Wildcards R Us

Thursday, March 5, 2009, 09:48 PM | American Idol 8
Tags: American Idol, Recap, Results

(Here’s the results show recap from Howard!)

American Idol Season 8, The Wildcard Show
I am mystified as to why AI wants to distance us from the contestants this season, including having something other than an voyeuristic experience with the Wildcard show. After all, we didn’t get to pick them, vote for them, see the judges come up with their reasoning for the decisions, and I am surprised we are even going to be able to watch the show and announcement of the three who make it thru. Somehow, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were expected to show up next Tuesday and see who is there.

As well as keeping us all process-free, they also don’t seem to have a strong desire to share how it will work, causing much speculation out there. Will there be 4 coming out of tonight? Will there be oly one spot for the boys to allow the girls to even the numbers up? Could they show Tatiana getting emotional while Ricky Braddy and Jesse Langseth are singing to give them even less airtime? Is Kara the only judge allowed to coach her contestants about exactly what to sing tonight?

So we start – second chances and tenacity, whatever. All eight will sing, and at the end, the judges say who is making the Top 12.

Jesse Langseth – Tell Me Something Good – Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
She looks good, not sounding great though. Falling short, at least for me. Seems to have breath issues. Randy is OK, Kara on board, as is

Matt Giraud – Who’s Loving You? – Jackson 5
He got Kara’s note, and returned to the blues. For me, the look is a bit over the top. Much better, but sucks in some of the lines as he pushes too hard. Incredibly self-indulgent. My gut response, he is getting thru. Unless Simon remembers the ‘Taylor Hicks’ moments, and throws out a line-item veto.

Megan Joy Corkery – Black Horse & The Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall
She is beautiful. She can’t dance/move worth a damn. She has a 3 note range, and the last note was killer, and not in a good way. All the judges love her, despite admitting the singing wasn’t great.

Von Smith – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word – Elton John
What key is he singing in? This is not going well. Took Kara’s advice, and is oversinging to beat the band. The judges tried to let him down nicely, and explained why he wouldn’t make it further. Well, except Simon, who told him he was now boring.

Jasmine Murray – Reflection – Christina Aguilera
Took Kara’s note re: song choice, but it is a shame she missed several of those big notes. Looks lovely, and moves nicely. Kara is confused, because she wants to pigeon-hole the singers already. Simon and Paula are fighting. She might have vaulted ahead of Megan.

Ricky Braddy – Superstition – Stevie Wonder
He sounds fantastic. He is trying a bit too hard for personality. He sang incredibly well. Simon hates him. Randy thinks he tried to do too much. He ain’t making it.

Tatiana del Toro – Saving All My Love For You – Whitney Houston
Not in great voice tonight. The beginning is sketchy. She is all about the glory notes. No lower register. Simon is tired of hearing the song. I am tired of hearing the drama. And Ryan makes a sexual reference that is unsettling. Did he just go Blagojevich with Tatiana?

Anoop Desai – My Prerogative – Bobby Brown
Started out rough. Not great. I want him to be great. Simon congratulates him, so I guess he is thru. I guess they don’t mind Anoop making through. I figured he was a lock. I am amused that Bobby Brown is current, however. Interesting, since Bobby can’t get work.

Basically, what we learned tonight is that Jesse, Von, Ricky and Tatiana had no chance on making it to the Top 12. They were there for window dressing. Again, I thought Ricky had the best vocal of the night, and it won’t matter.

Jasmine is making it through. And now Megan is making it through. Of course, there is the last bit of Ta-ta drama, and Paula has to stroke her a bit. So now it is between Anoop and Matt – I wouldn’t be surprised if they take them both.

Megan tries to high-five Jasmine, who remains oblivious. Matt and Anoop are brought center-stage. Holy crap, Matt is in. And so is Anoop. Good for all who made it thru.

There is a Top 13. Interesting. They decided that long before they would bring back 13, even before the show. And yet we are expected to believe that singing tonight really mattered. Huh.

10 Comments for Wildcards R Us

1

everything is sooooo scripted!

beagleboy on March 5, 2009 at 10:00 pm
2

Geez, we taped it. It ran over. So, we didn’t get to see past Tatiana having a breakdown! What happened??

supershopper on March 5, 2009 at 10:03 pm
3

supershopper:

She basically groveled in front of the judges’ table as if she thought she could beg them into changing their minds.

DonMI on March 5, 2009 at 10:32 pm
4

Howard:

I pretty much agree with your assessment…Megan doesn’t deserve to be in the top 13…Ricky does! Did you notice how every time she started her god-awful movements they panned the camera around to show the judges? The only reason she’s still there is because Simon wants to pork her!

DonMI on March 5, 2009 at 10:37 pm
5

The singing did matter, as total failure would have eliminated Anoop/Matt. Ricky was their insurance policy against that happening. I also think Jesse was insurance against Jasmine tanking, they really needed two girls to make it.

chessguy99 on March 5, 2009 at 11:19 pm
6

Well, I was hoping that Anoop and Matt would make it. I’m glad that they both got in!! It seems that Simon is aware of Anoop’s popularity but is not real impressed with his singing ability. I hope that Anoop makes some good song choices and shows them that he has a good voice. He has the stage presence and sex appeal. I hope that his voice shines. He sounds great in his a capella group. So, IMO, he does have potential! Glad that he gave a shoutout to his peeps at UNC and Eve Carson. I am wondering if this is the anniversary of her murder.

supershopper on March 5, 2009 at 11:36 pm
7

I feel like bringing Tatiana back was mean. They knew weren’t going to pick her. I feel kinda bad for her. I really want to like Megan, she’s cute and quirky, but yeah, Simon likes her a little too much… I was also hoping that Anoop’s vocal would be a little better. Anyone that has seen his UNC vids on youtube knows he has it in him. I still love him…what can I say?

Karma on March 6, 2009 at 12:15 am
8

chessguy, you nailed it! Ricky was there in case anoop or Matt tanked, and Jesse was backup for Jasmine. That’s also why they swapped Ariana for Jesse in last night’s wildcard picks – because they couldn’t risk having both Ariana AND Jasmine blow it in the wildcard round. Jesse is a more consistent performer than either of the 17 year olds. Unbelievable.

laff on March 6, 2009 at 12:37 am
9

I thought Jasmine DID tank — they put her in anyway.

NJ_Sis on March 6, 2009 at 1:43 pm
10

I think bringing back Tatiana was cruel too. That was prolonging her agony. Secondly, I am very dissapointed that Kristen Mcnamara was not brought back, she has a very powerful voice and extraordinary tone. Cannot understand why Megan Corkrey is in the top 13, except for the fact that she is beautiful.
In short, Idol is interesting to watch, but some of the off-screen dynamics are nasty.

cynical on March 7, 2009 at 12:11 am