Photo: Apple Corps Ltd. / EMI Music
The surviving Hollywood Round contestants, those who managed to find themselves in the "right" rooms last week, will sing Beatles tunes tonight. Tomorrow, the judges will be seen cutting them down to the 24 that viewers will vote on. Hint: we're losing a "fan favorite" in the process.
Follow my live commentary on Twitter and a wrapup will be posted here after the show.
American Idol ended on a cliffhanger Wednesday as about half of the 24 finalists have been selected to go before the voting public next week. But that leaves 12 to come and the shocking ending: Will J.Lo be able to continue as a judge? The poor dear broke down in tears and had to be consoled by a curiously silent Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson when she informed Chris Medina that he failed to make the Top 24 cut. Apparently telling a mediocre singer he hasn't what it takes is just too much for the tender judge and we're left to wait 24 hours to see if she can pull herself together or will the judges' panel be a twosome this season.
After much thought, my guess is that she will count the $12 million dollars producers paid her to simply say "Yes" or "No" to so-so singers and she will find the strength, the courage, the gumption, to continue with this very difficult task.
So, were the judges correct in cutting Chris lose? Yes. Sure, Chris is a big man, a great guy, for standing by his fiance after she was seriously injured in a car accident. Fans responded in kind and reportedly donations have come in to help with her medical care. That's wonderful. Bless 'em. But this is a singing competition, not a Lifetime series. Chris wasn't good enough in the vocals department. But he left the show with class. No surprise there. He's a man, all the way.
Plenty others weren't, either. James Durbin?!. Someone on Twitter made the astute observation that it appeared Adam Lambert knew a little about music but all Durbin knows is a little about Lambert. How true. When Adam hit the high piercing note, most of the time it was in control and served the performance. James hasn't much of a voice so he screeches out of control to stun the judges who keep passing this guy on from round to round. Hopefully, America has better sense and sends him packing before he makes the touring round (Top 10).
Jacob Lusk, Haley Reinhart and Naima Adedapo seem to appeal to plenty of people, including the judges, but I haven't heard that much unnecessary ornamentation on The Long and Winding Road since producer Phil Spector p---ed off off songwriter Paul McCartney by adding strings and choirs to the original track 41 years ago.
By comparison, Paul McDonald and Kendra Chantelle have pillow soft voices, but their pretty harmonies on Blackbird felt like sweet relief after the oversinging that came before. I liked the vocal arrangement Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and Denise Jackson came up with for Hello, Goodbye, even though the judges were lukewarm. Hey, Scotty can sing something other than Your Man. Who knew?
Meantime, Casey Abrams, 19, made it into the Top 24 but TMZ reports he was rushed to the hospital with a stomach ailment and if he can't perform this Friday in a taped routine, he could be eliminated. Perhaps a delayed reaction from a busted gut from jumping on a bed while bellowing a Beatles oldie on tonight's pretaped show?
SPOILER ALERT: The rumor mill tells me my favorite 15-year-old, the plucky, melodious Jacee Badeaux isn't a Top 24 finalist this year. Bummer. But he is only 15, he could still come back every year for the next 14 years until he goes all the way. Can I cry like J. Lo now?
Hello, hello...
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Shalom...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 07:59 PM
These kids don't know the Beatles... they're going to know who Jimmy Iovine is?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:07 PM
How do they not know the Beatles? I blame bad parenting!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:07 PM
I thought Jimmy Iovine was Charlie Sheen at first. Oh,and that singing coach should always be on this show. I love her.
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Hey James, Adam Lambert called. He wants his schtick back.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:14 PM
My god, we have to endure another Lambert?
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:15 PM
'twas one thing to release the beatles catalog on itunes, but leaving it in the voices of AI contestants is an aural felony
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:17 PM
Were any of these contestants alive in the 70's?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:18 PM
This chick would be a stellar cruise ship singer.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Not to stereotype, but what kind of spas do they have in Compton?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:19 PM
That janitor chick is good.
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:19 PM
I hear Disney World is hiring singers for the electric light parade
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:21 PM
they should send the fog machine home
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:22 PM
I liked the guy who played the upright bass last week - a one trick pony, but he's got style.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:24 PM
MrE. HA! Just saw the spa/Compton comment. A very valid question, however, I have noticed in my travels that in every town, hamlet and, yes, ghetto, there is at least one, if not more, spas, nail salons and the like.
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Another Lakeisha?! Lane, the original was when I learned the term FOPA from you, no?
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Wow, Lakeisha...isn't she precious... No, seriously, is that the girl from the movie "Precious"?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Ew! Mr E had to explain what a FOPA is to me. Gross!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:30 PM
FOPA... ha! That's a blast from the past.
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:30 PM
hey! It's Charlie from LOST! Driveshift lives on!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Blackbird and Yesterday, my two favorite Beatles songs...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Lamey Antebellum.
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:32 PM
He's SO Driveshaft! Ha! I miss Lost. Sigh.
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:33 PM
Is JLo wearing her outfit from "Maid in Manhattan"?
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Meth is a hell of a drug...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:34 PM
Britney Spears is her hero?
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:35 PM
really? meth girl's getting married? Fail!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:36 PM
http://www.beautyhype.com/post/120209-if-youve-ever-doubted-the-power-of-photo-retouchi.php
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:36 PM
The vocal coach should be a judge
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:41 PM
From Faces of Meth to J-Lo's Face of Mass Amounts of Makeup
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Steven Tyler looks at Ashley and sees a needle full of black tar
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:44 PM
I agree about the coach Lesley. She is like the Gordon Ramsay of Idol.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:44 PM
Lauren is my fav. I pick her to win it all!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:46 PM
"Look how funny we are running around the phone booth! We're made for the Ford Focus commercial!"
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:46 PM
LMAO Evan!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Too bad she's married now, b/c Ashley and that blonde dude woulda made a hell of an After School Special
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:48 PM
HA! Spot on. That was the Ford Focus commercial!
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:49 PM
this trio is good...long island MOT showing some soul!
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 08:55 PM
MOTs represent tonight...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Boo! My comments are posting. :(
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:03 PM
damn, meth was cut
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 09:03 PM
* aren't
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:04 PM
yay or nay?
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:08 PM
She won't make it...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:08 PM
She's got a perfect Idol story.
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Yay! Cleaning toilets: it's not a story dude, it's her life..
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 09:10 PM
hahahaha, fly girl!
Posted by: MrsEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:10 PM
"I used to watch you on 'In Living Color'"... Lulz...
Posted by: MrEvans | February 23, 2011 at 09:10 PM
PS: "dude" was referring to Steven Tyler who called her life a "story", not you Mr.E
Posted by: Lesley | February 23, 2011 at 09:11 PM