Performance Show

Good Evening, America! Here we are… Week 2, and we’re already 1 stripper down. (Hey, if he’s looking for something to do, maybe David Hernandez can go on Dancing with the Stars now. He’s seems appropriately D-List enough.) So, this week we’re doing even more Beatles songs. (Ryan claims that the viewers demanded it. My guess is that the Idol producers forked over mucho dinero to get the rights to the song book, and they wanted to stretch their investment a little bit further.) Can lightening strike twice, or will a contestant get burned? Who will rise? Who will fall? Who will take a classic song and turn it into something straight out of Deliverance? (I’m looking at you, Kristy Lee Cook.) Let’s find out together. This… is American Idol!
 
Amanda Overmeyer is our first Idol up tonight. After an amazing performance last week, we’re expecting a lot from her. She’s singing “Back in the USSR”. (Honestly, I was expecting her to do Helter Skelter.) She’s bringing her usual energy and definitely working the stage. Again, she doesn’t have much of a range, and by that, I mean she doesn’t have a range at all… but range isn’t why I like her. I like her because she’s fun, and that was fun.
 
Kristy Lee Cook is up next, and I have my ear plugs ready. There’s a rumor floating around that Paul McCartney has a lynch mob waiting outside the studio for her if she tries any crap like she did last week. I say, “Get her Paul! Take Heather’s fake leg and give her a good ‘ol, down-home, country beat down!” (That’ll learn her.) This week, she’s doing “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away”. She’s starting with her natural country twang, but she hasn’t done anything horrible to the song itself. This is what the judges wanted her to do last week. (I guess it took the biggest disaster in Idol history to get it through her head.) The performance wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great either. It lacked emotion and energy, and she lost herself when her voice went into the lower register. It was very blah for me.
 
David Archuleta follows her, and he’s another one that has a lot to prove after falling on his face last week. He’s performing “The Long and Winding Road”. He’s a very talented and adorable kid, but I just don’t see him as a pop superstar anymore. He’s got Clay Aiken show appeal. He’s a nice kid with a great voice that’s easy to root for. I can see his future consisting of him singing at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games or maybe the Miss America pageant. (Ooh, I also think he and Miley Cyrus would make a very cute couple.) But hey, that’s just my never humble opinion. To be fair, his performance tonight was amazing.
 
Michael Johns, our Aussie Idol, is 4th tonight. He’s doing “A Day in the Life”, a 6 minute song that will go down to 90 seconds. I was getting ready to say that he was definitely making up for his blah performance last week, and then he hit a horribly off-key note at the end of the first verse. He kinda recovered and finished semi-strong. Michael isn’t what I would call a consistent performer. He and Syesha are showing American how to fall apart completely when it really counts. As Paula said… after she babbled incomprehensibly… he needs to step it up.
 
Brooke White, America’s Sweetheart, is next with “Here Comes the Sun”. After her amazing performance last week of “Let It Be”, she’s hoping for another great week. There’s something so warm and pure about her. Brooke has zero ego about herself. When she performs, it’s inviting. Unfortunately… this wasn’t her best performance (and she’ll be the first to tell you that), but I still love her. I mean, how can you not? I just hope the rest of the country loves her enough to keep her around.
 
On the other end of the ego spectrum… David Cook. He’s doing “Daytripper”, the Whitesnake version. I know it sounds shallow (and what else would you expect from me), but I still hate his hair. (If you want to be Chris Daughtry, just shave it off and be done with it.) He is talented. I can’t deny that, but performing the songs well doesn’t mean that he connects with them or even knows what they are about. His smug and smarmy self deserves to stick around… but that doesn’t mean I have to like him.
 
Carly Smithson, who the voices in my head tell me is the new front-runner to win this season, is singing “Blackbird”. It’s a ballad, and sure enough, the mosh pit is waving their arms. (At least they’re consistent.) She started low and soft and built slowly throughout the song. The last few notes when she was staring right into the camera were definitely captivating. And I have to say, she has the most gorgeous green eyes. I think it was another great performance from Carly.
 
Jason Castro, our Idol Muppet, is next with “Michelle”. (I thought he would choose “I Am the Walrus.) He’s another one, like Brooke White, who just seems real and approachable. He left the guitar at home tonight, but he brought the John Travolta eyebrows. Jason doesn’t take himself too seriously. He enjoys singing and performing, and it shows. It was a subdued performance, but just like Brooke, not another great performance. It felt disconnected though I have a feeling he’ll be around next week to charm us again.
 
Syesha, wanting to improve over her bland by-the-numbers performance of last week, is singing “Yesterday”. It’s just her and a guitarist, soft and subdued, but she’s already showing more emotion than last week. She’s connecting with the song, and you can feel the passion she feels for the song. It was nearly flawless, but not incredible.
 
Chikezie is next. He’s singing, “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, which is one of my favorites songs from “Across the Universe”. (I’m going to keep plugging that movie till all of you have seen it.) He starts off slow and makes it a ballad. Half-way through, he breaks out the harmonica and kicks the song into gear. I grew to like the first part, and I liked the second part, but the disconnect between the two was a little too jarring for me. I don’t think it worked as a total package. He tried to recapture the magic of last week, and it just didn’t happen.
 
Ramiele is the last performer of the evening. She’s singing “I Should Have Known Better”, which is what the producers should call the entire show tonight. Ramiele is rocking the munchkin J-Lo look. The strutting back and forth across the stage comes off as coy and pageanty. The song doesn’t do much for her, and the few big notes she hits don’t really help to raise her performance. Better than last week, but not much.
 
Boy, Ryan sure was a product whore this evening… making plugs for the iPhone, iTunes, and Coke. (Can you say AWKWAAAAARD!) Tonight was full of mediocre song choices. It completely destroyed the amazing memories of last week, and unfortunately, there were only a few bright spots. For the Top 3, I would have to pick Carly, Syesha, and David Archuleta. Though it’s hard to pick a Bottom 3, I think we’ll all be surprised when Kristy and Ramiele are joined by Michael Johns or Amanda Overmeyer.
 
Well, that’s all for tonight. Tune in tomorrow night for another campy Ford commercial… oh, and also the results. Who will stay? Who will go home? Who will convince the costumers that Ramiele isn’t their personal Bratz doll? Should be fun to watch. Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.

Results Show

Good Evening, America! Another performance show down, and that means another wannabe has to go home. After last night’s less than stellar showing, several people could see their names in the bottom three. Who would pay the price tonight for Tuesday’s mistakes? Who will make the Top 10 and get to extend their 15 minutes of fame by going on the tour and singing in half-empty arenas? After 59 minutes of filler, we’ll find out. This… is American Idol!
 
Before we get to the main part of the filler, they’ve decided to reveal the mentor’s for this season. And they include: Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Neil Diamond. Pretty good choices. Dolly is an icon. Mariah Carey (no matter how much I hate her) is an amazing singer. Andrew Lloyd Webber is a legend. Neil Diamond… well, they could have done better with that one. 5 bucks says David Archuleta has already signed up to sing “America”.
 
The Final 11 now treat us to this week’s group song. Was it just me, or was Ramiele’s mic not working? Overall, the harmonies were pretty good. There wasn’t any ridiculous choreography. Other than the song being a little bland, it was decent. (I’m feeling generous tonight.)
 
Like last week, they’ve decided to stretch the results out for the whole hour. First up to find out her fate is Brooke White. (I’ll admit it, I’m nervous.) Thankfully, or else there would have been tears and a tantrum, she’s safe! Carly Smithson is next, and shockingly, she’s in the Kristy Lee Cook Trio… I mean the Bottom 3. (I didn’t see this one coming at all.) Bad job America. Bad, bad job. You know better than that. David Archuleta, the Tween Dream, is safe. (Totally saw that one coming.) Michael Johns is safe. (Yawn.)
 
Our next filler package is a behind-the-scenes of this week’s Ford Music Video. (They’re really stretching for things to fill the hour.) I must give props to Michael Johns for his Susan Lucci reference. If only he would have done the Soap Opera Eyebrow Raise, it would have been perfect. (And if you don’t know what that is, I’ll demonstrate it for you sometime.) After that, we get to see the actual video, which is to the tune of “Should I Stay or Should I Go”. I’m so glad that this season they’ve decided to embrace the campiness of these commercials. Instead of them being unintentionally funny, now they’re over the top on purpose. I love it! (I’m also very easily amused.)
 
David Cook, our Ego Idol, is next for his results. His smug self is safe. (Blah.) Kristy Lee Cook, who will never EVER be Carrie Underwood, is in the Bottom 3. (Well, at least that one was right.) Jason Castro is next and safe. (Yay!) Ramiele is safe. (Hmmm, I’m not doing too well at my picks from last night for the Bottom 3.)
 
Unfortunately, we’re now to the Live Call portion of the show. Last week, I thought it was stupid and painful, but for some reason, I’m really enjoying the questions this week. (The extra sleep last night must have turned me into a nicer person. Cross your fingers it isn’t permanent.) Simon was witty with his responses, and I loved seeing Paula blush when he said she was a good kisser. In my opinion, and in this blog that’s the opinion that matters, I think they should keep the questions directed towards Ryan or the Judges. We learn so much about the Idols during their clips; it’s nice to see a personal side to the others.
 
Kelly Pickler is here to “entertain” us with a song. (Well, it’s easy to see what she bought with her Idol money.) Nice to see she’s just as stupid as ever. Kelly’s singing “Red High Heels”. It isn’t a remarkable song, but she has a good voice. I think there was something with Icky Elliot too, but my TV has an automatic shut-off when he’s on screen.
 
Back to the results, Syesha is safe. It’s down between Amanda Overmeyer and Chikezie for the last spot in the Bottom 3. After the vote, Chikezie is safe, which means our Bottom 3 is Amanda Overmeyer, Carly Smithson, and Kristy Lee Cook. Other than Carly being there, I think America was on target, and thankfully Carly is sent back to safety. Now it’s down to Amanda and Kristy. If there’s any justice in the world (I do like to be melodramatic.), Kristy will be the one to go home. Unfortunately, there is no justice to be had, and Amanda is sent back home to frighten some more patients as the Scariest Nurse in America. Ugh, there’s that Ruben song again.
 
Well, that’s our Idol for the week. I’m going to miss Amanda and her singing/yelling. She was fun and brought something different to the show. Because we’re running late, Ryan doesn’t tell us what next week’s theme will be. Let’s just pray it isn’t Neil Diamond week already. So, tune in Tuesday to see David Archuleta sing another ballad. Same Steve Time. Same Steve Channel.