Top 24

Well, the end of Hollywood Week(s) came with a few surprises, and, as happens just about every season, a post-Top 24 announcement shuffle.

We were treated to the traditional “three rooms of finalists, two rooms go through, one room gets bad news”. When they showed and reviewed some of the contestants in Room #1, I thought: easy. This room is staying. I said the same thing after the review of Room #2. Then they began on Room #3 and I thought: wait a minute! They can’t all stay!!

They had successfully parsed out who seemed to be the best singers so it wasn’t quite so easy to determine which room would get the bad news. To their credit, it really is a bad year for the talent because so many incredibly talented young people tried out.

I was a little miffed on Tuesday night, because they only named 7 of the Top 24. Why 7, I don’t know?!? You’d think they would have announced at least the same number of guys as girls, or something like that.

And, although I’m still trying to figure out what I would choose as the venue for the “good news, bad news” portion (hated the mansion idea from past years, but also didn’t love this year’s idea, either), I was happy that they didn’t bring the last two in together to give one person good news and the other bad news. That always seemed a little cruel for both contestants: the unlucky one had to get the news in front of the person who “took their spot” and the lucky one couldn’t really be excited as they wanted so as not to make the unlucky one feel even worse. (I once had to sit outside an office where people were getting the bad news they were laid off – when I wasn’t being laid off. I felt horrible having to sit there when they came out. They knew when they exited that office that I knew they were laid off and they knew that I wasn’t. Horrible!)

However, I also disliked the way it was obvious the “news giving” didn’t happen in the order it was aired. In more than one shot of a newly named Top 24 contestant coming back into the holding room, the first contestant that WE saw get good news, Aaron Kelly, is sitting nervously in the front row obviously still waiting for his good news. Okay, so the show was heavily edited. Really, though, it IS a reality TV show. Can’t we just see SOMETHING in the order that it really happened??

The shuffle occurred when Chris Golightly, the lifetime foster kid, was suddenly yanked (AFTER he was shown onstage at the end with Ryan Seacrest). His agent says he was still under contract when he auditioned for AI, Chris claims his contract ended the month before. His agent allegedly called producers and said he wasn’t under contract, yet still claims to the press that he was but that the label wanted to “work with” producers to help Chris.

Some reports claim that, even if Chris wasn’t really under contract things have “gone too far” (i.e., Tim Urban being called and told he’s replacing Chris Golightly) so Chris will NOT be on the show.

It sucks for Chris if he wasn’t under contract because bringing himself that far with the start he got in life is admirable. And, if it’s proven he wasn’t under contract, AI should just suck it up and start with a Top 25 (not like THAT hasn’t happened before, either).

And, since I had a near-miss with a bobcat in the wild yesterday and feel slightly indestructible today (I’ll be sad when THAT wears off), I’ll stick out my neck and name my Top 6 picks, in order of their appeal to me, and I’ll be disappointed if any of them screws up:

GIRLS
1. Crystal Bowersox: she’s got a great voice, outstanding presence, and she reminds me of the 60’s.
2. Siobhan Magnus: good voice, I don’t think she realizes how good.
3. Lilly Scott: I just like her sound, really “now” sounding yet understated.

GUYS
1. Andrew Garcia: love his back-story (I always root for the underdog) plus he’s crazy talented when it comes to music-arranging.
2. Tyler Grady: the understated guy, and also reminds me of the 60’s.
3. John Park: this guy is good, and I think he might be better than we know, since he’s gotten very little airtime (AI’s way of “hiding” the talent.)

Hollywood Week

Okay, so there were a couple of surprises, good and bad, in last night's show, a couple of "inevitables", and a couple of "thank you, Lords". . .

It's too early and there are too many to know their actual names, so bear with me.

"Gang Family" kid blew me away with his performance; I knew he was good, but I didn't know how good. Hope this wasn't his peak. Definitely a Top 24 candidate in my book.

"Waitress Singing for Dead Friend" chick was also really good, but her voice reminds me of someone I've heard. Not sure she'll continue to succeed, as her sound might become repetitive. Also a Top 24 candidate, though I predict if she makes it to Top 24 she'll drop our early.

Surprised that they kept "Classic Beatle's Haircut" kid --- he barely made it to Hollywood and I don't think his performance last night was even as good as his audition.

Also surprised that they cut "Cancer Boy". I think they got stuck on how much they hated the SONG rather than judging him on his voice.

Another surprise: Ellen. I was really NOT looking forward to having her as a judge. Don't get me wrong, I love her daytime show. But she was so INCREDIBLY annoying on "So You Think You Can Dance" that I was really not looking forward to her being on AI. Thanks, Ellen, for keeping your humorous remarks short, although I LOVED what she did to those last four, making them step up, step back, move over, etc., before telling them all that they had made it to the next show.

The "Joizy Girls" sisters were a combination "not surprised" and a "thank you , Lord" in my book --- not surprised they got sent home and also really, really relieved.

The "inevitable" was "Backwoods Country" girl --- I didn't think she'd crash and burn that early, I knew that, even if she made it through a couple of cuts, she'd cave to the pressure OR the atmosphere. I would have liked to watch her discover more of the "outside world" though. Seems like she got such a little taste --- hope she tries again next year.

I kind of like the "new format" of the show --- seems they're not showing you ALL the best performers right away, keeping a few pleasant surprises for later in the season.

Can't wait for next week --- Group Week. Let the drama unfold!! Looks like there will be more tears, smack-talk and arguments than ever before. I'm always amazed watching what people do and say on camera.

Hollywood Week, Here We Come!!

Just wanted to let you all know that I have, again, committed to writing my American Idol blog this year.

As of today, my feeling is that I'm NOT going to start until the Final 12 is announced. The next couple of shows will decide whether I'm going to start earlier or not.

I'm not sure if it's just this year, or if it's a result of having watched for TOO many years, but I'm already really, really attached to more than a handful of contestants. I'm hoping against hope that they fare well during Hollywood Week, and I'm holding my breath for several of them, too. AND there are a couple I really like who I've already decided will be "chewed up and spit out" during Hollywood Week --- loads of talent but they're not tough enough. Some aren't tough enough yet, and a couple will NEVER be tough enough.

So, hope y'all will come along for the ride and enjoy another season with me. Keep those comments coming --- they're the real inspiration for me.