The Hollywood Rounds begin tonight. It’s a short round this year. Tonight will feature group and individual auditions. Tomorrow night is the “Green Mile” episode–40 contestants will be cut down to the Top 24. There is a spoiler list put together by the kids at Idol Forums. Check it out here. I posted a rumored blow-by-blow of Hollywood week back in December. We’ll find out soon enough (tomorrow!) if the kids are alright…
Rumor has it that a couple of contestants may have been disqualified. Tommy Daniels, who was revealed by TMZ to have a record, was supposedly disqualified for releasing information to the media. According to the spoilers, another potential Top 40/24 contestant may have been disqualified and/or quit. And, there is a pervasive rumor around the net that Sean Michel was eliminated because he refused to cut his hair.
My fellow blogger, Dave McGurgan from Phillyburbs.com says that “an Idol insider high up in the food chain, who goes by the name AJ, contacted phillyBurbs.com last week, claiming that the next American Idol has already been chosen: Brandon Rogers.” Hmmm.
More from Nigel Lythgoe’s recent teleconference:
- Nigel would like to extend the upper age limit next year from 28 to 30. He raises this issue every year. Raising the age limit Season 4 from 24 to 28 resulted in more seasoned, therefore more entertaining contestants. While the producers are at it, they should also raise the bottom limit from 16 to 18. Just think how awesome Paris Bennett would have been with a few more years experience under her belt.
- According to Nigel, “There is one young lady in Hollywood who I would have said would have been in the top five this year [but] got cut purely and simply because she couldn’t remember her lyrics in a group…It’s sad, but that’s what a competition is. You’ve got to work every single day.” Hmmm, I heard about people making it through to the Top 40/44 who forgot lyrics or completely lost their voices during the Hollywood Rounds…
Here’s more on some of your Season 6 contestants:
A UK reader, Telespy uploaded this audition to You Tube. Vanessa Herrick’s audition was featured after Gina Glockson in the UK version of the “Best Of The Rest” episode. According to Telespy, “she got a golden ticket, and some interesting comments from Simon.”
Remember Wandera Hitchye who was told during the Memphis Auditions by Simon that “there are so many singers like you trying to get deals right now,” before all three judges rejected her? Wandera claims that she never auditioned in front of the judges. That, in the final edit, it was only made to look that way:
The contestant stated that she didn’t perform in front of Simon, Paula or Randy which everyone saw on their television screen. The tape was instead edited to make it look like she did according to the contestant. In fact, Hitchye actually performed in front of the producer of the show Nigel Lythgoe who told her that he loved her singing, but didn’t like her performance.
There were reports of this sort of “creative editing” going on last year too. Speaking of which, Eonline.com has more on the Akron Watson Hollywood dis-invitation flapdoodle. Golden ticket holders are dis-invited every year in what are called pre-Hollywood phone cuts. In between the auditions and the Hollywood rounds, if background checks run on the contestants turn up something unfavorable that contestant is cut–sometimes just a few days before the round starts.
There are questions about what criteria is used to determine whether a contestant is cut or not. A contestant who isn’t upfront about their past will probably get cut later on if the problem pops up in a routine check. However, Akron claims that the producers knew about the drug bust that could be the reason for his dismissal. Also, there are other contestants, Bo Bice for instance, who were able to compete despite a past drug bust. In fact, as you will see this week, there is a contestant who is rumored to go very far who actually did time in prison, so…
It’s all very mysterious, isn’t it?
Lastly, learn more about contestants Chris Richardson and JL Cotter from these articles in their home town papers. Both are rumored to have done very well in Hollywood…
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Time flies. Its been a year since Kat supposedly flubbed her lines and was nasty towards some of her fellow contestants and she got through Hollywood. Its funny how they use botched lyrics to crucify some(i.e. Melissa McGhee) and others they cover up.
Now the rumor is Brandon Rogers is TCO. Another reason to get me to break my promise and vote…BUT for someone else.
Well, my current top three are ALL boys and one of them is Brandon Rogers. The other two would be Sundance Head and Chris Sligh. It will be interesting to see how they do - at this time last year, I already know I was all in for Taylor. I can’t say the same of any contestant yet this year, though.
I doubt that Brandon Rogers is the “chosen one”. Does it even matter whether the “chosen one” actually wins or not? Hell No. Because of the success of Chris Daughtry, all TPTB have to do is make sure the “chosen one” is in the Top 12 because then TPTB can sign whomever they want and push the “chosen one’s” CD.
I seriously doubt that rumor because being the AI winner doesn’t ensure success and being an AI “loser” as long as he or she is in the Top 12 doesn’t mean that that person won’t be successful and make money for TPTB.
Things that make you go hmmmmm….
If it is proved that the criteria is not being applied equally to everyone, they will kill the golden goose. The majority of AI watchers don’t know about the manipulations and pimping that take place. If it becomes common knowledge and the public no longer believes in what they’re seeing, the show will fail and any credibility they have gained will be gone in the blink of an eye.
On the age issue, I’m with you, mj. I think the lower limit should be 18, not 16. Raising the top limit to 30 is only going to bring in more semi-professionals which seems to be changing the makeup of the show already, from what it was originally.
Honestly, they could at least give us an hour and a forty five minutes of Hollywood. The “Green Mile” could easily done in 15 minutes (with commercials) if they took out contestants pacing and sleeping and reading and talking about kissing judges.
The only interesting things I can ever remember happening in “The Green Mile” episode was the look on Will Makar’s face when he realized he made…and then realized that Sid didn’t AND of course Taylor and his harmonica.
I sure hope the show tomorrow isn’t JUST the selection — I agree it should and could be done in 15 minutes - or less!
I wish we had 4 hours less of the audition crapola and get to see that 4 hours spent on Hollywood - and actually seeing all that will get to the 24.
I agree also that this image they have put on for the last 5 seasons will no longer fool the public. I think last year was the first year that the internet really affected the show and the viewing public. This year, it will be even more apparent to the outcome and their image that as more people find out ’stuff’ on the internet, they will not be able to fool us anymore.
We are ready - and we are aware — and some of us won’t vote anymore — there will be a lot more who will jump ship if AI doesn’t start realizing that their viewers are not happy with the crap they throw at us anymore.
I remember Chris Daughtry getting stuck in the elevator and almost missing The Green Mile. Another thing I vividly remember is the number of times Katharine screwed up on her lyrics, I would say that was at least every other song. And look where she ended up: First runner up and her lovely face on all the magazine covers.
I don’t remember anything about Mr. Cotter but I do remember Chris Richardson from Chesapeake, mainly because my attention was called to his real (or imagined) resemblance to Justin Timberlake. I do remember that Chris had a good voice and according to the article about him in the link MJ provided, he also has a trained voice. I hope he at least makes the top 24 because I would like to see him perform again.
I am still looking for someone to cheer for but the closest I have come is in Sanjaya who is so very young. I really can’t imagine him being mature enoough to cope with all the pressures and problems involved in being in the Top 10.
i don’t think anyone botched lyrics worse than taylors jailhouse rock
radname: i don’t think anyone botched lyrics worse than taylors jailhouse rock
Why are you mentioning a performance that had no relevance to the competition (the version he botched was just to satisfy a special “request” and was neither judged nor voted upon). The performance was not even part of the HW rounds.
I think the topic is : Season 6 - Hollywood rounds.
I love the Hollywood rounds. Bring it on! Botched lyrics and all. Sometimes, the song is better for them (e.g. Ella and Mac). Sometimes, not so much.
no he botched the one that was voted on aswell
Not going to debate Season 5 here.
I hope that we get to see lots of the top 24 in the HW rounds. I always like to see how the groups form together. I think that the more experienced singers tend to do a better job of picking out their groupmates…recognizing talent and group dynamics.
I hope we get another Kim Locke/Frenchie/Band of Gold moment. Have I mentioned I love the Hollywood rounds?
I do too, t2! I’m really sorry they’ve shortened them this year. Would much rather have more Hollywood and less bad auditions.
Hmmm… well Brandon Rogers is my favorite, and I never pick the winner, so everyone can relax.
Wow, the judging criteria seem pretty unfair this year. One slip on the lyrics and you’re gone? The judges are going to regret sending home some of the better contestants. Bailey Brown should have been in the top 24.
It also amazes me that some of the bit**iest women always seem to make it through…
Simon was raving about Ebony in the auditions. She gets to Hollywood, and all you see is her afro. Hardly seen or heard Carr. And Robyn Troup was axed, a then goes on to sing a duet with Timberlake at the Grammy’s. Nice work AI. What a joke.
Gary, you are so right! Egg on the face for AI.
I didn’t think that Robin Troup was all that good at Hollywood or with Justin. I think we’ll see more of the favorites tonight.