There wasn't much singing on tonight's show, though there was a lot of riding up and down a tiny elevator. There was a camera in the elevator, so we saw various contestants spewing emotion from a cramped little space, where each was all alone, except for us millions of Americans who were watching them and occasionally even feeling some real some real emotion. Let's list a few high spots (which don't include the news, which we already knew, that the Brittenum twins have problems that took them out of the competition).
1. Katharine McPhee cracks her knuckles cutely as she waits nervously. She makes it and kisses all three judges on the lips (even though at a later point in the show a contestant reminds herself of the rule that they cannot approach the judges).
2. Ace Young is the new and improved Constantine. We see him singing. He's cute but why must he slur his words like that? There's something smarmy and deficient about him. But he is cute. He makes it.
3. Eugenia Littlejohn. I'm sorry but I'm completely distracted by her reverse French manicure: the tips are painted black. Anyway, she doesn't make it.
4. Robert Bennett, Jr. freaks out in the elevator. He's made it and he's all manic. He reminds me of a comedian that I just can't quite remember. Oh, it's Gene Wilder! Yeah. I remember now. He's not very attractive, but when he gets all emotive like that in his small space, you've just got to love him.
5. Mandisa Hundley, the new and improved Frenchie. She's a large woman, and Simon has insulted her. She says: "I figured that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you." That moves Simon to say: "I'm just so appalling, aren't I?" She makes it, and as she walks back to the elevator, she says: "Y'all are looking at my bottom while I'm walking out, aren't you?" And, yeah, we are. But we love her. And, damn it, we still love Frenchie, the great lost hope of the show. Remember when we said we'd never watch the show again, because of how they treated Frenchie? But somehow we went back...
6. Lisa Tucker. They're concerned that she's only 16. But so what?
7. David Radford. He's got a bit of a Tom Cruise vibe. He makes it.
8. Sway makes it. Elliot Yamin makes it. Brenna blabs and makes it. Gedeon McKinney is a little arrogant -- "I'm ready for America to see what God has done" -- but he makes it.
9. A new favorite of mine, Stephanie Scott, makes it. She's tall and sweet and classically trained. "I love opera!"
10. Ayla Brown, the basketballer, makes it. Patrick Hall, who's not pretty, but is good, makes it. Kevin Corvais, who's heart-rendingly nerdy, makes it.
11. Paris Bennett, who was so good in the audition, but not all that great in Hollywood -- and knows it! -- makes it.
12. Kelley Pickler, who's good and innocent -- a bit Carrie Underwoodish -- makes it. She might be a bit dumb, because when she's told she made it, she seems as though she can't understand, and then she blabs inanely about her mascara.
13. Taylor Hicks, the guy with the gray hair, pours it on, walking in playing the harmonica. He makes it. Great!
14. They end with two pairs, two women and then two men. In each case, we know there is only one slot. One of the guys is William Makar. You know, my new favorite. Phew! He makes it.
February 15, 2006
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7 comments:
It's unfortunate what happened to the Brittenum twins.
I was looking forward to the drama when they were eliminated one by one. They would not have gone quietly!
So does this website about Garet make you want to shed another tear?
Kelley Pickler's confusion when the judges told her she was through may have been the ambiguity of "through". Maybe she couldn't tell whether "you're through" meant "you're through to the next round" (i.e., you passed) or "you're finished" (i.e., you failed).
Yay, American Idol blogging! Thanks, Ann.
I share esk's disappointment with the rather anti-climactic news of the Brittenum twins. Sure, we knew they would be let go but I kinda thought they'd be let go on camera. What TV that would've been!
Ace Young being the new, improved Constantine? Smarmy and deficient? Um, isn't that the old, unimproved Constantine? Though Ace hit the high note he needed in the Michael Jackson song he sang, so he might have what it takes. And Paula fanning herself afterwards? Jeepers. You'd think after last year's scandal, she'd watch out for that sort of thing.
Favorites got through and then some. What else could I ask for? Can't wait for next week.
I also like Stephanie, like a new Alanis type. She and Joe Cocker Boy each have talent, confident and a cool persona.
As for the twins, I guess they could have shot a perp walk. What a strange pair! What idiot on the lam for identity theft warrants would go on national TV?
I do like this show (much better than listening to commentators screaming into their mikes at the Olympics). I enjoy seeing ordinary people pursue their dreams. And you can walk away and finish the laundry if you have to. I guess that's why these shows have always been popular, from the 50s till now.
I would buy an album by Taylor with the gray hair today .
Katharine McPhee is just plain sexy. The voice and everything else. Ouch.
Becky is a bad singer and will be gone soon, but man, is she easy on the eyes.
Hey, I may not be as good looking as Ace, but then, who is?
"Ace" seems contrived but he may well persist based on looks, we'll see.
Katharine McPhee, such a great voice and very pretty, if she has personality, she will be hard to beat.
The manipulation of the show from this point forward in terms of the frequent "coming up after the break" stuff makes me wish I had TiVo.
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