 | 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.
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Comments
Unfortuantely, American Idol did not spell Elizabeth Erkert's last name correctly. It is really Elizabeth ECkert!
Posted by: Chas | February 2, 2008 3:15 PM