Here it is. The end of the audition round. I’m ready. :)
Sanjaya Malakar – I really like him. From what I’ve heard, everyone likes him. And he’s in! Yay!
Anna Kearns – I thought I’d seen her in the rooms, but I wasn’t sure. And she’s not in. I’m not surprised. I was a little surprised that she got as far as the top 40.
Bernard Williams – And this is the guy that Paula said was totally off-key. And he’s not in. And there’s Philip Stacy, so he did make the top 40. I couldn’t tell.
Eric Davis and Tami Gosnell – Tami was someone Simon really liked. I don’t remember seeing Eric before. Both are no.
Melinda Doolittle – She better get through. Because she’s amazing. Yay! She’s in.
Brandan Rogers – Ah, so he is there. I didn’t notice him last night. And he’s in as well.
Gina Glockson – And she’s in! She was in my second tier, but I’m really glad she made it, after making it as far as the room round last year.
Jimmy McNeal – Aw, I really liked him. But he and Errick somebody or other are both out.
Haley Scarnato – Yay! She’s the one that Simon called “cabaret” and I decided that cabaret must be my favorite. And she’s in. Woot.
Phil Stacy – I’m not horribly impressed by him. I mean, I like him, but his voice is too nasally for me. But apparently not too nasally for the judges. He’s in.
Chris Sligh – I like his sense of humor. And his voice. If he doesn’t make it through, I’ll be very surprised. Yep, he’s in. :)
Blake Lewis – I’m not sure his voice is quite up with all the others, but he’s certainly a great performer, and I really like him. And he’s through. :)
Thomas Lowe – Not through.
Rudy Cardenas – He’s borderline for me. Could take him or leave him. I guess we’re taking him; he’s in.
Paul Kim – Okay, we really didn’t need to know about the underwear. Really. NO REALLY. And he’s in. Please tell me that this lucky underwear thing allows for washing.
Jordin Sparks – HA! She is there. Okay, yeah, I did see her in the rooms, I just didn’t recognize her with her hair up. Good! I’m glad she made it in.
Okay, a couple of people we don’t know plus Tatiana McConnico, not through.
A.J. Tabaldo – Five times trying? Wow. And he’s through. Nice.
Tiffany Edwards – I remember seeing her last night, but not before that. She’s good. And in.
Leslie Hunt – Are they all singing that song? I mean, I like the song (one of Kat’s best performances last year, BTW), but still. And she’s in as well.
Nick Pedro – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I WANT HIM. Um, on the show I mean. Awesome! He’s in! Woot!
Hee. Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. I might be amused, if I weren’t so embarrassed for the adults. Interestingly enough, when my mom or I forget something factual that we should know, we say “I knew it in fifth grade.”
Alaina Alexander – I liked her in the auditions…that Hollywood week performance wasn’t great, though. But it was good enough, apparently; she’s in. Simon was crushing on her in the auditions. Couldn’t’ve hurt. ;)
Chris Richardson – Yes! I thought I’d glimpsed him in the rooms. And he is IN! I like him, so that’s good.
Sabrina Sloane – First time we’ve seen her that I know of. And she’s in. I wonder how much time Simon spends thinking up all the ways to phrase the acceptance so it sounds like a denial. “We have decided not………to exclude you.”
Jerome Chisum, Joelle James, Matthew Buckstein (aka cowboy guy), Princess Johnson – most of whom we don’t know, all gone.
Lakisha Jones – She’s really really good. And the judges agree with me. Always nice when that happens. She’s in.
Nicole Tranquillo – I think I saw her several times last night, but not in the original auditions. In any case, she’s through.
Jared Cotter – Another new face, and he is in.
Amy Krebs – Yet another one not previously showcased, and yet another one in.
Antonella Barba and Marisa – I love me some Antonella, but I remember Marisa being really good, too. But please, Antonella, please. I hate when it’s down to two left. Oh, crap, Antonella, not lyric trouble. They HATE that. Whew. Antonella is through. I shouldn’t be surprised, though. They’ve really emphasized her throughout the audition process–apparently she’s one of the marketing darlings this year.
Tommy Daniels and Sundance Head – Both very good, though Sundance faltered a lot in Hollywood. I don’t remember seeing Thomas in Hollywood at all. I’m not sure I agree with putting Sundance through. I think they only did because he’s really different. But I guess that’s a fair reason, too.
So our top 24 are:
Alaina Alexander
Antonella Barba
Melinda Dolittle
Tiffany Edwards
Gina Glockson
Leslie Hunt
Lakisha Jones
Amy Krebs
Haley Scarnato
Sabrina Sloane
Jordin Sparks
Nicole Tranquillo
Rudy Cardenas
Jared Cotter
Sundance Head
Paul Kim
Blake Lewis
Sanjaya Malakar
Nick Pedro
Chris Richardson
Brandan Rogers
Chris Sligh
Phil Stacy
A.J. Tabaldo
And my prediction stats are 14/24, and 8 of the other 10 weren’t shown in the original auditions. Not bad.
edit to correct Amy’s last name 2/18/07
Debbie
Okay, you know how my Wednesdays are(actually it was Valentine’s Day not choir that conflicted this week). So, I waited to watch Wed.’s show to watch with John, but we were busy Thursday and Friday. So finally, I watched it on Sat. Enough of that…
I am generally pleased with the outcome. I think Phil, the bald dad, and Rudy look too much alike to last long, but I like Phil.
I am really glad Antonella went through.
Paul said that his lucky underwear is for the results show, so he will have a week to wash it every time-if he stays in. I like him though. (I can’t believe I am commenting on a guy’s underwear-but you started it-no, he started it.)
Who are your top 5 pick? It may be too early to predict since we haven’t seen so many of the 24 before. I REALLY think that they should show ALL of the suditions of those who make it through!! WHy not?? It is really unfair to the ones who aren’t seen by us!They could even do a whole extra show like they did of the extra auditions.
Debbie
Okay, you know how my Wednesdays are(actually it was Valentine’s Day not choir that conflicted this week). So, I waited to watch Wed.’s show to watch with John, but we were busy Thursday and Friday. So finally, I watched it on Sat. Enough of that…
I am generally pleased with the outcome. I think Phil, the bald dad, and Rudy look too much alike to last long, but I like Phil.
I am really glad Antonella went through.
Paul said that his lucky underwear is for the results show, so he will have a week to wash it every time-if he stays in. I like him though. (I can’t believe I am commenting on a guy’s underwear-but you started it-no, he started it.)
Who are your top 5 pick? It may be too early to predict since we haven’t seen so many of the 24 before. I REALLY think that they should show ALL of the suditions of those who make it through!! WHy not?? It is really unfair to the ones who aren’t seen by us!They could even do a whole extra show like they did of the extra auditions.
Jandy
Yeah, I totally understand. I’ve been getting behind on several of my other shows, even my baby Veronica Mars. I’m just trying extra hard to stay on top of Idol!
I’m pretty pleased with the Top 24, too…I like that there aren’t really too many people that you can easily categorize. Like, last year you had Chris the rocker, Kellie the country girl, Bucky the country rocker, but you don’t really have that this year. They’re diverse, but not as pigeon-hole-able. Rudy and Phil I don’t think will go too far. I like Phil’s personality a lot, but I’m not that into his singing.
re: Paul, yeah, but a lot of the time “lucky underwear” things include not washing them, even if you only wear them certain times. I was just hoping he didn’t think that not washing was part of the luck. That’s all.
Top 5…yeah, hard. Ask me on Thursday, after I’ve had a chance to hear them all sing. And yes, you’re totally right. It’s unfair not to show all the auditions. They should AT THE VERY LEAST put them on the website. They do have interview clips with the Top 24, so you can sort of get a sense of their personalities and influences, but it’s not the same thing. Compared with, say, how they’ve showcased Antonella–don’t get me wrong, I love her, but one of the reasons I love her is because I’ve seen so much of her. I saw how self-effacing she was at the original audition, how supportive of Amanda (who was sort of a bitca at times), and how well she came through the horrible group round compared with Amanda and Baylie. I mean, all told, she’s had about six times the amount of positive impressions compared with, say, Leslie Hunt. Sorry, rant.
Jandy
Yeah, I totally understand. I’ve been getting behind on several of my other shows, even my baby Veronica Mars. I’m just trying extra hard to stay on top of Idol!
I’m pretty pleased with the Top 24, too…I like that there aren’t really too many people that you can easily categorize. Like, last year you had Chris the rocker, Kellie the country girl, Bucky the country rocker, but you don’t really have that this year. They’re diverse, but not as pigeon-hole-able. Rudy and Phil I don’t think will go too far. I like Phil’s personality a lot, but I’m not that into his singing.
re: Paul, yeah, but a lot of the time “lucky underwear” things include not washing them, even if you only wear them certain times. I was just hoping he didn’t think that not washing was part of the luck. That’s all.
Top 5…yeah, hard. Ask me on Thursday, after I’ve had a chance to hear them all sing. And yes, you’re totally right. It’s unfair not to show all the auditions. They should AT THE VERY LEAST put them on the website. They do have interview clips with the Top 24, so you can sort of get a sense of their personalities and influences, but it’s not the same thing. Compared with, say, how they’ve showcased Antonella–don’t get me wrong, I love her, but one of the reasons I love her is because I’ve seen so much of her. I saw how self-effacing she was at the original audition, how supportive of Amanda (who was sort of a bitca at times), and how well she came through the horrible group round compared with Amanda and Baylie. I mean, all told, she’s had about six times the amount of positive impressions compared with, say, Leslie Hunt. Sorry, rant.
Debbie
I agree with your comments about the 24 being diverse, but not pigeon-hole-able.;) I wonder if it is really true that we don’t know this lot or we just don’t feel connected to them(compared to the end of the show last year), hmmm. Since I only watched season 4 and 5 I can’t say for sure, but I seem to remember feeling like this last year, as if I just didn’t know them and wouldn’t be able to know them like the previous year’s group. what do you think? Interesting question for long time Idol watchers…
also-I like caberet singers, too, whatever that is.
I have enjoyed reading your blog notes. It has helped me to remember who is who and something about them. So…THANKS!!
Debbie
I agree with your comments about the 24 being diverse, but not pigeon-hole-able.;) I wonder if it is really true that we don’t know this lot or we just don’t feel connected to them(compared to the end of the show last year), hmmm. Since I only watched season 4 and 5 I can’t say for sure, but I seem to remember feeling like this last year, as if I just didn’t know them and wouldn’t be able to know them like the previous year’s group. what do you think? Interesting question for long time Idol watchers…
also-I like caberet singers, too, whatever that is.
I have enjoyed reading your blog notes. It has helped me to remember who is who and something about them. So…THANKS!!
Jandy
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that, too. Season 5 was my first year watching regularly, so I keep thinking that it’s just not going to be the same without Chris and Kat and Elliott…but then I remind myself that the first week of competition, I didn’t care too much for Chris or Elliott, and I didn’t even remember Kat’s audition. So I think it’s just that we don’t know them yet.
I’ve been watching American Idol Rewind, where they’re replaying S1, but recut a bit. And S1 was SOOOO BAD! Seriously. Production value was nil. Although, they haven’t gotten to the finalists yet, so maybe it’ll get better after that. And most of the singers aren’t great, either. It’s come a long way.
You’re very welcome! I wanted to keep really good track of the auditions this year so that I would be able to remember everyone and everything they did on the show.
Jandy
Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that, too. Season 5 was my first year watching regularly, so I keep thinking that it’s just not going to be the same without Chris and Kat and Elliott…but then I remind myself that the first week of competition, I didn’t care too much for Chris or Elliott, and I didn’t even remember Kat’s audition. So I think it’s just that we don’t know them yet.
I’ve been watching American Idol Rewind, where they’re replaying S1, but recut a bit. And S1 was SOOOO BAD! Seriously. Production value was nil. Although, they haven’t gotten to the finalists yet, so maybe it’ll get better after that. And most of the singers aren’t great, either. It’s come a long way.
You’re very welcome! I wanted to keep really good track of the auditions this year so that I would be able to remember everyone and everything they did on the show.