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American Idol’s top 36 shockers…
54 Contestants left and by the end of the show tonight, we will know who the 36 finalists are. Each contestant will have to make their way through the garden and down a long hallway to a beautiful and intimidating judge’s chamber. I like this room much better than the cold hall they used to do this in. Good choice. I wonder if it helps that it looks great in HDTV?
In the holding room they wait…
The first to head to “the room” is Anoop Desai. He feels the longer Hollywood week continued, the more confident he became. But there are those darn nerves…Yeah! He’s the first to be in the 36.
Von Smith tells Ryan he is more prepared for a no than a yes…but this is why he’s alive, to sing. Von speaks directly to Simon about his comment about Von being a self-indulgent child. Congratulations, he’s made it despite following his parent’s advice and going over the top with his first Hollywood performance.
Cody Sheldon is the first to have to face the sing off! He chooses Love Remains the Same and then steps out of the room. Meanwhile Alex Wagner-Trugman is asked to the room and sings Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me while his friend Cody sits around the corner and listens. To me Alex has the better voice, Cody the better pop star “look.” They dismiss Alex while they discuss the two. They ask them back in to announce that it’s the end of the line for Cody and Alex gets to go on. Wow. Once again a cruel twist for these poor exhausted kids. Alex feels it’s too hard to be happy winning against his friend. I can’t imagine. When they tell the rest of the contestants, most of them don’t know whether to clap or cry. Most do both.
Adam Lambert is told by Simon that they all liked him in Hollywood. He goes on to make it sound like it could be bad news but Kara has a huge grin on her face the whole time. Simon says, “It’s not good news….it’s great news!” Kara gave that one away!
Taylor Vaifanua was an early judge favorite but during Hollywood she struggled. She forgot the lyrics in the group song but did much better during her last performance. Simon manages to keep a smile from his face and twirls his pen while Randy tells her she is going on.
Jasmine Murray, Arianna Afsar, Casey Carlson, Megan Corkerey, Mishavonna Henson, Stevie Wright all make it to Season 8.
Joanna Pacitti forgot her words in just about every song in Hollywood. With a little prodding, Joanna says she just feels like maybe it’s time. Kara asks her since she has had record deals and other opportunities, when is it going to be time? Simon says “when someone gives her a break.” And it looks like they are going to give her a break and onward and upward for Joanna.
T.K. Hash, is a no. As is Chris Chatman and Reggi Beasley.
Kendall Beard didn’t have such a great Hollywood week. Kinda boring says Paula. Blah, blah, blah, but you’re going on to the top 36!
Christen MacNamera and Jenn Korbee are next. Jenn auditions with her husband and they stick together through group week when they send Jen’s husband home. Jenn sings first while Christen waits. Christen hasn’t had the easiest time with the sticky situations this Hollywood week. So they tell her to sing again and she sings I’ll Always Love You. As the girls wait, Simon argues with Paula and Kara loudly inside about whether to keep the “attractive” one or the other one. So Simon, is this singing competition or America’s Top Model? Simon says “Christen, you’ve made it through. But I completely disagree with this decision. It’s the wrong way around.” The two girls leave the room stunned and silent.
Alexis Grace is a singer and a young mother who will be on Season 8 of American Idol.
Scott Macintyre walks in guided by a woman that I wonder if is his mother. It’s unanimous that he is going on and yes…this is his mother with him.
Lil Rounds is a mother of three and from the clip looks like she lives in poverty as well. She hopes that this will give her the opportunity to get ahead. Kara cannot keep a smile off her face when she is trying to be serious but Lil is going on. Simon says that she is just a good old fashioned singer. But that’s usually a bad thing from Simon but in this case, I don’t think so. He seems to be a real fan of hers.
Felicia Barton did not make it and neither did Ashley Hollister or Devon Baldwin.
Frankie Jordan and Jesse Langseth are both called up. Time for another sing-off. Jessie feels totally confident that she is going to make it today. Well, well. Frankie goes first to “sing for her survival.” When she’s through Simon says this has definitely made it easier for us and sends her away. Jesse sings something that I don’t even recognize. It doesn’t take long for them to call them back in and announce that Jesse goes on. I honestly thought it would be the other way! Simon told Frankie that she wouldn’t have won anyway and that there were eight girls better than her. They warned Jesse that as of that minute she wouldn’t win either but at least she gets another change in the top 36.
Shera Lawrence is going home as is Derik Lavers. They both really struggle saying goodbye to good friends they have made in the last couple days.
16-year-old Allison Iraheta is always nervous but this time it’s worth it because she is going on! This girl can sing at 16, I can’t imagine how good she will be in a couple years or so.
Danny Gokey and Jamar have taken this journey together ever since Danny lost his wife a year ago. First up is Danny who thinks he did well under the pressure and after the clip they show…I agree! Simon says it’s about relevant and different and Danny thinks he is. He makes it of course, what an amazing voice.
Now comes Jamar. Simon has a pleasant smile as he walks in so I’m thinking he is through but we have to wait through a commercial. It figures. Kara comments on how he took some risks in Hollywood and she smiles again. I think she’s going to say he’s going on when she says he’s not. WOW! This I have a hard time believing, as does everyone in the room, especially Danny. Jamar handles it with a ton of class. Great guy, but I still cannot believe he didn’t make it.
Ricky Braddy, Matt Giraud, Ju’not Joyner, Jorge Nunez, and Brent Keith all make it through.
Stephen Fowler tells the judges that he felt he did an excellent job until the last day of Hollywood. He explains that something like that has never happened to him before. Simon drags it out a bit but eventually tells him that he’s through.
Nick Mitchell used his character Norman Gentle most of the week. Paula tells him that he’s probably taken more talk time than any other. He tells them in his dream he could perform as Norman then as Nick. Paula says he’s made it and Simon says something that I can’t quite make out before he gives Nick a manly hug. I’m glad. I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out with Nick…or Norman…or Nick…
Jackie Tohn tells Randy she thinks she did well in Hollywood. She’s more nervous than she thought she would be…when they tell her she’s in she goes crazy and gets emotional.
Tatiana Del Toro drives us all crazy, which means they will probably put her through for the entertainment value. She can sing, which kind of ticks me off. She’s wearing Paula’s jewelry and launches into a story about wanting the ring but it was sold out (she sells her jewelry on QVC). Paula gets up and brings her the ring from her finger. Simon teases Paula about promoting her jewelry on the show…drag it out…Randy says she’s made it. Screaming and crying and screaming and crying. I can’t believe it. Although Simon said that it was not unanimous.
Jackie Midkiff sings against Nathaniel Marshall. Jackie goes first with When a Man Loves a Woman. I don’t remember hearing him sing before. I really like this kid. Kara doesn’t understand why he’s singing for his life because he’s so good and Simon and Randy disagree. In comes Nathaniel and they do a little montage about how he has living with different relatives because his mother has a drug problem. He comes in, dressed horrifically, and sings I’m Already There. These two have become really good friends and genuinely are struggling with this. They each want it but they want their friend to have it as well. Randy says Welcome to Season 8 to Nathaniel. I can’t quite see that one. I think Jackie was better.
Jeanine Vailes makes it through as does Kai Kalama, Anne Marie Boskovich, and Kris Allen.
Now we are down to the Battle of the Working Dads. Matt Breitzke is a welder and Michael Sarver is a roughneck on an oil rig. Randy wasn’t super crazy about Matt from day one. Matt sings and Simon rolls his eyes. It’s Michael’s turn and he sings. Oh, this guy is one of my favorites. I like Matt but I want Michael. Simon likes them both but doesn’t know if either could win the competition and Paula actually agrees. They call them in and end up giving them both a chance and they are in the top 36. I’m so glad. I’m wondering about the math here but I’m so happy these two got through.
Oh wow. I love this show. David Cook sings This is the Time behind a montage of clips of the top 36 and I get goose bumps all over. This season is going to be great!!!!
Anyone willing to predict the Top 12 yet?
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: American Idol
Comments
By Shantei
February 15, 2009 12:30 PM | Link to this
This season has made me mad already! They put in Nick/Norman over Jamar? And Tatiana? What is going on? I hope Anoop, Adam and Danny go all the way!By Kim
February 12, 2009 9:31 AM | Link to this
I don’t think I have a good enough feel yet for who can do what. I missed Tuesday night, which would probably have been helpful - but it was too fast and furious to absorb much of anything prior to that - other than that I love Danny. And that - again - I am stunned at some of the people that made it through and at ones that were cut. And we learned that whole smiling thing doesn’t work - I thought the same thing seeing Kara smiling as she tells Jamar that he didn’t make it. What the heck??? I know Danny thought Jamar was pulling his chain and that any second he would, YEAH - just fooling - I made it. Unbelievable. And they cut adorable, talented David Osmond over a case of laryngitis (after he choreographed a routine that got the rest of his group through) and they put through that stupid Joanna Pacitti who can’t remember a lyric to save her life??? After Simon makes such a point of saying “forget the lyrics and you’re out” - and she does OVER and OVER and they put her all the way through??? When is someone going to give her a break??? She HAD a break - she blew it - just like she blew this - but for some reason they put her through anyway. And they put through Nathaniel Marshall? I just don’t get it. And Tatiana?? Are you KIDDING me???? She is no more Idol material than I am. I’m already scratching my head and getting that “whatever” feeling that has prevented me from watching the last 2 seasons. I think that Danny may keep me engaged this year if I can stand the rest of the stupidity. My teen loves Anoop - he’s her guy - but then she loved Sanjaya too - ha! I actually like Anoop too though - he’s so - unexpected. And I’ll have to root for Ohio boy Brent.By seriously?
February 12, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
I love American Idol, but some of the people advancing are an absolute joke. I can’t believe some of the talent that was passed on versus the horrible singers sent through. I don’t what they are thinking, or maybe they’re not.By Megan
February 12, 2009 8:23 AM | Link to this
They usually make a huge deal about the really attractive people (i.e. Katrina), but they’ve glossed over Ohio’s Brent Keith. I think he’s one of the best-looking guys they have—and he can sing! Hopefully he’ll make it far!By Lia
February 11, 2009 10:49 PM | Link to this
Top 12 for sure: Anoop Desai!