American Idol 2007--Live Thread (Part I)

FOX ^ | 1-15-07

[retrokitten]

LMAO!!

[retrokitten]

LOL!!

[Netizen]

Anyway, next week we finally get to actually see these people perform in the spotlight and we'll know who the serious contenders are and who the wannabes are.

And we get to start voting, to eliminated dead weight.

[Netizen]

Here's where they are from.

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2007/02/american_idol_g.html

10 Western U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Sanjaya Malakar – Federal Way, Washington
Blake Lewis – Bothell, Washington
Amy Krebs – Federal Way, Washington
Alaina Alexander – West Hollywood, California
Brandon Rogers – North Hollywood, California
Rudy Cardenas – North Hollywood, California
A.J. Tabaldo – Santa Maria, California
Sabrina Sloan – Studio City, California
Paul Kim – Saratoga, California
Jordin Sparks – Glendale, Arizona

7 Southern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Sundance Head – Porter, Texas
Haley Scarnato – San Antonio, Texas
Melinda Doolittle – Brentwood, Tennessee
Phil Stacy – Jacksonville, Florida
Chris Sligh – Greenville, South Carolina
Stephanie Edwards – Savannah, Georgia
Chris Richardson –Chesapeake, Virginia

5 Northern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Jared Cotter – Kew Gardens, New York
Antonella Barba – Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Nicole Tranquillo – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nick Pedro – Taunton, Massachusetts
Lakisha Jones – Fort Meade, Maryland

2 Midwestern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Gina Glocksen – Naperville, Illinois
Leslie Hunt – Chicago, Illinois

[arizonarachel]

Can I be added to the AI ping list? Thanks!

[Wyatt's Torch]

Not a single one from Birmingham or Alabama. Almost like it was on purpose...;-)

[Wolfstar]

Do you have any favorites in the top 24 so far?

[conservativebabe]

You're from the Quad Cities huh? Where do you live?

I'm in Port Byron

[retrokitten]

I don't know who MJ is, but she has an AI blog. I thought this bit in her recap of last nights show was pretty interesting:

Tommy Daniels - Eliminated Tommy auditioned in Seattle. He had a sweet, warm unusual tone. He disappeared in Hollywood, and we aren’t shown his final audition here. Plus, TMZ revealed some past legal trouble that TPTB may or may not have known about. Still, the judges toot his horn, but then inexplicably cut him.

On the other hand…

Sundance Head - Sundance revealed a strong voice in his initial audition. In Hollywood, the suckage never seemed to stop, as we see again in a little montage here. We don’t see his final audition. Simon says, “You had one of the better early auditions, but you were weak through the Hollywood Rounds…” However, just as inexplicably as Tommy’s dismissal, the judges put Sundance through.

Back in the waiting room, Sundance tells Tommy that when he makes it big, he’ll hire Tommy as a bodyguard. FOR REAL, peeps, he actually says that. Either this crap is scripted, or Sundance is a dumb-ass as well as an eff-up. I get this funny feeling we are all being set up to hate Sundance. Congratulations, TPTB–it’s working.

The show ends with the traditional dance off/introduction of YOUR NEW Top 24. Interesting–the girls dance to Katharine McPhee’s “I’m Not Ur Girl” and the boys boogie to Bo Bice’s “Vehicle”. Link

[Pure Country]

South of Galesburg..Was that an ad for something? I didn't catch the whole thing. Some kind of contest? I sure hope the gal said yes! He must have been pretty confident or else figured no way could she say no now.

[retrokitten]

I went to You Tube to find Sundance's audition, because honestly, I couldn't remember it. I remember thinking that it was good, but that was about all. Here it is. He rocks. Did the wheels fall off in Hollywood or was it a bit of creative editing?? They showed him during both Hollywood episodes, but the same clip each time.

Tommy Daniels is very good, too. BUT TMZ.com dug up that he has two arrests in his past, one for a hit and run, so he may have been dq'd anyway.

Okay, I'm taking off my conspiracy hat now. (Obscure Seinfeld reference, "Back and to the left. Back and to the left...")

[retrokitten]

Did you see this one?

Taylor Hicks: Gray-Haired Diva?

Beneath Taylor Hicks' aw-shucks, Southern-boy demeanor may lie the soul of Naomi Campbell, if "American Idol" insiders are to be believed. As a source tells Star (via MSNBC), "The minute Taylor made the top 24, he became difficult and he seemed to get worse over time." To wit: Taylor wouldn't let a bodyguard go to the potty with him as producers required, and told another to "f*** off." What's more, Hicks refused to go to photo shoots and gave other contestants the silent treatment in the green room. "He was conceited and cold," says Star's source.

Sorry, I don't want anyone following me to the can either. Next thing you know it's in the Star that he's lactose intolerant or had a lot Indian food for lunch. I wonder if these "AI insiders" are pompus British guys who play with their pec implants on national television??

[retrokitten]

Sorry, I meant to ping you to 5692, too.

[Palladin]

I have a few favorites already. I like Chris Sligh and Phil Stacy. Both have really mellow voices.

I think we're gonna be picking on Sundance and Rudy a lot, like we did with Slingblade and Constantine.

The barefoot boy with cheek of tan is too affected. (Paul Kim). He might decide to put shoes on when he sees all the junk he'll be stepping on backstage.

My favorite gals are Lakisha and Melinda. The scrawny Jersey girl in the hotpants (Antonella) will be one of the first to be cut. Her voice is barely average. Jordin is very good, but is already a professional, and I like to root for kids who've never had a break until AI.

[Jen]

More great tunes by Chris and his band Half Past Forever

[Palladin]

Sligh looks like a Chia Pet.

[Palladin]

"I wonder if these "AI insiders" are pompus British guys who play with their pec implants on national television??"

ROFL! retrokitten, I'm so glad you are with us again this year. Your comedy routine is pure gold.

[Netizen]

Do you have any favorites in the top 24 so far?

There have been a couple that I liked, though it's hard to put names to some of them without seeing their names/pics. Sligh of course is an easy one. Sundance is just a big question mark at this point. Lakisha seems good, too, and stood out, as well as Melinda.

[Netizen]

A little more info on the top 24

Meet Your 24 Semifinalists:

http://realitytvcalendar.com/pr/02-15-07-ai6-p1.html

Male singers scheduled to perform Tuesday, Feb. 20 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) include:

Rudy Cardenas (28) Currently lives in North Hollywood, CA, but grew up in Denver, CO. Cardenas was born in Venezuela and has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado.

Jared Cotter (25) Grew up in Kew Gardens, NY, and currently lives in West Orange, NJ. He has a degree in business management from Five Towns College, Long Island.

Sundance Head (28) Currently lives in Porter, TX, and is the son of Roy Head (who had a No. 1 song in 1965, Treat Her Right). His life has been centered around music and he can play five instruments.

Paul Kim (25) Currently lives in Saratoga, CA, and is working as a pool maintenance technician. He grew up with a love of soul music and enjoys gardening.

Blake Lewis (25) Currently lives in Bothell, WA, and began beat boxing in his senior year of high school. Lewis was a member of a youth choir group that traveled to Europe.

Sanjaya Malakar (17) Currently lives in Federal Way, WA, and comes from a family of singers. He spent four years in Hawaii performing with the Hawaii Children's Theater.

Chris Richardson (22) Currently lives in Chesapeake, VA, and is a supervisor at a restaurant. He was born in Belgium into a military family and performs at local clubs.

Nick Pedro (25) Currently lives in Taunton, MA, and made it to Hollywood last season. Pedro has performed at talent shows and is an account executive.

Brandon Rogers (29) From North Hollywood, CA, but spent six years in Dallas. Rogers has been singing for as long as he can remember. He works as a voice coach, wedding singer and background singer. His mother is a published songwriter.

Phil Stacey (29) Currently lives in Jacksonville, FL; however, he grew up in Cincinnati. Stacy has a degree in vocal performance and is a singer in the Navy. He is married with two children.

Chris Sligh (28) Currently lives in Greenville, SC, and is the son of missionaries. Sligh spent 10 years with his family in Germany. Since attending Bob Jones University, he has traveled and performed with a band.

AJ Tabaldo (22) Currently lives in Santa Maria, CA, and has been singing since the age of 5. He is a supervisor for a shipping service.

Alaina Alexander (24) Currently lives in West Hollywood, CA, and has been singing all her life. Her favorite artist is Mariah Carey. She has been pursuing a career in music but almost gave up her dream until she made it on AMERICAN IDOL.

Antonella Barba (20) From Point Pleasant, NJ, Barba attends Catholic University in Washington, DC, pursuing an architecture degree. She began singing in sixth grade and once toured with the Monmouth Conservatory of Music in England.

Melinda Doolittle (29) Currently lives in Brentwood, TN. Doolittle is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville and has a bachelors degree in Commercial Music. She is a backup singer on stage and in the studio.

Stephanie Edwards (19) Currently lives in Savannah, GA. Edwards sang at the famed Apollo Theater when she appeared on Its Showtime at the Apollo. She has won every singing contest she has ever entered.

Gina Glocksen (22) Currently lives in Naperville, IL, and works as a dental assistant. Glocksen also performs in a cover band. She tried out for AMERICAN IDOL last season and made it to Day 4 of the Hollywood Round.

Leslie Hunt (24) Currently lives in Chicago, IL. Hunt is a dog walker who is studying to become a dog trainer. She also plays the piano.

Lakisha Jones (27) Grew up in Flint, MI, and began singing at age 5. Gospel is her Jones favorite type of music but she has trained formally in classical music.

Amy Krebs (22) Currently lives in Federal Way, WA. Krebs has been singing since she was a small child and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She is fluent in German and lived in Germany for three years.

Haley Scarnato (24) Currently lives in San Antonio, TX. Scarnato, who recently became engaged, has been performing as a freelance singer since she was 15 years old and considers Celine Dion her hero.

Jordin Sparks (17) Currently lives in Glendale, AZ. Sparks began singing when she was only 18 months old. She won the Arizona Idol contest. Her favorite band is Something Corporate.

Sabrina Sloan (27) Currently lives in Studio City, CA. Sloan attended the Northwestern University music and theater program and has performed across the country with the touring production of Hairspray.

Nicole Tranquillo (20) Currently lives in Philadelphia, PA, where she is a vocal major at the University of the Arts. Tranquillo began taking voice lessons when she was 12 years old.

[retrokitten]

Awww...thank you! I love it when I can get a chuckle out of my FR friends!