American Idol 8: Wild Card Round

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

The Wild Card round of American Idol opened with three stools and eight singers who all hoped to fill them. With eight singers, four judges and one host - not to mention a performance round and an elimination round in a single episode - Idol had to move things along pretty quickly. There was little time for recap or reintroduction. Each contestant had a sort of hurried interview that played for a few moments while they rushed to the stage. It was actually sort of poorly done, not to put too fine a point on it.

At any rate, Idol viewers were given a rare treat - instant gratification. Usually, results have to wait an entire day…but not on this Wild night.

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American Idol 8: Third Group Results

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Rumors, Video,

The third group of Top 36 performers had to wait the longest to find out whether they would be moving on…or going home. At the top of the American Idol Wednesday hour, they all gathered to - finally - learn their fate.

“I think we have an amazing start of a Top 12 going on. I’m very proud of all of them,” Paula Abdul said of the contestants. Speaking of the Top 12, the first half (the six contenders who were voted in over the preceding two weeks) looked on from the sidelines as they, too, waited to hear who would join them in places of Idol honor.

The twelve performers of the week performed an upbeat version of “Hot and Cold,” yet another unrecognizable song performed by the Top 36 over the last three weeks. Despite somewhat lackluster choreography, they delivered what is arguably the best of the three group performances we’ve seen from the 36 semifinalists.

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American Idol 8: Third Group Performs

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

As the first half of American Idol 8’s Top 12 looked on, a dozen new hopefuls took to the stage to sing out their hearts - and hopefully, to win ours.

During the pre-performance banter, host Ryan Seacrest talked about Simon Cowell’s penchant for picking on contestant song choices. Seacrest asked the judge why he doesn’t simply pick the songs himself. “Well, I will,” Cowell responded. “We’ll have a Simon Cowell week.”

I’m getting a vision of the greatest Idol week ever. But before that happens, we have to get through this last group of Top 36 contenders.

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American Idol 8: Three Left Standing in Second Group

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, Video,

Twenty-five million votes were tallied up to create Thursday’s live show, but did all the results go as expected? American Idol watchers were treated to montages, recaps and four performances - and at the end of the night, half of the Top 12 was firmly in place.

Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver waited through the group performance (it was a song I’ve never heard before and didn’t at all like…the best I can say is that it was better than last week’s group) and tons of other filler before real results were featured.

Ryan Seacrest spent a few moments chatting with the current crop of competitors before getting down to business. When asked about his future, Nick Mitchell said, “I’m looking for employment, always.” Jesse Langseth finds selecting songs “awful” and “very hard.” Jeanine Vailes admitted that “less could have been more” with her performance.

But eventually, even the time for chitchatting was over.

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American Idol 8: Top 36 Announced

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

Fifty-four sat in the holding room of a “mansion” - or set - in Los Angeles last night on American Idol. Only thirty-six would leave the judging area with smiles on their faces. A few would be made to sing one last time, but all would have to make the long walk through the gardens and down to the throne room where their fate would be decided.

Anoop Desai was the first to make the stroll. “Anoop is in the house,” Randy Jackson cried, after Kara DioGuardi told Desai he’d made it into the competition.

Things started to move fairly quickly after that.

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American Idol 8: The Beginning of Hollywood

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip,

Out of many thousands, American Idol 8 chose just one hundred and forty-seven to go to Hollywood. As Simon Cowell told them at the start of the auditions, “all we’re looking for…is a star.”

Indeed.

This year, the show sent each hopeful to an intensive singing “boot camp” where they rehearsed with vocal coaches. Surprise mentor Barry Manilow showed up to offer his advice and encouragement. The one who wrote the songs told each Idol hopeful to prepare well and make each tune their own.

And thus, the first day at the opulent Kodak Theater began.

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