AI8 recap, Semi-Finalists x 36, Group 3 (03/03/09)

Again, a quick one tonight as it’s a 2 hour show and I’ve got sleep to get to…

01 – Von Smith, 22, Greenwood, MO (You’re All I Need To Get By, Marvin Gaye)
Kid looks like JT Lambert from “Step By Step,” the show with Suzanne Somers and Patrick Duffy. The eldest sister in that show was Staci Keanan who was the daughter in “My Two Dads,” with Paul Reiser and Greg (BJ & the Bear) Evigan. To my wife Kristin, Von sounded a bit like George Michael from his Wham! days. Randy thought he started the show off nicely and Simon said he reminded him of Clay Aiken (wardrobe-wise too). I think Von has a shot at the #3 slot this week. If not, I hope they bring him back for the Wild Card on Thursday.

02 – Taylor Vaifanua, 17, Hurricane, UT (If I Ain’t Got You, Alicia Keys)
She looks like she could be one of the singing Wolfgramm kids in the ‘80s group “The Jets.” Did you know that “The Jets” were made up of the oldest 8 Wolfgramm kids? And that there were SEVENTEEN (17) kids total? My only problem with this song is that, on this show, you have to cover a song and “change it up” or “make it your own.” With a stylized song like this one, it’s very hard to make it different. I don’t think she fell flat, but didn’t think she knocked it out of the park either. Simon called it generic and bland and genuinely couldn’t remember her from the auditions/Hollywood. It’s a tough one, but I don’t think she makes it through.

03 – Alex Wagner-Trugman, 19, Studio City, CA (I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues, Elton John)
Can’t put my finger on who this kid looks like. I’m thinking a cross between Ray Romano and Joey Harrington? Alex definitely changed it up, but not in a good/cool way. And I’m not a fan of kids having hyphenated names either. What happens when Alex gets married and his wife wants to hyphenate her last name? Would it be Susan Smith-Wagner-Trugman? Can you double hyphenate? How could she EVER fill out a form with boxes, let alone a Scantron? There would not be enough room. Would she just use the space in Address 2? Back to Alex. Nice kid. Reminded me a bit of John (Red Finch) Stevens 2.0. But at least he won’t be a finalist, I think…

04 – Arianna Afsar, 17, San Diego, CA (The Winner Takes All, ABBA)
As with others, in the last few weeks, the background music sounded a bit loud and drowned her out in parts. She’s got a big voice, but this was a weird, dreary arrangement. Before Arianna even started singing I thought that the judges would say she was singing something too old for her. The judges killed her for a bad song choice/arrangement, but of course Paula couldn’t resist getting the token applause by pandering to the audience by saying something inane, yet positive about the performance. I can’t stand Paula when she does that. Actually I can’t stand Paula. Period. I hope they bring Arianna back for the Wild Card. She’s a cute girl with a good voice that made a bad song choice.

05 – Ju’Not Joyner, Bowie, MD (Hey There Delilah, Plain White T’s)
I like this song, but I thought that Ju’Not was a bit too reserved in this version. It was a little unrecognizable in parts for me too. Ju’Not seems like a funny, likeable guy, so this song was a bit confusing for me. It’s almost like contestants feel the need to show another side of themselves but the problem with that is that they only have one shot to make it to the finals in this new format. Stick with what you do well and experiment once you get to the finals when they eliminate one a week. Not when they only put 3 out of 12 through. Still, I thought Ju’Not was good, but I think he could’ve stood out more with a different song choice. And I think he looks like a bloated Penny Hardaway. He’s a serious contender for the #3 slot tomorrow though.

06 – Kristen McNamara, 23, Napa Valley, CA (Give Me One Reason, Tracy Chapman)
So I’m already against her because she took the spot of Jennifer Korbee, as the two of them had a “sing for your supper” competition to make it the top 36. Jennifer Korbee was previously Jennifer Peterson-Hind (maiden name) from Hi-5, one of our daughter’s favorite kids’ shows. I wish when Joanna Pacitti was kicked off the show they would’ve invited Jennifer back to the competition. But I digress. So Kristen is a karaoke host and it totally showed in her song. I thought that she was doing a number for the movie “Duets.” Totally cabaret/cruise ship version of the song. And Kristen looks like someone but I can’t put my finger on it. All this being said, I still think she’s in the running for slot #3 too.

07 – Nathaniel Marshall, 19, Malone, NY (I Would Do Anything For Love, Meat Loaf)
So Nathaniel is kind of a train wreck. His outfit looked like he was a buddy of the guys from “Night at the Roxbury.” And his headband is simply ridiculous. Dude has a multitude of tattoos and piercings too. Just a mess. I could actually see Will Ferrell doing a skit on him for SNL. Simon called his performance “verging on excruciating” and “uncomfortable.” Randy asked what kind of artist would he be? And what kind of music would he do? Paula called it the “Boy George version” of the song and that took the cool factor away from it. Seems like a nice kid, but I think he’s toast tomorrow.

08 – Felicia Barton, 26, Virginia Beach, VA (No One, Alicia Keys)
So Felicia is the one they brought back when they disqualified Joanna Pacitti (for having “very personal connections” to 2 execs for 19 Entertainment). And Wikipedia has Joanna dating Mark Ballas from Dancing With The Stars (what happened to Sabrina Bryan?). I didn’t think Felicia was all that great, but she sure owned the stage when she was singing up there. Closest look-alike I could come up with was Courteney Cox. See above for singing stylized-Alicia Keys songs. They should just take them off the list for the contestants to spare them the ridicule. She still may be in the running for the 3rd slot though.

09 – Scott MacIntyre, 23, Scottsdale, AZ (Mandolin Rain, Bruce Hornsby)
So this is the blind guy. He had to sing without his piano which had to be a bit discomforting for him. Not the best vocals, but good enough to get him through to the finals, where I hope they let the contestants use instruments like last season. He will undoubtedly get through tomorrow. No question about it. He’s likeable and has a great story. His candor in his interview was like David Archuleta’s but even more believable. Looking back at little David, I think some of his “aw shucks” routine may have been planned, but ultimately I still like David. I don’t see a pretentious bone in Scott’s body. He may not win, but he will definitely be a finalist.

10 – Kendall Beard, 24, Austin, TX (This One’s For The Girls, Martina McBride)
Who does Kendall look like? Blondie? Reese Witherspoon? I think Kendall may be the frontrunner for the 3rd spot, as historically, the voters have been kind to country singers. I didn’t think she was great, but good enough (and cute enough) to get through. If not, maybe a Wild Card spot.

11 – Jorge Nunez, 20, Carolina, PR (Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Elton John)
The music was foreground music, and not background, on this song. Really drowned Jorge out. He did a pretty good job with this song though. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was voted through or if he gets a Wild Card spot. Seacrest “cleverly” said his number as “uno uno” at the end. How witty Ryan is. Just one snappy comeback after another. Does facetious come across on e-mail?

12 – Lil Rounds, 24, Memphis, TN (Be Without You, Mary J. Blige)
Wow. That’s all I have to say. She looks and sounds like LaToya London from a few seasons back. But better. The judges loved her. She’s through to the finals. Guaranteed.

So, I think Lil and Scott will be through. Jorge, Kendall, Felicia, Kristen, Ju’Not and Von all have a shot at the #3 spot.

I guess that we get the results on Wedneday, but then they have a quick turnaround and have the Wild Card on Thursday. I think each judge puts 2 contestants on the show (for a total of 8). Then the judges (not America) puts 3 through to the finals.

If I have time, I’ll do another recap on Thursday night… But probably not because I have a work dinner program that night…