We have an idea for a crossover TV show where the contestants on Top Design renovate the interiors of the Kodak Theater right before Hollywood Week on American Idol so we never have to see those god-awful busy carpets again. Probably not gonna happen, but listen up, Idol producers, we’re leading with carpet talk, that’s how distracting the are. Just so you know. As for the meat of the show, we got two long hours of contestant-whittling, which was music to our ears, and some of our predictions about who was getting kicked off have already started to come true. Plus, Michael Jackson’s family is psyched right now for all the “Man In The Mirror” checks they’re going to get, rieeght?
Lather, Rinse, Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
We counted at least five different versions of “Man In The Mirror”, four of “I’m Yours”, a few “Hot and Cold”s and, bless Shelby Dressel’s heart, one “More Than A Feelin’”. Dressel didn’t make it to the Top 24, but at least she had the good sense not to bore the judges with yet another tired song. In general, song choice is what grabs us and makes us like a contestant, so we wonder why so many people end up overlapping.
Mother’s Day
Thaddeus Johnson’s mother is his biggest fan, but after seeing her in the audience at Hollywood Week, we’re her biggest fan. There was so much family love on this episode, from Katelyn Epperly, who’s trying to support her mom by singing, to Aaron Kelly, who was raised by his aunt who was also there to cheer him on. But Thaddeus’ mother took the cake. If he makes it to the next round, we’re going to ask for a “MamaCam” to cut to her at all times for reaction shots.
Throw Some Cold Water On Yourself, Girl
We planned to make a dig at Kara DioGuardi for being overly flirty with Casey James and actually lifting her back leg up to hug him, but it turns out, Randy Jackson noticed the leg action too and got to it before we could! Yay, Randy, thanks for validating us. Hey, Kara, remember, you got married last year. Enough with the asking dudes to take their shirt off and/or hug you.
The Contenders, Part 1
This episode was a two-parter, first with the judges paring down the contestants to 46 and then in the final hour, seven singers learned they were in the final 24. It seemed to go much quicker than last year when contestants were pitted against one another in pairs. In hour one, the contestants were split into three holding areas, and two of the three rooms would make it to the next round. We’re willing to bet that as soon as everyone in Room One saw they were with Andrew Garcia (he of the now-legendary acoustic version of “Straight Up”) they knew they were safe. Similarly, everyone in Room Two likely called their bosses to tell them they’d be ready to work tomorrow when they saw that they were sharing the room with overconfident Mary Powers, who rubbed us the wrong way last week. In a personal emotional moment, a lot of memories came flooding back to us after hearing Ben Harper’s “Another Lonely Day” as their exit music because it jerked us back into college breakup mode and made us want to eat cheesy bagels and mashed potatoes from the dining hall while crying. We all had that experience, right?
The Contenders, Part 2
The seven contestants that learned their destinies were Michael Lynche, DiDi Benami, Aaron Kelly, Katelyn Epperly, Lee Dewyze, Casey Johnson and Todrick Hall. A couple of new faces, a couple of sob stories and one guy who used the word “like” like twenty like times. Like, Lee, we’re talking like, about you. One person who didn’t bow out graciously when she was told she didn’t make it was Jessica Furney, a 21-year-old who made it to Hollywood last season as well and wasn’t above begging in order to stay, even going so far as to shoot down Ellen DeGeneres after Ellen said “This isn’t the end of the road for you”, by telling her “You don’t know that!” Girlfren, you are twenty-one. Enjoy our wisdom when we tell you that you are too young too feel this broken and betrayed. Give it ten years and a half-dozen day jobs.
As for the rest of the contestants who did make it, welcome to the portion of Idol where the world actually starts watching.
