Let the bloodbath continue.
Hey, that’s not my word. It comes from season seven contestant Michael Johns, who performed on last week’s Idol results show.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times afterward, he referred to results night as ”a bloodbath for those kids.”
Under the new semifinal format, the term is appropriate. Twelve people perform Wednesday; nine go home Thursday, hoping they might be summoned back for a wild card show.
But the odds of advancing aren’t very good.
With that thought in mind, here are my predictions for week two of the semifinals.
The Guys
1. Adam Lambert: Step aside Danny Gokey. Based on what I’ve heard, my guess is 26-year-old Adam is going to demonstrate why he’s the best male vocalist in this year’s competition come Wednesday night. Two years in the cast of “Wicked,” performing at venues like the Kodak Theatre, have likely prepared this Los Angeles lad well for the big stage.
2. Kai Kalama: A recently deceased wife makes better TV than a sick mom, I guess. So we haven’t seen much of Kai since the San Fran auditions, when we learned how he put his music career on hold to help care for his mom. But he and his brother have been playing music in southern California for years with their band “Off White.” Given half a chance, I think he could bring something fresh to this year’s competition.
3. Matt Giraud: Mr. Dueling Pianist is another strong contender for a spot in the finals. On Feb. 13, he returned home to play to a packed house at the Monaco Bar and Grill before being told he shouldn’t be performing like that, according to a story in Friday’s Kalamazoo Gazette. Here’s betting a keyboard accompanies him to center stage Wednesday.
4. Matt Breitzke: Is there room in the finals for two blue-collar guys? Oil rig worker Michael Sarver made it last week; welder Matt tries his luck this week. Forced into a sing-off, both were lucky enough to make the final 36 during the march to the chair episode. My guess: Matt’s luck runs out this week.
5. Kris Allen: After what happened to Ricky Braddy last week, Kris had better turn in the best male vocal of the night while doing backflips and blowing kisses at Paula and Kara, all at the same time. Heck, blow a kiss in Simon’s direction, too. Anything to make an impression because this new semifinal format isn’t kind to contestants who haven’t gotten much TV time.
6. Nick Mitchell: OK, it’s time to end this farce. Allowing Nick into the final 36 was a hit to Idol’s credibility. The guy’s not a singer; he’s an improv performer. Sad fact is, he’s not even funny. And if he doesn’t take his singing seriously, why is he here? Simon, can you hear?
The Gals:
1. Jasmine Murray: Attractive. Charismatic. Great voice. Jasmine might be the total package the Idol judges are always talking about. But she’s only 16. We’ll find out quickly how well the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant has prepared Jasmine for the Idol stage. A possible key for this teen: performing early in the show, before watching others stumble because the pressure will build.
2. Megan Corkrey: This is probably wishful thinking. But, darn, she’s so likeable. And she would represent a true find for Idol. Compared to the long musical resume so many contestants bring to the show, Megan told the Salt Lake Tribune last week that she has never trained or taken singing lessons. You folks remember Megan. She’s the mom who was getting divorced and decided to try out for Idol because “anything’s possible.” Well, here she is, in the final 36.
3. Jesse Langseth: Having performed many years as Jesse Lang, the spotlight wll be nothing new for this 25-year-old from Minneapolis. In a 2005 interview, she classified her music as “good old rock.” My guess is, she’ll be surprisingly good, and still struggle to get enough votes to make the finals. But, hey, the finals need at least one rocker.
4. Jeanine Vailes: Who? I mean, seriously, have we seen Jeanine on the screen for more than a minute so far this season. She’s the real mystery contestant among the 36 semifinalists. I’ve found Web references that indicate she might have been part of an all-girls R&B group called 4BidN at one point. It’s not going to matter. With so little buildup, it’ll be one song and gone for Jeanine.
5. Mishavonna Henson: She released a five-track country EP in April 2007, which sounded quite juvenile. According to a story in the Arizona Republic, she showed up for this year’s auditions wearing a princess tiara and a sash, which sounds quite juvenile. Prediction: Mishavonna, 18, should have waited a while longer to audition for Idol again.
6. Allison Iraheta: In November 2006, she won the “Quinceanera” competiton on Telemundo with a passionate rendition of Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” As for the singing, I can hear Simon and Randy making references to a karaoke bar already. Course she might have improved since then, but we haven’t heard enough from her on Idol to find out.
Coming Wednesday: Live blogging during the show.
Also: An episode recap on who should stay and who should go.
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