American Idol 3. Eight left: Flick It!

Ebert & Roeper Give It 2 Thumbs…

In their ears! Kidding. Except not. Then again, I’m writing this before I hear the performances. I’m pre-judging. But it’s not like a precedent hasn’t been set. Last week, almost everyone ruined

an Elton John song. Except George. It was an hour-long results show and I was happy to miss it in favor of scrubbing the toilets at my house. I did stop in for a few minutes to learn the results.

An innovation we may never see again, because it makes so much sense, was the splitting of the final 9 into three groups. One by one each contestant was told which group his or her votes had placed him or her in. Don’t you hate that kind of sentence construction? I know I do. But if I only say “he” and “him” it seems unfair, since the group is mostly women. If I use “she” and “her” all the Hobbit and Data fans will be up in arms. And god knows they’re powerful groups – look at what their votes have accomplished.

The names of the groups were Group A, Group B and Group C. Why does everything on this show have to be so pedestrian?  In the interest of completely disorienting us, George, Latoya and Jennifer were the inhabitants of “Group C,” Jon Peter Hobbit, “Data” Stevens and Fantasia were probably safe in Group B and Jasmine, Diana and Camille had to mean that Group A was the “loser” group.

Two groups were safe and indeed Group A was not one of them. Then Diana was excused and the two Hawaiian girls were not. Short story long, Camile was tearfully sent packing. Mercifully too I might add.  While I felt she has come further than some others whose efforts I’ll have to continue to evaluate tonight, let’s face it. Camile’s best singing efforts are always going to be snapping at the heels of Fantasia, Latoya, Jennifer and George.

This show. Where is the plot development? The characterizations? The themes? Oh, right. Every week there is a theme. Tonight’s “theme” is Movie Night – select any song from a cinematic release and ritually murder it. When I put it like that, there is a reason to hope for Disney songs.

No. Please no. If there are more than 2 Disney movies sourced I shall be throwing my teddy bears at the TV.

Let’s get on with the performances. Mr. Islands is ready to make us popcorn! YAY!

But first,  Ryan Seacrest.  Ryan has put so much money into his haberdasher’s bank account that he can no longer afford razor blades. Or so one would think. What is up with the 5 o’clock shadow this guy constantly sports?

George Huff’s favorite movie is [i]The Wiz[/i]. It even inspired him to try out for American Idol. But has he chosen a song from that movie? Why, no, no he hasn’t. Thanks for playing. Those songs aren’t up to snuff. Instead, he has gone in search of an angst-ridden, I mean, spiritually uplifting, song to express his struggle to achieve his goals. “Against All Odds,” the title track of the movie by the same name, is what George has decided is worthy of a serious outfit. He’s in a dark suit with a black & white horizontal striped shirt under. And tonight, no Dip.

That’s right. You heard me. No Dip.  It’s unfortunate that he’s first, because this song could really do with more bouncy songs ahead of it. It needs build up. It needs a rollercoaster ride. It needs George to really be able to convince us that he’s gotten where he has “against all odds.”  With his musical family, I’d have thought the odds would be stacked in his favor.

Nice voice and delivery but didn’t wow me. Not by any means. I found myself fascinated with his lack of Dip, and the MIA smile. The performance did show that George can be more serious in tone and presentation.  But do we want him to be? Was this the week to show that side of himself? Probably, yeah, come to think of it. He can afford a “meh” week at this point, when so many remain who deserve to be tossed unceremoniously. Even though you and I both know that there is no such thing as an unceremonious booting from this show.

Listening to judges’ comments, I find I agree with Quentin Tarantino, guest judge, who said that George made him forget he hates the song. I was so busy examining George’s fashion and presentation choices, I forgot to hate the song. Maybe that’s what Quentin meant?  The regular judges felt it was a bad song choice. And in terms of making George look good, they’re right. But he did show range, and that’s always a good thing. Um, isn’t it?

This week, I waited to award point ratings until after all the performances. George, while not a bottom-feeder yet, earned the lowest rating I’ve given him yet.  5

Jennifer Hudson says her favorite movie is Sister Act 2 cuz all they do is sing, and it’s funny. She ought to check out The Blues Brothers. Now that's a funny movie with lots of great singing of great songs.

She’s chosen a Whitney Houston song, “I Have Nothing” from whatever that’s from. I think she said The Bodyguard.  What a prescient song that was for Whitney to have sung.  So anyway, Jennifer has big earrings (circles within circles) that are almost too much, a simple black dress (well, simple for this show) and her hair looks nice. I mean, I like it, even if it probably took half a day to get it straightened like that.

She is a very powerful singer and I like her performance. She gets good comments from all judges. After due consideration I give her the 7 spot tonight. These ratings are, after all, based on my personal likes, and don’t take into account how nuts everyone goes over the others.

JP Hobbit says his favorite film is Dead Poets’ Society, which is still one of my favorites. It has inspired him, but not the way some of us might wish. He plans to carpe diem and “Jailhouse Rock” has drawn the short straw.

Wearing black jeans and jacket, and a dried blood-red shirt with some colorful thingymajig (navy signals for SOS?) where the left breast pocket would go, he’s hopping and bopping. Then he’s jerking his short stubby legs around. That dance looks like the death throes of a wild animal. It wasn’t his worst performance, and some might say it was his best. I never realized before that that song is just one note.  Oh wait. It isn’t. That’s part of the J.P. Hobbit “style.” 

Unfortunately I know he won’t get voted out on the strength of this performance. On some boards his fans are listing him in their top 3 of the evening. Of course Simon said it was terrible. And Mr. Islands was laughing and groaning. While I give Hobbit a 3 (as in, he was the least offensive of the three worst performances), I don’t expect to see him anywhere near the bottom 3 this week.

Diana DeGarmo’s fave film is Bowfinger. She explains it’s the funniest movie of all time. She doesn’t get out much, obviously. I mean, “of all time”? No way. See Withnail & I.

Anyhoo, Diana fancies herself able to take on a difficult Celine Dion song. I mean, another one. Hasn’t she tried this before, doing Celine? So, from Titanic, we get “My Heart Will Go On.”

I like this song; in fact, it’s one of the few Dion-performed songs I do like. However, I think it was not the best choice for Diana, especially if she was recently ill. She reaches too far and falls short. Her black dress is nice. Her hair is down and has been styled into waves framing her face, also nice. She needs the marks for presentation, believe me.

As for the singing, she starts well, then hits a rough patch on the crescendo bits of the song and never really recovers. I suppose that’s what being pitchy is all about. Not that I would know. I’m just guessing. She kind of shouts the last parts. All in all, not bad. Not great, but not the worst of the night.

Comments from the judges reflect their apathy. I don’t want to see her leave because of this, but she’d have done better to select a less over-played song, as well as a song to which she could really relate. There have been songs in movies since the medium began. I mean, why did she pick this one? I give her the 4 spot but I won’t be surprised if she’s in the bottom 3. She's definitely slipped down a few rungs on my ladder.

Fantasia Barrino’s favorite film is Finding Nemo, cuz Nemo reminds her of herself cuz she’s childish. Oh. Okay. 

Fantasia has chosen “Summertime” from Porgy & Bess. Oh I love this song, even though I’ve never heard the original: I first heard it on Janis Joplin’s album (the one with “Me & Bobby McGee.") She has on a pale pink dress with cutouts on the hips, and long earrings.

She performs the song sitting on the stage. She’s fighting a wee bit at times to be heard over the string arrangement. But that was a helluva moving performance. I could feel so many layers of emotions and backstory – the hope tinged with desperation and hopelessness. I could see the cotton in the fields and feel the oppressive heat.

Standing ovations ensue and deservedly so. I’m surprised others agree with me; so often I’m the only one going, “Yeah, right on.” Randy goes nuts – single best Idol performance of any season. Paula calls it an “Oscar winning performance.” Quentin tells her she’s the bomb but she needs to rock. And Simon says she proved the point about why they’re critical when people just sing well. She has tears because she felt her song. She gets the top spot tonight from me, 8. That was just awesome.

Jasmine Trias loves the movie Lilo & Stitch, cuz it’s all about family. I can’t even stand the commercials for this film. She chose a ballad to show vulnerability and range, “When I Fall In Love.” It’s another song once performed by Celine Dion, and it was in the movie Sleepless in Seattle.

Jasmine is in blue jeans, a pale pink top that bares a tidbit of midriff and sporting a lavender jasmine. She has on some kind of bracelet 3 inches thick. It’s a nice performance from her. She’s a pretty girl with a nice voice, but she’s not going to beat Fantasia this week. What am I saying? She’s not going to beat most of them this week. I think even Hobbit deserves a higher score for his spirited effort. I give her a 2. She's blah.

John "Data" Stevens talks about loving animated movies when he was a kid. What, "when"? He’s 16 but seems like 12. He talks about Aladdin. He intends to shine, and chooses from Casablanca “As Time Goes By” as the song to shine with, if shine he can.

But the problem remains the same – his voice is thin and he has no depth of experience to back up the words he’s singing. White jacket & shirt with black pants. It’s his best performance but that’s not saying much. At all. 

Simon says, “As long as you can click your fingers you’re happy.”  He tells him he has no charisma. “And you are beginning to look like Ryan Seacrest,” prodding the most personality out of Data we’ve seen all season as he scrunches up his wee face in horror.

But that’s it. Simon has hit the nail on the head. It may be a function of his youth, but he definitely has no charisma. I’ve seen some little kids (e.g., check out School of Rock) for kids younger than Data, who have more charisma and personality than he will likely ever have.

Data is the only one for whom I could think of a really good alternative song selection. He should have done something from Oliver. I know it was a Broadway stage play, but it was also a movie. The song “Where is Love?” would have been perfect for his thin little voice.

Tonight’s performance will still not be enough to get him booted out of the competition.  Nevertheless, I give him my lowest rating, 1.

Latoya London also loves Finding Nemo. I suppose one day I’ll have to see this film, with these people raving about it. She says it brings out the kid in her. One of her dreams is to do an animated picture.

Latoya has her short hair back. In fact, she had it last week, and I noticed it, but I forgot to mention it in my article. So I’m mentioning it now, okay? Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Recap Writer. Oh sorry. That was last week.

Latoya has selected “Somewhere” from West Side Story. Her outfit of black pants with a two-layered top is a little distracting. I’m trying to figure out if that top is one layer or two. I think it’s two: with a black t-shirt under a white shimmery thing that looks torn, but it’s artfully strung together strings that look like a necklace that slipped. Or something.

By the time I move on to the long strands of earrings, she’s nearing the end of her song. Her “stick the hand out” gestures make sense for once, as she sings, “Hold my hand.” It’s a very nice performance, but I’m not feeling her yet. Yes, she’s a polished performer, but I’m not feeling it, aiiiiight? She is technically very good, and doesn’t grate. But it’s been a while since I’ve connected with her performance of a song. I realize many of you did connect, but this is my rating and I’m saying, when I feel it, I’ll let you know.

All the judges go nuts, but for me tonight, she is third to Fantasia and Jennifer and gets my No. 6 spot.

During song replays, I notice again how much Data sticks out like a big red thumb. He should be tossed but it will probably be Jasmine or even Diana.

To summarize, my rankings for this evening are:

8 Fantasia

7 Jennifer

6 Latoya

5 George

4 Diana

3 Jon Peter Hobbit

2 Jasmine

1 John "Data" Stevens

Who should go? Data.

Who will go? Hmm. I think the bottom 2 this week will be Diana and Jasmine, and it could just as easily be one as the other who leaves. Neither of them deserves to go yet, as both have shown ability far ahead of Data and Hobbit, but fanbases obviously are helping them stay up way past their bedtimes. Are their people voting for them without even watching the show?

I’ll predict, sadly, that Diana leaves, simply because she doesn’t have a group of voters behind her. Jasmine will have picked up all Camile's folk, I expect.

Thanks for reading.