Write Thinking

Idol 10: Top 24

My cable station lied to me. It said we would know the top 20 tonight, but instead we got the top 24 and we start voting next week with 12 boys and 12 girls. Sorry for the misinformation in my previous Idol post.

Right now, I'm leaning toward the 17 year old with the Randy Travis voice, Scotty, and the kooky bass player, Casey. I think it unlikely that they will go on to win but I like them anyway. Loads of talent in those two. I didn't catch his name but the young man with the super soft voice is also interesting. I loved the duet he did on Beatles night.

The only girl who's caught my attention at this early date is the gal with the curly blond hair (and tonight the pink cowboy boots). I think her name is Lauren but wouldn't bet the farm on it.

I was hoping the American Idol web site would have the finalists' names and photos up as soon as the show was over, but I guess it isn't done showing on the west coast yet. Maybe tomorrow.

Some years in the past, I think the judges let through some less than stellar singers because of quirky personalities. I suppose they did it for ratings or controversy ploys. I didn't see any low-talents in this group of 24. Will any of them be worthy of the "vote for the worst" bunch?

~robin

Idol 10: Whittling Down to the Finalists

Well, bummer. I wrote this really cute and funny post about American Idol to date. I clicked Save, and it went away. Totally away. So you're going to get something less funny and definitely not profound.

I've been watching the show, but I can't same I'm invested yet. I don't think I could name any of the contestants except for the young man with the deep base voice. I think his name is Cory. And while I agree there is plenty of talent this year, I'm tired of the hyperbole from Ryan, when he says that this is the most talented group of contestants ever. I might give it some credence if he didn't say the same thing every year.

Tonight they started whittling the contestants down from 40 to 24. In fact, that was a tease. They only selected 5 of the 24 and will finish the rest tomorrow night, and then will cut four more to get us to our final twenty, ten boys and ten girls.

And that means I will be back to blogging my thoughts each week. Are you ready for that?

~robin

House Super Bowl Commercial

No, I didn't watch the Packers beat the Steelers. I bounced over once and saw a piece of the halftime show. Didn't like it so went back to another channel. But, since SB commercials are always worth a look, I checked some out on YouTube this morning. As a fan of grouchy Dr. House, I couldn't help LOL over this 30 second promo (embedded below). And there aren't many who aren't familiar with the Joe Green commercial that inspired the writers.

Are you laughing with me?

~robin

 

Idol 10: The auditions begin

Well, boys and girls. It's January and the American Idol auditions are upon us. I only sort of watched the show tonight. After so many seasons, they all run together and even the two new judges couldn't make me care very much. I hope interest will return once we reach Hollywood week.

I've been reading the blogs about the changes coming to Idol, and I have to say that they all sound very good to me. Yes, I will miss Simon a little. But I always wished he could be honest without being so snarky. I hope the new judges can deliver honesty without snark. I also hope the focus really will be back on the singers and off the judges once the competition starts. The last two seasons were just way too much about the judging panel.

~robin

Downton Abbey

Have you been watching Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Classics (Sunday nights)? Oh my. I hope so. This show is so good. Since my last series, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, is set just a few years after Downton Abbey (which opens in 1912), I feel right at home in the story. Here's the blurb from Netflix:

Exposing the snobbery, backbiting and machinations of a disappearing class system, this seven-part British series chronicles the comings and goings of the upper-crust Crawley family and their assorted servants. Ensconced in their stately manor, the Crawleys delight in their aristocratic life -- until the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 muddles their line of inheritance. Maggie Smith plays the sneering Dowager Countess of Grantham.

Maggie Smith is absolutely terrific. Such a snob!!!!!!! Bravo, Maggie. You've given me a character I love to hate, that's for sure. Actually, I'm loving all of the performances. Great cast.

If you've missed it on Masterpiece Classics, rent Downton Abbey from Netflix. It's available now.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Downton Abbey is going to find its way into my DVD collection, to be watched over and over like Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensabilities and quite a few other favorites.

What movies or series can you see over and over again and love it every time?

~robin

DWTS: Season 11 Finals

Are you kidding me? Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas have received death threats following the ouster of Brandy last week. This is a dance show, folks. A fun little program that runs for ten weeks every spring and fall.

Rumors say Bristol made it to the finals because of her mother's political supporters. That may be true for some. I doubt it's true for many. The votes I've cast for Bristol were because of her spunk and determination. The votes I've cast for Jennifer were because of her elegance and determination.

But in a country that is supposed to be great and free and tolerant, I cannot believe people can have that much hate in their hearts for a girl of 19 who hasn't done anything to hurt anyone. (May I remind you that there is a whole group of folks who "vote for the worst" in the American Idol competition? Don't hear about anybody threatening their lives!)

IT'S A DANCE SHOW, FOLKS! Bristol and Mark have done nothing except work hard and perform. And there are idiots who would threaten their lives because of it? Oh, yeah. I remember. People like that are only tolerant if the other guy believes the same things they do and has parents of whom they approve. They hate anybody who disagrees with them or whose parents' disagree with them (be it politics or religion or philosophy). Sheesh!

---

Okay. Take a deep breath.

The show last night was great. I thought everybody did a good job and upped their ante.

Jennifer was once again stellar. Out of ten weeks of dances, she had two weak weeks. Otherwise, I think she has been the best contestant ever. I've loved many of the other champions, but if memory serves, none of them were as exceptional quite as soon or quite as consistantly.

Kyle's free dance absolutely cracked me up and I thought he did really well on his redemption dance too. This kid is an excellent entertainer. His smile makes me smile. You just can't help thinking he's adorable.

Bristol also did a fine job. Her redemption dance (making up for the "ape" disaster) was light and fun. Her free dance was impressive, and I disagree with Bruno and Carrie Ann, I suppose because the dance is not iconic in my mind so I wasn't comparing. I was just watching and enjoying. And now that I know she did those two performance under the cloud of death threats? Even more impressive.

Whoever takes home that mirrorball trophy tonight should be celebrated for the hard work, the long hours, the physical injuries endured, and for their commitment to do their absolute best. Certainly nobody should have to worry about their safety because of it.

~robin

American Idol: Season 10 Changes

Okay, Idol fans. We are less than two months away from the start of another season. Quite a few changes coming our way. All the judges we've had in the past are gone except for Randy. (I'm gonna miss Simon!) The show is moving from Tuesday-Wednesday to Wednesday-Thursday. No more semi-final voting from the viewers. And more.

You'll find a whole blog post written by a self-described "idoloonie" (I like that) over on EW: 'American Idol': New night, music videos, no semifinals, one-hour results shows. Which changes will do us good?

UPDATE: I got some questions on Facebook about who the judges were in the past, so thought I would update this post with the information I shared there.

• Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) are the two new judges beginning in 2011, Season 10
• Randy Jackson (2002-) has been a judge from the start and still is for Season 10
• Paula Abdul (2002–2009), Seasons 1-8
• Simon Cowell (2002–2010), Seasons 1-9
• Kara DioGuardi (2009–2010), Seasons 8-9
• Ellen DeGeneres (2010), Season 9

~robin

DWTS: Season 11 Semi-Finals Results

Wow! I was stunned. Brandy went home and Bristol and Kyle remained.

Although on the other hand, I wasn't really stunned. After they announced that Jennifer was safe and next that Kyle was safe, I suspected there was going to be a shocker of a reveal (since that's what they like to do). Because everyone was so sure it would be Bristol, I figured it had to be Brandy who was going home. Otherwise the next half hour would have been too much of a snooze. But when that's what actually happened, my mouth did drop.

I didn't think Brandy would win (I still believe it will be and should be Jennifer), but I was quite sure Brandy would be in the finals. She was good, even though not one of my favorites.

But I must say, shame on the audience for booing the results. Not because they shouldn't have shown Brandy some love. They should. But what it came out sounding like was that they were booing Bristol for making it through. And that's just not kind. I wish people would practice the golden rule. I know. Seems a lot to ask.

And I'll just say another Attagirl to Bristol. No, she is not the greatest dancer to make it all the way to the finals, but doggone it, she's given her all and she's come a long way. I've got to give her kudos for that.

So we have two kids under 20 going upon against a 50 year old veteran. Hmm. Next week should be interesting.

~robin

DWTS: Season 11 Semi-Finals

Tonight was a great night on the DWTS dance floor.

Jennifer Grey was flawless, and it wasn't just me who thought so. She ended the night with a perfect score for both of her two dances, giving her a total score of 60. I think she not only will win. I think she deserves to win.

Brandy ran a pretty close second tonight. I don't enjoy watching her as much as I enjoy Jennifer, but she certainly deserves to be in the finals next week.

The two underdogs would be Bristol and Kyle.

I think the judges, especially Carrie Ann and sometimes Bruno, are a bit unfair to Bristol. Really I do. It's rarely about her dancing or footwork that they comment negatively on. It's almost always about her facial expression. The funny thing about that is, Brandy's facial expressions never seem right to me or much different than Bristol's, but the judges don't ever harp on that.

Anyway, I thought Bristol was great tonight. Yea, kiddo! You show 'em. The more the judges pick on you, the more I root for you. Oh, and forget the mean-spirited critics over on a pop entertainment site. They are simply clueless and hateful.

And what about Kyle? He is just plain fun. I never would have picked him to make it this far nor to become so entertaining to watch.

It will be interesting to see who makes it to the finals. I'm guessing Jennifer and Brandy are secure. It should be between Bristol and Kyle who goes home Tuesday night.

I cast my votes (text, web, phone). Did you?

~robin

American Idol Season 10 arrives in January

Back to three judges, two of them new. No more Simon. A promise from producers to make some much needed changes.

Season 10 is going to be a different Idol from what we've known in the past. Hopefully, it will be more and more about the contestants and less and less about the judges. I guess we'll start to get an idea come January when we see the first of the audition shows. For now, enjoy this nice promo featuring all the past winners.

~robin

DWTS: Season 11

I was the guest speaker at a local writers group last Thursday. It was Q&A. They could ask me anything. Naturally, one subject was about marketing, and I bloviated on blogging and Facebook and Twitter. One of the gals who follows my blog mentioned that I haven't written a single word about Dancing With the Stars this season. True. But not because I haven't been watching. I've just been so involved in writing and revising. Still, I guess it is time to rectify this oversight. I have really enjoyed watching Season 11 and certainly have formed my opinions.

Jennifer Grey has been amazing. She is 50 and looks 30 with a trim figure and flexibility that belong to a 30 year old, too. The past two weeks haven't been as stellar as she's been early on, so her age may be catching up with her (compared to the younger Brandy, for instance). But I think Jennifer will rally and could definitely win.

I really like both of the sports guys (Rick Fox and Kurt Warner). I don't think they will go on to win but they could surprise. I especially admired Kurt when he had some issues with the sexiness of a dance when he wasn't dancing with his wife. I have to respect a guy who sets a high standard of what is expected of him in his role as husband.

But my sentimental favorite is Bristol Palin. Can't help myself. Here is a young girl (just turned 19 last week) who was thrust into the public spotlight (an all too often unfriendly and sometimes vicious public spotlight) through no fault of her own, and this is what made her a "star" and brought her to the show. She surprised me in week 1. She was really good, and I think she is adorable. Yes, she doesn't have the acting/performance polish the way someone like actress Jennifer does, but I don't think she is as bad as the judges sometimes make her out to be either. Her technique has usually been at a high standard (chimp week not withstanding). And her week 6 performance was great, her best yet. She's blossoming.

I'm not sure Bristol will go all the way to win Season 11, but she is better than those who've already left the show. I'd like to see her continue on. I've got to give a lot of credit to a now-19-year-old from Alaska for conquering her fears and stepping way outside of her comfort zone to take on this competition.

I've had a few readers suggest that they would love to see me on the show since I'm a fan and some would consider me a celebrity. I know it would be fun because I love to dance (seven years of ballet while a schoolgirl and the desire to learn ballroom).

But my initial reaction is fear that I would appear much more like Cloris Leachman and much less like Jennifer Grey or Jane Seymour.

My second thought is that all that rehearsing would probably kill me!

~robin

America's Got Talent: My Thoughts on the Results

I know I'm a few days late posting my thoughts. I guess it didn't feel urgent. Well, here goes because I know you were dying to hear what I thought. <g>

4th Place: Prince Poppycock

Well, this did surprise me a bit. I expected Poppycock would rank a little higher. But I agreed with Piers. Poppycock went too serious in the finals. However, I still believe this guy has a good voice and could have a show in Vegas that would please a lot of fans. Would I pay to see him? No, probably not. But then I'm not a Vegas-act-kind-of=girl either.

3rd Place: Fighting Gravity

Now this did surprise me. A lot. I gave these guys lots of votes, and I was sure they would either win or come in second. But not to worry. These guys are headed for big shows. Audiences are going to appreciate their creativity. I would pay to see their act. I might even take a Vegas vacation to go see these guys.

2nd Place: Jackie Evancho

I'll confess, I'm not sorry Jackie didn't win. I would hate to see this child with an angelic voice living and working in Vegas. She is destined for better than that life, I'm sure.

And the Winner is: Michael Grimm

Some folks seem to think that Michael won because his grandparents lost everything to Katrina and a sympathy vote carried him through. I don't think so. This guy's voice just made my heart melt. I love the way he sounds, and I love the way he looks in his hat. Michael got some of my votes, and I'll vote for him again when he comes out with an album.

************

And if I wasn't already a fan of Michael Grimm, this would have made me one. Awwwww. How adorable is this?

 

~robin

 

America's Got Talent: My Thoughts on the Finalists

I attended my last Idaho Shakespeare Festival play of the season last night. After a rainy, gloomy, cool day, the skies were mostly clear but it was really cold. I about froze in the outdoor amphitheater. My girlfriend who goes with me didn't show, and the play, The Woman in Black (the Festival does more than Shakespeare), was a good old-fashioned creepy ghost story. I have to confess, there were a few times I needed someone sitting next to me that I could hold onto. Especially when the "ghost" walked down the aisle right in front of me. Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Anyway, when I got home, I quickly sped through the recording of last night's results show to discover who are the four finalists for America's Got Talent. I am so tickled. I voted for all four of them on Tuesday night. They were my favorites of the season. No matter who wins, I'll be okay with it. Best group of finalists in the show's brief history.

I'll add these comments:

• Jackie Evancho's voice is so amazing and she is headed for fame. No doubt about that. But she is a little girl, and I don't think this child opera singer with the voice of an angel would be right for a Vegas act. Oh, but that voice.
• If a Michael Grimm album gets made, I'm buying it. There is something so great about his tone and delivery. I have loved every single one of his performances.
• Prince Poppycock. Gracious. He is so outrageous, so over-the-top. But he is also a showman and has a terrific voice. He seems to have been born to be a Vegas act. Just his makeup alone could be an act. LOL!
• And then there is Fighting Gravity (I've been calling them Defying Gravity all this time). So original. So fun to watch. I can see them touring the country and folks flocking to see their act wherever they go. I don't know which of these college guys thought up this act, but he is or they are genius!!!!!

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

Idol 9: and the winner is ...

The finale is over and the winner has been announced. I won't go into much about the show itself. Mostly it was two hours of filler, meant more for the live audience than for TV viewers. I did like the performance of all the Idol winners (minus David Cook! wonder where he was) and then a bunch of finalists from other seasons. I recognized some of my non-winning favorites.

The tributes to Simon as he leaves the show were sometimes nice, sometimes a bit sleazy or just plain stupid. Me, I am going to miss Simon. I agreed with him 95% of the time, I think, even though I wanted to give him lessons on how to be truthful in a kind way. (And yet, if I had to listen to many of those bad auditions, I might have started sounding just like him!)

And finally, after two hours of waiting, the results were in. And the winner of Idol 9 is ...

Lee DeWyze

Well, I can't say I was surprised, but I am disappointed. I think it should have been Crystal. But that's okay. She will go on to record and sell a ton of records.

~robin

Unanswered LOST questions -- so funny!!

I am still loving LOST, still pondering how terrific this show was and is (thanks to DVDs). But this video of unanswered LOST questions is just too funny.

Caution: There are some offensive videos on this College Humor site.

~robin

Idol 9: the final 2 perform

This is the night. The sing-off everyone has expected for most of the season. Crystal vs. Lee. They will each get three songs.

First off, the singer's favorite song from the season.

Lee (The Boxer): Very good. Maybe a bit too laid back, but fine all the same. He gets a 4.7 out of 5 from me.

Crystal (Me and Bobby McGee): What can I say? I love this gal and the way she sings. Fine performance. She gets a 4.8 out of 5.

Next, songs chosen by producer Simon Fuller.

Lee (Everybody Hurts): He gets the backup choir again. Sadly, it just doesn't stir me. He just doesn't look like he is in it to win it. I'm giving him a 4.5 out of 5.

Crystal (Black Velvet): I didn't care for her trip down the stairs; she looked so tentative and scared that she's about to plunge headfirst to the bottom. But there was nothing tentative about the all out way she sang the song. Simon said he was almost allergic to that song because he's heard it done so badly in the past, but she "absolutely nailed it!" She gets a 4.9 out of 5.

Finally, the song they will record and release if they win. (No coronation song as past finalists have had to do. Good riddance.)

Lee (Beautiful Day): Hmm. I'm feeling so disappointed. Lee is not living up to the night. I'm not sure he has the chops for this song. And the pause just felt like a ... pause. No breathlessness involved while we waited. The best I can give him is a 4.4 out of 5.

Crystal (Up to the Mountain): Oh. My. Word. I would buy this song for my iPod. So much heart and emotion in it. She gets a 5.0 out of 5 from me.

Hands down, the night went to Crystal. If the voters go for best performances, Crystal will definitely be the winner. She deserves to win. She has been consistently great throughout the season, and tonight she really shined.

Good luck to both of these young people.

~robin

LOST: the day after

I'm writing on my work in progress today and have no time to put together any deep thoughts about the LOST finale. However, I have been exchanging emails with a number of writer friends, both the die-hard fans and those few who abandoned LOST years ago and that's been so good.

Let me reassure you that the show is lingering in my thoughts today and reverberating in my heart. And, as a writer, that to me is the highest praise I can give or receive. I want my books to leave my readers wanting more and to be unable to let go of the characters. I know without a doubt that the LOST characters are going to stay with me for a long, long, long, long time.

One of my writer friends, Susan Meissner, has written a great post which said a lot of what I would wish to say had I the time to think it all through and make it into an enjoyable post, so I'm going to share it with you.

LOST & A lesson from Mary Poppins

There's a great line in Disney's Mary Poppins when a hopping mad George Banks demands, among other things, that Mary Poppins "explain all this!" And she tells him, "I never explain anything."

I knew the LOST writers would take a Mary Poppins-like approach to the series finale. I knew many of the Losties' questions (Losties are Trekkies) would be answered, some would not and a few more new questions would pop up to be discussed at dinner tables and water coolers and blogs forevermore. And I must say it's amazing that the writers did exactly that. They did what I expected, and wow is that a new experience. They've never done that before.

I crawled into bed last night at 1 a.m. (after the Aloha to Lost show with Jimmy Kimmel cuz I simply could NOT go right to bed!) pondering the story's conclusion. And I woke with it still on my mind. As I shared with a few writer friends this morning, the more I think about the ending the more I like it and the less I understand it, if that makes any sense.

[Read the rest of Susan's post here.]

~robin

Farewell LOST: A video for all the fans

So good!!!!

Idol 9: from 3 to 2

Beware, West Coasters. Spoilers follow below.

I always love seeing the final three go back to their hometowns. They get choked up. Their families get choked up. I get choked up.

And for all the times during the season that I may think they've hit sour notes or not lived up to some standard of performance, it's good to remember that these are young people following their dreams. More power to them. Reach for the stars, I say. Keep striving. Keep perfecting your craft. Don't give up.

I don't think the final two was a surprise to very many people. Lots of people were predicting a Lee and Crystal finals ten weeks ago. And that's what we're going to get.

Tonight, we said goodbye to Casey. Young man, I wish you the very best.

 
~robin

Idol 9: the 3 perform

Down to the final three. I was hoping for a good night. They each got two songs to prove to us why they should be here for the finals.

The first set of songs were the singer's choice.

Casey (OK, It's Alright With Me): What can I say? Just a very okay performance. Although he sounded good and he was smiling lots. Maybe the problem was the song choice and poor staging, just him and his guitar behind the mic. Judges pretty much hammered him. I'll give him a 3.5 out of 5.

Crystal (Come to My Window): With harmonica and guitar, she was totally herself, the same gal who auditioned. Very true to who she is. It wasn't my favorite Crystal performance, but it was fine. She get's a 4.4 out of 5 from me.

Lee (Simple Man): Well, the judges really seemed to love it, but I didn't think it was all that great. It wasn't bad. Nothing wrong with it, but I wasn't blown away. I keep wanting to be blown away and it just isn't happening for me this season. (Simon thought Lee crushed the other two; I disagree.) I guess I'll put him in a tie with Crystal with a 4.4 out of 5.

The second set of songs were the choices of individual judges.

Casey (Daughters, chosen by Randy and Kara): A fine performance, but again, no WOW factor. And that's exactly what Simon ended up saying about the song. No wow factor. Not Casey's fault as much as those who chose the song for him. He get's a 4.2 out of 5 from me.

Crystal (Maybe I'm Amazed, chosen by Ellen): I loved this one. She got a standing ovation from the crowd. Judges loved it. (And interesting that the lyrics say, Maybe I'm a man, and she didn't change the gender.) I'll give her a 4.8 out of 5.

Lee (Hallelujah, chosen by Simon): Okay, as soon as I knew the song choice, I knew Lee would have to go an extra mile to make me like it better than Jason Castro's version. Would he? Well, he was off-key a time or two, and I don't think it lived up to Jason's version. (I'm not tempted to go download it while I downloaded Jason's version that same night.) But it was very good and the crowd and judges were crazy about it. I'll give him a 4.75 out of 5.

As others have predicted, I'm guessing it will be Lee and Crystal in the finals and it will be Casey who goes home tomorrow night.

~robin

Idol 9: the final 3

Tonight's show held no mystery for me. As soon as Casey was put through to the semi-finals, I knew it was Michael who was going home.

 

Wishing you the very best, Big Mike. Keep singing.

~robin

LOST, I'm gonna miss you

I have a dear friend who's been warning me and others against getting sucked into LOST for at least four years, probably more like five and a half. But he has never been able to sway my devotion to this quirky show that I consider one of the best written ones on television, present and past.

I've got three hours left (next Tuesday night, followed by the two hour finale the following Sunday) to savor the performances and mysteries of LOST. Some folks are worried  the writers won't be able to pull off a satisfactory ending. I'm not worried. Yes, there will be some mysteries that remain unanswered. They can't tie up six years of questions into a tidy bow in three hours; I don't think they should even try. But I still have faith that I will feel satisfied when all is said and done. It will be a whole lot of fun to see what others think when the dust settles.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading the LOST articles in the May 14, 2010 issue of Entertainment Weekly. They were superb, and I encourage all LOST fans to grab a copy before they disappear from the magazine racks this Thursday or Friday.

What say you, fellow LOST fans? Do you fear the writers will fail us in the end or will you be content when the final show is over?

~robin

Idol 9: the 4 perform

Another Tuesday. Another American Idol. We're getting closer and closer to the winner being announced. Ho-hum. I'm rooting for Crystal, but I can't claim to be too worked up about the results, no matter who wins. Just not that invested.

The theme tonight is music from movies. Here we go.

Lee (Kiss From a Rose): No wow factor here. Judges didn't care for it either. Just okay, as Randy said, is how I felt. He won't get better than a 3.5 out of 5 from me.

Michael (Will You Be There): Nice but not great. Simon felt he gave it 100%. I guess. If you say so. (Out of all the awesome movie songs to choose from, I'm not getting the choices.) I'll give him a 3.8 out of 5.

Crystal and Lee duet (Falling Slowly): I liked this. Both of them on their guitars. Their voices were well-suited to the song and to each other. Judges loved it. Randy said it could be a hit on the radio right now. Simon called it, "Fantastic." Although you can't vote for a duet on the show, I'll still give it a rating. Hmm. How about a 4.7 out of 5.

Casey (Mrs. Robinson): Well, well, well. Another just okay song. I liked the sound of his voice with the ukulele, but again, it didn't blow me away. I want to be blown away and it just ain't happenin'. I'll give him a 3.6 out of 5.

Crystal (I'm Alright): Best single performance of the night by far. The judges put her "back in the game," per Simon. I didn't think she was ever out of it, but okay. Still no wow factor for me. I'll give her a 4.5 out of 5.

Casey and Michael duet (Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman): Once again, both of them on their guitars. They're voices meshed well, too. The song suited them. Very romantic. "Sultry and sexy," Randy said. I think I'll give them a tie with the other duet, 4.7 out of 5.

The two duets were the highlights of the night's performances. It'll be interesting to see who makes it through to next week. Crystal should be in the top two for sure. Of the guys? Probably Lee will hang in there, even though I gave him the lowest of the scores. Don't think he's ever been in the bottom three, has he? My guess is that Michael is in the most danger.

Idol 9: from 5 to 4

I was out doing a book signing (A Matter of Character, hot off the presses and especially shipped to the store), followed by a run to Costco and the grocery store. I only caught the last 25 to 30 minutes of the show. I did catch Connick Jr's performance of And I Love Her followed by his performance with the Idol 5. All five of the kids sounded terrific in their medley.

As soon as Casey was put with Crystal, I believed it was Aaron going home. Turns out I was right.

Best wishes, young man. Keep singing!

~robin

Idol 9: the 5 perform

Sinatra night with Harry Connick Jr as the mentor. Lots of potential for great performances and plenty of potential for complete failure.

There was a great opinion piece in the May 7th Entertainment Weekly about why this year's crop of Idol finalists have failed to excite most viewers. (So glad that it wasn't just me feeling that way.) It won't post on the 'Net for another month or so. But come June if you want to read it, do a Google search for "Entertainment Weekly Mark Harris". Then look for the column called "You're So Vain."

Connick is a true and excellent mentor. That was evident from the start with the clip with Aaron so I began feeling hopeful for the night. Oh, and Connick accompanied all the contestants on the piano except for Lee who got Connick on the organ. Cool. (FWIW, I'm a Connick fan and a Sinatra fan.)

Aaron (Fly Me to the Moon): This was one of Aaron's better performances. The judges were sort of split on how he did, but I liked it. I'll give the kid a 4.2 out of 5.

Casey (Blue Skies): Well, well, well. I've always been a bit partial to Casey, but this wasn't good. It was stiff and always seemed off-key to me. It wasn't a total disaster, but neither was it great. (Connick said Casey killed it two hours ago; wish he could have done it live.) I'll give him a 3.9 out of 5.

Crystal (Summer Wind): Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. The judges were more muted about it than I was. I thought she did great. I'm giving her a 4.75 out of 5.

[One criticism: I wish Crystal would stop explaining her choices after the judges give their opinions. She doesn't argue as some past contestants have done, but she would be better served to simply nod and say, "Thank you."]

Michael (The Way You Look Tonight): Beautiful! Excellent! Michael was in his element, and the judges all raved. I don't think he was so much better than Crystal that it was a blow-out, but he definitely delivered. He gets a 4.7 out of 5.

Lee (That's Life): Loved the arrangement, and I thought Lee really delivered a great performance. Along with the judges (at least a couple of them), it was my favorite of the night. But only by a tiny margin. I'm awarding him 4.8 out of 5.

Who were my top picks tonight? With only one point separating first and third:

Lee (4.8) | Crystal (4.75) | Michael (4.7)

Who's in trouble? I think Casey will probably go home tomorrow. He's been in the bottom three the past two weeks which already put him in danger. Add to that a less than stellar performance, and I think it could spell his doom.

~robin

Idol 9: from 6 to 5

Ack! Casey was in the bottom three, along with Siobhan and Michael. Michael got the early reprieve. I was holding my breath. So not ready for Casey to go. (Guess I should have taken the time to vote, huh?)

Waiting ...

Waiting ...

Waiting ...

Waiting ...

And finally, the results. The contestant going home this week is ...

Siobhan. That's who I thought should go. All the same, she's got lots of talent, and I wish her all the best.

   

~robin

Idol 9: the 6 perform

I forgot to turn on Idol until it was half over so I had to watch the recording to catch up. I'll be brief because I've got other stuff that needs doing.

Lee (You're Still the One): Fine. I liked it. Judges seemed to love it more. Gets a 4.2 out of 5 from me.

Michael (It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing): Another fine job. Not a wow for me but solid. I give it a 4.4 out of 5.

Casey (Don't!): Loved it! Judges thought it was his best, and I think I might agree. So I'll give him a 4.8 out of 5.

Crystal (No One Needs to Know): The judges were all pretty wishy-washy on this performance. They thought she was good but it was their least favorite of all she's done. I'll give her the edge just above Michael, a 4.5 out of 5.

Aaron (You've Got a Way): I love this song, and it's one I listen to on my iPod a lot. Maybe that's why I noticed all the notes that didn't work. All the same, it was overall a good performance for him. I'll give him a 4.0 out of 5.

Siobhan (Any Man of Mine): Judges loved it. I didn't care for it much. And the scream at the end made me knock off more points. This didn't feel like a power note, just a scream. (Simon thought it sounded like she was giving birth!) She ends up at the bottom of my ratings with a 3.9 out of 5.

Favorites of the night?

     

Casey | Crystal | Michael

Who could go home?

If it was up to me, either Aaron or Siobhan.

~robin

Idol 9: from 7 to 6

I had a meeting last night, so I didn't catch much of the results and Idol Gives Back show. The little I saw, in terms of singing, was like nails on a chalkboard. Alicia Keys was so off-key it made me want to run screaming from the room. And the comedian I caught was a bit on the raunchy side. Nonetheless, the need around the world is great, so I can cheer on what Idol tries to do with this money-raising event.

As for the results, Tim, Aaron, and Casey were in the bottom three...

Tim went home.

 

Wishing you the very best, young man.

~robin

Idol 9: the 7 perform

Another Tuesday so here we are again. Alicia Keys is the mentor and the theme is inspirational songs. The show is only 59 minutes this week, so I suspect we'll be clipping through the judges' comments at a good pace. Tomorrow is Idol Gives Back night with a two hour show, so the elimination will sort of feel secondary.

Here we go:

Casey (Don't Stop): Judges were lukewarm over this performance, and I agreed completely. There was no wow factor whatsoever. Disappointing because he's capable of so much more. The best I can give this is a 3.6 out of 5.

Lee (The Boxer): The audience went nuts over this, and the judges raved about it. Hmm. I thought it was good but it was nowhere close to being a favorite performance in my book. I'm giving him a 4.2 out of 5.

Tim (Better Days): Mixed reviews from the judges, and once again, mixed feelings from me. It was good but it sure didn't blow me away. Score? Right there with the previous two. 3.8 out of 5.

Aaron (I Believe I Can Fly): The big note at the end was great. Otherwise ... sigh ... another performance that just didn't do it for me. I guess he'll get a 3.4 out of 5 from me.

Siobhan (When You Believe): Well, darn. I love this song, but I didn't love it as much with this particular performance. Nasal. Hard breaths into the microphone. The last notes were lovely though. However, I want to take away some points from Siobhan for another long explanation of why she did what she did (she does this every week). It's starting to sound like excuses to me. Why not just get the critique and shut up? I'll give it a 4.0 out of 5.

Michael (Hero): Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the weather. Whatever the reason, I'm still left disappointed. Good but not great. Totally disappointing evening over all (though I'm holding out hope for Crystal). I'll give him a 3.9 out of 5.

Crystal (People Get Ready): Sans guitar (first time in the season, right?), Crystal delivered as I hoped she would. Except she broke down into tears at the end. But somehow that she added to its beauty. Judges raved and so must I. Heads above the rest. By far. 4.95 out of 5.

Best of the night? That's easy. The night belonged to Crystal.

 

In trouble? Could be anybody else except probably Lee.

~robin

Idol 9: from 9 to 8 to 7

Two went home tonight. One of the two I picked last night bid us farewell. The other wasn't my pick but wasn't a surprise either.

I won't fill up a lot of space with chatter about the hour long results show, but for the sake of those on the West Coast who might see this post on Facebook, I will do some spaces to hopefully hide the results, just in case they don't want to see the results by accident. (Not sure it will work but am giving it a try.)

So...

who...

went...

home...

this...

week?

 

Andrew and ...

 
 
Katie.

Best wishes to both of you.

~robin

Idol 9: the 9 perform (again)

Nine contestants for the second week in a row, but the show has been cut to 90 minutes. It is Elvis week, and the mentor is Adam Lambert (a first for Idol, to bring back a former contestant to mentor). And this week will be a double elimination.

I was a huge Elvis fan. Owned lots of his albums, went to all of his movies. So I want these kids to take the stage and wow me.

Crystal (Saved): Girl, I am in your corner. Loved, loved, loved this. Not one of the songs that someone thinks of when you say you're singing Elvis. Right out of the chute, she's getting a 4.8 out of 5.

Andrew (Hound Dog): Andrew changed it up a bit. Sort of bluesy. And the judges didn't like it very much, except for Ellen. It wasn't my favorite version, but I didn't dislike it. Hmm. What's the score? I guess I'll give it a 3.3 out of 5.

Tim (Can't Help Falling in Love): One of my favorite Elvis tunes, and I enjoyed Tim's performance. Different. Sweet. The judges really liked it and felt he'd turned things around over the last two shows. I'm giving it a 4.3 out of 5.

Lee (A Little Less Conversation): Adam's advice to Lee was to smile more. He did, but I wish he'd do still more to engage the audience. Nonetheless, good job from Lee. Not my favorite of the night but right up there. I'm giving it a 4.6 out of 5.

Aaron (Blue Suede Shoes): I'm not sure Aaron quite delivered all the way through. Had some good moments, though. My guess is that he will be in trouble this week. It gets a 3.7 out of 5.

Siobhan (Suspicious Minds): What. A. Mess. Siobhan doesn't want to be pigeon-holed as a certain type of singer, but that shows in the performance. She's lost because she doesn't know who she is. I did not like it at all. The judges were overall quite cool about it. The best I can give her is a 2.9 out of 5 (and that's probably generous).

Michael (In the Ghetto): Lovely understated performance. Judges loved it too. Terrific. I'm glad the judges saved him last week, and I hope he gets enough votes to hang in there awhile longer. It's getting a 4.7 from me.

Katie (Baby What You Want Me to Do): I've got mixed feelings about this performance. I sort of liked it, soft of didn't. But I guess I liked it more than I didn't, so I'm giving it a 3.9 out of 5.

Casey (Lawdy Miss Clawdy): A solid performance from Casey, but not the best he's had. I'll put him somewhere in the middle of tonight's performances with 4.1 out of 5.

Favorites of tonight's show:

     


In trouble? Well, if it were up to me, I would send home Andrew and Siobhan.

~robin

Idol 9: still at 9

Well, that was a surprise. Big Mike had to sing for his life. Would the judges use their save? Several of the contestants, plus Big Mike's wife, were in tears.

He does a great job, and the judges chose to save him. Yea!!

However, that means they'll lose two next week.

Idol 9: the 9 perform

Beatles night. Lots of good songs (Lennon & McCartney) to choose from. Will the kids deliver? I'm hoping they will. Crossing my fingers and holding my breath.

And may I say, before the show begins, that I already regret that this is still a two hour show. It felt long last week, and I fear it will feel even longer this week. Gives Ryan too much time to try to be macho with Simon (or if not macho, whatever it is, I find it creepy and not funny).

Aaron (The Long and Winding Road): I thought he did an admirable job with the song, but the performance lacked any spark. The judges were fairly harsh, more so than perhaps it deserved. Not that I was wowed, but it wasn't horrid either. I'll give it a 3.2 out of 5.

Katie (Let It Be): Randy called it her best performance ever. Huh? I thought it was okay, but the judges praised and praised and praised her. I don't see that it was that much better than Aaron. What's the deal? I'm giving it a 3.5 out of 5.

Andrew (Can't Buy Me Love): Andrew changed up the song quite a bit, and I more or less liked the arrangement. The judges were split in their opinions. The big note didn't work. That I know for sure. Rating this was hard, but I'm settling for a 3.7 out of 5.

Michael (Eleanor Rigby): Best performance of the night thus far in my POV. Very strong. Not perfect, but his vocals were certainly great. I'll give it a 4.3 out of 5.

Crystal (Come Together): I like this girl more and more and more. She is original and she knows who she is and what she wants to do. I loved her performance. She's got a 4.8 from me.

Tim (All My Loving): My goodness. With his mop haircut, I felt like I was 12 again and should be screaming over the Beatles. LOL! The judges all gave him kudos, and I absolutely agree. I thought it was fine, nice turn with the melody. So he gets a 4.4 from me.

Casey (Jealous Guy): Another great performance. This is another contestant who I just grow to love more and more. Really fine. He just edges Crystal in my mind so gets a 4.85 out of 5.

Siobhan (Across the Universe): A very soft and sweet performance. A bit nasal at times, but quite pretty. Judges overall liked it. Solid. [Ryan brought up some guy from the audience who'd been loudly booing earlier so he could hug Siobhan; that felt a bit weird and creepy to me.] Anyway, Siobhan gets a 4.3 out of 5 from me.

Lee (Hey Jude): Hmm. Not as good as last week IMHO. I thought he had a few bad notes, but the judges all praised it (except for the bagpipes). He'll get a 4.1 out of 5 from me.

As I feared, the night felt really long. Ninety minutes would have served the purpose just fine. On the plus side, I thought the contestants handled the Beatles songs much better than i anticipated.

Tonight's top performers:

Who's in trouble? Not sure. The low scorers, I suppose, but there weren't any train wrecks this week, so it's a bit harder to know. Anybody's guess.

~robin

Idol 9: from 10 to 9

Results night.

Tim, Katie, and Didi were in the bottom three. No surprise. Katie was sent straight back to the chairs, safe for another week. Drum roll ... and the one going home was ... Didi. She sang for a save, but I doubt anyone thought the judges would use it yet. They didn't.

Wishing you the best, Didi.

~robin

Idol 9: the 10 perform

It's Tuesday! Tonight's mentor was Usher and the theme was R&B.

Siobhan (Through the Fire): This was not a great night for Siobhan. Off-key and another scream at the end. I'm with Simon this time. It's getting boring. The judges also did a second round of comments. Why? Too much time on their hands? Anyway, she only gets a 3 out of 5 from me tonight.

Casey (Hold On, I'm Coming): Usher had lots of praise for Casey at the start. While the song was a bit too repetitious for my taste, he can sure sing and play the guitar. And that smile! He was having such fun, it was infectious. Simon thought it was his best so far. I'll give him a 4.6 out of 5. (He would get a higher score with a better song.)

Michael (Ready for Love): He sang from a stool with his guitar, and he did a great job. The whole panel of judges loved it. I have to agree. It was one of his best performances to date. I'll give him a 4.4 out of 5.

Didi (What Becomes of the Brokenhearted): I think I'm over Didi. I used to like her voice. It's wearing on me now. She was off-key throughout (or so it felt to me). The judges thought she'd lost her way, and I doubt she can find her way back. She's getting a 2.3 out of 5 from me.

Tim (Sweet Love): Hmm. Not a great song choice. Pedestrian performance. Judges were tough on him. I didn't think it was all that bad. However, it wasn't anything to write home about either. There were some funny moments during the judges' comments, and Simon basically said that his fan base would vote him in no matter what. I'll give it a 2.8 out of 5.

Andrew (Forever): Okay! Andrew makes a comeback with this song, him and his acoustic guitar. Judges heaped on the praise. (Followed by a bit of silliness which I won't bother to detail.) Andrew gets a 4.6 out of 5 from me.

Katie (Chain of Fools): Pitchy. Just not connecting with me. The song felt too old for her, like she didn't really get what she was singing about. Not her worst performance of the season, but definitely not one we'll talk about tomorrow IMHO. I'll give it a 3.1 out of 5.

Lee (Treat Her Like a Lady): Lee put some rock in the R&B night. I loved it. Really loved it. Judges praised it too. He gets my best score so far with a 4.8 out of 5.

Crystal (Midnight Train to Georgia): Crystal exchanged the guitar for the piano. The song is perfect for her. In fact, doesn't she always pick songs that are right for her? She is such a natural performer. I liked it the best when she got up from the piano. My one complaint is that she started to talk back to Simon, and I never think that's a good sign. Listen. Even if you disagree with what the judges are saying, don't argue. She gets a 4.7 out of 5.

Aaron (Ain't No Sunshine): Aaron closed the show with a solid performance, if not one that blew me away. Rough beginning (nerves, I think) that got stronger toward the end. I'll give it a 3.3 out of 5.

Top performers of the night IMHO (got to go with four of them this week):

       
Lee | Crystal | Casey | Andrew

Who's in danger of going home tomorrow night? Should be between Didi and Tim.

~robin

Idol 9: from 11 to 10

I was busy doing other things while watching the results show so this will be short and to the point.

First, Miley Cyrus performed well.

Second, Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato also performed, and I thought Demi sounded as bad as any of the bad performances last night. Ack! Off-key and just plain awful.

Paige, Tim, and Katie were in the bottom three. Paige was the low man on the totem pole, and Simon said right away that they wouldn't use the save, even if she sang. So they didn't have her sing. They just went right to her video. She did sing as the show signed off, but her voice just wasn't there.

 

Wishing you the very best, Paige.

~robin

Idol 9: the 11 perform

I read somewhere on the Internet that the bar for greatness has been set very low this year. Maybe that's why I just can't get very excited this year. I'm having trouble getting into American Idol's 9th Season.

I believe the theme for the night was Billboard #1 hits. The contestants were coached by Miley Cyrus.

Lee (The Letter): He was using the stage, and I thought he did a pretty great job. So did three of the four judges. Simon didn't agree with us. I give him a 4.5 out of 5.

Paige (Against All Odds): What can I say? This was just awful. Really, really, really awful. I can't even give it a 2. I'll be generous and make it a 1.8 out of 5.

Tim (Crazy Little Thing Called Love): Definitely an improvement over last week when I thought he should have gone home. I thought he sang it well; it was on key at least. But the judges were hard on him. Really really hard. "Corny." "High school audition." "Zak Ephron." "Hairspray." I'll give it a 2.9 out of 5.

Aaron (I Don't Want to Miss a Thing ): This week Aaron has laryngitis and tonsillitis. Despite that, he did a great job. Not absolutely perfect but added to last week's solid performance, I'd say he's moving up. The judges heaped on praise too. A solid 4.6 out of 5.

Crystal (Me and Bobbie McGee): To quote Randy, "that was dope." Great song choice. Consistently great. (I do hope she puts down the guitar next week.) Simon thought it was pretty much perfect. I'm giving it a 4.9 out of 5.

Michael (When a Man Loves a Woman): Romantic and no corny moves. I love this young man's voice. But it didn't make me go Wow either. The judges were lukewarm, feeling it was technically very good but still not what it should be. I'll give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Andrew (I Heard It Through the Grapevine): Hmm. No guitar for Andrew which was good, but I was not blown away by the performance. Better than the last few weeks. I'm just not sure this guy will ever be able to deliver on the promise he showed early on. (But Kara, so let go with reminding him of Straight Up; you say it every week.) I'll settle on a 3.1 out of 5.

Katie (Big Girls Don't Cry): Better than she's been in a while. She looked good. Song fit her. I don't think she can go the distance. Definite pitch issues, as Kara put it. I'll give her a 3.9 out of 5.

Casey (The Power of Love.): I thought it was a great choice for him. Loved his smile. Great vocals! Okay, Simon thought it was the wrong song. Too old-fashioned. Old-fashioned when it came out 25 years ago, he said. Phooey, Simon. Not agreeing with you this time. Just because a song is old doesn't mean it isn't worth a young man singing. I loved it and I'm sticking with my opinion. I'm going with a 4.8 out of 5.

Didi (You're No Good): It felt all wrong to me. Kara said it was like play-acting. Maybe that was the problem. It just didn't fit her. Still, it wasn't the worst of the night by a long shot. I guess I'll give her a 3.4 out of 5.

Siobhan (Superstition): Another great performance from one of the front runners. However, she did the screaming thing again, and I think it is time to ease back on that. One week was a Wow moment. Second time was an Okay moment. This one was like, So you can scream a note. Big deal. Move on. All that aside, I loved it. She gets a 4.7 out of 5 from me.

So here are my top three picks:

     

~robin

Idol 9: from 12 to 11

Shocker! Tim was in the bottom three with Paige and Lacey, but he was the first sent back to the safe seats. I thought for sure he was going home tonight. From his expression, he thought so too.

I was very surprised that Paige was in the bottom three and was convinced it would be Lacey going home.

And I was ... 

wait for it ... 

wait for it ... 

I was ... right.

The judges could have used their save but it is just too early in the competition, I think, for them to do that.

Best wishes, Lacey.

~robin

Idol 9: quicky post on Tuesday's 12 performances

I finally got to sit down and watch last night's show. As I begin this post, it's less than two hours before the results show will air in Boise, so I am going to spend more time watching and less time writing. Just quick thoughts and ratings. The theme for the night was songs of the Rolling Stones.

Michael (Miss You): I'm giving him a 4 out of 5 for his performance. I agree with Simon that his dancing was a bit on the corny side.

Didi (Fire): I'm giving her a 4 out of 5 for her performance. Not my favorite of hers but really good.

Casey (It's All Over Now): Another 4 out of 5. I really liked his voice and guitar playing, but again I'm agreeing with Simon. Casey needs to use the big stage and "be" a rock star.

Lacey (Ruby Tuesday): I'm giving this performance only a 3 out of 5. This gal just doesn't sweep me away. It sounded very pitchy and weak in a few spots.

Andrew (Gimme Shelter): I think this gets a 3.5 out of 5. Liked it okay but not a wow moment.

Katie (Wild Horses): Afraid this is another 3 out of 5. Very rough start although it got better as it went on, vocally. A bit of a snooze, performance-wise.

Tim (Under My Thumb): Oh dear. This just didn't do it for me. I'll give it a 2.75 out of 5. Not the worst performance to ever hit the Idol stage, but I'm thinking Tim's time could be limited.

Siobhan (Paint It Black): Interesting outfit! (Dress with army boots.) She's got a 4.7 out of 5 from me. Not quite perfect, but pretty darn close. She played the stage for sure and made me go Wow!!

Lee (Beast of Burden): I'll rate this a 4.2 out of 5 performance. I like this guy's voice a lot, but once again, he's not taking advantage of the stage and playing to the audience. A bit safe.

Paige (Honky Tonk Women): She's been suffering from laryngitis, but she did quite a good job despite it. I'll give it a 4.3 out of 5.

Aaron (Angie): Great job! I'm sliding him in just under Siobhan with a 4.6 out of 5.

Crystal (You Can't Always Get What You Want): Another solid performance from one of my Season 9 favorites. She really made the song her own, too. I guess I'll have to give her a 4.65 out of 5.

So who will go home tonight? I'm thinking it could be Tim, but Lacey, Andrew, or Katie could also be in danger (based solely on this one night's performances).

My favorites (again based only on tonight)?

      

~robin

Update: Just discovered a cool Idol Meter that gauges the odds of the contestants based on criteria such as song choice, performance order, performance quality, and several other things. Check it out here.

Idol 9: the 12 perform

Sorry, blog friends. No Idol post tonight. I was spending time with my dear Mama at family night at the care center. Harpo and Danny Boy McCoy were the entertainment, and they are a great blues duo (Harpo plays a mean mouth organ and mouth harp and washboard and Danny Boy is great on the guitar). I've seen this duo perform there three or four times, and it's always so much fun. All the old folks and their families clapping and singing along.

I may not get to watch the Idol show before I find out who goes home tomorrow night, so if you have a favorite or two or three of them, let me know who they were.

~robin