I always enjoy hearing from the people who stop by the blog. Love the opinions, the discussions, the sharing. It’s a kick to develop email friendships with people on the other side of the globe, get their take on world issues, celebrities, even American Idol.
Yes, this American staple is a huge hit even in countries where their own versions are on TV. In most countries, they are able to watch the American shows roughly one day after they have aired here.
I knew that. But it never dawned on me what changes might be made to the programming to make it a bit more interesting for the viewers who are following but who obviously cannot vote.
Well, thanks to DGMS regular Gayla, who is bi-continental with her British hubby (he is across the pond currently, she is here in the states), I now know that viewers in other countries (at least Great Britain) actually get MORE than we do!
They don’t get to vote, ergo they don’t care about watching the contestants do finger origami while Ryan rattles off their phone numbers. What goes on in place of that portion is pretty cool.
According to Gayla, waiting in the wings when each kid comes off after a performance, is none other than So You Think You Can Dance hostess, Kat Deely, who interviews each contestant on the spot. (I had no idea.)
From Gayla’s email, "Getting an idea of what the contestant thought of their performances, etc, has made a difference in the presentation. It is like becoming their friends!!! Granted, we did not get to see it live - but it was only 1 day later - and the personal touch of the interviews made such a difference in getting to know and understand each performer's personality. It was awesome. This year, he has had the luxury of enjoying getting to know the contestants and I have had to suffer the lacking USA version. Fortunately, he has been recording them for me, but I truly wish I could have gotten to see that part this year with the performances as well."
What a difference that could make for some of them, huh? If Carly had been able to connect more with the public (methinks – suspects - she’s a funny, irreverent little cuss), perhaps she would still be around.
Another little tidbit made me appreciate Simon Cowell all the more. I have always enjoyed his straight talk, blunt-as-a-spoon assessments, and dry wit, but he’s also got some serious stamina.
Gayla: Another thing that you might not realize, Simon is a road warrior right now. In the UK, they are having their "Britian's Got Talent" season. It is televised on Friday evenings and Simon is one of the judges. So, in essence, he is finishing up the live taping of AI results on Wednesday, hopping a plane to arrive by BGT performance time on Friday and back to LA by AI performance time on Tuesday. I have to say - the man must be commended for his efforts because I would be out of my mind with jet lag traveling that much. I would expect him to be much more grumpy and sarcastic if I were in his shoes!
And Paula is the one who always acts a few Fruits short of her Loops. Go figure.
Many thanks to Gayla for sharing! Now, as each contestant sings two songs tonight – Neil Diamond, no less (don’t get me wrong, I ADORE Neil Diamond), let’s get to this recap, shall we?
Join me in some Red, Red Wine, anyone?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The glare of the spotlight and the pressure of constant exposure have already taken their toll on some..."
Like Ryan.
What in THE hell was that mini faux hawk in the middle of his head?
Oh well, he IS America’s Host, and T.I.A.I, so if he wants to coif himself like a contestant on Top Chef, go for it.
The judges were in fine form tonight: Randy I-Have-More-Beads-Than-Bo-Derek-in-10 Jackson; Paula? Or was that Miss Kitty from GUNSMOKE (thanks PETE)? Good lord, she looked like a bar maid in an old west saloon ... after a hard night - her swept up hair was leaning sideways. And that strapless, gold, tulle, ruffled confection she was wearing? Oh well, at least it matched the kitchen trivets hanging from her ears, and the wrist restraint from Bellevue; Simon switched things up in a gray Henley – all the better to see your chest foliage, my dear.
Ryan then welcomed the Top Five out and explained they would all be singing two songs a piece from the Neil Diamond song catalog. (Kind of like Sears and Roebuck only full of lyrics and melody, not polyester and Craftsman tools...and the pages not likely to be used in an outhouse. Well, maybe Crunchy Granola Suite..) And that the kids would be critiqued after their second song.
Ahhh, Neil Diamond, a hit maker for over four decades – both as a songwriter and as a solo artist. He has had over a dozen #1 songs, starred in a hit movie which spawned some of his greatest work - America, Hello Again, Love On The Rocks (is hard on your back – sorry, couldn’t resist) – and singlehandedly kept the sequin industry in business for years.
No disputing Ryan’s voiceover that with "120 million albums sold worldwide" he truly is a "model of longevity." He will release his 26 th studio album on May 6. And he's here on American Idol? What a coincidence!
Seriously, I love Neil Diamond. I’ve always been a big fan, and Hello, Again will always be one of my all-time favorite tunes.
Meeting with the kids, I must say, Neil is holding it together quite well. Even if a surgeon is holding some of it together for him, it’s been good, subtle work. Not Kenny Rogers – Burt Reynolds I-Have-Pissholes-In-The-Snow-For-Eyes work either. Neil looks good.
Even without the sequins and flying fringe.
Dreads was up first to rehearse his two song choices: Forever In Blue Jeans and September Morn – neither song requiring much in the way of vocal gymnastics, but that’s ok. We all know by now that Jason is not going to perform a vocal Iron Cross this season. A somersault would be nice every now and then though.
After a few lyrical missteps along the way, Neil said, "I think he’ll bring both off very well."
Dressed in JEANS (what else?), his guitar (what else?), and his beige/gold/silver shirt from two weeks ago, he launched (ok, launched implies excitement, speed, thrill. This was more of a slow wade.) into a very straightforward rendition of the song. He has an easy way about him, I give him that much. Jason knows who he is, knows his limitations, and is probably just as befuddled as anyone else about him still standing on that stage.
When it was over, I yawned. That’s what he leaves me with. He’s aural Nyquil. Zzzzzz.
Up next was aural No Doz – David Cook on the Chat Chairs with Ryan. Why, given the time constraints tonight? No stellar conversation, roll tape. His song choices: I’m Alive and All I Really Need Is You.
Neil "got goosebumps" and said David has "the right attitude, right material, right voice. He’ll do great."
And he did. While the pinstripe suitcoat with the red "AC" (According to David in an interview with TV Guide, "I have two brothers, Adam and Andrew. So, because of superstition, I put their initials on everything growing up.") and some War of the World bloody roots growing around his left arm were a tad distracting – oh, and those were some hella boots on those feet, David. Red and black! - I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the performance. The rasp in his voice is immediately identifiable.
Like Jason, David knows who he is as a performer, but he can not only pull off an Iron Cross, but can stick the landing on a triple back flip herkiepalooza full layout (yes, I’m making that up, but it sounds difficult, doesn’t it?).
Brooke rehearsed I’m A Believer and I Am, I Said with Neil, who was pleasantly surprised" with her efforts, and encouraged her to change "New York City" to "Arizona" in song two.
Standing at the mic with her guitar, shiny silver pants, a denim colored ruffled shirt and a black belt cinched above her belly button, Brooke looked lovely. I like all the fluffy hair. This girl is a Pantene executive’s dream.
As for the performance? She seemed stiff, but she always does on upbeat numbers. Her smile only softened into genuine when she would look at her husband – which yes, I think is very sweet. Or maybe she was trying to suppress a genuine laugh as she saw Paula undulating during her song? Yes, Miss Kitty was up dancing with the yokels.
Overall, Brooke was once again like tapioca – bland and boring.
AFTER. THE. BREAK, Puppy worked on Sweet Caroline and America with Neil, who referred to him as "kind of a prodigy."
On stage, dressed in JEANS, snow white tennies, a black and white striped shirt and an unbuttoned black oxford on top, David looked swoonworthy for all the pubesters.
Forgive me, but was anyone else not buying the line "touching me, touching you"? :O)
Yes, he smiled, yes, he even managed to keep his eyes open and his lip licking to a few errant swipes, but for me he missed the mark. Just didn’t really connect to the lyrics. Then again, I’m sure for little David, at least, "good times never seemed so good" as they do right now.
Finally, Syesha met with Neil to practice Hello Again and Thank The Lord For The Nighttime, two polar opposites in terms of tempos, messages. Neil commented that she "did a wonderful job" and that "she’ll do great." (I do believe he said they will all "do great." Neil, you slick diplomat, you.)
Sitting on stage in a purple halter dress, her hair full of Beyonce hair extensions, she continued to eschew footwear. I understood it last week – like I said, Mr. Minor doesn’t need Manolo scratches on his baby grand, but this week? She just looked unfinished.
Does she have bunion issues? Corns? Plantar warts? A hammer toe?
If not, Paul Kim called. He wants his gimmick back.
In terms of singing, her voice sounded strong and clear, although a tad shouty in places. I prefer this song to be the heart tugger it was written to be – her smiles seemed a tad out of place. But her final note was very sweet and pitch perfect.
Ryan then dragged all the kids back out to the stage for a half-time mini critique from the judges:
Randy:
Jason – OK
David C – in the zone
Brooke – a little karaoke
Puppy – da bomb (sorry Randy, but dat’s da bullsh*t)
Syesha – very strong
Paula started mumbling to Dreads about his "lower register" then began babbling about his second song, which he had not yet sung. She went on and on, completely out of the loop, off the reservation, they practically had to get Festus and Matt Dillon to lasso her back in.
"Jason, the first song I loved hearing your lower register, which we never really hear. The second song, I felt like your usual charm wasn't...it was missing for me, it kind of left me a little empty. And the two songs made me feel like you're not fighting hard enough to get into the top four.''
Ryan finally interrupted, "Just the first song, Paula." To which she replied, "Oh my god! I thought you sang twice!"
Straight Jacket, party of one!
Simon took over...
Jason – forgettable
David C – just above average
Brooke – a nightmare (she actually hollered back "No, it wasn’t!" like a tantrum-y two year old.)
Puppy – amateurish
Syesha – old fashioned
His final words to them all? "As the Top Five contestants, I need to see and hear the performance of a lifetime."
Don’t hold your breath tonight, Simon.
Back from commercial, Ryan was standing at the desk talking about the Idol tour, but all I could notice was how Paula seemed very fidgety, like she was trying to maintain an upright position. You know how when you’re drunk and that little person who drives your PersonMobile up in your head is still sober and talking to you? "Now, you’re going to sit down. That’s right, very straight. NO! Don’t fall. Act relaxed. Smile. NO! Don’t talk, you’ll slur! Yes, you do look really hot tonight. DON’T TIP OVER!"
On stage Jason was back out to sing September Morn, this time sitting on his best pal, The Stool. Hmmmm, I guess it deserves a name like Matilda the Mikestand if it’s going to be in the spotlight so much. I could call it Randy – God knows they both just sit around and don’t have much to offer – but one Randy is plenty.
It IS kind of like a bar stool. I’ll go with that. His name is Barry The Bar Stool. He and Matilda can hang out together.
Jason started singing and he sold the lyrics well enough, but halfway through it suddenly began to dawn on me...he has a very Holiday Inn - Murph and the Magic Tones vibe about him.
Where are Jake and Elwood when you need them?
Randy called his efforts "just OK, whatever"; Paula said he played it "Safe" and needs to "get out of your comfort zone"; Simon said he "struggled through both songs" and will look back and go "I don’t know who this person is." (Um, no, that would be Paula..)
David C came back out with his guitar to sing All I Really Need Is You, and again did what he has done so well all season – he reworked an old song into a fresh new, ready for radio play tomorrow song. Seriously, that could be on Sirius Hits 1 in the morning. Well, it will be on my iPod tomorrow – yes, I am finally going to download one. It was a great performance.
Randy called himself a "huge David Cook fan" and added that it was "crazy"; Paula was "so proud" of him and said she is "already looking at the American Idol"; Simon said the "first song was ok, second song was brilliant" and that David "actually made that song feel like it was written this year."
Brooke was back with Ryan on the Chat Chairs to defend her first song as not being a "nightmare" and to show that she had written some of the lyrics on her hand for song two.
Umm-kay.
Seated at the piano, she began singing I Am, I Said, managed to get through working in the four syllable Arizona in place of the two syllable New York, and had pretty smooth sailing through out.
I still don’t think she completely connects on stage, but to each his/her own. Compared to song one, this was a decent showing, although she was riding that piano bench at one point like one of those big red jumpy balls we all had as kids.
Randy said she was "very vulnerable" and did a "nice job"; Paula offered "everyone loves who you are and that works"; Simon said he "really, really, really hated the first song" but that song two showed that "this is the Brooke we like ... well done."
Puppy Love came out to sing America, and yes, I admit it, I did a full body cringe. That song is Neil’s. It is a signature piece, requiring his gravelly voice, his grit, his delivery, his conviction. The only thing similar with David, is that he should be convicted for songslaughter.
No grit, no soul. Maybe Up With People caliber. A bad local pageant, maybe. But not even the screensaver behind him waving a big digital flag could make me feel anything but UGH.
I am firmly in the Once Liked David refugee camp now. I have been Archuleta-ed down one too many times.
Randy continued to serve the Kool-Aid to viewers with "definitely in the zone"; Paula called it the "absolute perfect song for you", said his voice was "on point", and then slobbered "joy, spirit, prodigy, little savant", ending with "I love you, you’re brilliant."; Simon added "smart choice of song."
I swear, you would think he’s a one legged, sway backed, wrinkled, 70 year old hooker, the way they’re pimping him so hard.
Sorry, I’m not buying. Not even for 99 cents on iTunes.
Finally Syesha was back to finish the show up with Thank The Lord For The Nighttime.
Still barefoot, Syonce’ stood at the mic, her Dreamgirls back-up singers on stage with her. She worked it. Every upbeat, fun note of it – dancing around the stage, singing to the crowd. And again, she sounded good, really good.
Randy said "I think you’re finally realizing who you are"; Paula started with, "Brooke, on your first song you showed your vulnerable side, second song you are blah babble blahbble Coreeeeen Bailey Rae and Minnie Ripperton."
First of all, I’m sure Syesha loved being called Brooke. But more to the point - I swear, Paula is like a zoo animal who needs a handler standing by with a tranquilizer gun. Someone needs to arm Simon with a butt dart of Thorazine and he can just jab her under the table from now on when it gets this bad. Seriously, if she just slithered under the table and went to sleep, do you honestly think we'd complain?
She stopped talking and Simon just looked at her and said, "This is officially the strangest show we’ve ever done." He then looked at SYESHA and called her a "very good actress – stroke – singer" but that he thinks she "may be in trouble tonight."
She asked why and he responded, "I don’t think you had a really memorable song like some of the others."
Sorry, Simon. But the only one to have a truly memorable song was David C. Jason was a Snoozefest, Brooke was same old / same old, and Puppy needs smacked on the nose with a rolled up sheet of music. At least Syesha reached for some notes, grabbed them with her bare feet, and delivered them.
That being said, the damage has already been done. I’m sure she will visit the Bottom Two again tomorrow night along with either Brooke or Dreads. And my prediction is that Syesha will not be saying Hello, Again to the safety couches, but will be thinking that The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.
Your predictions? Favorites? Thoughts on the plasticine tentacles wrapped around David’s arm? Guesses as to what Paula was on, or not on tonight? Chime in!
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