Idol Watch

American Idol picks its Top 36 in "mansion" do or die

  Tonight the good (Steven) and the bad (Tatiana) face off for the coveted Top 36 semifinalists designation. Previous years trimmed to 24, but aired more audition shows.

The format tonight features the four judges sitting in red velvet chairs in a mansion with one lowly wooden chair central in the room. Contestants come in to hear the judgments and announcement as to whether they go on or go home. Some will have to do a sing-off.

Anoop Desai and Von Smith got good news right away without having to sing. Was worried about Von tho. His neck and face were flushing red as if a vein was to burst while they replayed Simon's earlier comment that he was like an indulgent child. Nice enough kid tho.

Alex Wagner and Cody Shelton did the first sing off. Both were equally bad. Cody sang Gavin Rossdale and Alex did Elton John. The sun went down on both but the judges gave Alex good news. He's going on. My guess is that tho both are weak singers, Alex was a shade more confident. He won't last long in the competition tho.

Theater singer Adam Lambert went straight through altho Kara made a negative comment about musical theater singers. I see her point. Too over the top and not real enough. Idol is looking for a pop star, not another Clay Aiken I presume. (And hope).

Slew of girls just got thru: Taylor, Jasmine, Stevie, Joanna (who'd had a record deal in the past but kept forgetting the words to her songs in Hollywood), Ariana and a couple others got good news.

I really wish the judges would stop torturing the kids by giving fake out answers. It's not funny any more, not that it ever was, and it furthers Idol's image for cruelty. Really not nice what they did to Kendall Beard who, at least, got some good news.

Face off between the blondes Kristin McNamara (who was not poised and sang too many notes in the Dolly Parton song) and Jenn Korbee (left, who already watched her husband get the ax) leads me to pick Jenn over Kristin. Jenn didn't do a very good Dixie Chick but she was more confident and Idol doesnt need shrinking violets, it needs starts. Judges picked ... Kristen but Simon said that was the complete wrong decision. Kristen has an identity crisis, Jenn doesn't own the song. Still, I'm with Simon.

Alexis goes thru. So does Steven McIntyre, and that's no surprise. Steven's consistently been one of the best. Lil Rounds impressed on her audition but ever since producers have sold her as this mother of three "who has sacrificed a lot" and frankly I'm not moved and could care less. What I want is a good singer and Lil Rounds is a good screamer. Too loud, no range. But she'll make the finals, just watch. Volume works for this show's judges and the average listener.

Jesse and Frankie both had a sing off, both chose atrocious songs prompting Simon to say "neither," but one has to survive and it'll be Jesse who had a bit of rock edge doing Amy Winehouse schtick. Simon said the consolation for Frankie is that she wouldn't have won anyway so she didn't blow the opportunity of her life, but then he added that Jesse wouldn't go far either. Both sang off key.

Danny Gokey (left) and Jamar Rogers, the "best friends" stare down a commercial break. Danny, who lost his wife but found Jamar on Idol, gets a "yes." Jamar gets a ... "no." Shocking. Jamar had a good voice and the judges said he didn't stand out. He's sure better than most of what we've seen.

Nick Mitchell/Norman (left), the schitck guy, goes through. As it should be. He's going to be a love or hate character and he's already been that with me. I hated him at first, now I'm kinda finding him lovable. Way flamboyant but we could stand a little flamboyance WITH vocal talent and he has that.

Jackie Tohn, who reminds me of a cross between Carly Simon and Carole King, gets through. Good news. She's good.

Bad news. Tatiana Crazy Girl Del Toro gets through, amid much screaming. Nathanial Marshall, the other flamboyant character, had to sing-off against Jackie and while I would have preferred Jackie, 'cuz he's not annoying, Nathanial really delivered and sang the best we've heard him do so far. Much as I don't want to see him anymore, he earned a spot tonight. He then broke down in tears. I almost did, too, realizing we're going to have to hear more emotional outbursts from him and Tatiana.

They are threatening a surprise concerning oil rig guy vs. the welder. I first guessed oil rigger Michael would be cut given that that would be a shock. Then welder Matt came in and it made it even more possible Michael would be a shock cut given that Michael's better. But the surprise (which I guessed a second beforehand) is that both get thru. Excellent news.

For the next three weeks we will see casts of 12 compete until we get to the finals.

Hollywood Week: Part 3 - Rooms on Fire

  Everyone's cutting these days and Idol's no different. This week Idol stimulates viewers by cutting a lot of waste, ie. whole crops of contestants. This gets us to the initial Top 36 (in year's past it was Top 24). From what they've been showing us, I'll be surprised if there are 36 potentials the judges (right) can find.

Tonight's show got down to the singing, solo with instruments if they choose. Adam Lambert was first up and chose to strip Cher's Believe of its raison d'etre and turned the dance song into a melodramatic, whiney tantrum-like ballad. Gross. Matt Giraud and Danny Gokey offered prefabricated soul on Georgia On My Mind and I Hope You Dance, respectively, and rendered both songs unintelligible with all the vocal curlicues. Jamar Rogers sang a crummy song, Hey Delilah, but it's a recent hit and he didn't do it any worse than the original one-hit-wonder act.

Among a long roster of names, so far the blind singer/pianist Scott McIntyre has shown true talent. He sang Daughtry's Home and had more honest vocal character than anyone seen tonight. The rest were mediocre. Lil Rounds has no range, she just yells, Kristin McNamara and Kendall Beard were lesser versions of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood and Stevie Wright was forgettable on the dull Colbie Caillat song.

The vainglorious and awful Tatiana Del Toro: the last name means bull. And her performance was a load of it. Nathaniel, the effeminate guy with the hair barette, sang Disturbia. And it was. As Lesley says, "Disturbi-yuck."

The other effeminate guy, Nick Mitchell, could be this season's Taylor Hicks. He has a voice and an odd persona but much more flair than Taylor. He's a wild card persona and looks like Harry Connick Jr.'s less attractive younger bro. I'm afraid that since Tatiana was put in his room (I think) that it means she's going to get another chance. Really p-----g me off.

 I liked Anne Marie Boskovich's I Hope You Dance because for the first time tonight someone sang that song in a straightforward manner the way it needs to be performed.

The Verdicts: Bummed that homeless girl Leneshe Young got cut. Not cuz she's poor but because she sang well before. She chose a boring song (Sara Bareilles) but still sounded better than some who did get thru.

Jason Castro's brother Michael Castro was cut, too, and we haven't seen any of him this season to note whether this makes sense or not. How could Disturbi-yuck get another chance, tho? 

The judge's fake outs are quite cruel and hardly original. Just tell the kids in the rooms yes or no, please. And unfortunately Tatiana got through another night. Sickening. But there's still hope she gets cut tomorrow night. Ditto Nathaniel who needs to go. Nick or Norman or whatever his name is passed tonite, I think I'd hold on to him for awhile for bemusement.

Thankfully, some of the better ones (by comparison) got another chance, like Scott McIntyre and Anne Marie. So did Danny and Anoop and Jamar.

Idol: Hollywood, Part 2-The Train Wreck. Osmond's out?! Miami out, too.

The weeding out process continues tonight on the 2nd Hollywood show. The problem is that the judges should have weeded out the weirdos BEFORE sending them to Hollywood. In fact, producers should weed out the weirdos before the judges even SEE them.

Group night tonight which means, so far, 20 minutes in, all we've seen are pampered princesses, sissy boys crying and divas like Tatiana and Katrina who can't get along with anyone. Way too much drama, mama. Can we get some PERFORMANCES on this train wreck of a show?

Now it's a half hour in and we still haven't seen a performance. All we've seen is a group of talentless, self-involved brats and that skanky Bikini Girl who refused to take part in her group, chose to sleep, and then had the gall to expect the others to teach her the routine. I'd read her riot act if I was part of that group.

FINALLY: The group, White Chocolate, did a great rap/sung Jackson 5 I Want You Back that managed to be respectful of original and contemporary. Action Squad, however, made me say Do Stop to Fleetwood Mac's Don't Stop. So bad it cost us Emily, our pretty pink punkstress. And gotta love (or NOT) the loser guy who said Paula Abdul had evil in her eyes!

Some justice prevails: 3 out of 4 Divas are cut, saving the one talented one, Jasmine (left).   We lose Bikini Skank, or, as Kara said after her failed audition, "What a bitch!"

I can't believe they didn't even show David Osmond and yet cut him. Based on what we'd seen before, he seemed to be the only true talent among the bunch, with true musical training and harmonic skills. I smell anti-Osmond sentiment. Yet we see the passage of the sickening Tatiana, who got more airtime tonight than Clay Aiken got in all of season two and the unpleasant Nancy Wilson, the hairdresser from Miami, who worked hard to work with a rotten group but who, unfortunately, simply had a crummy voice and looked totally common.

All in all, one great group performance (White Chocolate with Danny Gokey, right, this season's Elliott Yamin soulboy) on a totally WRETCHED show. Good nite.

Idol Hollywood shows begin. Bikini Girl passes but stinks; Osmond a keeper

  Just being able to type the words "Hollywood" and "Idol" seems a blessing given the weeks of boring auditions. Let's hope the judges did their jobs and we see more good than bad tonight.

The format included a bootcamp, sage advice from Barry Manilow ("Think about the songs and make them your own") and one a capella shot, pass or fail. No one in the first round did what Manilow suggested. Lil Rounds did the ear-splitting Whitney Houston version of I Will Always Love You and passed to the next round because this show celebrates lung power, while thuggish Dennis Brigham stank up the stage and soiled it with bad singing and worse behavior. He goes home and not a moment too soon.

Second batch through held one strong voice (Jasmine Murray) and little else. Nerves got the best of Rose Flack. Still can't figure why the judges passed through so many uninspiring, un-star-like personas. Enough with the weeping sob cases.

How can so clearly a non-talent like Von Smith endure a dressing down from Simon for his screamed vocal and still pass to another round? Jorge Nunez has a strong, clear voice and is a highlight.

And Queer Eye for the Queer Guy needs to do something about the mess that is Nick/Normam Mitchell and his outtlandish flamboyance. There's nothing "hilarious" about this flaming fool. Flamboyance in the hands of early Elton John or 80s Boy George? Bring it on. But this shtick from this guy is a major turn off.

Either Idol is not showing the "great" singers or they just don't exist 'cuz I'm not seeing much tonight. A lot of sob stories but little talent. Danny Gokey, the guy with the wife who died, warbled an off-key version of a dreary Seal song (are there any other kinds?) and Paula is delighted. Jackie Tohn, the rock chick, might have promise altho nothing especially original there.

Simon and Randy REALLY need to open their ears and not their flies when Bikini Girl sings, if that's what it's called. She has no voice, a thin, whiney, snotty tone from a spoiled brat with all the charm of pickle juice. They pass her along and pay no heed to Paula and Kara on this one. How is it that Paula is suddenly the voice of reason on this show?

Oil rig guy Jeremy has some nice vocal shading. Jesus wasn't heavenly and goes home.

David Osmond looks to be a class act with some true musical gifts. Happy he gets to the next round -- and given that they slammed Von and sent him through I'm glad they did the same for pretty punk girl Emily who botched her audition by singing a stoopid No Doubt song (are there any other kinds?) but has something going for her.

Overall impression: Where's the STAR?

Idol New York/Puerto Rico auditions

Idol producers already expressed disappointment with the first Puerto Rico auditions -- so why broadcast? We'll see what they mean shortly, I'm not feeling well so I might feel like punching out my screen if things go as expected ...

I'll say this, the first San Juan contestant, Jorge Nunez, was pretty darn good. He sang My Way in Spanish and Wonderful World in English and did a nice job, especially in Spanish. New York bombed with a girl named Adeola who quit her day job because she was so sure she'd sail through to Hollywood. She stank worse than the Hudson while doing Jennifer Hudson. Simon kindly called her boss and got her her job back.

The return of last season's foul-mouthed, middle-finger shooting Alexis Cohen (no relation, mind you) gave New York a funny send off. She tried the friendlier approach and offered a weird spin on my favorite Madonna song, Like a Prayer. I've heard worse, even from signed alternative acts. But she's not for Idol. Amusing to watch tho. The last girl from Puerto Rico, Patricia Roman was not very good, even Paula said no. But she won over enough judges to get another shot.

Back in P.R., Jessica screamed Celine Dion's incredibly difficult I Surrender, a song that tripped up even Kelly Clarkson in the first season, but she also stayed in tune and should have been given another shot, but her pleading screwed up her chances -- especially when the women were going to let her try another song. Pity.

Melinda Camille, in NY, says she loves to dance naked and unfortunately did not do so tonight. But she sang fair enough. Not great, not really even good, but her demeanor is radiant and she's worth seeing again.

Jackie Tohn, who my pal Lesley may know from camp (check the comments) got a pass to Hwd with her husky voice and quirky personality. Hated the Jason Mraz song she did, irritating. A little better on the other one they graciously let her try.

Joel, the kid with the giant iPod, sounded better than Joe Jonas but not good enough for Idol. Nick Mitchell, or Norman as they called him, is the reason these family values groups keep winning elections. What an annoying man.

I liked Monique Garcia from P.R. and not just cuz she brought her charismatic 9 year old brother Christopher as a lucky rabbits' foot. She sang the Supremes song well, and was OK on the dreary Christina Aguilera song. Why are Aguilera's song so unpleasant? Anyhow, 2 no's from Randy and Kara were unjustied, Paula and Simon's double-vote wisely give her another shot.

Idol Salt Lake City, Utah auditions

Can Idol play it any safer than last night? With the music industry in tatters and sales for Idol-related albums not especially hot commodoties, the judges were passing the safe, familiar and bland on to Hollywood. Most regrettably, when they were confronted by someone different, like the crying guitarist Tuesday, the wimped out and sent the guy home.

Beyond that, the only watercooler worthy moment was Paula's latest loopy antic (she walked off set for some reason, only to briefly return and the judges were way to touchy feely weird). It was all a crashing bore. Here's how Wednesday went from Salt Lake City, Utah, home of last season's sweet and syrupy David Archuleta ..:

First up, David Osmond, 28, (left), son of Alan Osmond of the famous Osmond Family. Both son and dad have MS but, like other Osmonds, David can sing quite well. You could tell he was a born harmonizer from the way he handled that Take 6 song, and the judges, clueless about true talent, failed to recognize his obvious talents. (Altho Paula was the sole astute judge this time for noticing how his audition reflected his harmony skills. Wisely, they passed him thru.) He's good looking, can sing and has charisma, how could they even question this after the nonsense they passed last nite? And I just realized, I'm probably one of the only people my age -- 45 -- who never watched Donny & Marie's show in the '70s and never bought an Osmonds album or single. I wasn't trying to be cool, I just never responded to them then. Donny's 1989 single Soldier of Love was catchy, tho,

Oddities followed: Tara Matthews dressed like a goth whore, sang like a baby according to Simon, and claimed to have ESP. You think she should have figured out she couldn't sing? Chris Kirkham brought his friend who dressed as a bunny and it blew the audition for him. Without the bunny as a distraction, Chris' nasal whine might have passed muster on this show or with some of the judges.

Next up: the judges once again rewarded a clone, this one of Amy Winehouse. Frankie Jordan can certainly sing and sound like Amy Wino (and she's better looking) but we have that sound already. I'd make her sing again and do it with her own voice. But then the judges turned around and passed a girl who was different. Megan Corckrey, a divorced mom, had a real jazzy voice (too jazzy for my taste) but a delightful personality and striking look. Warm and charming, she earned a pass. I just hope no more Can't Help Lovin' That Man jazz turns.

Austin Sisneros, class president at his Utah high school gets F for song choices: A tuneless banality from Train and some soporific Raffi thing, but he gets much better marks for his voice, charm and tenacity. He earned a ticket to Hollywood but hopefully will learn some better music.

Taylor Vaifanua, an island girl at 5-11, had a true voice and it was no question she was going to Hollywood. Randy thought she reminded him of Jordin Sparks and I can see that in this 16 year old. But I also see a little Cher in there if she dresses up with more flair and brings out a freewheeling spirit. She's got the voice and I think she could be fun.

Idol's best audition night thus far closes with the heartwarming tale of Rose Flack (right) who lost her dad at 13 and mom at 15 and who has oodles of charm and an interesting voice. She chose Carole King's I Feel the Earth Move. Not an easy song to sing sans the pounding piano. But Flack, unlike the other clones, sang in her own voice and style and proved memorable. Another observation: These Salt Lake City people, the ones they showed anyway, sure are nice. I enjoyed watching seemingly decent people (save the ghastly ESP woman) try out for the show.

Tomorrow night we venture to New York and Puerto Rico and the producers have already said Puerto Rico bombed. See you then.

Idol Tuesday auditions from Jacksonville

Another Tuesday, another auditions show. Hollywood and the finals can't come soon enough.

That said, given how the judges are passing through these talentless twits so far, we might be in for a long Hollywood process. The first kid tonight, Joshua Ulloa hit a correct note every so often on Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On but added so many gimmicky flourishes he just came across as a pain in the butt. Simon calls him "Inspector Gadget" and still says "yes to Hwd? Why? Then the other pseudo judges follow in line like ducks. Next was some ear-splitting pretty girl, Sharon something or other who sounded like Britney. We already have one train wreck pop star who can't sing. We don't need another, even if she brings her cute dog with her to her audition.

And what a tacky intro, using Randy Jackson's name and its root in Jacksonville to tout his nonevent time in Journey. Dudes, he was a SESSION musician in Journey, he was never a true member and when he was playing in Journey in the mid to late 80s their peak had long passed.

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The strangeness continues but the talent remains elusive. Someone named Julissa wants to be the first Latin American Idol but she sang Whitney so bad Simon said she "didn't make it sound nice." Well, duh. Whitney Houston songs aren't nice, they are haughty, pre-fabricated banalities. Julissa still got a pass. Another guy was so distraught that some guy he just met failed his audition he couldn't stop crying long enough to get through his own tone deaf attempt at Boyz II Men. These Tuesday shows are just so bad lately.

Another problem with the judges is they are not championing originality. They passed that pretty girl Jasmine or whatever her name is who did the Fergie song but all she did was mimic Fergie's tone. We have one Fergie. One's more than enough. The show is not promoting artists, they are feeding pop music's cookie cutter mentality. At least, that's what it feels like. Granted, we aren't seeing anyone good tonight.

That crybaby with the guitar had the best voice of the night, at least he didn't sound like everyone else, and yet they flunked him. I would have flunked him for being a little wuss, but he should have gotten a golden ticket given that he could sing and didn't try to copy anyone like everyone who has gone through has. Terrible show tonite.

Tomorrow we go to Salt Lake City Utah and meet a new Osmond.

Idol auditions: Louisville Kentucky

To my Idol Watch fans: I won't be posting live tonight during American Idol. Going to South Beach Comedy Fest to catch Cheech & Chong. Feel free to post your comments on this thread and when I return at some point tonight I'll watch Idol on the DVR and post my thoughts afterward.

In a nutshell, a much better show than Tuesday's dreadful waste of an hour. Louisville, Ky had some talented performers in both parts of tonight's show. I liked Brent Keith who sang Bad Company. Unlike some former faux rockers (David Cook, this means you), Brent had a rock edge to his voice and sounds like he actually has heard some real rock and roll in his life. Good job. The judges liked Matt Giraud but he sounded too quivery, Maroon5 for my tastes but there might be something there.

Lenseshe Young, who came from a single parent family and has known struggle, or so the story went, had a quirky personality, sang an original song that wasn't bad, and she was the judge's favorite by far. Heartwarming that she goes through, I think she'll make it beyond the Hollywood rounds if she holds it together. Good end to a decent auditions show.

One problem this season, tho: Where are the country singers? We've seen one so far, Mark Mudd, whose ancestor is the Mudd who fixed John Wilkes Booth's busted leg after Booth shot Lincoln and jumped off the balcony. Mark sang George Jones' novelty hit, White Lightning, but it went over Simon's head and it wasn't a smart choice. He wasn't good but it does make me long for a country talent to showcase this season. We're getting mostly bland popsters.

Idol Auditions: San Francisco

     Burned out on TV all day watching the "other" American Idol get sworn into office? Here's one consolation: American Idol is only an hour tonight. Frankly, I wish Fox had pre-empted Idol tonight. I'd rather watch the Inaugural Ball coverage than an hour of tone-deaf brats making fools of themselves on national TV (Idol judges, I mean you). But such is not the case, so here we go:

It certainly didn't help that the show began with the most obnoxious contestant of the season, thus far, and one of the most irritating ever: Tatiana Del Toro, a self-involved, self-entitled drama queen who can't sing in tune and can't dress and hasn't a chance to make the finals, but the foolish judges (aside from Simon who saw through her act) passed her to Hollywood. Ridiculous.

Dean-Anthony Bradford wore his couch as a coat and freaked out the judges with his comment, "the carpet matches the drapes." Maybe so, but the voice matches a moose in Sarah Palin's crossbows.

Jesus Valenzula sounded like Aaron Neville (can't stand that voice) but he brought his kids along and that got him through. Nice guy. Bland voice.

Producers must have figured tonight's audience would be more interested in the inauguration. How else to explain this wholly worthless program tonight? The bad contestants are not amusing in their awfulness, no one is any good, and the judges are as ordinary as white bread. Can anyone explain why Kara DioGuardi has been cast? She has nothing to offer as a personality.

Finally, a singer -- except he's a theater singer and that just doesn't work well for pop music. Still, Adam Lambert (left, at window) has a clear voice and is a likable guy.

Even nicer, Kai Kalama (left) who is caring for his sick mother. After a big setup, Kai delivered the Platters' Smoke Gets In Your Eyes with warmth and grace. Kara ruined it with her sourpuss demeanor and rambling critique but at least tonight's dreadful shark-jumper of an auditions show ended on a good note.

American Idol Best of Rest

Ready for more hair-raising auditions?

Me neither.

But just one more night of them before we head to Hollywood Week next Tuesday!

Tiffany said her voice "was a gift from God." Simon suggested she return it. God asked me if I'd please post a memo on my blog requesting that people stop crediting him with passing off bad merchandise. He also asked if I'd tell rappers to stop thanking Him at awards programs because He really likes jazz better.

The twins and Pickler II: The NC17-rated Dukes of Hazzard.

OK, I am dying to see if Alesha, the pretty blond who attempted Celine Dion's collossal I Surrender, can come back and learn a Dolly Parton song in time to please the judges. I have news for Randy and Paula, Dolly is not a lightweight, easy vocalist. There is a lot of voice in Dolly. ...

So Alesha did it! OK, I don't think she sounded anything like Dolly on Islands in the Stream but for learning a song she's never heard before off a YouTube video on laptop, quickly practicing it in the audition room, and remembering the words and singing on key, I would give her a pass to Hollywood and I'm happy she got one. She's pretty and charming and a quick learner. Now...how can it be someone has never heard a Dolly Parton song? Especially that one which is ubiquitous. Am I that old? Is she that young?

Chikezie Eze came back from last year's failed attempt to try again by singing Whitney Houston's All the Man That I Need but he said he was singing Luther Vandross' version, All the Woman That I Need. I didn't know Luther covered that song (or felt the need to change the gender). But I thought Chikeze sounded just like Luther and had a really good voice. Surprised Simon felt it was not interesting. No matter, he passed to Hollywood (and rumor has it he's made the Top 24 this time). Good work.

This rocker guy (left), who bombed: Charles Manson's lost son?

Danny Noriega, 17, who sang an OK Proud Mary, says he now knows who he is. I think he's Ugly Betty's gay nephew Justin. [Danny made it though to Hollywood last season but did not advance to finals]

That was a fun show tonight. Next week, the 164 finalists head to Hollywood and some will perform with music instruments. I'm curious ... Meantime, we never got to see the audition of this William guy from  Miami (left) -- he was the first person to pass the initial round of auditions in Miami in August at the AAA Arena. Judging by that outfit, maybe that's a good thing producers passed.