GO COLTS!!!!

Heh. I don't 'like' football, but when the hometown team finally makes it to the SuperBowl after almost 25 years, and the whole town is blue & white, what are you gonna do?

I am still going to do a recap of last week's Grease show, I promise. But you'll have to look back in January, or just use the nifty new labels Blogger has now (it's under "Grease"). Also I have a Rockstar Supernova concert review to do! But for now...

GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AI Los Angeles Auditions

This time we're in Katharine McPhee's hometown, and her album came out yesterday, so we hear her sing Somewhere Over the Rainbow. We are not told how many people showed up, just "thousands," so it must be less than any other venue (8000 or less?).

Olivia Newton-John is guest judge.

Several no's: Martik, aka "Eccentric," who certainly is. 24 and self-described as a panther, he performs an original song. I use the term "song" loosely. Sholandric Stallworth says he wants to bring romance and love into Idol. Hmm, perhaps by singing poorly so people turn off the tv & spend more time together? Short clips of someone in a banana costume and a girl in a 'riding a bull' costume. Then Marianna Riccio, whose mom sang backup for Dean Martin. Marianna didn't inherit all of mom's talent and ends up on her knees begging to be put through and "given a chance." Sorry, this was it!

Alaina Alexander (24, CA, #66442) has spent 6 years here as a "struggling artist" and is at the point of calling it quits and returning to school to pursue a different career if she doesn't make it onto Idol. She sings Michael Buble's "Feeling Good" and is decent, and cute (but not overly so). Simon really liked her a lot; Randy said she was pitchy but still put her through. 4 yesses!

Phuong Pham, 17, has many attributes in common with Taylor Hicks. Singing talent is not one of them. She tries to keep from breaking out laughing several times, so I think it's a fair bet this is one of the many 'fake' (i.e. I want tv time) auditions.

Brandon Rogers (28, CA, #74191) has been a backup singer for 4 years, for acts such as Anastasia and Christina Aguilera (wow!). He sings "Always on My Mind" R&B style, not country, and is good. Seems like a nice guy too. He's through and I'm guessing top 45 at least.

Next is the best not-really-an-audition ever. Sherman is a 64-year old man with a petition to let him sing before the 3 (or, as it happens, 4) judges on tv; he has 330 signatures. It seems his "lady love" of 20 years was dying of cancer and he thought this would be something to distract her and keep her hopeful about something. Unfortunately she died just 2 days before the audition. However, Sherman stays positive, claiming he doesn't want sympathy. He turns out to be a very good singer as he proudly sings "You Belong to Me," and Paula and thousands of viewers reach for the tissues. Afterward he says "I won." Amazing and awesome. *sniff*

Brian Miller (19, CA) is a familiar face. He's the one we saw last year who started out being rather cocky and emerged from the Hollywood rounds bawling (in a clip that was repeated many times). Well, he sings "A Change is Gonna Come" well enough for one more try, despite Simon's no. He's the last of 21 to advance on Day 1.

On Day 2 all we see are three rejects: dating couple Darold and Cavett ("Sparkles") and Eric Mueller, who has one of those strange, high voices and hardly moves his face at all while singing. Turns out he "trained for 2 years" using Paula & Randy's dvd, which totally made Simon's day.

We're told 19 advanced on Day 2 for a grand total of 40 from LA. We saw 3 of these, plus Sherman. Why so few??? Perhaps they're saving a bunch for the "Rest of the Best" special next Wed., but I'd much rather have seen more good singers this week.

AI Birmingham Auditions

Tonight we have 11,000 people (more than auditioned in all cities together for Season 1, I learned last weekend on Idol Rewind!) gathered in the city home to Ruben, Bo, and Taylor! Yet only 20 of these advance to Hollywood...

The no's, briefly:
Erica Skye (19, AL) sang "Unchained Melody" country style
Diana Walker (27, very large gal) "Saving All My Love for You"
Margaret something-or-other, the one in the Big Bird shirt

The yes's:

Katie Bernard (19, FL, #24710) has a very high, childish talking voice but sings with a full, lower voice. Her "A House is Not a Home" leads Randy & Paula to put her through, despite Paula's hesitation that she's a young newlywed who should focus on her marriage instead of chasing fame.

Tatiana McConnico (17, GA, #15167) attends a performing arts high school, which makes me expect her to actually have talent... and she does! I don't know the song she did but it was soul and good.

Bernard Willams, II (26, local, #12729) sings "Rock with You" and is very good. We're getting a lot of fairly attractive, R&B/pop style guys this year. Paula says no because she thought he was off key, but the guys heard what I did and he advances.

There are very short clips of 3 girls advancing, one named Nellie Mae? We don't get to hear them sing at all though.

Jamie Lynn Ward (16, NC, #23028) has a story worse than Kellie Pickler's and is also a blond from a tiny town in NC. Hmm. She sings "Reflection" and is a bit nasal but has potential. The story: her dad caught her step-mom cheating ("in the act") and shot her, then himself. He survived and is now paralyzed. Jamie and her father live with Jamie's grandmother, who takes care of them. Randy & Paula say yes and she advances.

Last on Day 1 is Chris Sligh, the curly-haired guy from the promos (missed his age but he's from Greenville, SC, #2?994). He has a hilarious dry sense of humor. He says people tell him he looks like Jack Osborne but he looks in the mirror and sees... Christina Aguilera! (He's chubby and has dark, curly hair.) Later when asked why he's here he says that he wants to make David Hasselhoff cry again! (referencing the shot of him in the audience after Taylor's win last year.) He sings "Kiss from a Rose" and has a very good voice, plus he's very passionate about singing and really puts his all into it. Ok, this is the first person that I really *want* to make Top 12. I love his voice and really enjoy his personality. Hope I don't jinx him!

15 or 16 made it through on Day 1 and we saw 6 of them; not too bad. However, not only do we not see Paula on Day 2, we don't see anyone advance! There were only 4 or 5 (making a grand total of 20 from Birmingham), and we got another very short montage of the golden ticket excitement, but no singing.

The no's, if anyone cares:
Victoria Watson (18, FL, 6-foot long hair) who I thought sang "You Raise Me Up" well enough to advance, but she doesn't (advance).

Lakia, who thanks the judges even though they criticize her, as do many more in a montage we're shown - or, at least it's edited to appear that way! The point being that most southerners are polite instead of brash & argumentative.

Nicole G. (17, OK, has team of supporters in pink shirts) sings "Something to Talk About" but is nasal & old-fashioned; they say she's not ready.

And Brandy Patterson, this year's murderer of "Like a Virgin." She's not horrible, but is bad, and blames the wood floor. She apparently really amuses Simon so he lets her try again on the carpet. Alrighty then.

Next stop: LA!

Grease - Top 12 (or is it?)

Air date Jan. 28. Opens with fun group number (and was it just me, or was Austin's solo shorter than the other guys & his mic not working right?!). Jason and whichever Sandy was wearing peach or pink (I didn't tape it so couldn't go back & check) stood out to me (positively).

Olivia Newton-John is guesting on the "panel" (they're not calling them judges) this week.

So, they're bringing contestants out in pairs gender-wise, so first up are two guys. Everyone gets a short video bio clip, a dumb nickname that's supposed to make them easier to remember (but instead we now have a name *and* a nickname to remember), & then they perform.

First is Derek Keeling (26, WV) whom they're calling "Wholesome Danny." He sings "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." He reminds me slightly of John Stamos in his face. Anyway, he sings ok, but not great.

Austin Miller (30), "Hot Danny" (ok that one's easy to remember!), says he was chubby as a kid, and then we see some of his modeling shots. He sings "Mony, Mony" - why, Austin, why?! (I detest that song, not for itself but for the 'added lyrics' that enter my mind even at mention of the title). Well, I still think he's very talented & he used the stage well (his stage experience shows), but he tries waaaaay too hard & ends up being way OTT in his performance. Bummer.

The first girl is Allis Shultz (19, TN), "Baby Sandy." She sings "I Love Rock & Roll" & is decent; what I notice most is that her voice stayed steady as she was coming down the stairs, which shows talent.

Kate Rockwell (22, OH), is "Serious Sandy." We're told she's a waitress and in her clip she says she brings "complexity" to the role. She sings "All By Myself," and I think her look is perfect for Sandy. She has a very strong voice and hits an 11-second (says host Billy Bush) glory note!

Now for the twist... wild cards! Surprise, surprise. They've brought back 2 contestants who got lots of screen time and had nice stories, but they didn't make it through the Academy for a reason...

Matt Nolan (22, NY) is "2nd Chance Danny." He sings "Pretty Woman" and definitely has a weaker voice than the other 2 guys that have sung so far tonight.

Ashley Anderson (21, TN/NY) is dubbed "Emotional Sandy." She seems very nervous and sings "Still the One," except in this case she's 'still the one' who should go back home. Interesting twist, but not much meat to it IMO.

Jason Celeya (31, UT) is "Boy Band Danny." In his clip we find out he's Mormon and a former teacher; he was in "Altar Boys" in New York and says his strength is his dancing ability. He sings George Michael's "Faith" and really doesn't have that strong of a voice (he sings technically well, he just doesn't project much). The panel says he's "too pop" (which for Idol fans is hilariously ironic!).

Max Crumm (21, AZ/CA) is the youngest guy here and is, not surprisingly, called "Slacker Danny." In his clip he says he's a black sheep and has been fired from many jobs. He sings "Summer of '69" and has so much (at least seemingly) natural talent... he uses the stage well, gives a great performance, and the crowd loves him. So far he's the one to beat!

Laura Osnes (20, MN), "Small-town Sandy," just left a local production of Grease as Sandy to come to this show. She's also newly engaged. She sings "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and really has a great vocal style.

Kathleen Monteleone (23, OR), "Spiritual Sandy," is a married art teacher who leads worship in her church. After that build-up, she sings "Suddenly I See," which prominently features some questionable (to some, including me) language in the chorus. She's a great performer, in stage presence and acting ability. I can understand that she wants to show that she's willing to do some things people (in the business) might not expect her to, but at this point I really don't think it's necessary and it comes across to me as just a bad example, so I can't support her.

Kevin Greene (22, NY), is "Bellhop Danny." In his clip he says he's just a regular guy who wants to make his family proud. He sings "Walking in Memphis" (which I love) and he has a beautiful voice (his face isn't bad either). However, I don't think he's really right for this part.

Chad Doreck (27, CA) is "Ambitious Danny." He's a soccer coach and has a band, but says "all" his friends are now on Broadway and he feels left behind. Perhaps not for long. He sings "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and is great! I would call his performance 2nd only to Max, and the crowd response seems to indicate they agree.

Juliana Hansen (23, CA), "Rock Chick Sandy" (hee!), works as an office temp and is in a band. She sings "The First Cut is the Deepest," very well, and I still adore her! She made a very good transition from the softer to stronger parts vocally.

Rounding out the night is Ashley Spencer (21, OH), "Ballerina Sandy." She sings "It's In His Kiss" well, but I'm not 'wowed' at all. I'll put her third behind Kate & Juliana.

There's another group number, this time "We Go Together." They get to do a lot of pairs dancing in this and it's just a blast to watch (which I do many times since I taped it!).

Lastly the panel is asked to give their favorites... David says Derek and Ashley S; Kathleen says Austin and Allie; Jim says Chad and Kate; and Olivia refuses to pick (cop out!). My favorites are Max (then Chad & Austin) and Juliana (then Kate). I voted a bit for all 5, mostly for Juliana because I think she needs it the most. But I expect the wild cards to go first, if people are voting at all based on talent.

AI "New York" Auditions

Also known as East Rutherford, NJ, auditions. Also known as "New Yor, New Yor."

We see guesses from various people in line as to how many people are there, but we're never told the correct answer! (Unless I missed it?) It's a lot, anyway.

We have a guest judge: Carol Bayer-Sager, award-winning songwriter. Who greatly resembles Joan Collins.

And our first auditioned is a familiar face: Ian, who also tried out for So You Think You Can Dance last summer (complete with his chinchilla boa, because he wants people to know he has money, he says). He can't (dance), nor can he sing, nor is he a "superstar" as he claims. But he is funny when he argues that, saying "you can ask my family, my friend [yes, singular], or one of my therapists...."

The first actual singer is Sarah Burgess (#8279), a 19-year old from Ohio who, we are told, lied to her parents and said that she was staying overnight at a friend's house because her father doesn't want her to pursue singing. I don't know why, because she's really good. She sings "Call Me" and I think with some vocal coaching she could be awesome. She advances, crying, and then Ryan helps her call her father, who sounds supportive enough on the phone. But everyone is still sniffling (what?).

Constantine is mentioned because there is a tall Greek woman auditioning in New York, where he did. Um, ok, but I'm not complaining. She's not very good though.

Next is Ashanti Johnson, 28, who has made it to Hollywood *twice* before! She says she's lost weight and worked very hard for this, but sings "Loving You" and is just ok. She gets very upset and dramatic when she doesn't get through.

This year's BFF are Amanda Coluccio (#2122) and Antonella Barba (#2123), both 19. Amanda, who has some vocal training, goes first with "Crazy." She's good enough to advance. Then Antonella, who's had no training, sings... what, I didn't write down (gasp!). But she's very, very good! And very pretty (and very tall). I like the tone of her voice & her vocal style; she could go far.

A guy named Clifton Biddle plays the harmonica and sings a ZZ Top song. Alrighty then.

Last on Day 1 is Kia Thornton, 27 and from NJ (#12378). She sings "Ain't No Way" (Aretha) and is great! As soon as Simon started complimenting her she got very emotional, saying something about always watching and believing/respecting everything he says. She is humbly grateful to all of them as she easily gets 4 yesses and advances.

Day 2 starts without Simon, but we still have Carol so that's 3.

First up is Jenry (like Henry, with a J!) Bejarano, an extremely attractive and mature looking 16-year old black guy who was adopted "into a Bolivian household" (in New York) at age one (#6315). He gets backstory, pictures of his family, etc. He sings "I'd Give Anything to Fall in Love" and is very good. They put him through but Randy advises him to "stay humble."

Nakia Claiborne sings "Dancing in the Street" & a slower song but fails to impress. Making a very bad impression is Sarah Goldberg, who admits to never having sung before and expects them to teach her. She goes on, and on, and wastes much of my time. Lastly in this bad stretch is Antonio Torres, Jr., who is 47 years old and sings "New Yor, New Yor." Just like that.

And Simon is back, in time for the best girl on Day 2 IMO. Jory Steinberg (25, CA, #804) is a cute gal who grew up in Canada and met the Queen. She said that like it was because she lived in Canada that she got to do that. Um, ok. She sings "Chains" and is very good. Could make Top 24.

Porcelana Patino (27, NY, #4173) is an "AI Soldier" as she has been militantly preparing for this audition. She's spent over a year losing weight and working on other things... She has a rocker chick look and a brash attitude, not to mention a physique that proves her claim. She sings Mary J. Blige's "Love without a Limit" and is good enough to advance. She seems surprised! So she's not too cocky, I guess!

There is a montage of the judges mispronouncing peoples' names, then somewhat of a Simon look-alike who sings very high soprano on Kelly's "Before Your Love." He's interesting, but not right for AI.

Rachel Zevita, 18, is an opera student (#6008). She's an interesting mix - dressing Bohemian style, she sings first rock in an angry, rough voice (Jeff Buckley's "Eternal Life," which is ok), then "Get Here" with a softer tone, and finally at Randy's request some opera. Simon says "you're all coming to Hollywood." Could be one to watch.

Ryan is having a 'fiesta' in the contestants' waiting room. Which leads to a montage of "All Night Long."

Chris Richardson, 22 from VA (#8963), sings "A Song for You." He rushes the phrasing but has a great voice and style. Plus he slightly resembles Justin Timblerlake. He advances.

Nick Pedro, 25 (#10377) made it to Hollywood last year but dropped out after he totally couldn't learn the words to "Build Me Up, Buttercup" for the group round. He says he'd never had vocal training before but has been working this past year. He sings "Fly Me to the Moon" and is very good! He gets 4 yesses and promises he won't let them down this time. After he leaves the room Paula tells Carol that they all really liked him last year & were rooting for him so were disappointed that he failed then, and hopeful for him now.

Lastly Isadora, a clairvoyant, is... well, just bizarre.

And that ends New Yor [tm Antonio]. 35 advance, of which we saw 10. And I think this is the end of the 2-hour audition shows; yay!!

AI Memphis Auditions

Tonight's one-hour episode highlights the Memphis auditions where over 16,000 contestants showed up. (As opposed to Minneapolis' 10,000 and Seattle's 9000, each getting two-hour episodes. Huh?!)

Frank Byers, 12-year old cheerleading coach (#55191) is first up and first down. I liked his version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," but the judges said it was too OTT (over the top) & that he wasn't ready.

After a few more rejections (all deserved IMO) we get the guy from the previews: Jason "Sundance" Head, 27, (#53450) is the son of musician Roy Head (he had a hit song in 1965 called "Treat Her Right"). He's also married and his wife was expecting their first child around Christmas. Anyway, he sings "Stormy Monday" and is amazing. I'm really surprised that Simon didn't have any criticism of his "look," because his goatee & hair are scruffy and he's overweight and wearing a non-flattering shirt. Maybe he figures he's more blues than pop so it doesn't matter?? Regardless, I now have my first Top 12 prediction.

Wandera Hitchye is a red-haired black gal with a nice voice, but she is sent home because she's not unique, at least vocally. She's very upset.

Danielle McCullough is a blond 18-year old (#53485) with a rough, bluesy voice. She sings "Baby I Love You" (by Aretha Franklin) and is very good. I really, really love her voice! Randy said no (huh?!) but Simon & Paula put her through. Thus ends Memphis, Day 1.

Day 2 starts with one of Paula's "biggest fans," who doesn't have the biggest talent. We also get Janita Burks, who really, really needs to look up "conservative" and "innocent" because that's how she described her look, which... well, we got more look than anyone wanted, and I'll leave it at that, 'k?

Sean Michel (#55502) is from Arizona and admits to being compared visually to, among others, Fidel Castro (hmm, could it be the long - and I mean long - hair and beard, and khaki outfit?). he sings "God's Gonna Cut You Down," a Johnny Cash song with which I'm unfamiliar. He has a good voice and advances. Later I checked out his myspace page, and I am now a fan!! He is a Christian and has a band, and I really like their style of music (reminds me of Jacobstone). I hope he makes it through Hollywood but I won't hold my breath. (Did anyone catch how old he is? I'd guess late 20's.)

Melinda Doolittle is next (#57073), a 28-year old professional background singer who is rather shy and admits she enjoys just being in the background, but wants to make herself do more things individually. Good thing, as she is awesome!! She sings "For Once In My Life" and has a lot of confidence while singing, a nice tone and style... I was bordering on chills. The judges raved that this is one of the best initial auditions - ever. They tell her to work on her confidence and if she does? Definite Top 12.

A skinny black guy says he sounds like Elvis. He doesn't, but his mangling of "Burning Love" inspires a montage of the song, which is actually funny for a change! (Most of them are boring wastes of time IMO.)

Last is Phil Stacy (#51815), 28, tall, and bald (what is it w/bald guys the past couple years?) whose wife phoned him at 4 am announcing the birth of their 2nd child. He sings "My Girl(s)" and is good enough to advance with Randy & Paula's votes. His voice & style are different and he has a nice smile; he reminds me of someone but I can't figure out who.

Of the 22 advancing in Memphis we saw 5, in one hour. Nice and succinct. Tomorrow we're back to 2 hours, but hopefully some of the New Yorkers will be entertaining....

Grease Academy

Tonight we finally get to see Grease Academy, the singing/dancing/acting 'boot camp' the contestants are put through before being whittled down to, first, the top 24, then the top 12 who'll perform 'live' for the viewers' votes! It is quite intense; Day 1 is 14 hours of classes, training, practicing, critiquing, and scoping out the competition.

On the afternoon of Day 2 the contestants have 2 hours to learn a 'new' (to them) 50's song, then they have a "Sudden death sing-off" where everyone stands in the gym and sings at the same time. David Ian will then walk around the room and touch the shoulder of those being cut, who must then immediately leave the room & the Academy. Hoo!

Many eliminated here are not familiar faces, but the ones that previously got a good amount of screentime are Jacqueline Petzel, 19 (poor dancing), Matt Carpenter, 22 (I think he was the guy of the 'couple' that got through causing his girl to dump him), Vince Ortiz, 20, and Dominic, 42 (nice but too old).

The remaining 24 then have 48 hours to prepare for their "showcase," a performance for a house full of critics and celebrities (we're shown Jai Rodriguez, who's done some Broadway, plus Marisa Winokur, Marilu Henner, Jeff Conaway, and Barry Bostwick, who've all been in Grease either on Broadway or in the movie). The showcase will consist of an ensemble number opening and then small groups performing "pop numbers chosen to mimic the emotions of Danny & Sandy." In these groups each contestant sings a solo & there's also some harmonizing; a few have a little dancing as well.

"I'll Be There" is done by Kate Rockwell, 22 (I don't think we've seen much of her yet), Juliana Hansen, 23 (redhead; I think she's adorable, but she admits she's less trained), Ashley Anderson, 21 (also adorable, I think she has the best Sandy-type personality, at least the naivete), and Laura Osnes, 20 (who?).

"Crying" - Reed Prescott, 30, Max Crumm, 21 (the one w/long hair whose 'look' has been criticized, but the 3 judges say he could be the most talented contestant there), Derek Keeling, 26 (great voice, and I like his personality/look), and Nathaniel Flatt, 25 (ah, the awesome Hispanic - I believe - dancer I caught a glimpse of last week - he's listed as "a dancer" so it makes sense that he's so good!).

"Complicated" - Kelli LaValle, 17 (she's gotten a lot of airtime & in this ep is shown getting her daily 3 hrs of tutoring since she's still in high school), Kathleen Monteleone, 23 (a blond we haven't seen much of before), Alexandra Fassler, 19 (another "who?"), and Sara Darling, 25 (another new face).

"Jailhouse Rock" - George Pellegrino, 29 (I love his 'look' for Danny - rather cocky - but he seems to have a weaker voice than others), Matt Nolan (the very untrained guy who's gotten tons of screentime; he's shown much improved after just a few suggestions from David), Nick Dalton, 26 (has a good look for Danny), and Chad Doreck, 27 (I like his look/personality very well for Danny - he seems a bit cocky - but his voice is weaker than others).

"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" - Austin Miller, 30 (my fave guy; voiceover says he's "making it look easy" during rehearsal!), Kevin Greene, 22 (haven't seen him before; has a really nice voice), Steve Calakos, 20 (his hair scares me!), and Jason Celeya, 31 (he, Chad & George are called "the trio" as they've become good friends & practice together; Jason has a unique look & could bring a different/good feel to Danny).

and lastly "True Colors" - Ashley Spencer, 21 (probably the best female singer I've seen, & maybe the best dancer, but could be too 'polished'?), Cara Hille, 21 (my early favorite but less trained than others; she & Ashley are also new BFF), Lexi Rhoades, 20 (the black gal w/very good voice & confident stage presence), and Allie Shultz, 18 (another blond we've not seen).

After deliberation, the judges call folks to the front of the stage in pairs or threes to announce who's "Not Danny/Sandy" and who's "The One That We Want." Those advancing to the live show are:

Girls: Ashley S, Kate, Laura, Kathleen, Allie, and Juliana (yay!).
Guys: Derek, Jason, Chad, max, Kevin, and Austin (yay!!).

I'm disappointed for Ashley A (though she seems to take it well), Nathaniel (well, I'm more disappointed we didn't see more of him), Cara, Matt (though I agree he wasn't ready), and Nick. I'm looking forward to seeing how they format the live shows as far as letting us see contestants' all-around talents. And hopefully they'll start pairing them up so we can see who has chemistry as a couple.

Bios & such are up at the official site. Next week's show is 2 hours starting at 7 EST, with guest judge Olivia Newton John, and "a twist". Bring it on!

AI - Seattle Auditions

Of the 9000 who tried out in Seattle, an inappropriately large percentage seem strange. Most of the bad auditions are drawn out way too long and aren't really worth mentioning. The "I Shot the Sheriff" guy is back, this time dressed as Uncle Sam singing "God Bless America." On Day 2 we get this years pair of geeky new BFF, Kenneth and Jonathon. A Taylor Hicks wannabe. And a red-haired guy who thinks he can sing like Freddie Mercury (and is so, so wrong). However, there is also quite a bit of actual talent!

The first shown advancing is 21-year old Tommy Daniels (#81045). He mentions having auditioned in 2004 and 2005; third try seems to be the charm as his "Arms of a Woman" wins him a golden ticket. He has a nice voice and a tiny cute dog; unfortunately he also has a criminal record so we may not be seeing him for long.

Another small dog owner, Melissa Stavros (#79236), tries "I Turn to You" and is decent until she gets to the high parts. She and her dog are sent home.

Next is 25-year old Blake Lewis, a guy with spiky hair who says he's a champion beatboxer. Randy asks him to do some, which he does. Apparently he also plays guitar, dances, and writes songs (check out his myspace, he's really good! though his photos remind me of SYTYCD's Travis). He sings Seal's "Crazy" and though I'd have preferred a straighter singing, he 'does his thing' and that's enough. This guy is getting some buzz; I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 24.

Now we have our first siblings of the season; two Indian teens whose dad is a classical musician. First to perform is 19-year old Shyamali (#80202). She sings "Summertime" and has a beautiful voice, and a beautiful face. Simon said she's nothing unique but Randy & Paula love her, as do I. Her 17-year old brother, Sanjaya (#80203), says his musical idol is Stevie Wonder. He sings "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and is also amazing! So they both advance to Hollywood. Simon liked Sanjaya's voice better, and perhaps he is the better singer, though Shyamali definitely has more of 'the look' (unless he gets a haircut, Sanjaya will totally own the nickname Mowgli!). They both seem like nice kids as well, each wanting to be the best but not wanting to admit it in front of the other!

The last contestant on Day 1 in Seattle is Rudy Cardenas, a 28-year old Venezuelan who now lives in LA (#59576). He sings "Open Arms" and Simon cuts him off as soon as he reaches the high part (and reaches it he does, loudly but very well!). I don't know what Simon didn't like, but Randy and Paula (and I) sail him through to Hollywood. A little web research shows him to be in a male jazz vocal group called m-pact that has performed internationally.

7 advanced on Day 1 (we saw 5). Of the 8 advancing on Day 2 we only see 2...

Anna Kearns is 20 years old and 6' 4" tall (#78163). She's a waitress. She sings "Respect" a bit shouty, but is decent.

Lastly there is Jordin Sparks, a 16-year old girl from Arizona with curly hair and a dark, pretty complexion (#80066). She sings "Because You Loved Me" and again is maybe a bit belty, but very good with a nice, strong voice. Her dad Felipe played in the NFL for the Giants & I heard elsewhere that she was on America's Most Talented Kid. With reason. I like her and predict top 45 at least.

That's it for Seattle! Next week: Memphis. And please, use the "other door"!!

AI Season 6 Premiere - Minneapolis

It's back!!!!!! :)

We begin Season 6 with clips of some of Idol's past successes, including Kelly's Grammy and Jennifer Hudson's "Oscar buzz." (She *did* win the Golden Globe last night, but I'm sure this was pretaped. Regardless, Congrats Jen!!!!!!!) That was kind of nice.

The first round of auditions shown is Minneapolis, with guest judge Jewel. This starts very poorly by lingering on the first reject's (one of many blond Jessicas to come, I'm sure) shock and tears. And lingering. And more lingering.

Jesse Holloway does not do Gary, Indiana, proud. Another guy comes dressed as a patriotic boxer and sings well in Italian, but not in English.

The first good audition shown is 16-year old Denise Jackson from Madison (#13405). Backstory: crack baby but no physical defects; rather, she was born with the "gift" of singing. And she's right! She sings Jennifer Holliday's (and now Jennifer Hudson's!) "And I am Telling You I'm Not Going" with confidence, and a not-quite-Paris-Hilton style though I'm sure they'll be compared.

Next is Colombian girl Perla Meneses, 25, who now lives in Florida after coming to the US when she was 15 with just her guitar and the clothes on her back, or something like that (#31572). A pretty girl, she's shown flirting with Ryan before her audition, and calls herself "the American dream." She sang Blondie's "Call Me," and shouldn't have. She mentioned Shakira and Randy requested she do a bit of "Hips Don't Lie," which she sang much better; well enough to advance. I wouldn't have minded if she didn't.

Next we get Jewel's best line of the night, directed toward a Johnny Cash wannabe who destroys "Folsom Prison Blues." She asked him if he was serious or trying to be funny? Hee! (He was, of course, serious. Seriously bad, but serious.)

Finally a guy who advances, deservedly: Jarrod Fowler, 27, from Arizona; a really tall bald guy who's in the US Navy. He sings "God Bless the Broken Road" fairly well; I like his voice and personality so far. Randy & Jewel comment that he was "pitchy" and did too much vocal embellishment. If he lasts long he will undoubtedly be nicknamed Josh Gracin 2.0 just because he's a military guy doing country. {shrug} There are worse things to be called.

Vocal teacher Steven Horst sings Aerosmith poorly and is told by a meaner, less gentle Randy that he should get a new job.

Then we see Michele Steingas, blond, 19, from MN, who has been shown advancing in ads (#33020). She also does country: Deana Carter's "If This Is Love." She's ok.

Dayna Dooley explains that she didn't advance in Pasadena so her boss brought her here to audition again. She sings Chaka Khan poorly and is sent to fetch her boss, who defends her saying she's having an off day. The judges ask what he's heard her sing; she faces him and sings a bit of "Fever," which she does very well. Unfortunately she can't always sing to the boss and is sent home.

16-year old Matt Sato from MN (#25077) explains that his parents can't afford to be there because all his musical activities (like show choir) cost too much. He sings "California Dreamin'" and is rough but has a nice voice and IMO some potential for growth in a competition like this. Of course he's shown tearfully calling his mom after he advances.

Rachel Jenkins, 21, works at her parents' body shop (#33062). She is also in the Army Reserves, and her husband has been in Iraq since December, 2005 (they got married that October). She sings "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" a tad off-key, but I love the tone of her voice. She advances and is my favorite from tonight's show, both vocally and personality-wise.

Another strong vocalist is 19-year old Sarah Krueger from WI. She has long, curly hair and is pretty and self-confident. She sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" very well; her voice is pretty and she has a good range. I predict she'll make is at least to the top 45.

The last female shown is this year's "Idol's biggest fan," proven by the tattoo she has based on a heart Ace Young drew for her. Alrighty then. She says she has a degree in vocal performance, but you wouldn't know it from listening to her. Next...

and last, is 20-year old Josh Flom from MN, one of many I'm sure we'll see this season who say they are rockers inspired by Chris Daughtry. He sings Fuel's "Bad Day" and has a very growly, somewhat put-on sounding voice. Simon is concerned he's too one-dimensional and challenges him to come back in 15 minutes with an Abba song. There is cute footage of him running around looking for someone who can teach him an Abba song, and he does a decent job of singing the chorus to "Dancing Queen," but the vocal sound is exactly the same. The judges encourage him to stay with his band rather than pursuing a solo career. He seems like a nice guy and is cute, and they feel bad for him, but he's just not right for Idol. He takes it ok (i.e. doesn't cuss them out or argue, much) but is obviously heartbroken.

And that's it for Minneapolis! 17 contestants advanced, of which we were shown 7 (that's 41% for any other math geeks). Eh, not bad I guess. Tomorrow is Seattle, and from what I'm hearing we'll pretty much have 2 hours of bad, but strange (which is more entertaining than just bad) auditions. Oh well; better than no Idol at all!

Please leave comments & tell me what you thought of the show! :)

Grease - Episode 2 (NY Auditions)

It's week 2, and the New York auditions. As the previews showed, there seems to be more talent here, understandably!

Another blond hopeful Sandy, Ashley is a newlywed from Nashville. Her voice cracked on the high part but they let her redo and it was good! So she's through. I think she has potential (that's my opinion for most of tonight's, noone I hate, and didn't really see enough to love anyone, yet). I also liked the redhead, Juliana, and maybe the black gal, Lexi.

The 2 big dramas centered around the very untrained, unfinished "jock" Matt Nolan, and the other Matt, who started the episode & auditions as part of a (shaky) couple with Sarah. I thought she was a better singer & neither were great dancers, but he goes to the academy and she does not, storming out of the theater and, likely, his life. Ah, the price of fame. ;-) The other Matt advances as well; he could have potential also.

Far beyond "potential" is someone I actually recognize after watching for a while, and being told that he starred as Link in the Broadway Across America tour of Hairspray (which we saw a couple years ago) - Austin Miller! He's very pretty, sings very well, dances the routine easily, and doesn't seem too cocky. So far the only guy I'm really rooting for. (Not that he needs it as much as an unknown, though, which may come into play later.) Here's an interview; he used to have a website but it may have been taken down while he's on this show.

The Academy looks to be loads of fun. Of course between now & then we have 4 hours of Idol to watch (& blog)! (And 2 more hours of 24...) Should be a great week!!

Grease: You're The One That I Want

Whew; been a while! Life & stuff. But I'm back! Happy New Year! Only 8 more days til Idol, but we got a nice warm-up in the Grease show Sunday night. I'd have liked to have seen more of the dancing, but hopefully that'll come later.

I love the musical & many of the songs; those who don't will get really sick of the show fast! & there are a few obvious take-offs from Idol. But, I think it'll work, and it's fairly short (6-8 wks?). So...

Not going to recap, just highlights. Not much to say about Chicago - only 7 advanced to "Grease Academy." Only one that stood out to me was Kelli, the 17-year old who sang "Good Morning, Baltimore." I like her voice.

LA was much better. One who didn't get past the singing but I think deserves mention was Vincent, the 17-year old who sang a Queen song. I think he should've gotten through though he probably wouldn't have gotten the part; great voice & a lot of potential though!

Of the ones still in, Kara is definitely my favorite. 21, brunette, real cute gal. I liked Rebecca's voice (blond pharmacy gal) but the dancing killed her. And Patricia... I love Patricia! She was the heavy-set gal w/the great attitude (not Sunshine, the younger, less confident heavy-set gal). Really great personality, *amazing* vocal ability, & I think she could've done the dancing. Obviously not the "look" they wanted but I think she should've gotten further.

Guys... hard to tell so far! In the dancing part there was a skinny Hispanic (I think) guy on the far right of one of the groups who was awesome, but I don't think we've heard him sing yet. Another whose name I don't know, the very last guy who sang in LA, is good, but I'm not sure about his attitude/personality, could be on the cocky side. We'll see.

So, no favorites yet - well, just Kara. Looking forward to seeing the NY segment next week; looked like we'll see a lot of major talent there. Ooh, it'll probably be up against the premier of 24! Not good. But hey, that's what VCR's are for....

RockStar

Wow, I thought tonight was a great show and from here on out it's a tough call!! I think Magni and Storm are probably in trouble soon; Toby & Ryan have really gained momentum (& for the first time in at least 3 weeks, Toby wasn't in the early bottom 3!). I'm not sure where Lukas & Dilana stand. Personally I've been done w/Dilana for a while, but she's right about her fan base. Still I'd at least like her to have to deal with being in the bottom 3 for once (especially if Ryan & Lukas aren't). I don't think Lukas is a frontrunner anymore but the guys loved him tonight and he's certainly entertaining, no matter what he does. Storm usually isn't one of my favorites but *loved* her performance tonight (though Toby helped! I wonder if Paul & Jim felt dissed by that? Hope not). I voted quite a bit for Toby & Lukas; apparently they're now my favorites. ;-) If I had to make the call I'd say Magni is gone, as I don't think they'll boot another girl yet.

America's Favorite Dancer

And the winner is...

































(as if there were any question) BENJI!!!!!

SYTYCD - Top 10

Just the basics, at least for now. This week's judges are Nigel, Jean-Marc, and Cicely & Olisa. And Cat looks fabulous.

Ivan and Martha
1) Hip-hop (Shane) to Cassie's "Me And You" - fun choreography; Ivan was really great, Martha just ok.
2) Smooth waltz (Michael Mead & Toni Redpath) to "Sandy's Song" by Dolly Parton - Very nice!! Definitely helped by Martha's flowy dress. Judges criticized technique a lot.

Allison and Ryan
1) Contemporary (Mia) - Allison said practice that this is the hardest routine she's ever done, and all the judges commented on the difficulty. It was very different, with a lot of held positions but also a lot of quick moves. They weren't together like they should've been.
2) Broadway (Tyce) to "Bye Bye Blackbird" (Liza) - Awesome, especially Allison, who looked like she stepped out of a number from Chicago! They had red outfits with white fedoras.

Dmitry and Donyelle
1) Lindy hop (Nick Williams & Kristin Sorci) to "Sing, Sing, Sing" from Swing Kids - much fun!! Donyelle set and met her goal of not looking bad next to Dmitry's "amazing"-ness. Cicely annoyed me by getting both of their names wrong ("Danielle" and "Demitrious")!
2) Samba (Mary - and Artem!) to Black Eyed Peas' "Hey Mama" - the practice footage was a riot, with Mary complaining that the guys kept speaking in Russian, and also very... visually pleasing. ;-) The performance sizzled as well and the judges liked it.

Heidi and Travis
1) Paso doble (Mary) to a piece from The Mask of Zorro - Had fun in practice. Heidi was supposed to be the cape and Travis the matador - they started with dramatice lighting as he held her (upside down) on his back; nice. Very good overall and the judges loved it.
2) Contemporary (Mia) to Celine's "Calling You" - Apart from the annoyance that this is basically a straight-up audition for Travis for the Celine show (which Mia choreographed), this was incredible. Strange - used a park bench as a prop - but I honestly got chills and teared up the first time I watched it. Travis was just amazing; perfectly communicated the choreography, and I was happy that he finally got the chance to do his specialty, as well as to be able to focus on helping someone else which I also think boosted his personal morale. Heidi struggled in practice but Mia admitted she was "creating as we go," so she didn't give her anything too challenging movement-wise, and she did great w/the acting. Even Nigel admitted he was "touched."

Nat and Benji- Jazz / hip-hop
1) Jazz (Tyce) to "Wonderful (India.Arie) - Excellent! Great to see Benji in such a different style (clothing-wise too, with loose shirt & pants), and they showed real chemistry.
2) Hip-hop (Shane) to "She's Freaky" (Pitbull) - Ooh! Very high-energy routine, and they both did great again, though Natalie was a bit better. They weren't together but the choreography was fast & I saw them watching each other at times (espec. Benji watching Nat) to try to synchronize, so it must've been difficult just to get the moves down individually. I really saw tonight that Natalie is an awesome dancer, possibly as good as Allison (it's hard to compare to Donyelle & Heidi since their styles are so different). Nigel called them on this and the audience boo'ed but both Benji & Natalie were like, "No, it's ok!" That was cute.

As for the solos, they were mostly what you'd expect...
1. Donyelle- Hip-hop, good.
2. Dmitry- ripped his shirt open at the end & Nigel laughed and laughed!
3. Ivan- Wore skate shoes. Nigel said it was a gimmick. Ok but nothing new.
4. Martha- just ok.
5. Heidi (Black Eyed Peas) - Great!! Judges loved it.
6. Travis- (Gavin deGraw's "Belief," stripped version) - again excellent, and Nigel finally gave him his due.
7. Natalie- Emotionally and technically excellent.
8. Benji (Wilson Pickett's "Lord of 1000 Dances") - Just awesome!! He started on the stairs & used that as a prop (as did Heidi). Incorporated several styles - spinning, rock, hip-hop, etc. - & played w/the audience. Judges loved.
9. Allison- Good, her usual.
10. Ryan- Good.

The injuries weren't really mentioned, though after her solo Cat asked Donyelle softly how her foot was and she said "ok." But I know Natalie was injured; after their hip-hop he had to help her up and get over to the judges! (He limped with her so it was less obvious.) Then he was doing lifts w/her during the end group freestyle. Which continue to show what a skilled and considerate partner (and nice guy) he is!!

I voted mostly for Benji, Travis, and Donyelle, but threw in a few for Heidi and Dmitry. I predict Ryan and Martha will be sent packing.

RockStar - Week 3 (7/18/06)

In the song selection clip, we see Toby & a few others trying to keep the process organized and fair, but others are more competitive; Josh says he "can't be a nice guy all the time," takes his song off the board and leaves; we also see Jill giving Patrice a hard time for taking a song.

We're told that one of the SuperNova guys will join a contestant on stage for one of tonight's songs, but who and when will be a surprise...

(Note - I'm trying to condense & just include the basics instead of all the details because of time constraints, but if anyone wants to know more just ask, as I have most of the comments/quotes in my notes.)

Patrice: Helter Skelter (Beatles) - Very good! Both the vocals and stage presence. Most of the guys liked it.

Josh: Come As You Are - He played acoustic guitar and just stood at the mic, and his voice sounds too nasal to me at first, but it was really good overall. Tried to work some sexy looks this week and was fairly successful. ;-) Dave complimented but wants more "heavy/ugly," which Josh said he'd bring next week.

Storm: Just What I Needed - Just ok vocally, and seemed to take the song too seriously, playing up the sex-kitten look. It worked for the guys though (especially Tommy, who said he'd like to "see more of" her, and she said "Tommy: 6 letters - Google").

Lukas: Let's Spend the Night Together (Stones) - Excellent! This isn't my style of music and I didn't 'enjoy' it as such, but he did a great job with stage presence ('Jagger swagger') and vocals. All the guys loved it. Tommy said "You're raising the bar, and I'm pulling up a bar stool."

Jill: All Right Now - Also very good. Tommy said "I'm definitely all right now." Gilby said it was the 1st performance of hers where he could imagine them behind her.

Ryan: Fortunate Son - Worlds better than last week, good vocals. The guys thought he should've moved around more & didn't seem to be enjoying himself.

Phil: White Rabbit - with Jason on bass!! This was a different Phil than we've seen, harder rock with a sneer (and eyeliner, which rocked, but I could've done w/o the sneer). Even when yelling his vocals held. Jason was jumping around excitedly afterward, asking how he did, and Dave had to calm him down, saying "you've already got the gig" so he could get the attention back on Phil! Who received all compliments.

Dana: It's My Life (Bon Jovi) - She also had a sneer and intensity, but hers didn't come across as genuine to me. The guys didn't think it was a good fit for them.

Toby: Runaway Train (Soul Asylum) - I loved the end, especially the (intense but spot-on) vocals. Otherwise it was just ok and the guys agreed, wanting to see more grit (my word) in his stage presence. He said he would work on that and thanked them.

Magni: Plush (STP) - *Great* fit for his voice and an awesome job. Not necessarily perfect for the band but perfect for that song, anyway, and the first time I've really enjoyed him. The guys liked; Tommy said "Magni-ficent."

Zayra: Everybody Hurts - Appropriate title for her singing. Wasn't as off-key as her others but still, fast forward is my friend. Unfortunately the guys liked it. (though Dave admitted he thought she should've gone instead of Chris last week!)

Jenny: Drive - She played acoustic guitar while singing. She sounded off key to me and looked like she was playing 'rock star'. The guys didn't love it.

Dilana: Zombie (Cranberries) - Awesome performance of that song. Not to my taste/liking personally though. Jason gave her a standing ovation and Tommy just said "Dilana - I wanna."

Best performances of the night: Patrice, Lukas, Magni, Josh, Dilana, Jill. Worst: Jenny, Zayra, Storm, & Dana.

Early bottom 3: Jenny, Dana, Ryan.

My prediction: Jenny, Dana, and Zayra, with Jenny leaving.

Results

Sorry I didn't get to this earlier, but I've been mad busy! Fun stuff but busy (saw an awesome production - Broadway Across America - of Les Miz, went to see Cars, watched House of Flying Daggers, church & stuff, cat sitting, and had lots of company!). I'll just do the bare basics but if anyone wants to know more I do have the notes, so just ask.

RockStar: Toby got the encore. He also seems like the 'voice of reason'/big brother type from the mansion footage.

Bottom 3 were Jill, who sang "Bring Me to Life" and did an *awesome* job, was the first safe. Zayra displayed more attitude, sang the same song as the night before, and was somehow kept around for another week. Chris had his best performance yet with a stripped-down "If You Could Only See." The band went on and on about his great attitude, humility, ability to take criticism and grow, etc... and somehow got rid of him and kept Zayra. Whatever.

The spoilers I've heard make me very excited for this week's performances!!

SYTYCD: Doriana choreographed the disco opener to "Born to be Alive," and it was ok but not as good as previous weeks. Donyelle did not participate at all due to injury.

The format changes were announced: from now on partners will be randomly chosen as well as dance styles. Plus we're adding numbers. Each pair will dance 2 routines and each contestant will also dance a solo (Wednesday's show is 2 hours, though my local schedule doesn't show it!). Voting will be on an individual basis only and the male and female who each have the lowest number of votes will be eliminated.

Bottom 3 couples are Dmitry/Ashlee, Travis/Martha, and Musa/Natalie. The judges were "unanimous... not happy, but unanimous" in sending Ashlee and Musa home. Not too surprising. It will be interesting to see how individual voting switches things up.

Random fun stuff

Blogger starts trading with paper clip, ends with house. That pretty much says it all for that one.

I'm currently addicted to this Mah Jongg solitaire game. I love puzzle-type games, and Mah Jongg solitaire in general, but I like this one because you get bonuses for getting both pairs of a design at once, and the graphics are really cool (with one tile set there are candy pieces that bounce away when matched, parrots that fly, etc.).

I guess that's it for now. And yes, I am going to blog the recap shows....

SYTYCD - Top 12 (7/12/06)

Unfortunately the show started a bit early so I missed the beginning! :-( I missed the intro mini-solos and the judges' introductions. Judges are Nigel, Mary (those 2 seem a given this year), and Brian (yay!!! - I really like him for several reasons, one being that he's brutally honest & gives detailed, practical feedback - or was that two?). When I came in Cat had asked Brian something and he was finishing up his comments. They were talking about someone's comments, and Brian said he was just giving a "normal guy" opinion and that was ok. I'll edit later if I find out what that was about (if someone knows please comment!). Then he said it was his job as choreographer to give them something fun and entertaining and it kept them out of the bottom 3, so he was happy. This almost has to be about Dmitry & Ashlee's contemporary routine last week- I'm guessing from this that the comment was a criticism. Anyway, on to the performances!

Musa/Natalie- HipHop by Dan, to "Promiscuous."
Dan said the routine was "built for their relationship" and it was about a guy chasing a girl; most of the practice footage was of N. or M. talking about their roles and how each would 'win' and I thought it was a waste of time. The routine itself was ok; Musa did a lot of tricks but (as I'd read in spoilers from someone who attended the taping) Natalie did more "acting" than actual dancing. The choreography in general just wasn't that interesting.

Nigel said it was "worth waiting for" Musa to be in his own element and that Natalie did what she was asked to do well, and that was to be an actress. Mary said they played the parts given to them; she complimented Musa's upper body strength but said the synchronized parts were not together or strong. Brian said he'd been waiting from the beginning of the finals to "tear [Musa] down technically," but that he couldn't! He said, "Granted you did like 15 tumbling passes," and they weren't in unison in the parts of the routine that required it. He told Natalie she's "sick" and said he really couldn't say much more; that she's "every video girl right now" and is "ready to work."

Heidi/Ryan - Cha Cha. Choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux, to "Sex Bomb" by Tom Jones.
Heidi apparently knows Jean-Marc, who describes the dance as being about "rhythm" with one's feet and hips, and a fun dance. Ryan seems a bit intimidated, which isn't helped by the fact that Heidi spends more time working and practicing with Jean-Marc than with Ryan. I love her outfit, it's sparkly and flashy and very flattering to her. A lot of the choreography wasn't in unison... perhaps the video clip influenced me, but it just didn't do that much for me, especially Ryan. However, the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Especially Ryan's family, who all had signs, and Cat said they'd all been dancing along.

Nigel mentioned Latin dance expert Louis Van Amstel (from Dancing w/the Stars) in the audience. He said that the dance was difficult, and that Ryan had "really good technique," although he also felt something was missing. About Heidi he said "Wow... just fabulous." His only criticism was that at times she scrunches her face up and looks "like a Cabbage Patch doll." (the gal who attended the taping said that after the cameras were off he said he didn't mean it in a bad way). Mary said yes, Heidi was a doll, but *not* a Cabbage Patch. She said she's a "ball of fire" and can do anything. She called Ryan a "sex bomb." Brian said Heidi is "infectious," "excellent," and that she always makes him happy when she performs, and then she starts talking and (I was expecting something bad!) then he gets even happier! Wow, that had to make her feel good. He said what he thought was "missing" with Ryan was relaxation, that he dances with too much tension and concentration, but if he would "accept" his skill more he would grow more.

Ivan/Allison - Contemporary, by Tyce Dioro to Annie Lennox's "Why."
I thought Tyce said he created this routine for them before they picked their style, which doesn't really make sense. Anyway, Allison said Ivan has been wanting to learn contemporary since the show started, and he said he's ready to "attack" it! It showed... wow!! It was really good; they both stayed in (serious) character throughout the routine, and it was hot! She was definitely more passionate and aggressive in movement (reminding me of Jason), but he was definitely good.

Nigel told Allison she's beautiful and said he was close to agreeing with Mary that she could win. He mentioned Tyce's saying that "maturity" was something to look for in the routine, and said Ivan showed more than maturity, he showed "growth." He said the choreography was beautiful and that he was proud of Ivan. Mary was actually crying! She said that while she isn't normally "mushy" at all, that it was "very touching" and "fabulous," and that Ivan has taken them on a "magnificent roller coaster ride." She said "SeaBiscuit is still in the race," and for the first time, I agree! Brian called Allison "genius" and "brilliant" and said there was nothing negative to say. He told Ivan he "far surpassed" the expectations Brian had for him, and that he had "amazing lines," the connection between them was believable, and he had "great technique" including pointed feet. Also a bit from the gal at the taping: "During the performance, you could hear multiple gasps throughout the audience, and after it ended I heard Brian say, "Wow" behind me."

Dmitry/Ashlee - Pop by Dan to "Let Me" by Rihanna.
Dan said a lot of people don't know what "pop" is but it's basically "watered down hip-hop with jazz influences." Again I was somewhat bored with the choreography (though I did like it better the 2nd time I watched it), especially Dmitry's; perhaps he wasn't given as much because he didn't have the experience?? They were both good when they had good things to do, but overall it wasn't a great performance. I did like her hair up (she looks older) and her attitude/persona was fitting.

Nigel said he didn't know what "pop" is either, that Dmitry didn't have "a character to play," and that the routine was "forgettable." The audience boo'ed, and he said he/it deserved it and he wanted to boo himself (hee!), but he didn't know what else to say. Mary loved it; she said "it was supposed to be watered down hip-hop and it was." She loved their chemistry and said they were synchronized. Brian, who also specializes in "pop," was quick to correct them and defined it as "a mix of hip-hop and jazz." It was hard to understand his comments though because he seemed to contradict himself. First he said he didn't see any jazz in it, but that wasn't their fault. He said Dmitry should have done more with his upper body, and that Ashlee played her role but stayed at one pace (especially facially) throughout the routine instead of giving it different levels. He said that it wasn't their fault though and that they "brought what they were given." I'd heard rumor of disrespect between Brian & Dan, which this seemed to confirm, as did Cat's obviously scripted follow-up question asking what he thought of the "actual routine," emphasizing that it was by Dan! He said, "I'm not going to answer that," but then he did, saying it was a good routine but "they should have brought more energy to it." Hmm, backpedaling perhaps?

Travis/Martha - Foxtrot from Jean-Luc, to "Witchcraft" by Steve Tyrell.
I didn't catch all of the practice footage due to a phone call & lack of time to rewatch everything ;-), but I did hear Martha say that Jean-Luc likes choreography with stories, and Jean-Luc was talking about reviving (the style of) Fred & Ginger. Travis was talking about how usually you get (taught) the steps of a routine and then work on fine-tuning the technique, but they were doing it in reverse, at that point having only technique and no steps (he sounded slightly frustrated/bewildered, but it was hard to tell). Oh, and it was really funny when they chose their style because Travis definitely wasn't happy to get another ballroom dance! According to the taping attendee, the clip then showed him saying, "Am I allowed to cry on camera? Or is that a Benji thing?" Bwah!! But for tv they cut the 2nd half. The performance was nice, elegant, due muchly to their costuming (her dress was awesome, she looked wonderfully feminine for a change) and the temporary disappearance of his mohawk. ;-)

Nigel said they're both "fabulous dancers". He talked about extension and how the movement in your arms & shoulders is supposed to 'keep going' but Travis' sometimes 'stopped' instead, and that Martha needed to lower her shoulders, but otherwise it was lovely. Mary said that Martha looked beautiful and was "stunning" moving across the floor; she told Travis that he "partnered her" very well. Brian said he was scared with another ballroom pick that it would be their "kryptonite," but that it wasn't. He was "very impressed" with both of them. I still threw them a few votes for support as there have been a few indications that Travis is disheartened and think a lot of people "hate" him, but I still think (especially after seeing Benji's Broadway routine) that he's the best technical dancer on the show.

Benji/Donyelle - Broadway, by Tyce, to "You Can't Stop the Beat" from Hairspray.
What fun! Tyce talked about this being a very high-energy routine and said it involves several movements from the 60's (he named them but I didn't write them down, I figured this has enough detail as is!). Donyelle was excited and said she's a "theater junkie," to which Benji replied, "in other words, 'geek'!" Apparently she started in musical theater (cool, and I never would've guessed!). They talked about how in this routine they get to just "celebrate each other" and have fun, focusing more on their "real-life friendship" than the 'romance' of some of their past routines. His hair was slicked back and between that and his over-exaggerated movements, he ended up being the 'geek' in my eyes. I'd built up really high expectations based on the song, how much I loved Travis/Martha's Broadway routine, and comments from the tape attendee, and I was rather disappointed when it came down to it. There wasn't that much of anything technically difficult, and such a large part of my love for them is based on their skills. It was entertaining but probably my least favorite of theirs so far (and I'm not a huge waltz fan). Also for the first time I didn't think their styles were perfectly matched; she was more smooth (plus the ruffly dress hid her hips) while he moved more sharply, or severely. I think she did a much better job with it than he did.

Nigel said the reason they're such a great couple is that neither carries the other, they both "come up" and "get" anything they're given. He said he's not one to predict winners (because that's "silly") but said he'll be very surprised if Benji doesn't win! Benji laughed & actually pointed to Donyelle & mouthed "she's going to win," which was sweet. Of course then Nigel said, "And Donyelle, I'll be very surprised if *you* don't win!" He said unfortunately there's only one winner, but that person will have personality, technique, and performance, and they both have all of those things.

Mary looked a bit serious and said "we have to get real... 50% of that was corny & cheesy, 40% was energetic dancing, and 10% was pulling faces... but (standing up and almost screaming) it was 100% fantastic!" Nigel stood with her and they cut away but when they cut back Brian was standing too! Benji laughed and complained that she "did that to" them/him, but "at least I didn't cry this time" and said she did, so they're even! She also said theirs was the best routine of the night (I disagree, but I'm glad she thought so!).

Brian started by saying, "Benji, I'm going to tell you this now, because I haven't told you yet... but I never wanted you in the finals & didn't think you were one of the top 10 guys." Then "I eat my words fully" and said he is "the best male dancer on the show right now"!!!!! (Wow, and woo-hoo!!) Benji just thanked him respectfully, no big shocked face or anything, he was just listening intently to his comments I think. Brian went on to say "every time you come on stage you light it up;" that he does everything he's asked to do; and that he has surpassed the contemporary/lyrical dancers (& mentioned the high kick Benji did - "you kicked!"). Lastly he said that he loves Hairspray and that they "both belong in that musical." After Brian's comments to Benji in the past I was really surprised to hear all of this, but on the other hand Brian loves good dancers (and is very focused in the studio) & was probably frustrated that Benji's goofiness interferes w/his performance at times.

A good show, though overall I probably enjoyed last week's better performance-wise (I enjoy Brian's choreography a lot more than Dan's, but also love when he's judging!). I predict (and hope) the bottom 3 will be Ryan/Heidi, Dmitry/Ashlee, and Musa/Natalie, though I won't be too surprised if Travis/Martha are there instead of Musa/Natalie. I think Ryan is almost certain to go, and normally I'd pick Ashlee for the girl, but that would leave Heidi with Dmitry and since they're real-life partners, I'm not sure they'd be allowed to partner on the show. On the other hand we're moving to more solo competition soon and I don't know what all that will entail, so it might be ok. I think Heidi is definitely more skilled than Ashlee so I hope she doesn't suffer from a 'technicality.'

RockStar: Supernova (Episode 2: 7/11/06)

Already I am seeing a difference from last season, and I think a lot of it is because of the difference in the type of band. But at this point last year I remember being very impressed and liking very much at least 2 contestants (MiG and Ty), if not more. Granted even they were perhaps a bit 'mellow' (or pop) for INXS, and definitely wouldn't fit Supernova. So... I know I won't like the style of music SN does, so the performances I enjoy the most are probably not the same as what will be best for the band. Still I can try to objectively judge what I think is best for them.

Magni – My Generation (The Who)
Good, not great; good stage presence (and one lyric + gesture were edited out). Jason said "good control," and that his stage experience shows; Tommy made a comment about liking the "ho" but not having enough "hum," and I'm not sure anyone other than Tommy knew what he meant by that (Magni didn't, but didn't ask)!

Jenny Galt – Tainted Love (Soft Cell)
Brooke introduced this as Jenny with "her own version" of the song, and Jason later confirmed that she had arranged it herself. I thought the vocal was really good at the start (softer part), and decent overall. I don't care for her mannerisms & some of the things she does on stage (it's not really her stage 'presence' I don't like, though). Gilby didn't like the beginning at all; Dave liked her (but said she looked like she needed to eat something, which I thought was somewhat inappropriate).

Jill Giola – Violet (Hole)
She was wearing a white flouncy wedding dress (the skirt was mini, but still) and carrying a bouquet of roses. I didn't like it at *all,* but it's not my style. Mr. PezKat said "She's not as good as Courtney, and I don't like Courtney." Dave liked her willingness to "get messy & dirty," but said the "Courtney impersonation ws a bit uncomfortable." Jill replied that this was her interpretation of the song and she didn't know what Courtney did. I didn't either, but Dave said she wore a white dress & had a bouquet of roses, so I don't think that was a coincidence. One of the other guys said she sings better than the screaming she did on this. Tommy said he just wanted to know if she was wearing panties.

Zayra Alvarez – You Really Got Me (The Kinks)
Ok she just needs to go home NOW, seriously. Her vocal was better than last week (but it almost had to be), but her presence & style were very strange and didn't fit the song well. Gilby said, "I can't say you didn't give it your all, but I don't think you have a clue what we're looking for in a singer." (Ouch! but true...) He asked her if she even owned any of the albums that any of them are on... and, get this, her reply was "I've heard of them... but I was in diapers then." There are hardly words to describe how disrespectful I think that was! (and the studio audience made noises that suggest they agree.) I don't care if you were in space then, do your homework!!! I still just can't believe she would be here and do that, let alone admit it.

Chris Pierson – Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand)
Well, there's a lot to say about this one. Speaking of doing homework... I know they had to choose from the songs on the board, so whoever got this would have big shoes to fill since it was, to some of us, "Marty's song," and one with which he made a big impression. He did a decent job, but his look and his voice don't mesh at all for me (both are ok, though the look moreso than the voice IMO). Dave said he felt like he was watching someone who'd won a charity event where the prize was getting to sing with a great rock band; heh. Chris interrupted, asking him for clarification, and Dave finished his thought & then summarized by saying he lacked authenticity. Another of the guys agreed, saying that Chris needs to "get down to who you are."

Dilana – Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash)
Brooke introduced this as a "stripped down" version; I'd call it an acoustic Middle Eastern version with a touch of spookiness! This was my favorite performance of the night, which surprised me because I didn't care for last week's performance at all. But it was one of the mellowest tonight and I like female singers with rough alto voices, so there you go. A couple notes were shaky but overall her vocal was good. All the guys loved it. Dave played w/her a bit & psyched her out, saying "you took a classic Johnny Cash song and did *that* to it?!" and pausing, before saying that he thought it was great!

Josh Logan – With Arms Wide Open (Creed)
In his intro Brooke mentioned last week's performance and the guys' critiques, saying "this week he chose a tune with a little more rock." Which I know got sneers from all the "real rockers" who dismiss Creed as a rock wannabe! Josh quickly said as he started that this was for his son (awww). It was good, but nothing outstanding. Dave said he's potentially "one of the greatest singers I've heard in a long time," but that this performance was just average. Jason warned him against some of his mannerisms, which he described as "ad-libbing Stevie Wonder stuff."

Phil Ritchie – If You Could Only See (Tonic)
Phil is someone else whose voice and style don't seem to mesh for me. He's fairly affected, which one could get used to with time, but for now I enjoyed his voice more, for the most part, with my eyes closed. (Though he did surprise me a few times in being much more attractive than last week; he has a great smile and nice eyes but keeps them closed a lot while singing.) The guys liked it; Dave complimented his voice but said he still needs a better stage presence. Tommy said he liked the way he sings and his "swagger," and that he's a good-looking guy. Jason said what Tommy likes, he dislikes, calling it the "almost spineless feeling" way he moves around. He said he had to close his eyes to listen to him and wants him to stand still and just sing in the future.

Storm Large – Surrender (Cheap Trick)
This was good vocally, but I don't care for her stage persona/antics. I can see her fitting w/the band though. (Without the ponytails she wore tonight; too Courtney Thorne-Smith!) Mr. PezKat thought she seemed like she was trying to force it to be heavy rock, and she's too 'bug-eyed,' but that it was mostly ok. Jason said "the energy is always infectious with you" and that she keeps the audience's attention. Dave said "you can clearly sing" and said she has "a huge voice," but thought it had Broadway elements. He said "I want you to have character, but I don't want you to be one."

Patrice Pike – Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana)
Another song with big shoes to fill, as Jordis' version was an early standout last season. Other than missing the first line lyrically (which Dave pointed out but in his usual rocker fashion then said, "who cares?") she was decent. Good vocals, and she played electric guitar. Tommy said he'd prefer her to wear it lower. Gilby said he liked that "you stay yourself, do it your way."

Lukas Rossi – Don’t Panic (Coldplay)
Brooke said Lukas would show his "softer side" with this one. Definitely a different style of song than he did last week, more acoustic & mellow. I thought his rough voice seemed in contrast to the song style, but it was pretty good (and the small falsetto part was good). Dave said he has "a foot in today's rock & roll and a foot in the future." Jason warned him about constricting his throat when singing (Tommy interrupted & told Jason to "shut up," then laughed); that Lukas needs to take care of his "instrument," and Lukas seemed to understand.

Ryan Star – Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
Mr. PezKat and I both pretty much hated this. Dave said that the song is "all about energy & attitude," and that he started out poorly but (after going into the audience & coming back) ended well. Tommy mentioned (and tried to demonstrate - seriously, his pants could not have been any lower and still be shown on tv!) Mick Jagger's "showboating" and said Ryan needs to "show me some boat!" (with some bleeping, I think)

Dana Andrews – Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf)
Her vocals were again very strong - smooth and powerful, on pitch and with good control. The performance was decent though her outfit made it look like she was trying too hard. Gilby said he was still waiting for some "dirty, dirty rock" to come out (& she said she'd bring it next time). Tommy said 4 words came to mind: "born to be mild." She got defensive & said she had leopard print, headbanging, etc... but if you have to tell us what your style is, it didn't come across (just ask Jessica on SYTYCD). Jason complimented her powerful vocal and said she has killer potential and is "great clay to work with."

Toby Rand – Somebody Told Me (The Killers)
Again a hard act to follow (Ty's version seemed to be a hit last year), but he did pretty well. I think it was arranged & sung more 'hard rock' than the original, but even without the techno pop instrumentals the rough, rock vocal came across as incongruous to me. I liked how he did the bridge and the first verse really highlighted how strong his vocals are (confirming what I thought last week). Gilby said this was the "perfect example of picking the right tunes," and that he killed it (ha!). Tommy said it's obvious from the crowd response that the girls love him, and he replied that's "lucky," because he likes girls! Cute. Dave said, and I quote: "Vocally, you are dialed." I think that means he liked it. :-)

I think the 2 best singers of the group are Dana & Toby. My favorite performance of the night was Dilana but I doubt I'll like most of the other things she does. I think Toby and Phil have potential, but at this point there's no one I really care about yet; if the show ended tomorrow I wouldn't be disappointed that I'm missing anything that's to come.

The early bottom 3 were Jill, Chris, and Zayra. My personal bottom 3 are also my prediction for voters' bottom 3: Jill, Ryan, and Zayra, with Zayra going home. If the voters put her in the bottom, and I don't see how they can't, I'll be shocked if the band doesn't cut her based on tonight's comments.

SYTYCD Top 14 - Results

The opening number is Footloose (choreographed by Mary) and it's a blast! All the guys are in jeans and black sleeveless tees, and they start out w/sunglasses on. For most of the number everyone danced in pairs and there were a lot of tricks. It was fun to see some different pairings than usual, such as Jaymz & Ashlee, Dmitri & Heidi, and Travis & Allison. It seemed like Jaymz, Benji, & Travis were featured the most but maybe that's just because they're my 3 favorites. Donyelle was hardly seen; I think they kept her at the back so that she didn't have to dance as 'hard' & could favor her injury; if that's true then I'm glad they're thinking of things like that. (Actually later Mary mentions that last year the contestants got days off but they really don't this year, and several injuries are occurring related to that: besides Donyelle's toe, she said someone has a back injury and someone else has a knee injury; she didn't say who.)

I think Cat looks beautiful tonight; her hairstyle and dress are very flattering. She has Nigel clarify some comments he made last week about the solos; he says it wasn't the fact that people improvised that bothered him, but that they didn't "put thought behind it." He said you need to think about your music, what "planes" of dance you're going to do (floor/air), etc... He said they have to "know exactly what they're going to do, *then* they can improvise." Um, Nigel? Self-contradiction much?! He also added that you "can't fall off the stage & think you can get away with it, either" (& got some boos in response). Then Dan was asked about partner (in-)equality, and he said that while Musa & Natalie are a "great couple," she definitely "picks him up" some; and that Jessica "let Jaymz down" this week. He said for the most part the pairs are working well together. So, according to the voters, which ones aren't?

Musa/Natalie - safe
Benji/Donyelle - safe

Travis/Martha - safe
Ryan/Heidi
Jaymz/Jessica
-after reviewing all 3 couple's performances and telling Travis & Martha are told they're safe, Cat says to the others, "you 4 have all danced for survival before, know how it feels to be in the bottom..." and are again tonight.

Dmitri/Ashlee - safe (and they were shocked!)
Ivan/Allison - bottom 3

When Cat had the 3 bottom couples stand together Jaymz reached over & touched Ivan's arm in encouragement, it was really sweet. Mary was shocked to see Ivan & Allison there; no big surprise. Nigel said that besides technique American looks for "entertainment" and though the swing was fun it was slow and apparently not memorable enough for people to pick up the phone. Next the solos:

Jessica - the red shorts again, sigh. It was just ok.

Jaymz - Paso Doble, cape & all! Very nice, and everything synchronized perfectly w/the music (except the end which was a bit rushed), though you could tell he was nervous. Afterward Cat asked if Nigel's comments last week influenced his choice of solo, & he said no, not really; he just wanted to do something different and fun. Cat at least loved it!

Heidi - a fun jive to Ike & Tina! In a short, fringy white dress which was just perfect for the dance. You could tell she was having a blast, & when Cat asked if she wanted to say anything to the judges she just talked about how much she enjoyed being able to dance for them & the audience (more freely, without having to count steps to match a partner).

Ryan - very good. Cat asked him if having previously been in the bottom put more pressure on their relationship, and he said no, and that Heidi is great to work with. He had the usual comments to the judges about being thankful for the opportunity, etc.

Allison - also very good. The music was slow but her moves were fast or more complex than most (read, Jessica or Aleks) have done. Cat asked how she copes w/the ups & downs (praise/criticism) and she said to just remember that every person there is amazing.

Ivan - decent, better than I was expecting. ;-) The crowd loved it. There were audio problems so I didn't catch all the Q&A, but he'd been laughing through most of it & when asked what he had to say to the judges, he said with a boyish grin & shrug, "You guys are cool!... love ya'!" :-) They all laughed, & he also said something softly about offering to shine their shoes, which Cat found very funny.

After a performance by guest artist Ne-Yo of "Sexy Love" (which wasn't bad, plus he and his 4 dancers were shown doing some interesting moves) it's time for the eliminations. Nigel does commend all of them for their solos, saying the judges felt all 6 were fighting for their lives on the show. He also says they're unanimous, at least about the girls (later he says they "became" unanimous about the guys)...

Allison is told she's one of the best all-around dancers on the show, and she's the first sent back to safety. Jessica is commended for being the first to do point work but again told we haven't seen the personality she keeps talking about. Heidi is told she has plenty of, and occasionally too much, personality. But she's obviously having fun and has good technique, so she's safe, and Jessica will be sent packing.

Ivan is brought forward first of the guys. Nigel says it was tough because he's not a great dancer (yet), except in his specialty, and that if not for his great solo tonight he would've been sent home! But as it is he's the first safe. Nigel asks Jaymz to confirm what his specialties are - ballroom, jazz, and hip-hop? Jaymz says yes, he does everything. Nigel is surprised that he would choose to "experiment" instead of showing his best stuff (which confuses me, because isn't P.D. ballroom?). Nigel tells Ryan that last week a good "technician" in Ben was lost, and Ryan similarly has technique but needs to bring the performances up. Mary would have sent Ryan home but was outnumbered by the guys, so Ryan is safe and Jaymz is sent home. Nigel tells him he's a good "all-around" dancer and that "it won't matter" in a few weeks when everyone will be receiving votes for individual performances instead of couples, as everyone will be doing solos and I didn't catch it all *or* understand what in the world he was talking about, but Jaymz just had a wonderful attitude. He actually gave Ryan a congratulatory hug immediately upon hearing that Ryan was safe! I'm sure he expected to leave, but that was just a very generous, sweet thing to do. In case you can't tell, he has become one of my favorites in the last couple of weeks, so I'm sad to see him go. I do think he's a great dancer and an even greater all-around guy, with a great smile and presence. I wish him well and hope he gets the recognition he deserves in the future.