[VIDEO] AMERICAN IDOL 2013 WINNER; CANDICE GLOVER EARLY PREDICTION; CURVEY GIRLS RULE

AMERICAN IDOL season finale was filled with special guest stars and stellar performances.  It was clearly the best show of the year and finally entertaining enough to not hit the fast forward button on my remote.

Guest artists included legendary singers Aretha Franklin and Frankie Valli, followed by Psy, Emeli Sandé, Jesse J,  Idol fan favorites; Jordan Sparks, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice, Kim Locke and Adam Lambert.  Even past judge Jennifer Lopez showed up with a rocking performance with Pit Bull.   Mariah Carey also performed a medley of her hit songs, but looked as though she could not move with the white wedding dress glued to the stage.

There were funny skits to keep it light which included the guys screaming SABOTAGE!  The ladies did pick them off one-by-one so that was fitting.  Jordan Sparks added a funny line at the end, telling them not to worry….:”Idol rejects have found success on The Voice!”

Well, in the end Abercrombe & Fitch may have not liked that the thin chicks were not in the running for the crown.  Good for the American fans choosing the “curves” over the thin supermodel types. It came down to Kree Harrison and Candice Glover who ran away with the prize.  Can I just point out….she was my early prediction!  The voter’s absolutely got it right and for the first time in six years a female contestant sealed the deal.

Candice Glover proved a point….never give up.  While she tried out multiple times, three was definitely the charm. I was happy to see her win because there is not doubt…she earned it.  Kree was great, but Candice was outstanding.

Several performances stood out, but my favorites were the collaboration of Jesse J along side Amber Holcomb, Jennifer Hudson belting it out with Candice Glover and the always exciting Psy.  It was also great to see Aretha Franklin via satellite, but she looked a bit unhealthy.

It looks like Randy Jackson is finally leaving, which is not really a huge deal. His “dog” and “In it to win it“ repeats were getting old and pointless.  But I was really hoping more for a complete makeover and definitely Nicki Minaj packing her bags….but some wishes just don’t come to fruition.

Idol is coming back next season, let’s just hope it is better than season 12.

 

5/8/13: THE VOICE VS. IDOL; WHAT DID YOU WATCH TONIGHT? WHO WENT HOME ON THE VOICE?

The Voice went head-to-head with American Idol tonight.  According to early feedback, it appears that the new singing competition, The Voice, may be the winner.  They were smart to add another day and go against their rival on Fox. Tomorrow’s ratings should show a new leader in front of the original master of creating instant super stars.

While Idol was the one who opened the door for signing competition shows, it looks like The Voice may be the one to close it.

I watched both shows and although the earlier seasons of The Voice left me annoyed, the new addition of Usher and Shakira have me watching.  It is far better now that Christina Aguilera has left.

Curious to see the ratings tomorrow….but no doubt Idol will get crushed.  What did you watch?

On another note, if Judith Hill does not win The Voice I will eat 50 Portillo’s hotdogs.  Oh wait…that would be a good thing!   Who went home tonight?  Check it out here…at Thevoice.com.

 

AMERICAN IDOL 2013 SUCKS…HOME TOWN VISIT CAN’T HELP THE RATINGS!

American Idol used to be my favorite singing competition show.  Therefore, it’s so disappointing to watch this year…which is such a shame.  It is just bad timing and AI plain sucks!  The semi-finalist Candace Glover, Angie Miller and Kree Harrison are actually great singers, but it’s just not enough.

Originally it was good to see “girl power” this year, with the ladies booting out all the guys early.  But actually, it is lacking a bit of male energy and they are just too similar in sound leaving the show flat.  All chicks and no dudes is not a good mix.

Last season the loss of Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell was a huge blow.  But Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler somehow managed to keep it alive and exciting.  They had great feedback, which is lacking with the addition of Mariah Carey, Keith Urban and Bitchy Minaj.   Is it just me, or do they just repeat themselves…time after time.  The producers need to hire JLo as a judge consultant…seriously.

It will be interesting to see just how badly they get beat by The Voice tonight.  NBC Programming made a smart move, adding an extra day to compete head-to-head with Idol.  I doubt even the holder of a million jobs, Ryan Seacrest can help.  Is he Jamaican?

Tonight Jimmy Iovine selected the first songs for the contestants.  While he has been a good addition and usually is pretty spot on….even his song choices sucked.

The home visit for the remaining three was good to see but unfortunately that was the best part of the show. Of course that is bad news since this is a singing competition.

If they do not get JLo back…they may as well pack their bags. We know Simon Cowell is secretly smiling inside and rearing to get back with The X Factor.  This ship is clearly sinking which is sad to see.  It is far better to end on top….than at the bottom.  Have you seen their ratings lately?  Wow…even The Big Bang Theory is kicking their butt!

If Candace Glover does not win….I will know this is the end of an era.  She is clearly the best of the three left, but who knows if she will get the votes.  Let’s just hope the 50 votes per person helps push her to the top.

What do you think?  Is Idol a hit or miss this year?  Will you watch next year if they continue down this path?  Did Nicki Minaj cause the end of the best shows on Fox?  Take the poll below and chime in.

On another note, did Nicki break into tears tonight?  Maybe it was because she was shocked by electricity…or was that a new weave?

 

2013: THE VOICE CRUSHES AMERICAN IDOL; IS NICKI MINAJ THE DOWNFALL?

The addition of Shakira and Usher on the new season of The Voice is more than refreshing.  It also seems to have pushed their ratings through the roof.  Is it just me or did Christina Aguilera leaving revive the show?  Not sure, but I am certainly enjoying it 100% more this year and think it was the best move of any singing competition show.

It appears that a replacement may be something for American Idol to consider.  In my opinion, it would probably help with their faltering ratings if they canned Nicki Minaj.  According to some reports, they are down 10 million viewers since 2011.  Some may argue that they now have more competition and have been on the air for over a decade, but I believe Nicki and Mariah were bad choices.

While Nicki does at least provide more constructive feedback than the other judges, her nasal voice and attitude unnerves me.  If the show finds itself on the canceled list, surely she will have something to do with it.  How I miss Jennifer Lopez!

The Voice not only crushes American Idol when it comes to their judging panel, this season the talent is undeniably better.  It is still early, but the singers have already blown me away. To break it down….The Voice has better judges….check.  The Voice has better singers…check.  The Voice has a better concept…check.

I must admit The Voice originally was not my favorite singing competition, but I absolutely love the new judges! Shakira is supportive and offers Latino’s a great opportunity and Usher is just well….sexy.

It’s pretty bad when you fast forward through most singers, like I do when watching American Idol now.  Let’s face it they increased the votes to 50 per person to make it seem like millions more are voting.  Do they think the viewers are stupid?

What do you think?  Which is the better show?  Should Nicki go? Don’t forget to vote and check out the ratings listed below.

Thanks Tom!

Preliminary National Ratings Show       (Network) Rating(18-49) / Share Viewers(Millions) 1 The Voice (NBC) 4.2/13 13.0 2 NCIS (CBS) 2.6/8 16.7 3 NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) 2.6/7 13.9 4 New Girl (Fox) 2.2/6 4.2 5 Dancing With the Stars results       (ABC) 1.9/5 11.8 6 Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) 1.8/6 4.4 7 Amores Verdaderos (UNI) 1.7/5 4.2 8 Amor Bravio (UNI) 1.7/5 4.1 9 Ready for Love (P) (NBC) 1.6/4 3.8 10 Golden Boy (CBS) 1.5/4 7.9 Data provided by Nielsen

 

3/20/13: AMERICAN IDOL RECAP & REVIEW; WHO’S GOING HOME?

WHO WENT HOME ON IDOL 3/21/13…CHECK IT OUT HERE.

American Idol is down to the cream of the crop.  They have a lot of great singers remaining, which makes it harder to vote anyone off.  But someone has to go…who will it be?

It began with the announcement of the voter’s choice for the “wild card” joining the tour.  The sing-off between Charlie Askew and Aubrey Cleland made for a simple decision.  Obviously the beauty ruled and Aubrey secured the spot.  But in this case she deserved it….this was not even close. Charlie blew it.

The show featured Beatles songs tonight.  Although they are considered one of the greatest groups of all time…they’re not really my favorite.  Several of their hits songs I really like, but I believe they are a bit overrated.

Then on to the singing competition.  Kree Harrison opened the show with another solid performance.  While the judges gave her great feedback, I was satisfied but not blown away.  She is an amazing singer and should be safe once again, but it was not her best.

Burnell Taylor followed with another perfect song and strong performance.  He has been consistent and his vocals are flawless.  However, tonight it really struck me how unique his voice really is and the judges agreed.  He may be a dark horse to watch…I really like him and hope he gets huge viewer support.

Amber Holcomb sang an unfamiliar Beatles song, but still nailed it.  It would be hard for her to ever sound below par, though the judges were not too thrilled with her tonight.  She still sounded good to me, but I wished she picked a better song.

Lazaro Arbos has been an inspiration throughout the season, but tonight he fell flat.  The judges were hard on him, but unfortunately they were right.  His vocals were not on point and he may be on the bubble.

Candace Glover is a star.  She has stayed consistent and always belts the notes effortlessly. It was more of a rock style song and showcased her huge voice. It was a perfect song for her, so she should be VERY safe.

Paul Jolley has held on for dear life.  He does have a great voice, but for some reason he still seems very “Broadway“.  I could see him on Glee or in Vegas, but not really as a recording artist.  The vocals were good, but I don’t see him going too much further.

Angie Miller is the real artist of the group. She does best with her own original songs, but still seems to shine.    “Yesterday” was a great song choice and she nailed it.  The other positive, was they finally did something with that puffy hair!   Finally…she looked current.

Devin Valez is my Chicago favorite (NO…I’m not bias:).  He should find himself with a long career in the music industry.  His vocals tonight were spot on and he definitely stepped up his game.  It would be surprising if he were in the bottom two this week.  Spanish and English…wow!

Janelle Arthur was the last to perform.  She is a sweet girl and very likable. Country fans are loyal and should take her a long way in the competition.  Tonight I actually liked her better than any other night. This was her best performance in my opinion.

Who’s going home tomorrow night?  If I were to guess, it should be Lazaro or Paul.  Top three tonight…Angie, Burnell and Candace.

On another note, Nicki Minaj has been on my last nerve for a while (did she forget this is live TV!).  Unfortunately, Mariah Carey is starting to get on my other nerve.  She is becoming annoying with her proper voice, so hoping they both leave next season…if there is one.  Guess my mom was right…she never liked Mariah:).  Mother knows best.

Related articles

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• 3/5/13: American Idol Recap & Review; Will Zoanette Finally Go Home? Top 10 Girls Perform (brittaj17.wordpress.com)
• ‘American Idol’ Recap: Curtis Finch Jr. Gets A Standing Ovation (hollywoodlife.com)
• 3/14/13: American Idol Recap; Top 3 Revealed….who Got Voted Off Tonight? Curtis Finch Jr? (brittaj17.wordpress.com)

 

[VIDEO] 3/14/13: AMERICAN IDOL RECAP; TOP 3 REVEALED….WHO GOT VOTED OFF? CURTIS FINCH JR?

American Idol changed it up a bit tonight.  Not only did they give stats on the contestants, the top 3 singers were also revealed for the first time.  So who made the cut?  Well, it may not be a surprise that the ladies topped the leader board, since they slayed the guys last night.

Let’s start with Devin Valez, he sealed 25% of the votes in Puerto Rico; making him number one there.  Janelle Arthur earned the majority of the votes in Tennessee, with a whopping 30% of the votes.  

Candace Glover not only won the state of South Carolina with a staggering 42% of the votes, she also made the top 3.  This was obvious based on her performance last night and if you recall I said she was the best of the night.

Fan favorite Kree Harrison, got a surprise visit from the Mayor (Ben Bythewood) of Woodville Texas, who gave her a key to the city.  It is her hometown which made it extra special. But to top the icing on the cake, she also received news she too was in the top three.

Lazaro Arbos and Angie Miller went head to head and he beat her in the state of Florida with votes.  However, Angie joined the ladies in the top three.

Breaking down the remaining singers; #4 Lazaro Arbos, #5 Amber Holcomb, #6 Janelle Arthur, #7 Burnell Taylor, and #8 Paul Jolley.  Shockingly enough, Curtis Finch Jr and Devin Valez were in the bottom two.  While they did not perform well last night, they have been top singers from day one. America definitely got this wrong…my pick would have been for Paul to be in the bottom based on the overall season. This goes to show many viewers have just began tuning in.

The first selected to leave the show was Curtis Finch Jr.  It was insane to watch, seeing he was in my original top three to make it into the finals.  Good thing the judges had one save, BUT WAIT…they did not use it!  Who were they saving it for?  All I can say is WOW!  He deserves to be there and it was a crime to see him go home. Nicki Minaj was clearly upset about it and for the first time I was 100% with her.  Let’s just hope he turns into another Jennifer Hudson.

It was great to see all ladies in the top three, but also surprising since the guys seemed stronger early on.  This goes to show that Idol votes can change instantly based on song choice and performance.  Top three Candace, Angie and Kree have been my picks from the start so America got this right.

Bon Jovi and Phillip Phillips performed in between to break the ice.  They even let ex-contestant Charlie Askew sing his original song…it was good because many felt bad about how he left the show in an apparent meltdown.  There was also a another visit from Aubrey Cleland to sing a song. This was a first…it’s not even the finale?  But looks like the fans will vote for additional singers to go on tour so they performed for votes.  

Tonight was a complete shock…this should make for an interesting season.  What do you think?

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[VIDEO] 3/5/13: AMERICAN IDOL RECAP & REVIEW; WILL ZOANETTE FINALLY GO HOME? TOP 10 GIRLS PERFORM

CHECK OUT RECAP OF TOP TEN GUYS 3/6/12 HERE.

American Idol finally turned the voting over to the fans.  There have been several contestants hanging on for dear life and Zoanette was one of them.  The judges have amazed many viewers by continuously praising her every move.  But at last…her true lack of talent came to light without being overshadowed by her wild performances.   While she is extremely entertaining and has a great spirit, early on it was clear her vocals were not up to par.  The judges even agreed she sucked last night.  This was the perfect time for that ship to sink…let’s just hope AMERICA gets it right.

On the other hand, most of the remaining singers deserve to be there.  They are fairly equal when it comes to vocal ability and depending on song choice, it’s anyone’s to win.  This is clearly one of the best group of girls in a long time and they sounded great.  Even though the judges were not always jumping for joy, most would have sailed through in any other season.

However, Nicki Minaj is now not only on my last nerve, she needs to get the wax out of her ears.  She stepped out the gate bashing the first contestant, Breanna Steer, who actually sounded good.  While Nicki said she was straining….it was the total opposite.  The only thing straining is that blond wig on Nicki’s head…:).

Based on tonight’s performances, the bottom two were definitely Aubrey Cleland and Zoanette Johnson.   Although Aubrey is beautiful she did not sound good…but the judges are clearly seeing dollar signs.  Best performances of the night were given by Teena Torres, Amber Holcomb, Kree Harrison, Candace Glover and Angie Miller.   No doubt, these should be the top five.

If the viewer’s vote out Zoanette…the girls may have a chance to win after the six-year dry spell!   Wish her the best for making it this far, but she is in too deep.  Really love the guys so this may be a long shot.

On another note; most stars find even bigger success after joining Idol as a judge.  Wonder if Nicki will be the first to  actually ruin her singing career?  She is an artist that is better left singing rather than speaking.  Is it just me or does anyone else agree?  AMERICA HATES NICKI ON IDOL!

Guys sing tomorrow night and votes come out on Thursday…we shall see.

CHECK OUT IDOL TOP 20 HERE.

 

[VIDEO] 2/13/13: AMERICAN IDOL RECAP; GIRLS HIT THE STAGE AND SHINE; CANDICE GLOVER, ISABELLE & BRIANA OAKLEY TOP LIST

AMERICAN IDOL finally showcased the ladies tonight.  Last week was a great one for the guys, but they may have some serious competition!  They promoted this as the best group of women in the history of Idol…and they might be right.

The one disappointing thing this week, was how they rushed through the ladies early on and did not really let us hear enough of them.  However, there were still a few stand-outs…the soulful Candice Glover, powerful Isabelle, 16-year-old Briana Oakley and country singers Rachel Hale & Janelle Arthur topped my list.  They obviously also were loved by the judges since they sailed through the first round.

But the group round seems to be the death of many great singers and tonight was no exception.  It is the nerves and lack of sleep along with strong personalities, which is a bad combination.  Many who sound amazing on their own, suck during this portion of the show.  Kez Ban may have been the biggest bomb early in the rounds, but somehow pulled through.  Although some are questioning if she should have performed during the guys round (not to be mean…but just the messenger).

The “Swagettes” were definitely the best group….good they sailed through to the solo round.  It was also a great effort by the country singing group. And they were just as fortunate to all make it to the next round.

It will be interesting to see who makes the cut.  This year the judges have some tough decisions to make.  It is actually a good thing…they can now focus on the contestants and not the Nicki & Mariah feud.

On another note; the girls definitely did not have each others back when one got saved. The true colors come out when the pressure is on!  At least Chicago”s Brandy Neely left with a good spirit and her head held high.  BUT…was it just me or did some of them need to go home?

 

[VIDEO] 2/7/13: AMERICAN IDOL 12 RECAP & REVIEW; BEST MALE VOCALS IN A WHILE…MEN SHINE

AMERICAN IDOL is on day two for the male contestants.  It is clearly the best group of men we have seen in several seasons.  In tracking the incredible talent…I lost count along the way.  Too bad real estate has picked up leaving less time for blogging…there is way more to say!  But let me break it down quickly.

There were a few who really shined and deserve a special shout-out.  The very best vocals came from; Nick Boddington (rocked the piano), Curtis Finch Jr (a clear favorite), Cortez Shaw, and the confident Chicagoan Devin Velez.  Basically, these were the BEST of the BEST.

But let’s not forget the ones who could have won in many past season’s, even against many who made it through to the finals.  They include; Marvin Calderon, Lazaro Abbos, Burnell Taylor, Gupreet SIngh Sarin, Jimmy Smith, Paul Jolly, and the very quirky yet loveable Charlie Askew.  If you get lost in their names, look them up on Youtube, they will be ones to watch.

It will be interesting to see if the ladies step up their game and outshine the guys next week.  My fingers are crossed, because there was a lot of talent in the early rounds.

The new changes seem to make sense…guys up and then girls.  Also no more group announcements of who goes home, just end their misery along the way.  Contestants can now play instruments during the early rounds, which helps them stand out.  I am liking the new changes…what about you?

On another note, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey are growing on me.  They actually seem genuinely nice and offer honest feedback.  But Nicki Minaj is the new Simon Cowell without the love in her hateful words.  She is wearing on my last nerve and if she is going to be mean to the contestants, she needs to learn balance. While I do enjoy her music….her judging skills need some work.  Nicki PLEASE call Jennifer Lopez for tips!

 

1/31/13: AMERICAN IDOL OKLAHOMA RECAP & REVIEW; MOST SUCKED & UNDESERVING OF A GOLDEN TICKET

American Idol headed to Oklahoma for the first time tonight.  But it may be a city to take off the list next year, because many of the contestants should have never received a golden ticket.

I’m not sure if the judges were in a really good mood, or if the talent was so mediocre, they had no choice but to select a few.  At some point, Nicki, Randy, Mariah and Keith must have hit the bottle or wax in their ears.  Tickets to Hollywood were wasted on most of these singers and they will tank during the next round.

Let’s start with Karl Skinner, while he had a lot of personality, it’s obvious he will get crushed in Hollywood. And Puppet girl Oscar, was slightly annoying and would not have made it through in San Antonio.  It was a good thing she put the dog down and sounded better without him, but by then I did not take her seriously.  Not sure Oscar will go far in the competition and she should have left the puppet at home.

They also gave too much airtime to several horrible singers.  All I could think was make them go away already.  Zoanette Johnson was one of them and while she sang the National Anthem, she did NOT do it justice.  It made me physically ill and I was happy when it ended.  Nicki was obsessed with her?  And she got a golden ticket?  What a joke!

The other contestant on for far too long was Anastacia Freeman, it was not even funny and she was awful.   If they think it was good for ratings, they should think again.  She just would not stop singing, so they must have needed her for a time filler. Toni Braxton was probably sick hearing her song demolished on live TV.

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy a few singers tonight.  Although both of his parents are deaf, luckily Nate Tao actually could sing.  Many parents give their children false hope and comfort them when they get rejected.  It is insane how many contestants show up with proud families and are devastated when they are told they can’t hold a note.  Good thing my mother tells me to shut up when I try singing…hearing the truth is the best route.

The only true highlight of the show, was the back-story about Kayden Stephenson.  He was as cute as they come and one of the few who deserved a break.   It is sad that he has the terminal illness Cystic Fibrosis, so it was great to see him get a golden ticket.  And could actually sing!

Steven Tyler also showed up in drag and surprised the judges.  It was funny and reminded us how much he is missed.  However, it also confirmed that there were so few good singer’s, they had to use him as another filler.

Overall Oklahoma was a bust and San Antonio blew them all away.  Was it just me or did they suck?