J Lo sings a cut from her new Spanish Language album….
And a whole bunch of lame filler stuff, as tonight’s show expands to 1 hour.
Bottom 3:
Phil Stacey
Haley Scarnato
Chris Richardson
Going home:
Haley Scarnato
*****************
Ryan opens the show by taking a poke at the continued survival of the contestant-who-wouldn’t-die, Sanjaya Malakar, all but giving away the fact that Sanjaya is safe this week.
As Ryan walks down the line up of contestants, he says, ”These contestants brought flair, passion and power to our Latin special but even with the guiding star of somebody like Jennifer Lopez, one of them is facing the fire…”
“Who is going home?” asks Ryan At which point, he turns to look at Sanjaya, waits a beat then turns to look at the audience. Sanjaya laughs and pretends to be all “Damn!” The audience laughs, we laugh. It’s not as if Ryan is giving away some big secret. Of course Sanjaya is safe!
In fact, as Ryan chooses the bottom 3, (after 40 minutes of some of the most boring filler evah. Gah, I already miss the 30 minute results show), he continues to toy with Sanjaya, asking him to stand back up and then sit back down again. Can you imagine this going on with any of the other kids? The poor contestant would be peeing their pants, not to mention the audience, who would be aghast at the meaness.
At this point, however, it’s a given that Sanjaya has some magical mojo power that’s gonna keep him safe. Particularly this week, after he turned in his first above-par vocal performance since his initial audition.
Yep. Season 6 is a very weird season.
Celebrity watch: Eva Longoria and Sharon Osbourne are in the audience.
The next 35 minutes or so are pretty much a complete waste of time. Ryan works hard drawing…out…all…his…bits…as…long…as…possible. His banter with the judges is even more ridiculous than usual. Paula does her part to waste time by taking up at least 10 seconds looking cluelessly into space, as only she can do.
One advantage of the hour show: The group sing is back. Unfortunately, it’s not all that entertaining, even in a cheesy way. Except when Haley and Sanjaya attempt to harmonize together. Badly. Good stuff. Otherwise, meh.
This week’s big question for giant cash! and prizes!–Which of these American Idol finalists mocked in an interview. Uhm, I mean, performed with Meatloaf? a. Elliott Yamin b. Katharine McPhee or c. Taylor Hicks.
Update on the songwriting contest: Over 5,000 entries have been submitted so far. Hurry up and send those submissions! Contest closes April 17.
Lamest time-waster of the night: Ryan does “peeps in the street” interviews at the Farmers Market, located conveniently across the street from the CBS studios where Idol is broadcast. No re-cap necessary. Pretty much the typical blah-blah what do you think of this and that blah blah. One funny bit: When Ryan asked some girls what they thought of Chris Richardson they were all like “WHO”? Kinda sums up this season nicely, doesn’t it?
Most pointless and inexplicable segment of the night: A pre-recorded tape of Akon singing his #1 hit, ”Don’t Matter.” Not that it was mentioned, but his performance was taped a few weeks ago at the end of the Top 10 results show. What’s up with sticking a video of Akon into the show apropos of nothing? Without so much as a promo or explanation? What’s the point?
Ford Commercial: The Idols take a trip back to 1991, as the director, for some reason, thinks it would be a cool idea to rip off Michael Jackson’s “Black and White” video. The Idol’s heads morph into one another’s as they sing the Turtle’s “Happy Together.” Watch Phil Stacy grow hair! Oops–it’s Jordin Sparks. The special effect was pretty amazing 15 years ago, but today, not so much.
Relevant, but poorly executed time-waster: We see more clips of Simon frolicking with the poor chillrun in Africa. You know, the ones who are going to lead better lives after the Big Top 6 Charity Special. Simon does not seem very comfortable hanging around kids. And the joke at the end end, with one of the kids supposedly drawing a picture of Simon with manboobs, seems to trivialize the issue. The poor (literally) kid holding up the chalk drawing has this total “the man with the money told me to hold up this weird picture, so I am” look on her face. Simon getting red-faced afterward was pretty funny, though.
Slightly amusing time-waster: Footage of the judges reacting negatively to an auditioner spliced into reaction shots of Tony Bennett as if he were the auditioner. Ha. Or maybe half-a-ha.
Yipee. Celine Dion will appear at the giant Idol Gives Back special to instruct the kids in the fine art of oversinging a song. Nope, actually, she’ll just be performing…
Finally, time for the eliminations, but not before the obligatory recap of last night’s performances, which I always fast-forward through.
FINALLY, the kids have taken their places on the sofas. Ryan asks Melinda how she feels about Simon criticizing her performance this week. She LOVES his criticism and loves what he has to say. Particularly since 98% of the time he’s giving her a tongue-bath.
Next, Ryan asks Haley what SHE thinks about Simon calling her out on her less-is-more (clothes, that is) winning strategy. Haley insists that she would never wear anything on stage that was inappropriate. And the hot pants? Hey, “It was Latin week,” Haley sez! Every week must be Latin week for Haley.
FINALLY time to pick the bottom 3.
Phil Stacey is asked to stand up first. Phil nods his head like he knows. He’s in the bottom 3. LaKisha Jones is next. She looks nervous. There was a ton of speculation that she would get the boot tonight. Ryan says, “After the nationwide vote…LaKisha…surprisingly (he actually says this, TPTB really do read the boards)…you’re SAFE. The offshore bettors are crying right about now. Jordin Sparks is next…and she is safe. Ryan asks Sanjaya Malakar to stand up, but then teases him and asks him to sit down again. Sanjaya smiles like the Cheshire cat.
Melinda Doolittle….is safe of course. Haley Scarnato stands up. Ryan says, “After the vote…you are in the bottom 3 this week…please join Phil at the center of the stage.” Back to Sanjaya. The joke continues. Ryan sez, stand up…no sit down…we aren’t ready for you yet. It’s Blake Lewis’s turn. Girls in the audience squee. Blake looks bemused. And he’s safe. Ryan asks Chris Richardson and Sanjaya to stand up. Poor Chris. Standing next to Sanjaya in a bottom 2 situation is not a good thing.
Ryan says, ”…lets get into it now. One of you is safe, the other is in the bottom 3…Sanjaya, I’ve been asking you to sit all night long. Sit down again, you are safe. Chris you are in the bottom 3 tonight.” Chris takes center stage to a chorus of boos.
After the break, it’s time to send someone back to the sofas. Ryan says, ”Phil…it’s not going to be you. Haley….I need you to stay here too. Chris, you are SAFE.
Phil says, “We are just blessed to be here.”
Now, it’s JLo time. After a montage of the kids exclaiming how much they love the JLo, and OMG she is soooo not a diva!–she sings some song in Spanish with smoke and dancers and stuff. Yeah. She’s not a great singer, but she’s a good dancer and has tons of charisma–no doubt about that.
After her big number, Jennifer tells Ryan that she is really impressed with the kids and stresses that what they are doing every week is a hard, hard thing. She insists that she’s from the Paula school of criticism. What, nonsensical, completely useless criticism? Naww, she just believes that, “concentrating on the rightness brings more rightness.” How sweet. Then she apologizes to Simon for inadvertently dissing him.
After the final break, Ryan cuts to the chase. He says, “After the highest vote of the season, over 35 million votes, Phil buddy, you are safe. Haley heads home tonight on American Idol.”
Haley cries a little as she watches her goodbye video. Interestingly, the judges are never asked what they think of this week’s elimination, even though it would have actually been an appropriate time-waster. Perhaps the producers decided not to add more insult to injury for the beleaguered Haley.
She manages to get through her singout–a little wobbly, but she keeps it together. Haley walks out into the audience. She sings to Phil’s wife. Blake, Chris and Phil join her on stage to dance. Much hugging, and Haley is out.
I figured Haley had at least one more week left based on the only-hot-girl-left-standing factor. When Haley made the Top 12, most folks predicted she’d be voted off first. Haley did what she had to do to make that tour. Can’t say that I blame her for the hoochie-coochie routine. Her hot-pants based strategy even got her a few extra weeks beyond the tour cut-off. Much better for her that she didn’t outlast LaKisha, however. The backlash would have been ugly for her. And annoying for us. All in all, Haley had a good run.
Related Posts
Thanks Cricket! I almost choked on my oatmeal!!
Oh, Lisa - I hope you get your wish next Wednesday! I want a shocker too!
Blake is entertaining, IMO.
Sometimes when we communicate by the written word, a meaning is lost in the translation. I bet we all are real cool people in REAL life!
It was the perfect bottom 3, IMO, and I would have been happy with any of them going home, but since Phil & Haley have both been bottom 3 before, it’s fine that Chris is still there, even tho I don’t care for him. I didn’t think Gina should have gone home last week w/ Phil & Haley standing there too. I’m fine w/ LaKisha staying because she has offered up many good performances (altho staying in her comfort zone). At least this week she really made an effort & moved out of that zone. And she didn’t suck. Plus, I’m really curious to see how Melinda, LaKisha and, to a lesser extent, Jordin handle country week. I couldn’t name a single black “country” singer, but the genre covers a lot & hopefully they will find something interesting. Last year I thought Kellie Pickler would have done well on country week, but she did that suds in a bucket song & Simon really dissed her for that.
I’m not asking anyone to qualify it with IMO. I’m aware that most things asserted here aren’t facts. But there is a difference between:
1. Melinda is good and
2. “Sorry kids” - blank blank
Meaning there is a way to express an opinion without being intentionally rude, condescending and acting like a know-it-all. I know that people are irritated by the fangirliness and what not (I do apologize for my part in that) but that’s no reason to make people feel bad for liking a contestant or the show itself. I don’t like to be looked down upon for expressing my (unappreciated)opinion, just like I would try not to do that to others (unless provoked). Ok - sorry for taking this further than it had to go. I think I’ll try to stick to chat from now on.
FWIW,
My use of “Sorry kids” was meant as an inclusive term as to the group of posters that we are….including me…..a term of “endearment” if you will…..if you took it as anything else, I’d suggest therapy. I didn’t say…”You idiots”…or anything truly mean…..get over it.
If you can’t get over my “opinions” then I’d suggest skipping them…..deal?
Wow! For some reason I can’t read the poster above me’s words. Weird…..
Actually there is one black country singer. Cowboy Troy, who does country rap. I think he may be a member of the “country Mafia with Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, et.al.
What theme was it the week that Mandisa was eliminated last year? I thought that was a shocker and I thought it was a shame that she was sent home for religious/ethical beliefs. Even Idols are entitled to their own opinions. I liked her way more than this year’s divas.
The most famous black country singer - Charlie Pride:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl1fR8zy7p4&mode=related&search=
http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/pride_charley/bio.jhtml
Wasn’t there also Cleve Francis, who was a doctor….
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_n3_v23/ai_12255308
http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/francis_cleve/42015/album.jhtml
nostradamus, I have never heard of cleve francis. Did he have any hits? Any songs you would recommend. I have been out of touch with country music for a few years since where I live does not have a damn country radio station.
Deb,
See my edit above^^
“Walkin’”, I think was his “hit”.
Last year Mandisa went on country night, so don’t be surprised to see Lakisha gone this year.
Same rules apply here as they do in the Daily Thread. NO BICKERING. Please stop. READ THE GUIDELINES PLEASE.
1. Posters are free to post their opinions about Idols without being chastised. If you can’t help lashing out whenever a poster criticizes your favorite Idol, this is probably not the best place to be hanging out.
2. Do not condescend to posters or comment on the quality of their opinions. Everyone is entitled to one, and all that. Keeping the word “you” out of your posts is prolly a good rule of thumb.
Thank you.
Thanks Nostradamus. He sounds pretty good.
laura11383, you might be right, but there are a ton of “country” songs that are not twangy or really country sounding. Lakisha (imo) has a damn good voice, so if she chooses wisely she should be o.k.
angelia, Mandisa went home during Country week last season. The controversy may have played a part in limiting her fan base, but she did struggle on Country night. An excellent voice for sure, but two consecutive sub-par performances were what led to her elimination, I think.
Calmari, didn’t Kellie P sing “Suds in a Bucket” on “songs of the Twenty First Century” night? (I think that’s what they called it last season.) She sang something else on Country night - can’t remember exactly what - but I believe the judges liked her that night. I don’t think she was in any danger that week.
Blake may not have the best or biggest voice in this year’s contest, but he is a good performer. He knows what he is doing on stage and looks comfortable doing it - which is why he almost always wins me over. He also has interesting taste in music. And he’s capable of coming up with interesting arrangements. Myself, I’m not seeing much to dislike about Blake.
This doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate Melinda or Jordin or some of the others. I think Melinda is pretty terific, despite some dull song choices. I think her frontrunner status is weakening - because of song choice - and could see Blake and/or Jordin outlasting her.
I didn’t start out on Team Plaid, but Blake has won me over. He may not have a “powerhouse” voice, but it is by no means “thin.” He actually has an interesting way of presenting his vocals, and I prefer someone who knows how to sing with some subtlety over someone shouting at me. That’s my bias.
Of course, there’s more to it than that. Blake is a performer and he communicates and connects with the audience in a way that I haven’t seen in many of the other contestants. According to this article, Blake created so much excitement this week that the producers had to shush the crowd.
last year on country night.
Mandisa: Any Man of Mine
Kellie: Fancy
colette, I like your song choices but you pissed me off.
I don’t think I know what “Ballad of Billie Joe” sounds like and have spent the last hour trying to find a version of it online with absolutely no luck. All I have come up with is that it was recorded by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis. Any chance you could find a version? I know tons of country songs and once I hear it, I’ll probably remember it.
Thanks Little Debbi. I’m by no means knowledgeable about country music, but I thought Simon said something about so many songs to sing & Kellie picked the suds one, so I thought that was country night.
I think Mandisa went home because of what happened on Twenty-First Century night. Sometimes a contestant is voted off the week after a bad performance/controversy. If Mandisa had knocked it out of the park on Country night, I think she might have overcome the controversy - but maybe not.
What happened to all the “Lekisha is going home for sure” rumors? Someone knows someone who knows someone, etc., that it was a given.
Really? When will people learn?
Hi, delurking to add that Fantasia did a really nice job of Willie Nelson’s “Always on My Mind” on Country night during Season 3. So it’s not at all clear to me that Country has to be a problem for a black singer who typically sings more R&B-type music.
That said, Lakisha doesn’t have anything like Fantasia’s artistry, IMO. A good strong voice, the ability to belt one out passionately, but not a lot more. So she may well struggle.
Also, Ace Young and Chris Daughtry had VERY good performances on Country night last year…
Little Debbie: Not sure about a Ballad to Billie Joe. Maybe it’s Ode to Billie Joe, sung by Bobbie Gentry?
I don’t like country but I like Carrie and I’ve discovered that there are quite a few country songs for the non-country fan.
As for the “Lakisha is going home rumor,” I have to wonder if someone planted a false rumor. I’ve heard that people have been cleaning up with the betting so maybe this was a form of revenge.
I also liked Elliot on country night and I love this song.
Elliot - If Tomorrow Never Comes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wc2amOvmOY
Ace - Tonight I’m Gonna Cry
Chris - Making Memories of Us
sorry, here’s ace and chris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-9D5P3TvjI
Country music isn’t my first choice of genre, but there’s plenty of good current material for the group to choose from. I guess the mere mention of the Dixie Chicks is enough to inflame some voters, but Melinda, Jordin or LaKisha could potentially really score with “Travelling Soldier” (or one of the Chicks’ ballads, if that’s what they prefer) - if the song can be effectively pared down to less than 2 minutes.
They can take a look at Trisha Yearwood’s and Faith Hill’s CDs if they want to find suitable mainstream country ballads. Or Martina McBride’s own discs, if they want to be a little nervy.
Anyone wanting to go in the country-blues direction could look at Mark Knopfler’s and Emmy Lou Harris’s albums. Solomon Burke’s “Nashville” album is a great disc, if one of the guys wants to be adventurous. Neko Case and Jenny Lewis have put out excellent alt country albums, if one of the girls wants to be more daring.
It could be interesting if one of the girls picked a song off Carrie’s album, but it would invite a risky comparison, so it’s probably not going to happen.
Whatever you think of her material, Martina has a great voice - probably one of the best in any branch of music at the moment. She was a good guest coach on Canadian Idol last summer. She was very gracious, if a little careful in her comments.
ETA: Country night generally hasn’t been a good theme night on Idol, but my point is that there’s no reason it couldn’t be. One of the biggest problems is that Simon openly disdains country music, and generally scowls through the whole night - which usually helps to sour the night for the audience.
Excellent ETA, SODF.
Hopefully we’ll have a season-three-esque country night. I remember Diana, Fantasia, George, LaToya, and Amy all giving some of the best performances of the season.
Ace certainly put in one of his best on country night last year….Daughtry’s was just okay for me. Randy naturally told Ace “that was SO boring” then fell all over Chris.
Didn’t Blake or one of the other guys do a Keith Urban song earlier this season? Making Memories of Us (maybe?)
Yes, Chris Richardson did Keith Urban “Cry”.
The “Billie Joe” song you may be thinking of is the one about Bille Joe jumping off the Talahatchee bridge. And yes, you are right, It’s Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry. Great song.
I’m a huge country fan, so I love this night coming. The thing I don’t like is that if you are not a country fan, you pick old twangy songs that are “old country” - there are so many from about 1988 to now that are defintiely “new country” and are awesome !
Confederate Railroad, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Montgomery Gentry, John Michael Montgomery, Sarah Evans, Trisha Yearwood, Tracy Lawrence, Trace Adkins, George Strait, Brad Paisley…….I can go on and on and on.
I really think the only the one that will have trouble this week is Sanjaya. He’ll need something soft and slow again or he’ll bite it. I don’t think he can do the rockin’ country.
LaKisha could stay in if she picks the right song. Like “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” by Reba McIntyre. That’s sort of a diva song - country diva - but diva nonetheless. It definitely requires a big voice.
TracyS and panz. Ballad of Billy Joe is a real song and I found info that it was done by Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee Lewis, but I can’t find a version to listen to and I just want to see if I’ve heard it before.
Sanjaya should sing “Save a horse, Ride a Cowboy” while dressed in western wear!
Thanks for the info, Little Debbi. The only Charlie Rich song I know of is Behind Closed Doors.
Seems like “country” can be a really wide category if they include “country like” songs.
Ok,
Last time I went to the doctors and had my hearing check, the doctor said it was fine, then why is it that I seem to be one of very few people who thought Blake sounded like a bad attempt at a carbon copy while he was singing, and Jordin who is usually very good, was vocally off key and visually just plain off.
Anyone who thinks a Blake, Jordin, and for goodness sakes Sanjaya final 3 would be good is kidding themselves.
While Jordin is a big enough lump of clay to be good for Clive and pushing mass commercialized music. I don’t see it. Honestly, I have doubts about the commercial viability of any of the finalists. At least Melinda, whom I love and will buy her debut album, can sing and perform. She will have a CAREER.
The others will have an album or two, maybe.
I hope Melinda sings “And Still” by Reba
On a funny note, Sanjaya should sing “man, I feel like a woman” by Shania. Heck, not to single him out, it would be funny for ANY of them to sing that.
http://www.amazon.com/Bobbie-Gentry-Greatest-Hits/dp/B000000CXC/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9708266-1071005?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1176425918&sr=1-1
Little Debbie - Here’s the link for the Bobby Gentry album on Amazon. Under the picture, click “listen to samples” and Ode to Bily Joe is in there.
I can’t find anything for the Jerry Lee Lewis/Charlie Rich one you were talking about.
SHANNON — ROFLMAO - Sanjaya with assless chaps !!!!!! Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy. Oh my sides hurt.
I’d actually like to see Lakisha do Harper Valley PTA. Or Melinda - Melinda has the ability to “tell the story” when she’s singing.
Sanjaya should sing “How do you like me now” by Toby Keith.
Oooh, I could so definitely see LaKisha doing Harper Valley PTA. You need attitude to do that one.
Now that brings back memories–Harper Valley PTA was one of the first 45s I ever bought. Oh boy.
Both Melinda and LaKisha could do very well with Country Week. “Country” and “Soul” both descend from the Blues–they’re both “Roots” music. I’d love to hear either of them sing The Pointer Sisters’ “Fairytale”–a #1 Country hit.
hi — I blew it — was “Ode to Billie JOe” by Bobbi Gentry. Very interesting song, tells a story that you probably couldn’t truncate for TV — here’s Bobbi: (on The Smother Brothers show??)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc
here’s Cheryl Crow covering it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFMvpzIhgJQ
But I really want to hear is “Son of a Preacher Man” — LaKisha could OWN that — here’s Dusty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhaYayqqGVU
Couldn’t find a link to the whole version by Aretha — who, by the way, was offered the song first but passed — too close to home, maybe since her dad was a famous minister. But once Dusty had a hit with it, Aretha had to get on it too. Her’s is great, but Dusty’s is best.
Joan Osborne’s cover of “Son of a Preacher Man” is really excellent, too.
I would like Jordin to sing Taylor Swift’s “Tim McGraw” for country night. I think she would do it perfectly.
madmike–who do you think will be final three?
Actually….
Lionel Richie also went country for awhile with Say You Say Me and if you remember correctly John Michael Montgomery and Kevin Sharp took on the R& B Songs and made them country. I can love you like that and I Swear (John Michael Montgomery) and Nobody Know’s (Kevin Sharp). These songs came at the same time the R& B songs came out on the country charts.
There are songs that La Kisha, Jordin and Melinda can sing and do well with.