My American Idol Obsession!

Diana or Fantasia?
It's going to be a great show tonight-the last one of the season is always pretty exciting. It's no secret I am rooting for Fantasia to win, and if she can sing as well as I know she can sing, I know she can pull it off.

Both Diana and Fantasia will pick 3 songs to sing, 2 of her own choosing, and a third will be the eventual single that the winner will release.

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Diana DeGarmo, “I Believe,” “No More Tears,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud”

I thought Diana showed that she has pipes tonight for sure, but she also showed that she is not perfect and can make mistakes, but the biggest flaw, in my view, is that she does not give the songs any personality, she does not make them her own. Is it because of her age? I really don't know, but that is most definitely a big flaw.

Randy said that she worked it out on her first song. He told her that he was very proud of her and that she was singing her face off after the second song. After the third song he said that she was weak in the beginning, it was pitchy, and that there was a problem in the low register.

Paula told her that her first song made her feel like a proud parent, and that it was a stunning performance. After her second song she said that she did a good job. After the third song, she said that there was a problem in the song but that she was still wonderful!

Simon told her after the first song that she sang it great, but that he felt like someone in their 50s should sing that song (I am assuming he means that it didn't come across that she knew how to properly convey the emotions of the song). After the second song he said that she sang good and that she came in to win tonight. After the third song, he told her that he didn't think she nailed the competition.

2. Fantasia Barrino, “All My Life,” “Summertime,” and “I Believe”

What Diana lacks is what Fantasia brings to the table over and over again: PERSONALITY. Personality galore that is. Fantasia is a star without a doubt. After her third performance it was clear to me that she deserves to win. She made me cry and made the song extremely emotional. WAY TO GO TASIA!!! I am a big fan!

Randy told her that even though the arrangement of the song was funny, he loved the song per se, and that she showed her talent by still making it good. After the second song he just said: Unbelievable! After the third performance all he could say is Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant.

Paula said that she stood out, she took a mediocre arrangement and still greabbed the audience. After the second song she told her that she will never bore audiences. After the third performance she told her that this was what it's all about.

Simon thought her first performance was a complete mess, but after the second song he told her that she was the best contestant of any AI season, even all Idol shows worldwide. After the third song he stated that that was the 'Acceptance Speech' and that it was SUPERB.

I gave her an overall 5+ for voice and 5++ for charisma. A total of 10++ from me. BRAVO!!!

Who had the best score for me? Fantasia by far. Even though Diana did do well, Fantasia totally blew it out of the water. To say that I am impressed is the understatement of the year. Fantasia is pure talent & charisma. I would be very surprised if she didn't win at this point!!

The Results Show was... LONG!!! LOL. Yes, two hours of performances by the top 12 and a nice performance by AI1 winner Kelly Clarkson and AI2 winner Ruben Studdard with Diana and Fantasia.

FINALLY the results were announced and YES!!! FANTASIA WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Getting down to the wire!
I can't believe that the third season of AI is almost over. I must say, this season has been the most unpredictable. Remember season 1? Kelly Clarkson, who won, was NEVER in the bottom 3 nor 2. Even Justin was only in the bottom 2/3 once. In season 2 Clay Aiken, like Kelly Clarkson, was NEVER in the bottom 2/3. Ruben Studdard, who eventually won the show, was in the bottom 2 only once. This season all of our three contestants that remain have been in the bottom 2/3 several times! I guess this goes to show that the show has become incredibly unpredictable.
On to tonight's show... the three remaining finalists will sing 3 songs each. The first song was a personal choice, the second a selection from the judges, and the third was picked by Clive Davis, who is the guest judge. Finally! A judge whose opinion is actually worth something!

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Jasmine Trias, “Saving All My Love For You,” “Mr. Melody,” and “All By Myself”
I thought Jasmine did fairly good this week. Her voice was pretty good, still not up to par with the other contestants though, however, she was pleasant. The first song was good, I think it takes guts to sing a Whitney Houston song and I don't think she did a 'great' job-when you sing one of these power houses voices songs, it must be at least as good as the original. The second song was upbeat and cute, I enjoyed it. The third song... hmmm... I LOVE this song as it's one of my favorites of all time, and while I thought she did sing 'okay' and she made it her own, she was a little pitchy and unemotional.
Randy said that she wasn't as good as Whitney on her first song. He liked the second, saying it was a good choice. After the third song he said that there was no connection, and that it was unemotional.
Clive Davis said that her first song was a little sharp, pretty good. For the second song, he said it was not her best moment, and after the third song he said that she did not share the feelings of the song.
Paula told her that her first song was almost as good as Whitney, after her second song she said that she liked her singing up-tempo songs. After the third song, he said that she was better on this last song.
Simon told her after the first song that it was sweet but forgettable, after the second song he said 'so what' and that she was not connecting tonight, After the third he told her that it had to end tonight. .
I gave her an overall 4.5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.

2. Fantasia Barrino, “Chain of Fools,” “Fool in Love,” and “Greatest Love of All”
What can I say about Fantasia? WOW. This lady is so unique... she sings with a lot of emotion and keeps you engaged. SHE IS A STAR, PERIOD!!! All of her performance tonight were awesome and her rendition of the Greatest Love of All made me cry-it sounded to me like it was a very personal performance. BRAVO!!
Randy told her that she was a winner after her first song. After the second song he told her that she was the bomb and that he loved her. After the third performance he told her that it was a great version, gave her props and that it was great.
Clive Davis told her that she nailed it and pulled it off after her first performance. After her second performance he told her that he would sign her if there was no competition and heard her in KC in a basement. After the third performance all he could say was WOW.
Paula said that she was unique after her first song, after the second song she told her that she does not need this competition and that she was already a star. After the third performance she told her that she was honored to be in her presence.
Simon told her that she was original, superb and well done after the first song, after the second song he said sarcastically that it was terrible just to get sympathy votes (LOL) and after the third song he stated that she was 'THE' American Idol!
I gave her an overall 5+ for voice and 5++ for charisma. A total of 10++ from me.

BRAVO!!!

3. Diana DeGarmo, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Because You Loved Me,” and “Don’t Cry Out Loud”
I really do believe that Diana has improved dramatically during the course of the show, she took the advice of the judges to heart and has made strides. Her first song was really good but perhaps too much for her? Her second song was just 'okay for me... I just love the Celine Dion version of this song so much that is possibly hard to judge, still, I think Celine was at her best when she recorded this song, and Diana's version was just an okay karaoke. Her last song, however, was absolutely PERFECT. She gave me chills!! GO DIANA!!! What a wonderful accomplishment for a 16 year old!
Randy told her that it was not her best after her first performance. After her second performance he said it was just 'okay'. After her third performance he said it was great and that she brought it back.
Clive Davis told her that it was a cabaret performance after her first song, after her second performance he told her that she captured the emotions and that it was good. After the third song he told her that she just showed why she's still in the competition and that she nailed it.
Paula told her that she did a great job after the first song, after the second performance she told her that she definitely has the pipes, but that she was hoping it would be more of a 'Diana' performance. She didn't make it hers. After the third performance she stated 'flawless'.
Simon told her that she shouted after the first song, he gave her 7 out of 10 after the second song, and after the third he said that she should thank Clive for booking her a spot into the final.
I gave her an overall 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A total of 10!

Who had the best score for me? Fantasia by far. Even though Diana also got a 10, Fantasia got 10++! She was absolutely awesome and I will be voting for her tonight if I get through!! I hope lots of people do too...

The Results Show was... interesting, and thank goodness, not shocking this week. I enjoyed Tamyra's performances and the trips back home from the final 3. Boy, Jasmine did indeed get a lot of support from Hawaii, didn't she? My pick to go? It has to be Jasmine for sure this week. I cannot imagine her being in the finale, if any of the other two were eliminated it would be a travesty.

YES!!! Jasmine goes!! Oh well, I hate to be mean, and I like Jasmine, but it was her turn to go. Bye sweetie!

My predictions? Well, at this point it's safe to say that both Diana and Fantasia will for sure get a record contract, but for the title I would love for Fantasia to get it. But.. will she? Who will Jasmine's votes go to? It's hard to say, but one thing I sadly know. There are A LOT of people who like nothing better than trash Fantasia at every chance they get. They either don't like her voice (huh?) or think she's got too much attitude (like that hurt Madonna!) or they just can't digest the fact that she is a single mom (lots of stars, such as Whoopi Goldberg and Penny Marshall were teen moms too!) so the voting should be interesting, and the turnout it's really anyone's guess. BUT, if America was truly looking for TALENT, the crown should go to Fantasia hands down.

Hmmm... DISCO!!!
Oh my gosh... Disco is possibly one of my very favorite genres of music without a doubt. I own all the CDs of all the major hits of the eras, from Donna Summer to the Bee Gees, soundtracks to gems such as Saturday Night Fever and Thank God It's Friday etcetera. I was a teenager when Disco was BIG (read: HUGE) and I was a DJ to boot at the time. I couldn't wait for the talent of these ladies to shine tonight. Yey!

Donna Summer was the guest judge this week... hmmm... I was not sure what to expect. Would she tell it like it is or sugar coat it like most guest judges to? We'll see.

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Jasmine Trias, “Everlasting Love” and “It’s Raining Men”
I really like Jasmine but she is now officially out of her league. She is consistently off pitch and tonight I truly felt as if she was trying too hard.. I mean... going into the audience and stuff does not come off as being something that she would do if and when she gets her career going. The second song was better than the first one and I was impressed, but still I think she's the weakest of the bunch. I liked her hair for some reason!
Simon said that she was vulnerable, and that it was definitely her turn to leave. Of her first song he stated that it was average karaoke, and after the second that she needed every person in Hawaii to vote at least several times to save her.
Donna Summer said that her first song was pretty good but pitchy, and that she did not like her choice for the second song but that she felt she gave her best.
Paula told her that she was pitchy and that it was not the best choice of song for her (for the first song) but that she liked the dress. After her second performance she stated that she forgot the lyrics but that she covered it up.
Randy agreed with Simon, that it was not her best, pitchy.
I gave her an overall 5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.5.

2. LaToya London, “Love You Inside and Out” and “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
LaToya never disappoints. I felt she improved on the original for both songs and she gave me chills. I think she has a very powerful voice and I can't wait for her first CD to hit the stores! I hope that as an artist she will give us good music, because she's got the pipes.
Simon said, after her first song, that she's a great singer, well done, but that it was a safe song and that she needed more personality. After her second song he stated that it was as good as the original.
Donna Summer said that she was beautiful and that her performances were fabulous and that she did a good job.
Paula said that she was consistent, she continued to shine and that she was stunning.
Randy stated that her performance was nothing special (the first one) and that it was good but it was a weird choice of song. He gave her her props for the second performance.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 10 from me. Perfect!

3. Fantasia Barrino, “Knock on Wood” and “Holding Out for a Hero”
What can I say? WOW WOW WOW! Knock on Wood was the perfect song for her! She definitely has personality galore. I LOVED the second song, loved her rendition too, she is always so unique!
Simon told her after the first song that she is different and that is what they are looking for, and that it was a great performance. After the second performance he told her he didn't like it because she was better than this type of song.
Donna Summer agreed with SImon about being different, that she exuded enthusiasm, excitement and gives her all. After her second performance she told her that she loves it and that she could sing the newspaper to her!
Paula told her that she knows how to pick the right song, but after her second song she told her that it was not her

favorite choice.
Randy told her that she's got it going on and that she can really sing.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A perfect 10!

4. Diana DeGarmo, “This Is It” and “No More Tears”
Diana chose definitely a better dress tonight, she was very pretty with her seventies' hairdo! The first song was not the best choice and she was a little pitchy, but her second? OMG!! She blew me away... totally awesome!
Simon told her that he was taking back the comment that she was too young, and he thought the second song was the best performance of the night and that he totally respected her.
Donna SUmmer was happy with her first performance, that she was impressed, and she thought the second song was very well sung and made the song hers.
Paula said that she had immense confidence, she very much looked confident and that she was having fun, and after the second song she told her that it was her week.
Randy told her that she was the most improved performer and did her thing, and after the second song he told her that it was the best song of the night... unbelievable.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma for a total of 10.

Who had the best score for me? LaToya London, Fantasia Barrino & Diana DeGarmo had perfect 10s. No question they shined tonight.

The Results Show was... boring? One whole hour? Give me a break. My pick to be in the bottom 2? Oh gosh... well, Jasmine for sure, I don't know who else would be there next to her to be honest. If any of the other three were eliminated it would be a travesty.
So... for some unspeakable reason Fantasia and LaToya were in the bottom 2. I was aghast. I think it's Jasmine's turn to go but instead one of the divas was going to go. In the end it was LaToya who bid us adieu and I thought it was very intriguing how Tamyra Gray's disco night that did her in as well. No matter... she WILL get a recording contract for sure, I can't imagine her not getting one.

My predictions? Well, I guess I am not good at predictions at all!! I really thought LaToya was going to win!! Well, next week it should be Jasmine's turn to go. The votes that LaToya received will most likely go to Fantasia in my view which will help her get to the finale with Diana for sure.
The Top 2 will most likely then be Fantasia and Diana
The winner? In my View it will be Diana now that LaToya is gone. There are just too many people who don't care about Fantasia and call her trashy and a bunch of other cruel stuff, they hate her voice (huh?) and they can't digest the fact that an idol is a single teenage mom (like that has anything to do with anything?) and with LaToya and Jasmine gone, Diana will get all the votes. I could be wrong, of course, but at this point Diana is probably a very good Vegas bet!

It's BIG BAND night!
Well, we know that John Stevens would have shined tonight, as this was 'his' genre, but big band is one of my favorite genres thanks to my mom who used to play it all the time. How will the contestants do? That is really hard to say and I am eager to find out. No guest judge tonight! Yey!

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Diana DeGarmo, “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Get Happy”
Someone to watch over me is actually one of my favorite songs of all time, and I think it was a fantastic pic for Diana... darn near perfect. The second song was okay, looks like she was having fun on stage.

My only gripe was her dress. It was not flattering at all. Where are those fashionista that supposedly work on the show? MIA I guess.
Randy said that she was the 'bomb' and that she is a seasoned talent.
Paula told her that the songs were right for her, that she did a nice job.
Simon said that this was definitely her style and that she was an old soul.
I gave her an overall 5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.5.

2. George Huff, “Cheek to Cheek” and “What a Wonderful World”
George has such a captivating smile! Looks like he had fun and he was pretty good. The second song was good but the problem is that when you sing the song of someone with an extremely powerful voice as Louis Armstrong, you have to measure up, and as much as I love George, he just didn't. Pity, really.
Randy said that it was really good, but very safe, not great.
Paula said that it was enchanting.
Simon agreed with Randy.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 9.5 from me.

3. LaToya London, “Too Close for Comfort” and “Don’t Rain on my Parade”
What can I say? WOW WOW WOW! The lady is a star. She is so good, I don't even know what to say.
Randy gave her a standing ovation with Paula, and when he sat down he told her that this is the kind of music she was meant to sing.
Paula told her that tonight was her night.
Simon stated that this was a 10 ouot of 10 of a good Broadway performance, and that he meant that as a

compliment... hmmm... I wonder if he had to add that he meant it as a compliment because that is what he said to Clay last year over and over again? Hmmm...
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A perfect 10.

4. Jasmine Trias, “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Almost Like Being In Love”
Jasmine can sing, no doubt, but coming after LaToya's performance must be rough. She was good, but did not wow me. She really looked like she had fun though.
Randy stated it was good, but not wow.
Paula said that she's seen much growth and that she did a good job.
Simon stated that she is steady, consistent, nothing exciting, predictable, pleasant.
I gave her a 4 for voice and 4 for charisma for a total of 8.

5. Fantasia Barrino, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life”
Fantasia is just absolutely awesome, fantastic, she gave me chills tonight! She is a star, period.
Randy said she was brilliant, that she was unbelievable and loved it.
Paula told her that she brought her to tears.
Simon said that her and LaToya are simply in a different league.
I gave her a 5 for voice, and 5 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 10

Who had the best score for me? LaToya London and Fantasia Barrino. No question they shined tonight.

The Results Show was predictable this week as well, and thank goodness! My pick to be in the bottom 2?
Jasmine Trias and George Huff. I think it's Jasmine's turn to go.
The bottom 2 were indeed Jasmine & George, and I must admit, I was a bit surprised that George was voted off. I honestly thought he had enough fans to pull him through! But now as it stands it's a 'girl's game'.

My predictions? Next week it should be Jasmine's turn to go. The votes that George received will most likely go to LaToya or Fantasia in my view which will help them hang in there for at least another week. After that it will be interesting. I am still not sure if Fantasia can make the finale because I still hear so many people complaining about different things about her.
The top 3 will most likely be, in my view, Fantasia, LaToya and Diana.
The Top 2 will most likely be LaToya and Diana
The winner? In my View it will be LaToya. In my perfect little world anyway!

The final 6 go Latin!
I really LOVE Gloria Estefan, even have a couple of her CDs, but her music is so... how shall we say? Unique... so unique that these final 6, however talented, could very well... gosh... butcher it. Will their talent surprise me? I hope so. What I also hope is that this is the end of the road for John Stevens. I am already dreading his performance and I haven't even heard it. Nice kid, just no longer belongs, that's all.

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Fantasia Barrino, “Get On Your Feet”
Fantasia's rendition of this Gloria Estefan's hit was pretty good considering this it totally not her style, LOL. Not bad.

Randy said that it was a great performance but that he wasn't sure if he 'felt' her and that it was pitchy.
Gloria stated that she never sang a bad note in the whole competition.
Paula told her that she gave her all.
Simon said it was not great.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.5.

2. George Huff, “Live for Loving You”
George is awesome! He can pull off anything!
Randy said that he worked it out.
Gloria told him that she loved his personality, spectacular.
Paula said that it was great, that he had fun.
Simon thought it was amateurish.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 9.5 from me.

3. LaToya London, “Rhythm is Gonna Get You”
What can I say? LaToya brings it every single time! Fantastic! She can do no wrong.
Randy said she looked beautiful and that it was good.
Gloria congratulated her.
Paula said she wanted to hear more of her.
Simon stated that she needed to do this dancing performance to show that she can do more than just sing well.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A perfect 10.

4. John Stevens, “Music of My Heart”
Jasmine really stepped up the game this week. I don't know if it was because her flower was gone, but she looked more refined, more classy. While she sang her heart out, her stage presence needs still something though... hmmm...
Randy stated she did a very good job.
Gloria stated that she made her grandma proud.
Paula said that she did a great, beautiful job.
Simon stated that she did great.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 4 for charisma for a total of 9.

5. Jasmine Trias, “Here We Are”
Jasmine is adorable, and her voice is really nice, but tonight she was very, very pitchy and it kinda ruined it. Pity.
Randy said she fell short, 7 out of 10, very pitchy.
Gloria said she did a beautiful job and congratulated her.
Paula told her that she is a fan of hers and today was no exception.
Simon said that it was a pleasant imitation (of Gloria) and that pleasant was good.
I gave her a 4.5 for voice, and 5 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 9.5.

6. Diana DeGarmo, “Turn the Beat Around”
WOW WOW WOW! Diana is really wowing me lately. She did look a little 'thick' in that dress, I think she could have chosen something that flattered her better, but her performance was amazing.
Randy said she has mad talent, very good!
Gloria said she was fantastic, great!
Paula said she is making her family proud, great!
Simon told her that her performance was a 7 and her dress 0!
I gave her a 5 for voice, and a 5 for charisma. A total of 10.

Who had the best score for me? LaToya London and Diana DeGarmo. This is actually the first week that I had time to actually vote! I voted for LaToya for probably about 10 times and I threw in about 5 votes for Diana. While I believe that LaToya should win AI3, at this point if Diana won I would be happy too :-)

The Results Show was finally predictable! My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Jasmine Trias, John Stevens and George Huff. And of course I would like John to go this week.
The true results were just like I hoped! The bottom 3 were indeed Jasmine John and George. Jasmine went back to

the couch and finally John was told it was his turn to go. John seemed actually relieved, and I don't blame him a tiny bit. It's a lot to handle for a 16 year old to be put down so much by the entire country, plus the recent death threats... geez. I do believe that with a lot of coaching he can eventually have a great music career, but not right now.

My predictions? Next week it should be Jasmine's turn to go. The votes that John received will most likely go to George in my view which will help him hang in there for at least another week. After that it will be interesting. I don't think Fantasia can make the finale because so many people simply don't like her. I heard it all, from fans not liking her voice, to others saying that she can't be an 'idol' because she is a teenage single mom (what does that have to do with anything? I have no idea!), and with this much controversy, she might very well go the week after next.
The top 3 will most likely be, in my view, George, LaToya and Diana.
The Top 2 will most likely be LaToya and Diana (although that is really tough to predict, George has a lot of fans!)
The winner? In my View it will be LaToya. In my perfect little world anyway!

The final 7 sing Barry's tunes.
Oh gosh... Barry Manilow must be one of my favorite singers of all time. He's probably the reason why I like Clay Aiken so much, he's basically a younger Barry. Even Ryan made a joke that they used some of Barry's DNA to make Clay, and Barry himself told the remaining idols that he's basically Clay... 30 years later! What would I give to hear Clay sing one of Barry's songs!! Maybe he will do a cover someday...
At any rate. Unlike Elton's week, Barry stayed in also as the guest judge, which was very, very cool. He even performed in the results show!

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Diana DeGarmo, “One Voice”
I really like Diana and I truly believe that even if she got booted off in the next few weeks she would still get a record contract. A younger generation singer that can sing and not be slutty like the likes of Britney or Christina? I would love it. A good role model for teenagers, yey! Diana's rendition of this fabulous song was very nice. It didn't 'move me' or anything, but she did a good job.
Randy said it was an ambitious song to sing.
Barry said 'You did it!'
Paula congratulated her for a job well done.
Simon said it was her best performance in the entire competition.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 4 for charisma. A total of 9.

2. George Huff, “Tryin’ to Get That Feeling Again”
I really like George. His humility and consistent performances make him unsurprisingly a favorite. He can do no wrong in my view. He has a wonderful stage presence and he made this song truly his own, BRAVO!
Randy did not love the rendition.
Barry said that he did great no matter what.
Paula said that he did a good job.
Simon thought he messed the song up.
I gave her a 4.5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 9.5 from me.

3. Jennifer Hudson, “Weekend in New England”
This was a very strong performance for Jennifer, WOW WOW WOW! Jennifer has truly come full circle for me. I thought she was good and was upset when she did not make it out of group 1 and was thrilled when she made it into the top 12 from the Wild Card show. Recently though she's become absolutely awesome, her performances are consistent and she's a favorite of mine.
Randy said it was unbelievable and that she was getting better every week.
Barry said that she took it all the way and that he loved it.
Paula said 'Way to Go'.
Simon stated that the battle of the DIVAs was in full swing!!
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A perfect 10.

4. Jasmine Trias, “I’ll Never Love This Way Again”
Jasmine really stepped up the game this week. I don't know if it was because her flower was gone, but she looked more refined, more classy. While she sang her heart out, her stage presence needs still something though... hmmm...
Randy stated she did a very good job.
Barry stated that she gave Dionne Worwich some competition!
Paula said that she did a great, beautiful job.
Simon stated that she did great.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 4 for charisma for a total of 9.

5. LaToya London, “All the Time”
In my humble view and in a perfect world, LaToya should win this competition. There is a lot of great talent this season, but LaToya's voice is pure, consistent, amazing, and it never fails to give me chills.
Randy said it was a great performance, very good.
Barry told her that she made him proud to be a songwriter.
Paula said she gave her chills, that she was consistent.
Simon said that she is the best singer in the competition and asked her if she thinks she can win...
I gave her a 5 for voice, and 5 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 10.

6. John Stevens, “Mandy”
I can't believe John is still in this competition. He's a nice kid with a very interesting voice, but he's WAY out of his league now. In a perfect world he would be leaving tomorrow, but will he? He's hardly ever in the bottom 3. Who is voting for him? I don't get it. While this rendition of Mandy was 'okay' and finally showed some personality, stacked up with Barry's version it simply does not hold a candle.
Randy said that it was allright.
Barry said he did fine.
Paula said he showed some emotion, that he did a good job.
Simon told him that... Mandy fell asleep, that his performance was mechanical and that he's a nice kid but he's simply not the best singer in this competition... oh, he also said he looks like

Stan Laurel. Stan Laurel? What do you folks think? You can't tell from this B&W picture, but Stan Laurel had red hair like John. The funniest thing about this was that John had NO IDEA who Stan Laurel was, that's too funny!
I gave him a 4 for voice, and a 4 for charisma. A total of 8.

7. Fantasia Barrino, “It’s a Miracle”
Fantasia never ceases to amaze and surprise me. Awesome!
Randy said good job, he felt it, loved the energy.
Barry said it was a miracle and she gave it her own spin.
Paula said it was a treat.
Simon told her that she brings excitement and danger to the competition, and that she showed her personality, great!
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for stage presence. A total of 10.

Who had the best score for me? Same as last week... Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London.

The Results Show was full of surprises. My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Jasmine Trias, John Stevens and Diana DeGarmo. John's gotta go....
The true results were stunning. What is America thinking? Ryan started by having the singers divided into 2 groups

of 3, in group A there were Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London, and on group B Jasmine Trias, John Stevens and Diana DeGarmo. I thought it was interesting at this point, my top 3 were in the same group and my bottom 3 were also in the same group. It looked like America thought like me. Then it was George's turn to find out which group he was going to belong to. After Ryan told him he was safe and to join the 'safe' group, a little undecided, he went to the group with the 3 'Divas' Fantasia, Jennifer and LaToya. After he got in there Ryan told him that he was in the wrong group. GASP!!! It's unimaginable that one of the best singers in the competition are going home. In the end it was Jennifer that took the proverbial boot, but somehow I doubt she will be disappearing anytime soon. Someone will surely give her a record contract, I hope so anyway!

The final 8 sing the movies!!
AThe music from the movies is always an interesting episode because the "wannabees" can at this point choose the genre they like best. The judges know this, so this is an important week for them and us to know what these singers are all about. All in all, this week produced the strongest performances I have heard from the eight contestants, and the show is getting VERY intersting now to say the least!
The guest judge this week is... Quentin Tarantino. What does he know about music? Ryan Seacrest explains that music is an important element in all his movies, and that he's a BIG fan of the show. But what qualifies him to judge singers? They never did explain that one. Oh well, still, it's going to be an interesting episode!

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. George Huff, “Against All Odds”
George's favorite movie, he states is 'The Wiz'. His performance of Against All Odds was a bit different than usual for him, I am used to him dancing and owning the stage, this time around, a ballad, seemed to be a little out of place for him. I still liked it and thought it was a good performance. I like George's voice a lot. George chose this song because, against all odds –

he wasn’t even supposed to be in the Top 32!
Randy said it was the wrong choice of song for him, pitchy.
Paula said it wasn't joyful
Quentin said he made him forget he hated that song and that he owned his space.
Simon said it was his weakest performance yet, bad choice of song.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.

2. Jennifer Hudson, “I Have Nothing”
Jennifer's favorite movie, she states, is 'Sister Act 2'. Okay... this is one of my favorite songs of all time!! ...back when Whitney was actually 'good' and not cuckoo like she is today... but, I digress. I always cringe and I've said many times before, it takes major GUTS to tackle ANY song by Mariah/Whitney/Celine because they are extremely hard to pull off. Jennifer, however, did pull this one off! BRAVO Jennifer!! She didn’t really do anything to make the song her own, but if she keeps singing like this, who knows how far she will go in this competition!
Randy told her she worked it out, it was good.
Paula said that she was coming into her own.
Quentin simply stated 'Hudson takes on Houston and wins'.
Simon thought she could be the front runner at this point.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma. She owned the stage. A total of 10 from me.

3. Jon Peter Lewis, “Jailhouse Rock”
JLP's favorite movie, he states, is 'Dead Poets Society'. This must be JPL's STRONGEST performance yet, singing better than I think I’ve ever heard him sing. Elvis is most definitely his genre, and it's really a great song choice for him. It was a fun performance, but somehow it lacked that sort of je-ne-sais-quoi that would make him "the" American Idol. I still think he can have a solid career outside of AI though, but I am afraid he's just not 'right' for this competition. He's outperformed by many week in and week out. He's definitely going to be in the bottom 3 this week.
Randy said 'JPL is back!'
Paula stated that this (genre) is who he is.
Quentin said BRAVO!
Simon stated that he was confused... that he thought that it was terrible. If this was 'comedy idol' he would have liked it.
I gave him a 4 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma. A total of 8.5 for me.

4. Diana DeGarmo, “My Heart Will Go On”
Diana's favorite movie, she states, is 'Bowfinger'. Uh-oh, another power ballad... none other than Celine Dion's huge hit from Titanic. If anyone can pull it off though, it's Diana. Pulling it off she did, I think she has the pipes to sing anything she wants. She looked pretty, but... yes, but... she just looks like a china doll. A good performance should move you, touch you, she just stood there without showing any emotion.
Randy stated it was pretty good, alright.
Paula said that she did a good job.
Quentin stated that she pulled the song of but... so what? He felt like there was a glass wall between him and her.
Simon stated that it was automatic and predictable.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 4 for charisma for a total of 9.

5. Fantasia Barrino, “Summertime”
Fantasia's favorite movie, she states, is 'Finding Nemo'. A cartoon? Okay! LOL, I always forget she is still only 19. This performance was by far the most magical, amazing, touching moving I've seen in a long time. BRAVO!!!! Even if, for some off chance, Fantasia is not in the top 2 at the end of the show, she has everything a star has and will most definitely have a long standing career, our new Tina Turner. GO FANTASIA!
Randy gave her a standing ovation and told her that this was the single best idol performance of any season he'd ever heard, that it was unbelievable.
Paula said it was an Oscar winning performance.
Quentin told her she was the bomb, but that he wanted to see her Rock Again.
Simon said that she proved the point of why the judges are critical of people that just sing well, there was something magical of what he did and that she had never put her lips to better use.
I gave her a 5+ for voice, and 5+ for charisma/stage presence. A total of 10++. Amazing stuff.

6. Jasmine Trias, “When I Fall In Love”
Jasmine's favorite movie is 'Lilo and Stitch'. What? Another cartoon? Oh yes, she's only 17 and it's a movie that is based in Hawaii, so it makes sense. Jasmine is really a cute girl and gave a really cute performance, she definitely pulled off the song, no doubt. Again though, like Diana, I thought that she didn't 'feel' the song, which is so important. She almost got booted off last week, my guess is, she will be in the bottom 3 this week.
Randy said that it was good.
Paula said she has a nice tone, pleasant, good job.
Quentin said it was a delicate power house performance.
Simon told her that she and Diana are children trying to be adults...
I gave her a 4.5 for voice, and a 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.

7. John Stevens, “As Time Goes By”
John's favorie movie is "Aladdin'. Good lord, another cartoon. Okay, John knows what his 'genre' is, so his pick of song this week was awesome! It was an 'good' performance, it didn't move me, it was just okay. I know he has the pipes, he just never uses them. I can't imagine him staying in this competition much longer.
Randy said that it was a perfect song, perfect rendition, not great but good.
Paula said that he has the perfect voice for this genre.
Quentin simply said BRAVO!
Simon told him that he sang the song wellm but he had no charisma.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and a 4 for stage presence. A total of 8.5.

8. LaToya London, “Somewhere”
LaToya's favorite movie is "Finding Nemo". With thousands of wonderful and powerful movies out there, I don't get the cartoon thing. Don't get me wrong, I am a BIG FAN of Disney's movies, but none of my "favorite" movies are cartoons. To each his own, I guess.
LaToya's performance this week was magical, classy, perfection impersonated, the making of a true star. In a perfect world LaToya and Fantasia would end up in the finale, but will they?
Randy thought it was great
Paula said that she loved it!
Quentin said one word 'Powerhouse'.
Simon said that it was one of her best performances so far.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma, for a total of 10.

Who had the best score for me? The top 3 were Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London.

The Results Showdidn't prove to be so full of surprises. My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Jasmine Trias, John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis. For once I got 2 out of 3!
The true results ended up having Diana DeGarmo, John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis in the bottom 3!!!
Okay... so Diana was sent back to the couch and she was pretty happy about that to say the least, leaving JPL and John Stevens awaiting the final word on who was going home. I really thought that it was John Steven's turn to go, but I was wrong, as it turned out that JPL got the boot instead. I guess he wanted to make an impression like Matt did, so as the credits rolled, he belted out Jailhouse rock while he went into the audience and then started dancing with his dad. What was he trying to prove I'll never know, but he sure did go out with a bang. Something tells me this is not the last we'll hear from him, he's got a lot of fans and they will surely keep him in the limelight.

The final 9 tackle Elton John!
Elton John is one of my favorite performers of all time.. but can the idol wannabees give these wonderful songs justice? Hmmm... something tells me it won't be easy and I am looking forward to these performances. I thought Elton would be the celebrity judge but he just helped the idols with their songs, that's all. That was disappointing. Okay, let's get to it...
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for. For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance/stage presence, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Fantasia Barrino, “Something About the Way You Look Tonight”
Okay, I don't usually comment on the garments of the contestants, but I really didn't like Fantasia's earrings for some reason! I really do like her and I think she's just phenomenal.
Randy said it was very, very, very good, and that she's a young Aretha.
Paula said that there was nothing about her that she didn't like.
Simon said it was her weakest performance.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 10. PERFECT!

2. Jon Peter Lewis, “Rocket Man”
Jon's performance this week was pretty good I must say, I was very surprised by the vocals, nothing spectacular but good! He looked very cute in that green jacket, good choice of wardrobe!
Randy thought the vocals were not on tonight, that it was just allright.
Paula thought he was trying to find his style.
Simon thought he needed voice lessons, and that the performance was just average, it didn't blow him away. He did comment on the nice jacket!
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 9.5 from me.

3. Jasmine Trias, “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”
I loved Jasmine this week. Her performance was unbelievable, I was blown away. I liked her cute shirt too!
Randy thought she was pitchy, just "okay"
Paula also stated she was pitchy.
Simon stated that she was just not good enough, average.
I must say that the judges comments were very surprising, I really liked this performance! I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A total of 10 for me.

4. John Stevens, “Crocodile Rock”
Oh My God. He was awful. I have no words.
Randy stated that it was a valiant effort, and that it was bad... really bad.
Paula stated that his pitch was off, she was proud of him to get of of his "box" but that he had to work on his vocals.
Simon stated that it was awful... excruciating...
I gave him a 3 for voice and 3 for charisma for a total of 6 out of 10. My worse score for any contestant this season. I think. If he's not going this week, he's going soon.

5. Camile Velasco, “Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road”
Oh my gosh... this was painful to say the absolute least. It was way too low for her in some parts and then it went way high... HUGH!!!!
Randy stated that it was pitchy, not her best.
Paula said that it was not the right song, shaky.
Simon said that someone in Vegas was thoring the TV out the window, and that it was Elton John. He also told her that it was the end of the road for her. Sadly, I agree.
I gave her a 3.5 for voice, and 3 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 6.5 out of 10. Pretty bad. I can't imagine who in the world is still voting for her, she should have been one of the first to go.

6. George Huff, “Take Me to the Pilot”
I never heard this song before, so it's hard for me to judge the rendition of it. Still, George is a pleasure.
Randy said that he worked it out and did his thing!
Paula said that he was a singing machine.
Simon told him that he is unique and that he's saving this competition tonight, that he has a lot of confidence.
I gave her a 4 for voice, and a 5 for charisma. A total of 9.

7. Diana DeGarmo, “I’m Still Standing”
I wasn't too impressed with Diana tonight, couldn't really put my finger on it. She spent so much time high fiving people etcetera and I felt she did not concentrate enough on her performance. Hmmm... not sure what to say.
Randy said it wasn't her best performance.
Paula said she could tell that she was not completely healthy.
Simon had nothing to say... common Simon! We tune in just to hear what YOU have to say!!! LOL
I gave her a 4.5 for voice and a 4.5 for stage presence. A total of 9.

8. LaToya London, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
I missed LaToya's performance when my phone rang. DARN! I had to go to the other room to turn on Tivo but by the time I got there, turned the TV on, changed channel, bla bla, her performance was over. Thankfully Tivo taped the rest of the show for me. Phew! From what I saw at the end, she sounded AWESOME as usual. My guess is that if she doesn't win this competition, she better be in the top 4, heck, top 2~~!
Randy thanked her for singing so good tonight.
Paula said that she took an old song and made it sound brand new.
Simon said that she was good-nothing spectacular but good.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma, for a total of 10.

9. Jennifer Hudson, “Circle of Life”
Jennifer sounded awesome this week. She sounded very refined, much, much improved over the previous weeks, and that's saying a lot since I always thought she was definitely one of the best in this competition already.
Randy said that it was the best performance of the night and the best of hers.
Paula said that this is who she is.
Simon said that she had proved why she is in the final 12.
I gave her a 5 for voice, and a 5 for charisma/stage presence. A total 10!!

Who had the best score for me? The top 4 were Fantasia, Jasmine, Jennifer and LaToya.

The Results Show proved to be full of surprises once again. A one hour show? Boy, FOX is milking this show for all it's worth! LOL. It was nice to hear Tamyra Gray sing though. She is the new Whitney Houston in my view.

My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Camile Velasco, John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis. Interestingly.. the same as last week.
This week they put the contestants in groups of 3.
Group C had Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London and George Huff. This group was safe, as they had the MOST votes.
Group B had John Stevens, JPL and Fantasia. This group was also safe, as they had the next MOST votes. My guess is that girls are voting for John Stevens and JPL because they are "cute". Sad.
It was Group A that were the bottom 3. They were Diana DeGarmo (okay, why is she there? I don't get it, she is pretty darn good!) Jasmine Trias (surely influenced by the judges' comments) and Camile. Well, one out of three. Diana was safe and went back to the couch. Jasmine and Camile sang their songs and finally Camile was eliminated. It was about TIME!!!!

The top 10 perform!!
Ahhh... MOTOWN week! Now, that's exciting!! I've loved this genre for what seems like forever so I am really looking forward to these performances.
As a special treat, Ryan introduces us to Ashford & Simpson as the 'guest' judges. To be honest, the guest judges have never really impressed me, and this time was no different. They can NEVER say anything bad or constructive, everyone is just fabulous. Now... I have no problem if a guest judge says that someone is fabulous is someone really is fabulous, but I have a hard time hearing compliments for someone that really didn't do well. That's why I enjoy Simon, he always tells the truth, even though nobody wants to hear it. Oh well.

I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Camile Velasco, “For Once in My Life”

Camile is not one of my favorites.. heck, I thought she'd be gone by now, so I am hoping in a great performance, but as usual, she disappoints. Her voice is subdued, very low toned. I am not sure how to grade it, Hmmm...
Randy said it was alright, rough, pitchy, not her best.
Paula said it was her best performance yet and that she was having fun, bravo!
Ashford & Simpson loved his eyes (hmmm?) and that it was great.
Simon said it was average, not good enough, and that she had one more week left in the competition (we can only wish!)
I gave her a 4 for voice and 4 for charisma. A total of 8.

2. Jon Peter Lewis, “This Old Heart of Mine”
Jon's performance simply wasn't strong enough this week.
Randy liked the look, but that the voice was not happening tonight.
Paula thought it was good.
Ashford & Simpson said he did his 'thing'.
Simon thought it was horrendous and it was an amateurish performance.
I gave him also a 4 for voice and 4 for charisma. A total of 8 from me.

3. LaToya London, “Ooh Baby Baby”
I love LaToya, she was classy, awesome.
Randy thought she had a shaky start but that she brought it home. He didn't like the hair (okkidokki).
Paula stated that she can do no wrong.
Ashford & Simpson stated that she has a powerful voice and that she was beautiful.
Simon stated that she sounded great but that she should lose the hair (looks like you have a cat on your hair he said.. okay Simon!)
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.5 for me.

4. Amy Adams, “Dancing in the Streets”
Amy's performance this week was okay, not bad.
Randy stated that she sounded great.
Paula stated that she was dancing!!
Ashford & Simpson made a negative comment! Unbelievable. They stated that it was wonderful BUT that she didn't make it her own.
Simon stated that it was simply 'safe', nothing spectacular, and that she reminded him of Jay Leno's sister (okay, she does have a wider chin than most, but Jay Leno? LOL, that was funny, thankfully Amy just laughed it off instead of lashing out at him, kudos to her!).
I gave her a 4 for voice and 4.5 for charisma for a total of 8.5 out of 10.

5. John Stevens, “My Girl”
I always want John to sound great, to do his 'thing', but most of the time I am disappointed, I was really disappointed this week. Sigh.
Randy stated that it was rough, and not in tune.
Paula said that it was a safe performance.
Ashford & Simpson said that he sounded pure and innocent.
Simon was not impressed. He stated that it was abysmal, not in tune and his worse week by a mile. Sadly, I agree.
I gave him a 3.5 for voice, and 4 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 7.5 out of 10. Pretty bad.

6. Jennifer Hudson, “Heat Wave”
I thought Jennifer did good, nothing spectacular, but good nonetheless.
Randy said that it was over the top but good.
Paula said that it was great
Simon told her that it was entertaining, manic, mad but good!
I gave her a 4.5 for voice, and a 4.5 for charisma. A total of 9.

7. Jasmine Trias, “You’re All I Need to Get By”
Jasmine was good this week... phew! After last week's performance I was sweating bullets. She is a likable gal with a great voice, I hope she goes far.
Randy said that it was a great last note, but pitchy.
Paula said it looked effortless, good control.
Ashford & Simpson loved the song, and that she gave a great rendition.
Simon told her that she brought it back this week, best performance of hers to date, no question.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and a 4.5 for stage presence. A total of 9.

8. Diana DeGarmo, “Do You Love Me Now?”
Diana's performance this week was over the top for me, just "okay". She's got the voice, but needs to control it better and make it classier in my view.
Randy thought it was the performance of the night...
Paula said that she can blow!
Ashford & Simpson told her that she 'did it'.
Simon said that she was great vocally, but that visually it was more like a High School production.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 4 for charisma, for a total of 9. There are no 10s for me yet tonight... wow. Hopefully soon...

9. Fantasia Barrino, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! I couldn't take my eyes off her!
Randy stated that she was brilliant.
Paula said that she was touching people (literally!)
Ashford & Simpson said that Fantasia was Fantastic.
Simon said she was superb.
I gave her a 5 for voice, and a 5 for charisma/stage presence. A total 10!! Finally!

10. George Huff, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
George brought it on tonight! I loved it!
Randy said that he did a good job.
Paula stated that Simon had said that he was a "backup" motown singer in the past, but that he had proven that he was a front man!
Ashford & Simpson stated that he has a wonderful voice.
Simon said that he was going to take back the comment about him being a backup singer.
I gave him 5 for voice, and a 5 for charisma. Another 10! George will go far.

The Results Show proved to be full of surprises. My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Camile Velasco, John Stevens and Jon Peter Lewis. I was so wrong it wasn't even funny.
The true results ended up having Amy Adams, Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London in the bottom 3!!! WHAT? Jennifer must not have many fans, since this is the second undeserved trip down to the bottom 3, but LaToya? She does not belong there at all.
Okay... so LaToya was sent back to her seat leaving Jennifer and Amy awaiting the final word on who was going home. In the end, it was Amy who had to say her goodbyes, I was sad to see her go.

The top 11 perform!!
It was country week, always an interesting evening simply because the finalists may simply not have what it takes to sing these songs. AI wants to find an all around great performer, so this is going to be THE test!
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

1. Diana DeGarmo, “A Broken Wing”
Wow! Diana sounds like an old Pro. I am always amazed by this girl.
Randy loved her too... Incredible is what he muttered, along with 'best performance of hers;, he was blown away.
Paula said that this is definitely her 'career'.
Simon gave his most constructive criticism of her to date. He said that it was effortless but that she did not connect with the audience, is sounded like she is a product of a pop-farm.
I gave her a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma. What a super start to the show! A total of 10-my highest score from me!!

2. George Huff, “I Can Love You Like That”
I really like George, he's so personable, and what a great voice!
Randy liked it but didn't "feel" it.
Paula thought he had the sexiest voice ever!
Simon thought that he needed to create his own sense of style, but loved his performance and stated that he had a connection with the audience.
I gave him also a 5 for voice and 5 for charisma. A total of 10 from me.

3. Fantasia Barrino, “Always on My Mind”
Fantasia was classy, perfect in my book.
Randy thought she was unbelievable, great.
Paula stated that she was classy, exquisite.
Simon stated that she had just proved she was not a one-trick pony, but that her performance was not who she was.
I gave Fantasia a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma. A total of 10 for me.

4. John Stevens, “King of the Road”
I am always looking forward to John's performances. While it's evident he's not a seasoned performer (I truly doubt he will win at this point), his voice is certainly unique. This performance was very cute! I was impressed. Smooooth!!!
Randy stated that he enjoyed him for the first time.
Paula stated that she was proud of him.
Simon thought he did great, did really well.
I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 5 for charisma for a total of 9.5 out of 10.

5. Camile Velasco, “Desperado”
I am not one of Camile's fans by a long shot. Something about her just does not excite me at all. Her performance was simply 'okay' this week.
Randy stated that it was alright, jerky, but didn't get it.
Paula said that her soulfulness was creeping in and that she did a great job.
Simon stated that her performance was out of tune, that her nerves are her problem and that she didn't look comfortable on stage.
Matt

I gave her a 4.5 for voice, and 4 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 8.5 out of 10. There is no way she can win this competition.

6. Jennifer Hudson, “No One Else on Earth”
This performance was good! Liked it.
Randy said that her performance was overall good.
Paula said that the real Jennifer was not punching through, that she sounded great, but where's the spunk?
Simon told her that there are better singers in this competition.
I gave her a 5 for voice, and a 4 for charisma. A total of 9.

7. Jon Peter Lewis, “She Believes In Me”
Jon reminds me of Larry Wilcox of Chips' fame for some reason! Nice performance!
Randy said that it wasn't on tonight.
Paula said it was a pleasant, safe performance, good.
Simon told him that he has an old voice, that America has fallen in love with him and that he reminded him of John Boy from the Waltons!
I gave him a 5 for voice and a 4 for stage presence. A total of 9.

8. Jasmine Trias, “Breathe”
Uh-oh. This is the song that got Julia DeMato booted off last year. Jasmine did not give a very good performance of this song either. I am yet to hear this song performed well by anyone other than the original artist (Faith Hill). This makes me like Faith Hill even more. I hope this song does not doom Jasmine!
Randy thought that this wasn't her best performance.
Paula agreed with Randy.
Simon said that it was a safe, sweet and boring performance.
I gave her a 4 for voice and a 4 for charisma, for a total of 8.

9. Matt Rogers, “Amazed”
I like Matt, but his talent doesn't overwhelm me. His rendition was just so-so to me, I felt like he almost 'butchered' one of my favorite all time songs. Sigh!! He was out of tune a lot to me too.
Randy stated that liked it, that his vocals were better this time.
Paula said that it was a subdued performance, and that she liked it.
Simon said it was just horrible (finally! I knew it wasn't just me) and that it was a sellout.
Amy

I gave him a 3.5 for voice, but only a 4.5 for charisma/stage presence. Let's face it, Matt has personality! A total of 8 out of 10.

10. LaToya London, “Ain’t Goin’ Down ‘Til the Sun Comes Up”
I love Latoya and I am convinced that she will go far into this competition, but this performance didn't suit her. She is not a country girl and this is very much a country song. I felt something was weird and not right about it.
Randy said that it was incredible.
Paula said it was a fun performance.
Simon said that this is what he was waiting for, that she took a risk and it paid off.
I gave her a 5 for voice, and a 5 for charisma. While I thought her performance was not 'her' per se, her voice is incredible and she did do a good job keeping my eyes glued to the screen!

11. Amy Adams, “Sin Wagon”
I really liked Amy in this genre. I thought she did spectacularly well!
Randy told her that this was the best performance she had ever given, and that this was her kind of music.
Paula thought she did great.
Simon didn't have a clue, country is not his cup of 'tea'.
I gave her a 4.5 for voice and a 5 for stage presence. A total of 9.5.

Who had the best score for me? The top 4 were Latoya London, George Huff, Fantasia Barrino and Diana Degarmo. Almost identical to last week. But who should be in the bottom 3? My personal choice would have been Camile, Jasmine and Matt, with Camile taking the proverbial 'boot' out the door.

The Results Show proved to be full of surprises... well, sorta.
As predicted, Matt and Camile were in the bottom 3, but... Diana? That is just wrong. After Diana safely goes back to the couch, we were left waiting of who between Matt and Camile would go home. In the end, it was Matt, andf it was certainly a surprise.

The top 12 perform!!
It is finally time for the top 12 to start performing and once of them to be eliminated each week until we get our final idol!! This is really exciting stuff.
This first week, the theme is SOUL, and the 8 female, 4 male performers are ready to take the stage. Here goes...
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

2. Amy Adams, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”
I really like Amy, and I was not too impressed with her performance. I really thought the voice simply wasn't there. She did not blow me away at all.
Randy thought her performance was good, but not 'unbelievable'.
Paula thought she is a goofball and has a pretty voice.
Simon thought it was boring, dreary and that she chose a very 'safe' song (from safe I interpret, one she can't really mess up? I think?)
I gave her also a 4 for voice and 4.5 for charisma. A total of 8.5 from me.

3. Matthew Rogers, “Hard to Handle”
I am still wondering how Matt made it into the top 12. He seemed to have picked the right song though, while the voice isn't strong at all in my view, he was a flirt on stage and performed really well.
Randy thought the vocals were okay, but it was his best performance he saw of him.
Paula stated that she liked how much fun he was having on stage, working the audience and that he picked the right song. She also stated that he sounded good, comfortable.
Simon stated that he looked happy to be on TV (LOL), but he sounded like a second-rate Tom Jones... corny...
I gave Matt a 4 for voice and a 5 for charisma. He does have the 'it' factor as far as I am concerned, but where is the voice? I didn't hear it yet. The way he disses Simon is not appealing at all. He will never get my vote for that reason alone. A total of 9 for me.

4. Camile Velasco, “Son of a Preacher Man”
Camile is weak in my view-she does have a pretty voice but it just doesn't blow me away. There is no spunk there, no personality to see.
Randy stated that there was nothing to wow about, that it was just okay.
Paula stated that she did not see a vibe coming out, that she needs to have fun.
Simon stated that she doesn't have the self-belief like Latoya.
I gave her a 4 for voice and 3.5 for charisma for a total of 7.5 out of 10. All I can say is, she is DEFINITELY going to be one of the first few to be booted off. There is no way she can match the talent or performance of some of the other contestants.

5. Jon Peter Lewis, “Drift Away”
Jon has come out of his shell! The stiff pencil salesman all of a sudden is just rockin'. He is different and, let's face it, fun! I still don't think his vocals are strong enough to compete, so it will be interesting to see how far he'll make it. He just seems like he's like the cute boy next door.
Randy stated that he was 'feeling him', that he could see his personality coming through.
Paula said he gave a fun performance and he was a great presence.
Simon stated that he could very well be the dark horse to win the competition, that he potentially a very good voice if he cuts the dancing! LOL
I gave him a 4 for voice, and 4.5 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 8.5 out of 10.

8. Jennifer Hudson, “Baby I Love You”
I thought Jennifer was really quite good.
Randy thoguht she was great.
Paula said she was focused and controlled.
Simon said she had a bad choice of song, and was oversinging, but it was very good.
Leah

I gave her a 5 for voice and a 5 for charisma, for a total of 10. It's my 3rd 10 for the night!

9. John Stevens, “Lately”
I like Jon, but maybe he's just too young for this kind of competition. He's a bit stiff, not sure yet where and how he can best use his talent. He's unique enough though to assure himself plenty of votes though, that's for sure.
Randy stated that he was weak, that didn't pass, he was bored.
Paula said that he was classy, but he chose a 'safe' song.
SImon agreed with Paula... he stated that he was a unique artist and that he was glad he was there to break the monotony and that he was a good singer.
I gave him a 4 for voice, but only a 3 for charisma/stage presence. A total of 7 out of 10.

10. Leah LaBelle, “You Keep Me Hanging On”
I am not and never was impressed by Leah. Can't really put my finger on it, she is just not strong enough. Plus, she cries at everything, ugh!
Randy said that it wasn't her best performance.
Paula agreed.
Simon told her to pack her suitcase because she wasn't good enough.
I gave her a 4 for voice, and a 4 for charisma. While her total (8) is higher than some people, I also agree with Simon, she simply doesn't belong here. She is not unique enough, and she is not strong enough.

Jasmine 11. Jasmine Trias, “Inseparable”
Jasmine gave me chills tonight!!! Who knew she could sing this good?
Randy told her that she could sing! Yes!
Paula stood up and took a bow. She told her that she had a mature and well rounded voice.
Simon simply stated that she was superb.
I gave her a 5 for voice and a 4.5 for stage presence. A total of 9.5.

Who had the best score for me? The top 4 were Latoya London, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and Diana Degarmo. How can you pick? I can't! But the one that should go in my view is Leah Labelle... bottom 3

If Leah isn't the one to go I will be really, really surprised. Her competition is just too darn strong. If she would have been on season 1, perhaps she could have lasted longer, but this group of 12 is awesome. When you have Fantasia, Latoya, Jennifer and Diana singing their hearts out, the likes of Leah pale so much by comparison.

The Results Show proved to be full of surprises. My pick to be in the bottom 3?
Leah Labelle, Camile Velasco and maybe John Stevens or Amy Adams.
The true results ended up having Leah Labelle, Amy Adams and.... Jennifer Hudson? Jennifer does not belong in the bottom 3!!!
Amy was sent back to her seat leaving Jennifer and Leah awaiting the final word on how was going home. In the end, it was Leah who had to say her goodbyes, and I was happy to see that.

The results show also had a group number and a fantastic, fabulous performance of 'Solitaire' by Clay Aiken! Go Clay!!!

The Wild Cards...
This wild card show was definitely a different one. Seems like every year they like to change things around. In year one the judges picked only one contestant from the group (R.J. Helton), and the audience didn't vote at all. In year two they decided to let the audience pick one (Clay Aiken!) and the judges picked one each (which were Kimberly Caldwell for Randy, Trenyce for Paula and Carmen Rasmusen for Simon). This year yet another twist. From the 12 they let 'come back' for the show, only 8 were able to perform and have the possibility to move forward, from that group, the audience picked one, and the judges each, again, picked one.
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:
Okay, the show starts with Ryan telling us that they had a Performance 'workshop' with the 12 wild card contestants and the judges had to decide which 4 to cut from these 12. A very dramatic scene starts as each contestant makes their way to the podium awaiting the decision.
First up is Lisa Lueschner... Randy states that she had "potentially" the best voice in the whole competition but... she is cut! What? That did not make any sense to me. What was the reason for the cut? She maybe didn't' have the 'IT' Jon Peter Lewis

factor? She wasn't thin enough? Not pretty enough? Who knows... we'll never know.
Matthew Metzger is next, Paula said he has a nice tone, he is a little pitchy, but he's through.
Marques Lynche comes in and Simon states that he has the makes of a stage singer, so he's cut.
The next 6 contestants all make it through.. they are Katie Webber, Jennifer Hudson, George Huff, Elizabeth Letendre, Leah Labelle, and Jon Peter Lewis. The comments from the judges regarding these 6 contestants varied from 'we're giving you another shot' to 'you deserve to be here' and 'we're letting you stay'.
Tiara Purifoy is then next and Randy basically tells her she would not be singing tonight, no reason.
Suzy Verlaca and Eric Yoder make the stage entrance together since they are the last two, and without too many ceremonies, Simon tells Suzy that she would be singing tonight. I thought it was funny that they didn't let Paula tell anyone they were cut-probably because she can't do it? Hmmm...

1. Jon Peter Lewis, “A Little Less Conversation”
Hmmm.. I thought he was very much different than before, but does that make it better? I didn't think so. It was more of a 'funny' performance than anything. I wasn't impressed. Randy liked it though, he said he made him laugh and that he sounded good. Paula stated that he brought a smile to her face and that she was proud of him. Simon said it was 'horrible'... I agree with you Simon! LOL. He said that he belonged outside of a subway with a hat, and that the hat would be empty. Paula defended Jon stating that Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler dance on stage like that and they are successfull... okidokki! I gave him a 4 for voice and 4 for charisma. A total of 8 for me.

4. George Huff, “Lean on Me”
I LOVE George! I don't really know why either, LOL. It's not really that his talent is particularly amazing, but is the whole package, I suppose. Personality, great voice etc. Randy and Paula said they enjoyed it and it was very good. Simon stated that he had a great personality and that people were going to root for him. Wow, I can't believe how much Simon agrees with me tonight! Wink ;-) I gave him a 4.5 for voice and 4.5 for charisma for a total of 9 out of 10. All I can say is, he is DEFINITELY making it into the top 12!

6. Matthew Metzger, “When I See You Smile”
I've always thought Matthew was cute but didn't have a voice that was strong enough to really compete. I would be surprised if he made it into he top 12, then again, look at Justin Guarini! I love Justin and he never had a very powerful voice either. At any rate, Randy didn't think his performances were consistent, Paula was mesmerized by his looks and stated that girls had found a new heartrob, but he needed an edge in his voice. Simon told Paula that she was vague and he thought he had a nice smile and a good performance but that something was missing. I gave him a 4 for voice, and a 4.5 for charisma. A total of 8.5. I am still rooting for him!

7. Leah LaBelle, “Let’s Stay Together”
I never really cared for Leah. The voice does not blow me away, the performance is okay at best, she just rubs me the wrong way, not sure why. She seemed to me to have a little attitude too, or am I just imagining that? Not really sure. Randy said it was not her best performance, but was much improved. Paula REALLY liked her for some reason, stated that she had her best performance thus far and that her nuances (?) were great and she did a 'superb' job. Okay Paula! Whatever you say. Simon disagreed (what is it with tonight? Does Simon really have to agree with me all the time? LOL) He stated that her performance was shaky, ordinary... so what? Hmmm... I agree. I gave her a 4 for voice and a 4 for stage presence. A total of 8. I hope she doesn't make it though, although Paula liked her so much that if the audience doesn't pick her she would most likely choose her. Shame.

8. Jennifer Hudson, “I Believe in You and Me”
FANTASTIC! I would be really upset if Jennifer didn't make it into the top 12!! She was truly the MOST talented in the whole group by far. Randy liked her too, and stated that her performance was the best of the night and that she sang incredibly well. Paula noted that she had muscle in her voice, and Simon stated that she was lucky they did not have to judge her on her dress because it was hideus (and it was!) but that she had a fantastic personality and did great. I gave her a 5 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma, for a total of 9.5.

Who had the best score for me? The top 4 were George Huff, Suzy Vulaca, Matthew Metzger and Jennifer Hudson. If those 4 made it through I would have been happy. Unfortunately the result show was a bit disappointing as I almost expected.
To my amazement the next day the judges picked the following:
Randy: Jennifer Hudson (YEY!)
Paula: Leah Labelle (what a surprise, NOT!) I doubt she will be around long though.
Simon George Huff (YEY)
Audience Pick: Jon Peter Lewis... what? That was VERY surprising to me to say the least. I was disappointed especially for Suzy Vulaca, who I thought did a phenomenal job. Will we see her again? I hope so.

So... Here are the Final 12 that will start competing week by week for the next 11 weeks or so to win the crown of the next American Idol... They are:

1. Amy Adams

2. Leah Labelle

3. Fantasia Barrino

4. Camile Velasco

5. Jon Peter Lewis

6. Diana DeGarmo

7. John Stevens

8. LaToya London

9. Matthew Rogers

10. Jasmine Trias

11. George Huff

12. Jennifer Hudson

Group 4... the last chance!
Group 4 was the last group of 8 out of 32 to compete for the audience's votes. Whoever did not make it through will get a chance to be in the top 12 on the Wild Card show next week. But... that's NEXT week! Here's the lowdown on what happened THIS week ;-)
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

3. Heather Piccinini - "New Attitude"
I was expecting great things from Heather-the new Kim Caldwell... she surely kept me watching. She surely had a good voice, but... something was amiss. Randy thought she was like a lounge singer, basically not good enough. Paula stated that her song choice was bad and that the vocals were cheesy. Simon stated that she just tried too hard and that her performance was way over the top. I gave her a 3.5 for voice and a 5 for charisma (yes, I thought she 'had it'. A total of 8.5 for me. Way to go Amy!!!

8. Tiara Purifoy - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
I didn't get a chance to really enjoy Tiara's performance because my 6 month old was screaming in my ear (it happens!) but for what I heard I thought... WOW! Randy said that this was the best performance of the night, Paula said that she was in the top 2 but Simon... Simon said that it was a complete mess. What? Maybe the baby screaming did not help my ear or something, I guess. I thought she was great. I gave her a 5 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma, for a total of 9.5.

Who had the best score for me? It was a three way tie between Suzy, Jasmine and Tiara. Hmmm... and still, I want to vote for John. I was really, really torn on this one. I switched channel and started watching TOP MODEL while I thought about it, the baby fussed, this and that, and I never got a chance to vote or even decide WHO to vote for... oh well... LOL.
To my amazement the next day the judges predicted this way... Randy: Jasmine and George Pula: Jasmine and George Simon: Jasmine and John. I couldn't believe that the judges were dismissing the great performances of Suzy and Tiara and opting for George? How weird. And Simon even predicting John? What? Does he know something I don't? I myself wanted to vote for him, but wasn't aware that Simon liked him... or maybe he's just keen on the audience votes after 2 seasons? I think the latter.

At any rate, the three finalists with the most votes ended up being George (wow...) John (holy cow...) and Jasmine. Did the judges peek at the results? Hmmm... John got the most votes with 28% and Jasmine got 2nd place. Surprising, but I am not complaining.

The judges will be bringing back some really great folks that did not make it through in their group for next week...

1. Jennifer Hudson

2. Leah Labelle

3. Elizabeth Letendre

4. Lisa Lueschner

5. Jon Peter Lewis

6. Marques Lynche

7. Matthew Metzger

8. Katie Weber (YES!!)

9. Eric Yoder (YES!!)

10. Suzie Verlaca

11. George Huff

12. Tiara Purifoy

I can't wait! Wild card performers will compete live for the last four spots in the top twelve in a special 90 minute episode of American Idol, airing on FOX, Tuesday March 9 (8-9:30 pm). During this live special episode, the judges’ Wild Card contestants will perform for America. Chosen from the Top 32, as well as from the “Going to Hollywood” round, the Wild Card contestants will compete for four positions in the Top 12.

Group 3 takes the stage...
And.. what a show that was. Group 3 was the best group yet for talent and charisma.
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

3. Amy Adams - "The Power Of Love"
Anytime a contestant sings songs from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Celine Dion I think to myself... this person has GUTS! Not only they have to have guts, they have to have a GREAT voice to pull it off. Amy most definitely pulled it off! Paula stated that she was phenomenal, and Simon did comment that her performance was more of a 'Cabaret' Idol rather than 'American' Idol. Having said that, he also stated that she was a great singer and could even win. I gave her a 5 for voice (yes, my first 5!!) and a 4 for charisma. A total of 9 for me. Way to go Amy!!!

6. Jonah Moananu - "Love At First Sight"
Jonah was dubbed as the new Ruben, but his performance was not even close. I was very disappointed. His voice wasn't bad but his stage presence let a lot to be desired... then again, I think Ruben's stage presence was never fantastic either... but, I digress. Randy and Paula stated that he made the wrong song choice, that it did not show his talent. Simon simply stated that it wasn't very good. I gave him a 4.5 for voice, but only a 3 for charisma. A total of 7.5. The lowest score for me tonight.

8. Latoya London - "All By Myself"
All I can say is... WOW! Latoya really did an awesome job on this one. I was mesmerized and in awe. She even got a standing ovation from the judges!! Randy stated that she was the best he'd seen in the competition so far, Paula stated she was 'unbelievable', Simon stated that she was the best of the group and was Super and Outstanding. I gave her a 5 for voice (wow... the second 5 for the night!) and a 4.5 for charisma, for a total of 9.5.

Who had the best score for me? It was a tie between Amy and Latoya. I do have a soft spot for Eric though... hmmm... who to vote for? I had to think about it for a little while. While I thought Amy and Latoya deserved to advance the most, I realized that Latoya did not NEED my votes to advance. Undoubtedly she was going to advance, and if she didn't, the judges would most certainly champion her. So.. my votes went to Amy and Eric, I voted for each 10 times, and the phones were never busy...

In the results show the judges all stated that Latoya and Leah would make it through which was a little surprising to me... what about Amy?
But Amy obviously made a big impression on the public in general than Leah, could it be her red hair? After all, every season of idol has had a red haired female contestant, LOL.

Latoya indeed made it through with 32.3% of the votes, no surprise here, the other 2 contending for the #2 spot into the finals were Amy (YES!!) and.... drum roll... JON PETER?? WHAT? Yes. Leah did not even come close to making it into the top 2, but certainly the judges will champion her.... Amy did end up taking spot #2 and I am VERY excited. There will be some good singing in a few weeks! I can't wait!

The second group is ready!
Unfortunately it wasn't ready for prime time. Not even close. As soon as the show ended I thought to myself that whoever was getting out of this group on to the top 12 did not deserve to be there. Having said that, there was 'some' talent in this group, so... here goes...
I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

8. Marisa Joy - "Some Kind Of Wonderful"
This was by far the best of the group for me. She had a great voice, and a spark. Randy questioned her stance and Simon stated that even though she had the posture of a bar singer, she was still in the top 3 for him tonight. I gave Marisa a 4.5 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma, for a total of 9.

Who had the best score for me? Marisa Joy. I really liked that girl, so I voted for her a total of about 10 times. Since I liked Camile too, I voted for her another 10 times. The phone was never busy with either, which was a first... were the people so turned off by the performances tonight that they opted not to vote? Maybe there was nobody to vote for that they liked! It could happen!
Simon called this the Abysmal show with the capital A. Randy and Paula predicted Camile and Lisa would make it through, Simon stated that he wanted Camile to make it through, and for the second one, he didn't care.
Camile indeed made it through with 27.8% of the votes, the other 2 contending for the #2 spot into the finals were Lisa and.... drum roll... MATTHEW?? WHAT? Yes. And.. surprise surprise, he was the one that ended up making it into the top 12! Unbelievable? You bet. How much do you want to bet he'll be the FIRST one OUT of the top 12? There is no way he can compete with Fantasia or Diana, that's for sure.

The first 8 perform!
Finally it's time for the first round of eliminations by the general public! I keep my own score to figure out who to vote for.
For 'voice' a 5 would mean another Kelly Clarkson for a girl, or another Clay Aiken for a guy.
For charisma/performance, a 5 would mean someone that keeps you watching, such as Gwen Stefani from No Doubt.

Here's the rundown:

4. Katie Webber - "Orange Colored Sky"
Katie sang a jazz song and was really va-va-voom for me. WOW! I was totally impressed. The judges didn't think she was as great as I thought, however. Boo. Paula said she should have chosen a different song. Simon states that she reminded him of the lounge singer of the 'Lost in Translation' movie (I saw that movie and I do not see the resemblance at all, hmmm...). To me it was the best performance yet. Her strong voice makes me give her a 4.5 for voice, and yes, a 5 for charisma. Katie sparked big time for me. That's 9.5 out of 10. The biggest score yet.

5. Erskine Walcott - "Open Arms"
Erskine didn't do much for me. It was a bland performance, especially compared to Katie's. Simon agrees with me (or the other way around? LOL) and states that the song was too safe (again, I interpret that as being a song where the vocal and charisma do not shine through but it's hard to mess up). Simon tells Erskine that they are looking for Spaghetti Bolognese and not Sweet and Sour Pork (Chinese food makes you hungry again quickly and does not satisfy you like an Italian meal-that is what Simon means... I think!). His voice was just not strong enough for me, only 3.5 is what I give him, and since he was pretty bland on stage, a 3 for charisma. It's the worse score yet, only 6.5 out of 10.

6. Jennifer Hudson - "Imagine"
Jennifer gave a very nice performance. She has a good voice, but she didn't have that magnetic charisma that a star should have in my view. When I think of her, I think of a backup singer for some reason... hmmm... The judges loved her and she even cried (awww... that is sweet!). When Jennifer asked Simon about her outfit he states he has a thing for leathered up nurses (she was dressed in white leather)... pretty funny! I gave her a 4.5 for voice, but only a 3.5 for charisma. A total of 8 for me.

8. Fantasia Barrino - "Something To Talk About"
Finally is Fantasia. Just the name alone is charismatic. She belts out a very good performance that the judges absolutely love. Randy states she looks like an 'OLD PRO', Paula says she is a "must have" contestant in the top 12 for season 3, and Simon states that, unlike the other contestants, she does not NEED AI to become a star... wow! I gave her a 4.5 for voice and a 4.5 for charisma... a total of 9. The second best score.

Who had the best score for me? Katie Webber. I really liked that girl, so I voted for her a total of maybe about 10-11 times. The phone was very busy so I thought she did good.
Well, I was wrong. In the result show the judges reveal their top 2 picks and they were Diana Degarmo and Fantasia Barrino. Amazingly enough, all the judges concur on the top 2. Fantasia ended up with 23% of the votes, and the contestant to take 2nd place was indeed Diana. The #3 contestant was Matthew Metzger, which surprised me!
Will Katie make it to the Wild Card show? I hope so!

Three nights of American Idol again, but this time no bad auditions, although some of the good singers could have done much better! Forgetting the words seems so alien to me... especially on well known beloved songs! Heck, most of those songs I knew the words to myself and I never had to memorize them! Then again, I am almost 40 and I used to be a DJ and I own hundreds of CDs (not an exaggeration!) so maybe it's not right to judge the young ones.

The first night was interesting, last Monday. "The Road To Hollywood" was the title of this particular show. Lots of unseen finalists and supposedly "lost" footage.
Eric Yoder, which eventually does make it into the final 32, sings so good that Simon compares him to Clay... without his personality. Randy likes his falsetto. I thought he was good, but not THAT good. I mean, Clay is leaps and bounds over him. Hmmm... I wonder how far he'll go?
Amazing how some contestants come back again and again. I suppose if you have the voice and just lack that... je ne sais quoi (I have surely misspelled that!), it's worth a try to re-audition, but... but... if you don't have the voice to begin with... why waste everyone's time? I will never know.
Another contestant that caught my eye was Sara Logan, which arrived with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend loves her so much he was going to audition too... awwwww. But she did not need that kind of support, because she makes it thru... while he didn't.. and he knew he wasn't going to.
Tuesday's show is finally the first of two where we see the contestants go from 117 to 32-the final 32 which will compete and try to get the votes to eventually win the "American Idol".
So.. we see all these kids arrive in Pasadena, some look very studious, very intent in giving their all, while others are content in basking in the sun or in the pool. First.. the judges take the time to hear everyone sing, and before they sing they have to say WHY they are the American Idol. This tells the judges the level of seriousness of the contestant (only assuming here, sounds good though!). Then, for the next day, the kids are told that they have to write their own song, lyrics and melody. Hmmm... interesting! Some complain that they've never written a song in their life and are not to happy about this challenge, but I suppose the judges want an all-around star, not just some pretty person that can sing (again, I am only assuming, but it does sound pretty good!). While some of the contestants rise up to the challenge, others, well, flop and flop big... I mean... they even forget the words to their OWN song? Common people!!! The judges were very disappointed.
After all of this drama, the judges stare at some Polaroids and decide who should stay and who should go. They devide the contestants in 4 rooms and 1 room is... ahem... eliminated. The Yodel girl, taking the elevator toward the exit, (Kiera) says that the show won't be good without her, how this year’s Idol is focusing on trailer trash, blah blah. Really? Actually many contestants that got to boot declared either that Simon would not know talent if it bit him in the butt (really? Gee, that is an insult to Kelly, Clay and Ruben actually) or that this season of Idol is going to be terrible because they got rid of them. Well, I have news. The show was fine last year without them (and their attitudes!), and it’ll be just fine this year without them.
The remaining 87 contestants are relieved, but they don't have time to celebrate. They are split up in teams of 3 of the same sex. The girls must choose between “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Tell Him,” and Candi Stanton’s “Young Hearts Run Free" and the boys must choose between Billy Joel‘s “Tell Her About It,” Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” (good song to see how they sing, Rick's Astley's voice is phenomenal!), and “Up On the Roof.” Some more drama and we will see what happens tomorrow....
Wednesday's show starts seeing, again, all the drama or rehearsals, etc etc. But the funniest part is seeing the karaoke's words of the songs going at the bottom of the screen while the contestants either sing the wrong words or "…uhh…mmmm…". While torture for the judges, this made me laugh out loud! Very entertaining. After a few looks at more Polaroids, the judges need to choose what 57 people are good enough to keep around for another day. They line up people and call names forward and whoever is forward or whoever is backwards stays or leaves. Yes, confusing to say the least.
Now is the last opportunity to make an impression with the judges, and the last 57 sing in front of them. Some shine, some make fools of themselves. Lastly, and after more looking at Polaroids, the judges split the kids into 3 rooms, and one room is eliminated. Hence... the final 32.
The first group of the Round of Eights has been chosen! Next week, we'll see performances from: Fantasia Burrino, Diana Degarmo, Jennifer Hudson, Marque Lynch, Matthew Metzger, Ashley Thomas, Erskine Walcott, and Katie Webber.

More Bad Auditions week!
It seems incomprehensible to me why anyone would subject themselves to be ridiculed on national TV, yet, they seem to be lining up in every city Randy, Paula and Simon go! I don't get it, but it sure is entertaining.
This week the judges were in 3 cities, Los Angeles, San Francisco and for the first time they visited the talent (or lack of...) in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Tuesday night we visited the mostly bad auditions in LA and SFO. 10,000 people turned out for auditions at the Rose Bowl. Paula was sick so she wasn't at the auditions, but she did complain that it was mostly girls that made it thru. Hmmm... then again, I did not hear any talented guy, so I think Simon may have a point. The ones that made an impression on our mind were:
Matt Rogers, a former offensive lineman: what a good singer! I actually thought he sang better outside than inside, but, alas, he made it thru.
Bao Viet Nguyen is the son of immigrants from Indo-China. He tearfully talks about the American Dream but he does have a great voice, so Simon and Randy put him through.
Jasmine Artega is a little person with a big voice! She makes an impression with the judges and she's off to Hollywood (not to far from LA, LOL).
There were a couple of people were Simon was on the fence so he asked them what they would do for a Million $ and based on their answers he decided yey or ney. Kinda interesting if you ask me, it shows Simon is interested in producing a wholesome singer, rather than a greedy one...
In total, 25 from LA made it thought out of 10,000 WOW!
In San Francisco Paula is finally back to hear, as she says, some good talent.
Victoria Elliott comes to mind as a persevering auditioner. She auditioned in LA, didn't make it, gave herself a makeover, and auditioned again in SFO. Why she didn't make it thru the second time didn't surprised me, but she sure had nice choice words... whatever!
Cute Katie Webber sings good and is very pretty... Simon even tells her that she might just make it into the top 10! Now.. that's a compliment!
William Hung takes the cake, however. His rendition of 'She Bangs' is absolutely ridiculous and hilarious!!! And... he had to add he had not 'professional training'... NOOOO says Simon! I wouldn't have guessed! Too funny!
In the end 16 hopefuls came out of SFO on to Hollywood. Next stop, Hawaii!

William Lau, dressed like Pooh, sings "Me and Christopher Robin" and is goofy as hell. I guess the producers told the contestants to "dress to impress", and that sure does that!
Isaac Staudinger just does not want to take NO as an answer to Simon tells him to go get 5 people from the beach that think he's a good singer. How embarrassing!
Model Lisa Wilson is stunning and has really a great voice... she makes it thru along with 18 other hopefuls.

The good news? No more BAD auditions. On the preview of next week's Monday show "The Road To Hollywood" we get the scoop that we'll be hearing all the great talent they found. We even overhear Simon say: "That was Clay Aiken!"... to that I say... WOW! I can't wait to see it! Tuesday and Wednesday we'll see the Hollywood auditions were the 117 contestants will be narrowed down to 30. I can hardly wait!

American Idol is Back with a Vengeance!!
Three nights of American Idol bad auditions might have been a bit too much but, boy, the ratings were outrageous! While I enjoyed silly people make absolute jerks of themselves, part of me wonders why these people do it to begin with. Do they really think they are that good? Have they listened to Kelly or Clay sing? That is who they need to be at least somewhat alike to even be able to compete. Hmmm... And how ridiculous they look when they state that Simon will eat his words when their records will be #1... yeah... right! I guess my only gripe is that we were served more of the 'bad' singers and very little of the 'good' ones.
On the first night I was actually quite surprised that adorable Army girl Martha Kraybill did not make it thru... huh? She had a really great voice, and if Clay is any testament, no matter what you look like at the audition, it does not mean you can't become an American Idol. If you think like me that Martha was good and would like the judges to give her a chance, follow this link and sign the petition! http://www.petitiononline.com/bmkb2ai3/petition.html
Another guy that stood out from the first day of auditions in New York was Roland Maxharj... a guy from Romania, who says he believes in the American Dream and wanted to take a shot at the big time... too bad his shot ruined our ears! Ouch!!! Leah Vladowski, also from Romania, states her whole family is musical, she sings decently so she's off to Hollywood. I am not sure if she'll make it to the top 30 to be honest because I did not think she was that great, but I am not the one that makes that decision, I guess. But it's Michael Keown that caught my eye and my ears... he said that he has sung for the Pope and the Clintons, soars into “Unchained Melody” with a gorgeous voice, which prompts Simon to say it was “one of the best renditions” he’s ever heard!
My favorite, however, was John Stevens IV. He comes in doing basically a Dean Martin impression with “That’s Amore,” but Simon is not impressed. They ask him to do another song, and a fantastic voice comes through! He's off to Hollywood and I can't wait to hear more of this guy.
But one contestant sure gets a lot of TV time. It’s Scooter Girl Nicole Tieri. We heard all about her life, her battle with anorexia, blah blah, finally we hear her sing and she was not half bad! Simon puts her thru, although later states maybe it was a mistake. Hmmm.
The second night in Atlanta, the judges were really hopeful... Atlanta is where they found Tamyra Gray and Clay Aiken! First we see Amy Adams strutting in. She has a lot of confidence and even flirted with Simon. She has a nice voice and an energetic presence, Simon says they take someone with red hair every year, why not now?
Another audition hard to forget is the one of heartthrob Alan Ritchson. He immediately goes for Paula’s attention. Simon thanks him for making Paula smile and then him and Randy leave for her to hear Alan audition to her alone. Alan takes full advantage of the situation and gives a surprisingly strong “You Are The Sunshine of My Life”. When the boys come back they have to pull them apart by force! I can't wait to see more of this stud myself!
Someone else I can't easily forget is Heather Piccinini, a Kimberly Caldwell lookalike, sings a great rendition of "Black Velvet.” She is going to Hollywood but is advised to change her hair color as not to be confused with her predecessor.
The third night is in Houston, where the lack of talent was so obvious Simon stated "Houston, we have a problem!".
Mallory Mayeux sure got a lot of airtime! She stated she was the next American Idol not because for her singing, but for her dancing! Delusional or what? She sings “I’m So Excited,” but the judges aren’t. She has lots of booty movies, but Simon says it’s 1.5 out of 10. Mallory insists that it's just his opinion and that people at the mall will like it, Simon says if she sings at the mall and brings back 10 people who liked it, he’ll apologize. Needless to say, the people at the mall didn't like her either, and one even stated she felt embarrassed for her! Sorry Mallory!
Another girl taking out a lot of TV time is Kiira Bivens. Her parents are quick in saying how high and low she can go and singing her praises, but when the pretty 16-year-old sings “I Turn to You” Randy likes the voice, but doesn’t like her yodel. An almost-fight breaks out between the three judges... Simon says if she wins, they’ll have the final in Switzerland, and Paula thinks Kiira is over the top cocky. Frustrated, both Simon and Paula leave, Randy makes the decision himself, she’s going to Hollywood!