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American Idol Season 8

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TexasLady:
A recap:

American Idol Goes To Hollywood

We break down the heavy hitters, problem kids and comic relief.
American Idol has restored Hollywood Week to its full glory, and it's about time. The sight of dozens of young hopefuls gathered in one spot always provides its share of meltdowns and interpersonal drama, and really sheds light on who the true contenders are going to be. Performers who seemed like solid favorites coming out of their audition can be exposed as one-trick ponies, and some we have never seen before can grab the chance to make names for themselves.

The Hollywood round began with a new twist this year: a one-day boot camp featuring advice on styling, the vocal coaching of the stalwart Debra Byrd, and a pep talk of sorts from (is this show ever going to get younger?) Barry Manilow. After that, it was on to the traditional two-day kickoff of Hollywood competition, as the 147 singers were split in two, with half getting to tour Tinseltown while the other half performed one song a cappella. The purpose here is to weed out the obviously over-matched, as only 43 ended up being cut.
The hour served to reintroduce many of those featured prominently in the audition episodes. Only a couple of never-before-seen wannabes got any spotlight, and only a few of those who got their own audition segment failed to make it past their first test. I'll divide those we saw into groups.

The Heavy Hitters

Anyone who had a lengthy audition segment and was singled out for praise on this evening can safely be assumed to be someone the show is enthusiastic about. The three who stand out in this regard are Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, and Jackie Tohn, although I was less than thrilled with all three. Gokey, who might want to ask the show to stop talking about his dead wife before we're forced to start hating him, tried to overpower "Kiss From a Rose" without the upper register to make it work. Rounds beat the dead "I Will Always Love You" horse and was more loud than good. The judges, who have been known to confuse those concepts, gave her a standing O anyway. Tohn gave a reasonably effective blues performance, but she seems to believe she's now a stand-up comic, and I wonder how well her overall twitchiness will wear with the American public.

And You Guys Were Good Too

These are the singers who seemed as if they might have potential based on their auditions, but came across much more effectively in their first try in Hollywood. The judges were more enthusiastic about Jasmine Murray in Jacksonville than I was, but she showed here that she might be more than just a "marketable" teen face. Oil man Michael Sarver has apparently taken my advice and begun to play up his country side. Jorge Nunez sounded much better singing in English than he did in San Juan. Anoop Desai, who has more experience singing a cappella than most of the others, sounded effortlessly strong once again. And while many of us might want to dismiss David Osmond on the basis of his Osmond-ness, he's not going to make it easy thanks to his solid first-day vocal.
Also in this category is Stephen Fowler, whose original audition we did not see. He took on a Stevie Wonder song, often a bad idea on Idol, and ended up doing a decent Stevie impression. We'll be seeing more of him, along with several others who we did not see sing this night, but whose success was noted: Scott McIntyre (aka The Blind Guy), Anne Marie Boskovich, Alexis Grace (yay!), Adam Lambert, and Brent Keith Smith.

Problem Children

Most of the singers that Ryan Seacrest euphemistically referred to as "judges' favorites" (translation: the ones we decided to feature the past three weeks) were passed through with rote praise, but a few of them came in for such harsh criticism that it at first appeared they might not make it. Amy Winehouse sound-alike Frankie Jordan was knocked by Simon, but she ended up getting an OK. Emily Wynne-Hughes, the tattooed chick who deserted her band for Idol, picked a new song at the last minute and paid for that mistake with some negative comments before also being passed through. And free-spirited Rose Flack appeared to have some difficulties adapting to the more stressful pace. She displayed a laid-back Norah Jones vibe on "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," but while she's pleasant to listen to, I fear she is going to be swallowed up by the stage.
The perceived favorite who got slammed the hardest was Von Smith, he of the "Over the Rainbow" histrionics. He came out with what appears to be the one thing he can do, an over-the-top Broadway-type number that allowed viewers to once again get up and close and personal with his uvula. It was really no different than his audition, but for some reason Simon Cowell couldn't stand him this time around, calling Smith's performance "indulgent nonsense ... the sort of thing a child would do." To his credit, Smith seemed humbled by the attack, which for all I know is the first real criticism he's ever received.

Comic Relief

If you picked Nick "Norman Gentle" Mitchell and Katrina "Bikini Girl" Darrell to make it past the first day of Hollywood, then I want to go to Vegas with you. Mitchell, who actually has a decent (if hardly Idol-quality) voice when he's not clowning around, mugged his way through "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," complete with pitch pipe and shout-out to Seacrest. Darrell chose the infamous contestant-killer "Breathe" and while flat most of the way, was just barely good enough for Simon and Randy Jackson to make a case for her, despite Kara DioGuardi's best efforts at losing her nemesis once and for all. While these two are both entertaining in their own way, I don't envy the singers who will have to work with them in the group phase.

Wait Till Next Year

A few singers that had featured auditions failed to make it to the next phase. Jessica Furney won't have to make alternative plans for someone to look after her grandmother, as she was sent back to Kansas. Marginal golden ticket recipients Patricia Roman and Sharon Wilbur did not make it either. Jesus Valenzuela, who advanced out of San Francisco because Kara couldn't tell his kids no, had to leave the boys at home and thus was sent back to join them, departing in a huff.

Missing In Action

Several performers featured in the audition rounds weren't shown at all, although we can infer that they all survived the first cut. Joanna Pacitti, Austin Sisneros, Leneshe Young, Stevie Wright, Taylor Vaifauna, Cody Shelton, Casey Carlson, Kai Kalama, Michael Castro, and Megan Corkrey are in this group, as is Deanna Brown, who was shown offstage.

http://www.film.com/tv/american-idol/story/american-idol-goes-to-hollywood/25870030

TexasLady:
'Idol's' bitter “Bikini girl” Katrina Darrell on the 'haters'

"a lot of jealous haters out there.”

After being kicked off last night’s American Idol, “Bikini girl” Katrina Darrell speculated as to why she was kicked to the curb.

Bikini Girl says, “I think there were a lot of jealous haters out there and a lot of them were female, so it made it very difficult to work with them. And also I was very tired."

Never getting along with judge Kara DioGuardi, Darrell reveals, “I think she had it out for me in the beginning which was sad because we could’ve been really good friends.”

As for why Darrell wore a swimsuit to her first AI audition, she explains, “It was 110 degrees in Phoenix and I heard that people wait 15 hours and don’t even get to audition so I figured, what the heck. At least I'll be tan."

The sun-damaged “Bikini Girl” says of her moniker, “I think it’s a cute gimmick. I don’t plan on having that be my title forever.”

When asked about her future plans, she natters, “I want to get a record label. Work on an album and go on tour.” Although music is her number one passion, she reveals, “I would love to do Victoria Secret runway [shows] and have big wings.”  Really.

Darrell and judge Ryan Seacrest shared some intimate moments and she admits, “There was a crush. He has fiercely green eyes." So was Seacrest a good kisser? She responds, "He was good. He was scared…I think it was because of the show. He's not allowed to kiss back."

Sending a message to the AI judges, Darrell declares, “Bring me back. I want one of the three wild cards!”

“Extra’s” interview with Katrina Darrell airs tomorrow."

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/news/article_1457892.php/

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! A thousand times NO don't bring her back!  :lala

tory:
yea no not gona happen lol.. by by bathing suit girl :jumpy: :jumpy:

TexasLady:
Recap: Hollywood Week, February 4th 2009

The first half hour was devoted to the group’s misadventures and mix mash of personalities, the tears, the drama, the slackers and those who rose to the occasion. 

9PM One hundred and seven contestants gather for the group round.

9:30PM: We are treated to Tatiana Del Toro, you remember her, the uncontrollable laughing hyena singer from the San Francisco auditions. She finally finds a group that will accept her and she immediately attempts to take over to the dismay of the other girls. Backstabbing begins. (For some reason we aren’t given her teammates names until they actually sing the next day.)

11:15PM the groups are formed and planning their songs and moves.

The next group highlighted has Katrina Darrell aka “The Bikini Girl.” The team consists of Rose Flack, Jasmine Murray, Lauren Barnes and "TBG." They call their team: Team Diva.

Meanwhile we finally know who the red-haired singer is; her name is Nancy Wilson who teams with Nathaniel (Nate) Marshall McGee and Kristen McNamara. Tatiana leaves her group and asks to join Team Compromise. Nancy and Nate don’t really want her at this point but Kristin does. It doesn’t matter because Tatiana goes back to her original group and asks if they think they can really win. Nancy dragging Kristen along, follows Tatiana and confront her asking her why she left them and will she come back. No, but wishes them a blessed day. Nancy, Kristen and Nate have a group hug and decide to have fun, they are in Hollywood. 

Danny Gokey and Jamar Rogers, Taylor Vaifanua and an unidentified girl are rehearsing in the kitchen have a great rapport and are doing well.

Later in the evening, Kristen takes a break from rehearsals to rest her throat which causes a major flare up with Nancy who wants to keep rehearsing. Nate has a meltdown, crying to another group that he just doesn’t know what to do; he’s tried his hardest to get them all to get along.

I’ll just spare you most of the drama with Rose and her team. “TBG” who left the group to go to bed won’t get up in the morning even though the girls try to talk to her while she hides under the covers. She hasn’t had much sleep and is tired. The girls leave without her, not knowing if she will show up or not and what they will do if she doesn’t. At the breakfast table “TBG” shows up ready to sing and the other girls leave. Rose foreshadows the end result when she says “We’re going to be the group that will be an absolute train wreck." She says she knew it from the beginning when she got into that group.

Group Auditions:

Simon terrifies them all announcing before they begin that anyone who forgets the words is out! Naturally this freaks them out.

First group is White Chocolate. The singers are India Morrison, Justin Williams, Kris Allen and Matt Giraud, who blow the judges away. India rapped and sang and even Simon loved them. (They were terrific.) All are put through to the next round.

Next group consists of Austin Siscernos and J.B. Ahfua, Maryn Azoff, Shelby Swartwood. They Sing Do Do.. but Didn’t, Didn’t. Simon says it was an absolute mess! Guys through and girls go home.

Action Squad is next up with Alex Wagner Trugman, Ryan Pinkston, Anne Marie Boskovich and Emily Wynne-Hughes. Emily forgot her words and the group had to help her with them. We know her fate. The judges were laughing and not in a good way but Alex and Anne Marie make it through. Emily is upset but understanding, Ryan says he feels manipulated and assaulted and he saw EVIL in Paula’s eyes!

After a number of bad singers, Simon asks for a truckload of Tylenol, the judges have words and finally we are treated to our next group which is Danny Gokey’s group. They have decided they will sing a cappella and it was a winning choice. Danny, Jamar Rogers, Taylor Vaifanua and our unidentified girl all make it through.

The next excellent group has Adam Lambert, Jeremy Michael Sarver, Matt Breitzke and Jessica Langseth. Adam and Jeremy are the standouts but all make it through.

Next up is Team Diva. They have all come together seemingly but the judges spot the discord. Lauren Barnes sings solo first with "TBG" next. Rose forgot her words. Simon says he knows this is not a team and "TBG" offers one excuse after another. she had heels on all day, she has scoliosis, etc. etc... Simon wasn't buying it. Jasmine makes it through with the others sent home.  Class to the end, Katrina wouldn’t even pose for the group photo.
 
After all the drama, finally it’s time for Tatiana, Muna Hiluf, Calin (?) and another unidentified girl all make it through. Tatiana thanks Jesus over and over again with her teammates standing by. It’s all about HER! (I hope she goes next round!)

Last team up is Team Compromise singing Mercy. Nathaniel Marshall sings the first solo, next is Nancy Wilson followed by Kristen McNamara. Nathaniel and Kristen make it through but not Nancy. The judges spotted the discord and Nancy takes her rejection badly, cursing at her teammates as she leaves the stage.

Danny Osmond didn’t make it, but he’ll be OK. Scott McIntyre does make the cut but we didn’t see him perform. Altogether seventy five go through to next round.

TexasLady:
Recap: February 10, 2009

The show begins with 72 contestants. Each will sing solo with the backup singers, the band and if they want to play an instrument that is also allowed.

This episode was chaotic with Ryan Seacrest trying to make sense of the mess beginning at the end of the day with the nervous singers in holding rooms then rewinding to the solos. 

As with previous shows we only see a selected few who perform leaving us in the dark about some of the other singers, obviously they are fodder for elimination.

7AM The singers pull numbers for the order of the day. They will receive no comments and no results. They must wait until evening when they are placed in the holding rooms.

First up: Adam Lambert who sings "Believe" by Cher. Next is Matt Giraud who plays the keyboard, he sings "Georgia on my Mind." The judges are ecstatic with his performance.

7:45PM Shot of the holding room with Matt, Danny and Jamar. Rewind to Jamar Rogers singing "Oh, It's What you Do to Me."The song is "Hey There Delia."  Jamar didn't impress me this time, but his friend Danny loved it.

Next up, Danny Gokey singing "I hope you Dance." The audience loves his performance.

8:00PM Judges juggling with photos, picking who stays who leaves.

8:30PM Judges still deliberating. First group moved to a new room.

8:45PM The judges have another group of 18, group 2, moved to their holding room.

Next up: Anoop Desai, Jorge Nunez and Scott McIntrye who plays the piano. Backstage he tells us he was told that Paula gave him a standing O and he's pumped!

First girl of the day is Kendall Beard, followed by Stevie Wright, Lil Rounds, Mishavonna Henson and Kristin McNamara.

Room 1 First group with Anoop Desai, Adam Lambert. This group will absolutely make it through this round.

9PM After being in the main holding room for hours, 2 groups of 18 each are decided and moved to their groups.

Room 2 Ricky Braddy, Michael Sarver, Alexander Wagner-Trugman and Tatiana are moved to this room and we wonder, is this good or bad to have Tatiana in this group. We are treated to a flashback of Nathanial Marshall’s trials and tribulations with his group, he is also part of this group.

Back to solos with Tatiana who thinks she did awwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeesommmmme! Tatiana my dear, straps and sleeves are a good thing!

Tatiana is removed from Room 2 because the judges have a dilemma, the numbers aren’t working out. (More soap opera drama)

Norman Mitchell has a decision to make, should he just sing or should Norman Gentle make a return visit. Norman Gentle returns. The guy is hilarious but is American Idol ready for him?  

Room 4 Norman is sent to Room 4 along with Mick Mitchell, Anne Marie Boskovich, and Ju’not Joyner. Tatiana joins them.

9:30PM All groups are set, Simon has to leave for London leaving Paula, Randy and Kara to deliver the news to the anxious singers.

Paula gives each room the news, first up is the group in room 2. Yes, you made it! Kai Kalama, Michael Sarver, Alexis Grace, Casey Carlson, Nathanial Marshall are in this room.

Next is room 3. Bad news, they are being sent home. This group includes India Morrison, Michael Castro, Kalin Lloyd and Lenesha Young. It’s the end of the road.

Room 1 and Room 4 are going through to the next round. This tends to confirm our leaked list of the 36 who made it through.

Room 1 confirmed: Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert, Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai and Jackie Tohn.

Room 4 contestants: Mick Mitchell, Ann Marie Boskovich, Ju’not Joyner  and Tatiana. Paula drags the news out, the group heard cheering from the other rooms and are fearful. Tatiana blubbers and the judges commiserate, finally delivering the news; yes, you are through to the next round.

Wednesday night is a 2 hour show whittling down the group to 36.

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