Does anyone know a good script writer?
Heck, if none are available, I’ll volunteer. American Idol needs the help.
Thursday’s results show should have been full of suspense.
Which gal would advance? Who would win the coveted third spot in the finals from group number two?
After Wednesday night’s performances, there were very few sure things.
Actually, only one. That Adam Lambert’s performance of “Satisfaction” was world class and would allow him to sail into the finals.
So what happens? We find out early in the show that Allison Iraheta is advancing. By 8:30 p.m., we learn that Kris Allen is, too, presumably in the third slot that was available.
And at the end of the night, Nick Mitchell and Adam were standing center stage.
Suspense?
Hardly.
Just like there really wasn’t much suspense last week when Tatiana Del Toro and Danny Gokey were in the same position.
Everyone Idol — well, everyone except Tatiana — knew who would prevail.
So, now that all the suspense is over, here’s a little perspective on what happened this week, on how I’d categorize the contestants in group two.
Deserving: Adam Lambert. He was named a finalist, then sang “Satisfaction” again, reminding us why — right now — he is the contestant to beat on this year’s show. Amazing. Far, far better than any of the other week two efforts.
Better get better: Allison Iraheta. Season seven contestant Brooke White performed on last night’s show and offered this piece of advice to contestants: “Don’t Google your name.” So don’t Google, Allison. I would have ranked that rendition of “Alone” as the fourth best female performance Wednesday night. And I can’t see Allison lasting more than three rounds into the finals.
Very, very lucky: Kris Allen, not because he didn’t deserve a spot in the finals, but because he somehow overcame a severe shortage of TV time heading into the semifinals. As it turned out, he didn’t need to do backflips. He didn’t need to blow kisses at Paula, Kara or Simon. He just needed a solid vocal on “Man in the Mirror,” which he provided.
Robbed: I’ll put the viewers here. Except for those few who found Nick Mitchell funny, at least. The rest of us were robbed because we should have been getting to know contestants like Megan Corkrey, Jeanine Vailes and Jesse Langseth better. Instead, Nick got way too much camera time. Did anyone, for a moment, think he would be the next American Idol? So what was he doing in the final 36? Or in Hollywood, for that matter?
Where they belong: Jeanine Vailes, Jesse Langseth and Matt Giraud all entered the competition with a good deal of singing experience. Their Wednesday performances were disappointing — disappointing enough that I don’t think they should be in the running for a wild card performance.
Worth another look: As a whole, group two was stronger than group one. And while none of them were so good I would classify them as “robbed” because they didn’t make the finals, I’d like to see Megan Corkrey, Mishavonna Henson, Jasmine Murray, Kai Kalama and Matt Breitzke get another chance to show us what they can do.
Megan would top my list because I think she’s a contestant voters would rally behind, and her Wednesday performance showed potential. Mishavonna got lukewarm reviews from the judges Wednesday despite what I thought was the night’s best vocal from a gal. Jasmine has the Idol look, and has displayed splashes of an Idol voice.
I thought Matt would get the third spot last night, not because his vocal was better than Kris Allen’s — I had them graded dead even — but because he’d gotten more attention from Idol heading into Wednesday’s show. Kai was a disappointment Wednesday; from watching his audition, I’m sure he can do better.
Still not sure how this wild card business is going to work. And I think Ryan stumbled Thursday when he said the wild card round would be next week. At least I hope so.
After all, we still need to hear from group three, which will include:
Among the gals: Lil Rounds, Kristen McNamara, Kendall Beard, Taylor Vaifanua, Arianna Afsar, Felciia Barton.
Among the guys: Scott MacIntyre, Ju’Not Joyner, Nathaniel Marshall, Von Smith, Alex Wagner-Trugman, Jorge Nunez-Mendez.
Coming up in Idol Chatter:
Check back tomorrow evening … we’ll have more info on your three new finalists.
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