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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 William’s enrolled at Cal State Northridge, where he recently told the school’s newspaper about his career plans.
While plenty of young minds will likely be scarred if this ever comes to pass, it’s good news for the rest of us. Why? Because we’ll never, ever have to hear him sing again.
Hallelujah.
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End of the road for Carly Smithson
Argh!
This is it. We’ve finally arrived at the portion of “American Idol” that drives us absolutely bananas. The portion where popularity — not talent — determines which contestants live and die.
And that’s why Carly Smithson is now history.
“I am shocked,” judge Randy Jackson said after the results were announced. “It must be a bit of a popularity week in the vote.”
Uh, duh.
This just ain’t right. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. And again. And again.
Meanwhile, two of this week’s true stinkers — Aggie Jason Castro and David Cook — get to coast another week because hordes of giggly schoolgirls think they’re oh-so-dreamy.
Simon Cowell summed things up best when he said, “Jason, you weren’t very good, but you were charming.”
And Brooke White? We can’t even begin to explain why she’s still around. Seriously, people. Were you even watching? Did you see her forget the lyrics? Do you even care?
We guess not.
Joining Carly and Brooke in the losers’ circle was bullet-proof Syesha Mercado. No one’s been in the bottom three more times this season, and yet she always manages to pull through. You go, girl!
Carly, whose “Jesus Christ Superstar” was one of Tuesday night’s highlights, took the news surprisingly well.
“I apologize for giving you a compliment last night, the kiss of death,” Simon told her. “You can leave with your head held high.”
And she should, because she’s far better than at least half of the remaining five hopefuls.
The best? No. But darn close. And that, folks, is why we love — and hate — “Idol” at the same time.
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‘Idol’s top 6 get a dose of culture
Andrew Lloyd Webber and “American Idol”?
Not exactly a match made in heaven.
But, to varying degrees, the six remaining hopefuls made works by the famed British composer — let’s call him ALW for brevity’s sake — come alive Tuesday night.
Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance.
Syesha Mercado: “One Rock & Roll Too Many,” “Starlight Express.” Holy smokes … what a way to start the show! Fighting to survive another week, Syesha really stepped it up tonight. And what a show it was. She was sultry. Smokin’. Smooth as silk. And lots of other adjectives, too. As the judges pointed out multiple times, showtunes are clearly in her comfort zone. We loved how she was atop the piano to start. Very memorable. Now, to be fair, we did hear a bad note or two. But they were few and far between. Randy: “I thought that was your best performance to date right there.” Simon: “That was very sexy.” Our grade: A
Jason Castro: “Memory,” “Cats.” Going in, we knew this was going to be a tough week for Jason. Even ALW was concerned. And rightfully so. The beginning, especially, was rough to listen to — and watch. We needed movement. We needed energy. We needed … so much more at this late stage in the competition. Ouch. Randy: “Musically, vocally, for me, it was a little bit of a trainwreck. … It’s just not your thing, dude.” Paula: “I think it was a very wise choice for you to do this song.” Our grade: C
Brooke White: “You Must Love Me,” “Evita.” Wow! Brooke should have sailed through this week. In her time with ALW, she really seemed to get it. Instead things were rocky from the very beginning. She — for the second time this season — opted to stop and start over. Later, Brooke confessed she’d forgotten the words. She also had a bad, bad case of the shakes — something many of you picked up on last week. Brooke, sweetie, we fear your time is nearly up. Randy: “This wasn’t great for me. … But at least you listened to Andrew Lloyd Webber.” Paula: “You must never start and stop.” Our grade: D-
David Archuleta: “Think of Me,” “Phantom of the Opera.” Cute touch at the beginning when his sisters jumped on stage for a quick hug. The things we liked about this particular outing stopped there though. It was just so … plain. Very vanilla. Step it up, David … or step off the “Idol” stage. For good. Because we’re so over you right now. Paula: “I think it was absolutely perfect.” Simon: “I thought it was pleasant. … One of your weakest performances.” Our grade: C
Carly Smithson: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Carly picked the right song — with a little nudging — and she totally rocked the house. Definitely the most distinctive sound of the night. Very edgy. Edgy and ALW in the same breath? Guess anything is possible. Randy: “It was definitely good. … And I like the outfit.” Simon: “It was actually one of my favorite performances of the night.” Our grade: A-
David Cook: “Music of the Night,” “Phantom of the Opera.” David’s got an advantage here because he grew up singing musical theater. Or so he claimed. And, according to ALW, this is his sexiest song ever. Could have fooled us. What we got was a very stripped-down performance delivered — with a few exceptions — in a near monotone pitch. We nearly dozed off. And we’re pretty sure we’re not alone. Thank goodness he raised his voice at the end to reclaim our attention. Paula: “This just proved, more and more, that you are so well-rounded as a performer.” Simon: “David, I think you made the most of the song. … This is not the side of you I like.” Our grade: B-
Our pick to get the boot this week: Brooke White is toast. Jason Castro and David Cook will join her in the losers’ circle.
Tuesday night’s performances
Here are video clips of this week’s performances, courtesy of the “Idol” fans over at YouTube:
Syesha Mercado
Jason Castro
Brooke White
David Archuleta
Carly Smithson
David Cook
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Chattin’ with Clay Aiken
So it seems we’ve lucked our way into a 15-minute phone interview with Clay Aiken Tuesday.
He’s making the rounds to promote his new CD, which hits stores May 6.
What should we ask? We know you’ve got some really great questions, so send ‘em our way.
Post your queries for Clay in the comments section below, or shoot an e-mail to gdinges@statesman.com.
Then look for our writeup — and, hopefully, an audio recap — later this week.
Idol chatter …
- Catch a live performance by recent “American Idol” castaway Kristy Lee Cook on Tuesday’s “Morning Show with Mike and Juliet.”
The show airs at 9 a.m. on Fox 7.
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Gov. Perry’s a Jason Castro fan
Turns out Gov. Good Hair’s an “American Idol” fan.
Who’da thunk it?
During an appearance on “The Talk of Austin,” the newish morning show simulcast on KVET 98.1 and 1300 The Zone, Rick Perry hinted he’s pulling for Texan Jason Castro.
Makes sense. Both attended Texas A&M University.
“I don’t watch an inordinate amount of TV,” he told hosts Bob Cole and Bucky Godbolt, “but this is one that my wife actually said, ‘Come here, you’ve got to watch this. They’ve got an Aggie on here that’s singing and he’s got dreads.’ “
Scandalous!
Idol chatter …
- Phil Stacey’s got a new album coming out April 29.
Get a sneak preview of the Season 6 “Idol” reject’s freshman offering on his Web site, where the video for “If You Don’t Love Me’s” been posted.
If you like it, place an advance order now through Tuesday and get an autographed copy delivered to your doorstep for $11.99 plus shipping.
Quite a deal, but we’ll pass. We’re guessing many of you will, too.
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Music exec with ‘Idol’ ties demoted
Clive Davis, who has helped make — and break — several “American Idol” alums — has been demoted following a shakeup at record label BMG.
After years as chairman and CEO, he’ll now serve as chief creative officer. The Associated Press reports two other BMG bigshots are history as part of the changes.
Clive most recently made news when he had a very public dispute last year with Kelly Clarkson, the original “Idol” winner. The two were worlds apart on “My December,” Kelly’s latest album. He said it was too dark; she said her creativity was being stifled.
In the end, the album was released largely unchanged and saw disappointing sales.
Hey, sometimes the truth hurts.
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Kristy Lee cooks up a life after ‘Idol’
Kristy Lee Cook’s not crying over her dismissal from “American Idol.”
In fact, quite the opposite is true.
She is, after all, newly engaged. Hubby-to-be Andrew Dobner popped the question — again — following Wednesday night’s results show. He originally asked back in March.
“We kept it on the down-low because I didn’t want to have to deal with that kind of stress from everything,” Kristy Lee told reporters on the show’s weekly conference call. “I just wanted to focus on ‘American Idol.’
“The ring that he got me has got a marquise cut on it and has quite a few diamonds on it. We picked it out together a long time ago.”
The two expect to tie the knot in June of next year.
Congrats!
Idol chatter …
- Comedian Louis Black’s got a new show on Comedy Central.
One of his first targets? “Idol,” of course. Why else would we mention it here?
On “Root of All Evil,” guests compare two topics, attempting to determine which is the true root of all evil. In the series premiere, “Idol” is up against high school. The concept’s kind of hard to explain, so just tune in, OK?
The debut episode aired Wednesday night, with repeats aplenty scheduled in the coming days.
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One less Cook in ‘Idol’s kitchen
We’ve got to find someone new to pick on.
Yes, Kristy Lee Cook, this season’s lone country voice and a frequent target of critics here and elsewhere, is history.
While she rubbed us — and many of you — the wrong way most of the time, we thought Kristy Lee did a pretty decent job last week and again this week. Judging by the final vote tally — and the not-so-nice comments many of you left on this blog — we were in the minority. It’s OK. We can take it. So can she.
Joining Kristy Lee in the losers’ circle this time around were Brooke White and Syesha Mercado.
As always, Ryan Seacrest, “American Idol’s” host with the most, had plenty of praise for the departing finalist.
“You have a lot to be proud of, darling,” he said. “You’ve made a lot of friends, and you’ve got a lot of fans out there.”
Ryan also took a moment to urge the man who bought Kristy Lee’s horse — she sold it to pay her way to the auditions — to sell it back to her. Good luck with that.
“This is a huge dream, Kristy Lee told the crowd, “and it never would have come true if it wasn’t for all the fans.”
Don’t feel too sorry for her though. Kristy Lee’s dreams are far from dashed. She’s got the “Idols Live!” tour this summer and the inevitable record deal after that. Not too shabby if you ask us.
Up next: Andrew Lloyd Webber mentors the six remaining finalists. Be scared. Very, very scared.
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Today’s Music Minute: ‘Idol’ and more
Too lazy to read this week’s “American Idol” wrap-up? Get the condensed version in today’s Austin360 Music Minute, then tune in tonight at 8 to catch the results show on Fox 7.
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Every diva has her day
Mariah Carey’s got no business being on the “American Idol” stage.
But, hey, she released a new album today, so the star-hungry showrunners decided to extend an invite anyway.
The result? Not good. Not good at all.
Thank goodness there are only seven finalists remaining because — wow! — you can’t get much worse than this.
Here’s what we thought, in order of appearance:
David Archuleta: “When You Believe.” Two words: Leather pants! Once we got past that fashion no-no, we quickly became bored. Yes, David hits the high notes. He hits the low notes, too. He hits all the right notes. We’ll give you that. But he’s so incredibly bland. Does he even listen to the radio? Does he know what’s popular today? Doubtful. Randy: “You can sing anything. That was the bomb, baby.” Our grade: C+
Carly Smithson: “Without You.” Carly tweaked her look yet again this week. Notice how the tattoos were covered for first time in recent memory? Maybe she wants to look a little more wholesome and clean-cut for Middle America. Or maybe we’re reading too much into things. The song started a little low on energy, but picked up some steam over time. Not very memorable though. Simon: “I think you’re overthinking everything. I still think you’re wound up. I think you were holding yourself back too much at the end.” Our grade: B-
Syesha Mercado: “Vanishing.” The dress. The piano. The pacing. They were all very pageanty. As always, Syesha’s performance had some bright spots. We especially love when she holds a note … forever. But that alone’s not enough. Paula: “You’re smart because you picked a song that not many people know.” Our grade: B
Brooke White: “Hero.” She’s hiding behind that piano again. (And, P.S., keep your shoes on. No one wants to smell your stanky feet.) Bright spots for Brooke were few and far between this week. She sounded hoarse, among other complaints. And, good grief, she’s still constantly interrupting the judges. Shut up already. Simon: “It was a bit like
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Any ideas about the songs that will be sung next week
... read the full comment by jules baby | Comment on Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot Read Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot
I totally agree with csagmom. Being the mother of three sons, two of which are twins that are Jason’s age, I have developed a keen intuitive awareness into the actions & words of teenage boys & young men. It is quite obvious to me that Jason
... read the full comment by D.D. | Comment on Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot Read Aggie Jason Castro gets the dreaded boot
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