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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > February > 12
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
2/12: Hollywood round, Jessica Sierra & one-hour results shows the norm
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After years of resisting the temptation of padding the results shows from 30 minutes to an hour, “Idol” has taken the apple and bitten hard. This year, every results show will be an hour long. They have improved the results show last year by adding more outside entertainment but still, it’s five minutes of news and 55 minutes of filler.
Two factors why this is happening: the results show ratings actually were up last year from 2006 while the performance night numbers were way down. And the writers’ strike means Fox doesn’t have that much in the till to fill the time anyway. And a bonus third factor: “The Return of Jezebel James,” a sitcom originally set to debut after “Idol” results next month is so bad (I’ve seen the first two episodes), I wouldn’t blame them if they just buried it and buried it fast on Friday nights and not even bother giving it an “Idol” lead in.
Meanwhile, Tmz.com reports that Jessica Sierra is no longer with baby. That’s probably a good thing.
Onto the show. And honestly, it is indeed a more talented crew. Some genuinely good singers got cut. I had a few early favorites. Michael Lee Johns impressed me. So did Asia’h Epperson. And I really fell for David Hernandez. I’m also fans of David Archuleta, Brooke White and Syesha Mercado. I was disappointed that Kristy Lee Cook needed to go back to “Amazing Grace.”
Overall, we heard 14 of the spoiler 24. (Atlanta’s Alex Lushington was only seen in passing and not heard.)
The set up is different from year’s past. All 164 get to sing solo and either get a free pass to day three or a second chance.
First up is chaste, nonsmoking, non-R-rated movie watching Brooke White. She’s also very talented, a warmth to her that Simon describes as evoking of “Carly Simon” behind her keyboard. (Yes, they can play instruments!). Honestly, I liked her more this time than when I saw her in auditions.
Then we see a bunch of people who have problems.
Lorena Pinot hits lots of bad notes doing Shania Twain. Amy Flynn hits a really bad note and is gone for now. Leo Marlowe went from “memorable” to “forgetable” in 30 seconds. Alisha Dixon, with guitar, hits massive bad notes. “It’s like angry girl in the bedroom screaming on the guitar,” Simon said. Micheal Sanfilippo wasn’t bad but the guitar didn’t help him either. Alyssa Coco, with the keyboard, had to give up on the keyboard. Shawn Barrowes was more about his keyboard than the vocals. Jake Mellema goes behind a drum set and sings “Hooked on a Feeling.” I kind of liked the guy but Simon pilloried him: “It was a horrible horrible song choice… there was absolutely nothing redeeming about it except we stopped it early.”
David Hernandez was deeply impressive. Wow! I love this guy! “Idol” gives him a lot of time. He has soul, looks and stage presence. “I loved it from note one,” Randy said. “Very very very comfortable up there,” Simon said.
Amanda Overmyer, the goth nurse who the judges liked (but I didn’t), was in a nasty car accident a week earlier but is well enough to perform. She seems like a lesser version of some of the better “Rock Star: Supernova” gals. But the judges still like her. “An artist like you can be big again,” Randy said. “Fantastic,” Paula said. “You have to learn some light and shade with your voice or it could be monotonous,” Simon said. But she goes straight to the final round.
Then there were the folks who forget lyrics. Buck Smith of Kingsland, GA can’t recall the words to “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Cardin McKinney has a great voice but messes up the words. Natashia Blach blanks out.
Ghaleb Emachah, the ladies man from Venezuala with the strong accent, seems overrated to me. Is he really that sexy? He sounds horrid, too. And that’s an understatement. “It was incredibly corny. I thought it was terrible,” Simon said. Paula is truly disappointed, crestfallen.
On day two, Josiah Leming (the guy who lived in his car above) is kind of cool opting behind the keyboard. He misses a few notes but captures Mika’s “Grace Kelly” with grace. “You’re cool,” Randy says, aping me. “This is the one I’m going to remember,” Simon said. He’s hard to forget. But I don’t recall him being part of the final 24. Too bad.
Danny Noriega is good. I didn’t think he was great, though. He is cute. Ramiele Malubay possesses some serioius soul and she’s adorable. Carly Smithson (Hennessy), our Wall Street Journal gal, is still a bit overstylized for my taste but I can understand why she breezes through. (Her Irish accent seems quite muted now.) Then our former Atlantan and Australian Michael Lee Johns is a tour de force. channeling Jim Morrison and even getting Randy to sing along. He is a player to be reckoned with!
David Cook has warmth in his voice that superseded the rough edges but I’m not loving it. “You have nice range, nice tone,” Randy said. “I wasn’t crazy about it. The minute you lose that guitar, you’ll be vulnerable,” Simon said. I tend to agree with Simon.
Robbie Carrico, a hirsute spoiler 24 I don’t think we’ve seen before, sounded great doing that crappy Bryan Adams song with some rocker ‘tude. We only get a few seconds of him though. Then it’s on to Jessica Brown, who looks a bit rough and has a rather unmemorable voice. Perrie Cataldo is a bit over the top. Ditto with Syesha Mercado, a spoiler 24. Colton Berry(below), another spoiler 24, is impressive for the three seconds we hear.
Kyle Ensley, the geeky politico wannabe, is a bit wobbly vocally but he has a lot of verve. The crowd eats it up. “I surrender,” Simon said. “What show is this?” Randy said. “A little corny,” Paula said. “It was abysmal,” Simon later noted. Simon walks away when Paula notes his “spirit.”
There were no cuts the first two days. Forty eight made it to round three. The remaining 116 have to try again. Part two, they only get a few seconds a capella.
Single mom Suzanne Toon does “Summertime” is just okay. Perrie Cataldo, single dad, is back. He wasn’t bad but not great. Close call for me. Both go home.
Amy Flynn, the abstinance preaching dance captain, has a vocal coach who made it to Hollywood season four. She tries out a Taylor Dayne song she just learned. It was good. Not amazing. And she fails. The gal who got into the nasty car accident gets cut (Kala Hatfield something or other). So is Angelica Puentes, who wanted to make her dad proud.
Kristy Lee Cook, a favorite with her “Amazing Grace” in the early auditions, didn’t cut it in the first round and goes back to “Grace” during her second round. Then there’s delightful Jeffrey Lampkin, part of the brother-sister team. l really enjoy this dude. Then there’s the ultimate in sob stories: Angela Martin, whose daughter is sick and her dad just died (they don’t say how he was killed. She did a great job, lots of depth and emotion. But she gets ousted while Jeffrey makes it, along with Kristy Lee Cook.
There are about 64 people left and 50 will make it. They get three background singers.
David Archuleta, the 16 year old prodigy, gets into “Heaven” and he has a truly pure voice. This kid is going to get votes! “That was the bomb, the best I heard yet,” Randy said. “You’re a gem,” Paula said. The top 24 are definitely in his sights.
Kyle Ensley (above) does a passable Josh Grobin but it’s a competitive field this year. “I thought that was a good little audition,” Simon said. He gets a surprising yes.
Jeffrey Lampkin (right) botches his audition. Awww… That’s a serious bummer! Joey Catalano has a migraine. We’ve never seen him before. He’s pretty good but gets a no. Again, more proof that talent is definitely better than last year.
Syesha Mercado snuck through up to this point and she’s ill, her voice, as Ryan said, “strained and tired.” Wow. She’s outstanding! She can barely talk. “You are one to watch in this,” Randy said.
We’re back to Michael Lee Johns, the Australian. And bizarrely, “Idol” credits him to “Buckhead, GA.” (There is a Buckhead, GA but not where he lived.) He hasn’t lived in Buckhead for at least three years. He goes for “Bohemian Rhapsody” and rocks it. “Best auditon of the day,” Simon said.
Then Carly Smithson Hennessy again. She was allergic to her dog and that was hurting her voice. They still haven’t referenced her MCA Records past. She picks Carrie Underwood’s “Alone.” It works. I like her much better this time. But you can tell she’s a pro, not raw in the least. That could annoy some folks. “That was a very good song choice for you,” Simon said. She’s through!
Asia’h Epperson(above) has great personality and R&B voice. She’s a spoiler 24 for good reason. “Your best auditon by a mile!” Simon said.
Annoying beauty queen Brooke Helvie picks Simon’s favorite song “Unchained Melody.” She misses the high note. Simon oddly says yes while Randy says no. Then— Paula says no! When does that ever happen?
Josiah’s the last performance. He is very stressed. They loved him the last audition. What will happen now? He doesn’t connect with the band so he goes purely acapella with “Stand By Me.” He seems on the verge of tears while singing. I’m not sure I liked it. “That to me was your worst performance,” Randy said. “That was not good.” “That didn’t work for me,” Paula said. “If you’re going to dismiss the band, be certain you are going to deliver an unbelievable vocal,” Simon said. “You lost a little bit of your charm.” All three judges still give him a yes given his past performances.
