Bob's Watching Television

I am on jury duty and need to go to bed early so I can be downtown by 8:30 so I’m going to write while I watch. Unlike other weeks when I do this, I won’t do any spellchecking of the contestants’ names. I won’t Google them to see if they are on YouTube. And I won’t include any screencaps. Although I suspect nobody on my mailing list is watching anymore except Sydney.

The big Nicki/Mariah blowout was teased at the start and again during the show. Idol fans have been wondering what the hell happened between them. And no matter what they showed us tonight, I know or at least strongly suspect they edited to make it whatever they wanted it to be.

Fashionista, Naomi Morris started off with Respect and showed nothing but disrespect to our ears. She sucked when she should have breathed more. They let her sing a second song and she didn’t suck quite as badly but she still sucked badly. Four nos for her.

I could tell by the way he talked, that Joel Nomeyer was a loser standing up or laying down. His effeminate, nasal voice was part of the giveaway. His manic dancing was another tip off. He got three nos and a “never.”

Brian Rittenberry gave us the night’s first sob story. He also gave an overblown but somehow gospel-y version of Let It Be. Sometimes I wish they hadn’t allowed Beatles songs on the show. The judges loved him but after the previous two singers had set the bar so low, his singing in tune was a sweet blessing.

Even without a backing track, Jimmy Smith sounded like a good karaoke country singer. He was in tune. He had a good voice. But he didn’t have a great voice. The judges were right to send him to Hollywood but I don’t expect him to get far there.

Matthew Muse had a warbly, untrained voice and a somewhat scary manner. I don’t want to hear him sing. And I’d be somewhat afraid if I sat next to him dinner.

Nicki is doing her best to dominate the judge panel by her always talking first and trying to take charge of the group and it’s annoying as hell.

Isabel Gonzales was plucked out of her high school by Randy and given her audition number at the suggestion of her awnt. She was the best of the first hour. Mariah called her adorable. And she is. She has a good voice, a good look, a good personality and I am finally looking forward to Hollywood week. She gives me hope for the season.

Taesha Bethea wants to be a rock singer. While I commend her goals she is not a rock singer. She is not different or unique. Randy was the one to question her choice of a Johnny Cash song for her audition. Her rock spin on it was no spin at all. She’s pretty bland. She got two nos and two yeses and for some reason Keith got to break the tie. He sent her to Hollywood.

As the first hour drew to a close, the apparent tension was growing amongst the judges. Then some girl who did the “country thing” caused a discussion about what kind of artist the girl was which lead to a Nicki running at the mouth yet again until she ran out on the panel. And that was about it. They wrapped for the day and the next day all was calm.

First singer, Brandy Hamilton, had a good voice and some good technique but she lacked a lot in the area of taste, phrasing and control. She said she had no training and it showed. With training she would be much, much better. Her lack of training will be her undoing in Hollywood.

Ashley Smith is the least Virgo-like Virgo I’ve ever seen. She’s kind of obnoxious and her nose ring looks like boogers hanging from her nose. Ashley sang a Carrie Underwood tune and actually sounded really good. Too bad her personality and fashion sense weren’t as artful. The judges rightfully sent her to Hollywood.

The ever-annoying Nikki is annoying me some more with her constant nicknaming of people. It’s kind of disrespectful as well.

Janelle Arthur had “it.” She had a great voice, good looks and a stage presence out the wazoo. Her years on stage as a kid paid off. She was a hit with all four judges. She has top twelve potential for sure.

Rodney Barber, “the voice of Charlotte,” had passion and volume but I didn’t find much I liked about his voice. It was bold but lacked polish and finesse. He got four yes votes by the judges who heard something I missed.

I don’t rememeber Candice Glover who was a contestant last year cut in Las Vegas. I don’t even remember there was a Las Vegas week. But she was good. I suspect we’ll see a lot of her in Hollywood.

Brad “Ba Con” Harris was pretty bad and it had nothing to do with his history of banging his head against steel lockers. Getting yeses from the judges would have been like banging his head against a brick wall had they given him any.

Starting off with The Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme and then a song I don’t know, Seretha Guinn impressed the judges with her talent and her drive and ambition. Mariah was right about her theme song sounded better than her song song.

All in all, Charlotte wasn’t too bad except for the fact that Nicki was there. I’d say about three people have potential to be singers we hear a lot more of this season.