American Idol 2009--Live Thread

americanidol.com ^

[silent_jonny]

American Idol 2009

For Ladyinred

[retrokitten]

Ours are horrible, too. It’s like driving through bomb testing ranges.

Those below 0 temps really create havoc. But I’d still rather have that then snow. I’m really ready for winter to be over.

[Netizen]

Oh my. Have you seen this?

http://www.habbo.com/?partner=gogl&isp=HC_aiupd_DAI

[retrokitten]

LOL No, I haven’t. That’s cute.

[Netizen]

There was a virtual place some years back that a bunch of us went to and it was a lot of fun. You could move around. Can’t remember the name of the place anymore.

Here’s a link to what they call American Idol Billboard update

http://mjsbigblog.com/idol-billboard-update-021409/

They included Leonoa Lewis WHY? and Melissa Lawson, last season’s winner of Nashville Star. Just in case you or anyone else might be interested.

[retrokitten]

There was a virtual place some years back that a bunch of us went to and it was a lot of fun.

Really? No one invites me to the fun parties.

[Netizen]

I went to Dial Idol and using their Raw Votes for the past three seasons I did up a chart. I wanted to compare what past seasons might have looked like, using this season's new format.

Season	Top Female Vote Getter	Top Male Vote Getter	Third Highest Vote Getter
Season 7 with Top 24 Idols	Kady Malloy	David Archuleta	Michael Johns
Season 7 with Top 20 Idols	Amanda Overmyer	Jason Castro	Syesha Mercado
Season 7 with Top 16 Idols	Brooke White	David Hernandez	Ramiele Malubay
Season 6 with Top 24 Idols	Sabrina Sloan	Chris Sligh	Melinda Doolittle
Season 6 with Top 20 Idols	Gina Glockson	Blake Lewis	Haley Scarnato
Season 6 with Top 16 Idols	Jordan Sparks	Sundance Head	Antonella Barba
Season 5 with Top 24 Idols	Heather Cox	Bobby Bennet	Becky O'Donohue
Season 5 with Top 20 Idols	Melissa McGhee	Elliot Yamin	Taylor Hicks
Season 5 with Top 16 Idols	Lisa Tucker	Will Makar	Ayla Brown

Keep in mind the chart doesn't take into affect the Wild Cards. Important item to notice is that last year's David Cook wouldn't have made it through unless he was picked as a wild card and that is totally at the judges discretion.

[Netizen]

Danny Gokey has a new website.

http://www.sophiasheart.org/

[nufsed]

Any body have a picture of Barton?

[Netizen]

Ok, I have to ask.

This is from Danny Gokey's foundation's website. Danny's Voice section. About half way through the third paragraph.

Posted by Daniel on 2/11/2009 at 5:50 PM

The most relevant situation that I can share with you is when my wife passed away. The emotions from losing my spouse were overwhelming, not to mention all the previous years of doctors visits, hospital stays, and the hardest thing of all having to watch my wife cry at times because of the pain. This all led up to the final outcome. Doctors told me she only had a 10% chance of dying during this operation and I felt we exhausted our options financially, spiritually, physically, and medically yet nothing worked. I was shocked from the sudden loss and left with the hounding questions: “why me” and “why her”, with an overwhelming pit of despair. Through that situation I became vulnerable to emotions I didn't want but barely resisted because of my analytical mind trying to reason every little detail. Bitterness, anger and resentment began to fill my mind and started to take root in my heart, which launched me into a 3 month deep depression. You see, I know many people would say that is normal. I do believe this is true within a certain balance, but I know in my heart of hearts what I was going through was not normal. I felt like I had to put on a face for everybody to cover what was really going on inside. Deep down inside, I felt there was not hope for me and I really wanted to die. If I had not dealt with this, it probably could have somehow or someway took me out.

Bitterness, anger and resentment began to fill my mind and started to take root in my heart, which launched me into a 3 month deep depression.

He auditioned 4 weeks (1 month) after his wife's death.

[Netizen]

I meant to ping you to 4949

[Mygirlsmom]

I truly believe this Tiatiana creature is a set up deal...NO one can act this stupid and get sent through, if it was not pre-ordained.

Well, they have to give VFTW something to talk about, don't they?

[Mygirlsmom]

Well, I do. They want to keep the drama going and have "something for everyone" in the competition. No talent required.

Between Tat-hyena and Norman Gentle it certainly seems that way, doesn't it? The problem is one or both will probably sneak thru to top 10. I am looking forward to supporting our local guy, Danny (I think he's a shoe-in), and I don't want to have to skip part of the tour show just to avoid being annoyed.

[GAgal]

Felicia and Loren Barton worship leader pics from their church’s website:

http://www.comegetfree.org/about-us-staff.html

[nufsed]

Thanx. I was hoping it would be the cute black chick who wore the gray hat. Had good pipes and looked good, but they unanimously dumped her last night. Oh well.

[Mygirlsmom]

I thought it was a a couple of tattooed tear drops.

I hope not! That is a gang sign of having killed someone--you need a "fake" tear because you didn't shed one on your own.

[CounterCounterCulture]

This is my second season of going through Hollywood Week (and first for Group Round... drama!!!). This Season has been harder to get a sense of who the best competitors are, and it has to be considered what little we’ve been shown compared to all the dramatics. Last season’s freak-out was Dan-jaya. This season it’s a triple-freak out with Nathaniel, Nick/Norman, and of course, Tatiana. They were purposely included for the drama factor.

For that, I’m hesistant to name my picks for Top 12. I will say that Danny and Lil Rounds seem assured for Top 12. My two favorites are, for the men, Danny, and for the women, Jasmine. With this new format of eliminating nine of twelve in the three groups, it’s a huuuuuuge benefit for the ones who have had exposure and near impossible for those with little exposure (they have no chance now to build an audience base over the weeks as before). I really really don’t like this change.

Here is the list of 36 semifinalists on American Idol Season 8 (updated for the Joanna Pacitti disqualification)...

Name: Adam Lambert
Age: 26
Hometown: Los Angeles
Audition City: San Francisco
(CCC’s take on) Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure)

———
Name: Alex Wagner-Trugman
Age: 19
Hometown: Los Angeles
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Alexis Grace
Age: 20
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (lack of exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Allison Iraheta
Age: 16
Hometown: Los Angeles
Audition City: San Francisco
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure; other 16 yr olds with more exposure)

———
Name: Anne Marie Boskovich
Age: 22
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Audition City: Jacksonville, Fla.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Anoop Desai
Age: 21
Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Arianna Afsar
Age: 16
Hometown: San Diego
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; young and cute)

———
Name: Brent Keith
Age: 28
Hometown: Blanchester, Ohio
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Casey Carlson
Age: 20
Hometown: Minneapolis
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; cute)
*Group 1

———
Name: Danny Gokey
Age: 28
Hometown: Milwaukee
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Excellent (great exposure and talent)
*Group 1

———
Name: Felicia Barton
Age: 26.
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
NOTE: replaces Joanna Pacitti (age 23: audition city: Louisville, Ky.)
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure, last-minute entry)

———
Name: Jackie Tohn
Age: 27
Hometown: Los Angeles
Audition City: New York
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Jasmine Murray
Age: 16
Hometown: Starkville, Miss.
Audition City: Jacksonville, Fla.
Top 12 prospects: Fair (some exposure; cute, young and talented)

———
Name: Jeanine Vailes
Age: 27
Hometown: Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Audition City: San Francisco
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Jesse Langseth
Age: 25
Hometown: Minneapolis
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure, limited range)

———
Name: Jorge Nunez-Mendez
Age: 20
Hometown: Carolina, Puerto Rico
Audition City: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (modest exposure; may benefit from ethnicity)

———
Name: Ju’Not Joyner
Age: 26
Hometown: Bowie, Md.
Audition City: New York
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Kai Kalama
Age: 26
Hometown: San Clemente, Calif.
Audition City: San Francisco
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Kendall Beard
Age: 23
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Audition City: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Kris Allen
Age: 23
Hometown: Conway, Ark.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Kristen McNamara
Age: 22
Hometown: Napa, Calif.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; sympathy factor)

———
Name: Lil Rounds
Age: 23
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Excellent (exposure; judges favorite)

———
Name: Matt Breitzke
Age: 27
Hometown: Bixby, Okla.
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure)

———
Name: Matt Giraud
Age: 23
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Megan Corkrey
Age: 22
Hometown: Sandy, Utah
Audition City: Salt Lake City
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Michael Sarver
Age: 27
Hometown: Jasper, Texas
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Mishavonna Henson
Age: 18
Hometown: Irvine, Calif.
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Fair (modest exposure)

———
Name: Nathaniel Marshall
Age: 18
Hometown: Malone, N.Y.
Audition City: New York
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; will the drama queen attitude help?)

———
Name: Nick Mitchell (a.k.a., Norman Gentle)
Age: 27
Hometown: Brookfield, Conn.
Audition City: New York
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (much exposure, but too clownish? And won’t get Simon’s vote)

———
Name: Ricky Braddy
Age: 25
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Audition City: Louisville, Ky.
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)
*Group 1

———
Name: Scott MacIntyre
Age: 23
Hometown: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; sympathy factor)

———
Name: Stephen Fowler
Age: 26
Hometown: Beachwood, Ohio
Audition City: New York
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (messed up last performance)
*Group 1

———
Name: Stevie Wright
Age: 16
Hometown: Phelan, Calif.
Audition City: Phoenix
Top 12 prospects: Fair (exposure; young)
*Group 1

———
Name: Tatiana Del Toro
Age: 23
Hometown: Los Angeles
Audition City: San Francisco
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (huge wildcard; vote for the worst?)
*Group 1

———
Name: Taylor Vaifanua
Age: 16
Hometown: Hurricane, Utah
Audition City: Salt Lake City, Utah
Top 12 prospects: Unlikely (lack of exposure)

———
Name: Von Smith
Age: 22
Hometown: Kansas City, Mo.
Audition City: Kansas City, Mo.
Top 12 prospects: Questionable (odd style)

Group 1:
Top Male: Danny
Top Female: Casey
Number 3: Michael
Wildcard: Stevie (or Tatiana just to irritate us)
Anoop might miss out having to face Danny and Michael.

Don’t know the Group 2 & 3 breakdowns yet.

[GAgal]

I bet you’re thinking of Leneshe Young: http://www.americanidol.com/photos/season_8/hollywood_week/golden_ticket_gallery/37551/

I wonder if the Wild Card winners will be restricted to those who missed the Top 36 cut via a split decision, rather than a unanimous axing? That seems fairer to me, so they probably won’t do it.

[nufsed]

I only go by best signing ability. She had it. I don’t often criticize the judges. They have experience I don’t have and there’s always room for disagreement. But I have an ear for music and I was bewildered when she didn’t make it.

[TonyWpi]

Thanks for the rundown on the voting.

My favs in the first group are:

Danny Gokey for the guys, and Casey Carlson for the girls.

But with Anoop-dog and Michael there, it could be a tough round for the guys.

Hopefully Tatiana’s toast. I can’t see VFTW keeping her in at this stage but you never know.

Bottom line is to vote for your favorite and hope for the best.

[TonyWpi]

Thanks for the run-down. BTW....here’s some news (and you notice she’s not on your list)

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An “American Idol” contestant who made the show’s top 36 was disqualified. In its press released issued Wednesday night announcing the 36 contenders, Fox TV said that Joanna Pacitti was “ineligible to continue.” No reason was given.
Felicia Barton of Virginia Beach, Va., replaced Pacitti, a Philadelphia native, in the top 36.

The show announced the semifinalists Wednesday night, then later released an update saying it had cut Pacitti loose and subbed in Barton, a 26-year-old married mom.

Pacitti, 23, could not immediately be reached for comment.

A few of the contestants in Tuesday night’s episode, including Pacitti, flubbed the lyrics but made it through to the next round.

Pacitti, who auditioned in Louisville, Ky., entered “Idol” with a showbiz resume. She had a record deal with Geffen and released an album in 2006. Billboard reports it sold more than 16,000 copies. “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi recognized Pacitti when she auditioned in Louisville, Ky.

She also starred in “Annie” on Broadway as a young girl, and sang on the soundtracks for the movies “Legally Blonde” and “Bratz.” Britney Spears’ tune “Out From Under,” from her latest album, was first performed by Pacitti on the “Bratz” soundtrack.

All that experience was enough to draw complaints from viewers who thought she was too polished for the top-rated show, which purports to pluck raw talent out of nowhere and turn them into stars.

However, eight seasons in, “Idol” has selected singers who have spent time in the recording studio.

Pacitti’s situation echoed the controversy over last season’s finalists, Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook, who had previous record deals.

Smithson had recorded an album for MCA Records, while Cook once had a deal with Arista Nashville. Other experienced seventh-season singers include Robbie Carrico, who was in the pop group Boyz N Girlz United, and runner-up David Archuleta, who won “Star Search” in 2003.