Thursday, February 14, 2008
A.I.: THE TOP 24
Here's the show where they bring each singer, one by one, into a room and let them know whether they have made it to the live shows or not. Let's keep it short and to the point for now, because Simon had something extraordinary to say on Wednesday's show and I should focus on that.
I knew Carly Smithson would make it, and she did. She's E.K. Nation's official pick to go farther than any other female. I wasn't sure if Kristy Lee Cook, the Oregonian, or Brooke White* would make it, but they both did. Asia'h Epperson made it. Kady Malloy, Amy Davis and Alaina Whitaker all made it. Basically the only female I recognized from any of the audition shows who didn't make it was Natashia Bloch. Oh, and neither did the gorgeous Cardin McKinney, who was one of the final two girls along with "plus-size" model Joanne Borgella, who survived that final cut. (Cardin, it turns out, has legs that rival those of last year's bombshell Haley Scarnato, and it's a shame that she won't be delighting me anymore with her visual appearance.) Syesha Mercado was informed by Paula that she had made it to the next round, via the spelling of her name -- there's a "y-e-s" in "Syesha"...isn't that cute? I wonder if Paula would have had the balls to cut Fantasia in that way ("Hmmm...how do you spell your last name, Fantasia? B-A-R-R-I-N-O? Wait, what are those last two letters again?"). Ramiele Malubay, Alexandrea Lushington, and rock and roll nurse (and won't it be grand when I can stop saying that phrase?) Amanda Overmyer round out the top 12 girls, who will take the stage next week.
David Cook was the first guy to make it through. Sixteen-year-old David Archuleta also made it, after being lectured on how young he was. Danny Noriega -- once again, a soon-to-be big hit with our gay and lesbian community -- will be one of the live singers next week, as will three guys I have no recollection of seeing until now, Jason Yeager, Jason Castro and Luke Menard. Drew Poppelreiter won't miss not being in the top 24, saying "I won't miss turkey season," and I am very sad that turkeys have to die so that we don't have to listen to Drew sing anymore. Australian Michael Johns (and won't it be great when I can stop qualifying this guy as an Aussie?) made it, and he is E.K. Nation's pick to go farther than any other male singer this year. Long-haired Robbie Carrico made it while other long-haired dude Buck Smith didn't. Smooth vocalist Chikezie Eze (his names rhyme, I think, or maybe they don't) will be in the top 24, as will someone named Garrett Haley, whom I have no memory of. David Hernandez made it despite not being a unanimous choice.
Which brings us to our last two guys, a young moptop named Colton Berry, and the bespectacled Kyle Ensley. Kyle is the guy who has aspirations of becoming a politican later in life but thought American Idol might be a nice stopover until then. He's a Jon-Peter-Lewis, Kevin-Covais type who is not necessarily superior to anyone in any way vocally (except for maybe those two) but seems like one of the nicest guys to ever compete in this karaoke-fest. And here is what Simon had to say when they brought in Colton and Kyle to determine the last guy in the top 24, and I think anyone who believes Simon is an ass should read this quote, and this is verbatim, and he said it to Kyle after it was revealed that Colton had been chosen to pass through to the next round in lieu of Kyle, and I thought it was the most heartfelt thing any reality TV show host or judge has ever said about any competitor ever:
Simon was absolutely correct in his assessment of Kyle Ensley. He isn't a fantastic singer by any stretch, but it's true that he would have sparked the same kind of interest in A.I. that Messrs. Lewis or Covais did in years past. He had a likeable personality that rose above his geeky exterior, a positive competitive spirit, and the drive to just keep singing even though the odds were against him, and he would have been a star this season, like it or not, Sanjaya haters. So it is with these last few sentences that Simon is given credit where it is due; not only does he know what he is talking about, but he's also a nice guy.
On to the round of 24. Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, you are the favorites.
*Did anyone else notice that right around the time they brought Brooke in for her final verdict, the producers cued up the same music they play on Deal Or No Deal when someone is about to open up a very important case? I was bothered by this.
I knew Carly Smithson would make it, and she did. She's E.K. Nation's official pick to go farther than any other female. I wasn't sure if Kristy Lee Cook, the Oregonian, or Brooke White* would make it, but they both did. Asia'h Epperson made it. Kady Malloy, Amy Davis and Alaina Whitaker all made it. Basically the only female I recognized from any of the audition shows who didn't make it was Natashia Bloch. Oh, and neither did the gorgeous Cardin McKinney, who was one of the final two girls along with "plus-size" model Joanne Borgella, who survived that final cut. (Cardin, it turns out, has legs that rival those of last year's bombshell Haley Scarnato, and it's a shame that she won't be delighting me anymore with her visual appearance.) Syesha Mercado was informed by Paula that she had made it to the next round, via the spelling of her name -- there's a "y-e-s" in "Syesha"...isn't that cute? I wonder if Paula would have had the balls to cut Fantasia in that way ("Hmmm...how do you spell your last name, Fantasia? B-A-R-R-I-N-O? Wait, what are those last two letters again?"). Ramiele Malubay, Alexandrea Lushington, and rock and roll nurse (and won't it be grand when I can stop saying that phrase?) Amanda Overmyer round out the top 12 girls, who will take the stage next week.
David Cook was the first guy to make it through. Sixteen-year-old David Archuleta also made it, after being lectured on how young he was. Danny Noriega -- once again, a soon-to-be big hit with our gay and lesbian community -- will be one of the live singers next week, as will three guys I have no recollection of seeing until now, Jason Yeager, Jason Castro and Luke Menard. Drew Poppelreiter won't miss not being in the top 24, saying "I won't miss turkey season," and I am very sad that turkeys have to die so that we don't have to listen to Drew sing anymore. Australian Michael Johns (and won't it be great when I can stop qualifying this guy as an Aussie?) made it, and he is E.K. Nation's pick to go farther than any other male singer this year. Long-haired Robbie Carrico made it while other long-haired dude Buck Smith didn't. Smooth vocalist Chikezie Eze (his names rhyme, I think, or maybe they don't) will be in the top 24, as will someone named Garrett Haley, whom I have no memory of. David Hernandez made it despite not being a unanimous choice.
Which brings us to our last two guys, a young moptop named Colton Berry, and the bespectacled Kyle Ensley. Kyle is the guy who has aspirations of becoming a politican later in life but thought American Idol might be a nice stopover until then. He's a Jon-Peter-Lewis, Kevin-Covais type who is not necessarily superior to anyone in any way vocally (except for maybe those two) but seems like one of the nicest guys to ever compete in this karaoke-fest. And here is what Simon had to say when they brought in Colton and Kyle to determine the last guy in the top 24, and I think anyone who believes Simon is an ass should read this quote, and this is verbatim, and he said it to Kyle after it was revealed that Colton had been chosen to pass through to the next round in lieu of Kyle, and I thought it was the most heartfelt thing any reality TV show host or judge has ever said about any competitor ever:
Kyle, I want you to know, from me, wholeheartedly, I disagree with this decision. I think you had done enough because you were different and unique to have made it through to the next round, and I completely and utterly disagree with this decision. I think you should have been given a chance based on the impact you made at Hollywood to be competing further in this competition. I don't think you're the best singer, but I think you have something which people would have enjoyed, and I'm really disappointed. Really disappointed.At which point Colton should have thrown up his hands and said, "Oh, crikey, I have no chance to win now. Guys, if I bow out, will you put Kyle through to the round of 24?" (E.K. Nation predicts that Colton will sing live on television just once in his life, and that that will be next week.)
Simon was absolutely correct in his assessment of Kyle Ensley. He isn't a fantastic singer by any stretch, but it's true that he would have sparked the same kind of interest in A.I. that Messrs. Lewis or Covais did in years past. He had a likeable personality that rose above his geeky exterior, a positive competitive spirit, and the drive to just keep singing even though the odds were against him, and he would have been a star this season, like it or not, Sanjaya haters. So it is with these last few sentences that Simon is given credit where it is due; not only does he know what he is talking about, but he's also a nice guy.
On to the round of 24. Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, you are the favorites.
*Did anyone else notice that right around the time they brought Brooke in for her final verdict, the producers cued up the same music they play on Deal Or No Deal when someone is about to open up a very important case? I was bothered by this.
