Idol Talk — The “American Idol” Finale — May 26, 2010

Here we are folks — the final “American Idol” of 2010. I can’t say it hasn’t been a trudge some weeks, but it’s that realness — the highs and lows — that always keeps us tuning in.

We have a long two-hours and seven minutes ahead of us, so I will shorthand much of the proceedings, focusing on the highlights.

Fascinating fact — Ryan says that only 2 percent of the votes separated Lee and Crystal going into the finals. That’s amazingly close and shows maybe Crystal has a chance. If voters were disappointed in Lee Tuesday night, this might be enough to overcome his “dreamy” qualities and open the door for a Crystal win. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

I am perplexed when Lee and Crystal take the stage in stylized school uniforms. A plaid skirt, ties and blazers are about as far away from Lee and Crystal’s vibe as one can imagine. But then the entire Top 12 takes the stage to sing Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out” and the appropriate, if trite, apparel makes more sense. So do the freaky “Village of the Damned” teenagers with the black eye make-up.

Hooray! Kris Allen is on the stage singing. Not that we can hear it thanks to an open microphone somewhere in the Idol studio that obliterates the start of Kris’ performance. We hear Ryan blurt something out and then the mic is turned off. Kris sings “The Truth” and he’s a class act. He was a great “American Idol” and it’s too bad that his album sales haven’t been what they should be.

The audience is filled with a “Who’s Who” of past Idol seasons. Jordin Sparks, Chris Richardson, Taylor Hicks, Blake Lewis, etc. etc.

Love the Bee Gees.

Comedian (and I use the word lightly) Dane Cook takes the stage. I can’t stand him and immediately fast-forward. However, Twitter quickly lights up with people saying how unfunny and lame he was. How that guy ever got famous is beyond me.

Women Idols sing “Beautiful” and “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera, who then joins them on the stage. Quel surprise! She just happens to have a new album dropping soon. She goes on to sing a maudlin slow song. The buzz has been that she is no longer relevant. She hasn’t had an album since 2006 and Lady Gaga has come in and usurped the spot that Xtina once had. BTW, her song grows on me as it reaches its powerful crescendo.

Carrie Underwood singing “Undo It” — looks great, sounds great. She is the epitome of superstar. I also love that she has a hot, blond back-up singer. Most performers prefer to have back-up singers with different figures and hair colors from themselves. The idea is that they will stand out and also be the “hottest” person on the stage. I love that Carrie has the confidence to let a blond, attractive vocalist back her up.

In a dramatic moment, Casey James sings the Poison hit “Every Rose has its Thorn” and is then joined by Poison lead vocalist Bret Michaels. He’s recovering from major health problems over the past few weeks and he looks as good as ever. He also just won “Celebrity Apprentice.”

Gen. Larry Platt and some dancers perform “Pants on the Ground” and are joined by William Hung, another once-upon-a-time Idol joke. Platt, by the way, was a prominent civil rights activist back in the 60s.

She’s back! Paula appears like a vision in pink on the stage to pay tribute to Simon. She looks beautiful, but unfortunately, she opens her mouth and tries to be a comedienne and it doesn’t work. Cringeworthy! But then that’s what we always loved about spacey Paula — those many moments that made us cringe. Simon says his goodbyes and is remarkably restrained.

At this point, Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol from Season One, takes the stage singing. She is joined by Ruben Studdard (Season 2), Fantasia (Season 3), Carrie (Season 4), Taylor Hicks, (Season 5), Jordin Sparks (Season 6), and Kris Allen, (Season 8). It’s great to see them altogether on one stage, but of course this line-up begs the question: Where is David Cook (Season 7)? If he had been there this would have truly been historic — at least in Idol-land.

Side note: I enjoyed seeing the original David Archuleta standing on stage next to his doppelganger, Aaron Kelly, aka David Archuleta 2.0.

Top 12 sing “I’ll Never Fall in Love with You Again” as Janet Jackson takes the stage. She then proceeds to sing a haunting “Nothing” and a spunky “Nasty.” She’s also back in top form after years battling her weight.

Lee and Crystal sing with “With a Little Help from My Friends” with legend Joe Cocker. Has anyone else noticed how awesome Crystal and Lee sound together? They have sung duets on several occasions and they are stellar together.

Dim the lights… it’s time for the big announcement.

Lee looks like he is going to throw up. His face is pinched, his eyes look distant. Meanwhile, Crystal is having a grand old time, laughing and clearly working to keep Lee from collapsing completely. Just before Ryan makes the announcement, Lee looks skyward and says, “OhmyGod!”

To repeat — Crystal has been the strongest singer and performer all season long. She deserves to win. However, Lee has had some great performances and his hang-dog charm has attracted a huge following. He had an off night Tuesday, but did it hurt his chances?

My call: SHOULD WIN — Crystal Bowersox, WILL WIN — Lee Dewyze.

Ryan opens the envelope and the winner is… Lee Dewyze. Your American Idol for Season Nine.

A big congrats to Lee. He deserves many accolades, even if Crystal deserves a few more than him.

As I see it, there are two possible paths he can follow: 1) He can produce an album where they will auto-tune the occasional weaknesses and pitchiness out of his vocals and he’ll sound solid all the time. He will gain confidence in himself on the tour this summer and his half-hearted, nerves a’pinging performances will be a thing of the past. And he will become a star. OR 2) He will continue to be a hot-or-cold performer, one who occasionally reaches for greatness (see the Top 3 semi-final show) and often falls far short (see Tuesday’s final). In this scenario, he will become the latest Taylor Hicks, with an under-performing album and a quick retreat to the sidelines of Idol fame.

For Lee’s sake and for the show’s sake, I hope Lee becomes a star.

Thanks to everyone for sticking with Idol and with this “Idol Talk” blog all season long. I’ve enjoyed your comments and our give-and-take. Until next January, g’night everyone!

Idol Talk — The Final Showdown — May 25, 2010

Here we are, folks — after five long months, it’s the “American Idol” finals. Paint salesman Lee Dewyze versus Ohio musician and mom Crystal Bowersox. It’s been a long and winding road, with a few stellar highs and more than a few boring lows. Nevertheless, we have ended up with a decent showdown.

Crystal was pretty much the front-runner the entire season, but Lee has come on strong in recent weeks. Based on people I talk to and what I’ve been reading, it seems the tide has turned towards Lee.

In that vein, Simon reportedly said he thought Lee would win on today’s episode of “Ellen.”

Let’s see who comes out ahead after each Idol sings three songs.

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Lee Dewyze, “The Boxer”

Grade: B

My Take: I’m not sure if they were required to sing a song they already covered this season, but I don’t think I would have chosen this one if I was Lee. It was a solid performance the first time and it’s equally solid this time. But it’s not as big and showy and powerful as one would hope and it’s a bit of a let-down when all is said and done.

Judges: Randy says he sounded nice, but wants him to pick up the energy. Ellen liked this version better than when he did it a few weeks ago. Kara wants him to punch it up. Simon expected more passion and excitement from Lee.

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Crystal Bowersox, “My and Bobby McGee”

Grade: A

My Take: I am a biased Crystal fan, but I thought that was so much better than Lee’s performance. Crystal’s voice is stunning and the way she so confidently lights into the song is revelatory. I still didn’t want to hear another early season rehash, but at least it was a good one.

Judges: Randy thought it was dope, dude! Ellen calls her stunning. Kara thinks Crystal has fire in her belly tonight. Simon says it was terrific and this is a real competition.

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Lee Dewyze, “Everybody Hurts”

Grade: C

My Take: That seemed like a lazy performance to me. Zero energy, almost lethargic, with vocals that came and went. Dare I say pitchy at points. Really, is there anyone in America who could hear that song and say there is a star, there is the next American Idol. I don’t think so.

Judges: The best Randy can muster is to say it was better than Lee’s first song. Ellen thinks he got into it a few times and then pulled back. Kara says it wasn’t a perfect vocal, but he was telling a story. Simon says he’s feeling Lee’s nerves and he wants his last performance to be a “10.”

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Crystal Bowersox, “Black Velvet”

Grade: B

My Take: Crystal starts out on the stairs and has to keep looking down to keep from falling. That seems to set up some awkwardness that lasts through much of the song. The song is also a bit too karaoke for me in that it’s a near replicate of the original. Where is the personal flair? Nevertheless, Crystal’s voice is awesome (minus one or two points where a note escapes her). BTW, that was some terrible camera work on the part of the Idol production team.

Judges: Randy calls it “hot.” Ellen calls it fantastic. Kara says that Crystal is giving it her all. Simon says she nailed the song.

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Lee Dewyze, “Beautiful Day”

Grade: B

My Take: Third time is not the charm for Lee. His version of this U2 song is muffled, mumbled and overwhelmed by the backing music and singers. His voice fails him on several occasions. To his credit, he ends strongly, but the passion and fire we’ve been waiting to see is not there. Lee is nowhere near the singer Crystal is and he does not deserve to win this competition.

Judges: Randy thinks he got his groove halfway through the song. Ellen says very little (as usual) and resorts to calling it “great.” Kara said there were some good points and some not so good points in the song. Simon is clearly disappointed as he ends up complimenting Lee on how “nice” he is.

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Crystal Bowersox, “Up to the Mountain”

Grade: A+

My Take: Now this was incredible. While Lee has seemed like he is rotely “painting by numbers” tonight, Crystal connects with her songs, never more than on this powerful ballad. She pours every bit of her energy and heart and soul into the song and it is superior — one of her best moments of the entire season. I’m not sure how popular this would be as her first single, but it’s the performance of a lifetime.

Judges: Randy calls it “an amazing song by an amazing singer” and says it was incredible. Ellen says she is in a league of her own. Kara says Crystal was emotionally invested in that song and she blossomed. Simon says this was the best performance of the night and it was outstanding. Crystal also wished him luck in his future — and then laughed when she realized how silly that sounded.

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As I said at the top, the tide has turned in recent weeks towards Lee. However, tonight what I’ve been saying all along became clear — Lee is a talented but average singer. Ignore any “cute” factor that some may see in him and he is just one more middling performer. Crystal on the other hand is a true artist and an amazing talent. Given time and additional seasoning and she could be one of the greats.

Commercially, I question how successful either of them will be. If Lee tragically wins, I fear he will quickly enter the Taylor Hicks pantheons of Idol winners who do quite poorly in album sales. Crystal’s alternative style means she also will likely never be a pop star, but if they position her in some alternative rock genre, she could do well.

Bottom line — Bowersox for the win. Lee may pull it out (Dial Idol predicts him to win), but it won’t be based on talent. Crystal is clearly the superior vocalist and performer.

“Idol Talk” — May 19, 2010

Best news I’ve heard in ages: Next season, Idol is shrinking the results shows to 30 minutes. Hallelujah! Then we won’t have to sit through the mind-numbing exercises in Idol filler like we did tonight.

It included what seemed like 20 minutes of “chatting” with the Idols about their dreams, their thoughts on winning, how hard they’ve worked. All I can think of is a quote from “Will & Grace” — “Not as interesting when it talks.” In other words, we want our Idols singing, not exploring their damaged psyches.


We also got “treated” with a wide variety of musical performances that ranged from a talentless teen with back-up dancers all the way to another talentless teen with back-up dancers. Travis Garland was hand-picked by Perez Hilton. I wouldn’t trust uber-hack gossip maven Hilton to pick the paint color in my laundry room much less the “next big thing.” Garland had an odd-shaped head, bad hair and a paper-thin voice. Who exactly is he supposed to appeal to? Seriously! I have no idea.

Later in the show, super sensation Justin Bieber performed (although it was taped weeks ago). I at least know who Bieber is primarily because my sons enjoy mocking him and calling him names that I don’t approve of them using. I imagine tween girls would have a different reaction.

The best part of the show is the clip reels from the contestant’s trips back to their hometowns. Each is emotional in its own way — Casey at the hospital where he recovered from a devastating car crash, Crystal with her family and Lee tearing up, overwhelmed by the support of his fans.

Side note: Did anyone else think the mayor of Toledo, Ohio looked more like a bike gang member or 60s beatnik than mayor of a pretty major town?

The trips were really the highlight of the show because the actual elimination was anti-climactic. Lee is safe. Crystal is safe. They are the finalists while Casey is going home. No shame in that and he clearly was prepared for it. His smile doesn’t even falter. He sings Tuesday night’s “Daughters” which was one of my least favorite Casey performances, but he still acquits himself nicely. He ends with a little girl sitting next to him on the edge of the stage. I wonder who she is — I don’t think he has kids, so I assume it was a niece or family friend.

Next week, we meet in the Nokia Theater for the big finals.

Up until a week or two ago, I thought Crystal was the shoe-in for the win. However, in the last week and especially in the last 24 hours, the tide has turned solidly in Lee’s favor. He’s got all the buzz (and the full support of Simon and the Idol producers), so I would say he is the favorite going into the finals.

While this long-predicted final can’t make up for months of tedium, I will say that there seems to be a new energy to Idol, more water cooler discussions going on and dare I say a bit of excitement as we head into the final stretch. It’s about time.

G’night everyone. See you next week.

American Idol Blog — May 18, 2010

Here we are — the Final 3 — a momentous night in the Idol journey. Except this year, when it just feels like one more plodding step on the way to an underwhelming finale in the Nokia theater.

Here’s hoping the contestants step it up and rock our worlds tonight, but I’m not holding my breath.

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ROUND ONE — Contestants pick their own songs
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Casey James, “OK, It’s Alright With Me”

Grade: B

My Take: Well, that was a joyful little song. A classic Casey performance. Guitar in hand, bit of a bar-scene vibe to it. I could easily picture myself in Key West with a cold Corona listening to Casey sing that song. That being said — was it really a Top 3 finals performance, the type that rocks you back and makes you say ‘Wow!?’ Hardly.

Judges: Randy says it didn’t quite work for him. Ellen said it needed to blow us away (and that didn’t). Kara thinks too many people weren’t familiar with that song. Simon says Casey’s performance would leave no impression and compared it to busking on a street corner.

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Crystal Bowersox, “Come to My Window”

Grade: A

My Take: This season has become somewhat of a broken record. Crystal just gave yet another powerful, empowering anthem, similar to previous performances. It doesn’t stray far from the original, but she’s nearly flawless and her earthy, anti-pop persona makes her all the more appealing. It’s her contest to lose at this point, and I think she would be the most commercially successful of any of the remaining candidates.

Judges: He didn’t like the arrangement, but Randy loved Crystal’s vocals. Ellen thinks the song shows the type of artist she would be. Kara liked the vocals, but wanted to see a moment from Crystal tonight. Simon thinks it wasn’t the best version ever, but thinks she has stayed true to herself all season. Funny how no one gives Casey credit for staying true to himself. Instead, they keep telling him they want more.

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Lee Dewyze, “Simple Man”

Grade: A

My Take: After being sorely disappointed in Lee last week, I am thrilled to see Lee suddenly take this competition more seriously. Instead of a half-hearted “Kiss from a Rose,” we get a full-throated, emotional “Simple Man.” It’s the difference between night and day and once again, I think Lee is a contender. My only concern: if Lee wins, it will be the third emo-pop male winner in a row, following David Cook and Kris Allen. These last two Idols have found only middling success in the marketplace and Lee could be in for the same fate — or worse, following a more Ruben Studdard or Taylor Hicks path to irrelevance.

Judges: Randy thinks it was a brilliant song choice and believe Lee is finally thinking he could win it. Ellen likes it (apparently). Kara says Lee showed the audience everything he’s got and he won “Round One.” The form-fitting Brit says that performance crushed the other two.

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ROUND TWO – Judges pick songs for the contestants
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Casey James, “Daughters”

Grade: C

My Take: I literally have no reaction to that song other than boredom. It’s the sleepiest song I have ever heard and seems far away from the beach bar vibe that Casey normally exudes. I can’t even think of anything to write — it left zero impression and just minutes later I am struggling to even remember it.

Judges: Randy says the song fit him like a glove. Ellen liked it a lot. Kara says it was more artistic and vulnerable. Simon thinks it didn’t have a “wow” factor. All the judges — even the positive ones — were decidedly lukewarm in their praise. Casey just did himself no favors.

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Crystal Bowersox, “Maybe I’m Amazed”

Grade: A

My Take: Big song belted out to the rafters. That’s the power Crystal has in those lungs of hers and she puts them to good use. As strong as the vocals were, I do feel a certain lack of passion, a lack of connection to the song on Crystal’s part. And her stilted movements around the stage were distracting at times. Still, no one can deny she’s this season’s best singer — has been since the contest started back in Hollywood.

Judges: Randy finally pulls out “in it to win it” to describe Crystal’s song. Ellen says it was just what she hoped for. Kara says Crystal took risks with the song and they paid off. Simon says the performance proves she has soul.

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Lee Dewyze, “Hallelujah”

Grade: A (vocals), D (audience manipulation)

My Take: While Lee’s performance gave me a minor case of goosebumps, the whole scene is nearly unwatchable. Lemme break this down. The fact that Simon picked Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is unfair on several fronts. One — it’s a powerful ode, loaded with emotion since the death of singer Jeff Buckley. It has been used (overused?) on Idol ever since Jason Castro broke out with his heartfelt version in Season 7. The truth is — it’s almost always a hit for an Idol contestant. It’s so beautiful, it’s hard to go wrong. I love Lee’s vocals, but cringe when the back-up singers take the stage, the band music swells and the hot spotlight focuses in on Lee. It’s too showy — like the producers are saying, “Please vote for Lee.” The nauseating capper is Simon’s smug face at the end, knowing that he has manipulated millions in that moment. Lee may win this whole enchilada, thanks in part now to Simon Cowell. He even winks! Ugh!

Judges: Dude, Randy is really into that. Dude! Ellen calls it stunning. Kara says Lee is the heart of the show this season and he owned the night. Wow. Biased much! Simon says with that performance, Lee has proved he is a “great person.” What does that mean? The whole thing — Lee’s performance, the band, the judges’ comments — it’s all overwrought.

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Lee definitely had the biggest night, but I can’t help feel that the judges and show producers are pimping him and pimping him hard.

Crystal gave excellent, but more standard performances. She has set her own bar so high. Still, she’s my personal pick at this point to win, even if the tide seems to be turning to Lee.

Casey had a good night, but he’s not in the same league as Lee and Crystal. Look for him to go home Wednesday, unless there is an upset of titanic proportions.

Have a good night everyone!

American Idol Blog — May 12, 2010

So we are down to the Top 4, a usually momentous night when we’ve separated the wheat from the chaff, when only the strongest contestants are still standing — ready to pour their hearts and souls out onto the Idol stage in a showdown of the season’s titans.

At least that’s the way it should be. Remember last year’s Top 4 — heartbreaker Kris Allen, human dynamo Adam Lambert, teen rocker Allison Iraheta and soulful Danny Gokey. Theoretically, any one of them could have won it at that point. So what do you do when this year’s crop is more chaff than wheat? Where the vocal talents of Casey, Michael and even Lee are questionable, where they bring karaoke versions of lame songs to the stage, where frontrunner Crystal even inspires little excitement despite her powerful voice?

Answer: You load the show up with much bigger, much brighter stars and hope no one notices. That’s why we saw the likes of charismatic Idol alums Chris Daughtry and Fantasia and timeless rockers Bon Jovi last night (and past shows with Lady Gaga, Harry Connick Jr., Carrie Underwood, Black Eyed Peas and Rhianna).

Enough pontification… on with the meat of the show… the eliminations.

Tonight is critical to the remaining four Idols because the Top 3 get the much ballyhooed trips back to their hometowns where they are feted and interviewed and cheered and even given the keys to the city. It’s all captured on Idol video cameras for next week’s show, including the inevitable moment when the contestant is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and begins to tear up.

Ryan has the Top 4 in the center of the stage, goes through his usual routine and sends Casey back to safety. This is mildly surprising as I had predicted he would go home. However, I wasn’t married to my prediction and think Michael was just as much in danger. With this announcement, I scramble to call my imaginary bookie and move my wagers to Big Mike getting the big heave ho.

When we get to the next round of eliminations, the wacky Idol producers make what I think is a tactical error. They send Lee to safety, leaving Big Mike and Crystal on the precipice. I don’t understand their thinking.

Casey and Big Mike would have been a much more compelling Final 2 facing elimination — because either one of them could go. Short of that, a Lee and Michael Final 2 would also have been a bit of a nail-biter due to Lee’s weak solo song Tuesday night. It was unlikely he was getting cut, but we have seen stranger things this Idol season.

Instead, they go with a Crystal/Big Mike Final 2, which really offered no suspense at all. Crystal has long been the strongest and the chance that she was going home was remote. It would have only been compelling IF SHE HAD GOTTEN ELIMINATED. Since she didn’t and Mike did, it was a bit of bore.

I am sure the Idol wizards in their infinite wisdom had some grande scheme to it all, but I think they missed the mark on that one — one more sign that Idol is out of step this year.

On that note, I have read that the Idol producers are polling fans and TV viewers about the judges that are currently on the show, asking what they contribute, how good or bad are their comments, etc. etc. There’s also a section on whether people miss Paula Abdul.

I would take this to mean that we will see MAJOR changes come next Idol season. With Simon Cowell’s departure, the show has to do something to gin up excitement. I wouldn’t doubt if Kara is gone and maybe Ellen too. Even Randy isn’t safe, but I think the fact that he would be the only original judge has value. Despite word that Paula is going to Cowell’s new show, “The X Factor,” I wouldn’t be surprised if they lured her back. Also, Harry Connick Jr. has said he would consider coming on as a judge if asked, something heavily promoted by The Washington Post newspaper (and yours truly as well).

Finally, could Ryan Seacrest’s position as permanent host not be so permanent? One can only hope! He brought nothing to this season and proved more of a hinderance than a help much of the time.

I said I would stop pontificating and then I went right ahead and continued. Very sorry, dear friends. See you next week for the Final 3.

American Idol Blog — May 11, 2010

I don’t mean to be a “Debbie Downer” here, but is anyone really excited about the remaining contestants in this year’s “American Idol?” As I watched tonight’s show — I felt a general sense of ennui — a general boredom and world weariness with the whole proceeding. And it’s not just me. Don’t the judges and — worse yet — the contestants seem a little bored too?

Where is this year’s Adam Lambert or David Cook who electrifies the stage each week by turning some familiar hit on its ear and creating something new and powerful? Where is this year’s Kris Allen or Fantasia who come out of nowhere developing a deep connection to their songs that slowly captivates America? Where’s this year’s Allison Iraheta or Blake Lewis who throws caution to the wind and just catches on fire each week whether the song is any good or not?

Since I am biting the hand that feeds me, let me continue. Could Jamie Foxx have been a worse guest mentor? Last year, Foxx did a solid job mentoring as I recall. However, this year, he must have boned up on “Mentoring for Dummies” because it was all insipid schtick. “Contestant” vs. “artist” t-shirts? “Look into my eyes and seduce me?” Sitting inches away during a performance? These are his “methods?” His ridiculous efforts made me long for the insightful wisdom of Miley Cyrus.

Enough already! On with the show…

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Lee Dewyze, “Kiss from a Rose”

Grade: C

My Take: Nothing special — Top 4 week and we get nothing special from supposed front-runner Lee. Color me disappointed. After lo these many weeks, I have come to the conclusion that Lee is an OK singer, minimal personality and holds little chance of ever being a major recording star. The charisma isn’t there and – even worse – the voice isn’t there. He doesn’t seem like he’s really in it to win this competition. Tonight’s performance was a middling karaoke version with many bum notes.

Judges: Randy says he did nothing with the song and that it was pitchy. Ellen says there could have been more done with this song, but she liked it. Kara thinks he got lost a little in the song. Simon agrees with me and says it verged on karaoke. Buddy, it didn’t verge, it drove right over karaoke and parked on it.

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Michael Lynche, “Will You Be There”

Grade: B

My Take: It is what it is. Decent vocals, nice gospel tinge to the whole thing. It’s a typical Michael Lynche song from say March. However, this is May and we are two weeks from the Nokia. That’s the biggest and best Big Mike can bring? Meh! Next!

Judges: Randy thinks Big Mike needed to take on an R&B song. Ellen thinks he sounded good, but it was predictable. Kara wanted goosebumps and she didn’t get them. She thinks he played it safe. Simon is confused and ends up not really saying anything.

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Lee Dewyze & Crystal Bowersox, “Falling Slowly”

Grade: A

My Take: Now there is something I would pay to see. Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. I love this song and thought Kris Allen sang the [bleep] out of it when he performed it last season. However, it was meant to be a duet and Lee and Crystal bring a vigor and — dare I say — some passion to this song that makes it just soar. How great if they became a couple and toured together!

Judges: Randy loved it. Ellen loved it. Kara loved it and calls it one of her favorite moments of the season. Simon loved it and calls it a fantastic song.

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Casey James, “Mrs. Robinson”

Grade: B

My Take: It was better than I expected, but not as good as could have been. I love Simon & Garfunkel, but immediately worried that Casey “Velveeta” James would cheese it up something fierce. So I am happy to report that he performed a nicely subdued, ukulele version that was a bit like Jason Castro’s “Over the Rainbow.” That being said, it still didn’t have the “wow” factor I wanted it. It was nice, but not amazing.

Judges: Randy doesn’t think there was much special. Ellen liked it, but wished he had taken it further. Kara is embarrassed by the cougar references. Simon thinks there wasn’t much substance and calls Casey’s performance a bit lazy.

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Crystal Bowersox, “I’m All Right”

Grade: A

My Take: Crystal took one of the most recognizable movie songs — from the silly classic “Caddyshack” — and turned it into something so much more. The toe-tapping melody was still there, but Crystal imbued the song with an earthy growl that seemed to transport it into a rock-folk genre that was completely unexpected. Not sure I would buy it, but it was a mile better than the other three contestants tonight.

Judges: Randy liked how she switched it up. Ellen thinks Crystal made the song better. Kara agrees. Simon says Crystal is back in the game. (Was she out at some point?)

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Casey James & Michael Lynche, “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman”

Grade: B

My Take: Stand down, America! Crisis averted! What could have gone down in history as one of the most mismatched couples Kermit and Miss Piggy actually sort of worked. Casey and Big Mike blended their very different styes of singing and performing to pull a pleasant, if not a bit schmaltzy, version of this Bryan Adams hit. Considering the original sits at the top of Schmaltz Mountain, that’s not too bad.

Judges: Randy thinks it was hot. Ellen makes a joke that, yes, she has loved a woman. Kara and Simon generally think it worked. Let’s hear it for the duets!

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Here are my rankings of tonight’s performances, from best to worst:

Crystal & Lee
Casey & Michael

Crystal
Casey
Michael
Lee

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Crystal, of course, should be safe as she marches towards what appears to be her inevitable win.

Despite the fact that Casey and Michael both did decently tonight, they weren’t spectacular and both have flirted with elimination before. So look for them to be the Bottom 2 tonight, whether it’s deserved or not.

Finally, Lee was the worst last night on the solo songs. However, he seems to be the shoe-in for the other spot in the finals no matter how underwhelming he is a lot of the time. Yes, his duet with Crystal was amazing. But I can’t get his underwhelming “Kiss from a Rose” out of my mind. That’s what you bring to the table for the Top 4 show? Really? Really?

My call — Casey and Mike are in the Bottom 2 with Casey going home.

Sorry for my rantings at the top of this blog. Is anyone else experiencing my frustrations with this season and Jamie Foxx or am I up here on this soapbox alone?

See you Wednesday night!

American Idol Blog — May 5, 2010

As I sit down to watch tonight’s “American Idol” elimination show, I am filled with dread. Not over the fait-accompli that is Casey James’ departure — I feel quite certain about that. Rather I am dreading spending an hour on a show where I already know the outcome.

(Post-show note inserted here: Well, don’t I feel foolish!)

The reasons for my confidence: Casey James gave the worst performance last night by a mile. The judges all harshly panned him. He was in the Bottom 2 the week before after arguably one of his strongest performances. The folks at DialIdol.com had Casey in last place. Add all that together and it’s Hasta la Vista, Casey.

Speaking of DialIdol, I haven’t really tracked their success rate this year, but here’s how they say the calls skewed Tuesday night.

1) Lee
2) Michael
3) Aaron
4) Crystal
5) Casey

That’s pretty close to how I called them too, so maybe we’re seeing a solid trend line here.

Meanwhile, the rest of the show’s piffle passes by in a blur: a sweet, slightly homo-erotic Ford commercial starring the contestants; a group sing of Sinatra songs and another featuring Harry Connick Jr. songs; a behind-the-scenes view of what the Idols go through before they perform, yada, yada, yada.

We’re also treated to two musical performances — Lady Gaga combines militant marches, high-intensity aerobics and sultry pin-up poses for a rousing version of “Alejandro.” (FYI: This performance was recorded a week or two back. Don’t you love how they trick us and make us think it’s all happening live?) The other performance is Harry Connick Jr. himself, who I am now actively campaigning to have made the next Idol judge. He knows music and performance better than most and he’s high-larious to boot.

Meanwhile, as Ryan dims the lights, we get to the eliminations…

Lee is safe from the get-go and the drama becomes which of the remaining twosomes will be the Bottom 2. On the left, we have Crystal and Casey. On the right, we have Big Mike and Aaron. The natural thinking here is that Crystal and Casey are the lowest vote-getters with Casey getting eliminated.

Hah! That’s what the producers wanted us to think. Instead, it’s really Mike and Aaron who are the Bottom 2. This comes as a surprise — both because Casey sucked eggs Tuesday and also because Mike had a solid night and Aaron wasn’t nowhere near as a bad as other weeks. If we chart it out, it defies explanation:

Casey + great performance (“Don’t) = Bottom 2
Casey + horrible performance (“Blue Skies”) = Safe

Aaron + horrible performances (the last 3-4 weeks) = Safe
Aaron + decent performance (“Fly Me to the Moon”) = Eliminated

Yes, folks, wee Aaron is the one sent home. Not that I was a big Aaron fan, but I would have said goodbye to Casey (and maybe Mike) before wee Aaron.

And so the Idol world turns — soon another week will pass and we will be back for the Final Four. Jamie Foxx is the mentor and the theme is music from movies. I immediately say a quick prayer that someone will tackle one of the many wonderful songs from the “James Bond” theme catalog (“Goldfinger,” “For Your Eyes Only”, “Diamonds are Forever”) but no such luck. Instead, the approved list of songs is filled with soaring ballads and insipid novelty songs. Steel yourselves, Idol fans.

Until the, have a great week.

American Idol — May 4, 2010

Harry Connick Jr. is the mentor (and would make an excellent replacement for the increasingly annoying Ryan Seacrest)! What’s even cooler is he helped the Top 5 Idol’s compose their versions of the songs and is on stage performing with members of his band. What a concept!

The theme is the music of Frank Sinatra. As a long-time Rat Pack fan, I have high hopes for tonight’s show.

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Aaron Kelly, “Fly Me to the Moon”

Grade: B

My Take: Aaron should be a shoe-in with a theme like this since he’s already got the junior-grade crooner vibe going on. But somehow, he seems tentative during the song and he never really unleashes like I hoped he would. It’s a perfectly journeyman version of the song, but I see little to go crazy about.

Judges: Randy says he did a “really nice” job. Ellen says it was beautiful. Kara thought it was good, but wasn’t as strong as last week. She thinks he needs to break out and show some charisma. Simon thought he didn’t have conviction and the vocals were a bit corny.

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Casey James, “Blue Skies”

Grade: C

My Take: Casey James is going home. I’m calling it now. The rigid, robot version of Casey was back. In a song where he should have swayed and swooned across the stage, commanding everyone listen to the power and ice cool vibe in his voice, he failed to achieve any of that. Instead, he lurched unsteadily from Point A to Point B and pitchy lyrics were abundant. Unimpressive.

Judges: Randy agrees with me and calls it pitchy and Casey’s worst performance. Ellen sees what I saw and says he was stiff. Kara says it took him the whole song to warm up and compares his voice to the bleating of a lamb. Simon thinks he seemed awkward and basically says he won’t be back next week.

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Crystal Bowersox, “Summer Wind”

Grade: B

My Take: When I think of Frank Sinatra, I don’t think of reserved. I think of a powerhouse singer commanding a stage — the coolest cat in the joint, the one all the women want to get with, all the men want to be like. So how come I am not getting the vibe from any of these singers tonight? Crystal performs a nice, subdued version of “Summer Wind,” but she sounds breathy and I spend more time looking at her huge ol’ sun tat and the gaps in her teeth. Underwhelmed.

Judges: Randy thinks it was OK, but a little sleepy. Ellen thinks she swallowed her words at the start of the song. Kara liked Crystal’s phrasing and she liked it. Simon thinks the first half was too jazzy and it wasn’t her strongest performance.

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Michael Lynche, “The Way You Look Tonight”

Grade: B

My Take: I think Michael has come the closest to channeling Sinatra tonight and that last big note was pitch perfect. That being said, I still wasn’t wowed by this performance. There were a couple of bum notes, a couple of rushed lyrics and Michael didn’t sound all that great on some of the low, slow points in the song. Capable, but hardly outstanding.

Judges: Randy loves it and calls it an unbelievable vocal. Ellen thinks Michael seems more comfortable on stage than the others. Kara thinks Big Mike took us on a journey with that song. Simon thinks everything worked and that performance put Mike back in the game.

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Lee Dewyze, “That’s Life”

Grade: A

My Take: Now that’s what I’m talking about. Lee’s got the swagger and the smokey voice and the laid-back hipster vibe that all comes together to help him produce a memorable version of “That’s Life.” He struts the stage, smacks his chest and belts out a beaut of a song. Best performance of the night — and at this moment, Lee is the one to beat for the title.

Judges: Randy says Lee stayed his rocker self and he loved it. Ellen says if this were the finale, Lee would have just won. Kara says he can win this contest. Simon says Lee showed his confidence and it was the best performance of the night.

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Here’s my take on the night’s performances, in order from first to last:
Lee
Aaron
Michael
Crystal
Casey

Among my mental notes on that line-up — Lee was awesome. I never thought I would rank Aaron so high, but after watching the rest, he was my second favorite. Michael was fine. Crystal was disappointing, even though she sang beautifully and Casey was a big flop. Considering I thought Casey was brilliant last week and he was still in the Bottom 2, this does not bode well for him.

Also, I vote Harry Connick Jr. as best guest mentor ever and would love to see him as a new Idol judge next year. Get rid of Kara and Ellen, bring back Paula and add in Harry and the show would have a new lease on life.

See everyone on Wednesday night for the results. G’night!

American Idol Blog — April 28, 2010

Good evening, everyone. Tonight’s show is bound to be a nail-biter, no matter who you are rooting for. Consider that the two front-runners — Crystal and Lee — were OK Tuesday night, but not brilliant. Consider that two who have struggled — Michael and Casey — were fantastic Tuesday. Consider that the two most polarizing contestants — Siobhan and Aaron — are still in the mix. People love them, or they can’t stand them.

Out of these six, we have to have a Bottom 3 which means someone’s favorite or favorites are going to be standing on the gallows, waiting to see whose trapdoor is going to fling open.

With that in mind, let’s shorthand the rest of this bloated show:

Rascal Flatts — No group sing tonight. Instead, country music’s answer to Kenny G take the stage and perform yet another completely forgettable “song.” (As you may have deduced, I am not a Flatts fan.)

Ford commercial — Riffing on the “Twilight” phenom, our Idols are outfitted with cat eye contacts and fangs. Amazingly, many of them look better than ever. Meanwhile, the juiciest morsel — oversized “victim” Big Mike is attacked by his fellow contestants only to scare them away with an extra garlic pizza. What a fascinating metaphor for Big Mike going down a few weeks ago only to whip out the garlic “Judges’ Save” and live to fight another day.

Shrek — The Idols go to see the latest “Shrek” movie and also show just how difficult being a voice-over artist can be. The moment is capped by “Shrek” stars Cameron Diaz and Antonio Banderas paying a visit to the stage. It was surprising to see that the Pocket Zorro only came up to Cameron’s waist, give or take.

After some on stage chicanery, Ryan announces the Bottom 3 — Casey James, Michael Lynche and Siobhan Magnus. I am most surprised that Casey James is in the Bottom 3. He was superb on his performance of “Don’t.” I also liked Michael’s performance, but he’s been weaker with voters all season. This is Siobhan’s first visit to the Bottom 3, but IMHO, it’s long overdue. She has never lived up to her early potential.

I am glad that Lee and Crystal are rightfully safe, but Aaron — safe again? Like I said, while I fall into the “not a fan” category, people love cooing and oohing over little children and Aaron’s innocence and youth are clearly resonating with many.

At this juncture, my gut call for elimination is Big Mike.

Sons of Sylvia — Never heard of them. Their song “Love Left to Lose” is OK, but they seem oddly like marionettes in their stage mannerisms.

Lady Antebellum — Did we really need to hear “Need You Now” again? America’s most overexposed band and most overexposed song continue to annoy. (That being said, I will admit I am a fan of their new single, “American Honey.” Check it out.)

Shakira — The Colombian spitfire co-mingles her Latin flair with a country beat of banjos and harmonics to give the best performance of the night. “Gypsy” has a captivating rhythm to it and having Rascal Flatts perform back-up adds to the show. Now how can we get them to give up headlining and always stay in the background. (Sorry!)

Also, apparently Shakira almost missed her opportunity to be on “American Idol.” They promoted her appearance at the start of the show, but then quit mentioning her. Even at the commercial break just before her performance, they only said that Rascal Flatts was coming back next to perform again. No mention of the Shak. When it came time, she was there, but Ryan said something about her just arriving moments before.

Back to the eliminations…

Ryan quickly sends Big Mike back to safety. Color me surprised at this turn of events. I might have predicted Siobhan in this predicament, but not Casey James. And sure enough, when Ryan gets to the big reveal, it’s Siobhan going home.

Am I surprised? A little. Am I disappointed? Not in the least. As I have said over and over, Siobhan had a few early hits — a few performances that really wowed (“Paint it Black” was one.) But for the past 3-4 weeks, she has been woefully off the mark. Vocally questionable, horrible song choices, even her quirky personality became more annoying than charming. Folks, America is fickle and that is a recipe for elimination. Siobhan’s timer has gone off.

All I can say is Aaron Kelly has a guardian angel watching out for him. He’s headed for a third place finish, something I never would have predicted.

Next week, Harry Connick Jr. is the mentor and the theme is the songs of the great Frank Sinatra. As a fan of those old Rat Pack classics, it’s finally a show I am looking forward to instead of dreading.

Long live Tim Urban. G’night, folks.

American Idol Blog — April 27, 2010

I didn’t realize that Shania Twain had a big enough songbook to have her own theme night on “American Idol. That being said, she’s the mentor for the night and the night is a whole lot shorter now that we are down to just six contestants. I much prefer an hour of tightly packed Idol to 90-120 minutes of bloated whale carcass.

BTW, congrats to America for the results of “Idol Gives Back” — $45 million raised

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Lee Dewyze, “You’re Still the One”

Grade: B

My Take: I enjoyed Lee’s take on this famous Shania song. I thought he added just enough twists on the original melody to make it contemporary and “his own.” To use the judge’s cliche, I feel like I could hear that on the radio today (with a bit more finessing by the post-production team). It was not a “moment”, something that I am going to be raving about for the rest of the week, but it was solid and competent, which goes a long way this season.

Judges: Randy says this was one of the greatest song ever written. What a line of BS. Could he suck up to Ms. Twain any more? Ellen says he made it his own and he couldn’t look cuter. Kara thought it was a good job. Simon thought it was the perfect song and than the other judges cut him off with their inane chatter.

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Michael Lynche, “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing”

Grade: A

My Take: OK, I had pretty much written off the primping and preening Mr. Lynche, but that song just blew me away. The falsetto note at the end wasn’t the best, but the rest of the song just seemed to resonate with pain and heartache. Big Mike’s voice was perfect and his inflections and facial expressions all seemed to work in unison as they expressed sadness over a lost love. That performance was touching and wonderful.

Judges: Randy says Mike really knows who he is and that song was in Mike’s zone. Ellen says it was like Luther Vandross and she felt Mike’s emotion. Kara feels Mike is connected to his songs and she likes how he changed the song just a bit. Simon says it was a bit girly, but I think he liked it in general.

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Casey James, “Don’t”

Grade: A

My Take: Wow! Casey James finally brung it. Harkening back to his wonderful “Jealous Guy” a few weeks back, James again leaves the silly group-sing, bar songs behind and lets out his inner singer/songwriter. When he does that — when he connects to a song — he’s fantastic. His vocals have always been strong, but have been wasted on poor song choices. Tonight, his guitar is secondary to the performance rather than the centerpiece. Casey got it all right tonight.

Judges: Randy thinks it was one of the best Casey James performances ever. Ellen thinks it was beautiful and his best performance to date. Kara thinks he was vulnerable and raw and if he keeps it up, he will be a contender. Simon thinks this was his best performance and that he felt the song.

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Crystal Bowersox, “No One Needs to Know”

Grade: B

My Take: Another solid performance from Crystal. It wasn’t one of her powerhouse, wheelhouse songs like “People Get Ready,” but I still really enjoyed her light, bouncy take on Shania’s song. I think Ms. Twain’s advice to make it a happy song paid off as Crystal seemed more real and fun than she does normally with her somber demeanor. Like the other front-runner Lee Dewyze, this was a perfectly fine performance, but not the “moment” that we’ve unrealistically come to expect each week from Crystal.

Judges: Randy says it wasn’t his favorite Crystal song, but it wasn’t his favorite performance of hers. Ellen agrees. Kara says it’s impossible for Crystal not to be good. Crystal chimes in and says this song wasn’t as big as some others, but big isn’t always better. She is 100 percent right. Simon rips Crystal apart, unfairly I might add, saying it wasn’t believable.

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Aaron Kelly, “You’ve Got A Way”

Grade: C

My Take: Maybe I am just too “down” on Aaron lately, but that performance was only marginally better than the tripe he has sang the past few weeks. Every song from Aaron is supposed to be emotional and heartfelt, but they are rarely believable. Perhaps it’s his age, but I don’t think so. I just don’t think he really connects to these type of songs. I doubt he’s ever been in love or felt great romantic heartache. His vocals were OK, but a bit thick for my taste. There was little purity in those notes, sounding almost a tad pitchy.

Judges: Randy says Aaron is the country artist on the show this year and he did a really good job. Ellen says everyone is doing well and Aaron showed great depth and maturity. Kara appreciated that he changed a line about “making love” since he’s so young. Simon says it was like he was a different artist tonight and for the first time in weeks, it felt sincere. Aaron announces that he was singing the song to his mother. Yuck!

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Siobhan Magnus, “Any Man of Mine”

Grade: C

My Take: Great finale to this song from Siobhan — she let out her patented banshee scream and added some guttural growl to the final lyrics. However, the polluted pop fest that led up to the big moment was a perfect microcosm of everything Siobhan is doing wrong. If Adam Lambert had sang this song, he would have turned it on its ear, perhaps slowing it down and making it a dramatic, icy ballad. Instead, Siobhan does a pale imitation of Shania, replete with winks and shimmies to the audience and darn near a boot scootin’ boogie. Yee haw, folks! Most voters will only remember the big finish, but if they power dialed based on the entire performance, Siobhan would be in trouble.

Judges: Randy loved the whole punk-country vibe. Ellen says it was fantastic. Kara says Siobhan is back. Simon really liked the song, but thinks the screaming at the end was a bit much. I think it was the only think that saved the song. The judges and I are not seeing eye-to-eye on Aaron and Siobhan.

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Here’s my line-up in order of my personal preference:

Michael
Casey
Crystal
Lee
Siobhan
Aaron

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Among my immediate post-show observations:

-It’s great to see the so-called runners up (Casey, Aaron, Michael) contending with the so-called front-runners (Crystal, Lee, Siobhan). Everyone is pouring it on and that will make the next few weeks that much more exciting. At one point, Ryan even says “We got ourselves a competition.”

-I miss Tim Urban. He added a je ne sais quoi/train wreck element that was missing this week.

My gut for tomorrow — I have no idea. I can’t imagine Crystal and Lee being in trouble, but Casey and Big Mike were great tonight and Siobhan still has lots of good will. I will predict Mike and Aaron in Bottom 3 with Aaron going home, but that’s a shot in the dark.

What did you think of this tightening race tonight? Did Casey and Michael do enough to stay around? Did Crystal’s mild performance put her in danger? Did Siobhan work for you or not? So much to discuss!

See you Wednesday!