Idol: Wild Cards&Top 13
I am playing catch up from having been gone a week. Part of all that was missing the wild card round and performance night for the top 13. I guess the “big news” that happened while I was away was the oh-so surprising “last minute” decision to keep Anoop Desai around and make it a top 13 instead of a top 12. I suppose that could have made good tv but I missed it so I can’t comment on that. The show ran long and my TiVo stopped recording before the big moment. That being said, though I am glad that Anoop was kept around. He’s enjoyable to watch even though in the back of my mind I keep having these thoughts that this year’s season is taking a cue from the movie American Dreams which spoofed Idol a couple years ago. In that movie, the middle easterner guy tried out and got far in the competition with the plan to blow himself up in the finale when the President of the United States came on the show as a guest judge. The farce isn’t so much of a stretch. There is such a blur between reality and fantasy these days that I could totally see such a gimmick coming to fruition. But I don’t think good ol’ Anoop is a terrorist. I think he’s from India anyway so I think we’re safe. If I offended anyone..too bad. I am just saying the similarities are kinda weird!! So, the wild card round was something I blew through really quick when I went to review the show. I fast forwarded through Jesse who is so annoying to me. I was so glad she didn’t make it. BLECH. Tatiana didn’t make it either and in some ways I was kinda sad. She was such a basket case but could only sing one song. She really screwed it up for herself by singing that Whitney Houston song for the 3rd time. I think if she had tried something different, she would have seen a different outcome because she really was a better singer than some of the others. So, the judges ended up picking Megan, Jasmine and Matt but the real drama unfolded when Simon announced Anoop as the 13th Idol. The top 13 were as follows: Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai. Ryan made the big announcement at the beginning of the Top 13 show that for the first time ever, the judges would get to veto the results of the vote one time during the season. This means if there is ever an elimination that the judges don’t agree with, they can choose to give that person a second chance. They can only use the veto power once so the chances of them using any time soon isn’t in the cards. They will use it to save someone like Danny, Adam or Lil’ Rounds – guaranteed.The theme for top 13 night was Michael Jackson. I don’t think there was a majorly terrible one in the bunch. However, if I had to pick the most painful to listen to, it would be Megan Corkery. Her warblery (??) voice has bugged me since the beginning. The judges call her unique, relevant and current. Um, I guess so. But she kinda sucks. I just can’t listen to her. She sang Rockin’ Robin which is a stupid song and was maybe relevant oh – 40 years ago. She cannot move her feet during any of her performances. She keeps them firmly planted in place and instead movement comes at her hips with an awkward twist and shakey arm motions. In year’s past, the judges would tell her to gain more stage presence because they nailed Carrie Underwood for never moving around the stage. Instead, Megan is “quirky” so it’s ok. Blech. And to top off the absurd dancing, she ended the song cawing like a crow. I don’t recall a robin ever sounding like a crow but Megan sounded like a complete idiot. How she survived not being eliminated is beyond me but she won’t last long. Her days are numbered. Scott McIntyre…I watch him with curiosity because during the group numbers he has to dance and lip synch. Yes. They lip synch those numbers. How do I know? Well, the vocals are just a little too polished for one and for the other, Scott can’t lip synch! And it makes me mad that the producers are making him do this! Let the dude and the others sing live!! As for his dancing, he tries really hard and he actually gets the timing down pretty ok considering that he can’t see a thing. He should get extra points or something for that because he clearly is at a disadvantage. At the end of the wild card round when Anoop was announced as the 13th contestant, Ryan brainlessly announced for everyone to run down and join Anoop on stage and congratulate him. Some smarty pants put Scott on the top row of seats and while the other 11 contestants ran to join Anoop, Scott was left there to look rather lost and alone and unable to rush the stage like the others. Thankfully, his brother ran out on stage to assist him but c’mon, people! Hasn’t anyone have a heart or a compassionate bone in their body any more? I am rooting for Scott because he clearly has the decks stacked against him.The others… Jasmine…she’s pretty. She has a good voice but she’s BORING. Jasmine was the first to be eliminated and no, the judges did not waste their veto on her. The second most boring person of the night was Jorge. Jorge just sang the wrong thing. But he was a yawner and got eliminated too. Next on the chopping block are Megan, Michael and Allison followed by Kris, Scott, Alexis and Matt. Your top 3 is so far looking like Lil Rounds, Adam Lambert and Danny Gokey who each performed their Michael Jackson songs very well. Adam and Danny appear to be the front runners. Paula went so far as to say that these two will be the ones in the finals. What gets me is that although Adam clearly can command a stage and he has the theatrics down, I just can’t get past all the screeching and yelling in his singing. Will he do this in every song? Next week is supposed to be the Grand Ol’ Opry night. So this should be fun. Contestants get to pick a song from any Opry member. Now Opry membership is vast. I hope they all know that they can pick someone besides Little Jimmy Dickens and Minnie Pearl. Although seeing Adam sing May a Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose could be very entertaining.
