Professional hater

[Miguel]

The TV critic for the Houston Chronicle, Joey Guerra, is not a fan of Haley. I tweeted him in November, throwing his words back in his face:

@joeyguerra @HaleyReinhart - "the new Katelyn Epperly/Janelle Wheeler/blond girl we all forget soon" reached Top 5 on iTunes today.
18 Nov

Today, to mark the start of a new American Idol season, he has a new article out titled, "American Idol returns (but these songs shouldn't)"

In it, he says:

And, yes, there have been some truly bad performances.

Season 8’s Danny Gokey terrorizing viewers with Aerosmith’s Dream On. Season 7’s Kristy Lee Cook massacring the Beatles. Finalists John Stevens, Haley Reinhart and Camile Velasco pummeling Elton John classics. Season 5’s Kevin Covais clucking through pretty much anything.

I left this comment:

Haley Reinhart “pummeled” Elton John’s Benny and the Jets so badly it’s racked up millions of views on YouTube and a 143-to-1 “like” to “dislike” ratio.

You should get your ears checked, or a new job.

[john]

Who did he like?

Haley was so bad that Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, always stingy with permission to perform Zeppelin tunes, would never have let her pummel one of their songs. Right?

[Miguel]

Who did he like?

In a March 8th article, he gave a rundown of "who will likely soar, who needs some work and who is on track for an early exit."

He seemed more partial to Karen Rodriguez than most and was harshest on Haley:

.
Scotty McCreery: This 16-year-old cowpoke was an early favorite because of his aw-shucks demeanor and way-down-low bass voice. But he's been singing the same tune, figuratively and nearly literally, since his first audition ("Baby lock them doors…"), so he's beginning to seem one-note. McCreery is clearly in his zone, which is to be commended. But if you've ever heard Josh Turner or even Randy Travis, he's hardly an original.

Lauren Alaina: This country-pop teen seems to be this season's golden child. She is a solid, charismatic singer, but judge Randy Jackson calling her a Kelly Clarkson/Carrie Underwood mash-up was a tad premature.

Pia Toscano: This tanned New York City girl flew under the radar for a while but soared into contention with her performance ofI'll Stand by You, particularly its powerful, key-shifting finale. I'm curious to see how she progresses, and I sense a dark horse nearing full gallop.

Karen Rodriguez: That Rodriguez combines English and Spanish lyrics isn't her magic. It's that she does it so effortlessly. She's also aware that loud doesn't necessarily equal good. Plus, it's about time a bilingual sensation was born on theIdolstage. (Hello - crossover star?)

Jacob Lusk: Yes, Lusk has a roof-raising, church-trained, go-for-broke, slap-yourself-silly voice. That's also part of the problem: It's all power, with little restraint and not a lot of commercial appeal. If he wins (or doesn't), his gospel career is all but secured. But he'll likely have a tough time breaking into secular radio.

Casey Abrams: I'm cautiously approving of Abrams, whose jazzy grunts and wails already have folks championing his originality. But he might be just a catchphrase away from Soul Patrol status. We all know how that ended for Taylor Hicks.

Thia Megia: Megia's 16-year-old voice has an almost-shocking maturity. It can go from gorgeously husky tones to sweetly girlish notes. But her unassuming personality may end up getting her lost in the shuffle.

Paul McDonald: McDonald's quirky nature and voice could easily get gimmicky, but he's proven an engaging antidote to some of the more middle-of-the-road hopefuls. We'll overlook the fact he lists Bryan Adams as an influence.

Haley Reinhart: I'm willing to bet money Reinhart was in baby, tween and/or teen pageants. Her semifinals performance of Alicia Keys'Fallin'was an exercise in affectation and over-rehearsed moves. Much more deserving contestants should have been awarded her slot.

James Durbin: He's already tired of the Adam Lambert comparisons, and so am I. Durbin does hit ear-piercing high notes and has a similar tone. But he ultimately has more of a rocker's heart. And thankfully, his battles with Tourette's and Asperger's syndromes haven't become repetitive sob stories.

Ashthon Jones: The judges' first wild-card pick fills the much-needed diva slot and tackles every song with absolute fearlessness. She deserves the spot and could slay a lot of her competition with the right songs.

Stefano Langone: Wild-card pick No. 2. Langone is adorable and has a good voice. But he's yet to exhibit any real star power. He's more of a cute guy who can sing than a singer who happens to be cute.

Naima Adedapo: Tyler commended Adedapo's "passion," which helped her snag the final wild-card slot. Her nerves sometimes interfere, but her voice has warm, velvety tones. I wouldn't be surprised if she stuck around.

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/artic...688097.php