American Idol - Country week
 

A) I can't believe I'm caught up in this show.
2) I really don't like country music.

Catherine Mcphee's gonna win it all though.

speak of this no more

This is the first year I've watched Idol, I love it!
And I have to agree with SteveBsjb, I think Catherine McPhee is going to go all the way. Although I do think Taylor Hicks has got good chance of winning also.

So, you don't Pick Pickler?

Nope, she's ok, but she's all country.

Go Taylor! Whooooo! Ay!!

this man has soul through and through. i got chills when he sang: "Trouble"

I get chills when I think about Kellie and Katharine sharing a room together.

Just think steve...... Pillow fight while wearing victoria secret!

Taylors gray hair makes me imagine and wish he were older. hot damn!

I'm going to come out of the closet on this one...Mrs Elspode and I are Idol Addicts.

Country week really put the contestants' feet to the fire. Mandisa, who has been the class of the competition by a mile, faltered badly last night. Taylor Hicks, whom I really, really like, has no chance of winning, but he's just so damn *real*. But America doesn't like real, at least, not on a huge star scale.

Kelly didn't do as well as I thought she would, but she was still one of the best last night. Bucky was weak for such an obvious country boy. I can't quite figure out why he's still in the running at all. I think Paris acquitted herself pretty well, but still was not close to her best. Katharine is *awesome*, the complete package of looks, voice, manner and personability...but I don't think she's going to win it all.

Chris's performance really stood out for me last night. It was the first time he really had to depart from his meat and potatoes, and he was definitely the best of the "fish out of water" performances. Elliot also did very well, and I think he's going to be in it right down to the last. Ace? Gone very soon.

My picks for the final two are Mandisa and Elliott, but it is going to depend on just how shallow America is. There's no denying that both of these two are not equipped with the looks that breakout performers usually have these days, despite their great voices. Paris has a full package of looks, perkiness and talent, as does Katharine, so one or both of those could sneak in if America just can't get past fat or unique. Chris could also end up with all the marbles...he's truly good at what he does, and he has the looks for his style of music. Great backstory on him as well. This has been a pretty good crop of contestants compared to previous years.

BTW...did anyone else wonder if there was a pod in Kenny Rogers' basement or something? If I hadn't heard his voice, I'm not sure I would have known it was him. Looks like he had a face lift and lost about fifty pounds since his heyday.

El, I was at a big family dinner on Sunday, and could not believe that even my brothers and nephews all admitted to watching American Idol! I can't believe that I'm watching it.

I agree about most of your views on last night's show. But Elliot and Mandisa as the final two??? America's not shallow, they're still there aren't they? Top ten is damn good. But neither one of them will win.

I agree about Kenny Rogers. Scary in a way! He looked younger now than what I remember him looking like when I was a kid. He's singing tonight, let's see how that goes.

Oh, elspode, say it isn't so ...

"Reality" television is one of the reasons I am glad that I work nights.

TiVo can fix that!

TiVo/VCR is great for people who work during primetime. You have to put the shows you want to watch on the list, so you can't be tricked into watching addictive crap by channel surfing!

I know, I know...and I'm still a bit of a snob about most reality TV, but this one got me hooked. I am also shamed to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed (and actively critiqued) "Skating with Celebrities" during its run. That's it, though. Nothing else. Really. I can quit any time I want to.

Final two: Chris and Katherine. Winner - Chris.

Well, last night's outcome totally blew my theories on the outcome of the show. Three of the four best vocalists were in the bottom three, and the best - hands down, no contest, the Best - is gone. I think this reinforces what the judges frequently say...that talent alone does not an Idol make.

I am now left to ponder the complete and utter shallowness of an American public that would let a 350 pound, severely talented diva be dismissed from the show while retaining an apparently cute and appealing (on some level of which I am unaware) country boy who has yet to bring a single powerful performance. Paris is on the bubble, but Ace is hanging tough, probably on the basis of his looks and falsetto alone.

I think the contest is now Chris's to lose, based on the results of this week's voting. He's certainly worthy, but man, I am pissed. Mandisa, with all of her "praise Jesus" and nontraditional looks for modern stars, had the pipes to raise gooseflesh, and she didn't deserve such an early dismissal.

You can't jump on the Chris bandwagon... you said Mandisa and Elliot! America is not shallow. Mandisa will do wonderfully selling records and touring in America. But as an American Idol? No way she could have won. And don't say it's because she's 350 pounds... don't you remember Rubin Studdard won? Was he thin or cute? I think you are too quick to call America shallow. Mandisa is an awesome vocalist, but it's not all about vocals to be an Idol.

I think there's a different standard for men and weight. And I can jump on the Chris bandwagon, because the best singer is out of the competition. I can only prognosticate a winner from the available pool.

Besides, my Idol forecasts are the kiss of death, anyway. Never has one of my favorites made it so far as the final four.

Haha! I hear you! It's a goofy show to be talking about, isn't it. In the middle of an episode (not an elspode) I find myself saying "What has happened to me???'

Okay, but why did you ditch Elliot?

Because he was in the bottom three last night. It doesn't look good for Elliot that Bucky rated higher than he did, man. Considering that Paris was also in the bottom 3 last night, I have to completely reconsider how things are going.

Yeah, I feel a little silly, but really, for me, it is about the skills in singing. There are a lot of good things about the show, if you leave out the schlock. The judges are clearly getting better at selecting contestants in the opening rounds, because this was the best overall crop of singers so far. The band is amazingly good, considering how little time they have to work up their arrangements. And I do think it is a viable test of a potential star...the show must be nerve-wracking, and require much composure and confidence. They perform live, so if you screw up, you screw up, and millions see you do it.

I can do without the artificial hype, the banal "judging" of the performances, the Cowell/Seacrest BS (does anyone else see some sort of gay tension subtext bubbling beneath their respective surfaces?), the unfailingly sweet-squishy Paula role...but strip all the crap away, and you have a tough contest where someone can actually go from carhop to star in a few short months. *That* is a very engaging idea.

Bucky did well because it was country week. His days are numbered.

My prediction:

Winner: Katharine
2nd: Chris
3rd: Pickler

Well, Bucky was country *weak*.

I can see your final three happening. It won't be right, but it could happen.

"Right" is subjective.

Hell, with most people *I* know, "reality" is subjective, man.

Another of the beauties of AI is that everyone has a different opinon. Makes for some lively conversations at the least.

I think Chris will win, although I'd pick Taylor or Katherine myself.

If American Idol is anything like the UK equivalent then the female vocalists tend to lose votes as the competition tightens - reason being over here is that the men/boys are too busy with sport and drinking to vote, and the Ladies/girls tend towards the male over female singers when it comes to voting. Having said that you produced two female winners! so much for the English influence!

Country week did my head in - I don't think it was all down to the singers/songs though - rather the 'coaching' from Kenny Rogers came nownere near to that provided by Barry Manilow, who really brought the best out of the pack.

Next show is the one to watch - music of Queen - so I have a big, BIG, favour to ask. You see, we only get the programme on Friday - your two shows rolled into one. So, please, no sneeking the result into another thread where it's not expected, I want to watch this one not knowing the outcome. Many thanks!

As for eventual winner - I tend to go the Chris route also, but boats have been known to be rocked. Taylor's my wild card. I think Buckey should be feeling nervous and even Pickler looks shaky (although the Cowell influence may assist - he loves a minxy woman!)

We've seen some good talent go already, Mandisa definitely included, but agree with Stevebsjb, that we're also reaching the level now where the talented ones that fail now, such as she, have done enough to establish a career for themselves.

At least Queen week I can handle.

But would Freddie Mercury have liked it?

Kelli, Paris, and... Elliot??

Yep, I think they were the three best.

Bye, bye, Ace!

Ace sucked. #1 was Kelli for sure. She gave me wood.

#2 goes to Paris, I think.

#3 Bucky. Yeah, I know, I don't believe it either.

Chris mailed it in. It isn't that it was bad, it wasn't. It just wasn't interesting or different.

Katharine is safe, Elliot wasn't at the top of his game, but he's safe. I thought Taylor started slow, but finished strong.

Ace goes home.

Oh, yeah.... dammit... Bucky was good this week.

Don't Read this, Cyclefrance!
 

And Bucky is gone. I would have bounced Ace, but Bucky was going to go before much longer. Elliot is on the bubble big time.

I've wanted Bucky gone for a while, but I thought he did a good enough job with Queen. Oh well, good riddance. :thumb:

I would have chosen Ace to go before Bucky.....I liked Bucky.

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH! Make it stop!:greenface

OHOH Steve admits HERE to watching Idol...hehe...

Queen Week was interesting since so many of them are actually pretty good singers yet gave less than stunning performances...Ace and Kat in particular seemed not quite 'big' enough for their respective songs...imo that only shows how TREMENDOUSLY talented Freddie Mercury was...

I thought Chris did best and the FUN Taylor missing the last few weeks is BACK.

Thanks... I didn't.... Have managed to prevent myself clicking on any of these threads since Tuesday.

Saw the show tonight. Thought Brian May was a bit anal not wanting to try a different arrangement for Ace. The idea of te different drumbeat might just have worked. Given that Mr May put him down twice I thought he performed the song pretty well.

Cannot believe, however, that just as Chris was about to sing, the mother-in-law (who was visiting) sat down on the changer and the screen changed to a different channel. By the time I discovered where it was (not a place to venture unless equipped with breathing apparatus!) and re-selected I only managed to catch him doing his final 'jump' - now will have to remeber to watch the re-run to see if I can catch his performance!

Agree that the songs generally beat the singers, but Taylor, Pickler and Katherine managed to take control.

Let's see how they get on with Hot Legs himself next week!

I can't wait to see/hear how they do with Rod Stewart! It will be interesting to see what songs they choose to perform.

Katharine should sing "Hot Legs"

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh YES indeed...*imagines Kat singing that in a micro-mini...*

Kat is FYREY HOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT :yum: :yum: :yum:

I do not agree with AI having them sing specified categories. I mean, would a TRUE IDOL sing something that was not in their best vocal area? And I am sorry but NO ONE can live up to Freddie Mercury, so the public view is more of a "comparison" and that is not a level playing field.

So glad Fyre is here!

Chey, I agree, but it's just a silly show. I like the categories. It gives young singers the opportunity to meet successful people in music, and the popularity of Freddie, or Rod Stewart, helps everyone connect to the show. There are weeks where the kids get to sing whatever they want.

At the end of the day it's all about ratings and commercials.

Caught up with Chris's song last night - he's certainly a power house. Clearly Simon doesn't like him because he always manages to move the numbers around to his genre - so Simon thinks he's a bit of a bighead - obviously thinks there's only room for one bighead on the show!

Good evening all round for TV here - after AI, there was a repeat of the prebvious night's Doctor Who - David Tennant in first of the series in which he takes the title role - didn't he do well! Great story and he has instantly taken to the job in hand. You'll enjoy this sreis when it reaches the States.

Evening rounded off with the original version of The Italian Job - Michael Caine, Noel Coward - British humour at its most eccentric -with corny jokes abounding (as when Caine as Charlie Croker visits his tailor - camp naturally - wearing the clothes he had before he was in prison: 'where on earth did you get these?' asks the tailor - 'They were all the rage before I went inside.' answers Caine, response: 'What were you in for? Life?')

There's an original version of The Italian Job? Gotta see that.

I like the notion of putting the performers' feet to the fire by making them sing stuff that is clearly not their usual forte. Those that manage to make it sound good, or lend it something of themselves, are bound to have a better shot at success. Any fool can do a cover version of someone else's song, but a performer who can bring something new and interesting to that is a force to be reckoned with.

The Italian Job (Original, made in 1969) has a certain place in my bosom (so to speak). The scenes inside the traffic control room were actually shot at Twickenham Film Studios where my best pal, Geoff (we still booze regularly), worked after leaving school (his dad was a scene plasterer there) and I actually got to visit during the filming of the control room scenes back in 1968 (at the grand old age of 21). Nice totty on the set as well! - especially the redhead (watch out for her in the film - think she had five seconds on screen!)

Chris was very impressive last night. He did a dynamite job on material that was not exactly in his normal milieu. Taylor gave his best performance yet. Paris is amazing, but will not win. Elliot did very well, but he's just not giving that special "something" needed to win this thing. Kelly stumbled badly, but will stay in the running because she does indeed have the special something that Elliot lacks. Ace was competent, but still needs to go, and I think this week may be his last, unless the teenybopper factor keeps him in, and Elliot goes instead. Katharine was very, very good last night, but this competition is still Chris' to lose.

YMMV. :)

ACE MUST GO. He's my pick for tonight.

Kellie was not great, but she'll survive.

Katharine's smugness is getting annoying.

Bye bye Paris!

...or Elliot. How Chris was in the bottom three last week, I am not able to conceive.

*Not* a stellar night last night. Only Chris was truly impressive, although I thought Taylor did very well, and got skewered for his efforts. The judges were, in general, rather harsh last night, and all the performers looked very tense. The combination of world-class producer and world-class singer as the featured coaches for this week's Love Songs theme must have been rather unnerving. The producer was *very* stern with both his advice and critiques, and the usual light-hearted yet respectful atmosphere between contestants and coach was utterly absent.

I think it is the first time this season that the performers have been really leaned on in the manner which they can expect if they ultimately go into the pro music biz, and it looked to me like it was stressful. No one looked truly comfortable, and poor Kelly imploded again, giving a souless rendition of "Unchained Melody" that was rife with bad pitch and stiff presentation. Paris is a mighty force in a small body, but she keeps making the mistake of trying to pull off what more seasoned veterans do, and drawing the inevitably negative comparisons for her trouble.

Elliot sounded very good, but still lacks the essential "It" quality necessary to win, although he continues to improve in that area. Kat was probably the most unjustifiably skewered by the judges last night...I thought she sounded great, looked jaw-droppingly stupendous, and comported herself well.

Sadly... Kellie has to go. She sucked two weeks in a row, and if she's to scared to sing well, she's gotta go. :worried:

Elliott will be next.

I hope Kat goes. Hope, hope, hope.

Not this week. Kat did fine with her second song. I think it's between Paris and Elliott this week. Now I'm starting to think it may be Paris. Though I liked her Prince song. I'll stick with Elliott.

I dont think Elliot is going yet. His second song was really good and had all of what his other performances lack. Unfortunately, he has not yet had a performance as good as his first stevie song.

Its going to be Kat or Paris tonight. Ill bet on Paris.

These five are actually all talented in their own way... my top five pick made it so im happy. If Paris goes tonight Ill have my top four.... then no clue... I think top two will be Chris and Taylor.

No way it's Kat. Kat and Chris will be the final two, IMO.

You know what? I think Id like that. I love Taylor, but I think he will be fine without placing in the top two. And I have liked kat from the beginning... she is just rediculously talented... I guess that happens when youre taking lessons from birth :)

Elliott won't last another week. Taylor is getting the goof vote, that'll work for one more week. If everyone performs as they have so far, it's a toss up between Chris and Kat.

Elliot would have to step it up like crazy to make it another week. I think he is really talented but he over sings a lot, and doesnt have a fan base. Unfortunately for Kat, Taylor has a huge fan base.... so she has to step it up too... What I love, is that Taylor Kat and Chris all have totally different styles, and theyre all good in their own way... Taylor may be a goof... but put him on a stage with a great band behind him and itll be a good energy packed show... I think id rather see him in a bar though...

Elliot goes next week. Strange that the three *best* vocalists will not make it to the final (Mandisa, Paris and Elliot were the best pure vocalists in the final 12, IMHO). Elliot just doesn't grab the audience, even though he has improved slowly week by week with his personability, confidence and presentation.

Kat has a fine voice, and she is hotter than the surface of the sun appearance-wise, but she leaves me a bit cold for some reason. Taylor is the *real deal*, meaning he comes from a place inside himself that hearkens back to the blues/soul shouters. He's got *real* white boy soul all the way down to the soles of his feet, but I don't think that will carry him through to the end.

I pretty much agree with the Kat/Chris final, with Chris emerging the winner.

Elspode... I agree for the most part. Unfortunately for the contestents, this has been the year filled with the most talent. Mandisa went poof possibly due to her beliefs.... Paris' style doesnt necessarily work well with these themes.... and I think Elliot just picks the wrong song a lot of the time...

I also know what you mean about Kat leaving you cold. I try so hard not to feel that way, but it does seem like she doesnt feel the song. She is trying to act... instead of just singing with her heart...and it shows...

And I think Taylor has a bigger following than any of us suspect. Could be a taylor chris final two.