American Idol Season 9

[Mustang]

Maybe he is trying to manufacture water cooler moments since the contestants sure aren't creating any.

[Ksyrup]

It feels like Simon has already left, tbh. He's putting in a half-hearted effort this season and doesn't seem to particularly care what happens.

[lordscarlet]

Am I the only one that thought Adam had the hots for Tim during the mentoring?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Is Dunkelman still hosting that American Idol Rewind thing on cable?

[Ksyrup]

I didn't realize he was even doing that (I don't watch that stuff, but I know they've had a bunch of ex-Idol contestants serving as hosts/correspondents the last few years). Last I saw him, he was doing some sort of self-deprecating, quasi-show posted to YT.

[Ksyrup]

Here's this story is about a year old. Doesn't say anything about Idol Rewind.

Brian Dunkleman pitching fictional series about his post-American Idol life + reality blurred

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I actually thought Lambert was a good mentor. He gave honest feedback unlike others like Usher and Miley Cyrus.

AMEN! He was REALLY good. Agreed too about the other two being lousy. I recall Gwen Stefani being horrible last season as well. I think having former contestants coach them is a really good thing in general.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

It feels like Simon has already left, tbh. He's putting in a half-hearted effort this season and doesn't seem to particularly care what happens.

Agreed with this and Seacrest. I think he's always been a bit annoying, but this season he's crossed the line to full-fledged jerk.

[Matthean]

Well, Aaron is still around so somebody is going home who shouldn't be.

[Matthean]

What a crock. Katie has been at worst #5 and one of the very few I could see getting a contract out of this.

[jbergey22]

I agree. This voting process is flawed. Why the hell get rid of the girl that had showed so much improvement over the past couple of weeks over two guys that have no chance of winning?

[Danny]

So Katie and who else went home?

[Thomkal]

Andrew also went home Danny

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by Matthean

What a crock. Katie has been at worst #5 and one of the very few I could see getting a contract out of this.

It shouldn't have been too much of a surprise. She's consistently been in the "bottom 3" most weeks, right?

[Eaglesfan27]

I found it interesting that they specified that Mike was not in the bottom 3. First time I can remember them doing that.

[Danny]

Not a katie fan, so not upset that she went and Andrew more than anyone needed to go.

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I found it interesting that they specified that Mike was not in the bottom 3. First time I can remember them doing that.

I've often wondered whether they play around with semantics with the "bottom 3". They rarely, if ever, state these are the bottom three vote-getters. I often think they change it up more for the dramatic effect. Having said that, it did seem odd that Ryan went out of his way to state that last night. Perhaps to solidify redemption by the judges for saving Big Mike last week (see... he's not even in the bottom of the pack anymore. We were so right to save him...).

[wade moore]

I haven't watched the results yet, just watched performances last night.

I know Mustang commented on it above, but god.. I'm the one that complains about Casey sounding like a Goat/Sheep and he actually had a song that had a lyric with something like:

"Bye, Bye"...

It came out as "BaaaAAAaaaah, BaaaAAAaaaaah"...

I don't understand how he doesn't get called out for this at ALL.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by tyketime

It shouldn't have been too much of a surprise. She's consistently been in the "bottom 3" most weeks, right?

Not the last couple of times IIRC, and she's gotten better. There's simply no way she's worse than Aaron, or even Tim. I would say she's better than Siobhan who is boring as hell outside of the power notes/songs. Katie will get a contract because she's young enough and has enough talent to develop and that's more than I can say for a number of people still left.

[Ksyrup]

Katie has no stage presence at all. None. She's the perfect example of a kid AI should have waited 2-3 years to pick up, but needed to fit a demo so they blew her opportunity by putting her on the show too early. She reminds me of a less polished Stephanie Edwards (pre-arrest), who seemed to have everything you'd want in a theoretical "star" yet never really did much on the show and coasted to like 6th or 7th place.

Tim is a buffoon, but at least I see a voting block for him. I'm not sure I see anyone voting for Katie outside of her family and town, and maybe some 12 year old boys forced to watch the show by their parents who think she's pretty. As a singer/performer, there's nothing there to really vote on.

[tyketime]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Not the last couple of times IIRC, and she's gotten better. There's simply no way she's worse than Aaron, or even Tim. I would say she's better than Siobhan who is boring as hell outside of the power notes/songs. Katie will get a contract because she's young enough and has enough talent to develop and that's more than I can say for a number of people still left.

She was Bottom 3 for Top 11 & Top 10. She wasn't last week because they announced all three remaining ladies were safe. But back again this week. While she's gotten better, I just don't see it. There is nothing there with her that would distinguish her from the thousands of other wannabes. While she may get a contract because she was part of the AI machine, I predict less than stellar results and a low trajectory singing career.

Say what you will about Siobhan, but today's music scene is more about entertainment. Katie is/was one of the stiffest contestants remaining. I can easily see Siobhan putting on more of an entertaining show. YMMV.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Tim is a buffoon

I don't know if he is a buffoon or is smarter than everyone except Crystal.

At least the last 2 weeks he has learned to take a song that is more suited to his style and run with it as opposed to Siobhan who has looked like a deer in the headlights when given bad criticism. Seems like he is learning the game that is American Idol so, I'll give him credit.

[Ksyrup]

I agree Tim's doing better with song choice in that he's not trying to falsetto through a song when he has no falsetto to sing, but I wouldn't say he's running with it. IMO, he's barely treading below competent, and most of the positive vibes he's hanging on right now are due to the fact that he's not completely embarrassing himself every week. And, he's cute (although, to me, he comes off like a 70s teen idol with a creepy, less-confident Tom Cruise demeanor - something about the way he acts bugs the hell out of me).

[TexasT]

I think the girls keep getting voted off has not a lot to do with talent. Who does the voting? I think mostly young girls who love the guys and don't care what they sound like. Not a lot of guys really watch this show or vote. So, the girls votes suffer in the long run.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I found it interesting that they specified that Mike was not in the bottom 3. First time I can remember them doing that.

indeed. they just did it for stupid pseudo-suspense.
Hmmm I wonder who WAS In the bottom 3.

Probably Aaron was the other one. Or maybe a surprise person that typically did well.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I agree Tim's doing better with song choice in that he's not trying to falsetto through a song when he has no falsetto to sing, but I wouldn't say he's running with it. IMO, he's barely treading below competent, and most of the positive vibes he's hanging on right now are due to the fact that he's not completely embarrassing himself every week. And, he's cute (although, to me, he comes off like a 70s teen idol with a creepy, less-confident Tom Cruise demeanor - something about the way he acts bugs the hell out of me).

EXACTLY! He totally copped out!!!!!!!!

[Mustang]

hxxp://www.tmz.com/2010/04/15/american-idol-crystal-bowersox-ryan-seacrest-quit/

TMZ has learned "American Idol" contestant Crystal Bowersox threw in the towel a little more than two weeks ago and was walking off the show, when Ryan Seacrest did some fast-talking and changed her mind.


It went down in a parking lot after an "A.I." show. In front of several people, Crystal told Ryan she couldn't handle the competition.... she said she hated the attention and said to Seacrest, "What's the point?"

Crystal said she was going back to Ohio to be with her family, whom she missed terribly.

Ryan told Crystal that being on "Idol" was like starting a business, and if she won she'd get a recording contract and become a millionaire.

Seacrest sealed the deal by telling her, "The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house."

Seacrest out ... Crystal, not out.



Wouldn't surprise me at all based on her body language during the show.

[MJ4H]

It amazes me you have to talk someone into seizing the opportunity of a lifetime.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

It amazes me you have to talk someone into seizing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Not everyone is motivated by fame and money.

TBH the money and security would be nice, but I'm not so sure I would want everything that comes with it. Some people are just wired differently, she seems like one of those people.

[Ksyrup]

If she was going to jump ship, she should have at least gotten out before the tour (top 10), if not before all the other contractual stuff kicked in.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If she was going to jump ship, she should have at least gotten out before the tour (top 10), if not before all the other contractual stuff kicked in.

I dunno. That is an easy statement for a rational minded 40 year old man to make, but as the pressure builds no telling what goes through the mind of an emotionally charged early 20 something. I would imagine a lot of what she did was reactive, not proactive.

[Ksyrup]

Fuck you, buddy. I haven't even turned 39 yet.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Fuck you, buddy. I haven't even turned 39 yet.

I thought I was being nice...

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Not everyone is motivated by fame and money.

TBH the money and security would be nice, but I'm not so sure I would want everything that comes with it. Some people are just wired differently, she seems like one of those people.

I'm aware of that. I'm not just talking about fame and money.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Mustang

hxxp://www.tmz.com/2010/04/15/american-idol-crystal-bowersox-ryan-seacrest-quit/

TMZ has learned "American Idol" contestant Crystal Bowersox threw in the towel a little more than two weeks ago and was walking off the show, when Ryan Seacrest did some fast-talking and changed her mind.


It went down in a parking lot after an "A.I." show. In front of several people, Crystal told Ryan she couldn't handle the competition.... she said she hated the attention and said to Seacrest, "What's the point?"

Crystal said she was going back to Ohio to be with her family, whom she missed terribly.

Ryan told Crystal that being on "Idol" was like starting a business, and if she won she'd get a recording contract and become a millionaire.

Seacrest sealed the deal by telling her, "The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house."

Seacrest out ... Crystal, not out.



Wouldn't surprise me at all based on her body language during the show.

You can see she's one of the most impacted when people leave. Here's the thing. The top 10 are going on tour so all of them are coming back to be one big happy family for a time and then she gets to work her way towards her own tour and such. Yes, it may suck right now, but it's just a couple more months and this part of over.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by tyketime

I've often wondered whether they play around with semantics with the "bottom 3". They rarely, if ever, state these are the bottom three vote-getters. I often think they change it up more for the dramatic effect. Having said that, it did seem odd that Ryan went out of his way to state that last night. Perhaps to solidify redemption by the judges for saving Big Mike last week (see... he's not even in the bottom of the pack anymore. We were so right to save him...).

Not true. Ryan ALWAYS says "These are your bottom 3 (or 2 as the case may be)"

And yeah I think the only reason they did that was for "tension" to make mike and us think MIke might go home AGAIN. THey'll do anything to "change things up".

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Not true. Ryan ALWAYS says "These are your bottom 3 (or 2 as the case may be)"

And yeah I think the only reason they did that was for "tension" to make mike and us think MIke might go home AGAIN. THey'll do anything to "change things up".

No, there has been a lot of discussion here about whether "bottom 3" necessarily means bottom 3 vote-getters.

[Ksyrup]

Yes, there is wide speculation that the bottom 3 is not always the 3 bottom vote-getters. Telling you "These are your bottom 3" could mean anything from "these are the 3 bottom vote-getters" to "these are the 3 people we're giving you as the bottom 3." They've been squirrelly in the past with the language they use, and I'm fairly well convinced that at certain times, they've put someone in the bottom 3 who shouldn't have been there based on votes to cause a reaction from that contestant's fans or just try to hype up some sort of potential "shocking" elimination that week or the next.

[tyketime]

I agree, which made Ryan's comments stand out even more that "one of these isn't even in the bottom 3 vote-getters" (which turned out to be Mike).

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Mustang

hxxp://www.tmz.com/2010/04/15/american-idol-crystal-bowersox-ryan-seacrest-quit/

TMZ has learned "American Idol" contestant Crystal Bowersox threw in the towel a little more than two weeks ago and was walking off the show, when Ryan Seacrest did some fast-talking and changed her mind.


It went down in a parking lot after an "A.I." show. In front of several people, Crystal told Ryan she couldn't handle the competition.... she said she hated the attention and said to Seacrest, "What's the point?"

Crystal said she was going back to Ohio to be with her family, whom she missed terribly.

Ryan told Crystal that being on "Idol" was like starting a business, and if she won she'd get a recording contract and become a millionaire.

Seacrest sealed the deal by telling her, "The greatest thing I ever did was make enough money so I could buy my mom a house. You can buy your mom a house."

Seacrest out ... Crystal, not out.



Wouldn't surprise me at all based on her body language during the show.

So now the story is that this didn't quite happen like it's been reported, and the stories that have come out painting Seacrest as some sort of hero for "saving" Crystal from quitting are not true or an overly dramatic/fictional version of what really happened, planted in an attempt to give Seacrest some positive spin after his bizarro actions last week. Apparently all that happened was Crystal got upset backstage about missing her kid and Seacrest consoled her. She and Epperly texted back and forth and Crystal confirmed that that's about all that happened.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

No, there has been a lot of discussion here about whether "bottom 3" necessarily means bottom 3 vote-getters.

oh. I see. Well this show never has been credible, especially since their multiple round preaudition process and montage sequences were exposed.

[Ksyrup]

I thought all that stuff was common knowledge. But then again, this show is most interesting to me before it starts, so I guess I tend to focus on all the stuff they don't show on TV. They've been doing the same tricks for years and it's mostly common knowledge among people who enjoy the behind the scenes stuff. They claim they changed up the timing of Hollywood Week due to Simon's schedule, and that might partly be true, but I think they mostly did it so that people wouldn't have 2 months before the show starts to figure out who the top 50 are and dig up as much dirt and pre-AI music business exposure they've had. Things came to a head during the Michael Johns/Carly Smithson season when it came out all of the connections they had to (failed) music careers. They've tightened up on that stuff since then (including disqualifying that chick last year for having connections to some management people within 19 Entertainment).

[tyketime]

There's a very interesting article on MSNBC about the voting process on Reality Shows http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36601251...nt-reality_tv/


Here's a part that pertains to our discussion:

Actual numbers may not be tweaked, but producers have more subtle ways to sway public opinion. Exact numbers of votes per contestant are never broadcast, and those “bottom” performers pulled to the side each week just before the losing contestant is announced may not be the lowest-scoring participants.

Sometimes, groups or pairs are put in the “bottom” groupings because producers particularly like them — and want to goose sympathy (and votes, and ratings) with the “shocking” revelation that the contestants might be on their way out.

[Ksyrup]

More on the Crystal/Seacrest fallout:

Last week’s Ryan Seacrest-as-Crystal-saving Superman story was odd: a TMZ story credited Seacrest with convincing Crystal Bowersox to stay in the competition, and then E! followed up with the most ass-kissing story I’ve read all year, one that even quoted Seacrest giving himself credit.

Basically, he used a low moment in Crystal’s experience to make himself look good. As the presumed front-runner, she’ll probably be able to handle any negative backlash (and speaking of that, tabloids are digging to find something, anything about her, including about her young son. Horrible people.)

So how did Crystal respond to Seacrest’s self-aggrandizing comments? Appearing on a Star 102.5 radio show (MJ has the audio here), semi-finalist Katelyn Epperly revealed Crystal’s reaction to Seacrest’s comments.

“I texted her the second I heard something about it,” Katelyn said, adding that Crystal texted back, “‘Oh yes, I’m fine,’ she said. ‘Betrayed by Seacrest.’” Katelyn said Crystal previously only had “a moment backstage where she was missing her kid” that “they probably made it to be something it wasn’t. She’s fine. She’s still in the game.”

The irony, of course, is that Katelyn is betraying Crystal here, too. But since she’s helping to take down Seacrest, she deserves at least some forgiveness.

[Mustang]

Seems like with Simon leaving, Seacrest is trying to set himself up as the person that you turn Idol on for.

[Ksyrup]

I'm not sure I'm up for 8 variations on I Believe I Can Fly. Might just skip this one, especially with Deadliest Catch on at the same time (not to mention Biggest Loser, since I'll be at the gym until 8:45 or so). I'll probably just tell the wife to watch without me - by the time I'm home and showered, the show should be almost over anyway.

[wade moore]

I'm about 15 minutes behind - I REALLY liked Lee. Generally I buy 1 or 2 of the Idol performances off of iTunes a year, but none yet thus far... this may be the first one.

[Mustang]

Lee/Crystal and then everyone else.

Siobhan has pegged my annoyance meter to 10 though. Someone stick a sock in her mouth and drag her off the stage.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Mustang

Siobhan has pegged my annoyance meter to 10 though. Someone stick a sock in her mouth and drag her off the stage.

Leave your perversions out of this.

[Solecismic]

I think Alicia Keys could inspire me. I also think when a show like American Idol tries to take on a set of inspirational songs, I'm not going to be all that impressed. It's a license for over-singing and over-emoting.

It was a definitely a week of haves and have nots. The have nots weren't terrible, they simply fell flat, ended up sounding repetitive and anything but inspirational. The haves were good. Only one person in the group surprised me by falling into the have nots.

Another mild surprise: in what was supposedly the year of the woman contestant (it has been three years since Idol has had a female finalist), we're already down to just two women. Both should be safe this week, but with the judges heaping dirt on Siobhan over the last month, Crystal might soon find herself the only lady in a sea of testosterone. And then not even Ryan's heartfelt self-aggrandizing can save her from a fate worse than Disco Week.

Most of the Idols sang roughly the same song tonight - I believe it was called, "I Believe Spiderman Can Fly." This made the rankings easier for the week.

1. Lee DeWyze. Lee went with Simon and Garfunkel. I lied, it wasn't roughly the same song the others sang. This was a clever choice, and he did a wonderful job staying on top of the song, connecting with his voice rather than vibrato-izing us to death. My only complaint is that he chose an arrangement that went through the rather dull chorus twice instead of the harder-hitting verses. I thought it was his best performance of the season. He might have some staying power in this competition after all. Score of 90.

2. Crystal Bowersox. She started a capella. I think she went with the power voice just to show she could escape the college bar-band performance. Which might work in the context of showing versatility for a competition, but it's not what she's going to sing as an artist down the road. She's good enough that she can do this well, but it's nothing like the woman I really liked earlier in the season. In case it wasn't obvious before, the clips at the end are from the rehearsals earlier in the day. Crystal cried at the end of the live show performance. She was not shown crying as she sang the end of her song in the clip montage. The crying isn't going to help her, and I remain worried that she'll finish a disappointing third. Score of 84.

3. Siobhan Magnus. I thought the judges missed on this one. She got through a difficult register-changing melody very well early, and she listened to criticism and didn't gimmick-scream the loud parts, which she did quite nicely. She definitely scares the judges in that no one has much idea what she'll come up with. The bottom line is that she brought something to a Whitney song that wasn't derivative. Just when I was about to write her off, she was good again. Score of 83.

4. Casey James. A huge drop between third and fourth tonight. Casey was the night's biggest disappointment, leading off with an indulgent Fleetwood Mac tune. He's good. The guitar work was impressive, the vocals competent. But the judges were right on this one - he was lazy and it sounded a lot like a cover band of Fleetwood Mac rather than an original performance of anything. Score of 62.

5. Michael Lynche. Michael was boring, at times overwhelmed by the background singers and unusually repetitive. He was in tune, but I kept waiting for the song to start or get interesting. Score of 61.

6. Aaron Kelly. Goat Boy is back, and more goat-vibrato-like than ever. Goats apparently believe they can fly. I really have no idea what he was thinking, as there was no emotion in this performance. He was loud and wasn't singing terribly bad, but he was fading toward the end of the song, like an out-of-shape runner in the last kilometer of a 10K race. I'm guessing teen girls still believe in him, so he'll be safe another week. Score of 60.

7. Tim Urban. From first to worst in one week. Tim is definitely the most mercurial of the remaining performers. He went with the Goo Goo Dolls, and had a lot of trouble with his pitch. I think the last couple of weeks of praise have gone to his head, as he wasn't very careful, chose too challenging a song, and lost the modern sound he was cultivating. He can't go head-to-head with the others on a big song. It's probably time for him to go. It should also not go unnoticed that he is the only remaining performer who has not sung in the coveted "pimp" spot - the last song of the night. Three performers have had this spot twice this season. Score of 58.

Overall: An uneven night, with Lee and Alicia Keys stealing the show. If I could figure out when she's performing in the mess I'm sure they'll make of tomorrow's "Idols Give Back" show, I'd try and watch her performance.

Expected Bottom Three: Tim, Michael, Casey.

Who Should Go: Aaron.

Who Will Go: Tim.