's screaming Oleta Adams' ballad at us. He's a near certain early dismissal. Please. Charmless and just dreadful. "Totally blown your opportunity," Simon says. From your lips to God's ears, Mr. Cowell.
"If the sound was down and we were just looking at you we'd vote for you because you're adorable," Ellen DeGeneres said of Tim Urban, then used a season's worth of "adorables" to let the hapless kid know he just doesn't have what it takes. Urban, who was cut in Hollywood but saved in the 12th hour when Chris Golightly was disqualified due to a contract he had, has that early 70s Tiger Beat-Bobby Sherman look going on but there's nothing else there. The One Republic song has a high vocal range he can't scale and his vocals just aren't "adorable" enough. Sorry Tim.
Joe Muñoz finally gets airtime and doesn't hit anywhere near a Wow factor but improves the quality of tonight's Idol a bit after some rough spots. His Jason Mraz performance was safe. OK. Not memorable. Not bad. Pretty much a description of Jason Mraz's music when you think about it.
The judging on Idol this season is much improved with the addition of Ellen. Case in point: the criticicisms of 70s wannabe Tyler Grady and his lacking performance on the 1970 The Guess Who hit, American Woman. Ellen particularly nailed it when she noted that he had all the poses but never really owned any of his Jim Morrison moves and lacked the charisma and star quality of the stars he emulated in his bedroom. Tyler didn't do his cause any favors when he said, in response, that he'll just have to "go to the mall" to find his next look should viewers vote for him. Tyler seems to think one can pick a persona as easily as grabbing a coat off a rack at Banana Republic. I think he'll be back, and should get another chance, but he needs to improve his singing and presence. Adam Lambert was able to bring the 80s into the 00s. Tyler needs to do the same with the 70s and make it seem as fresh if he hopes to advance much more.
Maybe a girl WILL win Idol after all. What a bunch of lifeless guys tonight, the worst of which thus far is Lee Dewyze. Generic voice. No persona. No range. Beyond boring. Simon??? What's in your cup and can I have a sip?
John Park proposes marriage to auditions judge Shania Twain who admired his "bottom end." Tonight, after this dreary God Bless the Child (really? Where ARE producers finding these outdated, bland guys? Century Village?) Shania would decline. Especially if she was faced with hearing this flat, boring, remote performance at the wedding party. Song choice. Song choice. Song choice.
Michael Lynche is a personal trainer? What's he use for a dumbbell? A toothpick with Whoppers on either end? I wouldn't take instruction from this guy. Not sure I'd run to the CD store or iTunes to buy his derivative song stylings either. But in a really lame night Michael is probably second to Aaron. Ellen, meantime, is now becoming Paula Abdul with her effusive overpraise. She's more lucid, but c'mon Miss E. Not everyone is "amazing." Tonight, no one was "amazing."
Alex Lambert is no Adam Lambert and that's too bad. If anyone is the opposite of born-to-the-stage Adam, it's this nervous young man. Ellen needs to eliminate the word "adorable" from her vocabulary.
Kara DioGuardi is in Heaven after Casey James' performance of the Bryan Adams' 1984 hit. And for good reason. Finally a performance tonight that came over as live, honest, personable, genuine -- pick an adjective, they all apply. By far, the only real performance tonight.
Andrew Garcia could win Idol but, like Kris Allen, he can't become a star. He has a "recording quality" voice but he lacks the IT factor a star needs. Vocalwise, he's Top 3 tonight though.
Casey wins the night hands down. Aaron and Andrew next in line. The rest could all be voted off en masse and that would please me.
Como estan?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:01 PM
Word to your mutha
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:03 PM
evans did you watch last night? General consensus was yawn except for Miami chick, Bowersox, maybe Lilly and one other with curly hair...
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:04 PM
Wow, Kelly Clarkson...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:05 PM
todrick is involved in a scandal where he owes some parents money for promising their kids were going to star in some road show of wizard of oz or something which never came to fruition..
props for trying something different but it sounds sour to me.
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:06 PM
Bowersox was great, we agree. I liked "Feeling Good" and the black contestants all sucked.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:06 PM
how bout that jacko move he pulled in the beginning? he's very Broadway
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:07 PM
He's "outlandish".
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:07 PM
Meh...
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:07 PM
Decent... I liked that he took a shot with the arrangement.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:08 PM
Weren't they told last night to change the songs? I am confused.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:08 PM
Simon Cowell says "murder" like Truman Capote.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:09 PM
this young kid up next could be annoying
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:10 PM
I'm all for changing songs if you can improve on them or make them interesting, as the judges suggested. But Todrick was terrible and did murder the biggest crossover hit to come out of this program. He's not very likable either in his pre- and post-performance bits.
Posted by: HoCo | February 24, 2010 at 08:13 PM
hey kids
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:15 PM
this kid is blander than a rice cake
feh
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:16 PM
Meh...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:16 PM
the david archuleta of this season...not my thing but he has a nice enough voice
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:16 PM
The girls will love this kid. He is David Archuleta part deux...
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:16 PM
The tweeners will love this kid.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:17 PM
LOL Lesley..great minds...this kid reminds me of Peter Brady singing "When it's time to Change"
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:17 PM
is this the first time Simon is wearing a collar?
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:17 PM
Kara has no idea how annoying she is
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:18 PM
MrsE--you've got to rearrange..who you are and what you're gonna be..shalalalalalalalala lalalala!
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:18 PM
Ellen = http://debbyestratigacos.mu.nu/archives/Alfred%20E.%20Newman.gif
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:19 PM
Evah notice how AI 7 was the best....
Don't shoot the messenger.
Good evening. Nice to see the font of y'all
Toderick sucked david wanabee is just that.
Posted by: gail | February 24, 2010 at 08:19 PM
Todd Bridges is up next.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:20 PM
we got to keep on, keep on, keep on, keep on dancing on through the night
(switch mic hands)
we got to keep on, keep on, keep on doing it riiiiiight
(look over other shoulder)
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:20 PM
Just like last nite the first 2 are soooo painful......
Posted by: gail | February 24, 2010 at 08:20 PM
Hi Gail! Actually my personal favorite was season 4...
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:21 PM
OK, so I'll be the first to say it... How did they let Michael Lynche perform tonight after he killed that poor trainer at Sea World?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:22 PM
EVAN, what's wrong with you?
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:23 PM
Oh no he diiint . #orca
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:24 PM
I think my fave AI season was #1. No, wait, I hated Justin Guarini. All these singers tonight are making me sleepy
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Justin Guarini auditioned with this song.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Scott Sabol for the win.
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:26 PM
Yuck!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:27 PM
Zzzzzz
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:27 PM
My cat just started wailing...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:27 PM
Savol...um..ew. I loved my rockers that year.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:28 PM
Hi MrsEvans, I probably liked that season too. Clay Aiken? I was ruined after season 7 that is why I come here to multi task...Hahahahahha
Sorry don't like Aaron. I want to see somethin like Adam Lambert again this year for the guys. Just got the originals songs of Kris and Adam last season from my daughter a couple weeks ago and enjoying the music in the car. However, Adam's stage presence of late is abominal.
MrnMrsEvans/Lane did you see the show last nite? If so who were your picks?
FYI it is very imtimidating to type amongst journalism people ....just saying....
Posted by: gail | February 24, 2010 at 08:28 PM
I liked Amanda, I liked Lili, can't remember the others
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Gail--Adam is an abomination. I am glad there's no screamer here tonight, but at the same time would love to have something for which to feel some sort of passion--love or hate! Bring it!!
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:30 PM
We did see the show on Tivo. We liked Bowersox and the Miami girl.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Don't be intimidated Gail. You could hold your own against Barbra Streisand!
Posted by: HoCo | February 24, 2010 at 08:31 PM
re: Tim Urban. I didn't think it was possible for someone to have more hair on their head for me.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:32 PM
T'Urban got so lucky thanks to that kid who didn't disclose his bad boy band deal. I think I liked T'Urban during auditions. We'll see.
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:32 PM
I like Didi too
Posted by: lane | February 24, 2010 at 08:33 PM
"than me" not "for me". sorry.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 24, 2010 at 08:33 PM
HoCo --you call these dudes 'men' but they all seem very boyish to me....Like the NAMBLA version of Idol...so far anyway..
Posted by: Lesley | February 24, 2010 at 08:34 PM