American Idol All Star Special?

Hmmmm, so maybe they're incorporating that with the songwriting contest? Interesting.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/american-idol-producers-trying-plan-idol-all-stars-special-4685.php

Idol Chatter from the Good Doctor, IV

I was thinking about the Hollywood shows coming up, and how we'll only see two days of "hell week." I think in past years we've seen a bit more, so I wonder what we'll be missing in these shows. If they keep up with this year's tradition we'll see more also-rans and less real contenders. Oh boy! I can't wait!

Last year they made a big deal about Taylor Hicks's audition, and I swear the next thing we knew he was walking down the hall, playing the harp, and getting is pass to the Top 24. We saw next to nothing of Bucky Covington until the Top 24, as well. Paris Bennett is another notable from last season--great audition, nothing in Hollywood, surprise! She's in the Top 24. So who will this year's surprises be? Who knows. With all the rumors of people getting kicked out I'm surprised they have any talent left. Oh well, let's see what next week brings!

You Tube, Carrie Underwood, and American Idol Edits

Okay, so I'm dinking around YouTube today and I find two videos of
Carrie Underwood's audition--an edited and unedited one. AMAZING the
kind of stuff they tweak for viewers. Paula wasn't present when she
auditioned (see the unedited version), but in the shorter edited
version, magically she's there! Also, they had her cluck like a chicken
and the actually discussed her having a third nipple!?!?!! Honestly.
Thepre -audition interviews must be brutal; that's what I've learned
from the unedited version. Oh, and more confirmation that Simon is a
pig. I think he only chews on a pencil when he's attracted to a
contestant. Dirty old man.

Edited version:



Unedited version:

Learning, MySpace and a potential spoiler

OK, so what did we learn last night?

We learned that AI is definitely dragging out the auditions and squeezing every ounce of lame out of the hack wannabe's who show up. 20k people fill a stadium, we find out later they filter out 15-20 people from all of them, and we don't get to see more then 5 on each audition...seems like we got screwed.

We learned that Ashlyn Carr might be the next Golden Ticket holder to be cut from the Hollywood hopefuls. Thanks Fox news, I love how they are now becoming their own spoiler report. They also mentioned Akron, I had already mentioned this here, and it wasn't new.

We learned that many of the past failures show up again for more ridicule and disappointment. One shining star was Gina Glocksen, I think she just made my top 24, along with some non-repeat hopefuls...Paul Kim and Lakish (Aretha) Young.

We learned that appearently the beginning days in Hollywood is going to be a gangster style wipe out, whole stages full of people being cut at once. I think we are about to see a massacre kids.

Since AI best of the best was more Worst of the Boring, I did some web surfing (like my use of archaic web phrases?) while the show was on (and I was salivating thinking of LOST being on soon. Here's what I learned while the rest of the world was getting bored to tears.

I learned that American Idol will be having a Beatles Theme Night:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/idolchatter/2007/01/beatles_night_c.html

I found some MySpace places for some of the people I think will make the Top 24:
Chris Sligh:
http://www.myspace.com/chrissligh
http://www.myspace.com/halfpastforever
http://www.myspace.com/theexcitingmrbrown

Gina Glocksen:
http://www.myspace.com/catfightbandcom

Antonella:
http://www.myspace.com/8801102

Paul Kim:
http://www.myspace.com/officialpaulkim

Sanjaya:
http://www.myspace.com/dazeoffire


I also found Phil Stacy (the dad who missed his kid being born) on myspace, if you like spoilers, check his tour dates.
http://www.myspace.com/joelphilip

Best of the Rest, Rest of the Best . . . whatever.

Rest of the Best? No. No no. More like A Bit of *%$#. As Simon is apt to say, "What. The hell. Was that??"

I feel like the consenting victim in an abusive relationship. I watch this show. I love this show. I blog about this show. We buy the albums. And what do they do? LIE to us. They LIE. If I had to hear Ryan's "We just couldn't fit it all in the other auditions shows" voiceover one more time, I might've hurled something at the TV. But I didn't. You know why? Because I'm well aware of how this show holds you hostage to its excitement. Every year I wonder if it'll ever get old, but nope. I keep watching. And what do they say? LIES! "This is a special show because there's just too much to fit in the other shows!" LIES! No, American Idol. You could've fit it in, but you would've had to cut out a ton of CRAP.

And what did they show us tonight? Crap and MORE CRAP! How many more good ones did we see tonight? FIVE. 5! FIVE!! 172 people are going to Hollywood and they showed us FIVE more tonight. FIVE. Let me guess. You couldn't fit in more tonight either, right? Because we just HAD to see Big Bird again wiggling her middle. And we had to give more air time to "Eccentric." And the world just hasn't seen enough of Ian Bernardo. No, please. Show us more.

Oh wait, might this be a good one? The girl with the headband (or is that a hat?) on her head. It looks like she used it to pull up her hair in order to use astringent and then forgot about it. Krista. WHY? WHY did they subject us to this? It wasn't even funny!

GOLDEN TICKET #1. Tami Gosnell (who's 29, by the way). The one who looks like a female Bo Bice? Sang "Whipping Post?" I like her. One more going to Hollywood. Apparently 4 more to show tonight. Whoopee.

Again with the voiceover before every commercial break. "We just couldn't fit it in." BS!

GOLDEN TICKET #2. The man who says he's representing all Asians. Good for him! Paul Kim. Great job. A little too affected and over-the-top distracting body language for my liking, but good voice.

They showed the guy with a crush on Paula. And again, she showed her graciousness. The more I see her, the more I like her. Good on you, Paula!

They showed us a girl who's auditioning because she's "American." I don't even have words for this. I'm so thoroughly annoyed by tonight's "offering."

GOLDEN TICKETS #3 and 4. The 3 skating girls. Gotta feel badly for the one who didn't get through. And hmmmm, guess who's going through. That was a tough one.

Woohoo! 100 days until Shrek 3! Now THAT was a nice long trailer worth watching! American Idol could take some lessons from Dreamworks.

And woohoo! A songwriting contest! I'm giddy with excitement. Maybe this is why we've quit residency. :P

Let's see, why else haven't we seen more talent. Oh yeah, because they "couldn't fit it all in." And, apparently, because we had to watch the contestants "shake their moneymakers." And we HAD to watch that stupid "Name That Song" contest with their stupid 555-1-TONE-DEAF number and their stupid subtitles. Like we couldn't figure out the first 2. Spare me. Save it for the finale. And the 3rd girl? Isn't that the one who sang for the mayor of Houston? We already *#$*#@*#$ saw her yesterday.

Argh.

Mark, can I add to one of your lists? "Don't snap when you audition. It's annoying." I'm grumpy.

GOLDEN TICKET #5. This year's Mandisa. Lakisha Jones. Maybe she'll just go by Lakisha.

No more repeat offenders. No more montages. Please spare us. Please have mercy. On to Hollywood. Enough nonesense already.

I stormed off of the couch tonight to write this. FIVE more to Hollywood they show us. LIARS! You couldn't have squeezed that in? LIARS! You couldn't have fit those 5 in the other shows, instead of, oh, I don't know, bouncing bananas? Dancing inflatable fat cows? The girl auditioning for the soap opera? Or maybe Erika who wouldn't stop singing? The lion from the Wizard of Oz? The 50-year-old Big Bird? How about Ian Bernardo? That drunk cowgirl? The orgasmic cowgirl? The guy pulling his underwear out of his pants? Or, I don't know, que tal "The Hotness?" Juggling auditioners? People dressed like boxers? "Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Were Hot Like Me" montages? PICK SOMETHING!

At least we got to see the Shrek 3 trailer.

Stupid show.

Bottom of the Barrel

Let's just hope this show wasn't the "rest of the best," because by my count there will only be 6 or 7 talented people in Hollywood. I know, I know. They think we love the terrible auditions, and the montages, and the cheesy game show segments and Ryan juggling and people "dancing" in front of the camera and . . . and . . . and . . .

Anyway, for my audition wrap-up, I'll be giving some advice to those auditioning for Season 7. Here is my "Top 10 Things A.I. Wannabes Should Know: Next Year's Edition."

10. When everything inside of you is telling you to dance, and you have been studying Paula's "Opposites Attract" video daily for the past 15 years, and you can't stop tapping your toes . . . STOP! They will make fun of you, and "dancing" will probably not improve your chances of getting through to Hollywood.

9. Like, I know you're BFF, and like, nothing will ever change your friendship, and this is, like, totally the, like best thing you could be doing together right now. And you totally love each other and do everything together. But don't audition together. It almost always causes problems.

8. There will be times when the viewers at home will be more interested in the commercials on TV than your audition. Like tonight, when I actually rewound the Tivo to make sure we caught the commercial for "Shrek the Third." The commercial was so entertaining that I laughed more in those 60 seconds than in the other 3540 seconds that tortured me.

7. Lifting your skirt to show the judges your "I (heart) Simon" message will not help you. It's mostly disturbing, and a bit disgusting.

6. If you are going to use a past A.I. contestant as your inspiration, apparently picking a "successful," yet tone deaf contestant (a la William Hung) is your best bet. Our Taylor Hicks wannabes did not do well, and by now trying to be like Kelly Clarkson is becoming like trying to pull off a Whitney or Mariah song.

5. ENUNCIATE! 'Nuff said!

4. Persistence is key. Well, you'll get air time, for better or for worse. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. But this time be good!

3. Beat boxing? While your friends may love it, and you may have won some sort of high school contest, and people fill your hat with spare change at the entrance to the transit authority, this "talent" is not right for American Idol. And especially don't break dance while you're doing it. See #10 above.

2. Our judges like songs they know. They also like songs they can understand. So, what I'm trying to say is leave your original compositions at home, and sing in tune. Common sense, I know, but for some reason people keep forgetting this is a SINGING competition. And a bit of a popularity contest. And a bit of a beauty contest. But you do have to sing.

1. Don't waste all of your tears in the audition room. Apparently everyone will be crying in Hollywood! Oh, and Simon won't give a damn!

Here is my final haiku of the audition season (but I'm sure there will be more to come!):

The best of the rest
Is just crappy auditions
With more fluff-n-stuff

Hollywood next week! Let's see the talent roll. I'm getting pretty excited about what's coming up. Who will be this year's Corey Clark? Who will forget her lines? Who's fighting with each other? And which great talent will we not see until the Top 24? None of these questions will be adequately answered next week, but at least we'll be entertained a bit more!

4B - The Best(?) of the Rest

Christa Fazzino - Call for Phillip Morris!

Tami Gosnell - Decent voice, in tune, reminiscent of Gracie Slick, but less abrasive (vaguely referenced by Simon, as a singer from the 60s). I'm less in love with her than the judges, and think she'll be limited by her style, but we'll see...

Paul Kim - Smokey, sexy voice...I think the ladies will like him a lot. Why does Simon need to interrupt Paula's compliment and pretend to misinterpret her vote? What a maroon!

Gina Glocksen - Fair, but not enough, methinks. But she likes Simon, and we need some of that on the show.

So they give us more of it...good segue.

Edward Sanchez - If I was Paula, I'd learn from this not to hug the wannabes til they've sung first. But I guess maybe females do things differently. I'd probably make a lousy female, unless the hormones significantly altered my natural inclinations.

Carhops
Heather - too shakey
Ashley - average, but better - still no cigar.
Ebony Joynter - much better! The judges agree. I smirk with self-satisfied head-swelling.

Brandon Reid was very entertaining, but not for AI.

Wes - William E Samland - seems a bit affected pre-audition, but I was actually expecting something better than clap.stomp.clap.stomp.

The dancing segment brought back the painful memory of Elaine dancing(?) on Seinfeld. At least she was trying to be funny.

Alexander Nazario - lots of heart, not enough talent. Randy and Simon were much better behaved, at least.

Lakisha Jones - Pretty good with 'Think', but I have to wonder how she can handle a song she doesn't get to belt out.

Nice montage...first one I've really liked this season.

172 finalists! WOW! Next week's previews look brutal.

Now is this the season they're supposed to get more into the reality side of things, and show more of people in their living quarters and personal spats?

See you next week...

...John

I Can't Bear It Much Longer...

Here I thought I was in it for the long haul, but alas, I'm SICK to death of auditions!!! I'm ready for the real stuff - no more FLUFF!!! AGGGGHHHHHH!!!

Well, now that I got that out... ;)

San Antonio...

I liked Haley, Baylie (hey, is there a pattern here?? :) ), Ashlyn (that was a pretty amazing second chance!), and Jimmy. The cousins were quite hilarious! I especially loved how the Incredible Hulk one pretended to be so mad (*after* clearing it with the judges...)

The door thing has come and gone...ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!

Boy am I ready for the week to be over... (at least AI-wise). Let's get to the good stuff!!!

The irony isn't lost on me

Darn it. The two contestants that got second chances may have been booted after all that. Akron and Ashlyn. Darn. Darn darn darn.

The article is here. Apparently he smoked pot and she poured sugar in her boyfriend's gas tank . . .

McPheever loses out to Norah Jones Debut

Darn it. Poor Katharine. But hey, #2 isn't bad.

Here is the article.

And here she is singing the song, "Over It." Dang, she's beautiful.

I'm IN!!! You're Out!

OK , so one of the highlights of tonight's performances was the two cousins, the untalented, unemployed Hulk, and his talented cousin Bruce "Akron" Banner. The news is officially saying already that Akron has been cut for a previous arrest for a small amount of narcotics. Sorry Akron, you were excellent and appearently AI doesn't think musos know what narcotics are. Truly a sad shame to do this to someone for a mistake they made in their past.

This comes after earlier reports that another golden ticket holder Thomas Daniels was reported to have a hit and run on his record.

Those of you bored with people being arrested might want to try searching MySpace.com for auditioners personal and music spaces, I was able to find a bunch in a few minutes, my favorite was Chris Sligh. Later as we get to Hollywood I will post my list of people I think will make the top 24, so far Chris Sligh is in there, so is Sundance Head, Brandon Rogers, Rudy Cardenas and Sanjay Malakar...the ladies don't get left out either. I think Antonella (the bff duet girl), Haley and Jordin are going to make it to the top 24.

Rembember the Alamo?

You know those Pace Picante Sauce commercials where the cowboys talk about this salsa made in San Antonio by folks who know what salsa should taste like, and then the crusty ol' cowboy says "This stuff's made in New York City"? I always think of that when I hear San Antonio. Sad? A bit. But those cowboys had the same reaction to New Yore I did during this year's auditions. But could San Antonio deliver the goods?

From my knowledge of U.S. history, the Battle of the Alamo was an eventual defeat. Granted, all the Americans went down "fightin' like men," but I'm pretty sure if I went to audition, and I remembered the Alamo, I'd fail pretty miserably. But, why shock the world and not mention the Alamo in San Antonio. I'm just surprised a little Alamo rental car logo didn't come flying across the screen at some point, along with that Ford logo. Have you ever noticed how similar the Ford and American Idol symbols are? Hmmmm. OK, enough pointless rambling, on to San Antonio.

This is my last city-specific list, the "Top 10 Things A.I. Wannabes Should Know: San Antonio Edition."

10. Any of you not actually from Texas, but who traveled from distant locations such as South Dakota and South Carolina, will be forced to wear a 10-gallon hat, scream "yee-haw," and then sing "Rawhide," even if you're not in a particularly Rawhide-ish mood. We will air this segment right after talking about the geographically diverse crowd here today.

9. Do not bother dazzling us with the vocal stylings of Billy Idol or Ozzy Osbourne. We will not be impressed, except by your camouflaged pants and proficiency in doing the centipede. Viva les 80s!

8. Simon just paid good money to renew his work visa, and it was a long flight to San Antonio from his home, so in no way will he be inclined to "go back to British." He may be persuaded, however, to visit French, Russian, or Rhodesian just as soon as we finish this season.

7. If your last name matches up perfectly with a well-known superhero (think Incredible Hulk and William Green) you will be invited to meet the judges. It is a bonus if you can provide some "trash talking" to go along with your audition. Not the real kind, because that's old, but the fake stuff is funny!

6. In a break from tradition, we will be encouraging second chances tonight. And this time we mean the good ones, not the "if you're so nervous and your throat is dry and you lost your cuff link and you don't understand my accent and these lyrics are just too hard and according to your horoscope today is not an auspicious time for 'new adventures' so why don't you come back and 'wow' us later" kind of second chances (these are never good). We mean the "we may have made a mistake" kind of second chances Akron Watson and Ashlyn Carr will get today. We do get it right once in a while. (Plus, you don't want to piss off Bruce Banner!)

5. OPEN THE @#$! RIGHT DOOR!!! It was funny in the beginning. I laughed a bit. I even "haikued" about it once or twice, but a montage of left door "openers" is not that funny. Except for the parts where Paula tried to open the left side (think "peppy pills) and where the one girl just blasted straight through. Oh, oh, and when Simon cracked up after opening the wrong door. I take it back--I did get some enjoyment out of some of it. Carry on!

4. Unfortunately Randy left his own opinions back at the hotel with his good shoes. Today he's a follower. A follower usually following the guy from British.

3. It's time for a complex mathematical equation promising great success to those of you who learn it well.

Half-naked = Halfway to Hollywood

Simon will say "yes," and since Randy has no original thought today (reference #4 above), he'll likely provide the other "yes." Welcome to Hollywood!

2. Today the family "legend" will likely end here. Remember that Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman, and real meat in Taco Bell tacos are also legends. And please don't leave out any of our judges in your articulate, thoughtful, profound, profanity-laden tirade. They start to feel a little hurt if you forget someone.

1. Bucky's cousin. Yes, you. The mumbly one. We let Bucky through last year, but our judges got so tired trying to decipher his secret code that we've decided to prohibit mumbly singing. Sorry. Dryaginnessyeah!

0. (So is this really a Top 11?) Remember, this is the first step of many you'll have to make in order to say "I AM the next American Idol"^TM. In the great words of a 4(?) year-old today: So?

Here is one last geographical haiku from the good doctor:

San Antonio
Remember the Alamo
No syllables left

I am not as excited about the "Best of the Rest" show tomorrow. I foolishly thought this may have included mostly good auditions, but forgot that "best" is an entirely subjective term and the producers of American Idol didn't ask me for my opinion. That's too bad, because one day y'all are gonna see me on TV, and you'll be lookin' the fool when I's the rich one laughin' at all y'all's sorry butts. That's what I'm talkin' about today, fools!

Until tomorrow, adieu!

P.S. How do you like our new banner at the top? You. Move. Me.

Saint Anthony, Saint Anthony

Everything's bigger in Texas. Well, as much as I've griped about audition shows, I must say that THIS one got BIG laughs out of me and has been my favorite so far. I haven't laughed this hard during an American Idol show in I don't know how long. Thank you, San Antonio!

So, Wedding Singer Haley Scarnato started us off. Of course, breaking with tradition, they have her walk up and shake hands with the judges. Why? Because they decided to show some good southern manners? No! That was clear when those two full-of-themselves buffoons couldn't contain their laughter during most of the auditions. Everyone who's always criticizing Paula needs to think long and hard about their opinions. She is the only one with class and couth. I like Paula. Those men get positively giddy when they're wrapping up their audition tour. Just in time to get grumpy for Hollywood. But I digress. Why did they have Haley walk up to the judges' table? So we could see Simon ogle the low-cut back of her black pantsuit on her way back to the wooden stage. Dirty old man. And then she sang and when she was done, he couldn't take it anymore and actually said, "Off you go!" so he could ogle her again!

Why did Randy have to think about whether or not to let her through after Simon and Paula had already said yes? What was there to think about? Even a no wouldn't have stopped her from getting a golden ticket, Dawg.

Two stupid things to do in an audition:

1. Walk in frowning.
2. Not sing well.

Two stupid things to say in an audition (boy, these are old):

1. "You're entitled to your opinion." I mean, really. No one has anything more original than that by now?
2. "What do YOU do?" Uh, honey I think he's a judge on American Idol. How did you not know that?

But then again, maybe she's right. And maybe Simon really should go back to British.

Moving on.

Baylie Brown. City girl stuck in the country town of Krum, TX. Ain't it sweet that she gets to go to the big city. She cute and commercial with a capital "C." I know they say that's a good thing, but it always seems like a very shallow NOT good thing to me. She does have a good name, I agree. Heck, Paula wants to change her name to Baylie. And she sounds better than Kellie Pickler.

Randy paused AGAIN! Why? He's not used to that 3rd spot. Apparently when Simon has jet lag he has to sit in Randy's chair?

And would it kill them to put a damn sign on the door? Cute clip. I love it.

Okay, so the funny parts are coming up. Starting with the cousins. I love them! William Green (ha!), the trash-talking Hulk. We watched that THREE times, laughing out loud every time. Now why don't they show more of that and less stupid stuff? THAT was priceless. And the Hulk's cousin, Akron Watson. Wow! I'm so glad they let him through. He's cute, sings well, and is a lot more fun than they saw right away. We like the cousins.

Music teacher Sandie Chavez. Yikes. I'm not going to say anything more than, "Read Mark's post." From his comments during her performance, I'm sure he's got something good to share.

Ashlyn Carr. She is REALLY pretty! And she sounds good! Awwww, I wish they'd give her that advice and put her through. Too bad. Oh wait! Oh good! She's through! So aside from her being let through to Hollywood (and I love that they chased her down and gave her a second chance--I disliked Simon's puppe . . . I mean Randy's stupid switch up with her. Oh, look at that. He likes her now. What a shocker.), my FAVORITE part of her audition and my BIGGEST laugh of the show (and oh, how I wish I could post a clip) was when Simon sat back in his chair and rubbed his breasts over and over again while he said, "You have some very, very bad habits." ROTFL! That scene right there is every blogger's dream. Yes, Ashlyn, you sometimes scrunch up your nose and smile when you sing (rub, rub, rub). I, on the other hand, don't EVER do that (rub, rub, rub). You've really got to work on those bad habits (rub, rub, rub). It's distracting (rub, rub, rub). ROTFL! I wonder if she was uncomfortable. I would've been if I hadn't been laughing so hard and rewinding to see if I really had seen what I thought I had. Yep. Rub, rub, rub. Yes indeed.

I found Jacob Tutor (the "snake") completely disturbing in that little room where they like to videotape them talking and dancing. Yikes. I had a visceral reaction. Total nausea. I don't remember much of his singing . . . something about dark hallways or bedrooms? And all the judges can (Blue American Idol Sign) *$#%@*) @#)$*@#)$* @#$*&%$.

Jimmy McNeal is a "fun, little Ruben when he used to smile." Yes, Cupid, fling your arrow. Nice job, Jimmy.

And tomorrow. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. "Best of the Rest" to me would indicate GOOD auditions. Great maybe. But apparently we have to mire through more crap garbage to hear the good stuff. Wouldn't it be fun if this year they were to profile, at least in part, everyone who's going to Hollywood and then on further? Sigh. Tune in tomorrow for more good and torturous auditions. I can hardly wait.

Week 4A - San Antonio

Last week of auditions...thank God!

Brian Kyrish looks scary from the get go. Yeah. I'd recommend anger management.

Haley Scarnato - Very nice. I have high hopes. She moved me, but I agree with Simon about the 'unique' or 'it' factor being in absence thus far. Hopefully she can bring it.

Jasmine Holland - nasal and banal. But must the boyz laff?

Baylie Brown - young, but quite attractive, and holds her own vocally. I think America will love her! Naturally Simon spots her right away.

Again with the stoopid door game?! Puh-leeze!

William Green - instead of laughing, why don't they just stop him?

His cousin, Akron Watson, did quite well. I liked him a lot, but he'll have to work hard, I think.

Sandie Chavez - the Phoebe Snow of AI auditions - fair in her very unique stylized way, but definitely an acquired taste.

Ashlyn Carr - beautiful young lady, and enough talent with her smokey voice to go a long way. I was typing, so I missed the facial expressions the judges got down on. I think they made a big mistake declining her. Simon acknowledges that, thank God. I looked more closely at the facial expressions the second time around. I don't think they're as much of a distraction as the judges do, but I understand their intent. On the other hand, Katharine McPhee's "voices in my head" remark comes to mind, and I wonder if she won't 'sink beneath their wisdom like a stone' during the coming weeks.

Jimmy McNeal - very melodious and powerful voice. I like him!

More auditions tomorrow? Yes - 'The Best of the Rest'. See you then...

...John

Samson?

Did Sean Michel get disqualified for not cutting his hair and shaving his beard? Rumor has it . . .

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2007/02/american_idol_r.html

Katharine McPhee...

... will appear on the Rachel Ray Show, tomorrow, singing her new single. See you there!
(Sorry for the error - I originally said the Ellen Degeneres Show. I sit corrected. I wear orthopedic pants)

******************
UPDATE and REVIEW
******************

Katherine sang the biggest hit on her new album, 'Over It'. The live performance was even more spacious and lively than the studio version on the album. Accompanied by a backup trio and conga drums, as well as the usual instruments, she owned the song and gave me the same goosebumps as her performances on American Idol.

She talked of how much freer she now feels to be herself and not have the self-critical voices in her head that were a part of auditioning for the judges on the show.

Rachel noted that she's now being compared to Mariah and other star singers.

UPDATE

On Friday, 2/16, Katherine appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show and sang 'Over It' once again. Her performance was slightly less inspiring than the one she gave on the Rachel Ray Show, but she's still going strong!

Bucky Covington Album Review

So, I'm not really a country fan, but I saw an ad for Bucky Covington's My Space site, so I checked it out. He's got clips from four songs on his debut album, coming out April 17. Like I said, I'm not the best judge of country music, but I thought Bucky sounded pretty good on the samples there. I can give a brief "review" based on what I heard there.

A Different World: This is a classic country "narrative," listing all of the things kids of the 70s went through (smoking and drinking mothers, lead-based paint on the cribs, daddy's belt, no video games, etc.), and how we all turned out "all right." Don't miss the references to prayer in the schools and the Pledge of Allegiance either. This single was released in mid-January, so some of you may have heard it already.

American Friday Night: This track has that definite southern/country rock vibe and praises all that is "All-American" on Fridays in the heartland: high school football, pretty girls, and great music. And there's a reference to that Pledge again. I actually think this one sounds pretty good.

I'm Good: Of the four samples on the site, I think I like this one best. Bad boy falls for the Deacon's daughter. He's diesel fuel. She's holy water. She doesn't like guys who drink, cuss, and chew. So the guy prays for a miracle.

"I know I ain't been livin' like I ought to.
Lord, I swear that she can make me want to."

And then he says he's glad God passed up the 4-wheeler and the bigger boat because

"Just give me this girl and I'm good."

Empty Handed: This song has a bit of a ZZ Top feel with Bucky's own style mixed in. It's another "narrative" about the guy on the fast track to hell regretting all his life's choices, and the small town beauty queen lost in the L.A. subculture, trying to make a name for herself. I think you'll find the theme to be a familiar one. Bucky's strengths definitely come through on this one.

Overall, what they've released sounds promising and I think Bucky's album should do well in the country world. They don't have an album cover released yet, but you can still pre-order the self-titled album Bucky at Amazon. Lyric Records is handling it, and this is the same label that produces Rascall Flatts, SheDaisy, and Josh Gracin, among others. Hopefully he'll meet with similar success.

Bucky fans of the world, check it out!

Sound Off!

Well, the polls don't look so hot on this blue background no matter how much we've fiddled with them. So we can do this converational style--comment! Who are your favorite American Idol people?

Favorite judge--Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul?

Favorite Winner--Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks?

Favorite Other Contestant (non-"winner")? Constantine Maroulis? Bo Bice? ELLIOTT YAMIN? Kellie Pickler? Kimberley Locke? Clay Aiken? Justin Guarini?

What I'd Like, But What I Will (Vol 3.)

We've made it to the final week of screening auditions and my last chance to really complain about those terrible auditions. This week should be pretty good since we have the San Antonio auditions on Tuesday and a "Best of the Rest" show on Wednesday. Maybe Reason #1 in my last Idol Chatter wasn't too bad!

So, here we go with my third installment.

What I'd Like

1. Do I even bother? In a break from tradition, NO ONE dressed is crazy costumes or claiming to be the long-lost cousin/sibling/dog walker/stalker of any famous singer (especially Brian McKnight or any "diva") will be allowed to audition before the judges.

2. Instead of ogling scantily-clad female contestants and then asking Randy to support his decision to allow sub par talent to Hollywood, Simon will turn to Paula and ask, "As a woman, are you offended that I so obviously value 'marketability,' er, sex appeal, above talent in these cases?"

3. At the end of the San Antonio show, Ryan will think his mike is turned off, and he will be heard to say, "I'm so glad that's over! Can I stop being nice now? Why do I have to talk to all of these crazy people?!"

What I Will

1. Unfortunately, watching commercials for "House" or "Prison Break" or "24" or some similar "action/drama on adrenaline" type of program on high speed while I fast forward my Tivo will be infinitely more enjoyable than most of the auditions.

2. I will be spared the privilege of seeing quality auditions in San Antonio, but then treated to snippets of the "best of the rest" on Wednesday, still wondering where the "real" talent is.

3. San Antonio will bring us many "bigger in Texas" references, whether it be hats, talent, insanity, mouths, or obscene gestures. Many of these will never make it to the air over concerns over losing A.I.'s TV-PG rating.

So there it is. Let's see where I get it right (or more likely wrong) this week. Enjoy the insanity! It's almost over!

Various and Sundry

So, here's some AI gossip that might interest one and all. Oh, but first. Have I mentioned "THANK GOODNESS Hollywood starts this week!"? Ah, Hollywood. I remember that's where it really started to be all the more obvious that ELLIOTT was a leader among the masses. Remember when Elliott Yamin was up against that pushy, obnoxious Brittenum twin and a couple of other guys? And the twin fudged the lyrics and then gave a big, huge speech saying that he sang better than the others and that it's their fault he didn't do well because they didn't want to rehearse? And then Randy said something like, "Dawg, you wanna know who sang the best? That boy right there!" and he pointed to Elliott who humbly smiled and bowed like he does and went on to the fame he deserves (not enough fame--yet, in my opinion). I *love* Elliott!

Anyway, on to the gossip! I've got information about AI Alums and current contestants.

AI Alumni News

Chris Daughtry tells his fans to "Get over it." I'm happy for him and I really like him, so I mean this sincerely and not as a slam--I hope his marriage is really solid. His wife championing his cause was so heartwarming (I shed a tear) and with the schedule he must keep, I really do hope his marriage and family are solid. I imagine that it must be difficult to have that kind of success and schedule with both his career and his home life.

Katharine McPhee is savouring her success and appearing on magazine covers! She really is so beautiful.

Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson blasts 'Idol' as abusive and brainwashing.

Poor Jessica Sierra was being stalked after her stint on American Idol. Her stalker has been arrested.

Current Idol Contestants

Porcelana Patino (think "Rocky"--that girl who worked out and wore REALLY low-riding pants to her audition?) missed her TV airing to be by her dad's side at the hospital after he was involved in a hit-and-run.

Here's a VERY interesting (and perhaps surprising) interview with early favorite Sean Michel (think Fidel Castro)--I highly recommend reading this one!

Jamie Lynn Ward (the 17-year-old who cares for her paralyzed dad who shot her stepmomma when he caught her cheating?) -- apparently her family is speaking out about Jamie's recounting of events (apparently they have a different story) and for bringing up the past in her audition. Geez, I hope she doesn't get grounded.

Chris Sligh, Funny Guy. Here's a link to his blog. And here's a link to his MySpace page -- his music is SO good, much better than his audition. I hope he goes far.

Judges

Paula Abdul is NOT being replaced by Courtney Love -- apparently it was a hoax.

Early Favorites

Here is an article that lists early favorites including Chris Sligh, Sundance Head, Sean Michel, Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle, and more. Vote for your favorite! Better yet, I'm making us our own poll! Be looking for it . . . them . . . I'm making several. :P