Simon probably said it best last night when he exclaimed during the midddle of his critique of Anoop Desai that the judges "have to cast the next stage" of the show and that "we gotta put some personality through, not just the boring singers."
Yes, it's only taken eight seasons for him to admit it live on national television that it's not just about singing, but he finally did it so that's all that counts. Of course everyone has known and acknowledged this for years, but the judges have never been this blunt about the topic. Simon gets props for those few lines last night.
As for how the wild card round went, there were probably three deserving contenders (Anoop Ricky Braddy and Matt Giraud), but only two made it through. Megan Corkrey's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" was only a smidgen better than her last performance, and Jasmine Murray's "Reflection" was just average. Jesse Langseth wasn't much better, though, and Tatiana del Toro was as good as she was the first round, meaning she probably should have made it over either of those girls.
But of course, the producers don't want Sanjaya Pt. 2 plaguing this already disappointing season, so she was left to weep at the feet of the four judges (p.s. does anyone think Tatiana would have been perfect for the lead female role on FOX's new show Glee? When I saw that commercial last night, all I could think of was Tatiana playing the part).
Another thing that didn't help Tatiana's cause was her BS answers to Paula about her accent and to Simon about why she sang the same song three times. It's not like she was going to go through anyway, but really, she just had a case of clueless, sloppy diharrea of the mouth.
The show itself was rushed, rambled and rattled, with the only "exciting" part being when Anoop was told he'd be the 13th finalist this season. The only problem is the rumor of a Top 13 had been circling since early January, so many were not all that surprised. Besides, when Jasmine made it in first we knew something was up because the judges had been raving over Megan, Matt and Anoop the whole night.
Simon seemed to be in an especially good mood last night, something that isn't found very often, which makes me wonder if he actually was listening to the performances or if I was just running his preconceived critiques through his head. Paula was especially flighty, while Randy seemed to copy everything Simon said. Kara was just...there.
IDOL LIVE's predictions for the Top 36 finished 10-13 thanks to a perfect prediction for last night. For my original Top 12 prediction before even hearing a single semifinals performance, I finished at 8-12 (the unforseen 13th spot will count as Megan, since I did have Jasmine, Anoop and Matt in my original Top 12). Not too shabby if I do say so myself.
Showing posts with label wild card. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wild card. Show all posts
Friday, March 6, 2009
Analysis: They're casting the show, alright
Thursday, March 5, 2009
IDOL LIVE Blog: Wild Card (3/5/09)
After last night's exciting and at the same time infuriating episode we get to hear from a select few failed semifinalists one last time that have been handpicked by the judges in the hopes of redeeming themselves in front of America. The blog begins at 8 p.m. ET.
Tonight's blogcast will feature music from Ayla Brown, Chris Daughtry, David Archuleta, Jennifer Hudson and Katharine McPhee.
IDOL LIVE predix: Wild card selections
These predictions should be the easiest ones for the whole season. It could not be more apparent by the judges' inclusion of such cannon fodder as Jesse Langseth and Ricky Braddy in their selections as to whom they already chose for the final three spots of the Top 12. Tonight's pointless episode is nothing more than an hourlong, 20-million-viewer-attracting bottle of Elmer's for commercials. But hey, what else are we to expect from this show?
Read my predictions below.
Here are you preconceived wild card finalists:
>Megan Corkrey
>Anoop Desai
>Matt Giraud
If necessary...
>Jasmine Murray
Megan making it is a 100% lock. She has everything the judges (especially Simon) want in a female contestant, and if they could languish her with praise after her sputtering, awkward version of "Put Your Records On," they will put her through regardless of what she sings tonight.
Anoop should have made it over Michael Sarver in Group 1, so this will be a way for the judges to cancel out that embarassment. His name alone should have got him in the first time based on how this season has been going.
Matt Giraud will pick the right song, which will grant him the spot because they all loved him in Hollywood Week. Unless he sings "Viva la Vida" again, he's going nowhere but the finals.
The reason Jasmine is listed above as a possible pick is if they follow through on what has been a rumor circling for months now that the "big twist" we are all awaiting for the Top 12 is that there will not be a Top 12, rather there will be a Top 13. This would be a first in the series' history and probably should not be a possibility because it would screw everything up. But if in fact they do follow through on the threat, Jasmine will get it so long as she sings something by Rihanna. If she does not do this one simple thing, she can kiss her spot in a theoretical Top 13 goodbye.
How's that for a wild card showdown?
I am 6-9 in picking the Top 12 advancees after last night's predictions, so it doesn't really matter anymore whether or not I'm right in terms of reaching for an A. Looks like I'll have to settle for a C-.
Analysis: Judges blow it big time with wild card picks
This season was already going down the tubes, but the judges last night all but killed off its saving grace with their wild card selections. Sure, it was bad enough when the very competitive Group 3 had to let only three people into the Top 12 via America's votes, especially considering two spots were virtually reserved for screen time favorites Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre. Jorge Nunez making it over Ju'Not Joyner and Felicia Barton was nothing outrageous, but he will be a waste of a spot and will exit relatively early in the finals. But when the judges only chose one from the group, Von Smith, to compete in tonight's wild card, something went horribly wrong.
The judges' motives are so transparent it's not even a matter of to what degree their favoritism is lying in the shadows, it's just plain out there for everyone to see. They purposely chose three average to forgettable girls so that it does not look so bad when they go with Megan Corkrey. This is important because tonight's "sing for their lives" spectacle has no bearing on whom the four horsemen will choose, it's all for show and to give FOX another win on a night they normally would lose to the other networks (plus it's a killer lead-in to Hell's Kitchen).
While Tatiana del Toro's vocals are actually pretty good, she was brought back for the drama, pure and simple. And people fall for it, which is sad, but what can you do? The stranger picks are Jesse "don't you just love those drum claps?" Langseth and Jasmine "you better sing a Rihanna song" Murray, each of whom have no shot at being one of the three picks unless the producers pass a law requiring semi-gender equality, making it a 7-5 ratio rather than a more likely 8-4 ratio.
What is embarassing is that the judges did not see the point of bringing back Felicia and Kristen McNamara, each of whom are leagues better than the four girls that have a second shot tonight. This is further proof that all they are concerned about is having Megan make it, and for that reason they are just plain lost. Just the absolute wrong way to go about choosing wild card spots.
As for the guys, everyone they picked was deserving except Von, who should have ceded his spot to Ju'Not. It's surprising that there will be no black male in the Top 12 this season, but it worked in Season 5 so whatever.
No matter what happens, from here on out it's all about Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert and Lil. If these three are not the final three of Season 8, that would mean there had to have been a miracle of sorts because this season is more predictable than all the rest combined.
Hopefully there are no more angry analyses on here for this season. Something tells me that won't be the case, though.
IDOL LIVE's predictions are now 6-9 for the Top 36 and 5-9 for the Top 12. At least we're batting above .500 for now.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Poll of the week: Wild card round makes a comeback
IDOL LIVE readers are sure glad the wild card round is being brought back for the eighth season of Idol, at least that is the conclusion that can be drawn from the results of the latest poll of the week, which was extended by six days due to the Christmas holiday. That change was voted the one fans are most looking forward to regarding the forthcoming season, as it received 32 votes (30%) of the 105 votes cast.
The next most popular change was the addition of Kara DioGuardi as a fourth judge, as that option garnered 23 votes (21%). There were some that were unsatisfied with the changes that are being made, however, as 20% of the votes cast were to voice the opinion that some are not looking forward to any of the changes.
In this week's poll of the week, IDOL LIVE readers as asked to vote for their most memorable Idol moment of 2008. You will have exactly eight days to vote.
Kara DioGuardi added as a judge 23 (21%)
Auditions shortened to 3 weeks 5 (4%)
Hollywood extended to 2 weeks 8 (7%)
Wild card round brought back 32 (30%)
Top 36 instead of Top 24 5 (4%)
Elimination of 'Idol Gives Back' 3 (2%)
More behind the scenes footage 8 (7%)
I'm not looking forward to any changes 21 (20%)
Total votes: 105
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