American Idol - Season 9 - Page 3

Holy shit!  This guy looks like Freddy Krueger. 



I mean, he looks exactly like Freddy Krueger.  If I looked like Freddy, I'd probably not, you know, wear the same freaking hat as Freddy Krueger.  I would probably do stuff to de-emphasize the Kruegerishness.  Maybe the producers saw this cat and went, "holy shit!  That guy looks like Freddy Kreuger!  We gotta have him on the show"  So they had him wear the fedora.  What, no red and black striped sweater and Edward Scissorhands gloves?  Oddly, as much as he looks like Freddy, he doesn't really look like Robert Englund, the actor who plays Freddy.  But man, the producers must have wet themselves when they saw him.



Uhh... don't take makeup tips from Tammy Faye.  Also, medication is your friend.

It was a cute audition song, but this Todrick guy may be a shady character.  According to Vote for the Worst, Todrick created and produced "Oz: The Musical", a touring production that was supposed to make stops all over the country.  The thing was, they charged parents $50-$75 to have their kids audition and be in the musical.  Okay, so that's already kind of scammy.  But after a couple of performances, they canceled the tour due to lack of funds and kept the money.  Which I would feel worse about if it didn't involved horrible stage parents who were willing to fork over $75 so their "talented" kids could stand around on stage during a musical picking their noses in corner.  The fees were supposed to cover rehearsal space costs and costumes, but the rehearsal space was free to the producers and the "costumes" were just T-Shirts.  "I paid $75 to be in Oz: The Musical and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt".

Todrick claims he was The Color Purple musical, the one with Fantasia.  I believe he was Mister's personal physician, Dr. Dre.



Oh, and Neil Patrick Harris joins Shania and Katy in the group that out performed the other judges.  Meanwhile, Joe Jonas said 5 words, and three of them were "yeah".  Other other two were, "yes, definitely".  Sooooo useless.
Edited by Hanson - 1/28/10 at 11:41am

NPH was great--he should be the perma-judge, not Ellen.  I especially liked how he started taking charge of the process, as though he were Simon or Randy.  A few other guests had sheepishly asked "should we vote now?"  But NPH was all "alright we're voting, bitches, and whatever Simon votes, I'm voting the opposite."

I honestly think AI should have done the (sadly retired) practice from SYTYCD, and rotate a guest judge in every week--heck, you could even have the mentors judge once or twice, too.  That would be interesting.  I'm not Ellen-hater per se (I'm indifferent, really), but I doubt it will bring an interesting dynamic to the team.

They should've used the audition shows as the audition for the judge seat as well.

NPH and Katy P did the best so far - Mary J was pretty good.

"Did you see Joe Jonas on Idol" - "Yeah"

Something that I've noticed happening in the past but has become absolutely rampant this season is that the closed captions do not exactly match what people are saying.  A word here; a phrase there; sometimes entire sentences are completely different.  Turn 'em on and see what I mean.  It's almost like watching two shows at once!

Howard Stern to replace Simon?
http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/idol_producers_want_howard_stern_YUKlMlwQkfqa7EgK1nvRaN

Stern would be an interesting fit.  They were originally trying to get Tommy Mottola, but I guess that has now completely fallen through.

Stern is a very perceptive and articulate fellow and would probably do a great job with the critiques.  The problem is that AI would become a freakshow by association, and if the Stern gambit doesn't work out in year one, I don't think it could ever recover.  It could work, though, if Stern is hailed by critics as a great judge.  People like that kind of storyline.

If they do get Stern (and other than the NY Post source, I haven't seen it anywhere, so who know how true it is), they have to replace Kara or Randy (and remove the other one altogether) with someone who can actually shepherd the winner's album through the system.

There is a good chance that X Factor will be the #1 reality competition show come 2011.  I don't think the Idol producers are capable of coming up with any good ideas any more.

Having seen X-Factor, it really is a loot more enjoyable and more interesting then Idol.

Well, at long last...here I am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, this has been an interesting S9 thus far.  So now, it is on to Hollywood week to see what all happens there. 

Howard as a judge would be an interesting idea.  Would he be up to the roving involved in the audition process, however?

And Hanson, you are already in mid-season form, honey!!!!!!  Keep 'em coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They've done a fab job of producing nary a candidate to really root for at this stage, right before Hollywood week.  Most of those they passed on to LA simply looked the part, but didn't really display outstanding vocals.

I never noticed before but have they always shown these hollywood auditions out of order?

I'm seeing people that were tossed from this weeks show still appearing behind some of the performers.
towards the end of the show when the waitress performed there was at least one girl who had been tossed earlier in this ep, unless I missed something.

Yes. Just keep repeating to yourself they're not out to make a documentary, they're out to create entertaining TV. "Reality" is just a jumping off point.

How would they really know, wouldn't they just actually have guessed?

I like the waitress that did the Kara song.  One of the few that stood out for me.

I liked the one who did the Kara song, but I also liked the one who did Natural Woman. I so love minimalist singing (when its good), and when the audience joined in to sing background/backup, I was in auditory heaven. And there was a moment after the judges told her that was enough where she sang a few more notes, and they were just... yummy.

Personally, I was hoping to hear Jermaine Sellers ("What If God Was One Of Us"), mostly because his initial audition caught me, but I'm curious to know how he sounds singing something else.
 
The person I most wanted to hear again was Seth Rollins ("Someone To Watch Over Me"). It's a shame that voice is effectively shackled by Seth's lack of connection. I think he has a good enough voice to be in the Top 12 (at least), but I don't know if he'll connect with audiences. I normally focus on the singing more than the person, but there was just something really odd about him, like he was on Prozak or something. Normally you see excitement and happiness because this is the singer's moment, but that was just all missing from Seth. It's like Ricky Braddy ("A Song For You"), who Kara and Paula both said rocked his Top 24 (or was it Top 36) performance, but didn't make it into the Top 12. Time goes by before Hollywood, so I was curious to see if maybe life circumstances allowed Seth to look like maybe he's enjoying himself a little more.

I'm convinced Beat Box Guy doesn't get why he wasn' t put through given how Blake Lewis placed on the show a few years back. I don't think Blake was a great singer, but he did sing, and occasionally accented with beat boxing. Beat Box Guy (Jay Stone) doing beat boxing while occasionally throwing in an occasional out of breath
 

Don't mind staring at Didi, though her vocals aren't very strong, at least she has some musicality in her voice.

Don't really want to stare at the tattoo mom, but she's got vocal chops to spare, if she goes to the top 24, I suspect she'll get a makeover of sorts (at least some teeth whitening).

I wonder if the Garcia dude is a one-trick pony (though it got David Cook all the way through AI7).

Janelle was very lovely, very now in the musical landscape.

That guy firmly believes that the combination of beat boxing and singing is some sort of new art form everyone should be impressed with.  What he doesn't understand is it just sounds like Daffy Duck singing.  It's de-thpicable.

The way that Didi's face changes with each demeanor confuses me a little.  If someone asks me, "do you think she's hot?"  My answer is, "When?  Singing?  Talking?  Crying?  Nodding?"  She looks like a different person depending on the situation.  Least hot face -- the David Cook special:



My favorite vocals so far are from Lilly Scott.  Her jazzy vocals on Tues were tremendous.  It's too bad, as Leslie Hunt pointed out, that "America hates jazz".  But it looks like Lilly does rock n roll too.  The other thing that could keep Lilly back is her image -- the Edgar Winter hairdo is awful.  Anyone else get a Jennifer Keaton vibe?



But my favorite singer so far has been Janelle Wheeler, who seems way too engineered and popular to be liked by me.  It's like having a crush on the head cheerleader -- it's trite.  And yet, I can't resist.  I think I've figured out part of the irresistible factor -- her resemblance to Pam Beasly:



*sigh*

I contrast, Andrew Garcia (I dawned on me why he goes by "Andrew" and not "Andy" just today), had been beaten so ferociously with an ugly stick that I find his performances unappealing.  He has a quality voice, but I'm having aesthetic issues with Garcia.  And apparently, so do mirrors:



The female equivalent of Andrew Garcia is Crystal Bowersox, who sounds pleasant with your eyes shut, but once you open your eyes, she opens her mouth, and you see those teeth, it's game over.  Her teeth are worse than Austin Powers.  My wife just could not stand to look at her singing.  Plus, her hair is matted, her clothes are dingy, and she looks like she reeks of patchouli oil, B.O., and hemp.  If you squint your eyes, you can make out a cloud of filth following her around:



And although they haven't shown him in Hollywood yet, Aaron Kelly looks like the producers chance to relive the glory of a certain past arch-contestant.  Makes you wonder if they were really separated at birth:

I never liked Blake Lewis when he was on that year, IMO beat boxing isn't singing, it's making noise.

By that reasoning I should make it on AI because I can burp the Star Spangled Banner.

I'm sure we covered our opinions of Blake Lewis when he was on the show. People like what they like, but that's subjective, not objective. I personally have no problem with beat boxing. In fact, I like it. But I agree with you that it isn't singing. I don't think most beat boxers would call it singing. Doug E. Fresh knows he can't sing, but I believe he thinks he can make vocal music. Where I disagree with you is I don't think it's making noise. I think it's making music. But that's not what AI's about. So while I might like Roller Derby, I don't think it belongs in a Miss America competition. I also don't think a focus on beatboxing belongs on AI. I think Jay really doesn't get it.

Beat boxing is uniquely tied to the musical genre of hip-hop, so if you don't like that kind of music, I can't see you liking beat boxing much. To me, beat boxing is the vocal equivalent (in the hip hop genre) of "vocalizing" or "scatting" in jazz. And if Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby McFerrin aren't singers, I don't know who is. The problem (for me) with Jay is his singing is a distant afterthought to his beatboxing, and when he purely sings, you realize there's nothing noteworthy there.  I just went back and listened to Blake's audition (yes, it's one of the ones I saved), and he was vocally much better than Jay.

What I miss with AI is if this were SYTYCD, the'd bring Jay back and let him do his thing for entertainment value even though he didn't fit as a contestant to make it past Hollywood. That's what SYTYCD does with some of the (for instance) break dancers who aren't flexible enough to handle the varied genre's of dance SYTYCD requires, but are talented in their own realm.

Watching the most recent episode (Wednesday), I got a chance to see both of the guys I wanted to see. As I suspected, Seth Rollins didn't make it far. It's difficult to be disappointed as he just doesn't seem like AI material. I can't even imagine him in the studio and touring under crushing deadlines. People who think the group performances are pointless, don't forget what AI requires of contestants as they make it past hollywood week - learning songs quickly, and even touring with the Top 10 if you make it there. Seth looks like while they're going over arrangements, he'd be staring out the window at butterflies  I didn't realize Seth had been there twice before. Maybe failing to make it the first two times impacted his confidence. But the music business isn't a game for the timid.

We also got to hear a bit from Jermaine Sellers again. I didn't hear enough to be impressed, but he did make it through. This self-avowed church boy singer made sure to let us know he's not meant to sing in a group. I guess he doesn't sing in the choir at church. I hope I'm not wrong about him, but his confidence is bordering on arrogant. Get it in check. You're good, but nobody's going to rush out and sign you if you get dropped from AI tomorrow. Anyway, if they're using Top 24 format this season, that means I get to hear at least one solo performance from him with music.

BTW, without bringing up the pro's/con's of Adam Lambert (who I think is one of the most.. something... contestants AI has ever had), can someone send out a search party for Kris Allen? I mean, wow. Has a loser from AI ever had a career post-AI that so totally eclipsed the winner? OK, maybe Jennifer Hudson, but still...

Clay over Reuben all the way back in Season 2. And Daughtrey over Taylor even though Daughtrey wasn't even in the finals.

I didn't watch AI at all in the first 3 seasons, but I knew about Reuben. I knew of his CD. I heard people talking about him in the R&B community. So while I know Clay did well post-idol, Reuben did OK. It's always possible something just slides under my rader because there are times I get so immersed in work that the world just goes by, but I've seen almost no interest in Kris Allen.
 
Your second example hits on exactly the vibe I get -- Daughtry over Taylor. Even though I don't follow rock closely, I've seen Daughtry everywhere. Taylor? Not so much. That's how it is for me over the last year with Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. On the surface, winning AI is supposed to be the best these unsigned singers could ever hope for, so it must be really disappointing to win, then see another artist get all the exposure.
 
Of course it doesn't bother me, because I was an Adam fan from day 1. But where exactly are all the Kris fans who supported him during his AI run? Or were they just voting against Adam? Adam even was a punchline by Stephen Colbert at the Grammys. Something about something being as likely to happen as Adam Lambert showing any sign of personal restraint. That's when you know you've made it.

I'm looking forward to next week. I watched all the episodes up to now in abbreviated fashion (a lot of 5-second and 30-second skips during dvr viewings). Now I start watching live (or at least within 24 hours, depending on conflicts). It's a shame the Top 24 can't sing whatever they want from the approved list, but it looks like AI has settled on theme weeks during the Top 24 (not just Top 12).

"Not so much" is one helluva understatement.  Taylor's been dropped by his recording label, at the very least.

Oddly, Kris Allen just performed a concert here in Singapore.  Bit surprising that he'd bother to come here.  Perhaps our teeny-boppers are particularly keen on him?  Years ago (back in the late 80s), there was a singer called Tommy Page who hardly made a dent in the US or UK (the big English-language markets), but he did very well in Singapore (relatively speaking) and he visited regularly, and his PR even acknowledged that Singapore was one of his best-selling markets.

Amazing that people in this round are still having trouble with lyrics. Why don't they choose a group song that they already know? Or is the song choice imposed on them?

There are a lot of factors that come into play -- if you don't already know the song, you have to learn it in one night.  There are nerves, there is fatigue from lack of sleep, and even if you know the song, the group sings are heavily rearranged, so it's very easy to lose your place.  And though it appears the groups pick the song, it's not a given that all the singers within the group all know the same song.

What I don't understand is why these group spend so much time on awful choreography.  Year after year we see groups who essentially stand around and sing making it through.  No one gets dinged by the judges for not having choreo.  Even if the producers tell the contestants that choreography is very important (which they probably do), past experience shows it's not, so it would be the smart thing to just skip the wasted effort.

They pushed Ruben for a while, but then he dropped off the face of the Earth.  I think he might even have sued his management or label.  After a while he came back a little, but he was never even remotely as popular as Clay Aiken was.

Chris Daughtry isn't the celebrity that Clay Aiken is, but he has had a number of big hit songs.  I think Taylor Hicks is in a Broadway show or touring company at the moment.

I completely agree about the choreography, and thought the same myself as I was watching.
 
As a person who has been up in front of an audience and gone completely blank, I'm not going to say too much about someone forgetting the lyrics to a arrangement he had 1 day to learn. It shouldn't happen, but it does. It's a horrible feeling.