American Idol judges selected 12 guys and 12 girls for a Top 24 bunch of finalists for America to vote on, just as in previous seasons. So much for the big changes that we were promised. Oh, and as for the big cliffhanger last night? JLo pulled herself together and won't quit after all. Did anyone think she really would?
One plus: there appears to be some real talent in the crop this season. Even the weaker contestants are better than any of the Top 12 last year. Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze and runnerup Crystal Bowersox wouldn't have made it through Hollywood week this year. Kudos to the judges who treated the process with more concern and care than the bored-with-it-all Simon Cowell and fellow judges last season.
That said, Idol appears headed back toward a time when oversinging was championed above all else. Two of the alltime worst offenders in this regard, James Durbin and Jacob Lusk, won over the judges and plenty of fans in the Twitterverse with their hysterical, screeching displays of vocal excess. Of the two, James is the worst. He studied Season 8 runnerup Adam Lambert and only remembered the squeals. Unlike Adam, James has no vocal range, can't sing the verses well, has no charisma, looks or IT factor. He screeches. That's it. Jacob can sing but is a migraine inducing pain in the you know where.
My biggest disappointment of the season thus far: The judges cut 15-year-old Jacee Badeaux. An explanation wasn't given, but he probably was too young and unseasoned in their eyes, but he had a sweet, in-tune voice. He was confident enough in his abilities that he didn't need to resort to screaming or oversinging to fool anyone. He sang for the joy and musicality of it and he was never less than a pleasure to listen to on the show. In addition, he had class. Jacee should try out again next year and keep on studying the craft of singing. One day he'll get to do what he loves to do. His family should be proud.
Jacee was cut, along with Colton Dixon, in the final round when three guys competed for one remaining seat. The winner: Brett Loewenstern, the likable 16-year-old from Boca Raton. All three should have advanced into the finals in place of Durbin, Lusk, Tim Halperin or Robbie Rosen. I would have liked to see the good-natured cowboy John Wayne Schulz become the second country singer in the finals, too. There was room for two country talents this season.
Here are the judge's picks:
THE GUYS
1. Brett Loewenstern (He's different, should make the Top 10 and the tour)
2. Stefano Langone (A survivor)
3. Casey Abrams (Hospitalized on Wednesday, must perform in Friday's taping to remain. Randy Jackson thinks he's the most musically talented contestant ever on the Idol stage. Overpraise, but the 19-year-old jazz fan is certainly skillful and talented and unlike anyone we've seen on Idol thus far)
4. James Durbin (Irritating in every conceivable category. What were the judges thinking?)
5. Jovany Barreto (The abs man. Probably an early dismissal)
6. Jordan Dorsey (The definition of ordinary)
7. Scotty McCreery (Suddenly becoming my favorite of the guys. He turned me off at first with his Josh Turner karaoke -- and he did Turner again in his final audition, but the 17-year-old has shown vocal range and he does have that amazing baritone. Even better, he has humility and the class to admit when he makes a mistake. Aside from Kelly Clarkson, Idol's greatest success has been in the country field with Carrie Underwood and this guy is the real deal. Hope he makes it to the upper half.)
8. Clint Jun Gamboa (Good voice. Competitive. But I don't like him. Not someone I'd root for)
9. Robbie Rosen (Melodramatic vocals sound like subpar Marc Anthony. Maybe that's why JLo put this non-star through. So far, I don't get the appeal)
10. Paul McDonald (This generation's Kenny Loggins? He's got the plush voice and facial hair. Can he write songs, too?)
11. Jacob Lusk (Beyond overrated. Randy said his God Bless the Child was the best he ever heard on the Idol stage. Randy's a sucker for melismatic singers -- he produced Mariah, after all. Only Durbin annoys me more than this guy so far)
12. Tim Halperin (Forgettable)
THE GIRLS
1 Lauren Alaina (If she can stay consistent, she could win it. She's the whole package. Voice. Looks. It factor. And producers wanted a 15-year-old and she fits that bill too)
2. Karen Rodriguez (Good voice)
3. Pia Toscano (One of the vocal standouts)
4. Rachel Zevita (gets a JLo lecture, another Steven Tyler fakeout [knock it off, Steven!] and makes it on the quirky card)
5. Lauren Turner (Can't quite recall her, could that make her the Kelly Clarkson? Will she begin to standout in the finals?)
6. Kendra Chantelle (Was good in harmony with Paul)
7. Ashthon Jones (Good voice, not sure about her yet)
8. Naima Adedapo (Presence and a voice)
9. Julie Zorrilla (Not much to say yet)
10. Haley Reinhart (Overdoes the vocals)
11. Ta-Tynisa Wilson (Don't remember her)
12. Thia Megia (Another 15-year-old and she could make the tour)
For more, follow on Twitter @HowardCohen
My wife said that her one concern with Jacee was that she thinks his voice hasn't cracked yet, and God forbid that happen to a kid so nice, unassuming and sweet on live TV. That's really the only logical explanation, and even that isn't completely logical. If Abrams can't continue, maybe Jacee is the replacement?
Posted by: J. Elmo Footy | February 25, 2011 at 10:29 AM
anyone here tonight?
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:02 PM
We are!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:07 PM
MrE is booting up shortly...
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Hey Clint Gamboa: George Burns called, he wants his glasses back
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:13 PM
Edwin McCain called, even he knows this guy will be first eliminated
zzzzz
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:14 PM
OMG...I loathe this guy!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Randy is being cogent this year? WTF?
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:20 PM
agreed Lane... somebody on the panel has to be...
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:24 PM
Ah here you are! I was like a homeless person without a bench! Ok, agreeing with all so far.
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:26 PM
these guys are dull... the Idol mortal sin. Better to be awful than boring as eff like this Tim or the "I'll Be" guy
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:27 PM
yuck to this tim guy.
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:28 PM
I was really hopeful that we would have a good season on our hands. Apparently, I was wrong.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:29 PM
J-Lo's earrings are zapping them all of their promise
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Come on Boca!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Oh gawd Boca...oyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy vey
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:31 PM
why is Rocky Dennis singing the Jose Feliciano version?
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:31 PM
peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeing
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:31 PM
awww c'mon Lane. No support for the local kid?
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:32 PM
I think he looks more like Bonnie Raitt than Rocky Dennis and wtf with that Justin Bieber hair flip?
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:32 PM
hee hee
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:32 PM
that was hideous
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:33 PM
Who am I kidding? I just want him to make the top 3 so I can go to the homecoming party taping.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:33 PM
MrsE-ha! Where do you think that party would be?
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:34 PM
BagelWorks, Glades & the Turnpike
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:35 PM
I'm so there
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:37 PM
ROFL Lane.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:37 PM
and Mrs E, if I am rooting for a homeboy, I got my Merrick homeboy and the Jewish guy who looks like Fozzie Bear who played the standup bass last week
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:38 PM
Muting the tv now...
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:38 PM
he just did the rock and roll horns
should be automatic DQ
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:39 PM
Just signed on... when did Adam Lambert come back to Idol?
Posted by: MrEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Rooting for Nose from Merrick and Fozzie (!)
Give Flambert credit for Judas Priest song but jury is out on him and his screaming
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:41 PM
You know what else Randy thinks is tasty? EVERYTHING.
Posted by: MrEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:42 PM
is anyone missing Simon? Me neither.
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:43 PM
Robbie NOSEn
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:48 PM
come on Merrick, going with the schmaltz this early?
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:49 PM
i like him but not this song that will forever remind me of abused dogs
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:49 PM
he did a good job and the 16 year old girls will love it
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:50 PM
it reminds me of JFK, Jr dying. Sarah McLaughlin played it on the Today Show after he croaked.
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:50 PM
my reply didnt go thru about missing Simon--I forgot about him but I do miss the bitchiness that I know JLo is capable of in real life but isn't channeling it here. If only Randy were a bit more biting it would be the perfect troika
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 08:54 PM
well it is week 1, I think they will be more biting as time goes by
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:56 PM
Scotty 2 Hottie.. LOL
Posted by: MrEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:56 PM
I like the contrast between Scotty's cross and Rocky Dennis' Star of David...
Posted by: MrEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:57 PM
Scottie has no stage presence
Posted by: lane | March 01, 2011 at 08:57 PM
The producers like him because he'll appeal to middle America. Robbie Nosen is an "East Coast elite" (read: Jewish).
Posted by: MrEvans | March 01, 2011 at 08:59 PM
Hee Haw has a great voice. Someone in Nashville should be listening. But where will he tuck his twang for disco night?
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 09:00 PM
I agree w/MrE on Nosen. They will have to market him as a mini Manilow to appeal to the mainstream
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 09:01 PM
stefano: not so amazing, obv.
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Remember when we used to believe Idol contestants would perform better if they could pick whatever songs they wanted to sing? We were wrong. Very wrong.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 01, 2011 at 09:03 PM
MrsE--yup. yup, we were.
Posted by: Lesley | March 01, 2011 at 09:04 PM