Austin360 blogs > Almost Urban > Archives > 2007 > July > 30 > Entry
‘Making the Band 4’: hot crooning, fly moves and painful cuts
Is it time to start making predictions? Obviously, now that Dan is out, Donnie gets the white boy card, which, save a rerun of last week’s goofball dance routine, should keep him in for at least a few more episodes. I’m not knocking his talent, I’m just sayin’ … Carlos has the hard-luck human interest story and mad heart, and the ladies love him. I’m pulling for my boy Brian A., the good-natured pup-sitter from Houston. Julius is awfully adorable, but he does have the perpetual sob story that’s getting a little old. Robert’s got the lady drama, which makes for good TV, plus he can really sing. And of course, who doesn’t love Big Mike.
At the top of the episode, we’re reminded of Julius’ weak knee, which he busted during Laurie Ann’s training, Donnie’s ridiculous dance routine and last week’s Diddy/Laurie Ann smackdown.
Diddy drops in at the top to remind us it’s almost time to make the band, so he’s bringing in his friends, veteran choreographer Jamal and producer Brian Cox, to work with the crooners.
Dance practice is first, and hobbling Julius is warned that he better move as much as he can, because the show must go on. Then the training begins. In what might be a little passive-aggressive editing, everyone seems to pick up the steps much faster with Laurie Ann’s fishnets out of the picture. Everyone loves Jamal.
In a break, Donnie confides his struggle to internalize the music to Jamal. The choreographer tells Donnie he needs to get past the white boy hangup and really feel the music.
We cut to the house, where frustrated, wounded Julius is comforted by his girlfriend over the phone. Then the crooners are off to the studio to meet with Brian Cox and songwriter Jack Knight. The challenge is to prepare a new song in 24 hours and present it to Diddy. The crooners start rehearsing. Surprise! It’s the ‘MTB4’ theme song.
We cut back to the house, where Carlos is looking at ultrasound pictures. He tells us he’s very excited about being a father. His dad walked out on the family, and he’s ready to stand up and be a better man. He goes home to visit his baby mama Josera, and the two share a touching scene over a pizza.
Meanwhile, Deangelo shaves his braids off. Diddy’s dogged him for his hair, and D is determined to remain a part of the competition.
Back at the studio, the crooners each take a whack at the ‘MTB4’ theme song. Robert nails it. Julius, on the other hand, struggles with his pitch. What with the bum knee, things aren’t looking so good for our boy J. Brian Cox splits up the parts in the song, and Robert and Mike knock their verses out of the park. Our boy Brian A. sounds good too.
We cut back to the house, where Julius acknowledges his rocky standing. We also learn that although sensitive Qwanell was useless on the courts, he’s the best dancer in the house. He coaches Donnie and Carlos with his fly club moves.
Then Carlos is on the phone with Josera. The hospital has called her with concerns about the baby. She has to go in for more tests, and Carlos is shook pretty hard.
Back at the studio, the crooners go into their final rehearsal with Jamal, and everyone has improved dramatically. Donnie’s feeling better with Q’s coaching. Jamal tells him (with a half-smirk) that the he has a style, but he has to learn to own it. Julius tries to dance all out on his leg, and he can’t work through the pain.
Back at the house, Robert tries to give Julius a pep talk, but J’s feeling pretty defeated. Carlos calls home, and his lady’s crying. It turns out the baby might have Down syndrome. Carlos is understandably devastated.
Our crooners have to showcase their skills on stage at Spotlight, and cue the entrance graphics, Diddy’s dropping in. He tells the crooners he’s about to make some cuts. He’s looking at the dance, he’s looking at the vocals, and he’s looking at past history.
They dance first. In the first group, Carlos is distracted, and he gets called out. Then it’s group two, and Donnie’s still got to work on the whole goofball thing, but he’s better than last week. Big Mike cuts up the rug. In group three, Julius is predictably weak.
On to singing. Robert sings the first verse, and he’s still hitting it. Deangelo gets his hair approved by Diddy, sort of, and he drops a solid verse. Carlos gets choked up on his verse, and Julius trainwrecks.
The crooners are sent out of the room, and Diddy does “a little exercise” where each man on the talent team picks his top four. Robert, Willie, Donnie, Brian A., Jeremy, Qwanell and Mike are on the cards that get shuffled around.
Diddy brings back the crooners and lets us know that in four years of doing “Making the Band,” this is the first cut that hurts him. “It’s not going to be a fair cut, but life’s not fair, and the music industry definitely isn’t fair,” he tells us.
The ten top crooners are Qwannell, Big Mike, Willie, Robert, Brian A., Deangelo, Jeremy, Brian H., Donnie and Dyshon.
Ah, man, that cut did hurt. We’re informed that the finalists will be sent home for two months unsupervised, after which they are expected to return as superstars for the season finale, in which Diddy will select the top four.
Naturally, we have touching goodbye sequences from Julius and Carlos. Carlos’ girl Josera comes to help him move out of the house. Whether or not the child has Down syndrome, they’ve decided to keep the baby. And it truly is a tough goodbye. Sigh.
Next on ‘Making the Band 4,’ it’s the season finale, which includes a gig opening for the New Edition. Will Donnie prove he’s not just “the pretty white boy in the house”? Will naggy girlfriend June reappear to throw salt in Robert’s game? Will Qwanell bust with more fabulous dance moves? Tune in; your girl will be watching.
- Episode 8 recap
- Episode 7 recap
- Episode 6 recap
- Episode 5 recap
- Episode 4 recap
- Episode 3 recap
- Episode 2 recap
- Episode 1 recap
Comments
By alexis
July 31, 2007 2:29 AM | Link to this
Hey ur the only 1 that has commented on carlos & his whole baby situation. Carlos is my favorite & my boyfriend went thru the same thing about a year ago. So 4 any1 who is concerened about his baby havin down syndrome… the screening test they give women 4 that is wrong 90% of the time. Its calld a false positive, it tests the hormones of the women which most of the time reads as down syndrome, which happnd 2 us. They hav a test they cud do calld an amneo n it wud tell them if there baby 4sho had it or not, by testin the babys dna. N that test is always 100% right. So I dnot think their baby has it n I hope the best 4 them. R baby is fine n theirs will b 2! Plese post a comment on here if any1 finds out about their results!
By Bird
July 31, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
They are opening for New Edition on next week’s episode, not the Temptations. Even if you said that as a joke, you should have named the real group. Further you failed to mention who wound up singing the show’s theme song: Dyshon, Brian A., Robert and Big Mike.
By Shinel
July 31, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
man he cried a whole lot in this episode. sorry for his child diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, thats tough. it messed up his game really bad. watever man, be the best father u can be, like u said. nuff respect
By Fani
August 2, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this
Bogus…Although I wish the guys well, I’m done watching the show after they cut Carlos. Seriously, dude was IT!! And Dumb Diddy has been in the game long enough that he should have realized that Carlos is a marketing DREAM. He would have pulled from everywhere. He still will. Some very smart label will be going after him in short order after they see the buzz he generated on a show where he wasn’t even prominently featured!! Dude is hot AND talented!! God bless his family. I’m hoping his baby is fine :)
By Destiny
August 3, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
I am hopeing that Big Mike makes the band because he comes from Gaffney,the same small town that I come from,and he also has a wounderful personality, and from what I am hearing in my town, he made the band, but I am not shure. It’s just small town talk.
By Amy
August 3, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Hey
By ebony
August 4, 2007 3:54 AM | Link to this
The Theme Song Is Actuall Sang By Willie, Brian A, Robert N Mike
By !:)<3
August 6, 2007 7:15 PM | Link to this
i would personally like the finial 4 to be Donnie, Q, Big Mike, and Robert to be in it.
Even though Donnie can’t really dance, he’s still hott! ahha :)
By kevin
August 6, 2007 10:43 PM | Link to this
Im the only dude in here but i think - they should make it five and it should be Donnie Big Mike Jermey Willy and Brian A.
By MiZZ SaNdY
August 7, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Hey since i see u know so much about the show i was wonderin if u knew where the season finale would be? i no its gonna be in nyc but do you know exactly where?
By joe
August 8, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
can ne1 tell me the name of the song that they sing near the final episode.
its something like Life is everything but fair…na na na na na na na …control me…before me.
does ne1 know the name of the song,by who and if i can download it?
By Thickgurl08
August 9, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
Willie Willie Willie Willie he can sang and he hella sexy.he can sang me out my……….. But yeah that is sad about Carlos baby i pray that his baby going to be a health strong child much luv
By Irene
August 13, 2007 7:10 AM | Link to this
Does anyone know the song towards the end of the episode that goes something like “Gotta work hard to please me.” It’s starts after the eliminations…
By Bab
August 13, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
The theme song is called I Want You Exclusive and you can download now.
By ginababe
August 16, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
I think dat Donnie,Q,Willie,Big Mike & Robert should make da band der` really good
By beary101
August 21, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
i think that donnie the hottie Q the sexy willie the babe and robert i dont think hes cute sooooo hes really really good.thats the best group ever!!!!!!!!!!and i really really really really really love donnie Q and will.but i would have to say that donnie is the hottest guy in the world hes a sexy model!luv u donnie
By Mia
August 26, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this
does anyone know the name of the song that Jamal teaches the guys the dance to in this episode? I don’t think you ever actually hear the words in the episode. Please help me!