American Idol 2014

[mercfan3]

Dang..I had two favorites this season, and it's the earliest I've ever lost both of them.
Can't explain it, MK's voice just touched me. I thought she deserved the save if going by save performance, too. It's not like any of these contestants are worth saving, either. Screw you Harry.

[john]

TV Guide:

American Idol's Ben Briley: "My Song Choice Got Me Sent Home"

"I was a big fan of Haley Reinhart when she did it,"

"I will say that it ultimately was probably the song choice that got me sent home," he admits. But I wouldn't have picked another song."

http://medfield.wickedlocal.com/article/.../303199923

Reality TV World:

Ben Briley: I did. She did a version of that song, and I didn't like hers. But I'm also not a Haley Reinhart fan and that's what I was sticking to.

http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/ameri...qhibQFg.99

I guess you could reconcile those two viewpoints as: (1) He was excited Haley chose BATJ (2) He was disappointed in the arrangement she chose. So he stuck to the original.

It is easy to see why he went home. Frankly, for me his performance brought to mind an SNL skit of a 3rd rate lounge singer. A caricature. America got it right on this one.

Last night I watch an entire episode of AI. I thought Alex, Malaya, and Jessica were the best (in that order). MK did a weak performance and made it worse by pouting for the rest of the show. Dexter and CJ are also in the running to go home IMO.

[Tusk]

In his exit interview, Ben said that he had to fight to do Bennie (no mention of Randy's blessing), so seems he has a 'conflicting' way of seeing things...

Long Interview, they talk about Bennie @ 30:23


So long story short, Ben's main shortcoming is he's not able to correctly judge the extent of his abilities, highlight what he does best, and make the best of his limitations. I likened it to, in baseball, being a utility player (jack of all trades, plays all positions competently) who thinks he's a Clean Up hitter, someone with Power and mainly responsible for bringing it home

[john]

So long story short, Ben's main shortcoming is he's not able to correctly judge the extent of his abilities, highlight what he does best, and make the best of his limitations.

That sums up a lot of it for me. I would also have to question his taste.

[Tusk]

Someone @ TVline was cituiquing Ben's elimination performance and accidentally typed, "Rocket Man" instead of "Bennie". Made me think Ben with his velvet jacket, Ben might have done Shatner's version instead of Elton's

[john]

Dang..I had two favorites this season, and it's the earliest I've ever lost both of them.
Can't explain it, MK's voice just touched me. I thought she deserved the save if going by save performance, too. It's not like any of these contestants are worth saving, either. Screw you Harry.

I am glad Harry didn't vote to save her. She had her moments early but her performance this week wasn't very good and save song wasn't memorable either. I thought she hurt herself by going into a mousy, pouty mode after getting negative feedback Wednesday and bringing that demeanor into the Thursday show. Coming off as the anti-slayer is not a winning posture.

Saving her would mean pushing a second person off next week, no? What's so great about that? But perhaps they could have voted JLo off instead, after that papi luh thing she did. Ugh.

BTW Slezak calls these things pretty well and last night predicted it this way:

Should Be Bottom 3: Dexter, M.K., C.J. (M.K. going home)
Will Be Bottom 3: Dexter, M.K., C.J. (M.K. going home)

Other Slezak remarks from tonight

I’m not even going to bother reviewing Jenny From the Block’s performance. I’ll just let the “Random Pop-Music Cliché Generator” spit out a few phrases: Bedazzled Daisy Dukes. Backing Track. Soul-Destroying Lyrics. Death of the English Language. Squatting.
http://tvline.com/2014/03/20/american-id...dexter-cj/

And more importantly

Meanwhile, Harry Connick Jr. used his “tastemaker” status to champion so-so New Orleans act Royal Teeth, while the show’s producers continue to ignore really terrific new music from the likes of Ms. Iraheta’s band Halo Circus, Ms. Toscano’s new duo, Melinda Doolittle, Skylar Laine, Lee Dewyze (recently featured on The Walking Dead), Elise Testone, Didi Benami and many, many more.

Slezak underscores an important point he often makes about the apparent lack of interest from the show's producers in the post-Idol careers of the people the show made, so to speak. Audience members - or what's left of them - voted for these people in previous years and it seems many would have an interest in what's happening with former contestants. AI should reserve a spot every week on the results show for Idol alumni performances. Make it part of the show. But instead we get to watch Harry Connick quickly burning up his cred pimping the likes of Royal Tooth.

[kaypea]

[quote='mercfan3' pid='36615' dateline='1395371341']

Meanwhile, Harry Connick Jr. used his “tastemaker” status to champion so-so New Orleans act Royal Teeth, while the show’s producers continue to ignore really terrific new music from the likes of Ms. Iraheta’s band Halo Circus, Ms. Toscano’s new duo, Melinda Doolittle, Skylar Laine, Lee Dewyze (recently featured on The Walking Dead), Elise Testone, Didi Benami and many, many more.

Slezak underscores an important point he often makes about the apparent lack of interest from the show's producers in the post-Idol careers of the people the show made, so to speak. Audience members - or what's left of them - voted for these people in previous years and it seems many would have an interest in what's happening with former contestants. AI should reserve a spot every week on the results show for Idol alumni performances. Make it part of the show. But instead we get to watch Harry Connick quickly burning up his cred pimping the likes of Royal Tooth.

My reaction to Royal Tooth was pretty much-whaaa?.Especially when Harry is known to be a champion of the New Orleans sound and the whole musical tradition that has come out of there.That band may have been from New Orleans but I don't know what they remotely have in common with any kind of traditional New Orleans sound.And musically it was just-well-boring.

But to your other point-and its so true and more so now than ever I think-that as far as past Idols go-unless you have a major label deal and/or have a song that's climbing the charts that your chances of getting further exposure on the show that launched your career are pretty much nil.Unless you consider it a feather in your cap for singing back up for J-Lo.

[Miguel]

Twitter reaction to Royal Teeth leaned towards the negative. Someone noted he didn't give them a standing ovation. I wonder if he was truly familiar with them or if they were presented to him and he gave his approval. Maybe they had some buzz among his oldest daughters and their friends.

Reading between the lines, not necessarily a ringing endorsement:

“They’re from Louisiana -- that's the main reason I love them,” Connick said in his introductory remarks. “The second main reason I love them is that they're hot.

“These guys are awesome.”

[mercfan3]

Nope, I believe they have a week Built in for the save, so only one contestant goes the week after.

Honestly, I'm surprised a Haley fan is analyzing someone else's facial expressions. And determining what a contestant deserves based on that.

In most seasons I wouldn't care, because MK is probably the most "not ready" potentially good contestant the show has had...but with people who are just flat out tough to listen too (dexter, cj, Jena is bit or miss) a simple pretty voice won me over. And then her save me song actually deserved the save. Really, who are they gonna save it for? All the contestants are "meh" and I doubt anyone would hold it together for a better save me song..except maybe Jena.

Did she deserve to be eliminated? Sure, you can make an argument that a screw up that bad deserves to be bottom vote getter. Funny enough, they were bad enough that I could name several performances that I thought were worse.

Edit: I really can't stand Harry regardless. But I do think her make a much better advisor than judge. And these kids need help.

[Himm2]

Dang..I had two favorites this season, and it's the earliest I've ever lost both of them.
Can't explain it, MK's voice just touched me. I thought she deserved the save if going by save performance, too. It's not like any of these contestants are worth saving, either. Screw you Harry.

I lost my first Favorite before Hollywood week and my second Favorite at the top 13, and my third Favorite at the top 12. I have no Favorites left. Most of the rest are modest applause at a Karaoke bar but Alex and Jessica...and even Malaya were better than I expected.