February 2008 Archives

My predictions for next week's elimination: Luke Menard and Kady Malloy

Last night, Ryan "leaked" the special guests planned for the Idol Gives Back show. This is from MTV News:

Seacrest also announced that the second annual "Idol Gives Back" charity event, scheduled for April 9, will feature appearances from Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Reese Witherspoon, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood.

I wonder how much money these celebrities will be contributing.

At first, I laughed when I first heard Alaina Whittaker yelp: "I can't sing!" I thought she was coming to a realization that she didn't have a good voice. But no, we all saw that she was too emotionally distraught to sing. In support, all the female contestants came out on stage for Alaina's final performance, and it was just so sweet and so cute. (Could this have been produced?)

Personally, I think Alaina did better job singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" in the elimination show last night than in her first performance -- the show that really counted. Last night's performance had so much more emotion, feeling, heart, and purity. She didn't try to finesse or diva-up the song. Even her big notes were so much better than the first time around.

First night:


Elimination night (this video also has the "I can't sing!" yelp):


What do you think?

Was anyone surprised about the four who got kicked off last night on American Idol? Alexandrea Lushington, Alaina Whittaker, Jason Yeager and Robbie Carrico. We knew Alaina just didn't have the vocal power like some of the other girls. Robbie Carrico never convinced anybody he was a real rocker, and the wig scandal really wouldn't have helped in the future. Jason Yeager gave a cheesy, cruise-ship performance. Maybe that's where he belongs. And Alexandrea just didn't do well Tuesday night. I think she could've gone farther, but I guess it really was bad song choice and poor singing that night.

To be honest, I have not been enticed by Idol enough to watch all the time, since the first season. The only Idol winners that I actually like to listen to are Kelly and Carrie. The guy winners were flops, I think. When's the last time you heard from Studdard?

So I thought I would it give it another try with this season. I also want to be the voice of the people who don't like it much either but can't help but have to watch highlights while watching the news, or catch quick glimpses while channel surfing since there isn't much else to watch at that time on regular television. So far this is what I think:

If you haven't seen or heard enough of Ryan Seacrest, you'll be hearing him a lot more. The Wall Street Journal reports that Ryan's radio morning talk show on 102.7 KIISS-FM will be syndicated nationwide. He'll also have control of advertisement time and sell some of the ads

In a deal with Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s Premiere Radio Networks unit, Mr. Seacrest's five-hour L.A. radio show will be boiled down to three for use middays and afternoons in the rest of the country. Mr. Seacrest will tape localized comments for each market that syndicates the show.

The deal is most noteworthy, however, for its advertising component. In an unusual arrangement, Mr. Seacrest will own and control a portion of the advertising time on the show. The goal: bringing in some of the sponsors he already has a relationship with on television, with the potential fringe benefit of getting them more interested in radio. He will also sell some of his own advertising on the "American Top 40" radio countdown.

What does this mean for Ryan? More exposure, more money and more executive-, producer-like experience. That'll come handy when he gets older, loses some of his boy-ish appeal and when he decides to give up the daily 4 a.m. wake-up calls.

The article also mentions Ryan's other projects, which aren't as well-publicized:

Mr. Seacrest will keep working on other projects, such as hosting his weekly radio show in Britain, producing the E! reality show "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" and planning a coming reality show featuring actress Denise Richards. He says he draws inspiration from other Hollywood types with entrepreneurial streaks, such as Mr. Clark and the late Merv Griffin, who once hired Mr. Seacrest to host the "Click" game show. Mr. Griffin made an impression for showing how to mix business proposals with pleasure; Mr. Seacrest recalls Mr. Griffin never left the lunch table at the Beverly Hills Hotel without having guests laugh and say yes.

Who's going home tonight on American Idol?

According to Dial Idol, a web site that supposedly measures the frequency of busy signals for each contestant, it looks like Luke Menard, Danny Noriega, Alaina Whitaker and Kady Malloy have been voted out.

Last night's winners appear to be: David Archuleta, Jason Yeager, Amanda Overmyer and Brooke White.

All of these predictions make sense except for Amanda Overmyer. Seriously? Amanda? Either the web site's tracking system is flawed or Vote for the Worst is actually working, sort of.

I was underwhelmed by the girls' performance last night. Most of them did great last week, but this week, it was just sad. A few performances were painful, considering how promising so many of those singers have been. Ready for the recap? Here we go:

Carly Smithson
“Crazy On You”
I think she did a decent job opening the show, but I don't think this was a stunning performance. The judges, including Simon, all liked it.

Syesha Mercado
“Me And Mr. Jones”
I haven't been a huge fan of Syesha's, but I'm starting to warm up on her. The song wasn't great, but she got in her few diva moments. The judges had mixed reactions.

Brooke White
“You’re So Vain”
Brooke relied on her goody-girl image, and the judges loved her performance. She's consistent. But I'm ready for some fire and heat from her.

Ramiele Malubay
“Don’t Leave Me This Way”
This was Ramiele's worst performance, and it was painful to watch. Knowing how well Ramiele can sing, this song really challenged her image of a little girl with a great big voice. Now, that great big voice has a few weaknesses.

Kristy Lee Cook
“You’re No Good”
Finally, Kristy Lee Cook gave us a reason to vote for her. During her auditions in Philadelphia, she did an excellent job in singing "Amazing Grace." Besides her looks and whatever back room dealings with American Idol producers, that song was the only reason she was able to pass through Hollywood Week. For awhile, I thought she was a one-hit wonder. The judges were happy and said she showed a lot of improvement.

Amanda Overmyer
“Carry On My Wayward Son”
All bad news for Amanda. Her rocker style doesn't seem flexible enough for American Idol. The judges didn't like it, but blamed it on the song. Amanda is showing that she's a one-style singer with few other talents.

Alaina Whitaker
“Hopelessly Devoted To You”
I didn't like Alaina's performance and neither did the judges. As usual, Paula was the only one to throw Alaina a few compliments. I'm not sure whether Alaina will survive this week.

Alexandrea Lushington
“If You Leave Me Now”
I thought this was a strong performance. Alexandrea has a beautiful tone to her voice, but it wasn't evident throughout the song. It certainly wasn't a show-stopping performance (like David Archuleta's "Imagine" or Jordin Sparks' "A Broken Wing"), but it was strong. However, the judges weren't so crazy about the performance.

Kady Malloy
“Magic Man”
This was a bad performance. She was outsung by the other competitors, and she couldn't hold on to her own song. She could go home.

Asia’h Epperson
“All By Myself”
I guess Asia'h was sick, and her voice cracked when she attempted the song's first chorus. Is that an excuse for bad singing? Apparently the judges thought so. Randy and Paula were nice to her, but Simon said she didn't have what it takes to sing this song. This is a big song, and Celine Dion has that huge voice. If you're an amateur and sick, the chances of you pulling this song off are slim to none. Frankly, if Asia'h was healthy, I still don't think she could've pulled it off.

Here's the girls' song list tonight, via Vote for the Worst, who got it from JoesPlace.

1. Carly Smithson – “Crazy On You” by Heart
2. Syesha Mercado – “Me And Mr. Jones (changed from Mrs. to Mr.) by Billy Paul
3. Brooke White – “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon
4. Ramiele Malubay – “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
5. Kristy Lee Cook – “You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt
6. Amanda Overmyer – “Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas
7. Alaina Whitaker – “Hopelessly Devoted To You” by Olivia Newton-John
8. Alexandrea Lushington – “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago
9. Kady Malloy – “Magic Man” by Heart
10. Asia’h Epperson – All By Myself by Celine Dion

Don't mean to split hairs, but is rocker Robbie Carrico the real deal? Specifically, is his hair the real deal? TMZ is reporting Carrico, who sang Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" last night, has been wearing a wig. Could be -- I kept thinking his stringy locks could have used a good brushing or maybe a little shampoo and conditioner. If Carrico has been wigging out, hope it's not his hairpiece that's been keeping him from really letting his hair down and rocking the stage...

Were you wowed by David Archuleta's performance of "Imagine" last night on American Idol? I loved it. And so did a lot of other bloggers out there. Still, there were plenty of people who didn't like it and thought it was fake.

Regardless... David has had plenty of experience singing "Imagine." Check this out:

Top 10 guys sing classics from the 1970s. I'm not sure what this is going to mean. It's not like 60s night was big success. Why doesn't American Idol let the contestants pick whichever song they want?

Michael Johns
"Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac
My thoughts: He's ok. His performance isn't as electrifying as last week.
The Judges: Randy says he didn't quite "let go." Paula said he got the whole crowd (girls) going. She says he's "already there." Simon said it was his weakest performance or "coasting along."

Jason Castro
"I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by the BeeGees.
My thoughts: Again, Jason brings out the guitar. The vocals are weak, and the song doesn't actually pick up until the end. The last verse, his voice finally clears up and there's a nice moment.
The Judges: Randy says the vocals weren't that good and sounded kind of karaoke. Paula says she likes the way he interpreted the song, but she wants him to give up the guitar next week. Simon thought the performance was "out of sorts" and "schmaltzy."

Luke Menard
"Killer Queen" by Queen
My thoughts: This is all wrong. His performance is strangely feminine. This song is definitely too complicated for him, and his voice goes in very strange directions. Not good.
The Judges: Randy thought it was "pretty good." Paula thought Luke picked the perfect song. Simon thought the performance was a mistake -- he called it "whiny."

Robbie Carrico
"Hot Blooded" by Foreigner
My thoughts: Robbie's supposed to be one of the rockers on the show, but his performance isn't exactly rocking. His singing is better than the first two guys, but he could've turned up the heat and excitement several degrees. Give us more energy!
The Judges: Randy isn't sure if rock is Robbie's thing and thought it was "just ok." Paula thinks he played it safe and lost his character and personality. Paula says he has to up the ante. Simon says "I thought the vocal was ok tonight."

Danny Noriega
"Superstar" by The Carpenters
My thoughts: I love the Carpenters, and Danny Noriega definitely cannot compare with Karen Carpenter. He's not even singing in pitch! The whole performance is lethargic and lacking any real emotion. Does he even know what the song is about? It's painful to watch.
The Judges: Randy says to not think, but let go. Paula agrees, and tells Danny to "just perform." Simon thought it was better than last week and said he was over concentrating. Simon adds that he looks fantastic on camera.

David Hernandez
"Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations
My thoughts: I'm not sure what to say about this performance. The singing was pretty good, but the performance was ... too cabaret?
The Judges: Randy thought it was hot. Paula gave him a standing ovation. "Perfect," she said. Simon thought it was the best vocal of the night so far.

Jason Yeager
"Long Train Running" by the Doobie Brothers
My thoughts: I like this performance. It feels fun and easy. But I think the judges will say it's a cruise ship performance.
The Judges: Randy thought the song isn't a singer's song. He said it was pitchy and karaoke. Paula said he needs to pick a song that showcases his voice. Simon thought it was corny.

Chikezie
"I Believe" by Donny Hathaway
My thoughts: Chikezie seems like a likable guy, but his singing just doesn't excite me. I think the singing was good.
The Judges: Randy proclaims "Chikezie is back!" He said it was blazin' and hot. Paula thought it was brilliant and fun. Simon said it was a million times better than last week. And after a very funny exchange about clothing choices, a smiling Simon calls him "obnoxious"

David Cook
"All Right Now" by Rod Stewart
My thoughts: David brings out the electric guitar and he looks a lot more comfortable with it. This is a really good performance, and he looks and sounds like he knows what he's doing.
The Judges: Randy really liked it and believed him. He called him the true rocker of this season. Paula said he's got it. Simon said it was "solid" but added he doesn't have a lot of charisma.

David Archuleta
"Imagine" by John Lennon
My thoughts: I adore David Archuleta. This was an interesting version of an oft-played song. If you can believe it, it David's version was even slower than the original, but it never got boring or felt slow. I loved it.
The Judges: Randy said it was one of the best vocals he's ever heard on the show. "HOT HOT FIRE FIRE!" Paula said she wants to squish him and dangle him from her rear view mirror. It's one of the most moving performances she's ever heard. "You're destined for super stardom." Simon thought it was risky but it worked. He tells David that he's the one to beat.

You don't have to look far to see some other videos of current American Idol contestants. Here's a sampling:

Danny Noriega


David Archuleta


David Archuleta singing "For Good" from the musical "Wicked."


Jason Castro


Ramiele Malubay singing the Filipino national anthem


Brooke White

You can now download American Idol performances through iTunes ... but I would suggest waiting to buy songs until the last few weeks of the competition, when the good contestants get better and the mediocre ones are weeded out.

Last night's eliminations weren't a surprise. I think even the producers recognized that because they didn't stre-e-e-e-e-e-etch out the suspense and the drama.

But Paula Abdul's video? Seriously now. Apparently, even she's not happy with it.

This must be a blow for VoteFortheWorst.com. The web site encourages people to vote for the worst singer on American Idol instead of the best. This week, they endorsed Amy Davis, but she was one the first girls to be kicked off the show!

The web site says technical difficulties were to blame in their unsuccessful bid in keeping Davis on the show -- apparently, people didn't know to vote for Davis.

Personally, I think her performance was just that bad. It wasn't worth voting for, even as a joke. The American Idol producer folks are probably torn by the results. Sure, she's not a great singer, but she was very pretty and people talked about her -- kind of like Sanjaya. Except in her case, she didn't insert any crazy or bubbly cute personality into her performance. She was just boring. Fortunately, no amount of pretty can compensate for boring.

(In other Amy Davis news -- she's posed for Maxim magazine. Here's a link to a link to those photos)

In this age of TiVo, the best part about watching American Idol now is that you don't have to suffer through the bad parts. You can hit fast forward when Ryan Seacrest gets on stage.

As for me, I hit the mute button when Paula Abdul starts talking. Can't stand her ramblings. How about you - do you watch the whole thing?

We want to hear from YOU.

Depending on what you read, it was a mixed bag last night.

Entertainment Weekly said the girls outsang the guys, and Alexandréa Lushington, who sang "Spinning Wheel," was the standout.

MSNBC thought Ramiele Malubay, the little girl with a huge voice, came out on top. She performed “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” and Simon said she "out sung every single person.”

It's difficult to find much praise from Vote for the Worst, but they were fairly kind to Alexandrea Lushington, saying her vocals "are just average" and to Alaina Whitaker, who "outshined the other 2 awful singers so far."

Asia’h Epperson, who sang "Piece of My Heart" was the best of the night, according to a blog from Philly, because she was herself and didn't try to impersonate other singers.

Syesha Mercado was the night's favorite for the Watching American Idol blog. Blogger Reed Dunn said her performance "is further proof Syesha has the voice, the look and the charisma to go far in this competition."

Now we've heard from all the so-called American Idol experts. What do you think? Who did you like, and who did you hate?

There's been talk about who Garrett Haley, the 17-year-old contestant from Ohio, resembles. Some people have mentioned Leif Garrett and Peter Frampton.

Garrett Haley

Peter Frampton

Leif Garrett

Personally, I think he looks like Hugh O'Conor when he played Louis XIII in the 1993 "Three Musketeers." What do you think?

Last night, Danny sang "Jailhouse Rock." Randy said said it was kind of hot. Paula said it was warm, almost scalding. And Simon said it was grotesque.

Not long after his performance, Vote for the Worst has adopted Azusa native Danny Noriega as the worst Idol. Their reason: "Simon obviously hated him the most, which is why we love him the most." So this can be good or bad for Danny. (Remember last year, Sanjaya was Vote for the Worst's pick.)

Good: He'll probably stay on the show longer and possibly improve and gain more fans
Bad: Simon will continue to criticize him. He probably won't win it.

More Danny news: Last week, reporter Maritza Velazquez did a phone interview with Danny. He says he really likes dancing, which might be why he chose "Jailhouse Rock."

Forget Jordin, Blake and Melinda. Who even remembers Sanjaya, LaKisha or Phil? From now until May (or June), there will be memorable performances, crazy hair-dos, ridiculous clothing choices and more than a few bad performances. Are you ready?