GONE TOO SOON: EMILY PIRIZ--AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS RECAP

GONE TOO SOON: EMILY PIRIZ—AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS

No Frontrunner, Attractive Teen At Least Brought Energy

Turns out not even the United States Marines could save a contestant on this increasingly-subpar season of American Idol. Almost a full day after a video tribute from her deployed beau brought tears to her eyes before her Top 12 performance even started, 18-year-old Emily Piriz was eliminated in a twist that wasn’t shocking, but still registered as unexpected.

With American Idol still reeling from a throughly bland performance night that qualified as one of the worst episodes in the show’s 13-year history, a great amount of Thursday night’s hour-long results show was put into damage control. First, a video was shown of the contestants at a post-performance dinner, talking over their feedback from the judges and encouraging one another on making it even this far. Then former judge Randy Jackson dismissed current judge Harry Connick Jr.’s tendency for brutally-honest, hard-hitting feedback. Harry—who’s probably Idol’s most important judge since Simon Cowell and easily the most interesting person on the show this year—then immediately went into a mini-rant about how he wants to see the contestants succeed, but he isn’t around to braid anyone's hair: “I was hired as a judge; I have a very short amount of time to be very specific with the information that I think can help you grow. I don't need to belabor the different ways in which you're all talented. [So I’m thinking] what can I tell you in response to your performances that can help you grow?”

In the wake of Harry’s perfectly legitimate explanation (which shouldn’t have needed explaining anyway—the judges this year have actually been very helpful and given practical tips to almost every contestant), host Ryan Seacrest introduced a special video in which one of Louisiana-native-Harry’s favorite people—New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees—playfully called Harry out, saying he needed to take it easy and cheer up. Connick was delighted with the tribute.

After a bit more dialogue between Seacrest, Harry, and Harry’s fellow judges, Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez, Idol reminded everyone that this show really does produce talented superstars, by trotting out Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips, who has either the best or most awkward name in the history of reality TV stars. Phillips blew the doors off the arena with a fantastic performance of his new single “Raging Fire”.  True, Phillips makes weirder expressions than even this season's resident weird-o, Alex Preston, but he still showed this season’s slightly woebegone group how it’s done, singing with palpable energy and undeniable passion. Phillips rocked hard, and he was followed (one commercial break later) by Brit soft-rock band Kodaline, a pseudo-Coldplay group discovered by Randy Jackson. With a steady, acoustic sound and lots of falsetto, Kodaline was pretty great, too.

And, finally, there were the results. Raspy-voiced Jena Irene got to sit on one of the Bottom Three Stools of Potential Doom with Emily, as did low-wattage crooner MK Nobilette, who was in the Bottom Three for the second week in a row. Emily was far more a surprise in the Bottom Three than either of the others. Jena was decent, but she opened last night’s long, slow, unimpressive lineup with a performance that wasn’t her best. And MK, not learning from last week’s Bottom Three appearance, again went with a headliner number that was beyond her abilities. Emily, meanwhile, had the audacity to perform a Jennifer Lopez showstopper, “Let’s Get Loud”, and, though both Harry and Keith thought the performance was a little “all over the place”, JLO herself loved it and called it a pleasure to watch. With JLO’s vote, relative safety since the whole “Ooh La La” mini-controversy, and her boyfriend’s shout-out video, Emily definitely seemed destined to move ahead. But when Jena was sent back to safety and Ryan cryptically asked MK what she would do differently if she got the chance to perform on the show again, the writing was quite clearly on the wall.

It’s a shame. Emily was nowhere near one of this show’s frontrunners (none of the women this year, with the possible exception of Majesty Rose, seem like viable contenders for the Idol title), but she had, at least, brought energy and color to her performances, from “Ooh La La” and her “Glitter in the Air” Pink cover to “Let’s Get Loud”. I had actually just started to think of her as one of the more interesting, watchable girl contestants.

I’ve got to believe next week is MK’s last chance, after two consecutive stints in the Bottom Three (and she was just saved by Emily’s lower vote total). She looked fully resigned to her fate as she stood with the more emotional Jena and Emily in the Bottom Three, ready to be cast out, and has been repeatedly called out by Harry for not even seeming like she wants to be on the show. Two short weeks ago, her John Legend rendition was the best thing to come out of a hideous Top 10 Girls night, but her laid-back crooner range does not translate to big numbers. Expect a return to that form in next week’s intriguing advertised theme “Songs From the Cinema”.

Yeah, I’m legitimately surprised. One prognosticator I read today predicted Emily would be eliminated unless her USMC shout-out saved her neck, but it didn’t. I really wasn’t expecting her to go so soon.

**And by the way, though I can tell the judges were surprised to see Emily on the chopping block, I knew there was no way they would use their save this early in the season. Sorry. Judging by her expressions, Emily was truly crushed, but alas.**

And now, after a disappointing week in which every contestant struggled to stand out, here are my Power Rankings:

1. Caleb Johnson—I have a hard time picturing Caleb winning this season, but he has this season’s best voice and best knack for performing, which is going a long way right now. The judges will get less and less enthused by each shouty rock number from here on, though; let’s see him try something slower.
2. Majesty Rose—This week’s half-good/half-bad performance was a misstep, but Majesty is so cute and so obviously talented, she should recover easily.
3. Dexter Roberts—Is he a real Southern superstar or just another Country Joe? Dexter hasn’t proven to have any X factor dozens of today’s country stars don’t already have, but his solid, mellow performance this week reinforced his natural twang and strong voice, and his voters have come through in spades so far.
4. Sam Woolf—All Sam needs to do is show up; he doesn’t even need to open his mouth…No, he does, and he needs to perform with much more energy, but this seventeen-year-old tween girl pinup is going to ride his squealing fan base a long way.
5. Alex Preston—At least he screwed up a song people knew, right? Alex’s awkwardness took him and his performance over this week, but he’s clearly not sorry about doing it his way, and he still hasn’t sniffed the Bottom Three.
6. Ben Briley—Ben’s quirky, he over-sings, and his favorite food is deviled eggs (!!), but he has consistently proven to be one of this show’s more watchable contestants.
7. Jessica Meuse—She took a drubbing from the judges this week, but after getting solid support three weeks in a row, singing three very different kinds of songs, she’s at least someone we can take sorta seriously as a “contender”.
8. CJ Harris—CJ’s not particularly original or energetic, but he’s got a good voice and he’s super likeable, and one senses he could give us a breakout performance one of these days.
9. Malaya Watson—Shew! The Adorkable Girl bought herself a much-needed mulligan this week. Her youth is showing itself more and more, but she does have the pipes to be consistently memorable.
10. Jena Irene—Her Bottom Three appearance wasn’t a surprise. Jena’s got a good voice, and her going first this week was a bit of bad luck, but this Wild Card contender will have to keep Bringing It if she wants to stick around.
11. MK Nobillete—How much longer, MK? She admits she’s always had trouble “connecting”, and Harry questioned her competitive desire on this show with reason. She’s likeable and she has a very pleasant tone of voice, but, even if your ignore her Bottom Three appearances the past two weeks, I think she’s out of her depth on this show.

THE SLEEPY 12--AMERICAN IDOL REVIEW

THE SLEEPY (TOP) 12--American Idol Performances

Timid Contestants Thoroughly Unremarkable in Snoozefest

As Performance Night for the 12 remaining contestants on American Idol drew to a close, judge Jennifer Lopez called out the night’s singers, saying: “We need the ‘Wow’. You need to Wow us! We need Powerhouse performances! Think about what showcases your voice the best…it needs to Be There!” Sure, it was another bit of advice from one of the judges (JLO has partnered with Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban this season) of Idol—whose role this year has clearly been expanded to mentor/teacher, given the very practical advice they’ve been giving—but it was also a cry for help, in my opinion from the Idol producers...

“Please step it up! We are competing with The Voice here; this show is all about the contestants; we don’t have fun, sexy judges like Adam Levine and Blake Shelton (and Shakira) to keep viewers tuning in if the music isn’t good!”

Paraphrased, but still. Wednesday night’s Top 12 performances—themed “Home”—were an unfortunate reminder of what an overly-earnest performance show like Idol can be at its worst. Absent the cool spinning chairs, head-to-head face-offs and cackling A-list judges of competitors like The Voice, Idol has only burgeoning performers to keep people watching, and if those burgeoning performers aren’t interesting, well….Basically, Top 12 night was a snooze, with words like Timid, Unremarkable, Bland, Colorless and Safe all competing to be the headlining adjectives in my two-part title of this article. Instructed to sing songs that remind them of/encapsulate the meaning of their hometowns, the contestants get all of a B- for effort in a night that saw most performers do just enough to get the audience to cheer on their behalf, but not much more. Serviceable is another word, one I forgot to mention above. Forgettable is another.

Jena Irene, 17

From a Detroit, Michigan suburb

The girl with the really black hair and the funky-weird voice took a crack at a more uppity number, singing K.T. Tunstall’s “Suddenly I See”. She showed some more energy, as the judges noted, but her raspy vocals are much better suited (and more exciting to hear) to singing ballads, as they also noted. Underwhelming on the opening number on an underwhelming night isn’t something you generally want to do. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Probably in danger. Jena’s got some real talent, but she got into the Top 13 on a Wild Card, proving her voter support isn’t as predictable as some of the others. She needs to be better.

Alex Preston, 20

From Mt. Vernon, New Hampshire

The quirky guy with the guitar kept the guitar and the quirks this week, but bringing both those defining traits to a rendition of Gavin DeGraw’s upbeat hit “I Don’t Wanna Be” was a bad idea. From over-enunciating the first few lines to slurring others, Alex stumbled bad, with his self-professed awkwardness proving self-defeating this time around. The judges weren’t impressed, labeling the performance “off”, “not your best” and noting the “instability”.  Grade: C

Fortune Forecast: Probably safe. Alex has cruised thus far despite his off-beat style and different looks. That said, this was his first performance that wasn’t worth at least giving a second chance if you weren’t a fan the first time. The fact that he went second on a long, slow night also didn't help.

Jessica Meuse, 23

From Slapout, Alabama

She has pink hair and she’s from a tiny town; she also amped up the glamour this week, with her pink-and-black locks wavy all the way down. This year’s resident rocker chick tried something softer, going with Dido’s “White Flag”, apparently one she usually plays for her gigs. It didn’t have the same old-school rasp as her performance last week. I thought it was decent, but the judges vehemently disagreed, calling it “blasé” and “distracting” and starting a night-long debate whether it’s better to really mean what you’re singing even if you’re off pitch, or sing on-pitch with a lack of emotion. Hmmm. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Probably safe. I was surprised by the judges’ backlash (though I hadn’t yet fully realized the mediocrity the night would sink into), because I thought Jessica seemed pretty comfortable with it. Jessica’s talented and memorable enough that I can’t see her going home yet.

Dexter Roberts, 22

From Fayette, Alabama

One of only two contestants to get unbridled praise from the judges on this night, country boy Dexter showed his softer side with a rendition of “Lucky Man” by Montgomery Gentry. He still has yet to do anything that really distinguishes him from the dozens of country artists I hear on the radio every day—be it his voice, his attitude, or some other quirk—but he’s got a solid voice and we know what we’re getting each week. The judges praised him for showing vulnerability and picking “the perfect song”. Grade: B+

Fortune Forecast: Safe with a capital S. If he cruised through last week when he opened the show in pretty poor fashion, he’ll be fine this week, when he was arguably the best performer. I can’t see Dexter winning this season, but I can picture him making the Top 5.

Emily Piriz, 18

From Orlando, Florida

The nerve on that girl! First she tried to sex up Idol as a 17-year-old, singing “Ooh La La”, then she sang Pink last week and tried to make it a nice girl song, and then she sang a Jennifer Lopez song (“Let’s Get Loud”) in front of Jennifer Lopez! Emily Piriz is legal now, and, though Harry and Keith thought she got overwhelmed by the music and the runaway train energy of the song, JLO herself liked it, and isn’t that praise enough? If you ask me, Emily’s becoming one of the more consistent, watchable performers on the show (certainly among the girls). Grade: B

Fortune Forecast: Do you think the sickly-sweet “Love you, babe” video from her Marine boyfriend will help her stick in people’s minds? I don’t see Emily going on to win this competition, but she’s been solid enough the last few weeks when a lot of people have been terrible, so I think she’ll move forward.

Caleb Johnson, 22

From Asheville, North Carolina

By now, we know what we’re getting from Caleb: howling, hair-whipping, rock concert pyrotechnics and a more fully-realized performance than some of his fellow contestants can dream of putting on. It’s not always original, but it’s nice these days, when most of the field is flailing. He sounded radio-ready again singing “Working Man” by Rush, his self-professed favorite band. He sings with utter conviction and he’s the one who hasn’t disappointed yet, though the judges are onto something when they say he needs to prove he can do something other than straight-up rock. Grade: B+

Fortune Forecast: Safe. Caleb doesn’t strike me as one of the “Most Popular” contestants on the show right now, but he’s certainly been delivering consistently, and that’s more than others can say. He’s been showing them how to do it; he’ll be fine.

MK Nobilette, 20

From San Francisco, California

For the second week in a row, I watched MK perform and thought she has a great sounding voice, but she just doesn’t have the power, personality or stage presence to pull of a big number. She just doesn’t. When her cover of Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” was in its low-key opening stages, she sounded great; as soon as she tried to go bigger and dig into the song, it failed, which was also true of her performance last week. And her crooner tone sounds especially bad when she tries to hit notes she can’t. Grade: C+

Fortune Forecast: Despite my own reservations about her Top 13 performance, I was surprised MK was in the Bottom Three last week. Her performance this week was definitely better, but not great. Arguably the least dynamic contestant now that Kristen is gone, MK might survive this week, but she’ll be gone by the time the real competition starts.

CJ Harris, 23

From Jasper, Alabama

Just as the same criticism seems to apply to MK each week, so the same words describe CJ Harris each week—safe, a perfectly-fine cover artist without a wisp of originality. He sang John Mayer’s “Waitin’ on the World to Change” just fine, but that’s what CJ’s performances always are—just fine. He’s a perfectly pleasant guy, but, along with MK, he’s among this season’s least-interesting.  Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: I was surprised CJ didn’t sniff the Bottom Three last week; I guess it doesn’t hurt that he’s at least choosing to cover well-known songs by the likes of John Mayer and Darius Rucker. He won’t make the Top Five this season, but if he made it through last week, he should be safe again.

Sam Woolf, 17

From Bradenton, Florida

And the hits just keep on coming. MK’s not dynamic enough, CJ’s always in his safe zone, and this year’s Girl Magnet, Sam, is a great singer but a sub-standard performer. He sat on stage surrounded by adoring female fans as he sang “Just One” by the Blind Pilots, and I guess it was okay; I was just distracted by the incandescent, adoring admiration shining on the faces of all the girls within arm’s reach of him. While Keith Urban said he’d buy Sam’s record, Harry hit the nail on the head when he said “I’m starting to feel like there’s one beat when you sing…you need to try something else”. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Sam’s not going anywhere, not when girls swoon at the very mention of his name. He has a very good, refined voice that’s always pleasant, but he’ll need to show some energy and some range to be a real contender.

Malaya Watson, 16

From Southfield, Michigan

In desperate need of something to improve her fortunes from last week (only Kristen’s lower vote total kept her on the show), Malaya sat at the piano for three-quarters of her rendition of Tamala Mann’s “Take Me To the King”, and got unanimous praise from the judges. Toning down the fireworks gave her the chance to show off the range of her voice, which is incredible (piercing, yes, but incredible). Well, she gave it a shot. Will it pay off?  Grade: B

Fortune Forecast: This is tough. Malaya stood out in my mind as one of the most talented contestants up until last week, when she deservedly wound up in the Bottom 2; problem is, once you reach that low point on this show, you rarely recover for long. Despite the judges' praise, I wouldn’t be surprised to see her there again.

Ben Briley, 24

From Gallatin, Tennessee

One of the contestants who’s doing the best at standing out, Ben Briley toned his own considerable energy down a good bit to sing Chris Nail’s “Turning Home”. JLO liked it, Harry and Keith weren’t huge fans. I thought Ben showed he actually has a good voice when he’s not screeching or going full-tilt honytonk like he has in the past. Grade: B

Fortune Forecast: Safe. I don’t know if he’s one of the most talented contestants, per se, but Ben stands out, and I know we’re going to see him again.

Majesty Rose, 22

From Goldsboro, North Carolina

Last week, it was Jena who sang a Coldplay song; this week, it was Majesty Rose. Singing “Fix You”, Majesty showed that she can sing pretty much anything, but going from an intimate, heartfelt ditty to a big, loud ballad mid-performance cost her some points, both with me and the judges. She had it down until she went big, even though she does have the voice; it just sucked the emotion right out and got plain old noisy. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Safe. She went last and everyone loves her. Majesty will live to fight another day (and probably several others beyond that).

So? A pretty uninspiring night. It’s lucky America’s doing the picking and choosing, and that only one person can get eliminated a week, because more of them would be in danger if the judges were only retaining those who legitimately impress them. These contestants are being spoon-fed gimme themes (songs that describe YOU, songs that remind you of HOME), and lackluster is definitely not the way people should be feeling about this group by now. Some of them have some real talent, though; some just don’t have what it takes. The only ones who, I believe, can be relied on to bring sufficient energy and passion are Caleb, Dexter, Ben and Majesty (with Emily peeking through the window).

Who's going home? Eh... If it were up to me, MK would be shown the door this week (I like her, but she just doesn't have the chops for this competition), with Alex and CJ joining her in the Bottom Three. Of them, MK's the most likely to wind up one of the supposedly uncomfortable Bottom Three stools. I have a bad feeling Malaya's fortunes didn't improve enough, even with a much better performance. And I think Jena's chances took a big hit after her so-so performance to begin a long, boring night. Consider CJ a possible alternate for Bottom Three candidacy.

O'CONNOR KO-ed--AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS

O'CONNOR KO-ed--American Idol Review

PRETTY, SOULFUL NURSE PREDICTABLY SENT HOME

Here’s a result that surprised absolutely no one. All day long, as I read recaps of last night’s Top 13 performances on American Idol, every single article that dared to predict a Bottom Three included brunette nurse Kristen O’Connor in its unfortunate trio, and each one guessed she’d be the one going home. After 71 million votes Wednesday night, these educated guesses became reality.

She made it to #13 in a contest for which thousands auditioned, but the simple fact is Kristen just didn’t have enough going for her. She was likeable, sure, and she had a decent voice, but all I could remember of her each week was that she had a really, really wide smile, and she was a nurse. She’s certainly a better singer then I am, and she arguably has a better vocal range then at least one of the remaining contestants, but she came into this week on fumes after surprisingly being selected a Wild Card over the more talented Bria Anai and Spencer Lloyd. Thursday night, when it came time for one of Idol’s most time-honored traditions—playing a schmaltz-oozing montage of Kristen’s highlights on and around American Idol once she'd been eliminated—the screen also held a shot of Kristen’s face as she watched it; her utterly downcast features displayed the crushing disappointment of someone who’s been living a pie-in-the-sky dream, brought quickly and suddenly back to earth by an ugly reality she probably knew was coming.

Whether Kristen knew or didn’t know after a subpar reception from the judges last night—when, as one of last week’s Wild Cards, she really needed to knock people’s socks off—those of us who did know had a hard time seeing the elimination-preceding 55 minutes as anything other than a formality. With live performances by reigning-champion Idol Candice Glover and emo-folk Brit Jake Bugg sharing exposition time with clips of former Idol judge Randy Jackson giving advice to each of the contestants, the show clicked along, but, as host Ryan Seacrest kept saying, it would “get back to seriousness” every now and then. First, brace-faced teen Malaya Watson was sent to a stool separate from the rest of the pack as the first member of the Bottom Three. About ten minutes later, she was somewhat surprisingly joined by MK Nobilette, who garnered some praise from the judges last night but was clearly out of her depth singing a big, gnarly showstopper. These two held hands with Kristen as they waited for Ryan to reveal their fates in the show’s closing moments.

About five seasons ago, Idol introduced the idea of the judges’ save, in which the judges (this season’s are Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr.) can save a contestant who’s mathematically been eliminated if they can agree to unanimously do it. They can only do it once a season. To no one’s surprise, they didn’t choose to save Kristen. While contestants who’ve been eliminated historically get to do an encore performance to say goodbye to the show and to the American public, they now do it before the judges make this decision (Ryan Seacrest kept using the phrase "sing for her life"). In pre-determined cases like Kristen’s, this thin, thin ray of hope for contestants gives us the awkward specter of someone singing with all their might for a “Yes” the judges aren’t going to give.

Other than the actual result everyone tuned in for, the show was pretty breezy. They probably could still condense it into 30 minutes and be that much more watchable, but it was enjoyable enough to tune in after I got off work, and to find I hadn’t missed much. I didn’t see so much as a wink of last season, so I was glad for a chance to see and hear incumbent winner Candice Glover. She has a strong, soulful voice, she just apparently had an album debut at #3 on the R&B charts, and she had to be a breath of fresh air (or a gasp of relief) for Idol’s producers after a parade of plain white guys (Phillip Phillips, Scotty McCreery, Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen) monopolized the Idol title in recent years. Brit Jake Bugg was an intriguing surprise; discovered by Keith Urban, the seventeen-year-old’s folk sound was super catchy. And I was surprised to see MK in the Bottom Three with Malaya and Kristen. Her performance last night was pretty bad, but the judges (and America) seemed to lap it up. This seems a bit premature, even for someone whose days on the show are, I believe, numbered (she’s the one contestant I’m confident in saying Kristen could out-sing).

By the way, the new feature of having a scrolling collage of pictures from the Facebook profiles of people who voted for the contestant who’s singing for their life (Kristen, in this case) is typical of the kind of uncomfortably-sentimental thing Idol does; meant to be sweet and meaningful, I took it as just more salt in an open wound as Kristen sang, in vain, for a judges’ “Yes”.

**Next week’s theme is, according to Seacrest, “Home”. What exactly that means, I don’t know (could all the contestants be asked to sing renditions of the Daughtry song by that name?).**

Finally, here are my Power Rankings of the remaining contestants—the TOP 12!

1. Majesty Rose-Adorable and intriguing, with a quietly-great all-around skill set, Majesty might be the most talented of the girls.
2. Alex Preston-He probably won’t win many votes for his looks, but this brilliant musician and his earnest, acoustic style have proven a breath of fresh air.
3. Caleb Johnson-I’m tempted to call him a man among boys. This season’s lone Rocker has the whole package: a killer voice, great stage presence, and a fiery personality.
4. Sam Woolf-He’s raking in the Adoring Female vote, and he’s talented, too. Sam’s a better musician than most 17-year-olds have any right to be; he just needs to liven up a little bit.
5. Ben Briley-Diverse, fiery, passionate; Ben’s performances aren’t always note-perfect, but he’s always worth watching and he’s never boring.
6. Jessica Meuse-She’s got the serious musician chops, and she’s convincing and effective with country and rock.
7. Dexter Roberts-Dexter stumbled with his karaOK performance this week, but his voting base clearly didn’t notice. THE most country-blooded contestant left is looking for a rebound.
8. Emily Piriz-She’s still best-known for her “ooh la la”-themed attempt at straight-up sex appeal, but a great vocal performance this week turned heads (and won my support).
9. Jena Irene-She’s got that interesting voice I’m still looking for adjectives for, plus she’s got some pipes and she can play the piano, too.
10. MK Nobilette-She doesn’t have much in the way of personality or great vocal range, but she’s easily-recognizable and has a fine voice for crooning. Growing truly comfortable-and bringing real energy-onstage will be a test, though.
11. CJ Harris-Everyone likes this guy, and he’s got a legitimately good voice, but he’s lucky, to say the least, at not even tasting the Bottom Three this week. He’s arguably the one guy remaining whose performances don’t qualify as can’t-miss.
12. Malaya Watson-In terms of actual vocal range, Malaya would be near (if not at) the top of this list, but she’s been swallowed whole by her nerves and hyperkinetic energy two weeks in a row now, and she barely escaped this week. She was standing next to Kristen when Kristen was eliminated; Malaya needs to calm down and let it flow if she doesn’t want to go next.

THE TEPID TOP 13--AMERICAN IDOL REVIEW

AMERICAN IDOL TOP 13

FINALISTS STRUGGLE TO GENERATE SPARKS ON LUKEWARM NIGHT

Like irons, stoves, and certain people, the first week of American Idol’s countdown to the finish took a while to warm up. Three pretty bad opening performances had judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban struggling to drop niceties in order to not get a screaming, feverish crowd booing incessantly. But, slowly but surely, the overall quality started to improve. It never reached a brilliant crescendo, but it came close. I just wasn’t expecting to be underwhelmed; with a theme that could’ve been a gimme—“This Is Me”, which host Ryan Seacrest described as “the one song that defines them as a person”—most of the Top 13 contestants struggled to hit high notes and bring real energy to avoid sounding like so-so karaoke acts. A number of favorites took steps back (or at least suffered hiccups), but one early favorite cemented her status and another fairly-unsung competitor took a big step forward, at least in my eyes.

*Oh, and each contestant, some time prior this week, was asked to present five random facts about themselves in twenty seconds. Some made it, some didn’t, and some were halfway through brushing their teeth.*

Anyway, the performers:

Dexter Roberts

Fun Facts: He’s been bucked off a horse, and he’s broken a finger

An early favorite thanks to his inherently country style and radio-ready vibes, Dexter took a noticeable step backward opening the show with Chris Young’s hillbilly hit “Aw Naw”.. Nothing sounds bad quite like bad country. Warned last week to do something to stand out against a crowded landscape of wannabe honytonk stars, Dexter cleaned himself up a bit but then stumbled with a his so-so rendition that sounded like someone even more wannabe than an Idol performer. It was serviceable, and it won’t scare away his country-blooded fans, but Dexter needs to be above karaoke.     Grade: C+

Fortune Forecast: Dexter’s sailed easily this far on his country vibes and strong voice. I doubt he’ll be heading home so soon, but he proved forgettable singing first on a forgettable night, so it’s not the way he’d choose to start out. He’d be a shock in the Bottom 3, but he could very well be heading there.

Malaya Watson

Fun Facts: She’s 5’2, she’s afraid of dogs, she’s plays a lot of instruments, she can’t see at all without her glasses, and she loves Everybody

This 16-year-old survived last week when a lot of other young’uns didn’t, but one of this season’s most vocally-talented contestants induced cringes with a hideously-karaoke rendition of Bruno Mars’ “Runaway Baby”. Malaya might have the flat-out best vocal range of any contestant this year, but she also has the most energy, and she over-used the latter and underused the former. Without any big notes or melody to put her voice into, Malaya collapsed in a performance that was forgettable as soon as she sang it. Though they admitted something was off, the judges were surprisingly polite to a performer they could’ve shredded. Grade: C-

Fortune Forecast: Far from the most polished performer, Malaya did herself absolutely no favors with a bad karaoke performance that didn’t show off that voice. I think Malaya’s destined for the Bottom 3.

Kristen O’Connor

Her best friends are quadruplets, she loves swing dancing, and she’s really bad at all sports

The first of last week’s Wild Card winners to perform tonight, Kristen came in, in my opinion, as the contestant who needed the biggest performance tonight. She’s sweet but slightly bland, with a quasi-Girl-Next-Door vibe and a honeyed voice, but no real hook. Singing schmaltzy love ballads isn’t usually the way to go, and I called her rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Beautiful Disaster” ‘blah’. No, I won’t say Kristen is a beautiful disaster, but I don’t think she’s a real contender. Grade: C

Fortune Forecast: In danger. Kristen seems like a nice girl, but, despite a decent voice, she’s not very dynamic. I called her the weak link in my results show recap last week, and she didn’t change my mind. She’ll be lucky to move on.

Ben Briley

He can name every capital, he loves Tennessee Vols football, his favorite animal is the kangaroo, he’s good at throwing rocks, and he wants to skydive

Skydiving seems an appropriate outlet for this season’s contestant who’s most likely to go on to have a sponsorship by Red Bull. Country/soul/rock man Briley turned a classic on its head by singing Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” as something more akin to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” than Cash's most famous song. While I was thrown by the arrangement (and I was admittedly confusing my Cash titles, expecting ‘Cocaine Blues’ instead), Ben brought the first real energy of the night, the first performance that could be called “fun”. The judges cautioned him on overdoing the energy and showmanship in place of artistry, but he's getting through. Grade: B

Fortune Forecast: Ben seems like a really likeable, laid-back kind of guy, and people have been voting for him for weeks. He’s safe.

CJ Harris

He hates climbing high things, he hates icy roads in winter, he loves deer, he hates people with bad attitudes, and he’s very religious

Be careful when Thou Singest Darius Rucker songs, because the man has an incredible voice! The uber-likeable CJ Harris, another Wild Card who made it through last week, took on the former Hootie & The Blowfish front man’s “Radio”, which is a likeable song, but very safe and very typical for this kind of show. And it was typical. CJ has a nice voice, but he’s very much in his safe zone each week. He looked like he was having fun, but the word karaoke came to my mind again. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Iffy. CJ's memorable, but, despite having a decent voice and a great personality, he rarely stands out as a performer, which is going to come back to bite him in this competition, and probably soon.

MK Nobilette

She’s a mediocre snowboarder, she’s a great soccer goalkeeper, she loves the song “Single Ladies”, she wishes she was a dancer, and her MK-9 is her favorite thing in the world

MK tried something new this week by turning things up a notch, wearing noticeable makeup and singing a song with more personality, this one “Satisfaction” by Alan Stone. The judges and the crowd loved it, BUT...MK’s likeable and she’s a ground-breaking contestant who sounds great singing ballads, but she has neither the personality nor the big voice to sing songs that are real energy songs, which this was. My first thought when she began singing was her voice has a nice tone, followed by oh no, this was a bad idea. But the judges liked it, so…. Grade: C

Fortune Forecast: Safe for now, as her personality and style keep winning her points with the judges, but no one’s going to mistake her for one of this season’s real talents.

Majesty Rose

She was born on a leap year, she’s left-handed, she’s a long-boarder, she loves ballet, and she likes to make her hair bigger

I missed Majesty Rose last week, so this was the first time since auditions I’d seen a full performance of hers, and boy, am I glad I saw it. Her “Tight Rope” by Janelle Monae seemed more like “Tight Rope” by Majesty Rose, an upbeat, fun number that was a much-needed tonic from the blandness of the previous contestants. While her style is mostly pretty light and fun, she showed she most certainly has an above-average voice and impressive confidence. My primary thought during her performance was: she’s the first one tonight who’s seemed like a pro.  Grade: B+

Fortune Forecast: Safe. Majesty’s already one of the favorites, and she’s sitting pretty as one of the standouts on an average night.

Jena Irene

Her hair’s actually brown, she’s best friends with her brother, her favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz, her eyes are sometimes green and blue, and she’s really short

The third Wild Card contender, Jena Irene will never be mistaken for anybody else on the show because of the crackling, metallic quality of her voice. It’s an interesting sound that burns the ears at first, but once you’re used to it, you can see how intriguing it is. She picked a good song for it, too, covering Coldplay’s flowing but slightly boring ballad “The Scientist”; her live-wire vocals kept it from slipping off into sleepiness. It could’ve been even better if she’d chased down a few more big notes, but that voice gets its hooks in.  Grade: A-

Fortune Forecast: Based on this performance, safe, but after only making it in as a Wild Card after a sterling performance in the Top 15 girls, I’m worried that enough people don’t remember/appreciate her.

Alex Preston

He loves extreme sports, he’s a hopeless romantic, he writes poetry, and he loves coffee

The good thing about Alex Preston is that his gentle, acoustic sounds are always refreshing on a show that’s too often filled with people straining to over-sing love ballads or powerhouse hits; the drawback is that his performances can become boring. I thought his rendition of Jason Mraz’s “A Beautiful Mess” did just that, and so did Harry Connick Jr, who got heavy boos for saying so. Alex did air out his voice for the longest note we’ve yet heard from him, but I think he needs to pick up the tempo in coming weeks. Grade: B

Fortune Forecast: Safe for now. His performances are just on this side of boring, but he’s so obviously-talented and unique, he can go far if he ups his game just a little.

Jessica Meuse

She uses lots of hand sanitizer, she’s obsessed with the supernatural, she loves ponies, she has lots of animals and she didn’t do so great in band class

Pink-haired and nose-pierced and riding lots of air time through auditions and Hollywood, Jessica is already one of the most recognizable contestants this season, so if she finds her groove, she could go a long way. She took a fine first step singing “The Crow and the Butterfly” a song by Shinedown, which showed her raspy, accented voice to be comparable to those of Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Raitt (not bad company to have). Her experience as a musician really showed: it definitely wasn’t karaoke, and she didn’t over or under-sell her performance. The judges loved it.  Grade: B+

Fortune Forecast: Safe. 

Emily Piriz

She went to Chef camp when she was younger, her eyes change colors depending on her environment and her outfit, and she can do a cool whistle

Rocking gray eyes on this night—apparently because her outfit was gray—Emily Piriz took a big step forward by doing something other than the “Ooh La La” song that kept offending Harry Connick Jr. The judges thought her rendition of Pink’s “Glitter in the Air” lacked Pink’s edgy quality, but, for me, it was easily the night’s best performance. She showed a very strong, clear voice, and nailed a few high notes. Grade: A-

Fortune Forecast: Safe. I didn’t expect her to get this far, but after winning unanimous praise from the judges singing a strong ballad by Pink, she ought to cruise.

Sam Woolf

He’s afraid of spiders, he wears size-10 shoes, he stepped on a sea urchin once, he broke his ankle falling down the stairs once, and his middle name is Joseph

Sam Woolf might be the best, most polished 17-year-old singer you could possibly find on American Idol, and therein lay his downfall last night—he’s so refined, he doesn’t have the energy of, say, Matchbox 20. Singing that band’s classic ‘Unwell’, he sounded great, but his over-refined style hurt him when he reached the chorus and there was no spurt of energy or real change in tempo. The song should really pick up, and his didn’t. It was solid, and the girls obviously love him, but the judges all echoed my sentiment—it was too perfect, put some energy into it. Grade: B-

Fortune Forecast: Safe. With no other guy grabbing the Cute Guy votes from tween girls, Sam’s got a monopoly on that market, not to mention he’s a fine singer and a down-to-earth guy. No problems here.

Caleb Johnson

He’s been chased by a cow, he ran cross-country in high school, and he loves biscuits and gravy

Unlike Sam, Caleb can never be criticized for not having enough energy in a performance. For the second straight week he came out like it was his own personal rock concert, whipping the mic stand and howling his way through Rival Sons’ “Pressure And Time”.  Caleb’s ready for the big-time, and his energy and enthusiasm were awesome on a night when most contestants were holding back, but I’m anxious to see him put his considerable voice and passion into something a little more mellow, to show some diversity. Grade: B+

Fortune Forecast: Safe. He’s the only guy getting Rocker votes this year, and if he made it after bursting off the stage to open last week’s show, he’ll make it after wowing the judges and invigorating the crowd closing it this week.

Ultimately, all of the performances could have been a little better, but Majesty cemented her position as a favorite, Caleb and Jessica proved they’ve gotten hoopla for good reason, Emily and Jena took big steps forward, and most of the others showed what they need to work on. It was a tough night for some of the best-liked contestants, though, but I’m not sure if we’ll see that mirrored in the results Thursday night. My least favorite performances on the night came from Malaya, MK and Kristen, thought I'm worried Jena, a solid talent, might not gain enough traction. I expect a Bottom 3 of Malaya, Kristen and CJ, with Dexter as a possible alternate.

POMPEII

Pompeii (2014)

Grade: B-

Starring: Kit Harrington, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, Jared Harris, Carrie-Anne Moss and Sacha Roiz

Premise: A gladiator and a young noblewoman begin an unlikely relationship during the last days before Mt. Vesuvius’ eruption.

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material including strong violence, constant scenes of peril and destruction, disturbing images and some blood

Whenever Pompeii remembers that it’s supposed to be a dramatization of a catastrophic historical event that is believed to have claimed some 16,000 lives, it actually manages to be pretty gripping. Whenever it tries to be anything else—star-crossed romance, masculine revenge fantasy, political intrigue thriller or period costume drama—it falls flat on its face, proving little more than a send-up of a bunch of better movies (an appropriate title for all of the pre-Vesuvius action here might be ‘Gladiator & Juliet’). That said, the last half hour is pretty tremendous, as it keeps the action coming and coming, and proves by turns riveting and exhilarating. It’s not terrible, overall. In fact, with a fairly-appealing cast, sturdy visuals, and some well-executed action scenes, it’s actually pretty decent for a February release. It could at least tide over guys who can’t wait for the next 300. Just don’t expect it to be the next 300, or Gladiator, or Romeo & Juliet or…well, you get it.

Plot

Raised a slave after his tribe of Celtic horse-herders was massacred by Roman legions during his childhood, “The Celt” (Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington) has made a name for himself on the gladiatorial circuit, proving a warrior of uncommon speed and strength. With his handlers looking to use his advanced skills to entertain the Roman Empire’s nobles, he’s sent to the great port city of Pompeii, circa 79 AD. En route, The Celt ministers to an injured horse before the eyes of Cassia (Emily Browning), the daughter of a noble Pompeiian lord (Jared Harris), who’s returning to her hometown after a year in Rome. Cassia takes note of The Celt’s good looks and quiet wisdom as she returns to her family’s lush villa, but The Celt soon seems on a collision course with his doom, as he’s immediately slotted to partake in a killer showdown with reigning champion fighter Atticus (British-born actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbale). This bravura mano-a-mano bout will be presented on the last day of the feast of Vacanalia to entertain a visiting Roman senator (Kiefer Sutherland), who actually has his eye on Cassia. As Mt. Vesuvius rumbles ominously in the background, Cassia tries to fend off the advances of the power-mad senator and has another chance meeting with The Celt, at which point she falls for him. Meanwhile, The Celt, though sturdy and cocksure, is slowly becoming actual comrades—if not friends—with Atticus, who appreciates the young man’s spunk. But they’ll have to fight each other in the ring, and Atticus has some extra motivation—if he wins the bout, it’s said he’ll win his freedom. But it might not even matter, because all hell is about to break loose.

What Works?

Even the things in Pompeii that work are eerily (and obviously) reminiscent of features from other films. An extended battle scene in which The Celt, Atticus, and a handful of their fellow gladiators are forced to play the losing side in a re-enactment of a famous Roman conquest is borrowed wholesale from Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning Russell Crowe epic, but it’s still one of the film’s highlights. Atticus himself is a clichéd type character, with Akinnuoye-Agbale taking on the Strong, Noble African role that’s been played by a number of other actors through the years, most notably Djimon Hounsou (in Gladiator; not to mention Blood Diamond, Amistad and The Four Feathers). That said, the strapping actor (whose other credits include Thor: The Dark World, The Bourne Identity and a stint on TV’s LOST) is the only major player who emerges from this B-grade drama’s clichés with his dignity largely intact.

Once things really get going, with Vesuvius erupting and buildings collapsing, Pompeii shows that it has a pulse, with disaster sequences impressive enough to remind one of Deep Impact and Titanic, among others. The visual effects team deserves credit, as the mountain’s explosion, lava flows and collapses are all believable, and this comes after some good work from the set and costume people, who make everything suitably elaborate and eye-catching. Even though we’ve seen many a costume drama, some pleasing aesthetic touches are always appreciated.

What Doesn’t Work?

Too much, sadly. As the star-crossed lovers, Harrington and Browning struggle to generate chemistry from characters who aren’t interesting. His Celt is largely a blank slate, with only snatches of cockiness, wit and quiet strength behind his fake-looking abs (most of Harrington's good moments come during some cliched but enjoyable buddy-bonding scenes with Agbale's Atticus). Her Cassia is equally devoid of personality, possessing only Something Resembling Decency, with perhaps a touch of Something Resembling Spunk. (Also, am I the only person who thinks Browning, with her huge eyes and prominent lips, looks like something between a bobblehead and a fish? I hate to be mean, but once I thought it, I couldn't stop). Anyway, Harrington and Browning's Meet Cute is ridiculously lame, and their next meeting--the one where they really fall for each other--is even worse, patently absurd. Until a few halfway-decent final moments, we don't care for them as a couple at all.

Apart from our two resident cuties and Agbale, the only actor who makes much of an impression is Kiefer Sutherland, and it’s a bad one. It’s difficult to decide whether his frothing-at-the-mouth evil dude senator is more Jack Bauer having an especially aggravating 24 (or 48-72) hour period, or a more obviously-evil reincarnation of his shifty characters from Stand By Me and A Few Good Men, with a bad accent added for effect.

Acting’s not the only thing that doesn’t work. Slow-mo effects are used to amp up the drama where it doesn’t need to be amped, and there’s a strategically-placed Screaming Child Separated From Her Mother In A Crowd scene that is far too obvious an attempt to wring tears from the audience. And then there’s a logic-impaired scene where The Celt and Atticus face off with the senator’s cold-blooded bodyguard, Proculus (Sacha Roiz), in the arena….after Vesuvius has begun its fatal eruption. The coliseum is collapsing, the city is partly burning and partly flooding and burning rocks are raining from the exploding volcano in the background, but they decide they're gonna have to fight because the movie (apparently) needs another climactic big fight. Aren’t such things as petty feuds forgotten when you should be running for your life or you will ALL DIE? Apparently not. What’s even worse is that The Celt actually had a reason to want to fight this guy (per the movie’s childhood-flashback prologue, that man actually killed his father), but when he runs off to find Cassia to try and get her safety, that leaves…Atticus and Proculus, who have no personal beef at all, and don't even know each other, to fight it out while the city is burning and flooding and Vesuvius is erupting, leaving whoever survives their duel scant chance of surviving much longer. Sure, there’s an ongoing theme about how gladiators are as tough as Romans and worth as much, but isn’t it worth forgetting when no one is watching and a volcano is erupting nearby? Like I said, logic-impaired. That’s just lazy writing.

Content

Pompeii can get intense. There’s enough PG-13 bloodletting during the gladiator combat scenes for the squeamish to get antsy, and, per Disaster Movie Coda, things get pretty dramatic during the eruption and its aftermath, with lava, fires, collapsing buildings and a tidal wave all providing significant obstacles even before the ash cloud comes (this being the ash cloud that famously preserved the remains of hundreds of Pompeii’s citizens in the positions they were in when they died). Lots of people's death are hinted at, if not outright shown. Might want to leave the youngest kids at home for this one.

Bottom Line

Its Soap-Opera-In-Costumes “story” is poorly-executed and mostly reminiscent of a bunch of other movies more worth your time, but Pompeii has some decent gladiatorial combat scenes, and its re-creation of the epic disaster is pretty harrowing. It could make for a decent Friday night Redbox rental some time in the future.

Pompeii (2014)

Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson

Written For the Screen by Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler and Michael Robert Johnson

Rated PG-13

Length: 105 minutes

THE TOP 13 UNVEILED--AMERICAN IDOL REVIEW

Meet the Top 13

THURSDAY NIGHT AMERICAN IDOL REVIEW

Well, I have no complaints about the Top 13! America (and the judges) got it right.

By the time I got home from a late shift at work, eight of the top ten vote recipients were already relaxing in specialty seats on the seats on the stage. Malaya Watson, Jessica Meuse, and Majesty Rose had survived the debacle that was the Top 15 (10, really) Girls’ round, as I had predicted; ‘Miss Ooh La La’ Emily Piriz, who was heckled twice by judge Harry Connick Jr. for singing that edgy-sexy song, was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. And I was thrilled to see Caleb Johnson, Dexter Roberts, Ben Briley and Alex Preston representing the guys (glad to see people remembered last night’s opening act, Caleb, and appreciated this season’s token Different contestant, Alex). Moments later, MK Nobilette and Sam Woolf predictably rounded out their respective Top Fives.

We’d heard an awful lot about the judges’ “Wild Card” picks, but as of tonight had no idea what shape the selection process would take. Would Harry, Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban just snatch people off the bench or have them perform? It turned out to be the latter—they selected five people to sing on-the-spot renditions of their final solos from Hollywood Week (automatically eliminating anyone who was not picked). The people they picked to sing were, in order, CJ Harris, Jena Irene Asciutto, Spencer Lloyd, Bria Anai Johnson and Kristen O’Connor. Other than sublime performances from CJ (whom the judges criticized for some reason, claiming either he or the band was “off”) and Jena (who was a given to make it), it was a slightly painful process. Bria reminded us she can hit notes most of the other contestants can’t, but her performance didn’t flow, and, Harry said, “was all over the place”. Resident heartthrob Spencer started out pitchy and uncomfortable before he started to warm up, finishing with a sneaky-sexy glower that probably almost made half the women in attendance faint. Comely nurse Kristen massaged some decent big notes but choked on another—one that could have been a signature big, explosive moment.

With freshly-eliminated also-rans Brianna Oakley, Marielle Sellars, Emmanuel Zidor, George Lovett and Malcolm Allen watching, the five wild card contenders lined up on stage once the last performance had concluded and faced the judges. Keith gave the good news we all knew was coming, to Jena. Harry blessed Kristen, whom I like but thought was out-sung in this wild card contenders’ round by Spencer. And JLo made it clear that all the right guys made it, bringing CJ into the fold.

Overall, I really like this Top 13. It stinks for early frontrunners Marielle, Spencer and Emmanuel, who had talent and got plenty of exposure but just didn’t deliver when the time called for it. It’s also a real bummer for repeat contestant Brianna, who has legitimate talent but wasn’t memorable enough. Kristen, to me, screams weak link, with a slightly bland personality backing up a decent but unspectacular voice. Malaya, Ben and Caleb have the big voices, Alex and Jena are sure to keep things interesting, Majesty, Emily and Sam bring youth, Jessica gets to cement her serious-musician cred, CJ’s a sweetheart and Dexter will keep the country crowd excited. All the ones I wanted to see made it, and I’m really interested to see what themes they’re asked to tackle.

And now begins a six-day wait for performances from the Top 13. Or, as Ryan Seacrest would say, I’ll see them…after the break.

THE TOP 15 GUYS--AMERICAN IDOL REVIEW

The Top 15 Guys (well....you know)

AMERICAN IDOL WEDNESDAY NIGHT REVIEW

            Well, for the second night in a row, an episode of American Idol has left me appalled. Last night, it was realizing that the new Rush Week Top Ten deal meant five contestants who came this far would be unceremoniously dismissed, without even the chance to compete; tonight, it was seeing who got dismissed. I mean, while I could have envisioned that tonight’s Forgotten Guys would include baby-faced Jordan Brisbane, whiney-voiced Briston Maroney, and I-can’t-remember-anything-about-him Ethan Harris, I never could have fathomed that red-blooded country rock guy Caleb Thrasher and big-time R&B stud Maurice Townsend would be left out in the cold, too, with nothing but brave smiles. I cannot tell you how much that shocked me; I assumed both were locks.

            Then again, I’ve seen enough Idol to know that predictability isn’t always in the cards. I saw when big-voiced-but-bland Carrie Underwood beat the much more musically-talented Bo Bice in the Season 4 finale, and this after the season’s most dynamic contestant, Constantine Maroulis, was tossed out in sixth place. I was as shocked as the rest of the world when Chris Daughtry went out in fourth place when he was the crowd and judges’ favorite in Season Five. I remember when Kris Allen spoiled Adam Lambert’s long-anticipated coronation, and I remember when chill guy David Cook beat heartthrob David Archuleta for the Idol championship one night after being, well, cooked in the head-to-head competitions in the final round. So…

            Well, having swallowed the unnecessarily-icky dynamic of the Rush Week cuts, I was able to settle into tonight a lot more (being able to see the whole episode certainly helped). As a group, the guys were exponentially better than the girls, even though I think they left two of the best talents sitting on the table. Host Ryan Seacrest was his usual affable self, and judges Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban got to give out plenty of praise dotted here and there by “dude, you over-sang that” or “dude, that was not your song”. (Oh, and, in Big News, someone other than this season’s big meanie-face judge, Harry, got resounding boos for being a naysayer (Keith).)

             I was a little surprised to see the relatively one-note Caleb Johnson lead off the group. While he’s proven to have mad stage presence and a powerful pair of pipes, he’s just seemed a little too much like a blah big rocker dude. But, as all the judges attested, he got the show off to a rollicking start with a fantastic rendition of “Stay With Me”. It was definitely over-the-top, but he showed that he knows his strong suit and he’s going to attack it 150 percent every time. He has a strong, clear voice, and if he can show a bit of musical flexibility going forward, he could be one of this season’s serious contenders.

            Caleb was followed by his opposite, mellow sweetheart C.J. Harris, who—I can’t lie—stands out in my mind as the black guy who sounds like a white guy (he’s also the emotional guy with the even-more-emotional girlfriend). He’s super likeable, and though I felt his cover of “Shelter” was a little on the safe side, I was reminded he’s got a great voice that blends country and soul perfectly, which will make it easy for him to cross over if the themed weeks ahead get really interesting.

            It’s kind of funny: I thought plucky Emmanuel Zidor did just fine with The Emotions’ “The Best of My Love”…right up until he obediently sang a few lines of a love ballad at JLo’s request during the judges’ remarks. Then I realized what a waste it was for him to sing an oldie that was pretty much made for him—I think he really could have wowed us. I wasn’t surprised by his performance and I enjoyed it, but he might have one of the best overall voices in this group, and he definitely should have showcased it more in this high-pressure Rush Week round. Emmanuel’s impossible not to like, and, though he faltered a little here (thanks, JLo, for making him show it), I’d like to keep seeing him around.

            Coming on the heels of three progressively-older guys in their twenties was seventeen-year-old Sam Woolf, who may take himself a little too seriously but clearly knows who he is as an artist. His rendition of “Babylon” was absolutely perfect for his soulful/indie rock routine—I was hard-pressed to believe he’s still in high school. Unlike some younger guys over the years who are just there for their looks or their youth itself, Sam has real musical talent, and I think it would be a treat to see him gain confidence and grow as an artist in the coming weeks. He doesn’t have the power voice of some of his fellow contestants, but his gentle but brilliant performance here reminded us that he doesn’t need to.

            I told you what happened when Emmanuel showed his real musical talent side, but the first performance I really didn’t care for was George Lovett’s cover of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade”. He was just flat-out trying too hard. He obviously has a good voice, but the way he performed the song, he was like a clenched fist, forcing out every note and every word, something the judges called him on (Harry said he “sang himself right off the mic”—an apt description). He had the passion, but it was an underwhelming go-round.

            From the R&B guy, we got the Country Guy: Dexter Roberts. One of the ones I had no doubt we’d see tonight, Dexter is radio ready: I feel like I could turn on the country radio station I listen to in the car every day and hear him. He’s country to the bone, yet he proved he has more than just a twang singing Craig Morgan’s “This Old Boy”. For a brief moment, he went a cappella, and showed he has a real rich, resounding voice. All the judges love his country act, but are worried he can’t branch out or really distinguish himself as something other than a country act, a perfectly valid concern. Still, this guy is ready to be on the radio.

             After Dexter came another guy I knew we’d see, the low-key, music-worshipping guitar guy Alex Preston. Alex has cruised this far mainly because he doesn’t look or sound like any other American Idol contestant I can remember. He sings the kind of indie rock where a singer, keeping their voice low, goes up and down scales and touches varying levels of emotion all while plucking lightly at their guitar, and could probably go on doing it for hours. While watching him perform “Volcano” I had the distinct thought that while I would probably grow bored listening to his type of music for very long, I can tell I would worship one or two of his songs and come back to them repeatedly. The judges laud him because he reminds us there are other types of music out there other than radio-friendly ballads and pop tunes, which is pretty much exactly his appeal.

            I think crisply-dressed Malcolm Allen disappointed the judges, because, while he obviously has a well-rounded R&B voice, he started out singing so low his performance almost immediately felt kinda boring. Even once he got louder, his “Comin’ Where I Come From” just didn’t sound quite right, as though Malcolm didn’t quite believe in himself or what he was singing. The judges hit him for both over-singing and under-singing, with JLo saying “I should have gotten goosebumps from that one”.

            Last night, he made the Top 15. Tonight, he made the Top 10. Ben Briley, whom Harry apparently nicknamed “Gumbo”, got to perform less than 24 hours after realizing he still had a prayer on Idol. And he made the most of it, putting his ability to mix country, rock and soul in play for a performance of “Soul Shine”. I think Ben over-sings, but he is 100 percent fiery passion; he’s the kind of guy who leaves it all out on stage, and his actual, true ability should surprise people just expecting another bearded-country-hick-with-a-guitar. Basically, I watched his performance and thought—in the words of a previous Idol judge—“he made it his own, dawg”.

            The night closed with the shocking realization that neither of the supposedly-set-in-stone contenders, Casey and Maurice, were moving forward—instead it was female-melting poster boy Spencer Lloyd. Lloyd’s looks made him a hit from his first audition, and he comes from a steady musical background, but he stumbled in the Group Round and didn’t impress the judges with an off-key original song in the final Solo Round. (And on a personal note: not only did I appreciate his performance less because he beat Casey and Maurice, but he looks too much like disgraced baseball star Alex Rodriguez for me to be a fan). I hoped he would vindicate his entry into the Top 10 with his performance, but his cover of “Love Don’t Die”, by The Fray, was more karaoke than anything. He’s got a decent voice, but I think he got a little over-confident with his song choice. Harry chided him, saying sitting at the piano and singing was his “thing”. He should get back to it.

            Well, that was all great. But who will America vote for?

            For some reason, I think Dexter and Sam are the absolute safest of this group, with their respective country-to-the-bone and young/soulful/indie appeals easy to identify and remember (not to mention Sam’s got a chance to snag some of the Adoring Female vote). Spencer didn’t give a great performance, but he’s a Looker who’s been a familiar face on Idol this year and has some real musical talent; plus he went last on the night and is perhaps freshest in people’s minds—I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the votes despite a less-than-spectacular reception. An obviously-talented and obviously-likeable guy like CJ, who blends country and soul well, is another hot pick—I’d count on him making it. And for the fifth…America just spent a week voting for Ben, surely they won’t forget him so soon, especially after he proved a judges’ favorite. Alex has been, at least in the judges’ eyes, a front-runner all year, but will his offbeat style snag enough votes to get him in? Caleb has stand-out vocal ability and he’s this year’s lone hard-rocker, which could count for a lot, but he did open a two-hour show tonight. So yeah: I think America will vote Dexter, Sam, Spencer, CJ and Ben to the next round. *No fear for those I didn’t mention, as the judges can pick up to three of the remaining guys as wild cards (so even if he is too off-beat for America, Alex is secure in that he’ll get one of those judge-pick slots).

            Which Guys would I pick? As much as I’ve enjoyed Emmanuel, I’d take CJ, Dexter, Alex, Sam and Ben, with Caleb as an alternate.