Thursday, February 28, 2008

American Idol cuts to 16

The "eliminations are inevitable, the drama is real" Ryan tells us. Hmmm, sounds a lot like another hard-fought contest.

Four "very brave" contestants are leaving, after 31 million votes were supposedly cast. There's all sorts of chatter, that I'm not paying much attention to; there's some sort of aimless discussion about Simon's hand gestures last night.

Group sing, 70s songs. David Cook's apparently the kind of guy who wears a tuxedo shirt; there are all sorts of other weird outfits; then Kristy Lee and Carly do a great back and forth on It's a Heartache, they should have some sort of challenge like this between two contestants.

Back, and Ryan gets right to it, showing highlights from the guys. Cook afterwards says he felt bad, like he offended Simon, and didn't mean to. A good guy for sure. The clips are pretty disjoined, usually the show has excellent editing, but not here. David Archuletta sounds better on replay than I remember it 'liveBa'.

He has the whole back row stand up, then Michael and Chikezie get to sit down; Castro too, after he messes with him; Danny Noriega looks sick, but it's Jason Yaeger who's gone, of course. Then, afterwards, it looks like Noriega has wiped the whole thing from his mind; ah, the callowness of some youths.

Ryan keeps asking Yaeger questions, he comes across pretty well. As Simon what Yaeger should do, Simon says you need charisma, personality, stage presence, cause you're not a bad singer. He's a good sport. He's a lot better than he was Tuesday, just loose and having a good time, dancing like a fool too.

Syesha looks a lot better on replay; Amanda is more of a mess. They try to paint Alaina as having had a good performance, odd; Alexandrea, too. Back row; Kristy sits, Asia'h obviously, it'll be down to Alexandrea and Amanda, they're next to each other. And indeed does come down to them, Alexandrea is gone.

Randy says not the right choice, just the wrong song at the wrong time. Paula says the beginning of your career, Alexandrea pulls away from Ryan tugging on her arm. He brings up her grandmother, she goes, you were supposed to bring her to California, freak! It's a funny moment; these kids today.... The loved ones are all up in the area overlooking the stage, her folks are right there are she's singing. Ah, little Archuletta is crying. Ramiele seems to have it more together this week. She goes over and hugs Archuletta right afterwards, it's sweet; he's looking a bit sheepish.

Ryan promised some big news about Idol earlier, wonder what it'll be. Hmmm, keeps the chicks up there, wonder if that means there'll be a surprise with the guys. Front row, Carly sits, Ramiele next, Syesha is safe as well, leaving Kady and Alaina... They go up, holding hands, they could be sisters. Kady is safe, but is called first, and she looks ready to leave--but instead it's Alaina, Ramiele is crying, it's a bit of a surprise, Alaina is pretty stunned. Alaina is totally crying, she says I can sing! Ouch. Her peeps look unhappy.

Odd, I thought it was pretty obvious that she was in over her head. Her peeps are really unhappy while Paula's trying to give her a pep talk. Danny is crying, Ryan gives her to option to sing or not, she says it's going to sing horrible, the other women come down to help her. Noriega is still crying. She's actually not bad, singing; a real trooper. Man, her mom and whomever are really being rude, just standing there glaring. Big group hug afterwards.

March 11, Ryan says, singing for the first time--new set, graphics, Ruben, and... Beatles songs! April 9th is Idol gives back, they show the 'highlights' from last year's episode. Then, another commercial break.

Hmm, Brad Pitt and Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg... all are going to be part of the show, says Ryan. Front row up, Luke and Robbie, they don't waste any time. Ah, Ryan screws up, ready to send someone home before reading Robbie's bad comments; and it is indeed him.

So after two weeks I'm 7 for 8 on predicting who's in, who's out. And my one wrong prediction, from the first week, was for Alexandrea to leave.

At this point I look forward to hearing Archuletta, Chikezie, sometimes Danny Hernandez sing among the guys; Brooke, Kady and Syesha for the women. It's definitely better than last year; not as good as the year before that, at least not yet.

Robbie, by the way, is just horrible singing us out.

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