Category: American Idol (Page 30 of 56)

Sometimes you think you know something about judging talent and sometimes you don’t. That’s what makes “American Idol” such a compelling show, as we all try to put ourselves in the shoes of Randy, Paula and Simon and pretend we’re judging the talent, predicting who stays and who goes. But we’re certainly not always right.

Last night, after another horrid group number, it was down to business. Ryan Seacrest put the contestants into groups on his left and on his right. Jason, left. David Cook, right. Carly, left (after Simon telling her he is hard on her because he believes she has huge potential). Kristy Lee Cook, right.

Then Elliot Yamin came out and sang, and I mean sang. This dude has unbelievable pipes, and I think he and Marc Broussard may be the most soulful white dudes I’ve ever seen.

Then some phone calls, and the best one was the woman who asked the judges what the first records they ever bought were. Randy’s were Led Zeppelin, the Beatles and James Brown; Paula’s were Earth Wind & Fire, Jackson 5 and Carole King; and Simon said his was Paula Abdul. Ha!

Then Mariah Carey came out and sang her new single. Well, she sort of sang….it was like part singing, part lip synching, part bland computer-generated crap. Who am I kidding? It was all bland computer- generated crap, and Mariah was just there trying to look 20 years younger than she is in a short dress and diamond crusted microphone and mic stand. I have a word for you, and that word is BLECH.

Syesha, left. Brooke, right. Then David Archuleta, safe. Ryan then made David Cook and Syesha switch places. For those of you who are confused right now, that left two groups: David Cook, Jason and Carly; and Syesha, Kristy and Brooke. David Archuleta was asked by Ryan to join the group he thought was safe, and he sat in the middle of the floor. Seacrest didn’t waste time, telling him it was the David C/Jason/Carly group.

That left a bottom 3 of Syesha, Brooke and Kristy. Hmm…I really thought Carly was going home, but I was wrong. Syesha, safe. That left Brooke and Kristy, and Brooke was safe. Kristy Lee Cook, going home…I really though she brought her A game the last two weeks, but America disagreed. I also thought she had become a dark horse to win it all, but I was way off. Maybe America is smarter than I thought? Maybe I’m not as smart as I thought? Whatever, we have a pretty strong top 6.

Here are my power rankings:

1. David Cook
2. David Archuleta
3. Jason Castro
4. Carly Smithson
5. Syesha Mercado
6. Brooke White

I like Brooke better than the other two ladies remaining, but I don’t think America does. This thing is seriously heating up now, and we’re barreling toward the finish line. Keep throwing me curveballs America, I’ll connect on one soon. Meanwhile, have a great week everyone….

I really thought having Mariah Carey as a mentor on “American Idol” would do two things…One, prove that she is full of herself, and two, make it really difficult for the contestants, especially for the girls, who would have to measure up to her insane vocal ability. Well, I was wrong on both counts.
Not only was Ms. Carey very humble about having this opportunity, but the contestants all came to play and deliver. Let’s recap, shall we?

THE REALLY GOOD

David Cook, singing “Always Be My Baby?” Are you kidding me? That’s sort of like Mariah trying to sing Pearl Jam. But somehow, this guy just proves that he can do it all every single week, and last night he did a super cool rock version of a really poppy, R&B flavored song. It wasn’t quite “Billie Jean,” but it was still really impressive. Randy said David is ready to make an album now, and that it was his best performance yet; Paula said David is “it”; and Simon said that it was a breath of fresh air, original and daring. Yep, it was all of that.

THE GOOD

David Archuleta sang “When You Believe and was wearing Continue reading »

On last night’s “American Idol” results show, there were moments when I thought for sure that maybe no one would get booted off, just like last year in “Idol Gives Back” week.

First of all, props to everyone who contributed to the cause….at show time last night they had already raised $60 million. Wow.

Then the contestants did a group number, “Shout To The Lord,” which was typically bland, and I know that’s not very charitable of me.

Then there was a medley of “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees, with various celebrities lip-synching, as they did last year with “Stayin’ Alive.” Kobe Bryant was a participant in this, and still had that big white dot on his face. Anyway, the fact that they kept doing “Idol Gives Back” stuff was starting to make me wonder if anyone was going home.

Then the results. Brooke, safe…..and she was torn because her sister is getting married this weekend and she won’t be able to go to the wedding. David Cook, safe. David Archuleta, safe.

Then a break, and then last year’s champ, Jordin Sparks, sang a duet with Chris Brown. It was probably a bit too sexy and Mrs. Mike likely pointed out the truth…that Jordins’ dad, the former NFL player, can’t be happy about performances like that. Then they presented Jordin with a bunch of awards for her incredible success over the last six months or so.

Back to business. Jason Castro, safe. Kristy Lee Cook, safe. Were you getting worried too? That left a bottom 3 of Michael Johns, Syesha Mercado and Carly Smithson. Mrs. Mike, who has guessed right for the past four weeks, guessed Carly, and that’s also who I picked.

Then, Ryan Seacrest said Syesha and Carly were both safe, and that Michael had the lowest number of votes. He went on to add that last year, they did not eliminate anyone in “Idol Gives Back” week. Uh-oh. But then, SNAP! Sorry Michael, you are going home. Wow….that was kind of cruel, wasn’t it?
Anyway, Michael wasn’t going to win this thing anyway, and he will have a nice career.

And as I said the other night, Kristy Lee Cook has become a dark horse in this thing. Not only did she avoid the bottom 3 this week, she was pretty damn good Tuesday and seems to be peaking. All I’m saying is, if Carrie Underwood could win it all, I think Kristy has at least an outside shot.

Here are my power rankings for the remaining 7:

1. David Cook
2. David Archuleta
3. Kristy Lee Cook
4. Brooke White
5. Jason Castro
6. Syesha Mercado
7. Carly Smithson

We’re really getting down to the core of the show now, aren’t we? See you all next week…..

Last night there were no results, no judging and no messing around. Okay, maybe a bit of messing around, to make the show entertaining. It was the second annual “Idol Gives Back,” a telethon in which “American Idol” uses its global popularity to try and give back to the world–i.e., raise money to help poverty both in this country and worldwide.

All in all, the show moved nicely and was well put together. There were a few group numbers by the current Idol finalists, and some others that were really pretty cool. My favorite was Teri Hatcher singing a Carrie Underwood song with a band of TV stars behind her, including her “Desperate Housewives” co-star Jamie Denton. Of course, Underwood herself also performed, and I’m not going to say who I liked better because this is about the charity, right? (Bo, I got your back…oops!).

Ben Stiller made an appearance but not like last year when he tried to sing. Stars randomly gave videotaped messages, including Kobe Bryant (what was with the white dot on his face?), Keith Urban and Adam Sandler. Other performers included Snoop Dogg with Charlie Wilson, which was really pretty awesome; Fergie with Heart; Annie Lennox; Gloria Estefan with Sheila E.; and Mariah Carey with Randy Jackson on bass.

Also, some of the pre-taped stuff from the other night included Eli and Peyton Manning visiting a town near New Orleans still reeling from Hurricane Katrina. Really now, would Eli have been invited if it weren’t for that incredible run to the Super Bowl win a few months ago? (I’m a Giants fan, and I still have to pinch myself).

Some of the others who made appearances were Jimmy Kimmel, Daughtry, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, and Robin Williams, who was posing as some sort of “Russsian Idol.” I normally don’t think he is funny and he kind of gets under my skin, but he was hilarious last night. And more than one comedian made references to Simon’s man boobs…ha!

Most importantly, they raised millions of dollars…I haven’t seen the exact numbers, but I know at one point early in the show it was $18 million. That’s awesome, and overall it’s a really cool thing the producers of the show came up with.

Now, unlike last season when they lumped the results into the charity event, the results show is tonight, so Ryan Seacrest will not be charitable as he announces someone getting booted off. I still say it will be Carly Smithson, but we’ll see. Talk you all on Friday….

Look, I apologize if that title is trying to be too clever, but I’ll explain. On last night’s “American Idol,” the prelude to the big “Idol Gives Back” tonight, a few of the contestants stepped up their game, and a few others regressed. Some pretty badly.

Before we get to the recap, let’s talk about the rest of the week. Tonight is “Idol Gives Back” and then tomorrow is the results show. That way it’s not all about charity….unlike last year, someone WILL be eliminated this week. Secondly, I’m sick of two things. One, Paula Abdul. She needs to SHUT THE F**K UP before I punch a hole in my TV screen….I mean, make your point and then let Simon make his, otherwise you look ridiculous. The other thing I’m sick of is Carly Smithson. She is a good singer, but tries so hard that she just loses me. More on her in the recap, so here we go…

THE GOOD

Kristy Lee Cook was damn good last night, and she looked really good too Continue reading »