American Idol knocked their number down to 11 tonight as one person was sent home. They also had a surprising announcement about next week's theme.
Ryan Seacrest said that they received 29 million votes for the Top 12. He then pointed out that Jim Carrey is in the audience. The show opened with a "Horton Hears a Who" promotional video. The movie is from Fox (really!?) so there's a cross-promotional thing naturally. Jim is dressed as Horton and plugs the show and the movie. Ryan then says that they got so many emails that they decided to change next week's theme. So next week we get Lennon-McCartney part two!
The Top 12 then perform a medley of Lennon-McCartney songs. You can't tell who they think are the stars of the show can you? I noticed that Michael Johns got a TON of solo and duet time in the medley. At the end of the medley they focused on a familiar face, but the face had some hair on it. Sanjaya Malakar was there with his sister.
After a recap of the events yesterday, we get our first set of results. Ryan has Carly Smithson, Michael Johns, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado stand up. Carly, Michael and Jason are all safe. Syesha meanwhile is in the bottom three. Ryan asks the judges if it would be the wrong choice for her to leave tonight. Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul think it would be the wrong choice. Ryan asks Simon Cowell if she deserves to be in the bottom 3. Simon says she does. Syesha then has to sing her song "Got To Get You Into My Life" again.
Oh how I miss the Ford commercials when we're in the off season. This one was to the tune of "The Distance" and featured a Presidential sort of campaign. Then we got a clip of how American Idol has touched the lives of the Top 12. As we have an hour to pass, it was a nifty clip of photo shoots and them getting to go to the premiere of "Horton Hears a Who." They also talked about how much this whole thing means to them.
Then we were back to more results. Chikezie, Amanda Overmyer, Kristy Lee Cook and David Cook were in the next group. Chikezie, Amanda and Cookie were safe. Kristy, before being told she was in the bottom three already asked for her microphone. Ryan told her she couldn't be sure yet, but then told her to take her microphone and sing. After she sang "Eight Days A Week" Ryan asked Simon if that was any better. Simon said it wasn't and that song just doesn't suit that style.
We were treated to the viewer questions next. First up was Paige who asked Jason Castro if he could be any judge who he would be. Jason was a little shy about it, but said he's most like Paula maybe, and would wear some of Randy's shoes and a v-neck like Simon. Ronny then asked the judges for advice on next year's auditions. He has auditioned quite a few times. Simon tells him to get another job. John asks Ryan and Simon when they will just fight it out finally onstage. Simon says something like Celebrity Boxing. Ryan says to get the mud ready. Last up was Tracy who asked Simon if England or America has better talent. Simon answers in two parts. He says America has better singers, but for the judging panel, it's the Brits.
Katharine McPhee returned to sing "Something" with David Foster on piano. It's a George Harrison song, so it fits with the Beatles theme. David and Kat Pee are working on an album together. David plugs his appearances on Access Hollywood where he says he will "fine tune" Simon's opinions, though he says Simon gets it mostly right.
We go back to the results again to find Jim Carrey up with the Idols. He says he shouldn't have done the REO Speedwagon thing. Then we get to the actual results, with David Archuleta, Brooke White, David Hernandez and Ramiele Malubay. Archie and Brooke are safe. That leaves either Ramiele or Dezzie in the bottom three. Ramiele is safe, while Dezzie is in the bottom three. Dezzie performs a lackluster version of "I Saw Her Standing There."
Ryan asks Randy if America got it right. Randy says it's tough but he doesn't think any of the bottom three were good last night. Ryan asks Paula where her head is. She fires back that it's on her shoulders, then says she's never seen a stronger bottom three (point of order here - Season Three, Fantasia Barrino, Latoya London, and Jennifer Hudson). Simon says America got it "spot on." Ryan sends Syesha back first, and then sends Dezzie home. He looked surprised, but honestly were people going to vote for a gay stripper with entirely too much facial movement when singing? Who could actually stand to look at him? Dezzie says things happen for a reason and you'll see him at the top *of a pole*. The new exit song from Ruben Studdard is pretty good I have to say.
So next week we again get Lennon-McCartney songs. Everyone came up with good guesses this week, what about part two?
Did anyone notice how shocked Syesha was that she was in the bottom three? I'm beginning to think she might be a little diva. Maybe that is what I don't like about her.
No surprise here. Sprout and Will and Dusty will get another lusty week. (She'll do better if she goes back to the clevage display.)
Another week of Beatle songs? This reminds me of getting that new toy and playing with it until it breaks.
If you can't be a good example, then be a horrible warning!
I couldn't be happier, creepy guy is gone and at least one more week with the cute girl :)
Oh, and I liked the outfit that Kristy was wearing tonight then add her moves during her performance.. Yay! Who needs sound anyway
Something I thought about at the beginning of the show. An alternative saying for the people that have seen the horton movie advertisment before: "Whomerican Idol: Putting Who infront of everything doesn't make it any better.."
I agree with Dusty. I got Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from dialing last night, but at least it paid off. But I think the Beatles will yet be the end of my Kristy Lee (whose album I just bought, by the way - CD Baby (the e-tailer) has a hilarious confirmation email!)
Amazon has at least two Country Tribute Beatles albums. Maybe Kristy needs to get a hold of them and pick her next song from there. (8 Days a Week is on one of them, by Lorrie Morgan as Paula said, but with no sample, I can't tell if it was sped up to chipmunk speed like Kristy's version.) She also needs to swap her performance-night outfits with her elimination-night outfits. And take a lesson from KatPee about how to use your assets!
I'm glad Hernie is gone. I still think Kristy should have gone though. She was such a mess yesterday. As was Archie. We all know that Archie would be going home based on yesterdays performance.
RE Syesha: "Did you think she deserves to be in the bottom 3 tonight?"
"Yes"....
"With that uncomfortable moment.."
Is it just me or is the banter this year a lot more plentiful?
Also, David Cook ripped off Doxology's version of Eleanor Rigby. Like what Chris Daughtry did to Walk the Line last year. We know you admire Chris, David, but copying other people's music without permission is BAD BAD BAD.
Pretty happy with the results. I think Kristy (sorry guys), Syesha, or Chikezie might go home next week. Everyone else has a pretty solid fanbase.
Wow. All of them are really good. They're are like professional celebrity(some of them). But too bad one of them has to go.
It's a surprise to me that Hernandez is the one who has to go. I thought that hottie Kristy is the one who got kicked. Oh well. At least Brooke, Carly, Johns and Cookie are still in the competition.
I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the top five...you might not agree and I'm not saying these are my personal favorites but I just think this is what the crowd is going to go for...
Michael Johns
Jason Castro
David Archuletta
Cheesy
Carly Smithson
If Michael Johns or Castro do one big song, that will put them right back up there. In fact, I feel the most likeable personalities are Michael, Jason and Cheesy. And being "likeable" is probably one of the most important factors in getting into the top five.
Even though David and Carly have the best voices, they're both schemers in my opinion and their personalities are going to do them in. Just my gut feeling.
Another "schemer" (but not as overbearing) is Syesha. She'll fall early because she never brings anything original to the table.
Ramiele can last a few more nights due to the teenage following. Not as "cute" as she thinks she is...a bit neurotic who lacks imagination...
Kristy actually has a nice personality...maybe a little dull but has a nice amount of warmth. If she only had the BRAINS to choose a good song and do a good arrangement. So far she lacks the brainpower.
David Cook--a guy who's very pushy and a little self-involved. Does not have warmth to connect with the younger teenage voters.
Brooke....she's the oddest one of the all the contestants...she's not a schemer but "tries too hard". She wants to be accepted... to belong so to speak. I think she might make it to #6 but ultimately she's not perceived as "young" and hip enough.
Finally, there's Amanda. Did you ever notice how she hardly ever smiles? It's like she's not even enjoying herself. The rocker thing will only get her so far. She doesn't have the vocal training or enough variety to make it through here.
To the guests: A couple of you replied with rather intelligent thoughts and I thank you for your contribution. However I would suggest that you at least sign your posts (you have the option of still using a name as a guest, just change "GUEST" into whatever you want to call yourself) or you can join (free, no spamming emails from us!) so that we can follow your thoughts through the competition. (By the way, if you tried to join and didn't get your activation email, just use our feedback form to let us know. we'll need the username you signed up as and your email address).
Further thoughts on the reactions later once my brain fully wakes up.
I got it right for the first time this season. I didn't think David Hernandez was the worst, (Archuleta was,) but I don't think the producers want another controversy this year, a la Antonella.
Kristy's song was much better last night, and that was because she slowed it down a bit. I do believe she will be the one to go next week.
Amanda - The Word (this past week, she did well singing a song that many people didn't know; she should stick to that formula)
Archie - Hey Jude or Michelle (though he should probably do something with simple lyrics like "Love Me Do")
Brooke - I'll Follow the Sun (higher BPM, but still ridden with angst; sing with guitar)
Carly - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (A subdued version)
Castro - Yesterday or Norwegian Wood (either with guitar; I think he is a one-trick pony and will not deviate from this style of song)
Chikezie - The Long and Winding Road (he'll need to stand in front of the mike and sing the crap out of this song; he set a high watermark for himself this past week and could fail a la Kristy Lee by trying to be too creative two weeks in a row. He needs to alleviate that pressure by playing it safe. It's risky, but someone should suck hard enough (Kristy Lee) to prevent him from going home next week.)
Cookie - Helter Skelter (to show that he can rock hard on a song that was originally rocking hard)
Kristy Lee - Here, There, and Everywhere (it would be endearing) or Ticket to Ride (a la Karen Carpenter, but without the twang)
Michael - Back in the USSR (show some personality already!)
Ramiele - With a Little Help From My Friends (I've still got nothing; she just doesn't fit this type of music)
Syesha - Fixing a Hole (would show her range) or Blackbird (would show her soul)
edit: ben1974 - 2008-03-13 09:45:22 GMT - No intro
hugefan said: I got it right for the first time this season. I didn't think David Hernandez was the worst, (Archuleta was,) but I don't think the producers want another controversy this year, a la Antonella.
From what I have heard on the grapevine, there may be a brewing controversy regarding Amanda and some pictures a guy in Indiana is trying to sell. It's not over yet!
From what I have heard on the grapevine, there may be a brewing controversy regarding Amanda and some pictures a guy in Indiana is trying to sell. It's not over yet!
First thought: Who'd want to see Amanda naked? I'd pay the guy to keep the pictures.
Second thought: I'm sure Will, Dusty, Sprout, etc are crying out "WHY CAN'T KRISTY HAVE AN EX LIKE THIS???!!!"
Wow, Ben1974, I am so impressed with your knowlege of Beatles tunes.
I think the hour format for results night is a bit much. And, having to resort to call-ins, give me a break. It is a tacky show sometime, but I love to watch the young'uns pursue their dreams and talk with my peeps here at Madam's!
Looks like we lost the head lounge lizzard last night. I want my Brooke to win, but, I like Kristy Lee and would like for her at least once bring down the house in a good way. I think she (IMHO) is a young decent girl and deserves a chance, no less than anyone else on the show. Heck, at least she didn't send of twenty-thousand of our young folks to have various parts of their bodies broken for life because we were to stupid to develope other technologies sitting right in from of us. Forgive me for that, I don't need to differientate for you about real evil and fun evil, I promise, no soapboxes. This is for fun. Will
Will said: Wow, Ben1974, I am so impressed with your knowlege of Beatles tunes.
I think the hour format for results night is a bit much. And, having to resort to call-ins, give me a break. It is a tacky show sometime, but I love to watch the young'uns pursue their dreams and talk with my peeps here at Madam's!
Thanks Will! I grew up listening to the Beatles and buying their albums on cassette, but I am no expert. I know more than the average bear, but that is about it.
I hear you on the hour-long format. Too drawn out. We watched it via the DVR last night and reduced the show to less than 15 minutes. We sped through the banter, watched the God-awful montage, watch the Seacrest couch torture, sped through the songs (watch Kat for all of ten seconds and then remembered that she is now humping some dude her father's age), sped through the commercials, watched one question and saw that they were dumb, then watched the elimination and new song. Next week, I can speed through even more since I saw then this week, like Reuben's song, and cut the showtime down to around ten minutes!
What do you mean YOUR Brooke? You stick to your Kristy (Sorry Curlio, my imagination is good enough, don't need any pics, if that were true, I would have rooted for Antonella last year) and lay off MY Brooke! I already hate her cute hubby, don't make me hate you too! Kapish? Good Boy!
I don't think Hernandez deserved to go... Oy Vey! Can I just add I HATE Sprinkles with intensity of thousand Suns!
Sprinkles = Ryan!
The Core Of Man's Spirit Comes From New Experiences!
dusty said: [...]
Nah, somethings are better left to the imagination. Also just because she apparently does NOT have an ex like that; makes her "score" higher.
I have a feeling that you like her because she is very attractive and a decent human, correct. Me, too. Why do the women of the "shewhatwhat clan" dishonor our sense of values so deeply. Will
I guess being mis-understood is a man's burden. And, Mr. Sprout, my former dance partner, SHE MINE!!!!!
(you see professor, leaving the "is" out connotes a primeval mental attribute, you know, man bark!!!)
Weighing in late and feeling like a sleep-deprived mutant, but I'm around...
First, I agree that an hour is waaayyy too long. The 2 hour season finale is usually even more intolerable...I usually only watch the last 10-15 minutes.
Next, obviously the AI execs have been smoking crack because they are not putting a stop to the banter between Ryan and Simon...did anyone catch that they even had two of the "banter" exchanges on Wednesday's recap video from Tuesday night? Please.
Third, did anyone else think that Kat Pee sounded weak compared to some of the singers this season?
While on the topic of Kat Pee...
Note to AI producers - GET A DECENT WARDROBE CONSULTANT!!!! OMG, Kat's silver sequined outfit looked like she borrowed Kristy Lee Sellout's top from Tuesday and added a matching mini skirt. The silver tank with the large sequins was really, really bad, and the skirt made it even worse! I'll repeat myself and say that the only decent girls' outfit was Amanda, with Carly's outfit being acceptable. The rest were atrocious.
Finally, (before playing round two of L-M "who sings what?"), Randy said in an interview to Yahoo! that Mariah Carey will be one of the mentors this year. Any speculation who the others will be? In an EW interview, Nigel said that we will see several of the older themes, including "pick a song from the year that you were born", and we will see mentors used previously.
My guess is that we will see Barry Manilow again this year. He was on Season 3 and Season 5.
ben1974 said: Who will do what next week:
Two of the contestants said that "Yesterday" is their all-time favorite song and I can't remember which two...we may very well hear one guy and one gal each perform it...
Amanda - Pat Benatar's version of "Helter Skelter" is right in her wheelhouse, but I'd guess that she will end up with another lesser known song. "Don't Let Me Down" might be another option...
Archie - I'm still voting for "Twist and Shout". Besides, its doesn't have a lot of lyrics to forget. "She Loves You" would also work.
Brooke - she got "Let It Be" (grrr!), she'll get "Yesterday" if she wants it. I still think she'd do better with "The Long and Winding Road"
Carly - "Hard Day's Night"
Castro - "Yesterday or Norwegian Wood" (I think he is a one-trick pony and will not deviate from this style of song) - I agree with Ben on all counts. I'd add "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" to that list
Chikezie - "Please Please Me" could work for him
Cookie - "Revolution"
Kristy Lee - "I Am the Walrus" (or some other Beatles song that I don't care if she butchers)
Michael - "Back in the USSR"
Ramiele - "Yellow Submarine" (this girl needs to do something to show off a personality),
For Ben1974, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is a Harrison song.
They don't have a choice of any Lennon/McCartney song. They are give a list of 24 to choose from. No idea what they are.
I'd still like someone with a good voice like Cook or Johns to do Golden Slumber and Amanda to do Oh Darling.
Kristy Lee probably the next to go. Worst night of the year to go because the money is made if you're in the top 10 with the tour, album, etc. #11 gets nothing.
American Idol knocked their number down to 11 tonight as one person was sent home. They also had a surprising announcement about next week's theme.
The show opened with a "Horton Hears a Who" promotional video. The movie is from Fox (really!?) so there's a cross-promotional thing naturally. Jim is dressed as Horton and plugs the show and the movie. Ryan then says that they got so many emails that they decided to change next week's theme. So next week we get Lennon-McCartney part two! 
Syesha meanwhile is in the bottom three. Ryan asks the judges if it would be the wrong choice for her to leave tonight. Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul think it would be the wrong choice. Ryan asks Simon Cowell if she deserves to be in the bottom 3. Simon says she does. Syesha then has to sing her song "Got To Get You Into My Life" again.
Oh how I miss the Ford commercials when we're in the off season. This one was to the tune of "The Distance" and featured a Presidential sort of campaign. Then we got a clip of how American Idol has touched the lives of the Top 12. As we have an hour to pass, it was a nifty clip of photo shoots and them getting to go to the premiere of "Horton Hears a Who." They also talked about how much this whole thing means to them.
Then we were back to more results. Chikezie, Amanda Overmyer, Kristy Lee Cook and David Cook were in the next group. Chikezie, Amanda and Cookie were safe. Kristy, before being told she was in the bottom three already asked for her microphone. Ryan told her she couldn't be sure yet, but then told her to take her microphone and sing. After she sang "Eight Days A Week" Ryan asked Simon if that was any better. Simon said it wasn't and that song just doesn't suit that style.
We were treated to the viewer questions next. First up was Paige who asked Jason Castro if he could be any judge who he would be. Jason was a little shy about it, but said he's most like Paula maybe, and would wear some of Randy's shoes and a v-neck like Simon. Ronny then asked the judges for advice on next year's auditions. 
He has auditioned quite a few times. Simon tells him to get another job. John asks Ryan and Simon when they will just fight it out finally onstage. Simon says something like Celebrity Boxing. Ryan says to get the mud ready. Last up was Tracy who asked Simon if England or America has better talent. Simon answers in two parts. He says America has better singers, but for the judging panel, it's the Brits.
Katharine McPhee returned to sing "Something" with David Foster on piano. It's a George Harrison song, so it fits with the Beatles theme. David and Kat Pee are working on an album together. David plugs his appearances on Access Hollywood where he says he will "fine tune" Simon's opinions, though he says Simon gets it mostly right.
Ryan asks Randy if America got it right. Randy says it's tough but he doesn't think any of the bottom three were good last night. Ryan asks Paula where her head is. She fires back that it's on her shoulders, then says she's never seen a stronger bottom three (point of order here - Season Three, Fantasia Barrino, Latoya London, and Jennifer Hudson). Simon says America got it "spot on." Ryan sends Syesha back first, and then sends Dezzie home. He looked surprised, but honestly were people going to vote for a gay stripper with entirely too much facial movement when singing? Who could actually stand to look at him? Dezzie says things happen for a reason and you'll see him at the top *of a pole*. The new exit song from Ruben Studdard is pretty good I have to say.
