AI4 recap, Finalists x 12 (03/15)

This one will be late, because it’s 10:30pm and I still have not watched it in it’s entirety yet.

A few notes on since we last checked in.

Mario is gone and Nikko is back. Supposedly Mario voluntarily withdrew, but there are conflicting reports as to why. I’ve heard that he already has a record deal lined up and that would violate his American Idol contract. He’s not saying exactly why he quit, but it’s a shocker nonetheless. In his defense, once you’re a finalist, you might as well wear that shirt that reads “Property of American Idol,” because you are pretty much at their mercy. The first few seasons, that was fine and dandy. Most were unknowns that needed this as their break. But I think what this entails is a huge promotional tour with concert dates that will eat up a year or so of your time. Mario has always been kinda cocky and a loner, just wanting to make it on his own. He’s no spring chicken either (I think he was in his late 20s), so maybe he figured a year of his life/career at this point would be counter-productive. I’ll miss him, because he was one of my favorites to win, but he wasn’t my #1, so I can live with him gone. And I’m glad Nikko’s back. But I would’ve rather had Amanda back (but that goes without saying).

I’m glad that they are not having the contestants sing after they get eliminated. That’s really pouring salt in the wounds, if you think about it. They were basically saying, the song you sang last night didn’t get you enough votes, so why don’t you sing it again. I guess it was first done to honor the contestant’s work on the show, but at this point in the competition, I’m glad it’s gone.

And I’m glad that they don’t have the families in the red room anymore. How annoying was that? Seeing the families boo Simon when he was being brutally honest?

On to tonight, where the theme is the ‘60s. Any song written or sung in the ‘60s, regardless of genre, is fair game. New stage tonight too. Huge stage.

01 – Jessica Sierra, Shop Around (Smokey Robinson)
Also done by Captain and Tennille in the ‘70s. Jessica reminds me of a chubby Taylor Dayne. I loved Taylor Dayne in the ‘80s. Get her Greatest Hits (Say A Prayer, Tell It To My Heart, I’ll Always Love You, With Every Beat of My Heart, Love Will Lead You Back, Don’t Rush Me, Prove Your Love, just to name a few). A lot of love and heart and love and heart in those titles. Anyway, Jessica’s got a big voice, to go along with her big bones. Wore a red top that looked like stretchy material, although maybe that’s just how it fit her… She missed a few notes, but was pretty okay. Randy said she was a little pitchy and just okay. Paula is still a huge fan of her voice. Simon called it very boring and an uninspiring performance. I still think she’ll be okay tomorrow. She’s in my top 3 girls still left in the competition (behind Nadia and Carrie, and way behind Amanda).

02 – Anwar Robinson, A House Is Not A Home (Burt Bacharach)
Anwar comes out in a black version of Jerry Seinfeld’s “puffy shirt.” Remember that episode where Kramer’s girlfriend a “soft talker” and Jerry agrees to wear her shirt on a national TV show and Bryant Gumbel makes fun of him? “But I don’t want to wear a puffy shirt…” Classic. And Anwar also has a long black coat on that has enough buttons on it that it looks like something Napoleon wore. Other than that, I loved him. We think Tamyra sang this song and someone may have sung it last year when Burt was a guest judge. He does a good job with it. Not my favorite performance of his, but I hope better things are on the horizon. Randy called it a safe performance. Paula said he dressed in style and that he is flawless. Simon said he was more serious tonight and likes the fun side of him better. Anwar should be safe tomorrow night and is my favorite to win it all.

03 – Mikalah Gordon, Son of a Preacher Man (Dusty Springfield)
Looks like Mikalah got her eyebrows waxed for tonight. Very interesting outfit. She wore a short blouse and low rise pants that showed her midriff. Not the best fashion choice for her. We’ve already discussed that she needs to say no more at the dinner table. Fun song for her, she just doesn’t have that great of a singing voice. It’s been bandied around that she is a younger and just as annoying version of Fran Drescher (the Nanny). I think an annoying Minnie Driver could now be viewed as a compliment! One of my wife’s co-workers went into a whole foray about how the Coffee Talk ladies were probably going ga-ga over her last week because she sang a “Bah-brah” song. And my former (I use that word because I was told not to use “old” anymore by another “former” manager) manager’s manager Mike P. says that Mikalah probably has a big following in New York, New Jersey and South Florida. Randy called it rough for him. Paula said it wasn’t her favorite performance, but was glad she got her fun back. Simon said her confidence exceeded her ability tonight. Tonight? How about always? Her ability is NEVER higher than her confidence. I hope Mikalah is gone tomorrow, or soon. That being said, I will stop doing these things if she is voted off tomorrow night…

04 – Constantine Maroulis, You’ve Made Me So Very Happy (Blood Sweat & Tears)
No leather jacket today. Constantine actually sang tonight and didn’t try to “rocker” it up. Good voice, but I thought it sounded a bit Broadway. I did hear that he was in an off-Broadway production of Rent though. He seemed to scream less tonight. Did a decent job. I think he’ll be around for a few more weeks. Randy called it his best performance so far. Paula called his last note great. Simon said if the competition was Smoldering Idol, he’d win hands down. I was high on Constantine, then over him, and now I’m coming back to liking him. If he sticks around, I’ll be okay with it.

05 – Lindsey Cardinale, Knock on Wood (Eddie Floyd)
Lindsey was a bit flat tonight and she really can’t dance to save her life. Looks real uncomfortable up on the stage when she has to move around. Maybe she should sing more ballads so that she can just sit on a stool. She’s reduced to doing those knee bends that Jennifer Hudson used to do last year. Lindsey. Pretty girl. Husky voice. Not as talented as the others in the competition. Randy said he didn’t know. Paula asked her how she thought she did (which means it was horrible). Simon made some bad put down. I like Lindsey but she’s just been skating by. If you’re on Survivor, flying under the radar is a good thing. If you’re on American Idol, you want to be memorable. I can’t remember any song she’s sung so far. That is not an American Idol.

06 – Anthony Fedorov, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Neil Sedaka)
Every time Anthony sings now, I think about Clay Aiken and compare him to Clay. Clay would’ve killed this song. Anthony did not. My wife said that Clay had an old voice and that she likes Anthony because he has a much younger sounding voice. I like Anthony too, but that trachea thing bugs me a bit. I’m really cognizant of it now when he sings. Like that person who has a mole on their face with a hair in it. You just can’t stop focusing on it. Or the person with the bad comb-over. It’s like a magnet. Randy called it a below average performance in a bad hotel. Paula said it wasn’t bad, just not up to his par performance. Simon likened to when someone tries to sing at a Christmas office party and fails. I didn’t think it was that bad. I think Anthony will be safe tomorrow, but he’s not in my top 2 guys.

07 – Nadia Turner, You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me (Dusty Springfield)
Slowed it down. Wore an aqua-ish dress where the skirt was attached to her left wrist. Nadia’s like Tamyra, but she doesn’t have as strong a voice nor the range. But Tamyra is amazing, so the last statement is by no means a put down. Nadia is my co-favorite girl along with Carrie. She did a great job with this song, although it did remind me of the Stockard Channing (Rizzo) song in Grease (There Are Worse Things I Could Do). Randy gave her props for being the first one to bring it tonight. Paula was excited for her because she’s in it to win (um, aren’t they all?). Simon said that in a competition full of hamburgers, Nadia is a steak. She’s a filet mignon, as far as I’m concerned.

08 – Bo Bice, Spinning Wheel (Blood Sweat & Tears)
Bo sure knows how to sing using that mic stand. Bo went out into the crowd (a la Fantasia). I tell you, Bo knows how to perform and he gets it. He gets that he doesn’t have to perform for the judges (which is what some of the singers do). The judges comment on you, but they’re not the ones voting. Bo gives a great performance for the audience and the viewers. As long as Bo sings songs that I know or can get with, I’m on his bandwagon. He’s in my top 2 guys (behind Anwar). Although he did have an open shirt today and he either had a medallion or a tattoo on his chest. But it was blurred out. I actually thought it was a tuft of hair that he had shaved in the shape of something. Had to do a double take. Randy said “way to get it done” and I think there was a dog in there somewhere. Paula called him a superstar. Simon said it looks like he’s been doing it for 20 years. Well, he does look that old…

09 – Vonzell Solomon, Anyone Who Had A Heart (Dionne Warwick)
This song title reminds me of the “About Last Night…” soundtrack. There was a song on there by John Waite called “If Anybody Had A Heart.” Great soundtrack. A couple of Sheena Easton songs. Just a wonderful movie too. It’s funny, but this was the first movie for Elizabeth Perkins. One of her more memorable roles, but she looked horrible because she really is pretty. Like in Big or Indian Summer or even The Flintstones. Loved her in “He Said, She Said,” with … Kevin Bacon. And how great was Rob Lowe in About Last Night? And his career? Had a pretty good run (Outsiders, Oxford Blues, St Elmo’s Fire, Youngblood, About Last Night…). Then the sex tape. But he recovered quite nicely from that. I think Wayne’s World & Tommy Boy revived his career. The West Wing was good for him and even got him a few more TV shows (The Lyon’s Den and Dr Vegas). Back to Vonzell. She was wearing a salmon/peach (?) colored prom dress. Very pretty girl, as a matter of fact, we let Jared stay up and watch tonight (that’s part of the reason this is so late, as he had a hard time getting to sleep tonight) and he told his mommy that she (Vonzell) was very pretty. She really looks like someone, but I can’t put my finger on it. Please, anyone, let me know who you think she looks like. Randy called it an ambitious song choice (which, as we know, means they didn’t pull it off). Paula said she looked lovely tonight (although that dress showed her hips a little too much). Simon called her “in the middle” and needs to do something great to stay in the competition. I agree wholeheartedly.

10 – Scott Savol, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg (The Temptations)
Scott, my man, came out in a suede suit. Like one that one of the basketball players would wear on Draft Night. You know, those loud, usually pinstripe deals that have a minimum of 6 buttons on them. If I win Excalibur this year, I will give serious thought to buying an NBA Draft Night suit to walk across the stage next year in Vegas… I love Scott’s voice. I hope that he stays in this competition. The only bummer was that they didn’t have a “family and friends” shot for him after his performance. Randy said it was good and it was mostly in tune (backhanded compliment). Paula called it fun. Simon said he was surprised and that he did good. I think Scott is on the fence every week from here on out just because he may not have a huge following. I like him though.

11 – Carrie Underwood, When Will I Be Loved (Everly Brothers)
Straightened her hair, which looked good. Wore a little more make up tonight, which was a good thing. Usually I’m a less is more kind of guy, but more was good on Carrie tonight. More was not good on Mikalah tonight. Carrie is a bit stiff on stage too, but not to the extent of Lindsey. Carrie still has such a big voice. I’m a fan of hers. Randy said that she has one of the better voices in the competition but has not been showing it lately. Paula called her performance safe and boring. Simon disagreed and said there are 3 people who know what they are and she is one of them (I’m guessing the other 2 are Bo and Nadia?). I hope Carrie goes far in this competition. Or I hope they bring Amanda back. Either one will do. It’s funny but a lot of guys were upset that Amanda was voted off, but most of the guys that were upset were probably ones that don’t vote. That’ll get you every time. Gotta vote if you want to keep people around. I should talk. I didn’t vote tonight.

12 – Nikko Smith, I Want You Back (Jackson 5)
Poor Nikko only probably 3 days to prepare for this. My wife calls him Urkel. My buddy Jeff works as a trainer down on the Warner Bros lot and he used to train Jaleel White. And he trained Bob Sagat. Almost golfed with Jose Canseco the other day. He trains a guy who is on a show that knows Jose. That would’ve been cool. He heard Jose hits it a mile but can’t keep it on the short grass. That’s like me, except for the hitting it a mile thing. Nikko was definitely better than Travis in the whole “sing while you dance” thing. I hope that Nikko makes it through to next week so that he can have a whole week to prepare for the next show. He was not great tonight, but good given the time constraints. Randy was glad to have him back. Paula said he did his own thing. Simon thought he was horrible. I like him. Oh baby, baby, I want him back.

If I would’ve voted tonight, I would’ve voted for Anwar, Nadia, Bo, Scott and Carrie.