Photo: FOX
American Idol kept the cliffhangers coming by first revealing, bit by bit, who America selected as the 10 sure finalists.
Voters, some 40 million of them Ryan Seacrest announced at the top of the show, made the right picks into the Top 10 when you consider the five guys who sailed through: Scotty McCreery, James Durbin, Jacob Lusk, Casey Abrams and Paul McDonald.
These were the right picks. Scotty, the 17-year-old country baritone, won't likely win the entire competition because the best contestant seldom wins Idol. (It's only happened once, 10 years ago, when Kelly Clarkson won.) Scotty will be the first one to get signed to a label, tho, I would bet. And he probably will sell the most CDs if he gets the traditional country songs he deserves.
Casey Abrams, Jacob Lusk and James Durbin are also deserving. These are three of the most interesting Idols yet. Casey is a musician's musician. Jacob and James could be polarizing if they go too far over the top, but there's no denying Jacob's rich voice and James' metal edge. He might not be an Adam Lambert retread after all. Given his convincing and welcome performance of Judas Priest Tuesday and his stated fondness for metal, he has more rock cred than Lambert's glam style. Rock on, metal guy. Paul's a bit of a happy surprise. I wasn't hot for his Rod Stewart cover Tuesday, but he has a mellow '70s Kenny Loggins voice and look and a smile that radiates.
The voters' choices for the girls, however, were wack. Lauren Alaina, Thia Megia and Pia Toscana were smart picks. Pia could even be the darkhorse to win the entire competition. But Haley Reinhart, who has an entitled air about her and an out of control voice, and pageanty, bilingual bland Karen Rodriguez have no business on the Idol stage. Not when superior talents such as Lauren Turner have to go home.
The judges didn't help too much when they selected six of the non-picks to sing-off for a chance at a Wild Card save. They played it safe and let three boys, three girls, sing and picked wrong. Twice. First, they gave Ashton Jones another shot and then compounded the mistake by putting her into the Top 13. Ashton delivered attitude, but also the worst, weakest, most feckless rendition of And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going I have ever heard. Two weeks ago I judged the semifinals of the Young Talent Big Dreams city-wide competition at Actors' Playhouse and an 8-year-old sang the Dreamgirls song and it was 10 times more convincing than Ashton's tepid take. The song's a stunt by now, anyway, but Ashton really is the wrong choice. And, sorry, m'dear, but that's not a Jennifer Hudson song. It's a Jennifer Holliday song. Get it right.
The judges also wasted shots on Sly Stallone-lookalike Jovanny Barreto (sappy Secada song), Robbie Rosen (Elton John's dreary 1976 ballad, Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word) and Kendra whose screeching Georgia was NOT on my mind. When your chances are on the line, singing "What do I gotta do to make you love me?" before celeb judges just reeks of desperation, Robbie.
Happily, Naima Adedapo, the quirky jazzy throwback seized the opportunity on her second chance and earned her way into the finals.
This means that Boca Raton's amiable, but too quirky for voters, Brett Loewenstern, was out without any second shots. He went to hug the judges, anyway, and it was a nice ending. I'd have given him a chance to sing again instead of the boring, personality-free Jovanny and sleepy Robbie. Robbie's only a junior in high school, he'll have other chances. I'm a bit surprised early judge's fave Clint Jun Gamboa wasn't a wild card pick, but that's fine. Didn't like him from the start. Maybe karma bites the karaoke singer back for booting the charming 15-year-old Jacee Badeaux from his group during Hollywood group rounds.
Here is who you will see next Wednesday in the finals:
Top 10:
Casey Abrams
Lauren Alaina
James Durbin
Jacob Lusk
Scotty McCreery
Paul McDonald
Thia Megia
Haley Reinhart
Karen Rodriguez
Pia Toscano
Wild Cards:
Naima Adedapo
Ashton Jones
Stefano Langone
Follow on http://twitter.com/HowardCohen
This is the first time I have been in total agreement with you on the picks. I'm not sure yet who will be the last one standing, but this group is much more enjoyable than last year's idol finalist. I agree on Ashton, she needs to tone doww and not over talk the judges. the country crooner, I think will be in the top 5 I believe.
Posted by: Kal | March 04, 2011 at 02:02 PM
anyone here tonight?
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 07:53 PM
http://www.beintheheights.com/taraharris
LOVE this show, so so so much, please help me win the tickets by voting for my
page! It's so easy, just click it, easiest voting ever! :)
Posted by: TARA | March 09, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Since MrE and I were away last week, please allow me to add my 2 cents tonight. Clearly the IDOL producers hate the Jews. Sending both Robbie and Brett home was a crap move and I am annoyed. Mostly because my dreams of celebrating at Pastrami Queen during hometown visit week were completely dashed and now I have nothing to look forward to. I also have to say the I completely disagree with HoCo’s opinion about the girls vs. boys. I thought the girls were fantastic (at least compared to the past few seasons) and felt none of the guys should have been given a wild card. Clearly this show is still fixed and I should just turn off my television for the rest of the season. But I won’t because they have invited Constantine to perform on April 7 so I can forgive all of the above. Ok, rant over, lol.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Shalom
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:02 PM
This first chick's personality gets on my nerves.
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:05 PM
Don Was! Open the door, get on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur..
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:05 PM
I like her but this performance, not so much.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:06 PM
ok, Joe Cocker is someone's hero?
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:09 PM
Yes, Lane. Kevin Arnold's.
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:10 PM
I'd sing Amazing Grace, cuz Jesus is MY hero
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:10 PM
I like that Roger Sterling is a movie star now...
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:11 PM
I saw that movie
was ok
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Good call MrE!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:13 PM
Thanks for the movie invite Lane.
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Gene Frenkle is killing it tonight...
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Nice!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:15 PM
he's 19
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:15 PM
you were in Boston for the last month
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:16 PM
touche
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:17 PM
plethora of pinatas
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:18 PM
oy shaky beginning for Ms. Ross
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:20 PM
ick..not a fan at all...
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Athshthothon is terrible. There, I said it.
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:21 PM
I loved Fozzy Bear. I want him to win. I cant believe t hey gave this black girl a shot because she has big hair like Diana Ross. She sucks. And the country girl was ok. not great.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:22 PM
Isaac from Love Boat in the house! Outta sight!
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:22 PM
CHAH-LEE!
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:24 PM
I met Isaac once at Mickey Rourke's club on South Beach back in the day. We both did the hand thing. It was special.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:25 PM
he's singing Kenny Loggins, right? has to
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Danger Zone!
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:26 PM
"I'm Alright"
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:27 PM
I'm jealous. I once asked LeVar Burton to read a book to me, but he told me to go screw myself.
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Footloose!!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Don Was' real name is Don Weiss. Sellout.
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:29 PM
I'm sorry, he has a pedophile vibe that can't be denied.
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:30 PM
Oof, this is rough!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Maybe he could sing normally if his pants werent so tight.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:31 PM
he's tweaking
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:31 PM
Ryan Adams is so depressing... was David Gray unwilling to give permission?
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:31 PM
yuck
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:32 PM
"I just want to give you taco-flavored kisses..."
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:32 PM
someone should sing Taco Flavored Kisses. They will win if they do.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:34 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k64w3354kE
"Don't forget the hot sauce, chulo!" LOL.
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:36 PM
peeing!!!!!
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:38 PM
I sat in the hospital room where Celine had her babies. "My uterus will go on" is inscribed on the door.
Posted by: Lane | March 09, 2011 at 08:40 PM
uh, wasn't All By Myself an Eric Carmen song first? Ah, I see. She's really ambitious and doing the Celine version. Hopefully we'll get some chest pounding.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:40 PM
Poor... Eric Carmen never gets any credit.
Posted by: MrEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:40 PM
She's got a great voice. Meanwhile, I NEED her dress!
Posted by: MrsEvans | March 09, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Lane--ha!
that dress is very Celine at Ceasar's Palace anyway..
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Girl can sing! Pretty impressive considering . Alas, no chest pounding.
Posted by: Lesley | March 09, 2011 at 08:42 PM