Here’s a fun coincidence for you…last night I volunteered at KVIE again, running the teleprompter during their pledge drive. The show was the inaugural presentation of Tony Bennett’s new DVD, Duets. Imagine my excitement to hear that this great legend is working with the AI kids for this week’s program! I tell you…if for nothing else, the honour of working with some great musical legends is worth being on the show. I mean, last year working with Barry Manilow must have been stellar. But enough of my fawning over the greats…let’s get on with the program.

According to most newsgroups, people are really only interested in Sanjaya’s hair this season, and I can understand why. I was mentioning to Idol 2007 that I’m really just not feeling it this year. I mean, there are some great singers, namely Melinda, Jordin, LaKisha, and Gina, but over all, there just isn’t the same level of excitement as last year. Alas, my addiction continues…let’s take a look at tonight’s show.

As usual, we begin with the glorious opening sequence, which I absolutely refuse to fast forward through. It’s the ring tone for my mobile phone and I freely admit that I’m addicted to it. But that’s really neither here nor there…let’s move on :-).

This…is American Idol. (pause for opening sequence, and pause for a microphone flub and a camera flub when they try to zoom in on Randy and Paula)

What’s up with Simon’s microphone pulling his shirt down so far in the front we can almost see whether he’s got an innie or an outtie? Off we go to the Tony Bennett video montage. Again…what a legend. 150 records, 50 million sales, 15 Grammy’s, 80 years old, and a few clips from Duets.

Top 9 are standing at the piano waiting for him to arrive, and thankfully, Sanjaya’s hair looks as normal as it can look. Of course they are all thrilled that he’s there, and I’m thrilled that they are going to be singing standards tonight.

Blake Lewis - “Mack the Knife” - Tony really wanted him to get into the meaning of the song instead of playing with the beat. Blake has heard this type of feedback before…will he listen? He does look nice in his sport coat and blue/white tie, but I regret to say that I’m no longer impressed. Performance wasn’t sincere and he continues to look arrogant/pissed off when he sings, with that little crooked mouth thing he does. And it doesn’t help to spin around on stage and snap your fingers Blake. Blake doesn’t deserve to have Idol 2007 have his baby. I’m sorry - the judges were wrong to like it.

Phil god how I hate his head Stacey - “Night and Day” - Well. Last week Phil actually did rather well, and Tony even said he was a “real good singer”. He may be, but I’m sorry, seeing Moby in a suit and singing a standard just did NOT do it for me. Pitchy parts of the song, yawn, yawn, yawn. He looks like he has a disease, and I mean that in the nicest way. The ending, however, was actually quite nice, and I caught myself getting ready to smile. Randy didn’t feel the connection (duh - there wasn’t one); Paula shocked Simon by comparing Phil to Frank Sinatra but wants Phil to have more joy in the vocals; Simon thought it was like a funeral parlor song. Spot on Simon. Phil it doesn’t help to try and play up to singing to your wife…it still wasn’t there.

Melinda Doolittle - “Who Could Ask For Anything More” - Tony told her she was the best all day…well yes, duh. Holy heck doesn’t Melinda look fantastic? I love the hair, love the outfit, and love her smile. Great choice of song for her, because it started out soft then kicked it up into high gear, then brought it back into a swanky and sassy ending. I mean, won’t someone just sign her already and we can move on? Randy loved it of course; Paula just repeats what Randy says; Simon had to bring it down with the first part being cabaret but the second half being great. “I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to criticize you,” said Simon.

Chris Richardson - “Don’t get around much any more” - Did anyone notice that when they were heading to break and we saw Chris and Jordin waiting in the wings…was he packin’? I think he was. But let’s talk performance…cute hat. Viewer question: “What do you consider most when choosing a song?” Answer: “do something you’re comfortable with, then what the audience will like”. Gosh he’s got incredible arms, and the outfit was sassy with the suspenders swinging, but I will once again point out that his voice never changes. He’s a great singer but I worry that his tone will hold him back. Randy loved it; Paula loved it; Simon liked it. And oh those arms.

Jordin Sparks - “On a Clear Day” - Tony let us know that “she sang very much in tune”…I suppose that’s a good thing to do if you’re on a singing competition :-). Can I say that I absolutely HATE her outfit. What is up with the vest that only reaches to the bottom of her breasts? Is that the new style, kind of like those ridiculous baby-doll dresses? What ever happened to full length anything? I mean…capri’s, baby-doll dresses and half-vests? But I’m completely off topic. Jordin was awesome. I love her voice and she hit every note right on target. Great energy and great crowd working, and the last note was simply amazing (but the microphone feedback was not). The judges loved it (except for Simon).

Gina Glocksen - “Smile” - Is it just me or does Gina look like she might be pregnant? She was a little puffy tonight. Tony even got a little emotional (though it was because he dedicates this song to the fighters in Iraq). I miss the rocker chick, but I know they had to do standards this week. Where is my leather clad Gina? She looked almost matronly tonight - perhaps it’s the baby. I do love the braids though, and the bottice part of her outfit was sexy…but I was bored. Song choice only…not the singer.

Sanjaya Malakar - “Cheek to Cheek” - Well, I think I’m about to be nice for a change. I actually liked his slicked down hair. The white tux and the hair actually fit with the theme of tonight, and I liked them. However, that’s where my like ended. Tony thought that Sanjaya brought something different every week, and Sanjaya informed us that his goal this week was to “let America know that he really can sing“. Can someone tell me why this wasn’t his goal when he auditioned for the show? Why wait until the Top 9? Snore. Again his voice was tentative and hesitant. It’s almost like he’s scared to death to be on stage vocally. Performance is there but vocals seem subdued for some reason. Randy said he couldn’t even comment on the vocals, but that Sanjaya had turned into a great entertainer. Stealth way of saying that his singing is crap but his performance is good. Didn’t I just say that? Simon summed it up with “incredible”…and no…that isn’t a good thing America.

7.4.7 - that’s right, we had a Transformer’s movie preview at this point, and can I just say that I can not WAIT for this movie!!!!! Ok, back to the show.

Haley Scarnato - “Ain’t Misbehavin’” - Green. That was the colour of her outfit. Now…I like green, but this was insane. Viewer question: “Are you more nervous singing before the crowd or waiting to hear the judges comments…” Answer: “waiting to hear what Simon has to say is always insane”. Simon was non-plussed by this, as expected. I liked the soft beginning, but I did not like that she was out in the audience. Stay on stage please. She doesn’t look like a preacher’s wife this week, thankfully. The song kicked it up a bit then got swanky, but unlike Melinda’s swanky song, Haley couldn’t really pull it off. She’s too pretty for swanky. I think America will like her this week though because she tried to kick up the sex factor. Who was her mega-hot “friend” in the audience?? Woo woo! Simon, “you’ve got good legs…it was a little bit pageant-y”. Yes, quite.

Who was all over Ryan when we came back from break? Was that guy drunk? I think poor Ryan has a stalker.

LaKisha Jones - “Stormy Weather” - Closing the show tonight was our other power-singer, and as usual, she kicked it out of the theatre. Not only can that girl sing, but she’s got a sassy outfit on too. I love the tone of her voice, and I’ve said it before, she reminds me of Jennifer Holiday quite a bit. I love how the camera didn’t expect her quick shifting around and had to catch up with her. Excellent, superb, wonderfully powerful performance. Who doesn’t just love her? Can’t think of anyone - all the judges absolutely loved it.

Tomorrow night, one of these folks is heading off into American Idol oblivion, except for the tour. See you all then for the results show!

This sarcastic entry was posted on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm and is filed under American Idol, Music, Television. You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.