Whoever the PTB are at AI, they have really made some boneheaded decisions on the music to feature this season. Don’t get me wrong – there’s a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music that I absolutely adore – but the music is just out of place in this competition. Watching the six try to sing this music was mostly painful. A couple of the performances were decent Broadway performances, but that isn’t what AI is about. There wasn’t a single performance last night that would be a Top 10 hit.
Tonight’s show kicked off with some conversation with Webber. He nailed it when asked about whether the contestants took his advice. He said that Jason, who did a horrible rendition of “Memories,” wouldn’t take his advice, no matter what he told him. In last night’s show, Simon told Jason he looked like a kid whose parents made him sing this song at a wedding and he wasn’t happy about it. Jason should have been the VFW choice. I’m hoping that because he wasn’t, he’ll be the one to go home.
You know, I watch AI to have a bit of respite from politics. So I could have definitely done without the clip tonight of the President and the First Lady. Congrats, though, to Idol Gives Back for raising over $65 million.
On to the eliminations. Tonight, we will get to the bottom two, instead of the bottom three. First up – the two Davids, rocker David Cook and teen sensation David Archuleta. Without much fanfare, these two were declared safe.
Filling time, the show went to Broadway to catch up with some prior AI contestants who are performing there. Clay Aiken is there now – wow, did he look different!
Another time waster – a performance by Leona Lewis, who was discovered by Simon. (If you are so inclined, her video is here.) In a word: boring!
Back to the eliminations. Syesha and Brooke were brought out. Syesha did well last night, which proves she’s really not AI material. What can I say about Brooke? She was out of her element, forgot her lyrics and actually restarted her song. I guess VFW got their wish: Syesha ended up in the bottom two while Brooke was safe. Unbelievable!
The last pair to be brought out were Jason and Carly. Carly probably performed the best last night, with a rendition of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which Webber had to tell her to sing. “Train wreck” Jason, as Randy referred to his performance, was declared safe, which put Carly in the bottom two. How in the heck Jason managed to make it through is beyond me.
In another time waster, the bottom two performed (thankfully abbreviated versions of) their songs again. You know what? If you only have a half an hour worth of material for a show, then make the show 30 minutes long. Not 20 minutes of show and 30 minutes of filler (the other 10 minutes being commercials). Time for me to start watching the results shows like I used to – TiVo the thing and start watching about 25 minutes in. That way, I can fast forward thru the filler.
There was a pregnant pause after Ryan Secrest announced that Carly was the one voted off tonight. She got a standing ovation from the audience and the judges. Carly may not have been my favorite but there was no denying her voice.
Next week: Neil Diamond.
Oh, brother.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Well, for the first time in forever, I watched AI. My daughter loves Andrew Llyod Webber, so she made us watch. I don’t know anyone’s names, but I know the music. The “JCS” singer was good, but the balance was terrible, and the accompaniment and backup vocals nearly drowned her out. Whoever was running the sound system should have been voted off, not her.
The guy doing Phantom was awsome, until he screamed the last two notes. That ruined it.
Call me a conspiracy theorist, but part of me wonders if they are trying to cut some of the more talented singers so that there can be a sense of drama that causes everyone to tune into the show.
At this point, I think it’s going to come down to the two Davids. I think David Crocker will have a decent career after the show, but for David Archuleta I think a lot will depend on whether he can do anything after he’s too old to be a teen sensation.
Sorry, was thinking David Cook (combined his real last name with the fact that he’s a rocker.)
Anon E. Mouse — the guy who did music of the night was David Cook, who’s the rocker of the bunch so I think the ending kind of fit into his overall style but I get what you’re saying.
Bryan — sometimes it’s good to get out of one’s style and keep the piece pure. Two examples — Beth and Wild Horses.
Bryan – there’s a lot of stuff out there about Carly. As good a singer as she is, a lot of folks just don’t like her. I agree – it will come down to the 2 Davids. There aren’t any females left who have the chops or the charisma to go on.
AEM – good that your daughter made you watch. A little pop culture never hurt anyone 😉
I would watch the show if Simon weren’t an ass. He is the only reason I don’t watch it.
BTW, I just spent an hour last week in a college radio station. “Alternative,” they call it. Good kids, though, despite the pot.
If anyone feels likes skipping Neil Diamond week, I recommend renting Lost and Found and watching the last 30 minutes when David Spade lip-syncs Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show. It’s basically going to be the same experience as watching Jason try and stumble his way through Sweet Caroline (ie, awkward and uncomfortalbe at first but ultimately worth laughing at).
Sweeeeet Caroline, BAH BAH BAAAAAAH….
AEM – just ignore Simon. The rest of us do 😉
anon – you gave me a mental image that I can’t get out of my head 😦 Argggh!