Funk: Yo! Miami was SPICY, dogg!

Collins: I think what Artie means by that is that it was a much better audition city, with talent that outshined the past few lousy locations.

Funk: Yeah. Pretty much.

Heart: I liked it. I thought it was good, and we can finally stop complaining about only seeing losers, because they're showing more of the good singers, and that's a very good thing for us fans.

Funk: The Miami Vice open was HOT! It set a great tone, and set it RIGHT...with all the flamingoes and that girl falling in the surf. Just fun, man.

Collins: The "Rhythm is Gonna' Get You" video reminded me of one of the true Kiss of Death Songs (TM). Everyone who sings "Conga" is pretty much doomed to fail. No exceptions. Miami started off, as is becoming Idol tradition, with a No Vote...Shannon McGough, the belghing, meat-grinding young lady with Crazy Eyes.

Heart: I really don't think she was as bad as they thought...the judges were WAAAY harsh, calling her tone-deaf. I thought she looked like she might cry!

Collins: About time we see the judges' mean streak, again! Ha ha ha...

Funk: The belching made me laugh. It's sad, she was that terrible, though. She was kinda' fun.

Heart: RObbie Carrico, the rocker guy...he was good, but not great. No Daughtry...though I know I'm about to get creamed for saying that in front of you guys...

Collins: As President of the Chris Daughtry is Vastly Overrated Non-Fan Club, I'd say that kind of statement should be punishable by, at least, life in prison. But, I'll let you off, for now. This guy, Robbie, they CLAIMED he was a boy-bander-turned-rocker. I'm sorry, but that's the kind of dirt that doesn't come off. You can ABSOLUTELY tell that he used to sing in that mushy, boy-band style.

Funk: 3 Yesses, so he has something going. I liked his voice, but he almost seemed like he was about to forget the lyrics...be careful, dogg!

Collins: He isn't even in Chris Daughtry's league, and that was only good enough for fourth place! Next, after producers began pointing out how superior the female talent was in Miami, was Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies.

Heart: I'm ASSUMING you meant Ghaleb Emachah? Ha ha. I actually LIKED his Latin vibe. Have we ever had a male Latin singer in the Top 24? I don't think so. If Southern accents are allowed to go to Hollywood, I don't see why he wouldn't. I'm glad he made it!

Funk: I think Pushover Paula struck again. I don't think he'll make it, kinda' pointless to send him to Hollywood.

Collins: Too much queso for my liking. He can sing, but the heavy accent and handsy stuff kind of made me cringe.

Funk: Yo, I wanna' talk about the two HUGE talents we saw next! Corliss Smith and Brittany Wescott!

Heart: I liked Corliss at parts, but...it was uneven. At some parts, she seemed a little shaky. I liked Brittany better, actually. She seemed like she had more talent, but we ended with 2 Yes Votes and hugs all around, so...a nice segment!

Funk: The flirting with Randy and Simon, the kiss-fest...man, Miami's looking for LOVE! Oh, LORD< the energy was off the charts! Brittany was better, I think, but I liked the segment, too!

Collins: I'm actually not going to disagree with you two! Corliss was modern-sounding, but a throwback at the same time. That's big right now, with that Amy Winehouse thing running around. I love the Jazz vibe. And Ms. Wescott...she actually sang with too much showiness in the middle, and it cost her. Still a good audition, but she showed weakness by overdoing it a tad. They both got a yes from Clyde. Big and fun...Simon even allowed them to use "BOTH DOORS!" Good stuff.

Heart: Suzanne Toon...she's the single mom, doing American Idol to support her daughter. I thought she had a godo voice, great control. I agreed with the judges, she was interesting!

Collins: Funk, what did you think?

Funk: She was pretty. Pretty voice. Overall, a pretty pretty audition.

Collins: Okay, I'll agree that I liked her. A great voice, so get ready for "Singing In-Toon" signs from fans in the audience during the season if she makes it through Hollywood. She gets Randy's first "PITCHY" warning of the season, as far as I can remember...but, yes. Good stuff, unique look. Not bad.

Funk: The little girl with the big voice, Ramiele Malubay...she I liekd her! She had a funny dad, too.

Collins: Following a surprising Jazmine Trias segue...she was very attractive, had an okay voice...but struggles with high notes. I'll be sad to see her go home, later in the competition. Can't discount the Fun Dad Factor, though. It helped Katharine McPhee a lot, him blubbering every time she opened her bloody mouth.

Heart: She's very cute, and had a strong voice for her size. She'll be fun to watch! ANother big voice was Syesha Mercado. I really think she has the "It" Factor. Very positive...she'll EASILY make it far into the Top 24, if not to the end of the season!

Funk: Very attractive, and she was BIG...but not QUITE over the top. The story of her dad going through rehab and all...I like her.

Collins: Very sunny, and much more bearable and more talented than the "estranged dad" story singer we saw last night in Omaha. She was good overall, lost it a bit at the end...but did Aretha justice, I thought. That's no small feat.

Heart: Natashia Blach was on for about 3 seconds, but...I liked her voice!

Funk: She sang "At Last," and it was really a great song to showcase her talent. Good stuff!

Collins: I absolutely LOVE "At Last." It's a gorgeous song, and not a bad job at all!

Funk: Ilsy Lorena Pinot...she had a nice voice.

Collins: A great name, first of all. Her voice was smooth and crisp, like a good white wine. Appropriately enough!

Heart: She's cute! Reminded me of Jesse from Saved By the Bell, a little. That has nothing to do with her singing, but...still.

Funk: I'm pretty sure Elizabeth Berkley did a little DANCING after that show ended, but...that didn't have anything to do with singing, either. Heh heh...

Collins: Right, then. Back on track...actually, not really. Ben Hausbach was totally boring. I had NO notes next to his name. Must've been a real winner...

Heart: I wrote "boring," too. SO...yeah.

Funk: Who you guys talking about?

Collins: Not a clue. Next was Corey Big-Hair, the singer they showed in the promos for this episode to entice fans into watching a trainwreck. Yeesh.

Heart: He was scary. What did he do with his HAIR?!

Funk: I liked his hair! It was pretty crazy. Pretty bad when all you liked was his hair, though.

Collins: Then, some other boring no-talent hack. Then Richard Valles, the nasal singer. Augh...

Heart: Singing through the nose is never a good idea. I'd say we should make that another Rule of Idol Judgement, but...it's common sense!

Collins: Well, speaking of breaking our Idol Judgement Rules...Julie Dubela, the little tart who had been on American Juniors as a kid, returned to show off her mediocre singing talent and miserable personality in the major league version.

Funk: MAN, that show was bad. Glad it's over. You know, I didn't think she was THAT bad. Not great, sure, but...her attitude was what really did her in. She kept singing, which is a bad idea. She argued with the judges, she whined...not cool!

Collins: About TIME one of those American Juniors showed up! I've been wondering what happened to them. I hope they do a Where Are They Now? with the rest later in the season. Anyway, she was all dolled-up, had the short skirt and the 'tude. You know...she was too obnoxious. Not a GREAT voice, and I loved that the producers used the blackmail footage FOX holds from her childhood to further roast her while she was throwing a tantrum on the way out. If Idol has blackmail footage of you, don't bad-mouth them!

Heart: She was confident, I'll give her THAT much. But she was overly dramatic, and they were a little harsh making fun of her on the way out, playing her OWN singing.

Collins: I LOVED that! I laughed out loud when I started listening and figured out, before they clued us in with video, that it was HER singing! Great payoff to the segment. She was a lot like Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka!

Funk: It got awkward, when she wouldn't leave. Just leave if they tell you you're not good! Thank them and head out, save some dignity!

Collins: Finally, Brandon Black...the bad comedian with the bad come-ons and the worse singing! What a poor, foolish child. Good luck to him in life.

Funk: Ugh! He'll need it.

Heart: What an entrance! It made the right impression, though...he was weird and just not very good. His voice was way too high...

Collins: Perhaps he's been castrated? Anyway...that's it for Miami! A good night, with 17 Golden Tickets!

Heart: And we're seeing more Yes Votes, which is great! We saw 9 of the 17 Yes Votes, if you're keeping score!

Funk: It was spicy, like I said! Bring it, Hot-lanta!

Collins: Oh, right, Artie. I forgot to tell you. I'm also President of the Anti People Who Say "Hot-lanta" Association. You're under arrest for crimes against humanity.

Heart: Atlanta's next! Then...we're onto HOLLYWOOD!

Collins: FINALLY! See you next week, with our thoughts on Atlanta.

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by JT at 5:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Artie Funk, Auditions, Clyde Collins, Idol Chatter, Julie Heart, Miami

Collins: What a weird audition Omaha was! I mean...19 people were put through to the next round, which is actually FEWER than the Charleson total.

Funk: It was a better EPISODE, but not a better city. Can't really explain that, but...all that matters it we find the GOOD talent and have fun finding them!

Heart: Overall, better than Charleston. We saw more of the good singers, which is what I wanted.

Collins: I was surprised, being out in the "Heartland," that there was so many...well, seemingly-homosexual contestants. You might expect that in a big city, an L.A. audition, you know?

Funk: Not that there's anything WRONG with that.

Collins: Of course there isn't. Just an observation.

Heart: Maybe American Idol just brings that particular personality out? They always draw flamboyant, over-the-top people. This is no different.

Collins: Well, let's get down to it. Chris Bernheisel was the first singer of the night. We'll call him "flashy." Let's make that our word for the kind of "personality" many contestants seemed to share in Omaha. Don't want to go making rash judgements about people's sexual preferences, or anything.

Heart: I like that word better. Good idea.

Collins: Of course, I'm brilliant. What did you think of him, Julie?

Heart: He was cute, but I thought he'd crash and burn and be crushed by Simon after all the over-the-top stuff and presents for the judges. He actually left with a SMILE on his face, and he's obviously a huge Idol fan. So, he either needs his own show...or some nice, strong medication!

Funk: Go away and STAY away, kid. He was awful.

Collins: He was whiny, over-the-top, and murdered Kelly Clarkson's song. He had a bubbly personality, sure, but it was just too much for me and I HATED him by the time his segment ended.

Heart: Jason Rich, now there's a cute Country boy who can sing pretty well. He was really nervous, though...and kept forgetting the lyrics. I was surprised Simon and Randy put him through to Hollywood after that.

Collins: They must see something in him. I didn't, though. His look and general attitude just seemed so..."LOVE ME." And not in a good way, like me. This is the guy I would've hated back in college.

Funk: I was surprised by the Yes Vote from BOTH judges. Maybe Simon was showing pseudo-compassion in the absence of Paula? I mean, the guy sounded good, but nerves could crash land him in the future. You know that portion of the show where they show people who forgot the lyrics to their songs? Yeah. Not cool.

Collins: You never saw Reuben stop singing and stand there, staring...Simon's right, they'd be off the air! I'd like to remind everyone of Rule Four of Idol Judgement: DON'T FORGET THE LYRICS! He should NOT have received a thrid or fourth try, and he's only OKAY in the end. Enjoy him, ladies. This lump is going nowhere.

Heart: Rachael Wicker, the arm-wrestling champ...she was interesting. Randy DOGGED her for the yodel thing her voice does, but she made it to the next round, anyway.

Collins: She sounded like Dolly Parton and Jewel mated. Just old and boring sounding, nothing new. Whatever, she'll lose in the end.

Funk: Randy called it a "hack-yodel thing." Nice turn of phrase, dogg! These yesses surprised me. I wasn't a big fan of her. She looks and even sounds like a Dixie Chick, which I don't have anything against, per se. I just don't think she'll get too far.

Collins: Going NOWHERE was the Goth Girl Pro Wrestler, Sarah Whitaker. She was just the worst thing ever. I just hated her. I did like that Paula gave her a Yes Vote, somewhat sarcastically, though.

Funk: This Goth chick is awkward and funny in that "I'm trying to fool everyone into thinking she's actually confident way, but I'm actually very nervous about myself underneath it all" way. Then she hit Seacrest and I laughed a lot. That was when I officially started to like Seacrest. Direct Randy quote about Goth chick's performance: "Completely not right; wrong."

Collins: Nice use of semicolon, Artie.

Heart: "Lady Morgue" had a super-creepy laugh. Very theatrical, but I thought it was odd that she seemed happy, because Goth people are usually all about misery.

Collins: Oh, by the way. Screaming Guitar Guy? Die.

Funk: How about someone DECENT! When Paula and Ryan switched jobs, that really cute Norah Jones girl, Samantha Sidley, came away with FOUR yesses! She needs more power behind her very pretty voice, at least for this comepetition. She could be the first soft-singer to gain success, you never know. I'm pulling for her, but I think she's a Hollywood underdog, dogg.

Collins: Sam wasn't nearly as good as Norah, vocally...and that's who people will naturally compare her to. Her range wasn't very good, very breathy. Her lack of confidence showed, but we'll see if they can make anything out of her in Hollywood. I don't think she'll make it very far, even with her good looks.

Heart: She's a sweet girl. I thought her voice was enchanting! A little nervous, but she'll get over that.

Collins: On Ryan filling in as a judge...I think it was a funny bit, but what I loved most was that they brought back "OTHER DOOR!" for a moment! I miss that so much, it was one of the best parts of Season 6!

Funk: Next, we got a 3-yes montage, with samples of each performance. This is almost as many "Yes" performances as we saw all night in Charleston! A step in the right direction for the show, not annoying us like it did last week.

Collins: Down the line...Elizabeth Erkert, you'll lose because no one with that last name will win American Idol. Denise Jackson, nothing special. Visually, reminded me of Fantasia, vocally...well, nothing unique. And Michael Sanfilippo...meh. Too vanilla, didn't really do anything for me.

Heart: And you got that from the, like, FIVE seconds they showed of them? It was nice to see more Yes Votes, but that still isn't enough time to get to know them.

Funk: Erkert had a nice voice and a good look...but she said she'll be "America's Next Top Model" on the escalator! Sheesh! That's what I'd call a "Pickler Moment!" New Fantasia, I thought she had a strong voice. Go, girl! And Sanfilippo, he MELTED Paula. He might actually go pretty far. His voice was good, and his look can improve, like they did with Clay.

Collins: Well, it's a hung jury on those three! The next singer, Angelica Puente...what a TEDIOUS set-up! She cried the whole segment, and I can't believe even WOMEN buy into her "I miss my daddy" sob story. Maybe I'm wrong, but it was just annoying and drawn-out.

Heart: I'll tell you what, Clyde. That emotional teen drama stuff, fighting with parents and all, the audience can relate to that. I'm sure an emotional TV reunion is coming up this season, if she makes it past Hollywood...but she really needs to top mimicking other singers and do something to stand out.

Funk: I was turned off by the sob story, too. I think she'll crack under the pressure when she gets to Hollywood, just doesn't seem emotionally sure of herself enough to make it past that round.

Collins: Jordin Sparks JUST won. It's time for a different sound, and she offered NOTHING original or special. Get original or get out, people!

Funk: They went into some bit about "rockers" trying out for the show, next. I blame Daughtry for unleashing lousy non-rockers on us, en masse. Being a rocker IS NOT DIFFERENT anymore, people.

Collins: Ugly rockers - you have no chance. Attractive rockers - you have no chance. In the end, they're outshined by someone with a Big Voice, because their style inevitably grows tiresome and, like Daughtry, they're either derivative or repetitive to the point that people stop voting for them. It's sad, but true. This show won't allow for this kind of singer to be successful.

Heart: Moving on, we come to David Cook. He was the guy with the crazy hair who I loved! He did Bon Jovi, and I really liked his voice. He can yell and make it sound good, and made it to Hollywood.

Funk: Here's an example of someone taking rock and making it DIFFERENT. You know what? This guy's going to the Top 24, I like him!

Collins: He is NOT the next American Idol, but he'll make it into the Top 24, most likely. Who was that fat, curly-haired guy with glasses from last year? He's THAT for Season 7. He took an already-CORNY song and took the life out of it, completely. Singing bloody BON JOVI with such "emotion" is just cheesy, I'm sorry. Maybe he'll impress me later, because he went through to Hollywood.

Heart: Johnny Escamilla was next. He had a golden jacket, but didn't leave with a golden ticket. Simon REALLY let him have it!

Collins: Righly so. Just...ugh. Paula's HICCUP was the best part of that entire segment! His outfit looked like something Rod Roddy might have worn on The Price is Right! Just sickening.

Funk: The only thing more disturbing than Paula's hiccup was that this guy thinks he's like James Brown! No way!

Collins: And we come to the end with a final Yes Vote, Leo Marlowe. Artie, start it off.

Funk: Seriously, I liked him. So did the judges! He left a good impression on them, which will definitely help him on the way to the Top 24, which he, HOPEFULLY, will make. It was also nice to see an guy who actually CALLED HIMSELF a "queen" make it past those nasty judges and possibly make himself a positive role model for people on his way through this competition!

Heart: I liked his personality, just like the judges. I wouldn't say I want to "take him home," like Paula...but he's someone to watch.

Collins: Not to end on a downer, but...he's just okay for me. Is he REALLY special? Or was he just "Omaha Good?" Good enough to make it past Nebraska, but...I don't know. A good sense of self and sense of humor, so...likeable, just might not be strong enough to go the distance. We'll see.

Heart: And that's Omaha! We saw 9 of the 19 Yes Votes, but 3 were really quick. Still, better than last week!

Collins: It was a good show, and I hope you'll join us here for our recap of tonight's Miami audition. After that it's Atlanta, the last before we actually, FINALLY, get to Hollywood!

Funk: Peace out, peepz!

Collins: And keep that feedback coming. We enjoy hearing what you think of the shows and our columns.

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by JT at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
TAGS: American Idol, Artie Funk, Auditions, Clyde Collins, Idol Chatter, Julie Heart, Omaha

Collins: It was the "Night of No" in Charleston, South Carolina. A beautiful city full of friendly people, it was the backdrop for last night's American Idol audition episode. And, as much as like the city...I have to say, it was a bit rough!

Heart: Yeah, it was a weird night. Only two more audition cites, though. We're almost at Hollywood!

Funk: Charleston didn't have a lot of highlights, but a few decent singers made it through to the next round. It was all about BIG personalities, really.

Collins: Rayshard Henderson, the "Black Clay Aiken," certainly had a big personality. I REALLY wish he had been good. Exciting, goofy, fun, rockin' a hot fro. Just not a good singer. He really set the tone for Charleston, sadly. Engaging personality...but no actual singing talent.

Funk: His hair was HOT, man! He had a cool yell-voice, but his singing voice...well, sucked.

Heart: I looked at him and though "holy DISCO!" He didn't sound like Clay at ALL...people should stop saying they sound like other singers. We're looking for someone original, and as soon as you name someone, you force people to compare you to them. Why make people compare you to Whitney Houston or Kelly Clarkson? You're probably going to LOSE that battle! He was over the top, and didn't make it.

Collins: Another flop was DeAnna Prevatte, the New Kelly Pickler, only brunette and violent. Yikes. Energy doesn't mean talent. Emotion is good, but it's best when paired with actual talent.

Funk: Yo, she was straight up SCARY! I was surprised she didn't flip out at the judges, more.

Heart: She seems like the kind of girl who can barely hold in her inner beast. That last look she shot at Simon was just scary! Very angry person, added to the gigantic pile of Idol rejects.

Collins: Crystal Ortiz and Randy Stark, the couple that met on the American Idol chat forums...YEESH! Horrible.

Funk: Eeeew. Eww, ew. EEEEEEEEW! Stop kissing!

Heart: And he actually runs an American Idol audition advice website? Those two couldn't keep their hands off each other, which was pretty gross. No one needs to see that.

Funk: Ew.

Collins: No one needed to HEAR that, either. Maybe producers put them through to the judges because they're loyal Idol chat fans, but...yet another waste of time that could've gone to deserving singers. Now, I was completely wrong about Michelle and Jeffery Lampkin.

Heart: Yikes! Crazy energy, and I thought they'd flop big-time, too...but they can actually sing! I liked their little high notes together, and their happy reaction to getting put through to Hollywood. I hate to bring it up, guys, but...is this Season 7's answer to the Sanjaya siblings from last year?

Collins: You know, I thought of that while watching, too. A brother-sister duo, they judges like the goofy brother better...hey, anything can happen. Sanjaya, in my opinion, was actually a HIGH POINT of last season. He made for interesting television, and, for a while, captured the attention of the entire country. Talented or not, he made the show exciting. Jeffery has a good chance at becoming something like that, only better. He had a great personality. His little "OW! Factor" thing, the celebration in the hallway after being sent to Hollywood...FINALLY, someone from Charleston I'm actually excited to see again, later! They'll make Hollywood and beyond much more exciting, depending upon how far one or both of them go. I doubt the sister will go far, but Jeffery may be hard for judges and fans to resist.

Funk: They might be a little annoying, but...I guess I can jump on board. I'm a sucker for harmony, and I was diggin' their performance. I was a little surprised they made it through, too...but it's cool. Should be an interesting ride for us with the Lampkins in it.

Heart: After them...we wasted time watching people destroy Carrie Underwood's hit song. There were more losers than winners in Charleston, I know. Seacrest pointed out that only 23 out of 10,000 people made it to Hollywood, but...I can't help but think more of those 23 should've been featured, even for a little while, during the Charleston hour.

Hi. I'm a Mac...and this is my Idol audition.

Collins: Horrible, people! I know that is a common complaint about this stage of the show. Every season, people whine about how the judges are mean and too much time is wasted showcasing freaks, but...this season, it really feels a bit blatant, somehow. It's like the producers heard everyone's complaints, then decided to ramp it up even further, just to spite them.

Heart: Amy Flynn, the 16-year-old dance team captain and abstinence preacher, has a good voice. I don't know if she has the power behind it she'd need to go very far, and I agree with Simon that her personality could start to annoy people. But she wasn't bad.

Collins: Ah, the Deep South. As beautiful and charming as you can be...there's a lovely current of crazy running just below the surface at all times. Amy Flynn, a lovely, wholesome girl...again, the anti-Britney theme I've talked about for this season, singers wanting to be better role models than the insane drug addicts we've got running around, these days. Amy had a nice voice, a bit immature-sounding. With work, she could be okay. There's potential, but not super-great. Paula loved her, Simon was annoyed by her...I say she won't be strong enough vocally to win this show, but she could be an interesting distraction if she makes it into the Top 24.

Funk: I liked her in the promos, without hearing her sing...but very cute, nice voice. Not very powerful, but good. She may not make it far, but I don't know if I find her annoying JUST yet. Her singing "Golden Ticket" on the way out the door was hilarious, and her facial expressions during judging were priceless. Welcome to Hollywood!

Heart: As Amy might say, whatev. London Weidberg, first off, I LOVE her name. She was the one with the really sad story about losing her dad to cancer, and I liked her voice. I'm pretty surprised the judges hesitated to put her through, though. With all the other pretty blondes who always make it, what's one more? Ha ha.

Collins: I'd like to be on record as saying that more attractive blondes on television is not a bad thing. Anyway, London had the Touching Family Story (TM), and claims she's already a musician. She's hard to classify, vocally. Pop-friendly, but not QUITE Disney Princess-y. Bluesy, but not unique. Will she stand out? We'll have to see in Hollywood.

Funk: Know what, Collins? She WILL. I don't like to make bold predictions, but...London WILL BE A TOP 4 FINALIST! There's a prediction for you!

Heart: Woah! Artie, with the big call!

Funk: I'm a little annoyed that we didn't see more YES votes after her. The ratio of terrible to decent is more off than previous seasons, it seems. At least that's how the producers are making it look!

Heart: We're at the end of Day One...and, if you're keeping score, 15 out of the 23 people who went to Hollywood have already been found. That leaves only 8 singers for producers to ignore for the second half of the show! PLEASE, show less of the losers!

Collins: Speaking of losers, Air Force pilot Lindsey Goodman's dreams of stardom were shot down by the judges. They almost always put The Military Contestant through to Hollywood, if only for the happy, patriotic moment. Reality check time...The Military Contestant never goes far. Not a bad voice, but not quite good enough to win this. The judges did their patriotic duty and sent her packing. Good call.

Heart: Too harsh, Clyde. She was something DIFFERENT! She was cute and interesting and not the cookie-cutter. I think it was a mistake letting her go. Aretha Codner was DEFINITELY a memorable character. She was the one with the giant belt, who argued with the judges that she was actually a good singer. That won't work!

Collins: Let's review Rule Two of Idol Judgement: If Simon tells you you're bad, then you're bad. Don't keep singing! Don't try another bloody song! Just GO AWAY! She certainly qualified, as Ryan called her, as the "Big Guns." My goodness. But, most importantly...she's another person who claims to be Idol-caliber, says she's the New Whitney Houston, then bombs. It wasn't murder, as Simon called it, but she had a lot of pitch problems. She can sing, just not well enough...and she can't hear her flaws. Simon was particularly brutal, but can you blame him after all the lousy singers Charleston brought put in front of him?

Heart: I'd like to officially establish Rule Three of Idol Judgement?

Collins: What's that?

Heart: No big belts on big ladies! It's just NOT flattering, ever.

Collins: Fair enough! The rest of the show was full of let-downs and NO votes. In fact, the Idol producers even managed to shock me by including They Might Be Giants music during the big "NO" montage. Nice work, a bit of an obscure band for much of the show's audience...but, still! "No" was the perfect song to use, I'm glad someone thought to include it.

Funk: Hilarious sequence! Highly entertaining, and not too long. That's a GOOD way of showing terrible singers without wasting so much time on backstories. Props for including the Giants song, definitely.

No, no, NO.

Not sure which opening produces better sounds, but I'm leaning toward the dog's behind.

Heart: Yeah, it's sad that after London, only rejects got camera time. Joshua Boson, the creepy guy who over-sang "You're Gonna' Love Me," look...whenever people sing this song, they're going home. You KNOW it. It's almost a guaranteed no!

And you! And YOU! And YOU...are going home.

Collins: There are a few kiss of death songs, and several that have simply been overdone and don't show off anything unique about a singer. That's certainly a Kiss of Death Song, in my book. It died with Frenchie Davis many years ago, in my opinion. Now...let's talk about the story that ran throughout the entire show, the New Daddy, Oliver Highman.

Heart: Why did they pump up the story just to say NO?! 23 people made it...and we saw, like, FOUR?!! Come on!

Funk: They played up the Baby Daddy story too much for a No Vote. They were totally right not to put him through, though...his voice wasn't good, and he now has a NEWBORN TO CARE FOR! What are you gonna' say to the wife and baby? Yo, sorry...but daddy's gotta' go chase a dream and get his hopes crushed in Round 2! See you in a few weeks, good luck, honey! No way.

Collins: You know, I didn't think his voice was so bad. At least at first. He intially sounded a bit like Garth Brooks, but lost it when he tried to get fancy. He wouldn't have won, but was hardly the worst we've seen. It's a good thing that he went to the hospital with the misses, though...because he didn't make it past the judges. A lot of time was devoted to their story, but...well, it is what it is, people.

Heart: 23! Out of 10,000! We saw pretty much nobody.

Collins: Not great odds, really...let's hope the rest of those happy people they sent to Hollywood and opted not to give TV time are really good.

Heart: That's it for Charleston! See you in Omaha.

Funk: Those cats look even crazier than they were in Charleston!

Heart: I hope some of them are actually GOOD SINGERS.

Collins: Charleston's still a lovely city, by the way. I doubt we'll be seeing it featured on American Idol again anytime soon, though.

Heart: Bye, Chatterheads!

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by JT at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
TAGS: American Idol, Artie Funk, Auditions, Charleston, Clyde Collins, Idol Chatter, Julie Heart

As the New England Patriots and New York Giants have passed the test and graduated to Super Bowl XLII, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are headed back to the classroom for a stellar appearance on a special two-hour episode of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Tonight, Jan. 24 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX43.

The pretty pom-pommers will surprise a contestant, who is a Dallas Cowboys fan and paramedic from Sunland, CA, and will help him tackle questions about elementary subjects. When this special edition of the A+ quiz show kicks off, the contestant will have the option of teaming with the 5th Grade whiz-kids or huddling with the spirited cheerleaders. Will the cowgirls’ beauty be a distraction or do they have the smarts to prevent this contestant from fumbling when he faces questions such as:

1st Grade Art: True or False: Gluing macaroni onto a picture frame is an example of macramé.

2nd Grade Measurements: Zero degrees Celsius is equivalent to how many degrees Fahrenheit?

3rd Grade English: What is the singular form of the word “lice”?

Acclaimed comedian Jeff Foxworthy is at the head of the class as host of this atypical game show, which measures adults’ lack of knowledge – as revealed by how much they’ve forgotten since grammar school. Adult contestants find themselves revisiting their youth in a classroom setting, tackling subjects they’ve already been taught – from art to geography and math to social studies. When test questions derived from actual textbooks used in the 1st through 5th grades prove to be challenging, contestants are not alone; there is a way to “cheat” in this classroom. Adults can get some elementary help by using a “peek,” “copy” or “save” from actual 5th grade classmates to determine the correct a-n-s-w-e-r and graduate toward the top prize of $1 million.

Mark Burnett Productions produces Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? in association with ZOO Productions. Burnett, Roy Bank, Barry Poznick and John Stevens serve as executive producers.

Posted by Paula at 9:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, Cheerleaders, Contest, Dallas Cowboys, Football, Game Show

Collins: There's a LOT to be said after last night's San Diego auditions, and not all of it's particularly nice. There were a few high points, several surprises...Heart, Funk, what did you think?

Heart: There were over 30 singers put through to Hollywood! It was a good night, I think.

Funk: We saw some really decent talent come out of it, definitely. 30 PEOPLE...well, not that we SAW much of them. But, promising.

Collins: I enjoy watching the bad auditions, but...at some point, you have to wonder whether or not 5 or 10 minutes spent watching the freaks annoy Simon would be better spent pushing a few of the actual contenders!

Funk: I agree, definitely. Not that I haven't been entertained, but...30 people we didn't see. 30!!!

Collins: Anyway, as the title of this post points out, many of those who we DID see being put through to Hollywood round had very soulful, almost jazzy voices. Julie, start us off with your thoughts on the night's first success, that Tetranakavarniana girl.

Heart: Her name is TETIANA, Clyde. And I thought she had a haunting voice...in a GOOD way. I think she is as good as she thinks she is, even if Simon disagrees.

Funk: I don't think she'll be that memorable, in the end.

Collins: Perrie Cataldo I thought was more interesting, vocally. At first, the set-up video with his little son and the story of losing his wife...I rolled my eyes and thought, "Heeere we go." And Boys 2 Men?! Ugh. But, to my surprise, more than just a sob story. Strong voice, plenty of potential. Artie?

Funk: Yeah. The Kid Factor will definitely help him through if he makes it past Hollywood. His voice was cool, what we heard of it.

Heart: There's some Internet buzz going around, already, that he may have some legal trouble in his recent past, and we've seen contestants disappear before when we show up in Hollywood. But, not to speculate too much, just yet...a single dad with a cute kid, how can you go wrong? Ha ha. Seriously, great voice. And I like that he's something different, like we've been asking for...not the same cookie-cutter Idol contestant. Strong voice.

Collins: SPEAKING of cookie-cutter contestants, I think you'll change your tune with this next fellow.

Collins: There sure were a lot of foreign accents in San Diego. Michael Jones, the Aussie with good hair...good voice to match. Simon called him a "white soul singer," and I'm sure many lady fans...and maybe even some of the guys in the audience...will find him quite "dreamy."

Heart: Yes! He definitely gets the Cute Older Guy Vote. I love when people sing different songs, instead of the same old standbys, too. He sings with emotion and soul. I like Mike!

Funk: He's got the look. Good hair, that charming accent...voice was decent, but I don't know if I was as in love with him as the judges, or you two. But, I'm just a musician, what do I know? Ha ha ha.

Collins: You may have a point. Maybe America was too dazzled by his good looks to really listen to his voice in terms of whether or not he can actually stand out and sell records. I think he has a good chance, but time will tell.

Heart: Valerie Reyes really thought she could sing, with her Mariah impression.

Heart: But...NO. She can't. She hit the high notes, surprisingly, but can't really stay there. Very breathy in the beginning...but the reason I bring her up is that she honestly thought she did well. So many people without any talent just think they're great! Like you, Clyde.

Collins: WOAH, hey! What'd I do?

Heart: Ha ha ha...sorry, I set it up and I had to take it!

Collins: I see how it is. You'll get yours! But, back on Reyes...I'm of the opinion that no one should attempt to sing Mariah Carey music. Even Mariah Carey. I'm just not a big fan of squealing over a beat, sorry.

Funk: I particularly liked that she KNEW she'd be part of the blooper reel. She realized that she was bad in the end, and that she wouldn't be able to avoid Idol adding her to the Freak List!

Heart: I thought Samantha Musa was DESTINED for the Freak List, when the set-up video showed off her and her sister's love for Simon. He's a total jerk, and I don't get why people love him so much, but...

Collins: I'd say you're just jealous you didn't get to sit on his lap! Turns out, she actually can sing. This is an example of a GOOD gimmick. It's just quirky, not absurd. Memorable in a cute way. Her voice did crack on one high note, so she showed a bit of weakness, there. We'll have to see, with her. Probably not a Final 4 contender, but she could go further into this competition, based on what we saw.

Heart: Clyde, we were talking earlier, and you brought up something Ryan Seacrest said, from around this point in the show, at the start of Day Two, when there were mimes and other creeps running around.

Collins: Oh, yes. He said something like, "It's season 7. You'd think people would've realized by now that, if you come in with a gimmick, it'll probably backfire." I believe I said the exact same thing last week, after Dalls. Fans, it's true. I'm a genius...and Idol is clearly listening to everything I say very closely. That said, hello, Nigel. Hope all is well.

No.

Heart: Gimmicks and costumes don't help. Even if you have an okay voice, like 11-time reject, Blake Boshnack. He was the guy in the Statue of Liberty suit in season 5...it's just not gonna' happen if you don't behave with a BIT of dignity.

Collins: So, there's the first rule of Idol Judgement, people. Gimmicks are the kiss of death! And if I had to make a second rule...if Simon tells you you're bad, you're BAD. Do not keep singing, or attempt another song, or a key change...you're not good!

Funk: Amen to that! Although that one cat freestyling poorly on his way out, that was pretty bad-funny.

Heart: How does Boshnack afford to travel to all these different auditions, every year? That has to add up!

Collins: Moving on, we have Alberto Hurtado...the frizzy hippie freak who looked like the fat guy from Lost. Jeesh, I sure wasn't a...wait for it...FAN of his!

Funk: Right. 'Cuz he made fans. I get it...

Collins: Wait, I've got another. Alberto Hurtado? More like...Hurt-EAR-o!

Heart: Okay, enough trying to be funny, Collins. You're supposed to be mean!

Collins: Right, right. He was horrible, an absolute waste of a segment that could've been spent building up someone with ACTUAL talent. Another...LOST opportunity, Idol producers!

Heart: How about David Archuleta, the cute kid with the vocal paralysis? He needs to work on his breathing when he sings. Maybe he was just nervous, but...sounds good, considering what he went through!

Collins: He has absolutely got the Disney Teen Vote. He forgot the words at one point, his rhythm was questionable early on...but he'll do very well if he can keep his head in it. With Disney Channel turning talentless little pukes into stars every day, he might be a refreshing twist onthat Youth Pop genre. THAT SAID...

Funk: Here we go...

Collins: He won't win. He was not the strongest so far, and cute and inspiring can only carry you so far on this show.

Funk: I thought they were setting him up for a fall with all the buildup, but...pretty impressive. Surprisingly strong voice for his age and considering his heath problems.

Collins: Someone who may very well go much further was Carly, the Ireland native who made it through to Hollywood once before, only to be stopped short by international legal issues.

Heart: I LOVE her accent. She's cute, and has a strong voice. And unlike the 30 other poor contestants who went to Hollywood...we actually got to meet her! I think, besides the soul voices, the big story out of San Diego was all the time we wasted seeing untalented freaks like Alberto Hurtado, and not seeing people who are actually IN the competition. When the show is TWO hours, you can waste 5 minutes on a guy like him, or Renaldo Lapuz!

Funk: You know what? I think she goes far. They liked her in season 5, she made it to Hollywood TWICE...I say she'll be in the Top 24. Props to her husband, with all the tattoos. That cat is AWESOME, man. He does his thing, you know?

Collins: I don't know that I find him particularly "awesome," but she made that song her own, and has that charming accent, as Julie pointed out. A good night, but not great. Though the freaks are fun...I think the real talent suffered a bit.

Apparently, far more important than actual Hollywood Round contestants.

Funk: Word.

Heart: You know, I have heard that Paula secretly had picked Carly as her early favorite to win season 5. So, we may see big things out of her! Still, let's hope Charleston picks things up a bit, tonight!

Collins: That is a GORGEOUS city, and I have high hopes! See you tomorrow with the Chucktown recap, fans.

Funk: And, hey...you stay classy, San Diego!

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by JT at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Artie Funk, Auditions, Clyde Collins, Idol Chatter, Julie Heart, San Diego

Audition venues have been confirmed for the fourth season of the hit summer series So You Think You Can Dance, which begins a new search for America’s Favorite Dancer Thursday, Jan. 17 in Dallas. This season producers expand the auditions from four cities to six – Dallas; Charleston, SC; Salt Lake City; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles; and Milwaukee – in search of dancers who best represent the rhythm of the nation. Audition location information for the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance is as follows:

Dallas, TX, Jan. 17, 2008: Southern Methodist University, McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, 6405 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205

Charleston, SC, Jan. 31, 2008: Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street, Charleston, SC 29403

Salt Lake City, UT, Feb. 4, 2008: Capitol Theatre, 50 West 200 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

Washington, D.C Feb. 21, 2008.: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Los Angeles, CA, March 6, 2008: The Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Milwaukee, WI, March 20, 2008: The Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203

Registration begins at 8:00 AM at each venue. Those traveling to cities for the open calls should make arrangements to stay for at least two days following their initial auditions in the event of a callback.

Log on to www.fox.com/dance for the latest information.

Two-time Emmy Award-winning So You Think You Can Dance was created by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe and comes from 19 Entertainment, Ltd. and Dick Clark Productions. It is executive-produced by Simon Fuller, Nigel Lythgoe and Barry Adelman.

About 19 Entertainment:
The 19 Group of Companies was founded by Simon Fuller in 1985 and has achieved over 40 No. 1 singles and 15 No. 1 albums. Fuller also has an impressive tally of over 60 Top-40 albums and 170 Top-40 singles in the UK alone. Fuller created and managed the Spice Girls, who became a global phenomenon under his guidance, selling over 38 million albums. In 1998, Fuller’s 19 launched S Club 7, which has sold 10 million CDs worldwide, while its three television series to date have consistently topped children’s viewing figures, reaching 104 countries. In 2001, Simon Fuller’s 19TV created and produced the television phenomenon “Pop Idol” and in 2002, American Idol. “Pop Idol” launched the singing careers of Will Young and Gareth Gates in the UK, while American Idol did the same for Carrie Underwood, Fantasia Barrino, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and Ruben Studdard in the United States.

About Dick Clark Productions, Inc.
Founded in 1957, Dick Clark Productions, inc. ("dcpi") is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcpi produces perennial hits such as Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards. dcpi also produces popular weekly television programming, including So You Think You Can Dance, and owns and maintains one of the world's most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of American Bandstand, among other things. For additional information, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com

Posted by Paula at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Auditions, So You Think You Can Dance

Do you have what it takes to pass the test everyone is talking about? Now is your chance to take part in the new game show everyone is LYING to be on. Play your own game using some of the questions below. It's time for THE MOMENT OF TRUTH!!

Do you really care about the environment?
Have you ever parked in a handicapped spot?
Have you ever driven in a carpool lane while alone in your car?
Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their backs?
Do you think you are smarter than the majority of the people you grew up with?

Do you believe you are better looking than all of your friends?
Have you ever exaggerated to your friends the number of women/men you slept with?
Do you currently owe a friend money that you have no intention of paying back?
If you saw your friend’s spouse with another woman/man would you tell your friend?
Are you more comfortable around friends that you know are not as attractive as you are?
Have you ever discussed the intimate details of your marriage/relationship with you friends?
Have you ever thought that your parents would be better off if they were divorced?
Do you think that you are smarter than your parents?
Did you ever throw a party at your parents’ house without their knowledge?
Do you think your parents did a good job raising you?
Do you like your mother more than your father?
Do you believe your parents are proud of you?
Have you ever wished you were born into a different family?
Do you believe your parents favor your sibling more than you?
Do you respect your father?
Have you ever stolen from your parents?
Do you think you are better looking than your sibling(s)?
Would you report a family member to the police if you knew they had committed a crime?
Do you think you are a good role model for your children?
Do you think you have what it takes to be a good father?
Would you be happy with yourself if you turned out like your mother/father?
Would you say your mother is a great cook?
Would you be happy to marry a woman who is just like your mother?
Do you dislike small children?
Do you secretly think babies are ugly?
If a natural disaster left thousands of people homeless, would you let a family of strangers stay in your house?
Have you ever pretended to be happy for someone’s success when you really weren’t?
Have you lied on your resume?
Do you really believe you’re going to have a successful career?
Have you taken credit for someone else’s work?
Have you ever spied on your co-workers in the bathroom?
Have you ever called in sick to work when you really weren’t?
Do you love your job more than sex?
Have you ever disliked someone for being more successful than you?
Do you think you drive a more expensive car than you can truly afford?
Are you jealous of people with more money than you?
Have you done anything to win?
Have you ever snooped through your girlfriends/boyfriends things?
Do you always wash your hands after using the restroom?
Is there a body part on your spouse that you dislike?
Do you wish you were still single?
Did you ever fake it in bed?
Did you ever fake it out of bed?
Do you think you are smarter than your girlfriend/boyfriend?
Have you ever thought your spouse was boring?
Do you believe wives must serve their husbands?
Do you believe your spouse respects you?
Do you ever feel your spouse is too controlling?
Have you ever feared your spouse might leave you for someone better looking?
Do you ever resent your spouse for not earning more money?
Do you ever check out other women/men in front of your spouse?
Are you in love with your boyfriend/girlfriend?
If the opportunity presented itself, would you consider getting back together with any of your former boyfriends/girlfriends?
Have you ever lied to your spouse about the number of people you’ve slept with?
Do you fantasize about cheating on your spouse/partner?
Have you ever broken up by text message?
Have you ever taken something from a store without paying for it?
Have you ever made a sexy video?
Have you ever posed nude?
Do you have fantasies you’d never admit to anyone?
Have you ever spied on a naked neighbor?
Have you ever pretended to be another sex online?
Have you ever uploaded a sexy picture to the internet?
Do you think you’re better than everyone else because you’re hot?
Do you use your looks and charm to manipulate people?
Are you jealous of people who are hotter than you?
Do you think a good personality is the most important quality in a person?
Have you ever had cosmetic surgery?
Is that your real nose?
Are you a compulsive spender?
Have you lied about your weight?
Do skinny people make you jealous?
Have you ever stuffed your underwear?
Have you ever made a false accusation?
Do you secretly give nothing to charity?
If you found someone’s wallet with $1,000 and their identification in it, would you give it back?
Would you commit a sin to have your credit card debt erased?
Have you ever stolen a tip from a table while eating at a restaurant?
Do you hate people who drive nicer cars than you?
Have you ever left a restaurant without paying the bill?
Have you ever flirted with a policeman to get out of a ticket?
Do you burp/fart in public and blame it on someone else?
Are you currently a member of the Hair Club for Men?
As an adult, have you ever peed in a swimming pool?
Did you cheat on any of your tests in school?
Have you ever claimed to read a book that you have never read?
Do you think you are better looking that your siblings?
Do you think you will still be married in 5 years?
Do you sabotage your rivals at work?
Have you ever tried to get a co-worker fired
Have you ever lied to get a job?
Do you find any of your spouse’s friends attractive?
Do you like your mother-in-law?
Do you really care about the starving children in Africa?
100.Do you really care about the famine in Darfur?

Tune in to the Series Premiere of the controversial new show THE MOMENT OF TRUTH on Wednesday, Jan. 23 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) after AMERICAN IDOL on FOX43.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is the game show that puts participants to the test – the lie detector test – to reveal whether or not they are telling the truth for a chance to win half a million dollars. Participants answer 21 increasingly personal questions honestly, as determined by a polygraph, to win the money. Prior to playing, participants are strapped to a lie detector and asked a series of questions by a polygraph expert, who records their answers. The questions are easier when the stakes are low, but as the prize amount increases, they will be challenged to fess up to matters they might normally lie about. The touchier questions could be especially difficult because participants reveal their answers in front of spouses, relatives and friends, who are in the audience hanging on every word. What deep dark secret will someone divulge for hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Posted by Paula at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
TAGS: Game Show, moment of truth, The Moment of Truth

Collins: Hello, fans. Your favorite FOX43 Idol Expert, here, with a quick comment on some American Idol News. Our youngest and most recent Idol champion, Jordin Sparks, appeared on FOX's Talkshow with Spike Feresten, this weekend. They had a friendly chat, and Miss Sparks performed her hit single, "Tattoo." Well, I have it on good authority that we'll be seeing more of our past winners on actual Idol broadcasts, this season.

Jordin Sparks, 17, chats with former "Seinfeld" and "David Letterman"
writer Spike Feresten on FOX's Talkshow

Collins: Personally, I think they SHOULD rely more heavily on the winners from previous seasons. While the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have returned to the show, why wouldn't Idol spotlight more of its own success stories? (Sore loser malcontents like Chris Daughtry need not apply. I wish him and his spot-on Nickelback impression all the best...hope that works out for him, there. Cough.) These young men and women have been through this competition before. They know what to expect, and can offer wonderful advice to the young hopefuls. No offense (though I don't much care if they TAKE it), but what do Gwen Stefani or what's left of Queen care if these kids make it in the music business? Sure, it can be argued that Clay Aiken (runner-up, by the way), Fantasia or any of the others don't really have to care what happens to the current batch of contestants, either...but, you have to admit, they bring the music industry star power along with their stories and experiences as Idol contestants. With a decreased focus on Amazing Guest Musicians (TM) for Season 7, it just makes sense that the producers would take a look back, perhaps to remind America and the contestants, that this show STILL, after all the hype, all the criticism, all the media attention, will absolutely change someone's life, if not the lives of several of the hopefuls, forever. Look back at the show's rich tapestry of winners, losers and runners-up, and you've got plenty of familiar, homegrown faces. Idol fans will be happy to see favorites return, and contestants can benefit from their advice and post-Idol experiences, rather than simply helping Barry Manilow sell more standards albums or whatever garbage the producers wish to foist upon the unsuspecting viewing public that week. This season, already, has a lot of potential. The talent we've seen is some of the best yet, and I have the feeling we're about to see a bit of a rebirth of what American Idol means to contestants and viewers. The only way we can move forward (and keep the show fresh and relevant) is to take a look back at what (and WHO) worked before, and learn from past mistakes. American Idol, despite what all the media nay-sayers have written about "low ratings" and the show being "finished," is still a very highly-rated smash hit. It's still managed to place the FOX Network at the top of the ratings, and, believe me, the best is yet to come. It can only get better from here, as we get into the drama of the actual competition. As fun as the first two auditions episodes were, this part of the season is just the calm before the storm. I predict Hurricane Cowell will strike hard...and that he and the rest of the AI crew will pull out all the stops to make sure our favorite show remains America's best and most enjoyable singing competition. See you tomorrow, for the San Diego post-show analysis.

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by Prisoner No. 24601 at 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, clyde collins, guest stars, Idol Chatter, Jordin Sparks, Simon Cowell, Spike Feresten, Talkshow

Heart: We've got a full house of FOX43 Idol Experts, tonight. Welcome back, Artie!

Collins: I assume you had some pressing mullet matters to tend to that absolutely couldn't wait until after the PREMIER OF THE SHOW WE'RE ALL PAID TO REVIEW?!

Funk: I know, I know. I was called to sit in with Hair Supply during a concert that night, and those guys are my BOYS. Only thing that matters is, the Funk is back for night two, and it was a huge night for me.

Collins: The American Idol crew pulled into Dallas, Texas, for two strange days of auditions. And we have the play-by-play...at least we do about anyone worth remembering. My opinion matters most, so I'll start things off.

Funk: Now I remember why I didn't bother showing up to review the Philly auditions...I needed more time to mentally prepare myself for working with you, Clyde.

Collins: You'd need a lifetime to prepare yourself mentally for ANYTHING. But, let's start this off. Early in the first hour, Jessica Brown, was a Texas native refreshing not only because of her stellar, controlled voice...but because she didn't immediately pitch herself with a Country song. I hoped this would be the trend, because I'm pretty sure the whole Country phase of Idol is finally running out of steam.

Heart: I don't know about that. A good voice is a good voice, and Carrie Underwood won the whole contest a few seasons ago!

Collins: By virtue of her simply being the best singer that year. Country had little to do with her flawless vocals. She was the total package, and her humble, Oklahoma background only helped make her more likeable. When a genre becomes your crutch, and it's ALL that really makes you stand out...you're Bucky Covington. You're DOOMED.

Funk:You wanna' talk doomed? I thought the story of the Meth Mom, recently out of rehab, was cool.

Heart: Definitely interesting to see a story about Meth use during a big family show like Idol. Cecelia Fleet was a good singer, with an interesting voice and cute kids!

Collins: Hm. Yet, somehow, I don't remember her. I did take note of this big Texan Goof, though.

Heart: I think we were supposed to think of him as "joyful," but he was a little weird, instead. Nice guy, though.

Funk: He did make me laugh at the end of his segment, though, when he said, "Simon goes down on just about everyone."

Collins: I caught that, too. Probably inadvertent, but still funny.

Heart: One voice I did love belonged to 16 year-old Alaina Witaker. She sounded great!

Collins: In my notes, I called her Blondie Who Thinks She's Cuter and More Varied Than Carrie Underwood.

Funk: She had a nice, Country voice. I liked her.

Collins: Overall, a pretty convincing audition. Alaina, you'll do well. Also, you're 16. Grow into your voice a bit during the season and you should grab some of that Coveted Jordin Sparks Vote (TM). Those young voters can be a powerful group on this show.

Funk: What was up with Bruce, the guy who's never kised a girl? All chaste and loving it. Close, but no.

Heart: I think he SERIOUSLY needs to kiss a girl! Might loosen him up and improve his voice a bit!

Collins: Ha ha ha. That Kiss-Saving, Marriage-Focused, "Ain't No Sunshine"-Singing Guy. You know, he wasn't anything special. Memorable for his story, not his voice. In the end, whether or not you agree with his lifestyle choice...it's about the singing. He was weak in that respect.

Heart: How about Pia Easley? Even if she's got a bit of an...ODD look. But I like that she's actually interesting and different. Even though I'm a blonde-haired, green-eyed girl, myself, I'm getting tired of the parade of Barbies Idol's judges seem to put through every season. A little variety is good, like you said about wanting to see someone "quirky" who actually has a GOOD voice make it to the Top 24, Clyde.

Funk: I thought she had a rrrrreal good voice.

Collins: You know, I'm not as into her as you might think, actually. "Zpia" was just plain creepy to me, visually. She won't win. Her voice is strong, but in a "power" kind of way. Just "okay" to me. Another backup singer who won't steal the spotlight for long.

Heart: You have to give her points for the orange mohawk thing. Come on!

Collins: Her look at least helps her stand out. She's not the mix of Fantasia and Melinda Doolittle the "backup singer" types need to be to succeed, sadly. Far more disturbing was Brandon Green, the one who SERIOUSLY saves his peeled fingernails in a Ziploc baggie.

Heart: So weird! A nice voice, but I don't know if I'll get over the bag o' nails.

Funk: I thought he was pretty good, actually. I liked his voice, and what he does with his nails is his business.

Collins: I've seen his type before, though. I'll tell you what, he did touch on a great point, something I brought up in the Philly auditions. He came right out and brought the "anti-Britney" zeitgeist to the forefront. This is going to be a big running theme, this season. There are a lot of ABSOLUTE TRAINWRECK DISGRACES in music, right now. American Idol Season 7 will be a statement against that. That said...Mr. Green, you aren't the next Blake Lewis, and I'm not even convinced HE'D make it very far this year, given the talent we've seen so far. Simon's right. He's forgettable. Will. Not. Win.

Funk: Man, you're brutal! Green's alright with me, man. I think he'll do fine. I'm real excited to see what Kayla does. She was the one who survived that car accident, and sang Janis Joplin-style. That was really appropriate, and I think she's definitely interesting.

Heart: Yes! She's not that mainstream Barbie, and I was absolutely surprised by the voice that came out of her. I DO think she might not be as good as the judges thought, though. I was a little surprised they let her through. SIMON, of all people!

Collins: Simon completely let me down with that call. Look, she didn't inspire me. She annoyed me, and reminded me of Cheri Oteri's pill-addicted "Collette Reardon" character. THAT SAID...Amy Poehler would play her if SNL were running new episodes. Just another nice story, though. Paula Abdul showed truly good judgement for a change, with her Straight-Up No! Yes, she's nuts...but, we've already go too many insane celebrities running around. One-way ticket to Nowhere. Good for her, surviving a car wreck and all, of course. I'm not saying she isn't the kind of person who might inspire the easily-inspired...only that I don't happen to be one of those. Looking for the best, here.

Funk: Are you trying to remind Simon how to be heartless? Wow...

Collins: Someone has to! They judges are all a bit soft, this season.

Heart: But Kady Malloy is someone who really deserved to go through to Hollywood. She was the vocal impressionist who did the spot-on Britney Spears impression.

Funk: Yes! She was dead-on! Very good. Seemed like a natural talent, good-looking...she'll do well.

Collins: She impressed me by having a good voice of her own, when NOT doing an impression. It still worries me a bit, though. She could suffer from Phil Hartman Syndrome: Will we often hear who the REAL Kady is? It's so easy to fall into the trap of soundalike versions during theme weeks, rather than making the songs her own. Simon's overdoing it a bit by calling her the best we've seen so far, this season. She did a SMOKIN' "Unchained Melody," though.

Heart: Oh, right. That's Simon's favorite. No WONDER he loved her so much! Great voice, and lots of control. I like her.

Collins: At this point in my notes, we're at the end of the first hour. I'd just like to say, to the "11 other people" who got the Hollywood pass on Day One but failed to earn any quality camera time...sorry. You've got an uphill battle ahead!

Heart: That's true. It is REALLY hard for people to connect with you if...well, they don't SHOW you.

Funk: Maybe they could've shown more of those talented people if we didn't have to sit through guys like Douglas Davidson, singing "Living on a Prayer." He looked like he was gonna' puke, restarted about 15 times, then had to be escorted out. What was THAT?!

Collins: Awful, is what that is. Douglas Who Wouldn't Leave was truly lousy. Wow. Completely oblivious!

Heart: Very strange. I thought he might actually pass out or hyperventilate or something! I was surprised that the nerdy, political guy with the bushy hair, Kyle Ensley, made it through. Especially singing that Queen song!

Collins: Simon's really being nice this season. He gets a pass?! He's quirky, though. Maybe it'll carry him further than he should go, kind of in a Chicken Little kind of way. Remember that kid? Or the "JPL" Vote. People on the fringe keeping the loveable dorks in the competition for a few weeks. In the end, you know...as Queen said, "Another one bites the dust."

Funk: Ooh, good one. The production on his set-up video was great, Paula caved, but he could be worse. He is at least interesting, like we've been talking about.

Collins: Paula just hates being the person to tell someone NO. Simple as that. He won't go far, though. It's nice to send a wide variety to Hollywood, and let them sort it out there. I suppose. Now, Angela Riley...the one whose husband came into the room for her audition? Things got worse from there. She was setting herself up to be this season's Leggy Brunette Who Sang Like a Disney Princess From Season 6 Whose Name I Forget Right Now.

Heart: Hayley?

Collins: That's it, thank you. Hayley Scarnato. But, same problem...and this year, at least they didn't put her through. She's awful, and her husband's worse. I can absolutely tell he's the kind of guy I would never be able to stand in a zillion years. It's clearly a put-on, those two. Disgusting. What's that wing-flapping snap thing called?! Even Broadway would be embarrassed by her antics. Too much air-time, producers! Yeesh.

Heart: Colton Swon could've had more air-time, I think! He is SO cute, and he has a big voice and nice hair to back it up!

Funk: Guys with nice hair gotta' represent. Colton, Kyle...don't stop rockin' those 'dos, man!

Collins: Talent-wise...Colton, the Country-Rock Dude gets a big "meh." He'll do for the first round, but won't make it to the end, this season. I think this BIG COUNTRY phase is finally out of America's system, and this kind of singer won't have the impact he might have had a few years back. Then again, Elliot Yamin made it to the end, so...anything can happen. Yamin's an ugmo, by the way. Okay enough voice, but an ugmo can never be the American Idol. Please.

Heart: If you're anti-Country, Clyde, Drew the cute farm guy must've been your favorite of the night! Ha ha.

Collins: Oh, that bloody mess. Drew Poppelreiter, Hoppenheimer, Grasselpicker, whatever. Stright-up Country singer. Twangy voice and all that jazz. No. No. No. NOOOOOO. Lose.

Funk: Calm down, man. Your head might explode!

Collins: I can't! He actually said this: "As the city goes, I ususally...I like my hay fields, but...we make due out there, too." Jeez. Paula felt no Wow Factor, but put him through to the next round, anyway. The Hick Goes to Hollywood: Take 4,000. Give me a break. I have the feeling he'll go further than he should, just to annoy me all season.

Heart: Oh, Clyde...EVERYTHING annoys you!

Funk: Yeah, I didn't think he was THAT bad.

Heart: We're nearing the end of the show, here. How about Nina Shaw? She had an old-fashioned, sassy style. She looked like a model. I think she'll do well.

Funk: She was pretty good, I'm glad they put her through. I like the old-school vibe.

Collins: Better she goes to Hollywood than some of the others, but...the thing I liked most about her was the style, that flower in her hair, the loud pattern of her outfit. The judges are putting plenty of people through, so we'll have attractive hopefuls to send home in Hollywood. I guess.

Funk:You know, about some of those absolute weirdos who get into the judging room. What happens if one of them gets through, and their weirdness was just TOO weird for audiences to get past? You want to stand out and get air-time, but...like, no one will forget that Brandon collects his fingernails.

Collins: Excellent point, Funk. Gimmicks don't help on this show. All it does is show you only really want some TV time. Remember "Scooter Girl?" Yeah, same idea. They don't put through the guy dressed as an astronaut, even if his voice is decent. They all go home, because that gimmick stops being interesting and the voice isn't there to make up for it.

Funk: And the judges seem to be saying "We like you, you're a nice person, but no," a lot! Is it me, or is that new?

Heart: They HAVE gotten a lot nicer.

Collins: TOO nice! But I think it's simply that they don't want to completely destroy some of the genuinely likeable people who are DECENT, but not good enough to go on. They don't like to hurt some people's feelings, I suppose.

Heart: They did let Renaldo Lapuz have his moment in the sun, though. Um...WOW. The cape guy who SERIOUSLY likes Simon...I mean...

Funk: More clowning around with the hopefuls, but this one was just too crazy to leave out! After the freaks we saw and that Kelly Clarkson montage that pretty much killed "Since You've Been Gone" for everyone...I didn't know how it could get any stranger.

Collins: Please, allow me to transcribe my notes EXACTLY as I wrote them while I watched Mr. Lapuz.

"Chairman Kaga" at the end was truly a treat time. The twirling, the shining, the feathers, the dramatic music...the awkward silence, standing next to Seacrest in the hallway before his audition. The judges dancing and singing along to "We are All Brothers," amazing. Renaldo Lapuz, I salute you.

Up there with Paula's Stalker, perhaps not quite as subversively great. Yet...I can't quit you. Maybe it's because I feel Simon's pain. Paula dancing and doing sign language interpretation...love it. Simon asking what the song was called at the end. Holy wow. This guy is destined for YouTube, this song will live on for way too long. "Heaven's Chosen, to Give Chance to Any Talent, for Free of Charge," Simon Cowell. Lapuz, seriously. You're it. There, said it. Better than Paula's Stalker. You're truly Best of the Worst, this season. The first possible breakthrough star of the blooper round since William Hung. I'm in love. Deeply. Truly. You are my brother. We'll best be friends forever. Singing the songs, the music that you love. Brothers till the end of time. Together or not, you're always in my heart. You'll (unintelligible) feelings (?), and you will rain no more (?).

Collins: Over-the-top, hilarious...I loved this segement. Classic Idol, and I will buy his single the SECOND it reaches iTunes!

Funk: WE ARE ALL BROOOTHERS! Ha ha ha...yeah, great moment. Him standing with Seacrest in the hallway for 20 seconds before going into the judges, not saying anything...I forgot that, what a wild audition!

Heart: I think we've got to get Clyde some therapy before our next column, so...we should probably sign off about here! See you in San Diego!

***** DISCLAIMER ***** The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX. ***************************

Posted by Prisoner No. 24601 at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
TAGS: American Idol, Auditions, Dallas, Idol Chatter

Collins: Well, it's back. We can all breathe a sigh of relief...for now.

Heart: I don’t know about you, but I was glad to get my Idol fix last night with the first episode. I think sometimes the first episodes are the best, because it’s just pure entertainment. You’re either happy for the great singers that are getting through, sad for the losers that really think they can sing, and laughing at the weirdos that are willing to shave their chests and dance half naked.

Collins: Hm. Something for everyone, I suppose. But, more importantly, let's talk about what was in the two-hour trip to Philadelphia for ME.

Heart: What about me?

Collins: Let's find out. Start it off, Julie. Your thoughts on night one of Idol?

Heart: There was the good, the bad and the creepy. Let's start off with the good. My top two picks of last night are Kristy Lee Cook and Angela Martin. Kristy is just a sweet girl that has a soft voice that made me almost like country music. It’s also kinda cool that she does the whole wrestling kick-boxing thing, I like a girl that can hold her own in a fight.

Collins: Looked and sounded like a safe bet to make it pretty far into the competition. I'll agree that she's interesting. How can you go wrong with a hot chick with the pretty Country voice and a superstar name? That SAID...I don't think she'll win, because her voice isn't as strong as Carrie Underwood's. They pigeon-holed her as a Country singer very early in her audition, and she is simply not as strong a singer. Still, she has the look to go much further than her voice should allow. Back to Angela Martin. I remember her only from her backstory, and have completely forgotten her actual audition...which is a problem. She's ALREADY not memorable beyond the sob story.

Heart: That story really connected with people, though...and emotion goes a long way on this show. Angela really drew you in with her story about her daughter, but then unlike Temptress Browne could actually sing. I am really surprised that Simon was actually nice to Temptress though, I really wasn’t sure if he had a heart.

Collins: I'm glad you brought up Temptress, though. This is an example of what Idol represents to a lot of people. All the haters out there miss that some people don't see it as simply a chance to succeed and make a million dollars...it's a chance to fix a broken life or make it to the top after experiencing great hardship. Miss Brown's voice give away pretty clearly that she was hoping to get by on emotional reaction, alone. But her tears told even Simon that she was going for broke and genuinely hoping to improve her and her mother's lives. It's inspiring...but, as you said, save the check-presentation stuff for the Idol Gives Back special in April. It's a talent competition, and the judges rightly brushed her aside gently. Can you imagine the outrage if Simon had torn her a new one?!

Heart: Let's move on to the ugly part of the night. Can we talk Milo? The “no sex allowed” guy was really strange, and I’m a little concerned that he’s a social worker, because whose lives is he influencing?

Collins: Not ours, anymore. He's had his time in the spotlight...and it's just a complete joke. His lyrics make me want to start a nationwide safe sex education campaign, out of spite.

Heart: Yikes. Mooooving on...Paul the stalker guy.

Collins: Ah, yes. Paula's "stalker," who wrote a sort of love song to her.

Heart: He was SUPER creepy in the eyes, but you could tell as soon as he broke a smile that he was in on the joke with the song, and the judges just didn’t get it.

Collins: I don't think it's so much that they didn't GET it as Simon was sick and TIRED of it. And rightly so. The producers parade these talentless, costumed FREAKS in to clown around for the camera all day for the poor judges to endure. Simon's looking for real talent, and trying to avoid the mistakes made in earlier seasons this time around. He can't be bothered but that kind of thing.

Heart: I think it's interesting that they play along with some of the "freaks," but then there are some of them that they build up and give a big backstory segment or actually dance and sing along with...why some people and not others?

Collins: It depends on the judges' moods at the time, I think. And some people who head into that room are TRULY crazy. They're convinced they should be taken seriously, for some reason. That can grate on you after a while, and it warrants Simon's question of "Did you REALLY think you had a chance?" when a relatively lucid and normal person walks in and proceeds to absolutely stink the place up.

Heart: Even Paula had to struggle to find nice things to say about SOME of them.

Collins: Back on the subject of Paula's stalker, though...he was the funniest thing I've seen on Idol in ages. I laughed the whole time, genuinely. I want that guy to dominate YouTube, he's my early frontrunner for Best of the Worst. Bring him back for the finale, but write the song about Simon next time...and you've got a great Idol Moment! He should be working for Howard Stern or something like that. Brilliant, attention-getting. THAT is how you make the most of your misguided attempt to make it onto television by freaking out the judges.

Heart: True. He could be back. Any other freaks you want to bring up? I want to finish on a good note.

Collins: The Princess Leia-haired chick at the end, Christina. You know what? She HAS A POINT.

Heart: What?! You're defending her? That's unlike you!

Collins: Well, hear me out. I know it's a talent competition...but Idol COULD benefit from a "goofball." Hopefully, one with actual TALENT, perhaps some cute chickie who could be described as "quirky," will join the party in another city. Knowing that Dallas is FAR superior to Philadelphia in the football world, I can only assume that they'll blow Philly away Idol talent-wise, ha ha.

Heart: We'll see. I won't get into the football debate, I'm here to talk Idol!

Collins: Oh, so am I. If you want to wrap this thing up, give us a highlight of the evening.

Heart: Everyone's talking about Alexis Cohen, the glitter girl with the “possessed voice” who appeared to totally freak out on the judges.

Collins: She's bonkers. I've seen her kind before, we're better off without her. What about her?

Heart: At first I couldn’t believe that she flew off the handle when it seemed like they were relatively nice to her, but after watching an interview she had with Fox News it almost makes sense…

(Exerpt from a FOX News interview.)

COHEN says, "When I realized Simon was calling me possessed I realize I had one of two choices. I can either cry because of all the time, money, energy, effort, heartbreak, and energy I put into it. Overall energy. I could have either cried or showed him what possessed actually is!"

Collins: Interesting. Whether or not you believe her is up to you...but I DID think Simon and the others were too easy on her, so...good to hear that they may have given her the dose of reality she needed.

Heart: You're awful. But you do know your Idol. Any early frontrunners?

Collins: Absolutely. The Dover, DE guy, Chris Watson, is an early frontrunner. A smokin' voice and a good look...plus, Delaware star power. He's the one to watch, ladies and gents. ALSO...the non-drinking, no R-rated movies girl, Brook White, is refreshing in an anti-Britney, anti-Lohan, anti-Paris kind of way. That kind of "I'm not a trainwreck" message is going to go a long way this season, I predict. She's cute, genuine and has a good voice. I wonder if people will support the young nanny who sang the cute song about apples and bananas to those kids far into the competition? Simon says he'll pull her over to the Dark Side, tainting her goody-goodiness. I have a feeling she'll be around for many more weeks, and he'll have several chances. She's a good litmus test for finding out how easily stardom can corrupt a person. In any event, Chris Watson was the find of Philadelphia, at least in terms of what we were shown on television. Look for him to make it to the Final 4, based on what I saw last night.

Heart: WOW. A Final 4 call after NIGHT ONE! Ha ha.

Collins: You heard it here first, America. Things may change as we travel to Dalls and beyond...but, I find it hard to believe we'll find 23 people quite as talented. That said, IF the rest of the talent remains as high-caliber as Mr. Watson, I'll say now that this is already shaping up to be the best season in years. No obvious winners, no sure-things, all contenders. We can only hope.

Heart: We'll have to tune in and see. And you can check out our thoughts and predictions here on Idol Chatter every week.

Collins: Several times a week, probably. Anything and everything Idol, you'll hear it here. You'll also hear from Artie Funk, who will provide his take on the highs and lows from Dallas. He wasn't able to make it for this discussion, obviously.

Heart: On to Dallas!

Collins: That's all for now. Until next time, don't miss me too much, America.

Heart: I doubt they miss you too much, Clyde.

Collins: Oh, har har.

Posted by Prisoner No. 24601 at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
TAGS: American Idol, Idol Chatter, Philadelphia

Tonight's the big Idol Premiere and I couldn't be more stoked to get this season under way! I also wanted to respond real quick to a couple of things that Clyde said in his last post...

I'm glad to hear that those who have already been deemed "celebrities" will be taking a backseat to those seeking to be discovered this year. I hope the talent pool is indeed a bit deeper than it was last season. And, as soon as we get through the sticky, yet highly entertaining, business of thinning the herd, I expect to see some seriously great performances.

All of these cats who are trying out, like the folks in the videos posted here, need to realize that... sure, attitude and heart are very important things to have in this competition. But, to the contrary of what our friend Salotta said, not everyone "has a chance". At least not in the sense that the phrase was intended...

Everyone has a chance to try out, yes. However, not everyone has a chance at making it all the way to the top. Those who lack talent have very little chance at the brass ring. And that's what the competition is about: weeding out those who think they do have a chance at the big prize.

Of course, there's an exception to every rule, and our pony-hawked pal from last season may be the exception. And sadly, despite being the most interesting thing about last season, he was NOT the most talented. But I digress.

Growing an emotional connection to these kids will add another dimension to our little competition, and should spice things up a tad.

That all being said... let's get this thang goin', y'all!!

WOO!!

Posted by JT at 5:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Artie Funk, Premiere, Salotta

Last night Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles had its long-awaited debut, and I must say, as a fan of the first two Terminator movies I have mixed feeling about this first episode. I tend to feel that the first two movies are canon and anything beyond them is an irrelevant exploitation of a creative sci-fi concept. I realize for many they are nothing more than flashy action movies, but I feel that they dig rather deeply into the philosophical question, “How do the things we do today affect the reality of tomorrow”. I love the idea of time as a fluid dimension where reality is always changing and there are many different planes of existence. Because the first two movies thoroughly addressed this question and seemed to resolve it nicely, anything beyond is an attempt to capitalize on an already popular idea.


Knowing where I come from on this; on to the show. It was painful to watch the entire first 45 minutes of the show because it was all taken directly out of the movies just under a different set of circumstance. The opening sequence with Sarah dreaming about a Terminator attack and the world being destroyed by a nuclear bomb really established that this was not going to be any different than any other Terminator production. For those of you who have never seen the movies this could be a plus. You will know most of what happened in the first two movies without having to watch them. I feel that is a good thing for the survival of the show, but I think there could have been better ways to achieve that without boring or disappointing the core fan base. Even the delivery of the terminator line “Come with me if you want to live” was forced and truthfully, overused. If it isn’t Arnold saying it, that cheesy line just doesn’t work. And how many more times can we watch a Terminator chase a car, or have its skin ripped off (which magically healed on the protector Terminator)? Never mind that there are far more advanced Terminators out there, why are we back to the metal under skin jobs?

The one thing I was hoping would save the first half of this episode was the inevitable fight sequence between the enemy Terminator and the protector Terminator, Cameron (wink, wink to James Cameron, director of the first 2 movies and writer for all three), but sadly even this failed to deliver. The fight sequence could have been lifted right out of the movies, down to the arms crossed over the chest throw, only instead of hulking Arnold it was a tiny girl performing this action, which didn’t give it anything new. If anything it looked fake. This was especially disappointing because Summer Glau has quite a physical range, and I was waiting for the power she generated in Universal’s “Serenity”. That would have been a perfect way to establish her as a “new” kind of Terminator. I was looking forward to seeing her kick some metal butt. What I got instead was the same old throwing-each-other-through-walls sequence I’ve seen a hundred times before.

I did like the introduction of new characters. A new police officer to chase them (done before, but maybe we will get to know him over the course of the show) and the slighted fiancé could give the story a little more depth. It just seems that they tried so hard to establish this as a continuation of the movies but either adhered too strongly to the original characterizations or abandoned them completely.

Sarah Connor in the movies is a pitiable character, but not because she is weak and emotional, but rather because she has become strong to the point of insanity. She went from a beautiful normal woman in the first movie to a hard and creepy defender of her son in the second. This show has presented Sarah as beautiful and soft without any of her dangerous edge. I don’t believe she would let her guard down that much even if she believed they had changed the future. I don’t believe her as a fighter in this series. I don’t believe her as a former mental patient with nerves of steel. And I don’t like that they died her hair a horrible color brown, which could have been a defense tactic, but then they showed her picture in the asylum with brown hair. Maybe it’s just me, but that was annoying. There was no attempt to connect her to the original Sarah, but all the other aspects of the show are directly out of the movies.

And I don’t believe the Terminators. The show promises to explain the new emotional behavior of the Terminators (I suppose to make them fit in even better with humans) but they are not explaining why a Terminator would hold a gun on their target for any period of time, as if reveling in the experience. Any time wasted is time to lose your target. The dramatic effect is getting in the way of the story. And John is still the whiney little boy (who doesn’t look like a little boy at all) who doesn’t want to be responsible for the future of the entire human race asking mommy to protect and save him. This suggests that in two years John hasn’t grown at all and that will get old really quickly. It certainly did in the second movie, although you manage to forgive him by the end of the movie because he was after all just a kid. We will need to see some major growth from his character throughout the course of this show for the story to be worth watching.

I will say that I did enjoy the last 15 minutes of the show, and if that is any indication of things to come this show may be able to pull itself up and maintain my interest. I thought it was cool that the Terminator protector had been to the bank in 1964 when it was built and had stored things there. I liked the idea of taking Sarah and John into the future to stop SkyNet at its inception. The possibilities for the show are endless when traveling through time. But I’m not sure that won’t get boring after a while too. Shows like LOST and HEROES eventually lose their appeal because they offer too many questions and answers are few, and I think this show has the potential to fall into that trap. It won’t run on nostalgia for very long. There has to be clear movement and character development if this show hopes to last longer than one season. I will certainly give it a valiant effort. I hope it manages to rise above my low expectations.

Posted by Paula at 6:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
TAGS: John Connor, Sarah Conner, Sarah Connor Chronicles, Summer Glau, Terminator

American Idol fans, it's almost here! Tomorrow night, January 15th, TV's hottest show blasts back into your living rooms, with a new collection of singers hoping to become the next pop phenom.

The first few weeks of Idol, as always, follow the team around to various cities across America and focus on try-outs. You'll see the best of the best and the best of the worst, and while the next William Hung may be hiding in Philadelphia, Dallas, San Diego, Omaha, Atlanta, Charleston or Miami, we'll find plenty of truly talented singers who you could send to the finale this May!

The City of Brotherly Love hosts Tuesday's Idol auditions episode, and we'll travel to Dallas on Wednesday night to continue the search.

What can you expect from the first night of Season 7, though?

FOX43 has a sneak peek at some of the stand-outs from Philly. Check out these clips, and see if any of these would-be stars make it to Hollywood!

America, meet...SALOTTA.

News teases featuring three Philly audition singers.

A few more performances. Will they make the cut?

How about this bunch? You never know...the next Idol could be in this clip!

According to FOX43 Idol Expert Clive Collins (who was kind enough to comment on the upcoming season via phone interview this weekend), San Diego is the big city to watch, this year.

Collins: "I've heard many of the auditions, and, so far, this season truly looks like it will be much, much better than season 6. Season 6 was an absolute disaster, and even season 5's greatest claim to fame, Chris Daughtry, only came in a disappointing fourth place. This year will be different, mark my words. Idol is going to be bigger and better than ever, and it's not just hot air. Not that anything I ever say is just hot air, of course. But, yes...watch San Diego. The Chargers may not be the only winners coming out of that city, this year!"

A few small changes are being kicked around for season 7, as producers try to fine-tune TV's most successful series. You may just see some contestants who make it past the auditions this year playing instruments to accompany their singing.

And remember how many minutes were wasted watching video montages about how great the guest star musicians last season? Gwen Stefani and Barry Manilow be damned...the focus in season 7 will be squarely on the contestants, perhaps more than ever! Expect a closer look at all of the contestants, so you can find out who they are, what they're like and where they came from.

Collins: "It's important for the fans to make an emotional connection with these singers. In order to keep the audience coming back, you need an engaging group of young people for whom audiences would be glad to tune in and vote every week. If you don't like any of the talent, why would you bother watching? Unless, of course, Sanjaya makes it to the Top 24, again. He won't, by the way. Season 7 is about true talent, though I'm sure there will be plenty of surprises along the way."

There you have it!

Check out FOX43's Electric Blogaloo again, soon! Loads more American Idol updates and behind-the-scenes chatter from our FOX43 Idol Experts will be posted every week!

Posted by Prisoner No. 24601 at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Idol Chatter, Premiere, Salotta, sneak preview, Video

With the 7th season of mega-hit American Idol just around the corner, FOX43 is proud to announce the start of its new weblog feature…

We've found three top-notch experts to give their (sometimes controversial) thoughts on the ups and downs of each week's performances! They'll give their own picks on who should leave, who will win it all and who just isn't cut out for superstardom…

…and you can leave your own comments and predictions for the FOX43 Idol Experts and all the other fans to read!

(In fact, we want to hear your opinions! Signing up is easy, and leaving a comment is as simple as typing it in and clicking a button!)

Idol Chatter starts up when Idol starts up, but here's your chance to get to know our panel of professionals before season 7 is underway!

Artie Funk

Sup, fans? I'm a pretty laid back kind of dude. I'm a former musician who just likes things really mellow and chill. I'm on this Idol Chatter panel to try to bring some hipness and balance to this project at FOX43-dot-com. I bring the voice of reason that's grounded by a lavish musical background. I've been kickin' around the music biz for a while now and I'd like to think I have a decent eye for talent. I used to play back-up flute for Jethro Mullet, auxilliary drums and wind chimes for the Fateful Dead, and back-up bass for Journal. My aunt was the neice of one of the original Smips (the back-up singers for Gladys Days, for you youngsters), so I think that's where I get my musical inclinations from. As for American Idol, I look at each performance as a new opportunity for the contestants to do their thing. Every week, these kids can either bring their "A game", do kinda okay, or totally bomb. Keeping that in mind, I know, as a musician, how hard the pressure of performing can be. So I'm not usually gonna be too hard on them…that's what Clyde's here for. But if they sucked, I'm not gonna sugar-coat it too much, either. Well, I'll only sugar-coat it a little bit. That being said, I can't wait to see which one of these cats gets through to the finals and makes themselves the next big American Idol success story! Bring it on, Season Seven!

Julie Heart

Hey all you Idol fans! I'm a little bit of a Hollywood insider turned Idol Expert. I fell in love with Idol back in the days of Kelly and Justin and it's been a rollercoaster of emotions ever since. Sometimes the show is amazing and keeps me on the edge of my seat hoping for my favorite to win, and then there's weeks that I'm left a little disapointed when a great guy or girl gets the boot because Simon's in a bad mood. Either way I'm excited for season 7 and can't wait to see who makes it to the top!

Clyde Collins

I'm a professional critic. What else do you need to know about me besides that? I exist to build up and tear down anyone and anything that dares to peek into the spotlight for 15 minutes of fame. Personally, I think Simon Cowell doesn't go far enough, most of the time. Don't expect Clyde to hold back, but do expect Clyde to provide honest (and brilliant) insight into the hottest show in America. People can simply be handed celebrity status, these days…but respect is still something that must be earned, and earning my respect will take talent, showmanship and not a small bit of luck. I'm looking forward to season 7, and can't wait to help you fans take the cream of the crop to the finale.

There you have it! Artie, Julie and Clyde…three experts with three very different backgrounds and taste in music.

They'll be here every week, and FOX43 hopes you will, too!!

Idol Chatter…out!




***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************

Posted by Prisoner No. 24601 at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
TAGS: American Idol, Idol Chatter