I have heard great things about Being Human, the UK-based television series about a cluster of supernatural misfits who try to blend in and “be” human. I reduced my Netflix to just online instant queuing recently, because I have a habit of getting discs and losing them, never to watch them, since I only have time to watch Netflix online. Unfortunately, that means I am stuck watching only that which is available online. Being Human just happens to be only available on disc, so I have yet to watch an episode of the series.

When I heard the U.S. (Canada) planned to make a reboot of the series, set in North America with American sounding actors, I was intrigued but had a sense of trepidation. The U.S. has a history of taking UK shows and changing them, and usually, that is not good. Of course, I remembered how different Queer as Folk American-style was from the UK version. Both are amazing, but I am partial to the U.S. version, so my hope is that Being Human, USA-style can even hold a minor candle to the awesomeness I have been told Being Human UK is.

The first episode of Being Human begins with duel stories being told, simultaneously. Aidan (Sam Witwer) is out on a date with Rebecca (Sarah Allen), a nurse from work, while Josh (Sam Huntington) heads out into the forest, where he proceeds to take off all his clothes. Josh then starts to transform into a werewolf, as Rebecca invites Aidan in to her home for ‘a drink’. As they enter her home, Rebecca starts to strip, and Aidan hesitates to join her. However, he quickly takes the plunge and ends up having sex with her. In the midst of their sexual encounter, he bears his fangs, revealing he is a vampire, and savagely bites into her neck.

The next morning, Josh is lying on the ground next to a dead, brutalized animal, covered in blood. Aidan is sitting on the floor next to the bed, where a bloody mess and Rebecca’s body remain. He calls a mortuary for assistance, and they come to clean up his mess, removing Rebecca in a moving box. Josh cleans his face off and walks out of the forest, nude, finding a woman’s dress on a clothing line, which he puts on. He walks through town in the dress to Aidan’s car. Aidan is waiting with water and fresh clothes. Josh changes into them, cleaning his skin with the water and the two head to work. They work at a hospital, where they are male nurses.

At work, Aidan tries to convince Josh to move in together. This way they will not have to squat in hostels and go from place to place. Josh is uncertain. His life is hell and he does not see the point in moving in with a vampire. They’d only be fooling themselves as they attempt to be human, but really they are just living a lie. They soon meet Kara, a nurse sent in to replace Rebecca, who has not shown up for work in the ICU. This prompts Aidan to have flashbacks of the night before of him killing Rebecca.

While at work, Marcus shows up to talk to Aidan about his sloppy night out with Rebecca, and how he must respect him if he wants Bishop and his men to continue to clean up his messes. Aidan is quite upset about this, as Marcus taunts him. He also mentions Bishop is looking to the hospital to recruit. Things are changing and Aidan is told he needs to fall into line. Of course, this causes them to fight, until one of the nurses enters the hospital room they are in and interrupts them, unaware of what has transpired.

On his lunch break, Josh asks Aidan if he is serious about them moving in together. He tells him being a werewolf is not a curse. Living and watching people be human around him is the real curse. Josh wants Aidan to help him try to live as normal a life as he can. Aidan tells him he cannot cook and he has bad credit. Josh says he has OCD and Aidan does not eat, anyway. The two end up finding a fixer-upper. Josh loves it, but Aidan isn’t in love with the idea of all the work it needs. They are sold, however, when the current owner, Danny (Gianpaolo Venuta), whose fiancee had died in the home they bought together, tells them he does not require a credit check. Danny also agrees to help them fix up the house, if they take it off his hands.

The two promptly move in together and realize they are not alone. A woman, Sally (Meaghan Rath), is in their house. She is a ghost, and is ecstatic to know they can see her. They are the first “people” who have been able to see her since she died six months ago. Sally is trapped inside the house, unable to leave, and unsure of how she died. She has been driving herself crazy, talking to herself. Josh is kind of pissed she is there calling her the peeper ghost, but Aidan has experience with ghosts and he is more inquisitive. He also enjoys her nitpicking at Josh.

At work, Aidan shows Josh a secret area of a closed off wing, where he can transform without having to go into the forest. He can lock him in until his transformation is over and let him out. While at the hospital, Josh sees Emily (Alison Louder), a woman from his past. He can smell her and after confirming it his her, he promptly turns around to disappear before she can see him. Aidan is haunted by the death of Rebecca. Missing posters are displayed at the hospital and Kara tells him the police have been back asking more questions about her disappearance.

Sally explains to Josh that he is right and she wants to move on with her life. She asks him to call Danny, so she can try to do so. He informs her that she is always there and he just wants to be alone. She informs him he is lucky because he can at least attempt to fix his problems. Back at the hospital, a cop grills Aidan, until another officer, who turns out to be Bishop, informs the cop he will handle the situation. He convinces the cop that Aidan is innocent and that he will not remember being there. After the cop leaves, Bishop tells Aidan he is glad he is “back in” though Aidan assures him he is not. He does ask Bishop to make the Rebecca situation disappear, as a personal favor. Bishop tells him he is a shark and to be one, hinting at Aidan’s blood bank diet not working.

Josh goes to see Emily, who is at the hospital with her girlfriend (Jackie), and it is revealed that he left his family and life behind two years ago, when he became a werewolf. Josh comes from a Jewish family, who have had a terrible time coping with his decision to leave out of the blue. Emily wants to know where he went and why he left. She is Josh’s sister and she wants answers, because they have spent the last two years wondering if he was dead or alive. Josh cannot bring himself to tell Emily the truth. He leaves her unable to tell her what he has become, though he does ask her not to tell anyone she saw him.

Aidan has a flashback to a party he went to with Bishop. They killed the bride, groom and everyone else, except a little girl who was hiding under a table. He then makes an anonymous call to Rebecca’s family telling them she is dead. He returns home where he tries to comfort Sally, who confesses she cannot leave because she fears she will get lost and not be able to find her way back and never be able to see Danny again. He tries to touch her, but his hand goes through hers.

Josh puts in his earphones, heading down to the abandoned wing of the hospital. Emily sees him and proceeds to follow him. He cannot hear her calling his name because of his music. Bishop gets Aidan to go with him saying they all know he killed Rebecca. He takes him back to the place where he lives and entices Bishop with women and blood. In the meantime, Josh is down in the room and Emily confronts him. He is about to change, so he begs her to leave, but she will not go. Instead, she locks herself in with him.

Freaked out and afraid he will kill his sister, Josh calls Aidan, begging him for help. Unfortunately, Aidan’s cell is in his coat, which has been taken from him by the butler at Bishop’s place. Josh calls home begging Sally, through the answering machine, for help and telling her he is afraid he is going to kill his sister. She attempts to reach the door handle without her hand going through it. Aidan is unable to control his lust until he realizes Bishop is watching him. As Josh begins to transform, his sister attempts to help, but he throws her back, as his claws begin to form.

To find out more about this episode, and this new SyFy series, visit the official Being Human web home. Being Human airs on the SyFy channel on Mondays at 9 PM ET.

Technorati Tags: Being Human, SyFy, Vampire, Werewolf, Ghost, Based on British Television, TV Reboot, Television Show, TV Recap, Episode Recap, First Episode, TV Show

The 12 men are included with our own personal thoughts as the performances occur. Let us know your thoughts, too. Who are you voting for, if you bother to vote at all.

Todrick Hall – “Since You’ve Been Gone”
Dom – “Great singer and original idea!”
Ashtyn – “Homeboy has game. This shit was fly. First song I’ve heard this year that would take me to iTunes!”

Judges – Ellen feels he’s a great performer and she loved that the song was done differently, though she didn’t like the chorus. Randy is a fan, but he changed the song too much. Kara agrees with Randy. He shouldn’t have changed it that much. Simon feels that he came over as a dancer that was trying to sing, not a singer that could dance. According to Simon he murdered the song.

Aaron Kelly – “Here Comes Goodbye”
Dom – “The song is just too big for him..Verging on screechy.”
Ashtyn – “Rascal Flatts is a big band to tackle for a little boy. This was reminiscent of a shower singer.”

Judges – Simon felt it was quite good for a first performance, though he needs more confidence. He needs to take control of the song. Kara loves that he has no idea how his confidence will improve his raw talent. She loves the pop country road for him. Randy felt it was a big song, but he’s got pipes. Wow. Ellen says ditto to all that.

Jermaine Sellers – “Get Here”
Dom – “First I was bored and then it occurred to me that some people should not attempt falsetto.”
Ashtyn – “Way too timid and not suited for this song. Jesus, he screwed that up”

Judges – Ellen loves the song, but he was singing the song as a performance not just on vocals. He pushed too much and was off. He tried too hard. Randy felt the song was a weird choice for him. He tried to do too much vocally. Kara thinks he needs to make the runs meaningful rather than just doing them. It was too old for him. Simon feels its a cocktail lounge song that 50 year old people request. He totally blew his opportunity with this song.

Tim Urban – “Apologize”
Dom – “He’s trying to be One Republic and failing.”
Ashtyn – “Seriously? His story was much more amusing than his voice and I didn’t much care for the story.”

Judges – Simon congratulated him on coming back, but is glad that he didn’t put him through the first time. The vocals were weak and so was the version. Kara feels the music overpowered him. Randy feels it was the wrong song, such the wrong song. Ellen realizes that he picked the song because it was popular, but if he gets votes its not on his voice it’s because he’s adorable.

Joe Munoz – “You and I”
Dom – “I was bored.”
Ashtyn – “The lyrics are meant to be understood and he had some annunciation issues. No one is going to remember this tomorrow anyway.”

Judges – Ellen feels he’s comfortable on stage and you can see he’s in the song when he’s singing. She liked it. Randy didn’t feel it was the perfect song choice, but his voice is good. He did a good job. Kara liked that he picked a song that she wasn’t expecting. There were some issues, but he’s the best so far. Simon kind of agrees, but he needs to get out of the bubble of the show. The performance didn’t do him justice. Forgettable.

Tyler Grady – “American Woman”
Dom – “Boring. Indulgent. He sucked.”
Ashtyn – “I love the 70s music. I don’t love the Jonas Bros lookalike trying to get into that groove without bringing it home.”

Judges – Simon says it’s memorable, but its cliché and unnatural. He needs to work on his vocals. Kara agrees with Simon. He’s obsessed with the 70s, but offers nothing original as a result. Randy wants to know who he is now. It’s the same every time. Ellen agrees with everyone else.

Lee Dewyze – “Chasing Cars”
Dom – “Rocker vibe, but he keeps hitting the wrong notes.”
Ashtyn – “He reminds me of a Dave Matthews. If he plays his cards a little better he might stick around for awhile. He was a little rough.”

Judges – Ellen thought it was a good song choice, but felt he was screaming. Loves the tone though. He has a distinctive sound. Randy disagrees with Ellen. The song was too pop/rock. He sees him more as a rocker so it didn’t work for him. Kara felt the range was too small for him. He needs a better song for his voice. Simon went on his own and said it was the best performance. Lee is a naturally good singer an he believes in him. He should find songs and turn them into his own, not look for other people’s music like Kara suggested.

John Park – “God Bless the Child”
Dom – “Is he singing in English?”
Ashtyn – “So, this is the comedy intermission, right? If Sanjaya and William Hung had a baby….this would be the result.”

Judges – Simon states that you need an incredible voice for that song, and Park doesn’t have one. Kara agrees with Simon. There was no connection to the song and it was loungy. Randy didn’t feel it was working and Ellen didn’t think that song was getting him any votes, but she liked it.

Big Mike Lynche- “This Love”
Dom – “Interesting song choice. He’s not hitting bad notes.”
Ashtyn – “I didn’t hate it, but I don’t love it either.”

Judges – Ellen loves the personality and it was a great song. Randy agrees with Ellen. It was a high energy experience. Kara agrees he made it lively. It was good because everything else was so bad. Simon feels he was the opening act before the main act. Mike is the guy with a big heart an big personality, but that was a little performance.

Alex Lambert – “It’s a Wonderful World”
Dom – “It’s not a wonderful world because he just can’t sing.”
Ashtyn – “The mullet is back and it needs to leave again. As for the song, didn’t work.”

Judges – Simon doesn’t know who was happier about this ending, Alex or him. It was completely uncomfortable. The voice is good, but if he can’t hack it when it’s not going to work for him. Kara thinks it’s a compliment but it’s bad that he sounded too much like the artist. He has great potential. Randy likes him and so does Ellen…she also likes his mullet.

Casey James – “Heaven”
Dom – “I have no problem with his voice, but he didn’t do anything with the song. Kara’s crush creeps me out.”
Ashtyn – “Technically nothing wrong. Too close to the original for me. Don’t think it will be remembered.”

Judges – Kara doesn’t recognize him with his shirt on. It was pitchy at points, but moving on. Ellen could feel Kara undressing him with her eyes. He sounded great. Randy liked it and it was a good song choice. He likes him too, but not in that way. Simon understands that Casey has good looks. He chose the right song, it was honest, and he was likable….especially for the cougar.

Andrew Garcia – “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down”
Dom – “He has potential, but God…I don’t get it.”
Ashtyn – “If Grandma whipped out her guitar to do Fall Out Boy this is what it would sound like.”

Judges – Simon was looking forward to hearing Andrew more than anyone. He was disappointed. It wasn’t original and it was too serious. Really, really disappointed. Kara thinks he brought the risk, but he didn’t bring it. She hopes he stays. Randy agrees with them. The arrangement was weird. He’s still a fan though. Ellen loved Straight Up and that will keep him around, but this was not the best performance for him.

As for who is going home Dom votes for John Park and Alex Lambert. Ashtyn wants to see Jermaine Sellers and Tim Urban hit the bricks. As for who is staying….we are pretty sure that Andrew and Big Mike will still be here next week.

Technorati Tags: Tim Urban, Michael Bolton, William Hung, Sanjaya, John Park, Alex Lambert, Jermaine Sellers, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze, Tyler Grady, Joe Munoz, Aaron Kelly, Todrick Hall, American Idol

12:05 PM – Margie tries to explain to Barb why someone believes Ben is Margie’s husband. She tries to blow off the kiss between her and Ben as an “accident,” but Barb is furious about it.

12:06 PM – Sarah and Scott are having sex, but they are interrupted by a baby crying. The baby has been left alone by the mother that Sarah invited to stay with her (a native woman Barb hit with her car). She is out getting eggs.

12:07 PM -An INS team shows up at Bill’s workplace. The guy who called in to the radio is having Bill scrutinized.

12:08 PM – J.J. asks Albie how he is going to decide to split up Roman’s wives. He wants Adaleen as his wife. Albie decides to think about J.J.’s request.

12:10 PM – Bill calls up Lois to tell her he is running for state senate. He asks her to introduce him when he announces his candidacy. Lois and Frank go out together to handle some business.

12:12 PM – Margie cooks Bill’s favorite meal in order to butter him up as she explains the Ben snafu. Bill yells at her and insists she fix it.

12:13 PM – Sarah lies to Barb about who’s baby is in her house.

12:14 PM – Wanda and Joey lie in bed talking. Wanda dreams of having her own house and a lot of kids. Joey says they can have those things because they won’t get caught.

12:16 PM – Bill explains Margie said the whole snafu was a mistake, which upsets Ben. Bill tells Ben he can talk to him about anything.

12:17 PM – Albie tells Adaleen she will be marrying a new man. She is not told who it is, and she is very upset. She calls Nicky and has a breakdown on the phone.

12:19 PM – Don tells Bill they are investigating coverage of the wives on their insurance. Bill says they have to get the wife and kids off the books, which angers Don.

12:21 PM – J.J. confronts Joey with evidence of him killing Roman. He blackmails him.

12:23 PM – Barb finds out that Sarah is helping Leyla and her baby and she goes ballistic.

12:24 PM – When Nicky goes to pick up Carol Ann, she finds out Adaleen is going to be sealed to J.J. Adaleen defends J.J. and Nicky flips a lid over this.

12:26 PM – Wanda asks Nicky to kill J.J. Nicky won’t but Wanda thinks they need to do something to stop him.

12:27 PM – Albie breaks into Dale’s house.

12:27 PM – Ben brings home pizza and Margie acts weird around him. Margie finds out about the new INS stuff. Bill gets a call and is forced to move up the announcement of his running for senate.

12:30 PM – Barb freaks out and she and Bill have random, wild sex in the basement.

12:31 PM – Lois, Frank and Jodeen are at the border and must sneak their birds into the country. They have to sneak past the border patrol.

12:32 PM – Dale comes home to find Albie in it with a present. He freaks out because he broke in. Dale’s family is out for two days, so Albie cooked and wants to stay with him.

12:34 PM – Roman’s ghost shows up to harass Albie. He finds out Dale is working with the government against the UEB and he bolts.

12:35 PM – Ben finds Margene half dressed and looking for hot cocoa. He confronts her about the kiss. She lies about it, but then feels bad and says it did mean something. He gets the cocoa down for her.

12:36 PM – Lois and Frank argue about finding a place to rest, and Lois won’t let him. Frank wants to have a honeymoon with Jodeen. He calls Lois illiterate.

12:39 PM – Bill offers to help Don with the medical expenses he has caused.

12:40 PM – Lois and Frank are asleep on the side of the road. Jodeen opens the trunk and lets all the birds out.

12:44 PM – Margie confesses on air that Ben is not her husband. She says her husband has abandoned her and cries.

12:46 PM – Bill and Barb convince Sarah to take the baby back to the reservation. The baby’s mother is claiming Sarah took her baby.

12:48 PM – Albie returns to Dale’s house and confronts him. The two share a tender moment after Dale confesses he’d never hurt Albie.

12:49 PM – Teeny confesses that Ben is in love with Margie and that the two are in love. She tells about the love note Ben wrote Margie.

12:50 PM – Ben sits down Margene and Ben. Ben claims he kissed Margie, to save her. He confesses to everything, much to Margene’s shock.

12:52 PM – The guy who is running against Bill knows about his link to polygamy. He is running a dirty campaign.

12:53 PM – Barb tells Ben he is on his side. He is mad about being betrayed and hurt by Margie. Barb realizes Joey is there and is happy he came to Bill’s announcement ceremony.

12:55 PM – Bill asks Don to take the blame and say he is a polygamist. He also tenders his resignation.

12:55 PM – Margie confesses to Bill that she kissed Ben. She has a breakdown and leaves.

12:56 PM – Lois announces Bill is running for state senate. Frank shows up at the campaign party, as does Don. Frank leaves when Bill gives Lois all the credit for raising him.

12:58 PM – Ben decides to leave and Bill agrees it is for the best.

Technorati Tags: Big Love, HBO, Live Blogging, Episode 4.4, Bill Hendrickson, Polygamy, TV Show, The Mighty and Strong, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloe Sevigny, Bill Paxton, Ginnifer Goodwin

“Smells Like Murder” – Premiered Monday, Aug. 10
A box is mailed to the squad room, and Lt. Provenza decides to open it in Brenda’s office. It contains a cooler with a badly decomposed body. Sgt. Gabriel is studying for his detective’s exam, and Brenda uses the case as an educational opportunity for him.

Brenda’s niece Charlie (Sosie Bacon) makes dinner at home, but she also makes pot brownies, which Brenda unknowingly eats. When Fritz finds out, he decides to put Charlie on a plane back to Georgia. In the end, Brenda is determined not to give up on Charlie, and convinces Fritz to let her stay. She points out to Fritz that if he can’t handle an unruly teenager, he’d never be able to handle a child of his own.

Terrence (Bob Clendenin), who works with Dr. Morales in the morgue and has a crush on Brenda, has completed his medical education and is now working as a coroner.

RAISING THE BAR – Season 2
Mondays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

“Making Up is Hard to Do” – Premiered Monday, Aug. 10
Michelle’s cop boyfriend testifies in a drug case she is trying, but when the drug evidence disappears and then magically re-appears, followed by a juror claiming she overheard the cop discussing the case on an elevator, Michelle begins to suspect her boyfriend is trying to tamper with the case. Her suspicions are proven correct, and she winds up dumping him in a heated exchange. Balco then helps Michelle make things right with the defendant.

Jerry begs Marcus to re-offer a plea agreement long after it had been refused. Marcus uses the case as an opportunity to show Balco what he’s got, but later feels bad about giving Jerry’s client a raw deal. He eventually agrees to recommend the minimum, thus preventing a riff in their friendship.

HAWTHORNE – Season 1
Tuesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

“Mother’s Day” – Premiered Tuesday, Aug. 11
Morrissey calls for more cuts, so Christina needs to focus on budgeting. She turns over all nursing responsibilities to Bobbie for the day. Bobbie is immediately thrown into the fray when a woman brings her mother into the ER with a possible stroke. Dr. Marshall doesn’t get all the information she needs from the woman and prescribes the wrong treatment. Kelly, however, does get more details, and she tells Tom that the treatment could be harmful to the patient. He interferes, inflaming Dr. Marshall against Kelly.

Tragedy hits when the woman who brought her mother in realizes that she left her infant daughter in the car in sweltering heat. Despite all efforts by Christina, Tom and the staff, the baby dies, devastating the staff. Christina later pushes Bobbie to speak to the entire staff and help them deal with things and move on to help other patients.

Morrissey tells Tom he has to fire a doctor who has been at the hospital for 27 years. He also tells Christina that she has to get rid of six nurses. After Kelly’s run-in with Dr. Marshall, he demands that she be one of the nurses cut, but Christina won’t do it. She eventually is able to convince him to only cut cost-of-living increases.

Ray goes into Dr. Marshall’s office and confronts her over the incident with Kelly. They wind up in a passionate kiss.

SAVING GRACE – Season 3
Tuesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

“Looks Like a Lesbian Attack to Me” – Premiered Tuesday, Aug. 11
Grace’s brother Johnny offers to help Grace find Neely, who has become an exotic dancer. He manages to set up a meeting between the two women, at which time Grace gives Neely her contact information and says to call if she should ever need anything.

The team investigates the death of a parole officer whose sister is a cop. It’s likely he was killed by the sister’s abusive girlfriend, who later beats Grace to a pulp. Earl tells Grace she saved the cop’s life by getting her lover arrested for the attempted murder (of Grace).

Butch holds a grudge against Perry’s ex-husband, a prosecutor who pled out a child abuser on a case Butch once worked.

Ham makes a date with Renee, a woman he had interviewed a few weeks earlier in a murder case. Rhetta comes to Louie’s in a blonde wig and attracts a woman during a “lesbian attack,” a party at which lesbians take over a straight bar.

Bobby requests a copy of his father’s criminal file from a parole officer. But when he gets it, he’s not sure he wants to see the contents.

LEVERAGE – Season 2
Wednesdays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

“The Three Days of the Hunter Job” – Premiered Wednesday, Aug. 12
The LEVERAGE team goes after Monica Hunter, a tabloid newscaster, after she lies on-air and claims a bus driver was taking anti-depressants at the time of a deadly accident. They feed her a fake story about poison being released into the nation’s water supply. When she goes on-air with the wild story, she is carted off and made into a laughing stock.

Sophie’s breakup with her boyfriend makes her push Nate to let her take the lead on the con. He agrees, but he has problems hanging back and letting her have control. Later, Sophie realizes she doesn’t like being the leader. She prefers being a grifter. But Nate can see she is searching for something else.

The gang plays on Parker’s paranoia by telling her a lot of the most famous conspiracy theories and urban legends (faked moon landing, Area 51, the Loch Ness Monster, etc.) are true.

DARK BLUE – Season 1
Wednesdays at 10 p.m. (ET/PT)

“August” – Premiered Wednesday, Aug. 12
The team tries to rescue a woman kidnapped by a ruthless street gang. Her husband can’t afford the ransom, and the CEO of his company refuses to put up the money.

This case is extremely personal for Carter. Three years earlier, a case he was working on resulted in a woman dying at the hands of kidnappers when the FBI refused to pay her ransom. Carter continues to hold a grudge against the feds.

Working with Ty on the inside and Dean posing as a chauffer, Carter gets himself kidnapped. He then refuses to allow his own ransom to be paid unless they let the woman they kidnapped earlier go. Once she is released, Ty gets the gang members to turn against one another, giving Carter a chance to take the ringleader down.

Carter has been spending the night at the team’s headquarters, frequently working all night. It also happens to be his birthday, which his boss recognizes with a bottle of scotch.

Technorati Tags: TNT, TV Recap, Television, Show, Dark Blue, Leverage, Saving Grace, Raising the Bar, Hawthorne, The Closer, episodes

Michael Sarver
What He Sang: “Ain’t Goin Down Till the Sun Comes Up” By: Garth Brooks

Opinions: Randy expects him to do well as long as he doesn’t lose any of the words. Being a fan of Garth Brooks, this just annoyed me. It was so similar to his interpretation in many ways. In fact, the only difference between the version is the band is off and he’s adding too many runs and vocal intonations. This doesn’t show off his voice or do him any favors. It was incredibly hokey and karaoke sounding. I hated it! Being that he likes Country and he’s from Texas, I thought he would do better. I guess I was wrong.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “It was a cool song choice, but I’m not sure it brought anything out in your vocals.”
Paula – “It’s a great Garth song and it allowed us to see you have fun.”
Simon – “It should have been good, but I couldn’t understand a word you were singing. It was clumsy. On a scale of 1-10, I’d give it a 1.2″
Kara – “We got to see your personality, but I missed the big notes.”

Allison Iraheta
What She Sang: “Blame it on your Heart” By: Patty Loveless

Opinions: Randy is shocked to hear the maturity in Allison’s voice being that she is so young. He recommends she concentrates on singing and not dancing. As usual, Allison sounds good. She picked a good song for her voice and gave it a little bit of a rock edge. She blew it out of the park compared to Michael, which is amusing because I didn’t know how well she would do. I actually liked this rendition quite a bit.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “I thought it was Dope!”
Paula – “Another rock solid performance from Allison. After this competition you will be in the business.”
Simon – “I thought it was good. It felt like you were struggling to remember the words in parts.”
Kara – “I’m starting to think that you could sing the alphabet well. Every week you’re getting better and better.”

Kris Allen
What He Sang: “To Make You Feel My Love” By: Garth Brooks

Opinions: Randy feels ballads are Kris’ strong suit, so this will be good for him. Kris decided to sing sans guitar. He slowed the song down even more and he chose to break up the lyrical structure. Being fair, he was better than last week. Still, he’s off pitch in a few spots and the only reason I’m not screaming at the top of my lungs is that he did choose to change it. It feels more pop-like. The country went away from that one. Oh, and his high notes suck. He’s also forgettable. Always.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “You went out on a limb just to showcase your vocals and I was like wow.”
Paula – “I’m surprised and felt it was honest, pure, and vulnerable. A few pitchy moments.”
Simon – “I thought that was terrific. Great choice of song.”
Kara – “I didn’t even know that it was Opry land. It was just beautiful.”

Lil Rounds
What She Sang: “Independence Day” By: Martina McBride

Opinions: Randy liked it, but thought she should slow it down a little bit. If she does what he heard, she will nail it. I am a big fan of this song and of Martina and think it will be interesting to hear Lil Rounds try it without adding an R&B spin. She sounds really good. Again, like with Allison, I didn’t expect her to do that well. She made the song hers enough by slowing it down and the song is a power song, so she’s certainly has the pipes for it. There was a note here and there that didn’t jive, but she sounded good. She chose the right song and gave it a Lil Rounds spin at the end!

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “Interesting ambitious song choice, but I don’t know. It didn’t feel comfortable for me. It was alright.”
Paula – “Your vocals were spot on, you look beautiful, and the only thing would have worked better was if you would have done one verse and not two.”
Simon – “It kind of came over as if you were one of the girls that have to sing at a wedding that they aren’t comfortable with. It wasn’t you.”
Kara – “We all know you’re a great singer. You did what you felt and that’s part of being an artist. It wasn’t your best performance.”

Adam Lambert
What He Sang: “Ring of Fire” By: Johnny Cash

Opinions: Randy is speechless. He doesn’t know what to say and the arrangement threw him for a loop. It’s unique. Who turns Johnny Cash into an emo, Vampire wannabe that wishes he could sound like Trent Reznor but can’t? God. I Hate Him so Much! It’s not a metal song and it’s so gross. He rubbed on himself and it reminded me of Chloe Lattanzi when she did “Freak on a Leash.” I won’t get into the over-embellished high notes that sounded shitty or the whiny, screaming, psuedo-orgasm cries of death. I hope someone rips out his vocal cords. I cannot take anymore!!!!

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “It’s fresh! It’s Hot!”
Paula – “You are really someone that stands out that is true to who they are. Great song.”
Simon – “What the hell was that?! Sorry, but there are a lot of people throwing their televisions out the window because of that. Indulgent rubbish! Horrific!”
Kara – “Adam does Country and that’s interesting. Y’Know, it was all a little strange. I got drama. It was strange.”

Scott MacIntyre
What He Sang: “Wild Angels” By: Martina McBride

Opinions: Randy didn’t think it was a good choice in the beginning, but found it impressive in the end. Scott was very surprising to him. Scott played piano and slowed McBride’s song down quite a bit. Still, with the changes I have to say that I think this is one of his better vocal performances. The song fits his song style well and it’s the kind of song that you wouldn’t think of him singing. He picked it up towards the end. This was definitely one of his better game bringing performances, though he needs to stay away from those high notes, because they just don’t work for me…or for him. In the end, I see him as a much better piano player, and I know he won’t win, but for now his presence is welcome and he did better than some of the others.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “I’m looking for hot vocals and this week and last week I didn’t get them. It was just good.”
Paula – “To me tonight was another impressive, lovely performance. The piano may be a crutch and it separates you from the audience.”
Simon – “I don’t think you’re choosing good enough songs. I like you a lot though.”
Kara – “You need to up your game.”

Alexis Grace
What She Sang: “Joleen” By: Dolly Parton

Opinions: This was a song that Brooke White did when she was on last season. Randy liked it and said he wouldn’t change a thing. He thinks Dolly will be proud. My first impression is that this is going to be something I forget tomorrow. Well, except for the notes she’s botching and the high notes she’s literally destroying. I’m sure the judges will like it, but I think it’s horrid. It’s very static, plain, forgettable, and certainly not her best performance.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “It’s a great song, but there was a bunch of pitch problems. It wasn’t a great performance.”
Paula – “That was more effective than the others think. You took an artistic approach.”
Simon – “I thought it was okay. It was flat. It’s forgettable.”
Kara – “I think you lost your edge. It was flat.”

Danny Gokey
What He Sang: “Jesus take the Wheel” By: Carrie Underwood

Opinions: Randy loved Danny’s voice when he knew the words, though he messed up quite a bit. He loved the soul in his voice. Danny has a nice voice so it’s hard to give too many complaints. I don’t know that I would have picked this for him. He crosses genders a lot and I don’t love that. It’s got a lot of power notes, which suit him, but those come at the end. You could see him singing this on The 700 Club, which I guess he would like. It’s not a bad performance, but with Danny it never is. He made it his own in many ways and that’s what made it good.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “I agree with Kara. You need to support the verses.”
Paula – “I love when artists build a story. I think you were brilliant. I think Carrie Underwood would have bought that record.”
Simon – “I agree with Paula, though I hate what you’re wearing.”
Kara – “When you hit your stride it’s like none other. Half way through it was a connection unlike anything.”

Anoop Desai
What He Sang: “You Were Always On My Mind” By: Willie Nelson

Opinions: Randy thought that was good and he thinks people will rethink his capability as a singer. He slowed Willie down quite a bit, but in this case it’s not bad at all. Holy shit, I’m actually quite impressed. This is the best he’s ever sounded hands down and if he finishes it up strong then he will be one of the best of the night. He was certainly the most surprising. I was expecting a poor performance just based off the other performances that he has given. There was one or two poor notes, but this was downright amazing!

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “This is the reason that we wanted you in the competition. You proved you can really sing.”
Paula – “Anoop is back! I’m so proud of you. It fit you like a glove. You touched my heart”
Simon – “You managed to go from Zero to hero. That was a good choice of song. That was one of my favorite performances of the whole night.”
Kara – “Very hard to do what you did. That was a classic song and what you did was amazing.”

Megan Joy
What She Sang: “Walking After Midnight” By: Patsy Cline

Opinions: Randy wasn’t sure if she would be able to make this unique, but found that he was wrong. He thinks she should do it just like she sang it for him. You won’t have a choice but to like it. Patsy Cline is hard to sing, but Megan has a very unique voice. You can’t even compare her to Patsy because it’s a completely different song. She’s got some pitchy spots and that dance needs to go out the window. It’s not cute anymore. She botched the ending. I liked the beginning a lot more than I did the end. Though when you consider she has the flu, she sounded pretty damned good.

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “I was quite impressed. I thought it was really good. It all really worked.”
Paula – “You’re a fighter. She was in the hospital and missed her runthrough. Fantastic.”
Simon – “You should have the flu every week. You sounded gorgeous.”
Kara – “Perfect song. Perfect look. Not a lot of people could stand up with the flu and do what you did.”

Matt Giraud
What He Sang: “So Small” By: Carrie Underwood

Opinions: Randy wasn’t sure the choice was a good idea for him, but as he listened to him singing he changed his mind. He changed the song, made it his, and Randy heard the soul in his voice. Matt went for the piano too, but I have to say that I love him behind his piano. Matt is an amazing singer, but he’s phenomenal when he is with his piano. This was nothing like Underwood’s version. He showed off his voice, his piano skills, and made the song his own. He was the perfect person to end the show and was one of the best of the night. He rocked Country week and ensured his spot for next week!

Judges Opinions:
Randy – “It was my favorite performance tonight. You got it going on!”
Paula – “What I applaud you most about is that you’re authentic and honest. You’re piercing through so many hearts.”
Simon – “I don’t think you’ve had enough credit in this competition. I think you out sang Danny. You remind me of Michael Buble. One of the best tonight.”
Kara – “There ain’t nothing small about you. You’re a true talent. Amazing.”

Based on tonight’s performances I think Michael Sarver has the most chance of being in trouble. Personally, I think Adam needs to go home, but I don’t think people are smart enough to send him home yet. Michael, Alexis, and Adam were the worst of the night, though Adam certainly took the cake.

Tomorrow the results show will have Brad Paisley and a Duet from Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood.

Technorati Tags: Carrie Underwood, American Idol Recap, Country Week, Grand Ole Opry Week, Michael Sarver, Anoop Desai, Megan Joy Corkrey, Matt Giraud, Lil Rounds, Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Scott MacIntyre, Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta, Randy Travis

Lil Rounds
What She Sang: “The Way You Make Me Feel”
Opinions: This was an excellent song choice for Lil. As usual, she sounds fabulous. I would change very little about her performance. I am not hip on the huge ruffle that looks like it’s wearing her, but that’s my main complaint. Her high notes are amazing and she really has a way of making the song her own. I love her!

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “You are a force to be reckoned with”
Randy – “This is the way to kick off Season 8. You’ve got it!”
Kara – “I hope that I get to hear you on the radio. That last note was sick!”
Simon – “The second half was better than the first, but it was a lazy song choice.”

Scott MacIntyre
What He Sang: “Keep the Faith”
Opinions: It’s refreshing to see Scott with his piano because he is a completely different artist. He is confident and strong more than he is without it. It makes the performance a million times better. He’s not the best singer in the competition, but he certainly has the chance to make it far. He picked a song that I wasn’t familiar with at all, but thought was incredibly suited for him and his message. It was a good choice.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “It’s magical seeing your instrument at your fingertips.”
Randy – “I like the song, but felt it was safe. I want to see sparks from you”
Kara – “I like that you’re very true to yourself no matter what. It’s amazing to know that you just learned to play that song this week.”
Simon – “I like the piano. I like You. I don’t like the song. There are a million Michael Jackson songs

Danny Gokey
What He Sang: “PYT”
Opinions: I’ve never heard this song and spent the longest time trying to figure out what the hell it was because I thought he said BYT. He’s got hot vocals there is no denying that, but the moving and dancing just doesn’t work for him, at least not at the same time. Still, going off of vocals he did sound amazing.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “The true mark of an artist is when you close your eyes and know who is singing. You have that.”
Randy – “I loved it all, even the dancing because it was passionate.”
Kara – “You have joy when you sing”
Simon – “The vocals were brilliant, but the dancing was hideous.”

Michael Sarver
What He Sang: “You Are Not Alone”
Opinions: It was good to hear him pick a softer song and to be passionate in his performance. The previous time he was on stage I didn’t like the Tonic song he did, though I liked him in his performances before that. This turned out beautiful. His passion for singing really shows in this song and the last note was really a nice touch. This was a good song choice for the mere fact that it seemed to show his range.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “You’re a regular guy with exceptional talent.”
Randy – “Right now you’re definitely one of the best in it!”
Kara – “Tonight showed that you can really sing.”
Simon – “You’re not the best singer in the competition, but you make up for that with passion and heart.”

Jasmine Murray
What She Sang: “I’ll be There”
Opinions: Jasmine is cute and she seems like a likable kid, but in a competition this stiff I cannot imagine her sticking around very long. This is a song that most everyone knows and in some cases it could have done her a few favors. The problem is that she likes to shout more than she does sing. When she goes into those power notes, she really just shouts and that’s not impressive. It could be lack of experience because she’s not terrible, but it is something that needs to be worked on. The last long note she sang was atrocious.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “I’m not sure if you were hearing yourself or if you were overwhelmed. You had some brilliant moments, but others were under.”
Randy – “I was impressed. It’s kind of a hard song to sing. It was kind of good.”
Kara – “You sold it, but you should have sang half a key down.”
Simon – “You made a good attempt, but were a bit robotic at times. That big note is going to cause you trouble.”

Kris Allen
What He Sang: “Remember the Time”
Opinions: It’s good to see him playing the guitar, but that may be one of the only good things about this. First Kris is only really concentrating on the chorus, which is incredibly annoying. By the end of minute one, I don’t want to remember the time anymore, I just want it to be over. His voice reminds me of JT trying to sing country. He’s got a southern edge to his voice, but still tries to throw in those R&B runs that are popular. It doesn’t mix for me though. I just wasn’t feeling this.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “You’re adorable sexy. You did a great job.”
Randy – “I love the wife and the guitar. Interesting song choice.”
Kara – “You’re a good guy and I’m glad to see you back.”
Simon – “It was interesting because this isn’t a song that suits a guitar. You’re likable but the song was clumsy.”

Allison Iraheta
What She Sang: “Give in to Me”
Opinions: Has the Michael vibe with the coat and the 80s look. I don’t recall ever hearing this song and she must have rocked it up because this isn’t anything like you’d imagine Michael singing. She has that Heart vibe and that’s not a bad thing, because female rockers aren’t in huge supply anymore. She will be a welcome addition to the music industry.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “Are you 16 or 17? It’s mind boggling. You’re a rockstar that looks like she’s been doing this for years. Her hair looks great. We’ll be seeing a lot more of you.”
Randy – “I always say if you got it you got it – you can sing and I think you can sing anything. She’s the one to watch.”
Kara – “Keep being a rocker girl. Great job.”
Simon – “It was a good performance. We know who you are. Lighten up a bit. Very Good.”

Anoop Desai
What He Sang: “Beat It”
Opinions: I had a feeling that Anoop would go with a Jackson classic. He looks like he’s having a great time. He sounds okay and it’s obvious that not that many of the contestants could have gotten away with this, though I don’t know that many would have tried. I don’t know that I would have done that song and not changed it at all. That could have been a bad choice. The judges hate classics done in the same way that the artists do them. I think the judges will be more annoyed than the public will be. While it was one of the more mundane of the night, I still think he will be coming back.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “When you pick a song it’s your gift to show the world what you got. This song was untouchable so it sounded karaoke to her.”
Randy – “Wrong choice. Very karaoke. You got more than that.”
Kara – “The biggest problem is that we know you can sing and you didn’t do anything with this.”
Simon – “It was horrible. There was no aggression. It was lightweight. It looked a bit stupid. Someone tried to be Michael and failed.”

Jorge Nunez
What He Sang: “Never Gonna Say Goodbye”
Opinions: I think Jorge should be fine. He’s a likable guy and has so much passion for what he is doing. His vocals are okay and the slip of the accent from time to time, is a nice touch. I’m not too familiar with the song and it’s not one of my favorites, the arrangement is a little blah in my opinion, but I am sure he will be fine regardless.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “I don’t feel that you were yourself. America has to remember the brilliant vocalist and they won’t remember that.”
Randy – “Love what you do, but I wouldn’t have picked the song for you. Nice upper range but would have picked something more challenging.”
Kara – “You’re one of the most emotionally connected person, but I didn’t see that song. Needed more emotion.”
Simon – “The arrangement was awful and he couldn’t wait for it to end.”

Megan Joy
What She Sang: “Rockin’ Robin”
Opinions: This was right up her alley. She managed to make it rockin’, but still left a little retro flare to it. I love the unique sound of her voice and I love that she picked something that would compliment that. She made a good choice.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “She loves the quirky unique tone of her voice. Still, I felt disconnected till the end.”
Randy – “The song choice didn’t allow her to be Megan.”
Kara – “She puts the signature on everything she touches. It wasn’t the most overwhelming vocal performance, but I hope she shows her range more in the future.”
Simon – “We like you, but what a stupid song choice. The vocals weren’t very good. The performance was clumsy.”

Adam Lambert
What He Sang: “Black and White”
Opinions: The fact that anyone picked this just makes me laugh. It’s obvious that he’s comfortable on the stage, which is good, but watching him I’m just waiting for him to grab his crotch. I don’t get it. His rocking it out and I’m not feeling it. His screaming things and not singing them. You can’t even understand half of what he is saying and I already know the words.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “Wow! Never in the history of American Idol have we seen someone so comfortable and seasoned. You’re innate ability to know who you are as an artist, you’ve got the whole package. He’ll be in the finals.”
Randy – “Since day one you were the most current. You could make a record right now.”
Kara – “You hit notes that I didn’t know existed. I hope Michael Jackson is watching this.”
Simon – “That was in a totally different league. You were comfortable. It was original and the vocals were terrific.”

Matt Giraud
What He Sang: “Human Nature”
Opinions: Matt is an incredible piano player and he has an incredible air of confidence with his instrument. His performance with his piano was so much better than without it. I liked the beginning a lot, but felt there was too much falsetto at the end. Still, I love Matt.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “Talented, sexy, authentic. I was blown away”
Randy – “Really good performance.”
Kara – “You are a talented guy and I hope I see you for many, many weeks.”
Simon – “Very good, solid.”

Alexis Grace
What She Sang: “Dirty Diana”
Opinions: I don’t like the jerky dance moves, but the vocals aren’t too bad. She’s not as rockin’ as say Allison, but she picked the right song for the audience and for what she can do. She messed up at the end, or the band did…I’m not sure which.

Judges Opinions:
Paula – “Watch your over-singing”
Randy – “It was okay, but not great.”
Kara – “You’re back. We’re so happy to have you back. You’re a naughty girl. I liked it.”
Simon – “Over the top. Not as good as you thought it was.”

Apparently there are going to be some changes in how the voting goes down. As Simon mentioned, the judges will have some say in things, though they won’t let us know how much until tomorrow. During the eliminations there will also be performances from both Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West.

Technorati Tags: Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver, Michael Jackson, Jasmine Murray, Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai, Megan Joy Corkrey, Kris Allen, Matt Giraud, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Jorge Nunez, Scott MacIntyre, American Idol, Top 13

The performers tonight included:

Jessie Langseth – Jessie came out showing that she was a wasted slot. Her first notes were ragged, she was off-key, and she screamed. “Tell Me Something Good” has never sounded so bad. It was by far her most horrible song and that’s saying a lot. I don’t know if she was trying to channel Johnny Lang, her brother, but it wasn’t working.

Randy thought it was interesting though it was only alright. Kara had problems with the fact that Jessie wasn’t hitting the right notes, but she has swagger and she likes that. Paula likes her determination and Simon said she was a last minute choice and he was glad they chose her, though the song and the performance were indulgent.

Matt Giraud – I’ve liked Matt from the beginning. I’ve never heard the song, “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson 5, but it definitely had the sound that the judges like from him. He made Jessie look like they were in a different competition. He had the audience on their feet and he sounded like he was prepared to win. The song wouldn’t have been my first choice, merely because I’ve never heard it, but it was much better than what he sang the previous week.

Kara loved the riffs and it was a great vocal. Paula loves Matt’s zone and he shouldn’t go against what he’s good at. Simon thought it was a billion times better and it was a great song. Randy loved that he was in the game and it was obvious.

Megan Corkrey – I literally cannot stand this song. However, Megan has a voice that will compliment “Blackhorse and a Cherry Tree.” Even though I am not a fan of the song, I hope that they pick her because she’s better than the alternatives. Her voice is interesting and she would certainly be an asset to the competition. The last note killed her though. It was good except for that.

Paula felt that she picked the right song and she’s joyful. She did good. Simon likes her because she’s current and she’s original. It wasn’t the best vocal, but it was terrific. Randy liked the song choice and he could see her being in this type of environment. Kara thinks they need her because she gives variety. She wants her to stay.

Von Smith – This is just so funny. Of all the songs for someone to sing. “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word” is a song that I love, though it kills me that a drama queen is gonna sing a song with the lyrics, “What do I gotta do to make you love me.” His falsetto sucks and the vocals were horrid. Hopefully he will be canned, like he should have been.

Simon loves the song, but feels that Von is boring. It’s too serious and he’s no longer interesting. Randy felt it was too serious and he was missing the pitch. He didn’t like the song choice. Kara didn’t like the serious, darkness or the song choice. She felt it was sad, because he has what it takes. Paula feels he needs to let go because when he’s worried it affects his performance. He needs to believe in himself.

Jasmine Murray – “Reflection” isn’t exactly what they recommended for Jasmine. I don’t know how Rhianna became “Reflection.” This was a little serious. I get she was trying to show her ability. It was better than the last song choice, but all she is doing is screaming. She could have done a lot better and I am not sure she did herself any favors choosing this song.

Randy felt it was better though the song was too big. It was way better than before. Kara was surprised by her big voice. Paula thinks she looks good even though she had some bad notes. Simon thought it was special compared to previous performances.

Ricky Braddy – It kills me that Paula stands up and starts dancing immediately. It just kills me. “Superstition” is a good song, but Braddy absolutely bores me to tears. There is absolutely nothing exciting about this guy. It’s like listening to paint dry. Kara felt that Ricky can sing and liked seeing his personality. Paula liked that he loosened up. He nailed it. Simon thought he sounded good, though the song was clumsy and lightweight. Randy knows he has a voice, but he shouldn’t have picked that song.

Tatiana Del Toro – This song choice didn’t save her last time, so I don’t know why she sang it again. The whole goal to the Wild Card is to show that she’s worthy. It’s necessary to show something new and sadly, we’ve all heard her rendition of “Saving All My Love for You” more than once. Surprisingly, she still sucks.

I am curious as to where her accent came from in the beginning segment. It wasn’t there last week or the week before. Maybe she’s jealous because they said Jorge’s accent is hot or maybe she wants to show the judges, crazy Latina Tatiana (crazy is an psycho). Either way, it’s totally fake. It reminds me of a bad, overdone “Cheech and Chong” style accent gone wrong. People from Puerto Rico should sue her for misrepresenting their island!

That being said, she can’t sing, her performance was off, she was awkward, and her notes were atrocious. Paula doesn’t know where her accent came from (didn’t I just call that?!), but Tatiana used the excuse that Jorge was telling the truth about (when excited he thinks better in Spanish). It was shaky, but then she used her power voice. Simon is confused as to why she sang the same song three times in a row. It was rubbish. It wasn’t good enough to get in last time. Randy felt it started rough and it was a mixed bag. Kara felt it was too dramatic. Everyday is a new personality with Tatiana.

Anoop Desai – “My Perogative” is a song that Anoop has sung in the past, though it was during Hollywood or audition week. It still kills me to hear someone singing this song, but I love Anoop. He’s so much fun and has a really good voice. I seriously hope he gets in. This was a much better choice than Monica. He’s got a much better stage presence than you might think.

Simon felt he’s not the best singer, but people like him and that’s important. Personality is important and he’s got it. He liked it. Randy thinks this was the best he’s heard him with this song. Kara wanted to dance. Paula feels he’s a showman with his nasty moves, but everyone loved it.

Once everyone had sung, the judges got together to pick their top three, and Ryan took a commercial break.

The Picks – The Top Three????

Jasmine Murray was the first pick and I admit that I was prepared for the worst at that point. I had three choices that I really wanted to get in and they were Megan, Matt, and Anoop. After a minute or two, Megan and Tatiana were brought up and it was announced that Megan Corkrey would be sticking around.

The final slot was left to Matt or Anoop. Matt was chosen as the final pick. However, there was one twist. The 12 became a 13 and Anoop Desai was let in at the last minute! All three of my picks made it in and all three deserved their spot.

Next week includes Kanye West and Kelly Clarkson, so be prepared folks. It’s American Idol’s Top 13 and it’s serious!

Technorati Tags: Anoop Desai, Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud, Tatiana Del Toro, Von Smith, Jessie Langseth, Wild Card, Announcements

There is some promising talent in the bunch this week, but as we have seen in the past two weeks it’s all about what they are willing to do with what they have. I am most looking forward to Scott MacIntyre, who I am guessing will be towards the end, Kristen McNamara, and Lil Rounds. Those are certainly the three that I remember the most as having a good chance tonight. On the flip side I think I am dreading Von Smith and a few others I don’t even remember, the most.

Most of all I am hoping that the judges will get it right. It seems that they are entirely erratic this season. People suck and they claim they are doing good and people are amazing and they say it’s not working for them. It’s just a weird season. Perhaps, the new addition to the judges is throwing things off. I don’t know what it is, but I’m hoping for a good night. So, without further ado, the 12 singers, their songs, and reactions are listed below.

Von Smith – 22 Yrs Old – Audition City: Kansas City, MO:
Singing: “You’re All I Need”

Dramatic and boring. God he opens his mouth and I’m already ready for the next person to start. He’s so dramatic. It’s like watching someone in a hotel that missed the bus to the musical theater event. I just keep telling myself that it’s only a minute or two, but it just won’t stop. The stupid little facial expressions that he thinks are cute aren’t helping him either. I won’t miss him when he’s gone, though his mommy likes him a lot.

The Judges Think:
Randy liked him. He thought it was hot. (He’s drinking Paula’s “Coke”). Kara thinks he’s coming into his own and he’s being more comfortable. (Aka She’s Randy’s Bitch). Paula loves him because he’s first and he’s a showman (on a cruise ship maybe). Simon felt he’s like Clay Aiken (he’s gay, is what he meant). He sang well, but he reminds him of Clay and that’s good for him.

Taylor Vaifanua – 16 Yrs Old – Audition City: Salt Lake City, UT:
Singing: “If I Ain’t Got You”: Alicia Keys

I don’t mind her voice too much, but her movement is killing me. She keeps twitching. I don’t even know why she’s moving like it’s a rock song. It’s a freakin’ slow song. I just keep watching her legs doing this erratic dance move. Maybe if I closed my eyes I could concentrate on her voice, which isn’t so bad. The performance was bad, but the song sounded pretty good overall, though I don’t know if she will make it. With only three going through you have to be the whole package.

The Judges Think:
Kara knows that she has a voice, but she wants to know who she is. (she didn’t know what to say). Paula thinks she has a gift, but she heard this song and she should have done something new. Simon couldn’t remember her from the earlier rounds (me either) and felt that a generic sound isn’t going to help her. Randy knows she can sing, but that was boring.

Alex Wagner-Trugman – 19 Yrs Old – Audition City: Phoenix, AZ:
Singing: “I Guess that’s Why they Call it the Blues” Elton John

He won’t be moving on. He is so over the top and ridiculous. It didn’t start off too bad, but then he started embellishing notes and sounded like he was coughing up phlegm. Poor Elton John. If more people sounded like this and I were him I would pull my songs from the show. Meanwhile, what’s up with the movements? He has no rhythm and the entire half turn thing is distracting if not a bit awkward. Forget singing like a dork. He dances like one. I think that he thinks he’s trying to be amusing and perform interestingly, but he failed.

The Judges Think:
Paula thinks he’s a showman. She loved to watch him. Simon didn’t have much fun listening to him though he was interesting to watch. He didn’t like the growling notes either. He’s a hamster that’s trying to be a tiger. (Good analogy, Simon!) Randy felt it was crazy the moves were wild and the song was whack. Kara liked that he was himself (that’s not a good thing in this case).

Arianna Afsar – 16 Yrs Old – Audition City: Phoenix, AZ:
Singing: “The Winner Takes it All” Abba

As one of the youngest singers in the competition it is interesting to see her pick Abba. The performance is slightly odd. Normally she sounds great, but the band and her just aren’t flowing the way they should for this song. She’s got some pitchy problems going on and she’s spending some time screaming a little more than necessary, especially considering this isn’t a horror movie.

The Judges Think:
Simon felt the performance was absolutely terrible. The song was too big and it felt like he was at a funeral. He likes her, but this was just awful. Randy felt she tried to over compensate because of her age. It’s wasn’t good. Kara loved her in the beginning, but tonight it was dark and depressing. Paula felt there were some bright moments, but she believed the song was old fashioned and the song was melody, so she might have done better sticking to that.

Ju’Not Joyner – 26 Yrs Old – Audition City: New York, NY:
Singing: “Hey There Delilah” lain White T’s

This is one of my favorite songs, though I am not sure how much I love the Bryan McNight vibe that came with Ju’Not slowing the song down. Not only that it reminds me of Jamar, who did this song and got kicked off even though he was one of the best on the show. I am not denying that he can sing. He’s hitting the notes, but he made it a vastly different song and it’s not working for me. I think the biggest problem will be remembrance based on this version of the song, though I wouldn’t have a problem voting for him if none of the other guys can step it up.

The Judges Think:
Randy liked that he took a Plain White T’s song and pulled through. He loved it. Kara liked the spin on the song. She thinks he will be even better next time. Paula wanted the lil’ boy. She liked that he changed it up and felt it paid off. Simon felt it was better than he thought it was going to be. He felt it would have been better if he would have stripped it all down.

Kristen McNamara – 22 Yrs Old – Audition City: Louisville, KY:
Singing: “Give Me On Reason” Tracy Chapman

I have to stay that I didn’t expect this one. I like Kristen’s voice and the control that she has. I love the smoky, soul feeling that she’s got going on. I don’t know that this was a good song to do just because it’s very repetitive. I can say she showed her voice off, but the “Yeah’s” and exposition make me feel like she’s back at the Karaoke Bar, not in her own performance. The screaming final notes were a little off, too. Still, one of the better-ish girls.

The Judges Think:
Kara likes her hair and thinks she’s a great singer, but she should have done Pink or Kelly Clarkson. It wasn’t a perfect song, but it showed her voice. Paula likes her with Kelly Clarkson, too. Simon likes her voice, but he’s puzzled by the outfit. He doesn’t know who she is or if she knows who she is. Randy felt the song was safe, but she tried to be too safe.

Nathaniel Marshall – 18 Yrs Old – Audition City: New York, NY:
Singing: “I Would Do Anything for Love” Meatloaf

Nate claims he’s the drama queen, but wants to show people he’s much more than that. The fact that he chose this song just makes me want to laugh. He gayed it out. It’s disco-fied with cheesy dancing and the whole nine yards. My biggest problems with the vocals are that I can hear the drama pouring out of his soul. It’s just over the top. I can see why no one has done this song on AI. It takes a certain something to do this song and he doesn’t have it.

The Judges Think:
Simon thinks he would do “that”. Some people will like it and the majority will think it was excruciating. The headband kills him (me too!). It was a weird song choice, but people won’t forget him, so that’s nice. Simon likes his fun side. Randy doesn’t get the song choice. He thinks he can sing, but doesn’t see him doing Meatloaf for a living. Kara likes his voice, but if he wants to be taken seriously he needs to take a serious side if he makes it through. Paula loves him and thought he was awesome in Hollywood Week. This was the Boy George in Meatloaf and that wasn’t cool.

Felicia Barton – 26 Yrs Old – Audition City: Louisville, KY:
Singing: “No One” Alicia Keys

Felicia is known for not making it, but then being called back when Joanna was cut. This is the second Alicia song tonight and it’s one of Alicia’s better songs. It’s hard to top what she does and while she’s certainly trying I don’t know that she’s doing it. She’s got some pitch issues going on and in her power notes she comes off as screaming. I think she really should have picked another song. This one didn’t do her one single favor. She just managed to show why she was cut.

The Judges Think:
Paula thinks she’s got an unbelievable gift and she’s glad that she’s on the show and stays. Simon liked the first half better than the second. He didn’t like it as much as Paula. Randy likes her and her voice. He thought it was hot. Kara likes her look and her presence. There were some pitch problems but she noticed her and that was good.

Scott MacIntyre – 23 Yrs Old – Audition City: Phoenix, AZ:
Singing: “Mandolin Rain” Bruce Hornsby

I don’t think I have heard this song in years. Scott definitely has a nice voice. He seems a lot more comfortable at the piano, but I can’t say that I blame him as that’s pretty common with musicians. He had an issue with some notes, but overall it wasn’t bad. America loves an underdog on AI, so something tells me that Scott will be just fine when it comes to the results show tomorrow.

The Judges Think:
Randy loves the great parts and the big notes even if there were some small problems. He loves the passion and thinks he did well. Kara thinks he moves mountains. He’s passionate and doesn’t make excuses. It’s from the heart. Paula is happy and proud he’s here. He’s a genius with the piano and he’s one of the finest. Simon wasn’t crazy about the song, but he feels Scott is growing on him. Scott is the only one that Simon is going to remember and he’ll be shocked if he doesn’t make it through.

Kendall Beard – 23 Yrs Old – Audition City: San Juan, PR:
Singing: “This Ones for the Girls” Martina McBride

Kendall is the resident County girl this week. Martina was a good choice, because she’s country but it’s got a little pop kick to it. I don’t remember Kendall at all from Hollywood, but she’s not bad. The high notes were a little off and she started off a lot better than the middle of the song was. She’s cute but she needs to lay off the high notes. I am not sure the girls (any of them) have made a big impression on me so far. I forgot most of them already, so she might have a little hope. We shall see.

The Judges Think:
Kara likes the personality, but there were some flat notes going on. She likes the personality though. Paula loves the outfit. She did a good job. Simon thinks she did the right thing. She’s cute and likes country. He couldn’t wait for it to end once the middle came on (I agree). It would have done her better to pick something better suited for her. Randy loves Country and liked the song choice. The real issue for him was the notes being off.

Jorge Nunez – 20 Yrs Old – Audition City: San Juan, PR:
Singing: “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” Elton John

This is the second Elton song tonight. I think that’s more than I’ve heard in all the seasons of this show that I have watched. It’s so odd to hear someone with an accent sing this song. He isn’t bad, but the up close camera angles and the dramatic facial expressions are working on me. The power notes are kicking. I am just wondering if he’s going to have a big enough base to get through tomorrow. I would have liked to see him sing something else, but he was pretty good with what he had. If there were more going through I wouldn’t doubt him going through, but with only two possible men (assuming the third isn’t female) I don’t know if he will work it out.

The Judges Think:
Paula was so proud of him. She’s just so happy she wants to squeeze him. Simon thinks he should be who he is and he’s a good singer. Who cares about the accent. The accent is all but gone because they recommended he kick the accent. Simon regrets that now. Randy thinks he did great accent or not. Kara thinks he was born to sing.

Lil Rounds – 23 Yrs Old – Audition City: Kansas City, MO:
Singing: “Be Without You” Mary J Blige

This is a great song and if anyone has the voice for it, it’s Lil Rounds. The beginning sounds great. She’s the first girl to come up where I didn’t see any immediate problems. There were a couple possible girls but Lil Rounds is working it out. It’s obvious that she wants this. She’s believable, she’s got the voice, and she’s working the crowd. I would be utterly shocked if she doesn’t take the votes for the top female. She certainly deserves it, though the final note was a little screamy. That’s my only complaint.

The Judges Think:
Simon thought it was brilliant. His favorite performance. She’s one of the best singers they’ve heard. Randy thinks she’s one of the best. He loved it. Kara thinks she’s a powerhouse and she’s great. Paula thinks she’s first class and she thinks that she’s gonna be around for more lil rounds.

Don’t forget to vote America and we’ll see who gets through tomorrow!

Technorati Tags: American Idol, Round 3, Season 8, Singing, Reality Competition, Von Smith, Scott MacIntyre, Taylor Vaifanua, Nathaniel Marshall, Lil Rounds, Kristen McNamara, Felicia Barton, Arianna Afsar, Alex Wagner-Trugman, Jorge Nunez, Ju’Not Joyner, Kendall Beard

When Tatiana, Casey, and Anne Marie were up singing together they performed the least like a group. In fact, I was amused at how they kept trying to out do one another, sing over each other, and push each other out of the way so they could get more screen time. It was rather sad. Add in the fact that the majority of the song was pitchy in a lot of parts and some power notes were added for people that aren’t power singers, which made little sense, unless the plans were to make the song more disjointed. Hopefully, there aren’t too many other group performances because if this sets the pattern, I don’t know how many more I can stand to watch.

While Ryan talked to the singers, he made a point to call out Tatiana. She was wearing Paula’s jewelry, which just goes to show how little taste she has. She mentioned how she was hoping that America would keep her dream alive. She loves being on stage and she wants us to love her, too. The problem with that is that she looked like she was tweaking on stage. I don’t know what’s with the erratic behavior, but I certainly will not miss her when she’s kicked off the show.

First Elimination: Casey Carlson
Why: She sang The Police and she didn’t sing it well. Her performance was terrible for someone who made it on the show and America knew it.

Second Elimination: Steven Fowler
Why: Michael Jackson was the wrong choice for him. It was far too cheesy and again, it just didn’t work out. He was one of the most pointless additions to the show.

First Save: Alexis Grace
Why: She was the best option for the girls. I am not sure that’s saying a whole lot, but she was the current best option based on what she sang last night. I don’t think she was the best girl overall, but the others didn’t come prepared and they got what they deserved as a result.

Alexis was able to sing a second time, because she was one of the three that made it on. I still wasn’t in love with the song, hearing it a second time. However, I see the potential in her voice and I agree, where the girls were concerned she was the most prepared and deserving to stick around, with that in mind. I like her outfit a lot better than last night, too. She was wearing a jean skirt, white tee and black vest with hat. I could do without the boots, but that’s just me.

Third Elimination: Ricky Braddy
Why: I don’t even remember what he sang. He wasn’t bad but his crime was that he wasn’t memorable. If we can’t remember you, how do you expect us to vote?

Fourth Elimination: Jackie Tohn
Why: She was just too…exciting for the first show. There was too much spastic movement. She says she wanted to bring it, but she looked like she was trying to dislocate it instead. I liked her in the beginning, but based on last night, I had a hard time calling myself a fan.

Fifth Elimination: Anoop Desai
Why: There were some decent guys in this round and that means stiff competition for everyone. With only three getting in and the one male winner nearly guaranteed to be Danny, Anoop and every other guy had their work cut out for them. His voice was good but I don’t think the package with stage presence and back story were enough to get him where he wanted to be. It’s a shame though. He was quite impressive when you factor in Hollywood Week and the other performances he’s given.

Second Save: Michael Sarver
Why: He’s a likable guy that is singing for his family. People can respect that and while the song wasn’t what I was hoping from him, he does have potential. I admit that with the guy talent he wasn’t my second male choice based on the music last night. I was really hoping that Brent Keith would work it out and some of the others were decent, too. I had a feeling it would be Michael. On the upside, Anoop fans should know that only 20,000 votes separated the two men from being in that third spot.

Carly Smithson and Michael Johns offered a live performance of “The Letter.” Johns mentioned that his album will be out in a few months and the single in a few weeks. Carly didn’t mention any deal so I am assuming that she still hasn’t gotten a deal, which is a shame. I don’t know that I would normally expect to see them sing this song or to duet so it was a little weird, but it’s better than if they would have had Taylor Hicks or someone else on. Still, I’ve seen her do better and this wasn’t his type of jam so it felt like a wasted performance overall that was just meant to waste time, which it was.

Sixth Elimination: Ann Marie Boskovich
Why: She wasn’t able to sing the song that she picked. It was a bad idea overall and in the end she deserved to go home. On the off chance that she made it she wouldn’t have gone far, as far as this show was concerned.

Seventh Elimination: Brent Keith
Why: He picked a Country song and while I felt he did pretty good, he was forgettable for the general public. Country fans might have remembered him, but unfortunately, not enough of them voted for him.

Eighth Elimination: Stevie Wright
Why: The performance was nothing like what she was capable of based on Hollywood week and her audition. She was amazing in those first moments and instead of doing what she knew how to do best, she listened to the judges, took what they said to heart, and ended up losing because of it. I hope she comes back in future seasons because she is capable of more.

The final two were called up and it wass obvious based on the number of chairs that one had to go home. Paula spoke the truth, saying Danny deserves to stay. This was hilarious, only because Tatiana looked at her like, “Bitch…I bought your jewelry.” Too bad it didn’t help her.

Ninth Elimination: Tatiana Del Toro
Why: It was up to America and for once they voted right. Thank you America, Jesus, and everyone else! Danny was nice enough to hug her and apologize, but he deserves more than anyone who sang last night to be on that stage. Tatiana was just a drama whore passing through and it’s nice to see that she’s gone for good. Maybe her and Sanjaya will pair up and they can start a tour like Donny and Marie.

Last Save: Danny Goeky
Why: He has a great voice and an inspiring story. He sounds like he’s already on the radio. It’s not a matter of finding his place in music or toning his voice. He’s got it already and he’s ready to go. I said it before, Danny is the one to beat. He’s already having his Kelly Clarkston moment and he’s in his first week not his last.

It should be noted that the entire time Danny sang, Tatiana bawled like a baby. Ever the drama whore to the very end. Good riddance and you won’t be missed!

Next week is group two and it will be on Wednesday and Thursday. No Tuesday show!

Megan Corkrey, Kris Allen, Mishavonna Henson, Matt Breitzky, Allison Iraheta, Matt Giraud, Jasmine Murray, Jesse Langseth, Kai Kalama, Adam Lambert, Jeanine Vailes, Nick Mitchell (Norman Gentle)

Technorati Tags: Danny Goeky, Tatiana Del Toro, American Idol, Results Show, Group One, Top Three, Elimination, Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, Paula Abdul

I can tell you that I will be complaining more this season than I ever have in past seasons. I will be dedicated to complaining because some of the best contenders were robbed from the jump by not being let on while people that couldn’t remember their song lyrics, their sense of tune, or how to keep their emotions in check were let on without the blink of an eye.

It’s been said that Idol allows plants into it’s top contenders list. These are the people that had contracts at one point but are no longer an active part of the music industry. There are a couple that made it on this season, but I don’t see these people as the plants. I see the obsessive, unable to sing, drama laden, embarrassments as the plants. These are the people that you know with every fiber of your being shouldn’t be there. These are the people I have complained about in the past. These are the Amanda Overmyers, Antonella Barbas, and Sanjayas, though I would gladly take all of these people back in a replacement for the horrid, hideous, disgusting Tatiana Del Toro.

When I say these things I am not referring to her looks, though I will admit that her self-indulgent, holier than thou attitude ruins any chance she has there. I am referring to the fact that her dramatic nature precedes any talent that she thinks she has. She over-sang her way through the competition. She was told she was out. She would sing. Nope, still out. Sings more. Finally they just let her in.

If the judges wanted to go that far for auditions that’s one thing. However, giving her a spot in the competition when they dropped people that deserved it – people like Rose, who got kicked off and she deserved it far more than Tatiana, for her humble nature, if not her vocal talent which was stronger than the aforementioned embarrassment – just reaffirms my belief that she’s a plant.

However, this rant is not completely about Tatiana Del Toro. I don’t want to give this drama whore any more attention than she deserves, which is nothing. This rant is about those that got kicked off and with that we will get back to that line of thinking and trail away from the fact that something as hideous as Tatiana will be present for at least one more show. Hopefully, American will do the right thing and take out the trash, next week.

There were quite a few people that got kicked off that were rarely heard from either in audition footage or during Hollywood Week. I apologize up front if these people were shown more and I just didn’t remember them, but here are the names of people that were dismissed tonight and were never really seen or heard from other than tonight. I cannot leave much comment because I do not remember them at all.

TK Hash
Chris Chapmen
Reggi Beasley
Felicia Barton
Ashley Hollister
Devon Baldwin
Shera Lawrence
Derik Lawyers (I think that is what his name was)

Then there were the sing offs. Instead of calling two people in to choose one over the other the judges made them sing for their supper. They got one last performance and the judges left the choice at that. None of the situations were particularly riveting and in some cases I couldn’t help but wonder why some of these people weren’t just straight No’s to begin with.

In the battle of Cody vs. Alex:
Cody decided to sing Gavin Rossdale. His performance wasn’t all that it needed to be. He wasn’t strong enough to handle the performance and he was emotional, so he flubbed the song not giving it the strength that it really needed. I don’t remember what Alex sang and wasn’t fond of it to be honest. I was kind of hoping that Cody prevailed because he was the more likable of the two. Still, both should have been cut in lieu of a better singer.

Decision: Cody goes home

In the battle of Jenn Korbee vs. Kristen McNamara:
Jenn made the oh so brave decision of singing “Not Ready to Make Nice” by the Dixie Chicks. As it has been said on other seasons of Idol, this is not a real easy song to sing. Needless to say, while showing some talent she did not really do enough to show that she deserved to be there. Meanwhile, Kristen made the bad decision to sing the country version of “I Will Always Love You.” She was nervous and it was obvious, so that coupled with the fact that she chose a bad song for her led to a complication or two. Having heard her voice at other times, I felt that Kristen was the better option. Simon wanted Jenn because she was better looking. Kara felt Jenn did not choose songs that she was emotionally connecting to.

Decision: Jenn Korbee goes home

In the battle of Frankie Jordan vs. Jesse Langseth:
I recall seeing Frankie a couple of times, but I really don’t remember Jesse at all. Come to find out she’s a sibling of Johnny Lang. Simon had it right when he told both girls that neither of them are going to win. With that in mind, it mattered not what either sang or who won this round because I believe he’s right and whoever won, won’t win. Frankie can sing, but she was nervous and that had an obvious effect on her voice. Meanwhile, Jesse had a stronger performance but she didn’t win me over either.

Decision: Frankie Jordan goes home

In the battle of Jackie Midkiff vs. Nathaniel Marshall:
Jackie sounded a little hoarse and though I know he wasn’t going for it, he chose something that didn’t allow him to stand out at all. He certainly didn’t do himself justice, though I say that not remembering him at all from auditions or Hollywood Week. Nathaniel sang “I’m Already There” and though slightly dramatic he did give the better performance. Nathaniel will have no problem standing out if he’s on the show.

Decision: Jackie Midkiff goes home

In the battle of Matt Breitzke vs. Michael Sarver:
Matt gave the worst performance that he’s given since he’s been on Idol. He’s decent, but it’s hard to see him having major staying power, especially if he gives any more of these performances. Michael sounded much better than Matt though I cannot say it was his best performance ever. I would definitely say that he had earned his spot over Matt though, as much as it would pain me to say that since I did like them both at one point.

Decision: Neither goes home

Jamar Rogers had to be the biggest surprise of those going home. Jamar was Danny’s friend and one of the most talented performers to grace the stage during Hollywood Week. No one could believe that he was going home. It was certainly the shock of the season. Not only that, it was disgusting to see guys like Alex and even Stephen Fowler get in when Jamar did not make it.

You might remember Stephen from the last performance of Hollywood Week when he forgot his words to the same song, twice, and then walked off the stage without finishing. The fact that they drop real, innovative talent that would have a shot to put on people without staying power is one of the major faults of Idol.

Jamal you will be sorely missed, but we are certain that Danny will do you proud!

Technorati Tags: American Idol, Season 8, Jamar Rogers, Danny, Michael Sarver, Matt Breitzke, Nathaniel Marshall, Hollywood Week, Going Home, Kicked Off