If you missed the show or just want a recap, we have all the ups and downs you need to keep up!
 | Funk: It's Hollywood Week, baby! Aww, yeeeeeah! |
 | Collins: It certainly was revamped, this season, as promised. I think this was a good episode, plenty of drama and a few genuine surprises. |
 | Heart: I think it was a BRUTAL episode...we've cut the 164 audition finalists down, ALREADY, to the point where judges can announce the top finalists! When that many people have to go home, it pretty much guarantees you'll lose a few favorites along the way! | |
Simon started the day off with the happy announcement, "2/3 of you are going home." No pressure!
| Collins: Here's how this year's Hollywood Week is different! First of all, it's broken up into a 3-round process. That annoying "Groups" round seems to be gone. All singers will do a song in the first round. If they get 2 or 3 Yesses, they go straight to the final, third round. If they get 2 or 3 No Votes...the game isn't over. They'll get a second chance to perform and save their skins in an a capella, Lightning Round-style second round. |
In firing squad lines, group upon group gets one last shot in round two!
| Collins: Those lucky enough to be left for the third round will have one, last chance to impress the judges before they choose the best of the best finalists. Also, performers may choose to play instruments at this stage. |
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| Funk: Let's start it off, man! It was a wild night...and we have a lot to talk about. |
HOLLYWOOD: ROUND ONE
| Collins: Brooke White, Little Miss Purity from the Philly auditions, was the first to perform...and she opted to play a keyboard. She hit some rough notes on "Beautiful," and even though I thought she sounded vulnerable and shaky, the judges loved all over her with 3 Yes Votes. Free pass to Round Three for her! |
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| Heart: I like her! I think she's interesting...her kind of "messy" thing. She's talented, I like that she can play the keyboard, too. | |
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| Funk: I dig her. I'm a sucker for piano rockers! |
| Collins: Miami's Lorena Pinot -- formerly ILSY Lorena Pinot -- lost something when she dropped her interesting first name. She sang some Shania Twain nonsense, and it just wasn't very good. Off to Round Two to sing for her survival! Disappointing, as I liked her smooth version of "At Last" a lot during the Miami audition! |
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| Heart: She was...unoriginal, not very entertaining. Just, I don't know...seeemed like she should be in a bar, not on Idol! | |
| Collins: We sat through a lot of Amy Flynn drama, tonight. The abstinence-pushing dance captain from Charleston hit a nasty clam in her audition, and made a great shocked/pouty face...but it was bad enough to get her sent to Round Two. |
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| Funk: She's horribly cute, but it was a bit off. |
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| Heart: She ANNOYS me! She was semi-cute, before...now, she's just annoying. She just needs to grow up, maybe realize that life isn't perfect and grow up a bit. | |
| Collins: Omaha's Leo Marlow was nothing but blah. A big, fat No Vote, here. And brush your hair for Round Two, kid. |
| Heart: Yeah, he wasn't as interesting as I thought back in Omaha... | |
| Collins: After building up the INTENSE DRAMA of the night some more, we were treated to a bunch of flops. |
| Collins: Alisha Dixon played guitar to "Unwritten," but it was bad. See you in Round Two. |
| Heart: The guitar definitely hurt her. | |
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| Funk: Bad instrumentation makes your audition DOUBLE bad. |
| Collins: Mike Sanfilippo hit a really long, ugly, nasal note during his audtion...and Simon let him have it. |
| Heart: Ouch. He fell apart! | |
| Collins: Alyssa Coco, who has a lovely name, stopped early while singing her song and playing the keyboard. The instrument CLEARLY overpowered her voice...not a good choice for her to play and sing. |
| Heart: The keyboard was a mistake, and she didn't even get many words out before they stopped her. Yikes. | |
| Collins: Shaun Barrowes, looking a bit like Conan O'Brien's mutant child, did a Billy Joel song, but the keyboard dominated him, as well. |
| Heart: This wasn't good, he was way over-the-top, in a bad way. | |
The pouty lip didn't work, by the way.
| Collins: Jake Mellema played drums while singing, but, while his voice is OKAY...singing while drumming makes you sound very mechanical because you're keeping a beat and counting. The judges rewarded his efforts with 3 No Votes, and Simon ripped into him with a snyde, "there was nothing redeeming about that performance other than we stopped it early." I love those comments... |
| Heart: He was SO cheesy. | |
| Collins: David Hernandez seemed nervous when we first saw him in San Diego...but he busted out "Love the One You're With" and completely, 100% OWNED IT. He wowed the judges, the crowd, and yours truly. No nerves got in his way, tonight! He was quite good. |
| Heart: I don't remember him from auditions, but I liked him. He was a bit too expressive, got a little goofy, but he definitely made the song his own, which is good. Through to Round Three! | |
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| Funk: He's really good for this competition. |
| Collins: America's favorite Fake Janis Joplin/Biker/Nurse, Amanda Overmyer, announced that she'd been in a car crash not long before the Hollywood Round...but, she was there, stitches and busted ribs and all! She sang the Doors "Light My Fire," and I thought she was a bit "throaty" at times. That "hard" sound in her voice isn't as effortless as it should be, and you can tell she's forcing it. Also, she's a bit of a one-trick pony at this point...as Simon agreed. Still 3 Yes Votes send her right to Round Three! |
| Heart: I really think she has an original voice, and she's interesting to watch. | |
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| Funk: I hate the name "Rock 'n Roll Nurse" with a passion. Simon's right...she provides some variety, but I don't think her yelling-type singing will tak her very far. |
| Collins: Those who forget lyrics are doomed to failure...and our next few contestants did just that. Off to Round Two with you! And don't let it happen again! | |
| Heart: Forgetting the words is just unacceptable at this point in the game! | |
How do you look like that and forget "Stuck in the Middle?!"
Cardin McKinney disappointed. Last time, judges called her "too theatrical."
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| Funk: Maybe they thought they were on Don't Forget the Lyrics? |
Natashia Blach's "Kill me now!" ad-lib was funny...but, still, forgot her lyrics. Naughty girl.
| Heart: You have to be ON YOUR GAME! You're fighting for only 50 spots, so it doesn't matter if your voice is good if you stand there like an IDIOT during the song! People are LUCKY they got a second chance, this year. | |
And, then, there was GHALEB...
| Collins: Oh, here we go. Puss in Boots is back, hitting on the ladies and singing "Everything I Do" with his thick accent. 3 No Votes totally deserved. I've disliked his smarmy persona from the start. |
| Heart: I liked the huge flirt from Miami before, and accents are good...but this was too much. You couldn't understand the words, and he was shouting. Not a fan anymore! | |
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| Funk: Go away, you mimbo! |
| Collins: Now, we begin a night-long rollercoaster ride of emotions with Josiah Leming, the kid who lives in his car and sings, inexplicably, with a British accent. Round One was his, I'll admit that. He's still interesting, still memorable...and still sounding all British whilst pounding away at the keyboard. 3 Yes Votes from judges who are clearly smitten with him...he's on to Round Three, but I turned on him later in the show, and we'll burn that bridge when we get there... |
| Heart: I like the kid! He's cute and interesting! | |
| Collins: I just wish he'd stop sniveling about how HARD everything is. He goes on to become more of a crybaby and even start a bit of controversy later on in the night. |
| Collins: Danny Noriega was good. Didn't see much of him, though. Maybe not the most memorable? |
| Heart: He was probably the only person I remember from the Extra Idol Add-On Show, because he was a WEIRDO that turned out to be a good singer. Still good! | |
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| Funk: Not bad! |
| Collins: Ramiele Malubay is still absolutely adorable. She's not great, but has a nice, Jazzy sound. |
| Heart: This girl wants to be the first Asian-American Idol, and she has a strong voice. She's mature, but has a spunky attitude. | |
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| Funk: She's okay. |
| Collins: Carly Smithson, the Irish Wonder, was billed as a force to be reckoned with by Paula. She's been invited to Hollywood before, but had to sit it out due to VISA problems. Well...she was fine, tonight, I thought. She didn't make me love her, though. Obviously good, and we saw how far that'll get you with Melinda Doolittle last season. |
| Heart: Wow! She's one of the favorites, and she's got a great voice. I was surprised that her accent really didn't come through as much, tonight. | |
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| Funk: She's very good. Gets better every performance! |
| Collins: She actually released an album before, "Ultimate High," under her maiden name, Carly Hennessy. MCA spent a bunch of cash on it, and it flopped. So...she's a BIT of a ringer, but, why not let her try it again? I applaud Idol not allowing Big Music to just be DONE with someone who has had a chance before. They should be so kind to other established artists, instead of dropping them into obscurity once they deliver one or two radio hits. We'll see, with her. |
| Collins: The judges LOVE Michael Johns, the Aussie. He did the Doors, too...but, I actually liked Biker-Nurse's audition a little better! Not bad, though. Clearly, a strong voice. |
| Heart: Nice performance! | |
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| Funk: Another very good singer who keeps getting better! |
| Collins: David Cook sang "Everything I Do" way better than Puss in Boots, as FOX reminded us with a giant, Bart Simpson head that The Simpsons airs Sunday at 8PM on FOX43. Anyway...not my style, but he's good. I'm glad he didn't do Bon Jovi, again...EEEEESH. But, yeah...2 Yesses (Simon said no), and he's on to Round Three. |
| Heart: I still like him and his singing-yelling thing. Glad he's through! | |
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| Funk: Nah...I'm not so into him. |
| Collins: The next few contestants ALL decided to sing that same, bloody song! Bryan Adams is probably spinning in his grave, right now. |
| Heart: Clyde, that's mean. | |
Robbie Carrico, shown here without Silent Bob.
Perrie Cataldo, single dad.
Syesha Mercado, still a good singer.
Colton Berry, whatever. Julie thinks you're "kinda' 'eh" at best.
| Heart: Cook was good, but Carrico the rocker guy is still just OKAY for me...and Perrie, I think he has a good, strong voice and stage presence. Even though he wasn't through to Round Three! I also remember loving Syesha from her original audition, when we learned that her dad was in rehab and she's, as Clyde called her, very "sunny." I wish we got to see more of her, because she ended up with enough No Votes to go to Round Two. What happened? | |
| Collins: None of them really did much with the shmaltzy song, and Cataldo stated he'd "try to find a song that's better" for his Round Two second chance. Shouldn't be too hard... |
| Collins: Round One ended with Kyle Ensley, who sang an odd and old-feeling song, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)"...and, though it was a bit high school talent show and his Dilbert-looking outfits are starting to REALLY irritate me...he's still got time to prove he deserves to be in the Top 24. Even Simon had to leave, because Paula's mush didn't allow her to tell Kyle NO. |
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| Funk: He's Broadway-bound! Not so great this round... |
| Heart: He's not good enough, too theatrical. Simon storming out wasn't the happiest end to Round One...but I get it. | |
HOLLYWOOD: ROUND TWO (SUDDEN DEATH)
| Collins: We're promised the most-vicious cuts EVER, and, I can tell you...I'm trembling at the thought of losing some of the 116 who didn't get the Free Pass to Round Three. |
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| Funk: 48 did get passes, though. Good for them, dogg! And I gotta' say...I genuinely enjoyed Round Two. |
| Heart: This was a little brutal for me! People are given just a few seconds to sing...then they're CUT, just like that! | |
Single mom Suzanne Toon...OUT! (Still loves daughter.)
Single dad, Perrie Cataldo...OUT! (Still loves son.)
Amy Flynn, even with a vocal coach, was cut HARD. Oh, boo-hoo...
| Heart: I don't like that some people are built up, and we get to know and care about them...and then, they're just GONE. Suzanne and Perrie, come on! Too harsh. | |
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| Funk: They set the tone for the round with the first line of people! This will be a bloody, ruthless, rough round. And it was AWESOME to watch. |
| Collins: There were definitely some VICIOUS cuts! But screwing with people's emotions and building up false hope in contestants isn't exactly new to American Idol, Julie. Maybe a handful were given a pass to Round Three, with only 4 out of the first 40 Lightning Round contestants sent packing without remorse. With only a few more to go...we learned that Kayla Hatfield, the girl who'd been in the serious car accident, and Angelica Puente, who sobbed all over the place in an overblown segment on her wanting her daddy to be proud of her, were 2 of those 8. Others of interest: |
| Collins: Kristy Lee Cook, a personal favorite from the start. My heart stopped when I saw her on the chopping block -- I think I called her to go to the Final 4, or something insane like that! I believe she made it to Round Three, though... |
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| Funk: She used a crutch to get through, singing the same song as before. Meh! |
| Heart: I liked her before, hope we see more of her. She's leaning a bit heavily on "Amazing Grace," though... | |
| Collins: Jeffrey Lampkin, the giant, goofy dude from Charleston who signed on with his sister. He's fun and pumps people up, and...his rendition of a song from Hairspray about eating food was good enough to get him to Round Three! |
| Funk: I was SHOCKED he got through. |
| Heart: I'm glad he's hanging in there! They HAD to, he's hilarious! | |
| Collins: Angela Martin, who lost her dad and has the handicapped daughter at home, didn't maket he cut, either. It's a bad year for fathers on this show! Anyway...she did a kind of watered-down Jazzy thing, a little Beyonce-ish at first...nah. |
| Heart: WHY?! Why build up their sad stories just to DROP them?! Ugh! | |
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| Funk: Sad story, but yeah...go home, be with your family, because they need you more than American Idol does! |
| Collins: They set it up to be misleading in the last round of cuts. The goofier-looking row was the one that made it to Round Three, in classic American Idol style! Round Two ended with a pleasant swerve, and it REALLY was fast and brutal. |
| Heart: Phew! I'm just glad it's over. | |
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| Funk: We're all kind of against the Group Round, because it never really HELPED anyone, it was just fun to watch people fight. I like they they tried something different. Sudden Death-style was HOT! |
HOLLYWOOD: ROUND THREE
| Collins: We're told Round Three gets the same set-up as the singers will get in the Top 24, with a backup band. Then, right to it! |
| Collins: David Archuleta, the kid with one vocal chord who sounds like John Mayer...well, he sang "Heaven" by Bryan Adams. He's got a good voice, but the song makes him sound younger. He's never lived that kind of "lying here in my arms" love, before! Come on! |
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| Funk: He's a finalist! Top 8, at least! He's a natural talent and comfortable on stage. |
| Heart: I really like his voice, though! It's pure, and even if his personality's a little immature, he's pretty great! | |
| Collins: Kyle Ensley sang Josh Groban, and even though I'm way over the geeky thing, already...he gets 3 Yes Votes! He's something different, but...we'll see. |
| Heart: He was much better in Round Three, a lot less theatrical. | |
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| Funk: The political version of Clay AIken, maybe? |
| Collins: Jeffrey Lampkin crashed and burned on an attempted Magic Carpet Ride through "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. It's a shame, I thought he was enjoyable. He goes home to Charleston, though! |
| Heart: NOOO! It's so sad he got cut! | |
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| Funk: Buh-bye. Thanks for the energy, but go home! |
| Collins: Joey Catalano had a migraine and puked all morning...and it showed! He was very Boyz 2 Men, only without any real soul. A big no! |
| Heart: HATED the hat he wore, too. | |
| Collins: Syesha Mercado had laryngitis, saved her voice all day by using signs to communicate...it was actually kind of cute, sort of made her memorable and endearing. It didn't hurt that she absolutely CRUSHED "Chain of Fools," and we have ourselves a STRONG candidate for the Top 24 and beyond! |
| Heart: I LOVE HER! I want her to make the Top 10, and I hope she can save her voice! | |
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| Funk: She has a SICK voice for someone with a sick voice! I can see her as another Top 8 finalist. She's really good, dogg! |
| Collins: Michael Johns, the Aussie...Queen is usually a Kiss of Death...but he pulled it off! Impressive, kudos. |
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| Funk: It is very hard to be good and believable doing "Bohemian Rhapsody," or Queen in general. He NAILED it, and, though I don't think he'll go quite as far as David Archuleta and his one vocal chord...he's headed deep into this season! |
| Heart: I love a guy who can sing Queen. | |
| Collins: Apparently, Carly Smithson's allergic to her dog, and wore a mask heading into Hollywood Week. She tackled Heart's "Alone" pretty impressively. Good! |
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| Funk: She's still good. It was a good song choice, and I was a little worried. But still, good. The Irish accent melts me, man...so, I'm a fan. Top 8, if not better! |
| Heart: Her voice blows me away. The judges, too, it seems! |
| Collins: Asia'h Epperson, who lost her dad JUST before auditions...you know, I like her voice more this time. 3 Yes Votes, and I'm
becoming a believer! |
| Heart: She looks like a strong contender in this competition. | |
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| Funk: I agree with Simon...this was her best audition, yet. |
| Collins: Brooke Helvie, the pageant monster, lost it during "Unchained Melody." It was up to PAULA to send her home...and she deliver the big No Vote after a LOT of whining from the spoiled-but-hot girl. |
| Heart: Don't fight with the judges! You will lose every time! I'm just glad the beauty queen was cut...she got on my nerves. | |
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| Funk: She sounded okay, until that SQUAWK. Simon giving her a No was surprising, but I was proud of Paula for shutting her down. They gave her MORE than a fair chance, despite her whining! |
| Collins: Josiah Leming, tired and frustrated, cried and whined about having to play with the band. He couldn't find a song out of 200 to sing, and even after a vocal coach offered to work with him...he still opted to go into this life-changing audition unprepared. He dismissed the band, but NOT because he's confident...he did it because he's stubborn and wouldn't work with anyone else. His "Stand By Me" was whine and rambling, and he rushed it. He showed weakness, then starting sniveling, as usual, when things got tough. And, then, even though it was supposed to be "no second chances" in Round Three...he got 3 Yes Votes from the judges, anyway! Even SIMON! BOOOO! STOP CRYING, THIS SHOW IS CLEARLY RIGGED FOR YOU!!! |
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| Funk: THE FIX IS IN! He's whiny and bad, send him home! That audition was TERRIBLE! |
| Heart: He's SO lucky he made it, but...I don't hate him as much as you guys do. He's still got an interesting sound. But, yes...please stop crying! | |
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| Funk: Ther must be some mandate from on-high that Josiah HAS to be a finalist! I'm against it. He didn't vibe with his accompanists, so he thought he'd do better solo. But he DIDN'T! And he didn't take the coach up on her offer to help, so I get the feeling he's just in his own world, and maybe hard to work with. Sounds like the story of his life, and that's getting STALE with me. I'm annoyed he's still in it, even if he might be the kind of artist who's good in the studio, but HORRIBLE live. |
| Collins: The judges go through TOUGH deliberations...and, on tonight's show, the Top 24 will be announced! It's the big "Walk of Doom/Final Judgement" show, featuring lost of Elevator Cam shots. Should be both dramatic, interesting and completely too long for the amount of information we're to get out of it. That's our Idol! |
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| Funk: We'll be here to talk about it, tomorrow...and I'm sure there'll be more tears and more surprises. |
| Heart: I'm excited! See you then! | |
***** 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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