"Official" American Idol 2011 Thread

[Purron]

Here we go. New season and new judges. I'm ready for a distraction from winter weather. Looking forward to all your comments and opinions about the new season!

 

[tmm99]

YAY! I've been looking forward to the show - especially looking forward to watching what Steven Tyler would do/say.

 

[jwkde]

I caught part of it last night - normally will watch it on the DVR the next day.

Not sure I can handle Steve Tyler - sort of 'hard on the eyes'

 

[W2R]

I thought the new judges were surprisingly good with the initial screening auditions, although we haven't seen them yet in later shows focused on the top contestants. It should be interesting to see if they have good advice for those who have a lot of potential.

Tonight, New Orleans! I hope it isn't too embarrassing. We really do have a lot of amazingly good musicians in the area, but who knows if any decent vocalists tried out at the auditions.

 

[MuirWannabe]

New judges were okay. J-Lo is nice to look at. But they are really missing the tough critic Simon role. Takes a lot of the fun out of it. Maybe someone will develop into that role but right now the judges all seem a bit gunshy to really offer critique.

 

[sheehs1]

Agree MuirWannabe. J-Lo..needs to stop the "I feel so bad" statements and get more serious about what she thinks....otherwise people will stop paying attention to what she says. Steve Tyler needs to stop trying to be the "rock star" instead of a judge. It's early yet...perhaps they will mature into the roles.

 

[Purron]

We're getting to the fun part of the show! Watching the contestants perform and evolve. Finally past all the audition and Hollywood week stuff.

My fave so far? Casey Abrams

 

[Htown Harry]

I like Casey, too, Purron. He seems to have the right stuff for a long stay.

Here's how one bookmaker sees the top 24. (posted here for entertainments purposes only, of course )

I think they are nuts on the favorite, Scotty. I don't think there is any way someone with limited range and so-so power will be able to handle the variety of songs in the weeks ahead.

$100 to win ($XXX):

Scotty McCreery 820
Julie Zorrilla 850
Lauren Alaina 1000
Casey Abrams 1050
Pia Toscano 1200
Karen Rodriguez 1250
Jovany Barreto 1400
Paul McDonald 1400
Stefano Langone 1450
Robbie Rosen 1500
James Durbin 1700
Naima Adedapo 1700
Kendra Chantelle 2000
Tim Halperin 2100
Ashton Jones 2600
Jacob Lusk 2600
Jordan Dorsey 3100
Haley Reinhart 3600
Thia Megia 3600
Tatynisa Wilson 3800
Lauren Turner 3900
Clint Jun Gamboa 4100
Brett Lowenstern 4300
Rachel Zevita 4300

 

[Purron]

Song spoilers posed by Joes Place - an Idol blog site:

Performance order and songs:
1. Clint Gamboa: Superstitious – Stevie Wonder
2. Jovany Barreto: I’ll Be – Edward McCann
3. Jordan Dorsey: OMG – Usher
4. Tim Halperin: Streetcorner Symphony/Come on Over – Rob Thomas
5. Brett Loewenstern: Light My Fire – the Doors **Source Said Very Entertaining
6. James Durbin: You Got Another Thing Comin’ JUDAS Priest ** Source said GREAT Performance
7. Robbie Rosen: In the Arms of An Angel -Sarah MacLachlan
8. Scotty McCreery: Letters From Home – John Michael Montgomery
9. Stefano Langone: Just The Way You Are -Bruno Mars
10. Paul McDonald – Maggie Mae – Rod Stewart
11. Jacob Lusk: House Is Not A Home – Luther Vandross
12. Pimp Spot: Casey Abrams: – I Put A Spell On You – CCR – Casey was GREAT! He got a huge applause and a standing ovation

If this is accurate, what do you think of the choices?

 

[Htown Harry]

Interesting that the blogger's notable performances are all classic rock.

On the other hand, Superstition or Maggie May would be very unlikely to impress me, no matter how strong the performance. They've been covered by so many - I can't imagine how anyone could bring anything fresh to them.

 

[Nords]

$100 to win ($XXX):
Scotty McCreery 820
Julie Zorrilla 850
Lauren Alaina 1000
Casey Abrams 1050
Pia Toscano 1200

So according to this bookie, five $100 bets only have to hit the top five to come out ahead?

 

[Htown Harry]

So according to this bookie, five $100 bets only have to hit the top five to come out ahead?

I'm not sure, but I think these are the odds to bet on a single participant to win the whole thing. So yes, it appears you could bet $100 on each of the five favorites and come out with no worse than an $800 payoff. (Or zero, of course, if one of the other 19 wins.)

Like I said, for entertainment purposes only. I actually think it's kind of funny that folks might actually put down money on something so subjective as a singers' popularity contest.

 

[MuirWannabe]

My early pick and favorite is Julie Zorilla. Good singer. South American good looks. Oh yea baby. Talent does seem better this year than last. So far. The big stage will start to clarify things fast.

 

[Purron]

Top 12 Girls - Song Spoilers
From MJs Big Blog

1. Ta-Tynisa Wilson – “Only Girl (In The World)” by Rihanna
2. Naima Adedapo – “Summertime”
3. Kendra Chantelle – “Impossible” by Christina Aguilera
4. Rachel Zevita – “Criminal” by Fiona Apple
5. Karen Rodriguez – “Hero” by Mariah Carey (sung half in Spanish)
6. Lauren Turner sings “Seven Day Fool” by Etta James (Jully Black’s version)
7. Ashton Jones – “Love Over Me” by Monica
8. Julie Zorrilla – “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson
9. Haley Reinhart – “Fallin” by Alicia Keyes
10. Thia Megia – “Out Here On My Own” from Fame
11. Lauren Alaina – “Turn on the Radio” by Reba McEntire
12. Pia Toscano – “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders

If this is true, I'm looking forward to Rachel Zevita the most - "Criminal" is a great choice!

 

[MuirWannabe]

Top 12 Girls - Song Spoilers
From MJs Big Blog

1. Ta-Tynisa Wilson – “Only Girl (In The World)” by Rihanna
2. Naima Adedapo – “Summertime”
3. Kendra Chantelle – “Impossible” by Christina Aguilera
4. Rachel Zevita – “Criminal” by Fiona Apple
5. Karen Rodriguez – “Hero” by Mariah Carey (sung half in Spanish)
6. Lauren Turner sings “Seven Day Fool” by Etta James (Jully Black’s version)
7. Ashton Jones – “Love Over Me” by Monica
8. Julie Zorrilla – “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson
9. Haley Reinhart – “Fallin” by Alicia Keyes
10. Thia Megia – “Out Here On My Own” from Fame
11. Lauren Alaina – “Turn on the Radio” by Reba McEntire
12. Pia Toscano – “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders

If this is true, I'm looking forward to Rachel Zevita the most - "Criminal" is a great choice!

Ugh. If this list is accurate then Julie Zorilla is off to a real bad start. Why would she pick that cr*p song? Boy I can really pick em.

 

[Purron]

Ugh. If this list is accurate then Julie Zorilla is off to a real bad start. Why would she pick that cr*p song? Boy I can really pick em.

Some how I get the idea you're not that crazy about Fiona....

 

[MuirWannabe]

Some how I get the idea you're not that crazy about Fiona....

Wrong person Purron. I'm talking about Julie Zorilla. I'm not that crazy about Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson. Just not a great song. Don't know much about Fiona so can't comment. Who am I kidding? I really don't know much about hardly any of these artists given the 48 year old fogie I am.

 

[Purron]

Who am I kidding? I really don't know much about hardly any of these artists given the 48 year old fogie I am.

You're a kid MuirWannabe Soon to be 56 year old fogie here.

Peace

 

[Moemg]

I finally turned on Idol . I was avoiding it because of the changes but I have to admit the talent is amazing this year .

 

[Purron]

Based on the combined scores assigned by Mr. and Ms. Purron:

Best: Jacob Lusk and James Durbin

Worst: Brett Loewenstern and Tim Halperin

 

[Purron]

Want to re-watch one of the performances?

MJS Big Blog has high quality vids here:

American Idol 10 – Top 12 Boys – Performance Recap | mjsbigblog

 

[Purron]

Thank you Steven Tyler

For saving Naima. Her rendition of "For All We Know" was why I stick with this cheesy show. Beautiful. Love her.

YouTube - Naima Adedapo : Wild Card - American Idol Top 13 : For All We Know

 

[bright eyed]

Gosh that huge stage, video backsreen, band and singers just muffled everyone out this week! They sang much much better when they simplified and had piano and light back up - but unfortunately it was too late for most of them as they were singing for their life then! I hope the producers/directors took note because most of them sounded terrible and drowned out...only 2-3 each nite stood out...

I'm really surprised the young man from NY or NJ (the one who looks like he could be in saturday night fever) didn't make it through and the other kid did from CA?

Other than that no other big surprises...At least they are cutting to the chase and going straight to 10, although it might have been nice to cut a few less the first week and then cut since the stage and sound worked against most of them...

 

[Htown Harry]

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

I don't see a clear favorite at this point.

 

[ERD50]

Gosh that huge stage, video backsreen, band and singers just muffled everyone out this week! They sang much much better when they simplified and had piano and light back up - ...

I agree. Seems to me that the earlier seasons were much more stripped down - it wasn't until the later shows that they brought in the bigger bands and backup singers. I hear so much reverb on some of these singers that it is hard to actually hear their voices. Then too much of the band, background singers, etc - it's just too overdone to hear the individual.

Maybe the judges get a different mix?

-ERD50