AI4 recap, Finalists x 8 (04/12)

So, Nikko’s gone. I’m disappointed, but not heartbroken. Poor Nikko never had a strong following. Being voted off before the finals showed that. I don’t think that he was going to win it all, but I wish that he could’ve stayed around to sing a few more songs. How Anthony and Scott avoided being booted I’ll never know. Anthony not even being in the bottom 3 was a crime too.

This week’s theme was a song from the year that the contestant was born. Interesting. I guess they’re running out of ideas. Maybe next week they’ll play the Name Game. You know, the singer’s first name has to start with the same initial as the contestant’s last name. Wouldn’t that be clever? Not.

A little fashion police for the judges. Randy was wearing a light blue shirt that looked like a faux police uniform, a la Dennis Rodman. Or Olden Polynice, former NBAer, who was busted for impersonating a cop. Olden Polynice was responsible for some of the Bulls championships, as it was he that was traded for Scottie Pippen in that 1987 draft, which also brought Horace Grant and BJ Armstrong to the Bulls. Paula wore a sparkly top that was black on one side, but then also red, green and yellow on the other. She looked like the flag for (formerly) East Germany. Simon wore a powder blue, tight top that showed his man boobs, again. Don’t remember what Seacrest wore, as I try to erase him from my memory immediately, if not sooner.

01 – Nadia (’77), When I Dream (Mac Davis)
The BIG hair was back. Much better all up like Freddie from “A Different World” than that mohawk a few weeks back. Wore a red top and short skirt. Very Ally McBeal-ish. Speaking of Ally McBeal, has anyone seen that new show “Grey’s Anatomy?” Great show. Main character, Meredith Grey is very Ally McBeal, but in surgical scrubs. Played by Ellen Pompeo, who was Luke Wilson’s love interest in that classic “Old School.” She looks like she could be sisters with Christina Applegate and Paula Devicq (Kirsten on Party of Five). The show centers around four first-year surgical interns at a hospital in Seattle. Sandra Oh (Sideways, Arli$$) and Katherine Heigl (My Father the Hero, Roswell) are two of the other characters. Patrick Dempsey plays her semi-love interest. Funny thing about Patrick Dempsey. You may remember him as Ronald Miller in “Can’t Buy Me Love.” In real life, to quote the movie, “he went from totally geek to totally sheik.” He also played the goofy kid in “Loverboy” and now he’s the hunk in “Grey’s Anatomy” and also played Reese Witherspoon’s jilted lover in “Sweet Home Alabama.” I think the other attending surgeon was the guy who Renee Raddick (Ally McBeal’s roommate, until she went nuts in real life and was inexplicably dropped from the show) put in the hospital when she was defending herself from his advances on a date. Anyway, back to Nadia. She doesn’t have the greatest voice, but has good stage presence. Randy didn’t even know what song it was. Okay performance, but it was rough pitch-wise for him. Paula said she looked outrageously stunning. Simon called her the equivalent of “musical wallpaper.” Basically it was a performance that you wouldn’t remember. He thought the song choice was appalling. She could be on the bubble tomorrow night.

02 – Bo Bice (’75), Freebird (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Bo did the whole “carry the mic stand during the performance” thing again. Song started really slow at the beginning. Almost put me to sleep. I was really getting disinterested, but then he ended it well. We let Jared stay up tonight to watch and he said that the liked that song. Oh no, I’m raising a rocker son! June, stay away from my son. I don’t need him going to Def Leppard and Whitesnake concerts when they’re in their 70s and still touring. Unless, of course, his Auntie June will accompany him with Jake Ryan… Randy said that he loved that song and that it was excellent. Paula said “see you at the finals.” I think that’s jumping the gun a bit. Simon disagreed with them. Couldn’t hear what else he said, but I really think that Constantine has surpassed him as the token rocker in the group. Bo hasn’t done it for me in the last few weeks and that “gendre” comment last week was disappointing. I don’t think he’ll be in the bottom 3 tomorrow, but his time will come.

03 - Anwar Robinson (’79), I’ll Never Love This Way Again (Dionne Warwick)
Okay, I’ve got this nitpicky thing about Anwar. After you hear it, you’ll think that I’m weird for noticing this. But then you’ll catch yourself looking. So here’s the deal. I used to think that Anwar had a funny eye. You know, a wandering eye. But then I finally realized that his eyes are so slanted at the edges that you can’t see the whites of his eyes (the whites closest to his ears). So it looks like his eyes are off-center. I don’t know if it’s because his pupils are too big or that his eye sockets are formed funny, but it really used to bug me. Actually it still bugs me, but not in a bad way. I’m just glad I figured it out. You know, if Anwar was in the Revolutionary War, he’d have never been fired upon. Had his bell bottom jeans on again and a shirt open down to his naval, like he was on Miami Vice or something. I really thought his performance was good tonight. Randy gave him his props and said that he is the best technical singer. Paula called him consistently pleasing to the ear. Simon called it one of his better performances in awhile. Although he’s not my favorite to win anymore, I think that he should make the final 4.

04 – Anthony Fedorov (’85), Every Time You Go Away (Paul Young)
Finally a song from the ‘80s and it has to be this one? They flashed on Hall and Oates in the crowd and said that Scott would be singing one of their songs later in the show. Is it me or does Darryl Hall look like Dennis Leary? Has anyone seen them in the same room together? And how goofy does John Oates look without his mustache? They had that Rock ‘n’ Soul, Part I, but they never had a Part II. I think that it’s very presumptuous to have a part I. You just don’t call your shot that there will be a 2 or a sequel like that. It’s like the forces of the universe came together to punish them to not come out with a part II. Like the Mel Brooks movie “History of the World, Part I.” There were actually previews for Part II (Hitler on Ice!), but the movie was never made. The way to do it is call it “Rock ‘n’ Soul” and IF you have a second one, call it “Rock ‘n’ Soul, Part II.” Take for example the Scream trilogy. Kevin Williamson knew that he wanted to make 3 movies, but he didn’t call the first one Scream 1. I can appreciate subtleties like that. Back to Anthony. I felt like the music was kinda drowning him out at times. And he was dancing around, but it wasn’t working for me because the song is such a downer. Really didn’t compare to the original. However, the judges loved it. Randy said that he did his thing. Paula called him much better than last week, which isn’t saying much, but then again, does Paula really say anything of substance? Ever? Simon thought that he was very good tonight. I still think that he should be in the bottom 3 tomorrow. I’m basing it on cumulative performances.

05 – Vonzell Solomon (’84), Let’s Hear It For The Boy (Deniece Williams)
When I heard this song choice, I was thinking “oh no, there is going to be dancing.” And there was. This was my worst nightmare for Vonzell because I like her and I just don’t want to subject the voting public to her dancing again. I think that she can get away with this right now, but once Scott, Anthony and Nadia are gone, there will be no room for ill-advised “Elaine” dancing. That can definitely be a deal breaker. Vonzell wore a sparkly top (maybe she went shopping with Paula?) and a denim skirt that was a lot too tight. Poor girl couldn’t move in that thing. I was thinking how bad would it be for her to fall on her face when she was trying to navigate those stairs? Would that affect the voting? Randy called it another great performance. Paula called her such a bright light and that she was adorable up there. And noted that she even sang the song an octave higher than Deniece. Simon called it a very good choice of song. I honestly thought it was a safe choice. Didn’t really stretch her vocally, but I think she had fun with it. I’m hoping that Vonzell is safe tomorrow night.

06 – Scott Savol (’76), She’s Gone (Hall and Oates)
BIG denim shirt. How many denim trees did they have to cut down to make that shirt? Just kidding. I know that denim is a form of cotton. So, how many cotton fields did they have to pick to make that shirt and pants combo? I’m really not a fan of the “jeans on jeans” look, but if it works for you, you go. Kinda rough in the beginning. But Paula was standing during the song. I guess that since Nikko is gone, she has to give her standing O’s to someone else. Randy started with “so listen…” Nothing good ever comes after those 2 words with him. He said the low notes were rough, but the chorus was good. Paula called it nerve wracking (probably since Hall & Oates were in the audience) but he did awesome. Simon called him a nice guy, HOWEVER there were more bum notes than good notes and it was not good on the whole. I agree. Scottie the Body can go at any time now. I think he should be in the bottom 3 tomorrow.

07 – Carrie Underwood (’83), Love Is A Battlefield (Pat Benetar)
This song totally reminded me of “13 Going on 30” with Jennifer Garner. Man that movie was funny. I know that the whole “younger person in an older body” movie has been done ad nauseum, but I really don’t get tired of it. And I don’t get tired of Jennifer Garner either. Do you realize that she’s really come out of nowhere to where she is now? She played second or third fiddle to Jennifer Love Hewitt in “Time of Your Life” and played one of the twin sisters, along with Marla Sokoloff (you may remember her as Lynette’s nanny in “Desperate Housewives”), in the epic “Dude, Where’s My Car?” She gained some momentum starring opposite Ben Affleck in “Pearl Harbor,” but BAM she hit it big with “Alias.” The show is a cheap rip off of La Femme Nikita, but it’s still pretty good. And she’s good looking, but not so hot that she’s unattainable. I mean, she IS dating Ben Affleck. Maybe he got used to the nickname “Bennifer” and had to date another Jennifer. Garner is actually a bit boyish, in a soccer girl/Sporty Spice kind of way. Back to Carrie, who is not boyish in any way. I always worry about singing rock songs because there can always be the temptation to scream and shout instead of sing. It was a risky song, but she did okay with it. Straight hair and heavy mascara. I hope she’s okay tomorrow night. Randy said that it was pitchy a bit and that she messed up the words. Paula said she rocked it. Simon called her a kitten that wants to be like a tiger. She is still my favorite to win it all though. I don’t think that the talent is such that this performance will kill her. Because I said that, she’ll probably be in the bottom 3 tomorrow night.

08 – Constantine Maroulis (’75), Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Vanessa Olivarez, who was the first finalist voted off in Season 2, sang this in her audition. And, of course, this song was made popular again with its inclusion in “Wayne’s World.” Although Constantine’s version didn’t quite resemble that one. He did a pretty good job with this. I’m still not a fan of his, but I think that he will make it to the final 2 now. Randy gave his showmanship a 10 and his singing a 7. Paula said that he is now the one to beat. Simon called it astounding. He really has improved and found his comfort zone in this competition. I’m not on his bandwagon, but I know plenty of people who are. I won’t name names, but she’s one of my wife’s sisters. Oh wait, she only has one sister. J Constantine will absolutely be safe tomorrow night.

So that’s it for tonight. I voted for Anwar, Vonzell and Carrie.

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