American Idol Season 10 Finale - Here we go again!

Hello American Idol fans!  Well, I took a chance and blew it once again!!  But, deep down I knew I was making the wrong choice.  But, my major flaw is that I usually pick who I'm rooting for and not for the most likely to win.  I have speculated all season and some of last season on the impact of texting to the voting system and the demographics around who uses texting the most of all.  I think it's safe to say after the past few years that this is scientific fact now.  And if I'm doing this next year, please remind me to stick to my guns through to the end (if AI doesn't change the voting system, of course)!  Anyway, let's pay our congratulations to the man (boy) of the hour!

American Idol Season 10 - Scotty vs. Lauren

Hello American Idol fans!  Welcome to the American Idol Junior Finale!  The Justin Bieber Country Spectacular!  Baby lock dem doors and turn the crazy lights on high!  The finale of the Simon-Less American Idol has arrived.  The season overall?  Not too bad, not too bad.  They pulled me out of retirement for live show recapping, so that says something.  But maybe it was to help fill the void of an actual critical judge!  Anyway, we're here at the end of the road with 2 contestants that not everyone is thrilled about.  Scotty, the country crooner that early on I thought would tire on us, but eventually became the hands-on Taylor Hicksian favorite to win the competition.  Then there is Lauren, the early on favorite that we rolled our eyes at because of Nigel Lythgoe tweeting his support during the auditions for her.  We immediately wanted to hate her, but she won us over with that charm (well, a lot of us).  While she won us over though, she ended up lacking a killer performance to make us all swoon over her.  But she became an underdog that people wanted to root for.  People wanted her to have her moment and voted people that DID tire on us off of the show.  And while many of us voted and voted for Lauren to be in that finale with Scotty, I wasn't sure if I would want to vote in this final performance episode unless she really sold me that she deserved it.   Did she?  We'll have to find out.   I've been pretty much saying this was Scotty's competition to lose and he has seemingly dominated all season long.  Can one night turn the tide?  I just don't know.  But let's find out as we recap this finale as we always do!  ROUND BY ROUND!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 3 Perform

Hello American Idol fanatics!  Can you smell it?  Smell that end of season excitement?  I sure can!  As enticing as it is to rip these contestants a new one or praise them week after week, I sure do look forward to taking a break from it too!  But, alas, we have arrived at the top 3.  And we still ask ourselves, HOW ON EARTH IS HALEY HERE?!  I mean, come on, we had her pegged to leave us before the top 10!  The only thing I can think of is she just got lucky.  Because that personality of hers sure isn't winning her any fans.  The voice, yeah it's good.  But that mumbly, growly stuff she does still annoys the heck out of me!  I know, we're not even into the recap yet, but what scares me is this.  Now that she has made it this far, things are looking almost like a certainty that she could be in that finale.  I'll get into my reasons why in the recap and after.  And I may just change my mind along the way.  Guess we'll all just have to read on and find out!

Before we get to the recap let me just throw one large complaint out to the American Idol team and/or FOX for making the top 3 show 2 hours!  Ummm, total waste of time.  I know I know, FOX had no programming to air from 9:30-10:00 but come on.  Did we really need to see extended audition footage again of each contestant?  Did we need Beyonce's crazy music video that resembled something out of a Lady Gaga wardrobe malfunction?  Did we need to find out who won each round?  Something usually reserved for Finale Week?  The show has been done before and should have been done in an hour.  But, we should get used to it.  X-Factor will be following the same 1.5 Hour Performance, Hour result shows in the fall.  (Same nights too, Weds and Thursday)   That's just the new FOX model.  But 2 hours??  That's pushing it Fox!  

Okay, to the recap!

(Technical Difficulties) Top 4 Results

Hey guys. Looks like blogger has removed the top 4 post temporarily. I wasn't planning h to write too much about the results since I'm away from home. But I guess I'll just post something real quickly from my phone.

Bottom Line, I am more shocked that Haley is still in than I am that James is gone. But it still is a bit of a shock that he went home. Yeah with the Chris Daughtry comparison we sorta saw it coming. But I blame his misstep with Journey. I saw comments on and off the blog that people enjoyed the performance but I still thought it wasn't the best song choice for him, even if I love the song.

I hope this means Scotty and Lauren are locked in for
The top 2. But with them both being country and with Haley being the votefortheworst.com pick, there's a lot riding against it too. I guess we will see what happens.

Rest of results show was decent. The 2 big country songs for our top 4 are both enjoyable tunes. They sounded better than normal. Could have done without Enrique. Jordin Sparks was announcing to the world that she is a certifiable woman now. The song wasn't too bad. Nothing I'll be buying but nice to see she is doing okay for herself.

So that's all I have kids. Definitely a bizarre season with eliminations. But Scotty is still in it which is not shocking. But can he lose? I guess that's still a question we need to ponder. Your turn America! What do you think?

American Idol Season 10 - Top 4 Perform

Hello American Idol enthusiasts and welcome back for yet another recap of this crazy show!  Well, I'm stumped.  We are down to 4 contestants and 3 of them are 3 that we figured would be sticking around to the end (ever since Pia got the boot).  But there is one that has been quite the stubborn contestant that just won't take a hint!  And for the Top 4 we have the bizarre combo of "Inspiring Songs" and "Lieber & Stoller Songbook".   It's like taking random themes from previous seasons and throwing them into one show.  Weird.  Oh yeah, and OF COURSE Lady Gaga had to grace us with her bizarre presence.  How can anyone take her critiques seriously when she looks the way she does?  I mean, there are no words to explain the horns coming out of her face and the makeup that she put around her face and straight into her hair.  I mean WHAAAAT!?!  (For the record, I am not pretending to be any expert on make-up artistry and know that it was probably some kind of dye in her hair, but let me make my jokes!!)   Talented lady (even if she ripped off Madonna for her first single off this new album), but I just don't see the appeal of her theatrics and outfits.  But whatever.  So, who goes home tonight?  I have my guess, and it is just that...a guess.   But we'll go through the recap as usual!  Let's do it!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 5 Perform

Hello American Idol fanatics!  These 5 really brought it tonight didn't they!?  Well, I guess I'd say for the most part it was a pretty solid show.  I hate how they are content with keeping the show an hour and a half still.  I don't think we ever had 2 songs each when we got down to the top 5.  I thought it was top 3, maybe top 4 and they fit it in an hour.  So we were treated to the judges talking on and on about who knows what?  I love when they argued back and forth with Jacob about whatever and I was yelling at the TV "No one cares about him growing as an artist!  We want him to go home!!!!"  Anyway, so that's where we're at.  THEN AND NOW the theme for tonight and the fabulous Sheryl Crow was there to guide these younglings along with Jimmy Iovine as always.  Let's get to it!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 6 Perform

Hello American Idol fanatics!  Welcome to Carole King night!  I know, we all dreaded it when the name was mentioned.  Don't get me wrong, she has written some amazing songs over a 50 year career but a whole night of her songs?  Yikes, that's a tall order.  The night didn't turn out to be too bad in the end though.  Not sure if all the kiddies out there will have loved it but it was an enjoyable night of music for me.  Of course, not without some low points!  So there are 6 contestants left and if you followed the discussions in the comments last week, you'll know that most of the people reading/commenting are are on the same page with who we think the frontrunners are.  So, it's just a matter of trimming the fat at this point.  Granted, there may still be a few shockers along the way, but I personally don't believe it's going to happen this week.  And hey, if there's any week where I can feel confident about my picks, it's the week after I throw a perfect game with a perfect bottom 3 call and elimination pick of Stefano!!   Seriously though, that's all I'll brag about it.  It wasn't that tough to call last week!   Anyway, let's get into the recap!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 7 Perform

Hello American Idol watchers!  We're back for the top 7 performances.  The remaining contestants "soothed" our ears with the sounds of the 21st Century (and...maybe one cheated a bit with that rule).  And don't worry, even though we only have 7 contestants left, they found many ways to keep the show at an hour and a half, instead of giving us 30 extra minutes of our lives to enjoy say...I don't know a Flyers playoff game or ABC comedies!  I guess FOX is content with hogging 2.5 hours of its week with the ratings hog.  Seriously though, they better not extend it to 2 hours next week and give the contestants 2 songs each already!

Anyway, the night wasn't too bad.  Everyone was pretty much performing at the top of their game.  If not with their voices, then they had their "Game Faces" on.  Getting votes by winking at cameras or kissing judges you name it!  So, in the end, who goes home tomorrow?  I have my thoughts, that doesn't mean they'll be right but stick around and you can see my thought process in motion!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 8 Perform

Hello American Idol fandom!  Well, it has been a week since Pia's ousting.  Is everyone over it?  I thought I was.  I even bought into Nigel Lythgoe telling America that he wasn't surprised by the ousting because he has seen the results week after week.  He knew Pia wasn't resonating with America.  Well, I'm sure the lack of personality helped, but I think there was a bit of "America assumed she was safe" going on.  And we can't forget the skewed voting system and "nice" judges that we all discussed last week either.   So, that was before the show that I thought I was over it.  Now, as I sit here after the show I can't help think that it is sorely missing someone with a WOW factor.  No one can deny her amazing vocals.  It explains why Interscope already nabbed her up with a record deal.  I couldn't help but roll my eyes and throw my hands in the air questioning the contestants and the judges on their song choices.  There were a couple stand-outs I guess but nothing that would make me run out and buy their albums.  So with that said, I'm already looking forward to tomorrow night when a TRUE Idol can take the stage and show them how it's done.  Kelly Clarkson will no doubt be singing her duet with Jason Aldean at the results show "Don't You Wanna Stay".  Anyway, I guess we have to pick someone to go home so I'll see what I can do.  But, just like what happened in the most recent seasons for me, I honestly don't care.  Bring on Movie Night and inexplicably more Will.I.Am!!!  (And go see RIO this weekend!)

American Idol Season 10 - Top 9 Results, Officially Shocked

It figures, once I write off writing results show recaps, the most ridiculous results show in Idol History has to happen!  Yes, we have had shockers before but they have come in the top 5 or top 4 when a huge favorite to win is ousted.  But never.....NEVER has the truly best singer in the competition with the most commercial appeal get ousted in the top 9.  NEVER!  Yes, I had her pegged for the top 2, top 3 at least.  And she is out of here.  It's one of those eliminations that make me wonder again "why is this show worth watching?"  I just don't have an answer for you guys yet.  But, I do have a pretty solid theory on what the problem is.  And if you stay tuned after the jump, I'll get right into it.  Ladies and gentlemen, click on to see our ousted contestant.

American Idol Season 10 - Top 9 Perform

Hello Idol fanatics and welcome back to another week of amateur singing dissection!  So it seems like some of the contestants didn't get the memo that this was "ROCK N' ROLL" WEEK!   Yes yes, I know that some of the best known ballads come from rock artists but COME ON!!!  I'm not saying that all of those performances were necessarily bad, they just didn't really fit with the week's theme in my opinion.  Some shined, some were just okay.  But I think I have this week's bottom 3 pegged (or at least who it probably SHOULD be).

Before we get to the recap let me just rant about a few things.   I said it after the results show last week (in the comments of last week's recap), what is up with all of the Will.I.am love on Idol?   First of all, it's ROCK N' ROLL week!  Don't even try to pass off that Black Eyed Peas crap music as Rock!  (Mazel Tov!)  Maybe Will knows something about being a performer, but the dude can barely sing, why has he been showcased on American Idol for 3 episodes so far?  Makes no sense whatsoever to me!    Gripe #2 - I think we have known this was the case for weeks now, but I finally need to raise it as an issue.  While entertaining, the judges are bringing absolutely NO VALUE to the table.  They are a group of praisers.  Even Randy when trying to keep it real, still can't just flat out say when something didn't work.  So, we are left to our own devices to weed out who really wasn't good.

Hey, I'm more than up for the job!  And the best part?  Simon can't steal my lines before I write them on this blog!   So here we go folks!  Let's find a contestant to give the boot!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 11 Perform (Again)

"Hey Kids!!  Shake it loose together, the spotlight's hitting something that's been known to change the weather.  We'll kill the fatted calf tonight so stick around!"  Welcome to "ELTON JOHN night*" American Idol fans.  And what a night it was.  You really can't go wrong with Elton's "electric music" rocking us all night long.  I think it has been quite some time since the last Elton themed night (season 3 I believe).  I remember Billy Joel night in season 2 and remember being so depressed that THAT crop of contestants were butchering Billy's tunes.  (ugh Josh Gracin, I'll never forgive you for your rendition of "Piano Man")   Anyway, being a singing pianist myself, it was nice to see the piano on stage all night, complete with iPad Sheet Music!  I need to get me some of that!  And for the most part, the contestants continued to impress.  Yes, there were some flubs from a couple of the predictable ones.  And one surprise performance from someone I wished would just go away.  But we'll get to all of that in the recap.  But for now, 2 weeks straight I'm glad I'm back doing this writing gig! 2 go home Thursday night! Let's get on with it.

*Disclaimer: Lyrics by Bernie Taupin on "Elton John Night"   Oh...and this show was brought to you by Coca Cola, NOT Pepsi Mr. Durbin and your Michael Jackson reference!   Don't you forget who is paying for your flaming piano!  (no pun intended, being Elton John night and all) 

American Idol Season 10 - Top 11 Perform

Hello Idol fanatics!  We're back.  And what a difference a week makes!  I guess Motown week usually brings out the best in contestants.  Everyone knows the songs, and people can really showcase their voices with them.  There really is not one contestant I can point to this week and say they were horrible.  No, I think the ones that will be in danger are the ones that are forgettable or unlikable.  (i.e. the usual suspects)  But, I will do my standard ritual of talking about each contestant individually before declaring my results!   Let's dive on in!

American Idol Season 10 - Top 12 Perform

Well wasn't that a mix bag of disaster and awesomeness?  Hello Idol fans and welcome back to another one of my "why did I get back into this?" recaps!  They really did front load this week's "Songs from the year you were born" agenda with most of the bad performances.  About 6 singers in, I was about to call it a day and give up.  But naturally, I forgot about some of the people still in the competition, and they didn't let down.  There were a couple surprises and a couple letdowns along the way as well.  I'm sure people will disagree with some of my critiques but I can only call them as I see them, as usual.  So, no more hesitation required.  My brief thoughts, after the jump.

American Idol Season 10 - Top 13 Results

Well kids, looks like I found a few minutes for a little blurb.  I can always find time to pat myself on the back when I get things right!  This one really was no shocker, and even the bottom 3 wasn't too shocking.  So let's just get right to it!  THE ELIMINATED CONTESTANT IS....

American Idol Season 10 - Top 13 Perform

Hello Friends!  We're back for the top 13 and I have to say, I'm starting to regret coming back out of retirement for this!  This week did nothing for me at all.  There may have been a couple good performances, but for the most part I was just utterly bored for 2 hours.  And is it me or does the AUDIO feed coming to our TVs not sound as good for these live shows?  I thought it was my surround system dying or something but it sounds fine on commercials and every other show.  You'd think for a show being judged by how it sounds that it would be giving America the best sound to hear it!   So I don't know.  Maybe the judges were telling the truth for a lot of these contestants by saying they were great.  But it certainly did not sound that way to me.  By the way, did you know tonight's episode was pre-recorded?  They wanted to make sure they fit all 13 contestants into 2 hours.  Now, I'm not sure when it was ACTUALLY recorded but Steven Tyler wished someone a Happy International Women's day and that was yesterday (my wife made sure I knew!).   So that's kinda bizarre.  Anyway, I'm not really sure I'll have much to comment on below.  (I say that a lot)  So we'll just see how this goes.  Could be tough to pick who is going home.  The contestants sang songs from their "IDOLS" and Jimmy Iovine and his production team  gave them some tips on how to improve their sound.  The reviews after the jump.