24 to 22 - Idol Goes 60's

Okay a quick round up of boy's night and girl's night. One note, on all the drama Idol has suffered so far. American Idol never claimed to be a competition for people who had never sang in their lives or never had any success at singing. It is the chance for an Idol to be found -- for someone to get a MAJOR record deal, millions of viewers worth of exposure and for a record label to make a lot of money off this talent. Who cares if Carly Smithson was signed once or if Robbie Carrico was in a boy band that opened for Britney or that David Archuleta was on Star Search? Have any of the haters actually heard of these people before? Did any of these small stars gain national or international recognition? No, so everyone can shut it.



One thing we can complain about is why did Idol producers already put themes into the nights? The 24 to 12 shows used to be about getting to know the contestants and figuring out who each is comfortable being. And believe me, that didn't stop some of them from failing miserably but it made good TV. My only hope is that when it is the Finals they are somehow getting rid of theme nights and letting each contestant sing what they want - maybe it is flipped?



Okay, now to my boy analysis: Note my new judging symbols -- VOTE for highlight of night, OK DOG for okay you can try again and BUH BYE for those who could leave and I wouldn't cry like that Sanjaya fan at all.



David Hernandez -- Had a gospel start, could be good, but could turn cheesy - I say he deserves another shot. OK DOG

Chikezie -- Wait did anyone hear when Simon called him "Jacuzzi?" It may have been the funniest moment so far. Cheesy red suit, he can sing, but is not exciting. OK DOG

David Cook -- Please do not style his hair that way anymore -- He had like 4 hairs combed down on his forehead. Sang "Happy Together" rocker style. OK DOG

Jason Yaeger -- We never saw him before this week and he sang Moon River. I kept thinking he was about to start singing the Aladdin theme song. BUH BYE

Robbie Carrico -- I agree with Simon that he may be a poser rocker, but I'll keep rooting for him. But did he really date Britney? It will be hard for me to continue to root him on if that is true because she is dirty. He gets a VOTE from me as one of the best of the night.

David Archuleta -- He was real. A little shaky, but as Randy would say, "He can blow." VOTE

Danny Noriega -- With the skinny jeans and attitude, could he be the next Sanjaya? I will let him stay one more time only based on tonight. OK DOG BUT BEWARE

Luke Menard -- I really wanted to like him because he is HOT, but since he is married and he really had a weak voice I think it is BUH BYE but if he stays I wouldn't mind.

Colton Berry -- He looks like Ellen DeGeneres? What? If he smiled one more time I was going to lose it - terrible Suspicious Minds (be careful of doing songs of great Idols past like Chris Daughtry). BUH BYE

Garrett Haley -- We never saw him before and we should never see him again especially singing a whiny Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. What was that accent? BUH BYE

Jason Castro -- Okay, I personally think dreadlocks are disgusting, they look like pieces of poop on someone's head, so I am praying he will get a makeover and a haircut. But he was fantastic - original and cool and real. VOTE and my favorite of the night.

Michael Johns -- Boy they are really setting him and Carly up as the favorites by putting each last, but his performance was great. And the Keith accent (I now call the accent of all male singers from Australia, the Keith accent) rules. VOTE



And on to the girls who apparently all had the flu. Let me also say that Randy and Paula need to shut up and let Simon speak. They waste so much time arguing with him. Please shut it and let the one person who is usually right speak. That is why there are three judges -- for three opinions (okay 2.5 since Paula's doesn't really count).



Kristy Lee Cook -- Pretty girl and voice but she was definitely nervous and someone must have told her to try to keep her eyes wider because she kept opening her eyes really wide like a freak. OK DOG but she may get a BUH BYE

Joanne Bargella -- I know she's from Jersey but I don't like her voice. BUH BYE

Alaina Whitaker -- Never saw her before and she looks eerily like Carrie (maybe everyone in Oklahoma looks like that?) She had great energy and skills. VOTE

Amanda Overmyer -- What was she saying? I got the "Baby please don't go" but the rest was scary. But she can stay for now OK DOG

Amy Davis -- Talk about trying to slide into every note, and always missing, yikes! BUH BYE

Brooke White -- Happy Together, again...She was really trying and it was too cutesy, but I like her voice VOTE

Alexandrea -- She was different and Spinning Wheel was a good song choice (I still think of Bo, though), but she cannot keep telling Ryan how to pronounce her name -- my name is always wrong, deal with it. She get's an OK DOG

Kady Malloy -- I disagreed with them on this, I thought she took a boring song and actually made it better - not great, but good. I definitely give her an OK DOG and fingers crossed she gets another chance.

Asia'h Epperson -- I am going to refer to her as Asia from now on because I can't handle the 'h because as much as I love her, she tends to drop the "h" from her words like in "Take another little piece of my 'eart, my 'eart, my 'eart" therefore, I am dropping the 'h in her name to protest, but she definitely gets a VOTE - she was one of the best.

Ramiele -- I wanted her to be a little stronger, but she proved she has great control of her voice. She is a contender VOTE

Syesha Mercado -- She looks great and sounds great but I'm not completely in it yet VOTE

Carly Smithson -- Terrible song choice and the profile felt a little Streisand, but this one cannot go yet, she has the potential to be the best one because her voice is great VOTE but please do another Heart song when the flu is over!!



I'm headed to Paris, so my coverage of week 22-20 will be late and don't e-mail me about it because I don't want to know untiI I watch it!



I didn't get to tell you about Keith and Carrie -- First of all she is gorgeous and sang every song perfectly and with great energy despite being sick (take that Idol flu girls). She sang for an hour and then Keith came out and I was in the 3rd row and it was one of the best moments of my life. He is even better up close and he looks really healthy and rocked out on his guitar and I saw the tattoo on his arm up close and, well enough said to all of you, I will relive it in my mind.

On a separate note, I highly recommend you all download "Love Don't Live Here" by Lady Antebellum - it is a fantastic rocking tune that I am obsessed with and as you know I always say,


don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

Grim Grammy's and the Best Hollywood Week Ever

So to start off, Grammy's were a bust. BORING. I'm sorry, I know they are trying to showcase all genres, but are the people who listen to gospel watching the grammy's? Ummm why do we need to show Jerry Lee Lewis AGAIN - we know he is alive, good for him. And how many times can Andrea Bocelli sing the same song -- with Josh Groban or Celine Dion or himself - come on! Carrie looked amazing and sang her heart out of the song she has been forced to perform a zillion times and the Tina / Beyonce moment was amazing. Although I have to say that people must really love Beyonce because she gets to sing with every legend imaginable -- Prince, Tina and even Sugarland:) I understand CBS wants ratings, but if Amy Winehouse couldn't get out of rehab and get a visa, she shouldn't be able to perform. The song which I do think was the "recording" of the year is just so sad to hear knowing that she really does need rehab, seriously. That's enough of that.

Now on to IDOL. They changed Hollywood Week - no more group song and dance routines and much more exposure for the artists. I know they didn't show everyone they could have, but I am ready to pick some faves for top 24. First, though, let me say that this is definitely best talent ever. No boring same old same old divas. There is such diversity -- r&b for sure, but also rock and country and brit pop cool and just everything. And such amazing voices. I really don't think it has ever been this good. Usually there are 4 or 5 I like at this point, but there are a lot more this time.


Let me just say that I was really sad for Angela Martin who has the sick daughter and whose father was recently killed? Really? Unfortunately she didn't make it which is sad, but I do think it would be really hard to not vote for her every week with that story no matter how she sounded.


Okay, so from those that we saw, I am definitely ocunting in the following:

--Brooke from Philly who was Carly Simonish on the piano -- original

--David Hernandez who sang "Love the One You're With"

--Amanda Overmeyer, the rock nurse

--Josiah Leming -- okay he lost it at the end but the Brit sounding boy who lived in his car is fantastic

--Carly Smithson -- the Irish girl who sang Alone - god I love anyone who can sing that song

--Michael Johns - MELTED for this Aussie who sang the Doors and Bohemian Rhapsody -- I mean he is amazing and then he has that accent and he is HOT.

--David Cook - rocker who looks a little weird, but he sang Bryan Adams and was smooth

--Robbie Carrico -- long haired singer with the beanie hat. They only showed him a little, but AMAZING

--Kristy Lee Cook -- I don't love her, but they keep showing her sing "Amazing Grace" so she is either going to make it through or give us some back story.

--David Archiletta -- 16 year old who did John Mayer in his first audition and Heaven by Bryan Adams this time -- WOW

--Syesha Mercado -- I love when people have laryngitis but then bust out an amazing vocal -- how is that possible?

--Asia'h Epperson -- I think she is the one whose father had passed away before the last audition but they didn't really talk about it this time and she was fantastic


Also, I think they should have kept Suzanne Toon who did Summertime but there are tons of great ones. And they didn't show him sing, but I think the farm boy (maybe named Drew?) made it through so I'm anxious to hear him. I think this year will go to a guy. Lots of good ones and thankfully NO SANJAYA.

Tomorrow night they announce the top 24. The above will most likely be in -- A. because they featured them and B. because I know talent when I see it. I will watch it on DVR however, because I will be in the 3RD ROW at Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood tomorrow night.

ROCK ON! Today someone said they were surprised that I don't shy away from admitting I love Idol and I said...

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...