UPDATE: Now, with Re-cap…

Hollywood Day 4 – 72 contestants vie for a spot in what turns out to be the Top 54ish. They perform solo, with instruments, if they wish. At the end of the day, they are divided up into 4 different rooms and told who made it, and who did not.

Room 2 is IN, including: Alex Wagner-Trugman, Alexis Grace, Arianna Afsar, Ashley Hollister, Casey Carlson, Jasmine Murray, Joanna Pacitti, Kai Kalama, Kenny Haufpouer, Michael Sarver, Nate Marshall, Perrie Cataldo, Reggi Beasley, Ricky Braddy,   Shera Lawrence, Stephen Fowler,  and Von Smith .

Room 3 is CUT, and leaving the competition, including Michael Castro, India Morrison, Kaylan Lloyd, Leneshe Young, Ryan Johnson and Justin Williams.

Room 1 is IN, including: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Frankie Jordan, Jackie Tohn, Jamar Rogers, Jeanine Vailes, John Twiford, Jorge Nunez, Kendall Beard, Kristen McNamara,  Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Meghan Corkrey, Mishavonna Henson, Scott Macintyre, Stevie Wright

Room 4 is IN, including: Angela Martin, Ann Marie Boskovich, Brent Keith, Chris Chatman, Cody Sheldon, Derik Lavers, Devon Baldwin, Felicia Barton, Jackie Midkiff, Jenn Korbee, Jesse Langseth, Junot Joyner, Kris Allen, Lacey Brown, Matt Breitzke, Nick Mitchell,  T.K. Hash, Tatiana Del Toro, Taylor Vaifanua

• Adam Lambert – “Believe” by Cher – VIDEO
• Matt Giraud – “Georgia” by Ray Charles – VIDEO
• Jamar Rogers – “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White Ts – VIDEO
• Danny Gokey – “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack – VIDEO
  
• Anoop Desai – “My Perogative” by Bobby Brown – VIDEO
• Jorge Nunez – “Closer” by Ne-Yo – VIDEO
• Scott MacIntyre – “Home” by Daughtry – VIDEO
• Kendall Beard - “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood – VIDEO
• Stevie Wright – “Bubbly” by Colbie Caillat – VIDEO
• Lil Rounds “I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys – VIDEO
• Kristen McNamara – “Because of You” by Kelly Clarkson – VIDEO
• Mishavonna Henson – “Everything” by Michael Buble – VIDEO
• Tatiana Del Toro - “I’m Your Baby Tonight” by Whitney Houston – VIDEO
• Alexis Grace “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood – VIDEO
• Kenny Haufpouer - “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz -Â   VIDEO
• Jasmine Murray -”Tattoo” by Jordin Sparks – VIDEO
• Nate Marshall – “Disturbia” by Rihanna – VIDEO
• Joanna Pacitti – “I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys - VIDEO
• Casey Carlson – “Tattoo” by Jordin Sparks – VIDEO
• Stephen Fowler – “Time of My Life” by David Cook – VIDEO
• Nick Mitchell as Normund Gentle – “Georgia” by Ray Charles – VIDEO
• Anne Marie Boskovich – “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack – VIDEO
• JuNot Joyner – “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White Ts – VIDEO
• Kaylan Lloyd – “I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys – VIDEO
• Leneshe Young – “Love Song” by Sara Bareilles -VIDEO
• Kai Kalama – “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder – VIDEO
• Michael Sarver – “All or Nothing” by O Town – VIDEO
• India Morrison – VIDEO

A recap of sorts, after the jump…

Tonight’s show went by in a blur.   I like hearing as many voices as possible during these early rounds, but 28 singers in an hour?

It’s so much too digest, that all I clearly recall from the episode, was the bizarre collection of scrap metal Paula had around her neck (Is she selling that thing as part of her HSN jewelry line?) and Tatiana Del Toro, who was once again at the center of major dramz.

I hope she’s putting on an act.   If she’s not, she’s got some major mental health issues, and shame on TPTB for exploiting her.   Either way, her storyline is way way past it’s expiration date.   I don’t expect viewers to vote her into the Top 12 when the Top 36 begins next week.   But, if the judges dare choose her as a wild card pick, I’ll have to admit that this cheesy show has finally jumped the shark.

I have a theory that the pool of semi-finalists was increased to allow room for more fodder like Tatiana, Nick Mitchell (this guy keeps advancing, but he has yet to prove he can sing) and   Alex Wagner-Trugman.   All the better to stack the deck once the   semi’s begin. Divide up the real contenders between three weeks of competition, make sure they get good songs and performance spots, and the judges favs get through.

And if some fodder makes it into the Top 12?   That’s more drama for the cameras to capture back stage and back at the mansion where the contestants will be living.

I swear, if this show turns into “Big Brother” with singing, I’m going to be pissed.

Adam Lambert, and Matt Giraud, up first, seem destined for the Top 12.   Adam chooses to sing the Gay anthem “Believe” and while he’ll never come out on the show, I wonder if he’ll be dropping little hints like this along the way. He’s got killer vocals and an amazing range, but I’ve got to see more before I jump on his bandwagon.   The theatrics are either going to thrill me or annoy me, and I can’t tell which, yet.   Matt Giraud’s soulful vibe is winning me over–that he’s an accomplished keyboardist is an added bonus.

Best friends Jamar Rogers and Danny Gokey are headed for a bust up. Not tonight though. Both acquit themselves well.   But with so many soul-boys out there, it’s going to take something extra to pull ahead of the bunch.   Danny’s dead-wife backstory will be just the ticket.

After 4 days of competition, the kids voices sound really tired.

We get 6 seconds of Anoop Desai singing “My Prerogative”, and it’s fabulous.   Jorge Nunez is no Ne-Yo, but his “Closer” is decent.

Scott MacIntyre sings Daughtry’s “Home” at the keyboard, and he’s just a’ight.   Is it mean that I’m looking forward to Scott performing the group numbers on results night?   I’m evil. He mentions that he “didn’t see” Paula give him a standing ovation.   Rub that backstory in a little more…

Kendall Beard underwhelms singing “Before He Cheats”.   Not the right song, I suspect.   Stevie Wright fares a little better with “Bubbly.” Ditto Lil Rounds singing “I Ain’t got You.”   OMG, Kristen McNamara, why are you screaming at me? She croaks “Because of You,” her voice obviously shot.

Mishavonna Henson makes a good first impression with Michael Buble’s “Everything.”

Ugh.   It’s time for a best of Tatiana Del Toro recap!   Holy crap, Tatiana.   You were fine singing “I’m You’re Baby Tonight” until you went for those Whitney-like glory notes.   Just NO.

Performances from Alexis Grace (“Before He Cheats”),   Kenny Hoffpauer (“I’m Yours”), and Jasmine Murray (“Tattoo”) fly by. Jasmine sounds way off pitch.

Tonight’s awesome surprise:   I absolutely LOVE Nate Marshall’s acoustic take on Rihanna’s “Disturbia”.   Nice editing of his performance cut into scenes from his major Hollywood dramz.   Disturbia, indeed…   This kid can sing and perform, I may forgive the uneccesary drama he’s providing.

The next montage of singers boff their performances.   Joanna Pacitti hums her way through, “I Ain’t Got You.”   Casey Carlson can’t remember the lyrics to “Tattoo.” And Stephen Fowler, sitting at the keyboard attempting to sing “Time of My Life”, asks to start over. Only, unlike Brooke White from the year before, he still can’t remember the words,   and he walks off stage mid-song.

Now, Joanna, Casey and Stephen are sitting in Room 2 with Nate, who is now afraid he’s going to be cut.   Ha ha.   Poor kid doesn’t realize that some contestants are destined to advance, even if their tenure in Hollywood is filled with Epic Fail.   I would say Joanna and Casey had their fates sealed early on.

Total Bullsh*t Alert:   Tatiana is pulled out of Room 2.   She’s left standing in the hallway, looking like she’s on the verge of a nervous breakdown as we go to break.

Nick Mitchell and, eventually Tatiana Del Toro are in Room 2, and audition favorite Leneshe Young is in Room 3.   Obviously, the audience is supposed to believe that Room 2 will be cut.   The “twist” is further punctuated by Leneshe’s decent performance of “Love Song”, and that Nick chose to ditch actual singing (again) for his “Normund Gentle” shtick.   Plus, we’re led to believe that the judges have had second thoughts about Tatiana and are moving her to the losers room.

Who didn’t see that one coming from a mile away?

In the meantime, Ann Marie Boskovich underwhelms with a pallid version of “I Hope You Dance.”   On the other hand, we hear Junot Joyner for the first time, and he’s impressive.

Kaylan Lloyd’s performance of “I Ain’t Got You” isn’t awesome, but it’s better than say…Joanna Pacitti’s.   At least Kaylan remembers the words. She leaves the stage in tears, after Simon abruptly cuts her off.

Kai Kalama, his voice completely shot, sounds like total ass. I actually didn’t recognize his song, “Part Time Lover” at first.   Michael Sarver undoubtedly won over a few more new fans with his soulful rendition of “All or Nothing”

Simon takes off for London, leaving Paula, Kara and Randy to break the news to the kids, now separated into 4 rooms.

Room 2 gets their verdict first.   And, surprise, Nate need not have worried, after a long drawn-out fake-out from the judges, he and judges’ favs Joanna Pacitti, Casey Carlson and Jasmine Murphy are on to the next round.

India Morrison and Leneshe Young are in Room 3, which as it turns out, is ill-fated.   India appears to be a much better rapper than singer–what the hell WAS that she was singing?   Leneshe’s problem isn’t her singing, but the presensce of that other talented 16 year old, Jasmine Murray, who the judges obviously prefer.   Better luck nnext year for the talented Leneshe.   Also in the room of doom, Michael Castro. Lasting longer than I exected, he probably wouldn’t have made it past the initial audition if he wasn’t the brother of a popular Idol.

There’s no more suspense–all it takes is a simple math calculation to figure out that Rooms 1 and 4 are going through. Tatiana, who exhibits truly disturbing behavior as the judges drag out the reveal, was merely shuffled between two rooms that had made the cut.   The whole drama, was of course manufactured.   I just hope TPTB aren’t toying with a young woman with a fragile mental state.   Did they learn nothing from Paula Goodspeed?   But it could be all fake, in which case Tatiana can audition for acting roles once she’s eliminated.   Or make the rounds of other reality shows.   The latter is a better bet.

Tomorrow, the Top 36 are revealed in the “judges mansion.” Some will have to sing for their survival. EEP!

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