Rosado's Recaps: American Idol - The Cultute of Pop, DVD, Movie, TV, Pop Culture Review

Rosado's Recaps: American Idol

Posted: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 5:45:44 PST

2-24-11

When American Idol last left the airwaves, a beyond emotional Jennifer looked like she was on the verge of calling it a day, if not a career as a competition judge. But after a very sympathetic Steven calls for a time out, she composes herself like the professional she is...and within a few minutes, it's back to business for Randy and they as the goal of whittling down the competitors to the Top 24 continues.

Despite her inconsistency, Karen Rodriguez is the first lucky vocalist to get through in this episode, followed by Robbie Rosen, a fave of mine since he did that wonderful take on The Beatles' Yesterday..Not only is he a good looking kid, he's got a nice cry to his voice that reminds me of a young Frankie Valli. He even looks like he could play Jersey Boys understudy, by golly. As added insurance, he did a killer Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word for his final performance push. Thus no surprise to me when he got thru...and at this point, I see Robbie along with Ashton Jones as the top two finalists at season's end.

Tatynisa Wilson is up next and I fear for her. Remember her disastrous take on I Hope You Dance in Hollywood? So bad it needed unintentionally funny subtitles in post production. Thankfully, she chose a more comfortable, lyrically easier to remember song for her final audition: Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart..Even though her performance was just a slight improvement to my ears, Wilson's just good enough to the judges to grant her position number 8.

Brittany Mazur and Jimmy Allen had to take the heartbreak walk next, and then it was Tim Halperin's turn...You guys remember him... the guy that had Jenny-Lo seeing hearts, flowers and birds like Davy Jones in a vintage Monkees episode during the San Francisco cattle call? He has me charmed via a superb job on the Beatles chestnut Something in Las Vegas along with an equally good vocal on an original composition for his final audition performance. Steven gave it the old college try to fake him (and us out), but I just knew Timmy was a shoo in.

The beautiful Julie Zorilla, the immigrant who survived danger in Columbia during her childhood comes up next and I'm so rooting for her, especially after that wonderful duet version of Something in Vegas with Tim...Despite a lack of depth and emotion from time to time as per Jenny, she shrieks with joy after getting the go to move into the top 24, and manages to scoop Ryan off the ground.

Hey, should she bomb from this point forward, there's always the WWE with strength like that.

After a strong start with his made for country bellow bass voice, Scotty McCreery had to take a few steps back down to reality after not defending Jacee during Hollywood week. Combined with a near fatal take on I Hope You Dance and the wacky but charming Hello Goodbye from the Vegas stop. Fortunately, Scott went back to his roots on Josh Lucas' Long Black Train which fit his vocal cords to perfection. Judging from Jenny's delightful comment (“You make a girl from the Bronx love country music”), was there any need for him to take the long walk? Same goes for former house maid Lauren Turner.

Speaking of Scotty, his entrance into Top 24 status most likely forced the outster of fellow country singing cowpoke John Wayne Schultz, whom I felt was more versatile. So I hope he'll consider a return in the future.

Despite early promise, Tiwan Stron and Erin Kelly are out, while season six rejectee Rachel Zevita is hoping history doesn't repeat itself. Need she have doubted herself after a leather lunged take on Speechless back at home base in LA? Uh-uh! How sweet to have her mom and grandma around for a magic moment..

Kendra Campbell hopes to soar like a Blackbird, like the namesake of the Beatles song she so wonderfully sang with top 24 finalist Paul McDonald on the LOVE stage in Vegas. Her soulful final audition did the trick (not to mention potential future acting opportunities the way she faked out everybody in the waiting room). Meanwhile, Jordan Dorsey (aka Mr. Perfection and potential Clint anti-Jacee gang member (just kidding), Despite a potential egomaniac in the making, I gotta give this kid props...He can throw, and he can sang. Jovanny Barretto who probably didn't have to sing anymore following the wacky shirt losing stunt during his auditions is also heading onward. Lauren Elaina is next, the drop dead gorgeous teen that makes me wish I could be be transformed Damn Yankees style, become 15 again and court her to the prom..because at my age, I don't need no jail bait jail time. But back to reality, she had a rough trip to Vegas and a decent but not great version of Unchained Melody in LA ..but that initial promise is still in that honey sweet voice and the judges agree in kind..hopefully she'll take Steven's advice and stay consistent.

Sefano Langone who faced a future of not being able to walk a short time back, has been one of the most consistent performers all the way thru this preliminary process. Still, he's not sure of himself despite his talent. Can you say temporary patsy material for J-Lo? Hey, she's really getting into this fake-out deal as I'm writing this eh, kiddies? Steven need to take some tips from her (or go to the Actor's Studio in the off season, if it's okay with his Aerosmith buddies).

Jackie Wilson (not to be confused with the male soul legend of the same name) has always been a little over the top for me, so no surprise when she gets her pink slip, although I wish she wouldn't have asked if they could change their mind, which is really, really, REALLY getting to be a pet peeve of mine...which means I'll prolly be buying white shirts and growing increasingly cranky like some Brit we used to invite into our homes every week (or some of you did, anyway).

Jacob Lusk-Ah, the guy who rivals Adam Lambert in outer stratosphere notes is so damn good, the judges didn't waste no time in giving thumbs up, resulting in one of the funniest post victory reactions in Idol history. Screaming so loud to entice a camera crew and Ryan into taking a peak, Seacrest most likely suffered temporary vertigo as Jacob lifted and spun our Georgia boy like a human hurricane. As for Pia Toscano's status? Okay, she's hot, she brings it, she's charming and best of all, she didn't screw up the first rock and roll song I ever heard when I was a kid (Can't Buy Me Love)...On she goes!

So, at this point of the show, things are getting beyond intense with one female slot left and just a few remaining for the guys...and some big audience faves are still potential chopping block material.

Speaking of the latter, James Durbin is definitely on the borderline...following a killer audition, he's been schizophrenic in terms of consistency. Nothing short of brilliant here, irritatingly bombastic there. But on the Idol judges scale of weight, the former container weighs the most, and a potential top 5 finisher is in the making if he can control his vocal cords while becoming more versatile and not just a one trick pony (Adam Lambert SO comes to mind; the most vocally diverse contestant ever in the history of the show).

Casey Abrams is yet another contestant that's fallen into the same scenario as James, but in LA he got that big old stand-up bass back out, and hopefully, if the judges really want talented, quirky and stand apart from the crowd contestants this year, they'll give this guy a chance...and by golly they are! Although I don't see him as a winner take all, no doubt in my mind that Casey's gonna be fun to watch week in and out.

At this point of the day, the waiting room is starkly quiet and barely populated...we're down to five hopefuls and two spots left...and so the judges want to see the remaining dreamers in two groups: teenybopper cutie Thia Megia and Jessica Cunningham, Thia's only had one misstep to me with the not-so-hot take on Here Comes The Sun in Vegas, and Jessica Cunningham, who's gone through the audition process seven times has been so invisible in this process, I'm going, Who?. Despite my being in her corner since she's been so diligent in her multi-year quest, Thia gets the call to go onward, most likely since her commercial prospects and marketability are so much more higher, especially since she's only 15 years old which means ka-ching(!) if her early promise blossoms in the weeks to come.

Despite my pleas to contestants to not be ungracious and walk out with class in early Idol bloggage this year? In Jessica's case, I do not blame her at all for being upset at being cut...on her birthday of all days, to boot. Every once in a while, someone's gotta vent, and in this case, I felt it was beyond understandable...but if by chance you're reading Jess, keep in mind the words of a great soul classic by Jerry Butler: “Only the strong survive..”-so hang in there...

...and in the end, look what it's come down to. three remaining hopefuls, including Jacee Badeaux and Brett Lowenstern, the latter of whom was so sweet to take the former into the group after being hurt by Scotty and Jordan. Joining them is Colton Dixon as they walk hand in hand together to find out which one of them is going on....and in what I feel is a wise move, Brett is the lucky one. Both Jacee and Colton are so, so young, and immensely talented, thus they could come back for years and years ahead to compete...but I'll tell you this: They're both so good, it would not surprise me in the least if they're offered recording deals before the annual Idol cattle calls resume this summer; especially Jacee who won the hearts of America in a way that rivals Chris Medina (whom as of this writing has been given an enormous boost by his emotional backstory resulting in a music video and an appearance on The Tonight Show...I think I speak for all Idol lovers that we wish him, his fiancee and both of their families nothing but our heartfelt best)

Lordy, Lordy, we're done! For now, that is as phase two of the yearly Idol journey begins next week as we narrow 24 down to Top 12 membership...

Thank God, only twelve names to keep up with in weeks ahead! Bring it on!

-J.R.