Thursday, February 17, 2005

episode ten...

Up the down elevator...

This is the first time in four seasons that I am not at all disappointed in the work of the judges.  Bravo, panel of pranksters.  We have a great lineup.

Of course, you waited until the tenth episode to introduce us to several of them, but, if the clips you so generously shared with us are any indication, these strangers received deserved invites to the party. 

But one must wonder if you're trying to sabatoge their chances.  Several of the kids have ever-expanding fan bases already, because of the significant amount of air time given to them.  We know Constantine "left" his band, that Anthony had a trach when he was a kid, that Anwar teaches middle school and Mikalah wants her mommy to have breast implants. 

But who is Joseph Murena?  What does Melinda Lira do?  Does Judd Harris want anyone to have implants?  And will Aloha get deflowered before the end of the game?

We don't know these things, because we don't know these kids.  Because you haven't introduced us.

Hello kids -- we're the voters.  Nice meeting you.

The rumblings have been consistently circulating that this field of 24 is the most talented thus far.  But they said that last year, and we got Camiles and Leahs.  So far, though, it seems as though it's true.  I cannot point to one face or one name and wince like in seasons past.  There are no novelty acts this year and no Jasmines.  (Provided, of course, we ignore Aloha's flower.) 

But is there a Fantasia?  Will Mario's ego get any larger?  Will Mikalah explode before it's all over?  Will Carrie get her baseball analogies right?  And will Scott ever act normal?

The first true test is Monday night as the guys take the stage.  (Yes -- MONDAY!!)  Tuesday is ladies night.  And Wednesday four get pink slipped.  Remember, in the first three weeks, we're voting people OFF the island, not voting to keep them, so if you love Sarah and Anwar, don't dial their numbers!  I know it's so unfair for them to change the rules so abruptly, but look at it as character building. 

Who's your favorite?  Pictures are on the entry below, just in case you've not yet learned who is whom.  Don't get too attached, though.  Twelve of them are going home.

Gotta love it.

the final 24...


Aloha Mischeaux

Amanda Avila

Carrie Underwood

Celena Rae

Janay Castine

Jessica Sierra

Lindsey Cardinale

Melinda Lira

Mikalah Gordon

Nadia Turner

Sarah Mather

Vonzell Solomon


Anthony Fedorov

Anwar Robinson

Bo Bice

Constantine Maroulis

David Brown

Jared Yates

Joseph Murena

Judd Harris

Mario Vazquez

Nikko Smith

Scott Savol

Travis Tucker

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

here they are...

Your final 24:

The women:

Aloha Mischeaux
Amanda Avila
Carrie Underwood
Celena Rae
Janay Castine
Jessica Sierra
Lindsey Cardinale
Melinda Lira
Mikalah Gordon
Nadia Turner
Sarah Mather
Vonzell Solomon

The Men:

Anthony Fedorov
Anwar Robinson
Bo Bice
Constantine Maroulis
David Brown
Jared Yates
Joseph Murena
Judd Harris
Mario Vazquez
Nikko Smith
Scott Savol
Travis Tucker

names and objects being thrown...

Tonight we will know which 12 guys and 12 gals we will be hearing from in the next few weeks.  Of course, the producers don't exactly play fair during the prelims, by keeping some of the top 44 out of camera range, so making any predictions without having heard from all of them is kind of like throwing jello at the wall.

But I like to throw things.  So caution, you're being thrown to the wind. 

Here are my picks for the top 24.  Bear in mind, they are not necessarily my favorites.  In fact, some of my early favorites have already gone home.  These are the ones I predict will be singing next week, live!

The guys:

Anthony Federov
Anwar Robinson
Bo Bice
Constantine Maroulis
David Brown
Jamie Koehler
John Zisa
Judd Harris

Mario Vazquez
Osborne Smith
Scott Savol
Travis Tucker

The women:

Amanda Avila
Carrie Underwood
Jaclyn Crum
Janay Castine
Jessica Sierra
Lindsey Cardinale
Mikalah Gordon
Nadia Turner
Rachel Leslie
Sarah Mather
Tammy Wynette Nash
Vonzell Solomon

Do you have your list?  Who are your faves?

Remember!!  Idol tonight!  9 p.m.!

episode nine...

End of the road...

Or well, it was for all but 44 of the American Idol hopefuls. There were tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of anger and new faces all around.

As per usual, the kids are separated into four groups and tucked away in the four rooms of death.  Or life.  The air is thick with suspense, and they examine the faces that surround them.  Too bad there was no suspense on the other end, however, because last night registered a zero on the surprise meter.

Sweating in room one -- Angel, the voice teacher who suffered the meltdown at the news that her student Jeremy would not be accompanying her to Hollywood.  Sean, the youth pastor.  Rashida, the one with the virus and Shunta, she of the wrong bus.

While in room two we see Jamar, half of the twins, Mario, mom's baby boy, the one with the hat, Carrie from the farm, Vondell from the postal service, David from the church, Anwar from the middle school and Constantine from the band.

Gee whiz.  Which group will make it through?

The most suspenseful moment of the first half was the sponsor of the Ken Jennings, he of Jeopardy! fame, commercial.

Of course, we get to see and hear selected snippets of the kids' last solo auditions, the good ones and the terrible ones, which either nailed the coffin or provided a last pass.

Second half of the show we get a better look at rooms three and four. Oh the mystery!  Oh the misery!

In room three we see faces of people we've never met.  Or heard.  But we do see Jennifer Todd, the non-barbie doll.  We hear her less-than-stellar last song.  We see Ross Williams, the crooner and get to listen as he hums his last song.  There's Dezmond Meeks, but there won't be a Paula tantrum for him today.  

I've always wondered what Alvin the Chipmunk would sound like singing Michael Jackson.  I wonder no longer.  But Alvin has changed his name to Aa'shia.  Thankfully Alvin'shia will not be assigned any 1-866 numbers anytime soon.  Nor will she dirty up the inside of my TV screen any more.  My television and I thank you.

The tension and the tears flow in room four as Paula and Randy decide to play a little prank on the kids.  Those little pranksters!  Telling the kids how proud they should be of themselves, her voice choking with tears, Paula's speech goes on two minutes past funny.  She finally spits out the punchline, which causes an eruption of screams and hugs, but not before the Coast Guard is called to save the crew from drowning in the tears of Jaclyn Crum and Tammy Nash.

Happy kids.  Sad kids.  Lots of hugs and lots of bleeps. 

Tonight we slash 20 more.  More hugs.  More bleeps.

Start picking your faves.  We go live next week.

Gotta love it.

 

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

don't quote me on this one...

It appears as though the spoilers may have been correct.

Here is your final 44, shamelessly copied and pasted, so if names are missed or here and not there, I didn't write it.

Remember, tomorrow, this list gets cut by 20.

Aloha Mischeaux
Amanda Avila
Anthony Fedorov
Antoine Philippe Crymes
Anwar Robinson
Carrie Underwood
Celena Batchelor
Constantine Maroulis
David Brown
DeAndrae Perryman
Delma Jamar Jefferson
Donnie Williams
Erinn Marie Furey
Faith Gatewood
Gina Lucy McFadden
Harold “Bo” Bice
Ian Shelly Holmes II
Ivan Ganchev
Jaclyn Crum
Jamie Paul Koehler
Janay Castine
Jared Yates
Jessica Sierra
John Zisa
Joseph Murena, Jr.
Judd Harris
Kim Holloway
Lindsey Cardinale
Mario Vazquez
Matthew Kester
Melinda Lira
Mikalah Gordon
Nadia Turner
Nathan Herron
Osborne E. Smith II
Oswald "JR" Aquino
Rachel Leslie
Sarah Mather
Scott Savol
Tammy Wynette Nash
Travis Tucker
Vonzell Solomon
Warren Nolan, Jr.
Yolanda McIntosh



Sunday, February 13, 2005

it's down to the wire...

We're still tossing dead wood, and will continue to do so, but we're getting a better idea of how the semi-final rounds will play out.

By Wednesday, 2/16, we'll know our top 24.  Then the live action starts.  Here's the only information I could find.  (Remember, we will be voting people OFF the show in the early rounds.):

Monday 2/21 -- top 12 guys will perform live.  8 p.m.
Tuesday 2/22 -- top 12 women will perform live.  8 p.m.
Wednesday 2/23 -- elimination show.  Four will be sent home.  9 p.m.

Monday 2/28 -- remaining 10 guys will perform live.  8 p.m.
Tuesday 3/1 -- remaining 10 women will perform live.  8 p.m.
Wednesday 3/2 -- elimination show.  Four will go home.  9 p.m.

That will leave the field at 16.  Presumably there will be a third week of semi-final competition to get the field down to the final 12, before we can finally get this game started!  If so, that would put the start date for live final competition on March 15.

Gotta love it.