American Idol Recap: America is Already Making Mistakes
Posted by Michael on Friday Feb 26, 2010 Under UncategorizedI have that feeling in my stomach. That nervous feeling. It must be time for results on American Idol. And for the first time this season!
For the sake of full disclosure, I must confess that said tummy ache is a lot less achey than usual. Doesn’t match the aches heading into a few Wednesday’s last year when I feared my favorite dude/nugget/contestant, Kris Allen, might be heading home. It doesn’t even match the aches a few years back when I caught a real bad case of ‘McPheever.’ And it’s certainly no where close to the stomach pains from way back during season one when it was time for final result and crowning of the original, and still best Idol. Should still be a good one, though…
Ryan is feeling dramatic tonight. The nervous semi-finalists are standing behind him. Is Katie Stevens wearing a tutu? She took that ‘be 17’ advice too far, I fear.
Ryan is talking with the judges. He tells Simon that the country is ‘buzzing’ about him being too harsh. Simon basically ignores Ryan, as usual, and we meet the man that married Kara Diaguardi. What a guy.
The group song tonight is “American Boy,” which I bet has Janell Wheeler thinking that’s a sign she’s the favorite. I’m fairly sure that’s not the case.
The lip-synching is worse than on Glee. The girls are better at it than the boys, but that’s like being better at making counterfeit money. Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dwyze and Lily Scott look so uncomfortable and pissed off to be not singing live. And what is that weird face Casey James is making? And Joe Munoz’s mic isn’t even pointing toward his mouth! Stop the madness!
Back from commercial and the gals are on the couch! Ryan is starting with the back row. Lights down, drama up!
My favorite, Siobhan Magnus, is up first. I really like this girl. She better be back next week. And…she’s safe! Next is Haeley Vaughn. We re-live her crappy reviews from the judges, and then Ryan declares that she is safe! (Deal with it! I’m glad.) Katelyn Epperly is next. Thank God, she ditched the red lipstick tonight. She’s safe! I’m fine with it, really. Janell Wheeler and Katie Stevens are the only chicas left on the back row. I’m actually fairly shocked that one of these two is going home. It’s pretty obvious that it’s going to be Janell, but I didn’t think she’d go this soon. Katie is safe, which means Janell is, indeed, bidding adieu. She seems bummed. But I guess that’s obvious.
Janell is singing and the song is still the wrong song. I wish Idol would let these contestants make their “goodbye” songs something that sends them singing into the sunset looking a bit better. Oh well. This show is pretty harsh to its losers.
Allison Iraheta is here tonight. She’s here to perform her new single, “Scars.” But really she’s here to snap this year’s girls into shape. Allison’s voice is so good, as usual. And she’s still hilariously awkward, as usual. The fact that she jokes about her own awkward interviews with Ryan to Ryan is why she’s likeable.
No commercial. Time for the front row! Ack! Paige Miles is first and Paige is safe! Lacey is up next. Yikes, the judges really did not like her performance. (It was a seriously terrible song choice, though.) Either way, she’s safe! Lily Scott and Crystal Bowersox are both safe, as well! Neither one a surprise.
We’re down to Didi Benami and Ashley Rodriguez. Ryan leads the girls from the couch to center stage for maximum drama. Ryan calls Didi’s name….she’s safe! That means Ashley is headed home…as expected.
Again we see Ashley Rodriguez singing a song that didn’t work two days ago – and that doesn’t work today. I wish she could sing “If I Aint Got You,” from her first audition. She sounded great on that song and seemed like a real contender. Instead, she gets her grand finale whimpering her way through a song that’s three sizes too large. And in this store, fat rule. I really don’t think she realizes how not in tune she is. I’m “happy” that song is over.
Back from commercial. After some banter about Tyler Grady and a bath robe, it’s time for the results. The back row is up and Michael Lynche is safe! John Park up next. Snazzy shirt+tie. John is safe! Wee one, Aaron Kelly, is up next. Safe, as well! Michael Lynche is screaming “Alright (insert contestant’s name)” after each guy is declared safe and it is the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard. I’m sure the sound guys won’t allow that to continue, but it’s awesome and hilarious while it lasts.
That leaves Tim Urban and Joe Munoz in the back row. Joe was very good! If he goes home, that’s lame sauce. Tim or Joe, Tim or Joe, who’s it gonna be? Ryan asks Kara. I don’t really care what she thinks, just tell us! WHAT!?! Tim is safe and Joe is going home. And we have our first “what the eff?” moment of the season, my friends.
Unlike Janell and Ashley, Joe actually sounds mostly good on his farewell song. That’s because he got hosed tonight. I blame the producers who chose not to feature him enough during Hollywood. I bet he’s wishing he had been in Mary Powers’ group right about now.
Kris Allen is here to talk about ‘Idol Gives Back’ and Haiti relief. Click here for info on how to help. Much like Allison, Kris is showing the guys a thing or two about feeling the song you’re singing. I think Kris’s voice is even stronger now than it was when he was on the show. Dear Kris’s label, please make “Alright With Me,” the next single. It needs to happen.
There’s one more row of dudes unsure of their fate. Casey James is first. He’s (rather obviously) safe! Jermaine Sellers is up next and I fear that means he’s safe. They usually save the last two for the (over)dramatic moment. I didn’t think he did a very good job – and I’m not into his attitude. Wow, he is safe! Lee Dewyze is next. He looks terrified (written by Kara Diaguardi), but he’s safe! Andrew Garcia, also looking rather nervous, is safe! No surprise there.
It’s down to Alex Lambert and Tyler Grady. Between these two guys, I think Tyler is dunzo. The judges really threw him under the bus last night. And although Alex looks like a total Martian on stage, he has too good a voice to go.
Alex is safe, after all, which means Tyler’s journey is over and done. Oh snap! Tyler is throwing a little sass the judge’s way during his last moments on the show. He’s basically blaming them for his dismissal by saying they didn’t give him constructive criticism in Hollywood. I would’ve blamed them for last night, but oh well. It’s not like he’s coming back.
I’m pretty surprised about Janell and Joe. It’s too early to be upset, though. I have to save my breakdowns for later. There are definitely a few folks that really need to step it up next week, though. That middle school crap won’t cut it on the big bad, Top 12 stage. And now that innocent victims are being sacrificed, the gloves can come off and we can really get down to business.
Voted off: Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguz, Joe Munoz, Tyler Grady




