this show is a hot tranny mess

Wow.

A night of energy-lacking, good-songs-but-poor-song-choosing, off-key singing crapola. Wasn't this supposed to be "the most talented 36 ever!" Again!?

What a spectacular waste of time.

Hey, I know these are (mostly) amateurs struggling with their first (for the most part) big break all the while swimming in a fishbowl and reaching for the stars. Yeah. I get that. But I can name at least a 12 people who can sing, with more energy and stage presence than the last two weeks worth of contestants put together.

I'm tired of the train wreck.
I just want someone to carry a tune without hurting my insides.

For the record...FOUR JUDGES is really slowing up the works. What I'd like to suggest to the producers is to rotate judges. Have a passel of judges (either per season or per show) who had NO HAND in selecting the top 36. Let them give real critiques besides, "Dawg. That wasn't hot, Dawg." Or, "You have a spirit about you, a flavor, a scent ...that makes you marketable!"

It's only the second group, and the judges are nearly as boring as the performances. They rarely offer any constructive instructions other than, "I just wanted MORE, man. It just wasn't enough, yo."

Feh. (sigh) On to it.

Jasmine Murray - Pretty girl, decent pipes, fair amount of energy. Picks a fun, current hit Love Song... and then over sings the hell out of it. With plenty of off-key notes through-out. She does decent on the chorus, but it's just...overdone. It's a simple pop melody with simple lyrics and she tries too hard to "make it her own" and turns it into a hot trilly mess. Mostly forgettable. Points for picking a modern song that wasn't Alicia Keys or Kelly Clarkson. It's early, so while the judges unanimously don't like the end result, they are all pretty nice about it.


Matt Giraud - The current hits keep coming when Matt picks Coldplay's latest. He's going to inject it with "soul." Who knew that "soul" was code for bleating through the long notes like a goat on crack. Oof. It got worse from there. I have to say, I'm pretty happy that I won't have to listen to goat boy again. (Fingers Crossed.)


Jeanine Vailles - Wow. Lady has some legs. Lady also looks like she should be working at the Baton Club. No offense, but the girl has embraced the drag queen within. Oof. We're hanging onto this decade with Maroon 5. I have to say, while I think the songs are wildly wrong for the folks picking them, I do appreciate the trend of more current offerings. Although, Maroon 5 is as middle-of-the-road pop songs as it gets. My pen was dying a slow death as Jeanine sang...here's what I wrote: off-key, hot mess, good legs.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

Oh. I did like how she stuck it to the producers by calling out the fact that she made it to the top 36...but received ZERO coverage over the past however many weeks. Rock on! Then she kind of laughs it off in an of-putting manor. Oh well, nice not knowing you!


Nick Mitchell/Normund Gentle - I'm really torn about Nick/Normund. Yeah, he's a silly looking guy. Yeah, he's not ever going to be the American Idol. But, the guy has pipes. And if he had enough confidence to take off the comedian mask (which is just one big "woobie") and really commit to a song, I think he'd blow the competition away. He's got power and a good range. I wish for all the world he'd keep his fun in-your-face-Simon personality, look at the camera and say, "America, I'm gonna give this a shot and really sing. When it's over and the dust settles, I'd like a guest spot on The Office. Thank Ye."

But he doesn't have the balls to do it. Still, it was the most awkwardly entertaining thing on this show, since Andrew Lloyd Weber dropped the word, "Glamourpuss."

Part of me wants to be mad at him for taking the spot of someone who's really serious about a musical career...but if THESE people are the level of talent we're working with?...I'm all for Nick/Normund giving Simon an aneurysm week after week.


Allison Iraheta - My first impression of this 16 year old is why does she look like a 40 yr old mom who spent time in a ladies correctional facility? I don't know if it's the hair or the clothes or her scrunchy face, but altogether it screams anything but "16." Her "chit chat" with Ryan is the kind of boring which is so heinous, you begin to daydream about wrapping your mouth around the barrel of a shotgun. And then, she sings. Wowza. Girl's got chops and bringing some hutzspah to Heart. She had a couple sharp spots, but compared to the rest of the night, she's miles ahead of the pack. Simon's 100% right that this girl needs some confidence and to relax enough to just be herself (i.e. "show us your personality.")


Kris Allen - Ah. Finally. The Cute Guy! I was wondering where he was! It really doesn't matter what he sang or how he sang it, Tweener girls everywhere are all, "KRIS! I HEART YOU!" All the 12 year olds who are too cool for the Jonas Bros, finally have a Teen Beat centerfold to root for! Woot! Kris fucks it all up by singing Man in the Mirror. He's a soprano trying to deliver like an alto and it doesn't work...until he hits and maintains the one big note.

OH. He's THAT guy. The "I really can't sing for shit, but I can NAIL that one big note, like nobody's bidness" guy. Hope that works out for him.


Megan Corkrey - My first reaction to Megan was "this girl is fucking adorable." And then she sang off key and twisted around like a 4 year old who has to urinate RIGHT NOW. Huh? Less adorable and more...WTF? While she was all over the place during the song, she does have an interesting tone and style.

When your best compliment is "you could be viable in the market with the right song?" Oof. That's a hard sell. My grandmother could be viable in the market with the right song. And she's been dead since 2007. That's like saying, I could be America's Next Top Model, if we found a magazine looking for a cover girl with glasses which catered to subscribers with a fetish for large asses.

The only thing I know for sure? Tween girls across the country, turned to their parents and said, "I would like an arm sleeve of tattoos. And I want it NOW."


Matt Breitzke - aka the other blue collar guy. Ack. Rock Lite. He had a chance to dial it up mid song and throw some attitude and energy into it...but it came off as "Wedding Singer." In fact, I feel like I'm insulting wedding singers, since I think they'd throw a bit more balls into that song. It was ball-less. Also, I really can't stand when the Idols get all, "WELL I LIKED IT. SO I'M TAKING MY BALL AND GOING HOME," with the judges. The fact that they hate your song is in no way a personal affront. So stop acting like they just peed in your lemonade. Throwing a hissy fit is no way to win fans, boy-o. Especially when your delivery of a rock ballad had ZERO percent rock in it.


Jesse Langseth - so in case you've just arrived from a small cave, you know that Jesse is Jonny Lang's sister. It should be known that I am a HUGE Jonny Lang fan and was really hoping that some of that talent in located in the DNA. Jesse was...okay. I liked her song choice and thought she did...okay. It had good moments, but again, she didn't throw her guts on the floor. She didn't leave it all onstage. It was too safe. Bah. It's late and I'm getting tired and cranky that these people continue to fail in bringing their A-game.

I will give her points for sticking it back to Randy and asking him to be CLEAR about what "MORE" he would like to see. He responded that he wanted her to sing a song that had more than 5 notes in it so they could hear her true range of ability. Now THAT is constructive criticism. Something useful that she can go back and work on for the next round. That is...if she were making it.


Kai Kalama - How do people get this far in the competition (or in life) with "insane hair?" I didn't think I could hate anyone's hair more than The Douche, but I have been proven wrong. I have a sneaking suspicion that would Kai have the balls to shave his head (or really cut it shorty short) he might be quite attractive. Instead, all I see is a Muppet who was rejected from Sesame Street for frightening small children.

His song choice was a snooze, but he had a nice voice, but that doesn't matter because I hate his hair so much I want to climb through the television, sit on his chest and shave him bald.


Mishavonna Henson - another cute lil' button, this one has a nice tone to her voice, but threw herself under the bus with a crap song choice. It's hard to sell a sincere "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na." Simon hit it on the head. She came across as too serious and not fun or lively.

I know it's all kinds of hell being a teen, but I do recall a couple days when I had a bounce to my step. Mishavonna needs some bounce. She is bounce deficient.


Adam Lambert - Adam is bring the eyeliner. While he's not my particular cup of tea and I think he oversold the song a bit, he picked a song that fit his style and attitude - and was the only one who really brought an abundance of energy to his performance.

He's working that hipster emo look a bit more than I'm into, but there's definitely a reason they threw him in the closing spot. He's eye-humping the camera a bit much, but overall, he's the best fella of the night. And then he and Ryan start dishing about Twilight and start doing each other's hair.

And I'm like FINALLY!
There isn't enough Calgon to take this away.




Predictions for Moving on:
Male - Adam...or Kris.
Female - Allison
Magic 3rd - Nick/Norman.

I think America wants to watch Nick annoy the hell out of the judges.


Petecrest's Predictions:
Male - Adam
Female - Allison
Magic 3rd - Nick...or Megan.

schedule news

Next week Group 2 takes the stage (which leaves us with the default info of who's performing the following week.)

Group 2: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Jasmine Murray, Jeanine Vailles, Jesse Langseth, Kai Kalama, Kris Allen, Matt Breitzke, Matt Giraud, Megan Corkrey, Mishavonna Henson and Nick Mitchell (Normund Gentle.)

Group 3: Alex Wagner-Trugman, Arianna Afsar, Felicia Barton, Jorge Nunez, Ju'Not Joyner, Kendall Beard, Kristen McNamara, Lil Rounds, Nathaniel Marshall, Scott MacIntyre and Taylor Vaifanua and Von Smith.


Please note: AI will be pre-empted by the President's address next week, so Group 2 performs on Wednesday (2/25) with results on Thursday. Check your VCRs, kids!

prolonged suffering

Your life ebbs slowly away in each prolonged micro-second.
Micro-seconds that you can never get back.

The Group Sing is back. While they finally picked a song from this century, after Tuesday night's train wreck, this is like a slow-skidding, multiple vehicle crash on icy slick roads. Nobody gets injured, but there's a lot of bent fenders and broken tail lights.

I really hope that the other two groups are coming with more talent, because not only could the majority of these folks not sing well, there was a shocking lack of rhythm, musicality or stage presence.

I mean, Tatiana could barely walk across the stage while singing. I thought Casey might actually fall down. Yes, the choreography is 30x worse than a show at Six Flags, but you should be able to sway/bounce to the music. Walking. You should be able to walk in time with the song.

I'm not crazy. You should be able to at least walk, if you want a career as an entertainer.

It's like they were all (but for Danny) resigned to the idea that they blew chunks last night, and would not be stepping over to the safety of the silver retro chairs. They sang and "danced" the song without any energy, focus or...worst of all...joy.

It was like watching a puppy in a full body cast...doped up so it won't run around and re-injure itself.


Alexis made it thru. I figured her for a wild card spot since she's the judge's darling, so she's not a huge surprise to make it thru. She "yeah-yeah-yeahed" her way thru a repeat performance. She's likable...but I'm not on the Alexis-train.

Michael Sarver was a bit of a surprise. Although, it was such a bad night overall, it really was anyone's game (besides Danny.) It was a bit of a gut punch that it was a "showdown" between him and Anoop. I'm holding out hope that Anoop makes it into one of the Wildcard slots.

Tatiana's shock and tears at losing against Danny was just more proof at her delusion. Even Vegas wouldn't take odds against Danny getting thru to the next round.

I'm kind of hoping that this is the last we'll have to worry about Tatiana...but reality shows love their drama and that girl is the psychotic tv meltdown equivalent to Howard Stern's radio show in the 90's. If they keep her on...even the viewers who hate her will tune in just to see if her head will actually explode. So, who knows?


One clarification from yesterday: Jackie wore some kind of bustier with her crazy belt/spandex ensemble during her performance...the puffy top was in her video/interview segment.

O What A Lonely Boy

Group 1: Alexis Grace, Anne Marie Boskovich, Anoop Desai, Brent Keith, Casey Carlson, Danny Gokey, Jackie Tohn, Michael Sarver, Ricky Braddy, Stephen Fowler, Stevie Wright, Tatiana Del Toro

Every year the producers try to put a twist or two into this beast of a franchise. This year, they are going back to (if I recall correctly) the semi-final format from the first season. Each group of 12 will compete for 3 spots in the Top 12. The top male, top female and the next top vote getter - whichever gender. After those 9, the judges will each pick one Idol from the remaining contestants in the infamous "Wildcard" round.

While it can be argued that this could leave the ladies at a bit of a disadvantage - as there are 10,000 pre-teen girls clamouring to dial in to vote for "the dreamy one" for every viewer such as myself (who doesn't even bother to vote) - there exists the possibility that as little as 3 women might end up in the Top 12...somehow, I think the show will make sure there are at least 4-5.


Last night was the kind of night, you wish you knew the guy who invented DVR technology, so you could buy him a beer.

What a freaking pile of shit that show was! Aside from Danny, last night was a poor man's karaoke at that dive bar you always drive by, but is too gross to really hang out at...and then suddenly a train derails and hurls tons of shrieking metal into it.

Last night's show was such a train wreck...
How big a train wreck was it?
It was so bad, instead of phoning in votes, people were dialing the NTSB.

[insert rimshot!]

...moving on.



Jackie - While I like her voice and song choice, I was overwhelmingly disappointed in her performance. Yes. It's true that The Douche won last year by co-opting covers of songs and performing very different arrangements from the original recordings. But, he didn't do it the very first week of voting when nobody knew him from Adam!

IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IDOL: Let the audience know you can sing, before you go rogue with your song choice/composition/arrangement/interpretation.

If she had performed a solid, rocking version of A Little Less Conversation, I think she would have been the female to beat. Instead, I wanted to give her a beatdown for her wonked out version and for her godawful choice in apparel. There is a reason people don't wear spandex pants, with giant belts and Jane Fonda-esque workout shirts with puffy shoulders. The nickname Benatard shot to mind. Jackie...if you make it through and dress like that again? The nickname sticks for the rest of the season. You have been warned.

As in past seasons, while the other judges fawned over the first few performers, Simon was dead on that her outfit sucked and that she ruined a perfectly good song choice.

Note to the producers: Having the parents/family/friends in the gallery is an epic waste of time and it 0.00% entertaining. NOBODY CARES. Stop wasting our lives, you


Ricky - Promising song choice with Leon Russell. Oof. And that's where the good news ends. What a bland, boring milk-toast performance. Even his "faux-hawk" looks inept. His delivery is completely bereft of feeling or any soulfulness. Not to mention? Kicking off your "groupie" cult, (The Braddy Bunch) before you even make it thru to Top 12? Bad idea.

Here's a story.

Of an setting expectations
That you will never, ever ever ever meet!

And those T-shirts

That your mom made?
Won't sell at all, so take a seat!

That's money that your parents will never see again. Aces!


Alexis - The judges are never more annoying then when they are preening over the advice they give a contestant, that the contestant actually adheres to. Oh...that Alexis! She's a dirty girl, she is! With her pink highlights and her form-fitting slip dress! What?!! Uh...Britney grinding into a snake, Christina wearing a bikini and leather chaps, Madonna writhing on a bed totin' huge cone knockers? That's durty. Highlights and (more) 80's fashion? Yeah. Hannah Montana is more of a skank than you, Irish Spring.

Triumphantly, Alexis breaks a new land speed record for "Picking A Song That Is Too Big For You," when she attempts to take on Aretha.

IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IDOL: Leave the divas at the door. Unless you are Whitney, Celine or Aretha...don't even go there.

Alexis is not a power balladeer. The shock overwhelms my nervous system to the point of yawning. While she has a good (not great) voice, she's completely drowned out (and out-sung) by the back-up singers when they chime in. You can put a fork into Alexis, 'cuz she's done. Yo! Judges! Fawning over her one more time will not change what we just heard/witnessed. Please, close your pie-holes and let's move on.

WHOOP! NEIL PATRICK HARRIS IN DA HOUSE!
And seated next to TED DANSON.
What an odd pairing of celebrity.

How I wish that NPH would bum rush the stage and breakout into a song from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog!


Brent - Word on the street is that Brent Keith was on season 2 of Nashville Star (back in '04) and finished 6th. I didn't recognize him until I saw a pic of him from that season. (Now...and then.)






Yup! That's him. I remember him as fairly milk-toast and timid. I think five years, a haircut and a bit of stubble is a bit of an improvement.

The Man with Two (first) Names is bringing the country. Personally, I prefer classic country of a Johnny Cash, Buck Owens or Loretta Lynn. Unfortunately, he's bringing the (as Pete so rightly called it), the "Big and Rich" type of country...which bores me to tears. It all sounds the same to me. Like if Country and Easy Listening had a bastard child. A bastard child that could only sing one song...and then chokes on a catfish bone.

BK's got a decent enough voice and his energy is good...but when he's done, the two words that no Idol with country aspirations ever wants to hear: Bucky Covington.

[sfx of a church bell ringing, signaling the death knell of your CMA dreams]

Welcome to Mediocre-ville, BK!
You too, can put out a CD that nobody will buy or listen to!


Stevie - You know who I love? Etta James. So, even if Stevie only auditioned with "At Last" because it's Beyonce's flavor of the month, I'll still give the girl style points. When I was her age, I was a fan of Ella Fitzgerald and the Buzzcocks. You don't have to embrace all things pop and trendy as a teen...but if you're going on a show to find the next pop star? Yeah...you better be ready to throw down some fresh trendy grooves.

Oof. I don't often feel sorry for the contestants - you've signed up for this rollercoaster (and after 7 seasons, you better know they will show your ass up every chance they get) - but, I felt a bit for Stevie. Be it nerves or having to figure out how to sing with a headset in her ear - she was not good. Oof. Bad song choice. Too low for her register. Off key in parts. Still, she smiled through and didn't quit. Personally, I think she fell for the oldest Idol ruse and did herself in.

IDIOT'S GUIDE TO IDOL: Don't subvert everything you are just to please the judges. Take the criticism that is constructive and learn from it, but don't throw everything else out and start from scratch.

I think Stevie might have had a shot if she stuck to her guns and sung something that she loves to sing...and saved the Taylor Swift for "country night." It's that old adage, that when you're busy trying to please everyone, you please no one.

Still, points for handing it with grace. Simon's right. This is a fantastic experience and exposure for her. Take it at that...and let the Nickelodeon execs come to you. Because, this adorable girl with the better than average voice will be in the next High School Musical type show/flick currently churning up in Disney's sausage making show machine.


Anoop - I'll say it. I'm rooting for Anoop. Mostly because he's got a pretty strong voice, knows "who he is" as a singer (R&B), seems to be a fan of the show and has a sense of humor about all of it. Unfortunately, he picks a decade old dusty track to trill his rifts. While it's a bit more soulful and the best performance thus far in the evening, still, it's lukewarm. It's like the best tasting three bean salad in a three bean salad competition. And all the other salads smell like feet.

I much rather would have seen him sing something fun and up - more Bobby Brown than Bryan McNight for his first live exposure to the voters. His performance of My Prerogative was way more more fun to watch, yo! I'm optimistic at this point that he can secure the 3rd spot.




Casey - And then there was Casey. This is the point of the show where the train derails entirely. While Stevie hit some bad notes and couldn't quite make it happen, Casey is...is...I can't pick my jaw up off the floor long enough to tell you how godawful this girl is.

As pretty of a pin-up as she is, HOW the hell did this girl make it to the Top 36?!! The worst song for her range, she makes "cute" faces throughout, like somehow, we'll fall under her adorable spell so we won't hear her butchering The Police. And then there was the winking.

It was reminiscent of that episode in Laverne & Shirley where they mistakenly end up in a Army Training film about VD, playing prostitutes. Laverne eventually embraces the "image" of tramp, complete with the massive, elbow-to-your-ribcage wink. It was on that scale, folks.

Pete had to re-watch it a few times to see it (the camera angle was a bit off), but even Paula commented on the wink. When PAULA tells you that you're overselling your song... Yeeeeah. Not good. To quote the panel...

I gotta say, everything about that was wrong. - Kara
To be honest, that's the least of your problems...the winking. - Simon

The judges served it up straight for once, and for a minute I thought she'd loose it, but points for Hot Casey holding her shit together and taking it with a good attitude. Fear not! She's got a rockin' hot body and seems kinda sweet, so I have no doubt we'll see her on another reality show in short order. I vote Big Brother this summer! Make it happen, CBS! Later, Casey!




Michael - We're more than halfway thru the show and NOBODY has really brought the heat yet. You figure that people still have a chance to impress. Our roughneck just serves it up like better than average karaoke.

I take points off for his "boy choker." It was one step up from puka shells. I also subtract points for Gavin DeGraw. Haven't we heard enough of him, "lately-ahhhh?" Bah. You have the Billboard Top 100 since it freaking started, and you come to me with Gavin DeGraw. (sigh.)

Sarver fails to bring the heat and it completely sounds like a night at my neighborhood karaoke bar. I am semi-bored and uninspired by this performance. Still, it's a lot better than much of the first half of the night...but the panel has obviously had it, because they each rip him a new one.


And I don't feel for him at all because it's getting late and I need some inspiration, dammit!



Ann Marie - Fails to learn from Alexis (and all 7 past seasons) and sings another Aretha number. It's a solid delivery. She's the best of the girls so far, but again...no passion in her performance. No "umph!" No fire, no tension, no guts. I want guts, dammit! Show me your guts!!


The judges are all, "Bah. Good not great." Simon's sure she's headed home. Well, I guess we know who WON'T be Simon's Wildcard pick. Oofie.


Still, I think she's likable. WHAT. She's only 23? Oof. She looks a good 10 years (cough) older. I was kinda rooting for her as one of the "older" contestants. I mean...not that it matters...but she needs to befriend a stylist, a make-up artist and a hairdresser to update that Crystal Gayle in the making hairdo she's currently rocking. She's a PYT and needs to look it.



This is the point of the evening when it feels like everyone (except Casey and Stevie) is getting a gold star just for showing up!. Arg.






Stephen - If they mention that he forgot the words to his song (but still put him through...he must be amazing on that piano) one more time, I'm going to stick a fork in my eye. SHUDDAP about it already. Obviously you believe in him enough to get him to this point. Let the man show us what he's coming with.


Erg. That was the more boring rendition of Rock With You that I've heard. There was no fun in it. No personality. Hell, he looked like he might take a nap in the middle of the song.

Paula, FOR ONCE, has a really good point. She says THIS was the opportunity to sing that song that he f'ed up at the solo audition. It seemed to be a song he was really connecting with (even with the FAIL at the piano), and that he is 100% NOT connected to this Michael Jackson number.



It scares me when Paula Abdul makes coherent statements.
I'm very afraid right now.
Which is almost eerie when you realise who's on deck.






Tatiana - The only exposure to Tatiana for me was the final night of Hollywood week when they split them into rooms and she had her meltdown when Paula tried to give them the old, "I'm sorry to say....(freakish meltdown) you've made it" routine. So, I'm thinking, she must have a voice underneath all that crazy.


And she does. The voice is there. The rest...? Her delivery and behavior are both artificially stoic and manic (hair flips, shark eyes) at the same time. It all feels very forced. But, the voice is solid. The performance is slightly spooky and overdone at points, but for a Whitney song (sigh), she holds her own.


One couch over, Pete is swearing quietly...because she's the best female singer tonight. Will Vote For the Worst (and her talent) keep her around? Or will the nation of pre-teens give her the boot and save someone who doesn't give them the willies? Tune in next week and see our stunning conclusi..


Wait. While most Idols make little pleading motions and show the number to call, Tatiana actually gives a statement at the end of her segment directly to public, to "keep her dream alive." Or her "dream is in your hands. Don't fuck it up." Something like that. It's weird and off putting.


Much like this entire evening.


With the exception of Danny, on the whole? Last night was one craptastic performance after another.




Danny - What can you say about Danny without feeling like a jerk? You might be the nicest person on your block. Danny's nice and he's a widower. You cannot compete with that bubble of fresh loss.


He seems like a real, authentic, sweet person. More importantly, when he sings, he leaves it all on the stage. It's a natural, full-sounding vocal and he's confident without any trace of arrogance. Did I mention he's a widower? A recent one to boot?


Part of me is like, man...I don't want to watch this guy. Not that he's not talented - he's the best vocalist by far tonight. He's on a completely different level performance-wise. But more out of a concern that by sticking himself in this carnival after suffering such a recent devastating loss?

I feel dirty. Like a voyeur. Worse. Like I'm at the Indy 500 watching the most talented driver...on the off-chance he'll lose focus and crash into a wall.


At the same time, when you go through a loss of that scale, there is a sense of freedom. When you face death or the death of a loved one, if you make it out the other side of the worm hole, everything seems possible. If you can get past the anger, you might just be open to universe unfolding as it should. I think/hope that's where he's at.


Also, the jesus worries me a bit. He's a church guy, and I'm really hoping he doesn't go all Mandisa on us. You can be a church guy and still enjoy AC-DC. It's true.


I guess what I'm saying is that I'm rooting for Danny, but I don't want to root for him because of his loss (which, at some point, AI will cross the line by trotting out his dead wife one too many times.) I want to root for him because of his skill and confidence and, most importantly, his (fingers crossed) non-douchiness.


But, I'm not ready to fully invest yet.
What can I say? I'm a commitment-phobe of the first degree.



Predictions for Moving on:
Male - Danny
Female - Tatiana
Magic 3rd - Anoop.

Top 36

As in years past, I didn't sit down and consume all of the audition shows.

I'll catch a bit here and there, but for the most part, I prefer for the judges to parse the hundreds of thousands of wanna-bes into a manageable group before I'm ready to invest my time and energy in another season.

I also think those shows can give an unfair advantage to some contestants, in terms of showing personality, which can help a less talented performer immensely early on, when the field is still so large. Unfortunately, if you don't have a sob story, nutty gimmick, penchant for crying, insane fashion sense...or a combination therein, we probably are barely registering your existence at this point.

Of course, Idol has nothing to do with fairness.

Like all television, Idol is about ad dollars (and the future marketing of concert tickets, album sales and merchandising.)

Still, the advantage exists, for better or worse. For example - love them or hate them - I could pick Nick/Norman and Tatiana out of a line up, but, couldn't tell you if Casey was a boy or girl.

Fortunately, the internets can help me keep them straight...at least until I've seen them sing a few times and can give them each a duly appointed nickname.

Please note: I will attempt to link a "personal site/fan page" for each as I come across them...uh, if they have one.* This is yet another indicator - some of these kids need to prop up their rabid fan base asap! ...or at the very least get some friends/family who know how to throw up a quick site to start hustling that home town vote!

Some of the more "promotional" sites of folks who may already have a toe in the business have been scrubbed down to decrease any advantage. Ah, the digital age.


Here is your Top 36, with a glimpse into Group 1*, who'll be the first 12 up to bat on Tuesday night (2/17):

Adam Lambert
Alexander Wagner-Trugman
Alexis Grace*
Allison Iraheta
Anne Marie Boskovich*
Anoop Desai*
Arianna Ayesha Afsar
Brent Keith*
Casey Carlson*
Danny Gokey*
Felicia Barton
Jackie Tohn*
Jasmine Murray
Jeanine Vailes
Jessica Langseth
Jorge Nunez
Junot Joyner
Kai Kalama
Kendall Beard
Kris Allen
Kristen McNamara
Lil Rounds
Matt Breitzke
Matt Giraud
Megan Corkrey
Michael Sarver
Mishavonna Henson
Nathaniel Marshall
Nick Mitchell aka Normund Gentle
Ricky Braddy*
Scott MacIntyre
Stephen Fowler*
Stevie Wright*
Tatiana Del Toro*
Taylor Vaifanua
Von Smith





At this point, I don't have a favorite...and won't have an opinion on Top 12 or who I think can go all the way, until I listen to all 36 sing at least once.

If you have a prediction or a favorite, put 'em in the comments!

*If you want to check out their Myspace pages, you're on your own. I view Myspace is a social network for teens, so I tend to steer clear of it.

test, one, two

Okay, kids.

Instead of emailing the long awaited Idol Rants, I'll be posting them here.

You can leave comments, or, if you're a bit more long winded (like myself) and are interested in posting on this blog, I think there's a way to make this a group blog. Lemme know and we'll see what we can do.

Feel free to forward this to fans and foes alike.

Now that they've announced the Top 36...I will be coming out of hibernation.

Next week.
See you then!