Live Idol! Terrorizing Tinseltown
Finally, we get to American Idol's Hollywood Week. Two hours tonight (starting at 8 p.m.), one hour Wednesday. Expect plenty of tears and triumph. This stuff usually makes for pretty good TV, as nasty no-talents reveal themselves with snotty shenanigans and God-fearing wannabes have the promise of fame ripped from them in front of 40 million people. Good times, good times.
By Thursday morning, we'll officially have the Top 24 American Idol hopefuls. HOWEVER, beloved Pop Life correspondent Marissa managed to dig up the probable list of 24 already. Here are the names to look for (root for, despise) tonight:
GUYS: Chikezie Eze, Colton Berry, Danny Noriega, David Archuleta, David Cook, David Hernandez, Garrett Haley, Jason Castro, Jason Yeager, Luke Menard, Michael Lee Johns, Robbie Carrico
GALS: Alania Whitaker, Alex Lushington, Amanda Overmyer, Amy Davis, Brooke White, Carly Smithson, Kady Malloy, Kristie Lee Cook, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Joanne Borgella, Asiah Epperson
So let's chat it up! Stuck in the '80s guru Steve Spears has promised to loiter in the Pop Life comments section. I'll be there, too. So pull up a bottle and join in the snark.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
I just read an article in my Indiana hometown newspaper that also suggested that Amanda Overmyer ("the rock and roll nurse") made the top 24. She's from the same area of Indiana that I escaped from years ago, so I'm sure she's itchin' get the heck out of there! Hollywood beats the endless cornfields by a mile.
Posted by: | February 12, 2008 at 07:56 PM
That was me with the Hoosier state scoop, forgot to sign in.
Posted by: Sherrie | February 12, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Let the games begin -- Hollywood is always a wild ride! Here's hoping for some drama and meltdowns and weirdness.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:02 PM
Sorry I'm late. I haven't started watching yet. I just had to break the news that ...
GARY COLEMAN HAS MARRIED A 22-YEAR-OLD!!
For the details, go to my 80s blog:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s
In the meantime, I'll try to catch up on Idol.
Posted by: Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:09 PM
'Love the One You're With' sounded good.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Wow, nice to see Simon had his barracuda colonic. Jeez, he musta read all those "Has he gone soft?" articles. What a jerk. I like it.
Anybody catch the name of Mr. "Love the One You're With"? He annoyed me. Please don't tell me he's on the lts of 24.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 08:21 PM
Is it just me, or does Simon seem to really relish this particular week of activities?
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:22 PM
Bassnote! Already we're at odds. It's a sad day in Pop Life.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 08:22 PM
David Hernandez is Mr. "Love the One You're With." And yes, his name's up on that list.
As is Brooke White, the first chica we saw. I liked her -- but I'm also very partial to the artists she was compared to -- Carly Simon and Carole King.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Rock and roll nurse kickin' it old school.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:25 PM
I sure hope Kristy Lee Cook gets through to the finals - she's got the complete package and doesn't seem to have any airs.
Posted by: american idol rumors | February 12, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Sean, why are you surprised that you and I are at odds : P
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:27 PM
Everyone except Brooke has been hideous.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:27 PM
I hope latin lover does not make it through.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:29 PM
So far he sounds like crap..
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Totally digging' R&R Nurse -- voice and attitude.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Yes! Simon said Latin lover sounded like a singing waiter! I love Simon's attitude.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Just caught up to David Hernandez. I'm with Sean. Dude, pick a note and stick with it.
Plus, he reminds me of Andy Garcia, and I know how much Sean detests him.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Oh goodie, we get to see Josiah cry again.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Latin Lover... just no. He's just too greasy for me. Ugh.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:33 PM
Amanda Overmyer looks like Stephanie Hayes' evil twin. Rock 'n' Roll Nurse is gonna be fun to write about.
In related doppelganger news: The tall girl who forgot the words looked like Hilary Swank's Haitian cousin. And Rico Suave looked like, well, Rico Suave.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 08:34 PM
By the way, the staples in the her brain make R'N'R RN even scarier.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Amanda is freakin' Jodie Foster with a dye job. I keep expecting her to break into a "Silence of the Lambs" thing.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:37 PM
I really want Herman's Appalachian Hermit to make it through, because I've already got sooooo many inappropriate comments running through my head.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:39 PM
They totally loaded that segment with ringers -- all supposed finalists.
And Michael Johns is as delightful (read: hot) as I remember.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Josiah needs to lose Cousin Oliver's haircut.
And does Carly Smithson have a tattoo on her tongue? Or was she merely rocking a box of Nerds before the gig?
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Who was that guy doing Val Kilmer doing Jim Morrison?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:45 PM
Poor Josiah. I don't think this will end well for him and his car.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Cousin Oliver really needs to drop the British accent.
Posted by: Steve Spears | February 12, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Cool, David plays lefty.
Southpaws unite!
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Val Kilmer doing Jim Morrison was my new AI boyfriend, Michael Johns. Actually, I'd forgotten what he was singing until you just mentioned it.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Is that Colton kid Bryan Adams love-child?
Looks alike, sounds alike.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:51 PM
"You ever eat deer jerky?" Nice, Kyle.
I think Kyle is fresh off his understudy gig as Eugene in "Grease"
Posted by: Sherrie | February 12, 2008 at 08:52 PM
I don't blame Simon for walking out. Paula is a twit, and kyle was big time karaoke.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Ah, Kyle. Suave as ever. I've been captivated many times myself by a boy asking me if I'd ever eaten deer jerky.
Bless his heart.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
"Most viscious cuts in AI history"? What's that all about?
Are they going to tie the results to a wolverine?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
I half expected to hear ominous organ music (Dah-dah-DAH!) with that "vicious cuts" comment.
Wolverine? Maybe. I'm thinking rabid dog.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Man, they load up on sob-story single-parents only to mow them down in one fell swoop.
Ouch.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Amy Flynn... just plain bad.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Amy Flynn! Brutal! That's what you get for being chaste! I think we all learned a valuable lesson tonight. Dirty nurses go far in life. Virgins suffer cruel fates.
Let the orgy commence!
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 09:06 PM
I love the fact that they are not doing the vocal group thing this year. Let everyone pass or fail on their own.
Posted by: Bassnote | February 12, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Can something be done about all the hyperbole in reality TV?
"The most brutal Hollywood ever!"
"The most shocking rose ceremony ever!"
"The most exciting tribal council ever!"
"The most imprecise use of relative qualifiers ever!"
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Bassnote,
Before we get to 24 I think we'll see the group thing again.
Otherwise, how will we know if they can carry the Ford commercials?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Oh! Miss Amy just got served a heapin' helpin' of humble pie.
Bye-bye-bye.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:11 PM
I'm thinking that there's got to be some sort of group thingy here -- just to test out dynamics and whatnot. Plus... the drama!
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:12 PM
And now I'm all teary since Angela Martin got cut... damn.
Maybe it's just a solidarity thing with us moms of special needs kids, but I really wanted her to at least move on a little bit more in the process. Just because.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Is Bryan Adams a major Fox stockholder?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:25 PM
What exactly are the back-up singers doing?
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:29 PM
That one on the end looked to be crying during the 16-year-old's rendition of "Heaven." Either that or she rubbed some of her mascara into her eye.
Other than that, not much as far as I can tell.
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Michael Johns looks like somebody who'd steal my girlfriend. But Matinee Idol can blow for sure. "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Damn. I'm impressed.
Great question about the backup singers. Followup question: Why was one of them crying to that David Archuleta kid? Oy.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 09:36 PM
Michael Johns could steal anything of mine he wanted to.
And he can sing, too!
Posted by: jane | February 12, 2008 at 09:37 PM
If Syesha with the laryngitis doesn't win this whole thing, she'll make a fortune as a Leggs model. Hot legs, you're wearing me out!
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 12, 2008 at 09:38 PM
It's not that Josiah can't sing, it's just that the voices in his head can't sing.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | February 12, 2008 at 09:49 PM
I betting the acoustics in his Mercury Topaz weren't the same as the auditorium.
Posted by: sparky | February 12, 2008 at 09:51 PM
Is it too late to get out the drool bibs for Sean?
Posted by: sef47 | February 12, 2008 at 09:51 PM