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Dueling Davids on next week’s finale
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Syesha Mercado has been voted off “American Idol”
That, of course, leaves us with dueling Davids in the finale next week: one-time Leander resident David Archuleta and David Cook.
It’s the lineup we — and many of you — predicted weeks ago. And it’s a pretty darn good one.
Our two finalists have drastically different fan bases, and it’ll be interesting to see who wins it all. David A. has a lock on the teenyboppers — and their parents — while David C. has mass appeal among folks in between: the 20- and 30-somethings.
Polls on this site, as well as others, seem to indicate David C. has the edge. The highly unscientific DialIdol.com, for instance, showed him with a commanding leading over the other contestants last week and again this time around.
Syesha, meanwhile, managed to keep a smile on her face all night long — even after getting the news. (She had to know this was coming, right?)
But when host Ryan Seacrest offered the chance to say farewell to her many fans, Syesha froze.
“There’s too many words,” she said. “I don’t know what to say. I just want to say thank you.”
And the judges? They were uncharacteristically doling out praise to all three of the finalists.
“You guys did an amazing job,” Randy Jackson told the trio. “You should be proud of yourselves.”
Even Simon was feeling kind. For a change.
“I like these three,” he said.
So do we.
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A choice night for ‘Idol’s final three
Life’s all about choices.
Sometimes we make the right call and are rewarded. Other times, not so much.
No pressure, right?
That’s what the three remaining “American Idol” hopefuls were up against Tuesday night. Their five-month journey culminates next week, when we’ll crown this season’s winner. But only two of them will get that far. One heads home Wednesday.
So the choices this time around were more important than ever. The right song. The right dance moves. The right clothes. The right hair. The right … everything.
How’d they do? Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance:
Round 1: Judges’ picks
David Archuleta: “And So It Goes,” Billy Joel. Paula picked this one, and she didn’t do David any favors. It was way too slow and pageanty — two of the traps he’s repeatedly fallen into this season. But this one was even worse than usual. It felt like we were listening to a lullaby. Throw in some warm milk, a Teddy bear and some comfortable jammies and you’ve got the makings of a great night’s sleep. Maybe he’s hoping to snag an endorsement deal with Lunesta. Randy: “Paula chose a dope song for you.” Paula: “It was a pure and stunning performance.” Simon: “It was very good. No surprises. A bit predictable.” Our grade: C-
Syesha Mercado: “If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys. Randy selects a song by Syesha’s favorite singer. Sounds like a big break, right? But there’s a risk associated with singing something current. Comparisons to the original artist are inevitable. Sure, she did a great job, but Syesha’s no Alicia Keys. Randy: “You did an amazing job on it.” Paula: “I’m very proud that you’re the last lady standing there.” Simon: “You sang that very well, Syesha.” Our grade: A-
David Cook: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” Roberta Flack. Simon said up front that this was a tough one for David. And he was (partially) right. A case of puberty voice near the top made us feel like we were sitting in a high-school assembly, listening to some pimply faced choir kid. Thankfully things got better. The finish was pretty spectacular. Shots of his mom, standing alone in the audience, clutching her heart, were a sweet touch, too. And so very manipulative. Kudos to you, showrunners. Randy: “I wish Simon would have picked something that wasn’t as predictable.” Paula: “That is one of my favorite songs, and now you’re my second favorite person who sings it.” Simon: “I thought it was actually one of your best performances to date.” Our grade: B+
Round 2: Contestants’ picks
David Archuleta: “With You,” Chris Brown. What a freakin’ joke! This one had us laughing — and for all the wrong reasons. When we think of a suave ladies’ man, David isn’t the guy who pops into our head. Instead, he’s the exact opposite — the good kid fathers want their daughters to date. So, yeah, this totally didn’t work. But he sure gets credit for trying. Randy: “I’m not sure that was the right song.” Paula: “I really think you should be singing songs like this.” Simon: “It was a little bit like a chihuahua trying to be a tiger. … It’s not really you.” Our grade: B-
Syesha Mercado: “Fever,” Peggy Lee. We can’t see you, Syesha! The guy running the lights needs to start looking for a new job. Shadows obscured her beautiful face for most of this one. We were, thankfully, able to hear her just fine though. That was a treat, as always. Does sex sell on “Idol”? She sure seems to think so, with all that slinking around the stage and the oh-so-risque … chair. We’ll get our answer Wednesday night. Randy: “You sang it amazingly well.” Paula: “I’m surprised you picked this one.” Simon: “I think you will probably regret that decision tomorrow.” Our grade: B+
David Cook: “Dare You to Move,” Switchfoot. Once again, David went way, way too deep at the beginning and ended up sounding like a stuffed-up patient waiting to see an ear, nose and throat doctor. We don’t want to hear that. Ever. He quickly recovered though. Isn’t modern medicine great? And did anyone see the woman in the audience holding up the “Cougars for Cook” sign? Gag. Randy: “It wasn’t your best tonight.” Paula: “I wanted more.” Simon: “I don’t think it’s the most melodic song in the world.” Our grade: B
Round 3: Producers’ picks
David Archuleta: “Longer,” Dan Fogelberg. Yet another David A. special: the kind of song our ballad-loving boy adores, even if it’s a not-so-wise choice for someone trying to appeal to hordes of screaming teenage girls. Maybe it’d work if, as Simon pointed out, a bunch of 90-year-olds were doing all the voting. We will give him credit for making an attempt to make more eye contact with the crowd, a piece of advice tossed his way a few weeks back. Randy: “You could sing the phonebook.” Paula: “It was a lovely performance.” Simon: “I thought the song and the lyrics were absolutely horrible.” Our grade: B
Syesha Mercado: “Hit Me Up,” Gia Farrell. No, no, no! You want to go out on a memorable note … and that’s not what we got. Not even close. Just when we thought Syesha had found her way, she appears to have taken a sharp turn off course. A turn that likely cost her a spot in the finals next week. Randy: “It was just OK for me.” Paula: “I don’t know if it’s the type of song that defines you as Syesha the artist.” Simon: “It’s a little bit forgettable.” Our grade: C-
David Cook: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” Aerosmith. Dude, stop doing that with your voice. It doesn’t sound good — and it certainly can’t feel good. Right about now we’re picturing bloody, ulcerated vocal cords. Not a pleasant image. There were things — shock!!! —- we actually liked. For instance, we were digging the interesting arrangement that mixed rock with violins. Let’s just say David’s a smart guy with an all-but-guaranteed spot in the finals. Nice way to end the show. Randy: “It was OK for me. Very predictable.” Paula: “See ya in the finals.” Simon: “David Cook wins the night.” Our grade: A-
Our pick to get the boot: Syesha. Duh.
Let us know what you think, dear “Idol” fans. And be sure to vote in our handy dandy poll. Until Wednesday night …
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Carrie Underwood inks Opry deal
Carrie Underwood and the Grand Ole Opry.
Just kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
So it should come as no surprise that the two joined forces over the weekend.
“This really seems like a great family to be part of,” Underwood said after an introduction by Garth Brooks Saturday night. “I promise I’ll do everything I possibly can to not make you regret it.”
The former “American Idol” champ was later joined by Vince Gill for a duet.
Good things happening to good people. We love it.
Idol chatter …
- Sunday’s KISS FM Big Summer Bash was quite the treat for “Idol” fans.
Ferras, whose career got a big ol’ boost when showrunners picked his “Hollywood’s Not America” as this season’s exit song, opened the night with a great acoustic set before racing off to Dallas to appear on the nationally syndicated “Kidd Kraddick in the Morning” show earlier today. This guy’s uber-talented. So talented we had to grab a copy of “Aliens & Rainbows,” his new CD.
Maroon 5, fresh off an “Idol” appearance, took the stage a bit later. Lead singer Adam Levine was his usual hot self, charming the pants — figuratively, of course — off fans of all ages and sexes.
Click here to read our review and see pics from the show.
- Set your DVRs for two appearances this week by “Idol” alums.
Clay Aiken’s on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tonight to pimp his new album. Check it out at 10:35 on KXAN.
Then tune into “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” Tuesday morning at 9 to see Aggie Jason Castro, this season’s latest “Idol” reject. The show airs on Fox 7.
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Daddy drama for David Archuleta
Poor David Archuleta.
It appears he really does have the stage dad from hell.
First daddy dearest was allegedly booted from the “Star Search” set a few years back. And, now, The Associated Press reports he’s been banned from “American Idol” rehearsals.
Oh, dear!
This latest bit of daddy drama is apparently the result of backstage meddling that cost “Idol’s” producers some big bucks. It seems Jeff Archuleta ignored warnings from showrunners and instructed young David to tweak the lyrics to “Stand By Me” this week, adding a line from “Beautiful Girls.”
That resulted in the show having to shell out extra licensing fees. Because, you know, times are tough and “Idol” just isn’t making any money. Oh, wait …
In any event, Daddy A. will apparently now be forced to watch from the sidelines, just like the rest of us.
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Final 3 ‘Idol’ hopefuls head home
The three remaining “American Idol” finalists are heading home.
For a few hours, at least.
David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado hit the road after Texan Jason Castro was eliminated Wednesday night, filming segments we’ll get to see next week. Then it’s back to Hollywood to practice, practice, practice.
In Utah, hordes of screaming teenage girls — shock!!! — greeted David A. at each stop: his high school in the town of Murray, a Salt Lake City shopping mall and even an NBA playoff game, where he delivered the national anthem before the Utah Jazz played the L.A. Lakers.
“This is the biggest thing ever for Murray,” said 12-year-old Marnie Hartbrecht, one of many who packed the Murray High School football stadium to catch a glimpse of the pint-sized singer with ties to Leander.
Several states away, David C. made the rounds in Kansas City, Mo., greeting fans in the oh-so-trendy Power & Light District, where he performed before a crowd.
“Guys, thank you, seriously. … I don’t know what else to say,” he told the assembled masses. “This is the coolest day of my life.”
Another concert followed later in the day. Then he tossed the first pitch — and performed “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” — at a K.C. Royals game. So much for all that rest he so desperately needs …
Bradenton, Fla., is home to Syesha Mercado. Or is it?
There’s apparently a turf war brewing with nearby Sarasota, which also claims the lovely and talented songstress.
Syesha isn’t taking sides and wisely decided to spread the love. She performed in Downtown Bradenton before heading to a Sarasota museum and, later that night, a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game.
Whew! Get all that?
Photos courtesy of Fox
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Jason Castro speaks … in complete sentences
Jason Castro wants you, his loyal fans, to know he never threw in the towel.
Even though it sure looked that way.
“As of yesterday I wanted to win and the day before,” the Aggie told reporters during “American Idol’s” Thursday conference call. “I think what it came down to is just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs, I wasn’t really being able to focus on both my songs, my mind was just split and I couldn’t deliver either/or. I think that’s what it came down to.”
That inexperience — he didn’t start playing guitar till freshman year at Texas A&M — was painfully obvious earlier this week when he botched the lyrics to a classic, “Mr. Tambourine Man.”
“I definitely did not do that that on purpose. I couldn’t believe I forgot, like, such a popular line, something that’s, like, written on your soul. Somehow it slipped my mind. But I definitely didn’t do that on purpose.”
Stress, he says, was the likely culprit.
“This whole time, I’ve had a blast and I was trying, but it’s just really been hard. And that night I remember before we found out the results, I was just thinking, I was really starting to fear the week ahead, like, if I made it, how am I going to do three songs? I can’t even do two right! And with the hometown visit, it was just going to be a lot of work, even though it would have been so much fun. I was just freaking out about it.”
What’s up with all that yawning?: “I am a chronic yawner. Every week before my song I’m yawning, and I don’t know where it comes from or why, but I’m always yawning.”
Are his speaking skills really that bad?: “I’m an awkward conversationalist. I’m trying my best now! What you see is what you get. I didn’t change at all coming here.”
Did we see his true personality?: “I am pretty relaxed about everything.”
What kind of music does he like?: “I’ve listened to a lot of Texas country just being around there, the likes of Pat Green. I’m just a big country fan. I just love the heart behind it.”
Has he been keeping up with all the media attention he’s attracted?: “I really don’t read anything like everything y’all are probably about to write.”
And there, in a nutshell, is the essence of Jason. Not-so-complex dude that he is.
Digest … and discuss.
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Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot
America got it right.
For once.
Jason Castro is now “American Idol” history. And not a moment too soon.
Sure, it would have been oh-so-cool to see a Texan go the distance but, this late in the season, it’s time to face the facts. The Aggie from Rockwall just wasn’t as good as the three remaining hopefuls. At least in this particular forum.
After turning in some tremendous performances earlier in the year, Jason’s been phoning it in lately. Take last night, for instance, when he royally flubbed the lines to a Bob Dylan song. A song he allegedly knows and loves. You just can’t do that and expect to survive.
“Somebody told me that I shot the Tambourine Man yesterday,” he told host Ryan Seacrest. “That was funny.
“It’s just getting tough for me. I think my inexperience is coming in.”
Indeed it was.
While “Idol” never releases actual breakdowns of how America voted, the folks over at DialIdol.com say Jason was a distant fourth. David Cook was first, according to their stats, followed by David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado in a virtual tie. Then a big gap. Then Jason.
So Aggies, there’s no reason to flock to campus tomorrow wearing your school colors. There will be no film crew from Fox on hand. Don’t expect Jason, either. Not yet, at least.
But you know he’s itching to head home soon. Everyone does. Even Ryan alluded to it, saying Jason seemed relieved to get ye olde heave-ho. And when Jason gets here, he’ll have plenty of fans waiting to cheer him on in venues big and small across the state.
Us excluded, of course.
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Final four ‘Idol’ hopefuls take the stage
The end is near, “American Idol” fans.
We’re just two weeks away from crowning this season’s winner.
Can you believe it?
And, after Tuesday night’s performances, one thing’s very clear: There’s no way in hell Jason Castro’s got a shot at going all the way. To label his two performances “atrocious” would be a compliment. So much for that big party later this week down in Aggieland …
Fortunately the others stepped it up this week, nailing songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock list.
Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance:
Round 1
David Cook: “Hungry Like the Wolf,” Duran Duran. Something’s clearly not right here. His brother’s continuing health problems are really taking a toll on David. He looks tired and lost. And he sounds hoarse again. A date with a razor wouldn’t hurt, either. The performance itself wasn’t horrid, but it didn’t have us jumping up and down. A little more originality would have gone a long way. Randy: “That was an OK choice, and it was a solid performance.” Paula: “To watch you grow and flourish over the past several months has been truly remarkable.” Simon: “I thought it was good.” Our grade: B
Syesha Mercado: “Proud Mary,” Tina Turner. She looked and sounded like a true pro. Great interacation with the band. What a dramatic transformation in such a short span of time. It’s great to finally see the real Syesha. Let’s just hope it’s not too late. Randy: “What a difference a couple of weeks make.” Paula: “You look like a star.” Simon: “I thought it was just a bad, shrieky version.” Our grade: A
Jason Castro: “I Shot the Sheriff,” Bob Marley. Karaoke … at its absolute worst. There’s just no way around it. Jason, when forced to deviate from the norm, clearly has no clue which songs to pick. That … or he’s ready to head home to Texas. And after tonight, we wouldn’t at all be surprised if that’s exactly what happens. Randy: “That was a really karaoke Bob Marley.” Paula: “I wasn’t crazy about the performance or the song, really.” Simon: “That was utterly attrocious.” Our grade: D
David Archuleta: “Stand by Me,” Ben E. King. David confessed to singing this song to himself on a somewhat regular basis. If he’s that familiar with it, it had to be good. And it was. Excellent, in fact. He seemed a little naked up there on stage all by himself, but David totally made it work. It’s nice to see the shining star we saw at the start of the season make a return appearance — and just in time. Randy: “I loved that, dude. That was hot.” Paula: “You’re seasoned already.” Simon: “You could have whistled a song and it would have sounded better than the last song.” Our grade: A-
Round 2
David Cook: “Baba O’Riley,” The Who. A drastic difference. So much better than his first outing. This is the true David Cook. Keep it up, and you’ll cruise on into the finals. Randy: “You were great.” Paula: “I just want more. I want more Dave Cook.” Simon: “Welcome back, David Cook.” Our grade: A
Syesha Mercado: “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke. One of the best “Idol” outings EVER. She researched the song. She understood the song. And it was so incredibly obvious before, during and after her performance that this song meant so much to her. It even brought her to tears. Us, too. Show biz is so very fake and plastic, but nothing — absolutely nothing — was fake or plastic about this number. What a beautiful sight to behold. Randy: “It felt all disconnected to me.” Paula: “You turned this into a superstar performance for me.” Simon: “I thought you sang that really, really well.” Our grade: A+
Jason Castro: “Mr. Tambourine Man,” Bob Dylan. He forgot the words, but handled it fairly well. Better than Brooke White for sure. We’re getting that coffeehouse vibe again, but that seems to be Jason’s comfort zone. Hey, it certainly was an improvement over his trip to the mic in Round 1. But it also illustrates his narrow range. Randy: “Jason’s not in the zone tonight.” Paula: “Obviously it didn’t blow us away, but you blow me away.” Simon: “Jason, I’d pack your suitcase.” Our grade: C+
David Archuleta: “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley. David’s back to his old ways. The song was too slow, and he just sat there. Vocals alone will only get you so far. Some showmanship is needed, too. Definitely not the one to end on. Randy: “Another great performance for you.” Paula: “That was one of my favorite performances from you.” Simon: “You didn’t beat the competition tonight. You crushed the competition.” Our grade: A-
Who will head home?: Jason and Syesha will be the bottom two. Jason clearly deserves to get the boot, but will it happen? Fingers crossed.
Let us know what you think by casting a vote in our poll. Leave a comment, too.
Tuesday night’s performances
Here are video clips of this week’s performances, courtesy of the “Idol” fans over at YouTube:
David Cook’s “Hungry Like the Wolf”
Syesha Mercado’s “Proud Mary”
Jason Castro’s “I Shot the Sheriff”
David Archuleta’s “Stand by Me”
David Cook’s “Baba O’Riley”
Syesha Mercado’s “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Jason Castro’s “Mr. Tambourine Man”
David Archuleta’s “Love Me Tender”
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Aggies show support for Jason Castro
This week’s performances are still hours away, but it seems folks in Aggieland are fairly confident their man Jason Castro will cruise on through to the final three.
The top three “American Idol” finalists, whose identities will be known after Wednesday’s results show, will return to their hometowns at week’s end to tape segments that will air later this month. And Jason’s fellow Aggies — he’s a construction science major, believe it or not — have already made plans for a “Maroon Out” this Thursday to show their support.
Fans — preferably dressed in the school’s colors, of course — are encouraged to greet Fox’s film crew at the Jack K. Williams Administration Building at 7 that night. A video and fliers promoting the event can even be downloaded free of charge from iTunes.
The Battalion, Texas A&M’s student newspaper, reports a number of campus organizations are planning viewing parties this week to help build support. Some are even giving away prizes to students who vote.
But not all the locals are convinced Jason’s got what it takes. As of late Monday, a poll being conducted by the Bryan-College Station Eagle showed 55 percent of voters don’t think he’ll be the next “Idol” champ.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong? We’ll find out very soon.
Idol chatter …
- “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet” has had amazing luck snagging “Idol” castoffs this season.
That string of good fortune continues Tuesday, when newly booted Brooke White stops by for a visit.
Catch it at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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‘Idol’ exec: Paula’s here to stay
Wacky behavior can get you fired from most places.
Not “American Idol,” though.
The show’s executive producer says there are no plans to toss Paula Abdul overboard after Tuesday’s now-infamous “Who am I? Where am I?” meltdown — an incident that spawned more buzz than that night’s performances by the five remaining hopefuls.
Even David Letterman joined in, creating a list of the “Top Ten Reasons Paula Abdul Needs a Vacation.” No. 1 on the list: Amy Winehouse called her and said, “Dude, you’re nuts”
“I love that everyone was talking about it,” Cecile Frot-Coutaz told The Associated Press. “It was so unexpected. It was something that took up 2 seconds of airtime. You’d think there was no other news on television.”
The showrunner went even further, saying we should expect the same cast of characters — Paula, Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest — back next year, even though ratings have dipped somewhat.
“They’re a great cast,” she said. “They work very well together. If it’s working, don’t fix it.”
But other changes could be in the works, including a hiatus for “Idol Gives Back.”
Stay tuned …
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Brooke White: Leaving’s ‘kind of a relief’
Brooke White knew it was her time to go.
In fact, she told E! News she’s been packed and ready to head home to Arizona for two weeks now.
Still, she found herself overwhelmed by emotions when “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest delivered the crushing news Wednesday night.
“Boom, it hit me,” Brooke told reporters assembled for the show’s weekly conference call. “This is done. This is over. It was sad. The fear of going back in the real world and ‘what does the future hold?’ and excitement. It was just a lot of feelings I guess I was feeling. It was emotional and I hoped so much I could have been stronger (but) I’m an emotional girl.”
Echoing what we heard last week from Carly Smithson, Brooke’s all but certain a guy will win this season.
“The boys are awfully popular this year,” she said. “Their fan mail (comes) in great, humongous stacks, and us girls got like three letters a day.
“The boys are very talented, very charming. But yeah, oh, to be a boy this year. It probably would have been helpful.”
She’s not bitter, though. In fact, in an odd twist, it seems we might actually be hearing more from Brooke now that she’s gone from the “Idol” stage. “Songs From the Attic,” a demo album she previously recorded is available — starting today — at BrookeWhite.com.
“I had shopped Brooke to practically every label in town and no bites,” former manager Tim Simms told the Los Angeles Times. “No one thought you could shop the good girl.”
Now that good girl’s got quite a following — including singer extraordinaire Carly Simon — and the sky’s the limit.
See, good things really do come to those who wait.
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Bye, bye, Brooke White
Brooke White’s wild ride on “American Idol” has come to an end.
Host Ryan Seacrest hurled an avalanche of adjectives her way — brave, vulnerable, candid, beautiful — but voters apparently had had enough. Not even Carly Simon’s support made a difference.
Where, oh where, were you earlier this season, Carly?
In any event, the news prompted much sobbing from dear, sweet Brooke.
“I just want to say thank you,” she told the crowd while Ryan dabbed away the tears. “Thank you.”
Next up was her farewell song where, true to form, Brooke flubbed the lyrics. Hey, old habits are hard to break.
Syesha Mercado joined Brooke in the losers’ circle. Syesha, of course, is a repeat visitor and surely will be the next to go. So it seems all but certain now that the last two contestants standing will be guys.
Amidst the mountains of filler Fox flung our way Wednesday, we also got an explanation — sorta — for Paula Abdul’s bizarre behavior during Tuesday’s show.
“Last night, the judges were thrown a curveball on the air, which is just part of a live show,” Ryan said, trying to explain away a last-minute change in the show’s lineup that left Paula quite confused. “But it sparked a lot of gossip about Paula. I read some of this online this morning and, just for the record, the rumors, they’re not true. She’s part of our family, and we love her.”
So there.
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‘Idol’s top 5 meet Neil Diamond
Someone help Paula Abdul.
Now. Please.
If you missed Tuesday night’s installment of “American Idol,” you missed quite a show — and we’re not talking about the performances by the five remaining finalists.
No, Paula and her incoherent “Who am I? Where am I?” ramblings took center stage.
It’s a spectacle we haven’t seen so far this season — and one we hope we won’t see again.
Sister needs to get some extra sleep, pop some gingko baloba … or something. Pronto.
That said, let’s move on to our regularly scheduled critique.
Neil Diamond was this week’s musical mentor and, now that we’re near season’s end, we were treated to two snippets from each of the finalists. The results, for the most part, weren’t half bad.
Round 1
Jason Castro: “Forever in Blue Jeans.” Jason started this one out with a different, deeper sound that wasn’t as breathy. We liked it. So, of course, he immediately lapsed right back into the norm. At this point, he appears to be on auto-pilot. No originality whatsoever. Randy: “It was OK.” Simon: “Forgettable.” Our grade: C-
David Cook: “I’m Alive.” David sounded raspy, and wasn’t very animated. He looked beat down. Are his brother’s medical problems weighing on him? Sure seems like it. Randy: “Very good. In the zone.” Simon: “Just above average.” Our grade: B-
Brooke White: “I’m a Believer.” Oh, honey … no. Smoker’s voice isn’t exactly a valuable commodity. Don’t ever do that again. And what was she wearing? With all that shiny material, Brooke looked like a cowgirl straight from outer space. Randy: “Still a little karaoke for me.” Simon: “A nightmare.” Our grade: B-
David Archuleta: “Sweet Caroline.” More, more, more from David this week. More confidence. More energy. More movement on stage. He was even kind of … flirty. Wow. Randy: “The bomb.” Simon: “Amateurish.” Our grade: B+
Syesha Mercado: “Hello Again.” Yet another new look for Syesha. So. Very. Glam. We were digging it. But it was hard to recognize her at first. And, as we’ve pointed out before, that could be a problem with viewers. Syesha did, however, wisely take every possible opportunity to show off her amazing set of pipes. This was definitely the performance to beat in the show’s first half. Randy: “Wasn’t amazing, but it was strong.” Simon: “Old-fashioned.” Our grade: A
As you can tell by the judges’ comments, time was short after the first round. And what about Paula? As we mentioned earlier, she was out to lunch.
Round 2
Jason Castro: “September Morn.” He was a little better the second time around, but Jason’s still clearly out of his element. Let’s just say the cards are definitely stacked against him. Again. Loved his explanation for why he sucked so much this week: “I choked at the start of that song.” Oh, you choked alright. All night long. Randy: “That was just another OK performance for me.” Paula: “I felt like it was safe, and you needed to step out of your comfort zone.” Simon: “We don’t recognize you at the moment.” Our grade: D
David Cook: “All I Really Need Is You.” Again, he looks out of it. Definitely preoccupied. But he still managed to up the energy level enough to wow the judges. Randy: “I’m a huge David Cook fan right now.” Paula: “I’m so proud of you.” Simon: “I thought the second song was brilliant.” Our grade: B+
Brooke White: “I Am I Said.” After last week’s debacle, Brooke wrote the lyrics on her palm this time around. That seemed to do the trick. Such an improvement over her first performance of the night. She really got into it … well, as much as she could behind a piano. Randy: “Nice job, baby.” Paula: “Everyone loves who you are.” Simon: “This is the Brooke we like.” Our grade: A-
David Archuleta: “America.” So manipulative! David pulls a trick from the Kristy Lee Cook cookbook. Still, this one’s hard. It’s a well known — and much loved — song. Nowhere near as good as the original, but David made it work — with a heaping helping of cheese. Randy: “You are definitely in the zone right now.” Paula: “This was the absolute perfect song for you to sing.” Simon: “That was a smart choice of song.” Our grade: B+
Syesha Mercado: “Thank the Lord for the Night Time.” Lots of attitude here. And it totally works. Last week and again this week, it really seems like Syesha’s been reborn. Tapping her knack for theatrics sure helped. Randy: “You’re finally realizing who you are.” Paula: “That texture in your voice is beautiful. That’s your magic.” Simon: “You are a very good actress-stroke-singer. I think you may be in trouble tonight.” Our grade: B
Our picks for the bottom three: Jason was the worst of the bunch, but we think he’s good for another week or two. Not safe enough to avoid the bottom three though. He’ll be joined by Syesha and Brooke. Brooke will go.
Tuesday night’s performances
Here are video clips of this week’s performances, courtesy of the “Idol” fans over at YouTube:
Jason Castro’s “Forever in Blue Jeans”
David Cook’s “I’m Alive”
Brooke White’s “I’m a Believer”
David Archuleta’s “Sweet Caroline”
Syesha Mercado’s “Hello Again”
Jason Castro’s “September Morn”
David Cook’s “All I Really Need Is You”
Brooke White’s “I Am I Said”
David Archuleta’s “America”
Syesha Mercado’s “Thank the Lord for the Night Time”
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Katharine McPhee makes FHM’s hot list
FHM readers think Katharine McPhee’s sexy.
There’s simply no doubt about it.
But she’s apparently not as sexy as she was in 2007.
The “American Idol” reject is No. 38 on the magazine’s annual list of the Sexiest Women in the World. Last year, however, she was No. 2.
Megan Fox, an actress with a “breakout performance” in “Transformers” — their words, not ours — tops the list this year, in case you’re wondering.
Idol chatter …
- Jason Embry, the Statesman’s Washington reporter, has a pretty cool job.
In case you’ve got your doubts, check out this snapshot he passed along from Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
That’s him alongside recently booted “Idol” finalist Michael Johns. “Probably the coolest celeb I met all night,” Jason told us.
Other A-, B-, C- and D-listers he met at the annual soiree included MTV’s Heidi Montag, Martha Stewart, Connie Britton of “Friday Night Lights” and Jenny McCarthy.
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From Clay Aiken’s mouth to your ears
Picture this: Clay Aiken, in his jammies, getting a haircut and chatting with little ol’ us on the phone from his Raleigh, N.C., home.
Try not to be too jealous, Claymates.
In our brief conversation we learned more about “On My Way Here,” his upcoming CD — and a variety of other things.
“It’s the first time we’ve done new stuff in five years, so I’m excited,” Clay told us. “It’s stuff that’s mine.”
The album’s not out until May 6, but you can hear the title track, in its entirety, right now on Amazon.com. And, if you’re so inclined, you can scoop it up for half price. Not bad at all.
This CD clearly comes straight from Clay’s heart. Each song has a deeply personal meaning for him, but he’s quick to point out they’ll likely mean something entirely different to his many fans out there. And that’s perfectly fine.
Take “The Real Me,” for instance.
“Sometimes I feel like people know who I am because of what they see on TV or what they’ve heard or what they’ve read or this, that and the other … and it’s not really who I am,” he told us.
See, Clay’s a complex guy.
Anyway, many of you were eager to find out if there will be a tour to accompany the CD’s release. Well, we’ve got some good — and bad — news. You’ll get your tour … but it won’t be any time soon. Following the CD’s debut, and the obligatory media tour, he’s looking forward to taking a breather.
“It’ll be the first time I’ve had some time off — two days in a row off — since October, I think,” Clay said.
He’s anxious to chill this summer at his Raleigh home, but he’s “sure we’ll tour eventually.”
So there.
And what about starring in a movie or TV series someday?
“We try to stay open to every single thing, every opportunity that comes along,” he said.
But …
“I’m not seeking out a movie, no.”
There you have it, Claymates. We didn’t get to ask every question you lobbed our way, but we darn sure tried. Hear the entire interview — all 10 or so minutes — by clicking here.
Then let us know what you think. We’ll be waiting.
Idol chatter …
- Make an appointment with your TV set Tuesday morning.
That’s when Carly Smithson, the latest “American Idol” castoff, is set to appear on “The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.”
The fun begins at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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Carly Smithson: ‘Idol’ guys have all the fans
Carly Smithson agrees with us.
You, too.
In her exit interview with reporters, the newly booted “American Idol” hopeful said she’s gone because she just wasn’t popular enough.
And she fears the remaining girls are in danger for the same reason.
“Early on, people accumulate their fanbase,” she said. “Every week, I gave as good as I could. I enjoyed every moment on the show. Everything was just so amazing, the response that I had, [but] women vote for this show, and they vote for the boys. The boys are adorable, and I definitely feel that the girls had more of a struggle this year with trying to get the popularity vote. I think the boys are definitely charming the females a lot. And they’re very talented too — everyone’s very talented — but I think it was definitely a bit of a struggle for the ladies.”
She also makes another good point:
“My fans were very good to me, and they kept me in as long as they did. And I truly believe when you have a good night, it is maybe the kiss of death, because your fans don’t power-vote for you like if you had a bad night. And that’s just the way it goes. And I have no hard feelings.”
And it certainly doesn’t help when you sing a tune from a Broadway show many Christians find offensive.
Up next for the Irish import? The same things we hear week after week: making a record, the “Idols Live!” tour and all that jazz.
Yawn.
Idol chatter …
- First Jordin Sparks had to bail on the Alicia Keys tour.
Now Alicia’s been forced to abandon ship.
She’s got swollen vocal cords, while Jordin’s been diagnosed with an acute vocal cord hemorrhage.
Let’s hope both these talented ladies are back in top form — and on the road again — very soon.
- Looking for a laugh to help you make it through the day?
Check out this link from TMZ.com.
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‘Idols Live!’ tour has 2 Texas stops
The schedule’s out for this summer’s “Idols Live!” tour, complete with a pair of stops in the Lone Star State.
There is, however, no love for Austin. That’s right, we didn’t make the list. Again.
So get ready to make the drive to Houston’s Toyota Center on Aug. 24 or American Airlines Center in Dallas on Aug. 25. By then we can expect gas to be … oh … around $20 a gallon.
Instead of our fair city, the top 10 finalists will be visiting more exciting locales, such as Bossier City, La., Evansville, Ind., and Wilkes Barre, Pa.
Performers this time around will be David Archuleta, Jason Castro, David Cook, Kristy Lee Cook, Chikezie Eze, Michael Johns, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson and Brooke White. Jason — the Aggie with dreds — calls Dallas home, so that show should be especially fun.
Get your tickets beginning May 17 at 10 a.m. See ya there!
Idol chatter …
- Here’s something really, really scary: William Hung wants to be a teacher.
Yes, the infamous “Idol” reject could one day be educating your child.
TMZ.com reports Willia
Latest comments
At a time when they need to look their best, AI made them look their worst. Three songs at a minute-thirty is a propos of and ice skating review, not America’s preeminent talent contest.
Two songs each is a gracious plenty to craft at this
... read the full comment by John Douglas | Comment on A choice night for 'Idol's final three Read A choice night for 'Idol's final three
I can’t believe the producers picked “Longer” for David Archuleta. Or for anyone for that matter. That song is so old it has mold on it.
... read the full comment by HighCNote | Comment on A choice night for 'Idol's final three Read A choice night for 'Idol's final three
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