American Idol 10 Top 4 – Recap Roundup

‘Something Pitchy:’ It’s an ‘American Idol’ Therapy Session!

Sure, it’s called ‘American Idol’ not ‘Attitude Idol’ but can anyone blame Haley Reinhart for giving it back to Randy and J.Lo after they not only slammed her for the umpteenth time, but also compared her to golden boy, James Durbin?

Myself, Rickey Yaneza (Rickey.org) and MJ Santilli (mjsbigblog.com) are just as perplexed as Haley, herself. Only more puzzling is Randy’s assessment of James Durbin, comparing his screamy Journey cover to an Olympic performance.

See the video at TV Squad

‘American Idol’: Randy tears into Haley, and Rupert Murdoch is there to see it, on the scene of Top 4 performance night

As the crew set the stage for James Durbin’s opening number, Paul McDonald sauntered into the Idoldome, one hand clutching two tickets, the other the hand of actress Nikki Reed. The Twilight star was beaming with a practiced starlet grin; the former Idol troubadour looked like he was going to throw up at any given moment. The duo were led up to their seats a few rows back, and then swiftly led back down them and out of the studio once the audience peeps realized that it would likely be a good idea to place the season’s second most talked about couple up closer where the cameras would likely better capture their blinding smiles, photogenic affection, and possible vomit.

EW

‘American Idol’ recap: I’d Like to Solve the Puzzle

Of course — of course! — I’m sick of Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez acting like American Idol is this super-complicated jigsaw puzzle and that James, Scotty and Lauren have SUDDENLY SOLVED IT. But as the judges stuck nearly word-for-word to the same tired script as last week, I somehow stopped being angry that the terrible two had once again singled Haley Reinhart out as the only final four contestant who’s ever done anything even a little bit wrong. Haley’s already decided their comments don’t matter, so why should I? Their weird bias could get the growler more votes anyway, so good for her.


EW

American Idol Recap: ‘Nothing’ Ventured, Nothing Gained

Imagine watching a boxing match where a fighter gets bound tightly to the corner post, then relentlessly pummeled by his foe. Or a race where one horse is led to the starting gate, only to be pointed in the opposite direction of the remaining runners. Or a figure-skating competition where everyone performs on ice, except for one girl who gets violently hurled into a lake and told by the judges, “Hey, it’s not our fault you couldn’t get the water to freeze!” That’s kind of what Wednesday night’s edition of American Idol felt like, with Haley Reinhart getting the proverbial slushie to the face from “judges” Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez, while her three competitors received nary a word of criticism despite experiencing pitch problems, facial malfunctions, and a general lack of believability.

TV Line

‘American Idol’ Recap: Lady Gaga Mentors/Scares the Top 4

What do avant garde pop princess Lady Gaga and ’60s doo-woppers The Coasters have in common? Nothing. But both were a part of tonight’s Top 4 performances on ‘American Idol.’ So I guess there’s that.

The final four took to the stage for another two-for-one special, this time choosing one personally inspiring song followed by a selection from mega-hit songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller’s songbook.

TV Squad

Guest Blogger and ‘American Idol’ Alum Allison Iraheta: ‘The Judges Owe Haley An Apology’

First of all, I think this season is great. It was genius to have Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler as judges and to bring some change to the show. And the contestants are awesome! They’re super-talented and you can tell they all get along — they’re not just there to compete, they want to have fun, take it all in and learn from each other. It’s not all about the contest.

But the top four is also when everybody is super stressed out, and it’s hard to think about yourself as an artist because you’re also thinking about the fans, what the people want, what the judges are going to say, and you’re so close to the Top 3.

Hollywood Reporter

Scotty McCreery Struts, Haley Reinhart Soars On ‘American Idol’

And then there were four. On Wednesday (May 11) night’s “American Idol” performance show, the final four were tasked with picking a song that inspired them and then choosing a tune from the formidable songbook of legendary songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (“Stand By Me, ” “Hound Dog, ” “Jailhouse Rock”).

Oh, and Lady Gaga popped in to mentor them. So, like, no pressure.

MTV

‘American Idol’ Recap: Lauren Alaina Turns ‘Evil, ‘ Lady Gaga Gropes James Durbin, and Scotty McCreery Rocks the Leather

Wednesday night’s Idol begged the answer to the immortal Randy Jackson question of “who is in it to win it?” More importantly, who wants to have that elaborate homecoming parade next week if they make the top 3? I still get goose bumps every time I see that footage of Elliot Yamin’s mother riding in the car at a parade in his honor. Homecoming week is a big deal in the Idol Universe, and probably on every single one of the contestant’s minds Wednesday night (you know Scotty McCreery is thinking about it, as he’s more than willing to make out with the grass and not his microphone — more on that later). Next week is truly the only week where you want to “go home, ” because you return as a hero before facing the inevitable reality that, in the words of the awesome movie, “Highlander, ” “there can be only one” American Idol.

Hollywood Reporter

‘American Idol’ Top 4 Night: Conservative Contestants Finally Go Gaga

Oh, how richly ironic that Lady Gaga, who is arguably the biggest player in the pop game right now, mentored the top four this week on “American Idol.” I mean, this a show whose two biggest frontrunners, 16-year-old country kids Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina, are so ultra-conservative that Gaga’s very leotarded, skunk-wigged presence had Scotty kissing a cross pendant and begging God for forgiveness (“Apparently he’s a bit more conservative than I imagined, ” mused Gaga), and rendered Lauren too afraid to even sing the word “evil” in an Elvis song.

Yahoo

Harsh criticism fuels Haley’s comeback on ‘Idol’

For the second week in a row, Reinhart started off slowly. Her choice of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” as her inspirational song didn’t have the excitement of James Durbin’s “Don’t Stop Believin’, ” or the shameless pandering of Scotty McCreery’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” or Lauren Alaina’s “Anyway.” From both a tactical and vocal level, she was way behind entering the second round, as Randy Jackson made explicit when he said the other three finalists were tied for first at the halfway point.

MSNBC

‘American Idol’ 2011: Lady Gaga mentors

It’s Inspirational Music followed by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller tunes mentored by Lady Gaga week on “American Idol”

Judge Randy Jackson is wearing a sample from the casual line of the Randissimo Italiano collection. Jennifer Lopez is in a shoulder baring number, cut to keep herself covered on her Steven Tyler-facing side. A bird has built a nest in Tyler’s hair.

Washington Post

Lady Gaga Brings The Drama As ‘American Idol’ Mentor

Not every “American Idol” mentor would ask a contestant, “How do you feel about getting a little psycho?” Then again, not every “American Idol” mentor is Lady Gaga.

Yes, “Idol” got Gaga’d on Wednesday (May 11), as the pop superstar tutored the top four contestants while they worked through material from the songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

MTV

‘American Idol’ Recap: Don’t Stop Believing, Haley!

A wise woman (and a rapping cat hallucination) once sang, “I take two steps forward, two steps back. We go together ’cause opposites attract.” “American Idol” bought into that reasoning by booking Lady Gaga as a mentor for Leiber & Stoller night. They snagged one of the biggest pop stars making music today … to talk about songs that may have been written before Scotty McCreery’s grandparents were born. (Anyone know how old Grandma Piquita is? Tweet me! This is important!)

MTV (Jim Cantiello)

‘Idol’ Watch: Are you pro-choice?

Oh, wait, the petty party has only just begun!

Let’s face it — at this point, everyone left in the competition is not only “in it to win it” (so seriously stop Randy), but an amazing singer. So to analyze a performance show based solely on their vocal prowess seems a bit like trying to decide who is the worst judge based off their weekly critiques. FYI: It’s a tie for third, everyone loses!

NYP

American Idol Fights Its Way to the Finish Line

For an American Idol episode with so much gravitas—the viewing audience was reminded at the show’s outset that the results of this episode would determine which of the three remaining contestants got to visit their hometowns, in a package that for some reason spotlighted Danny Gokey more than any other ex-contestant—tonight’s episode sure felt oddly plotted and rushed. You’d think that having Lady Gaga on to mentor the contestants would have at least given the show some sort of structure since she has a Very Important Record To Promote, but she came in halfway through, in a black-and-white wig and makeup even more elaborate than what she had on in the “Judas” video, to quickly guide the contestants through the Lieber and Stoller songbook after they’d all performed songs that “inspired” them. Her fake birthmark alone was 100 times more interesting than the performances, let alone the judges’ comments that followed them.

Popdust

American Idol Recap: Paul F. Tompkins on the Lady Gaga Tutorial

Ooooh, folks. As things wind down, the faux-drama revs up. We begin with a montage of Idols past, capturing the moments when they each triumphantly returned to the narrow-minded Podunk from whence they crawled; now having conquered the world, they make the Doubting Thomases of these backwater ignoramus farms weep at the prospect of touching the hem of an American Idol’s garment. The scene shifts to the present-day, and we see our current Idol hopefuls, bursting with promise! The stakes could not be higher! The screen hurls portentous words in our fat faces: “TONIGHT THEY NEED YOUR VOTES TO SEND THEM HOME.” Oh my God, I knew it! These kids are being held against their will!

Vulture

Top 4 Recap: “I’m Evil! I’m Evil! I’m Evil!”

The top 4 got to sing songs that inspire them along with Leiber and Stoller songs. Really, the song choices were pretty boring and predictable. But two things about this episode were fantastic- The first was Lady Gaga. She gave every contestant hilarious advice that made them way more VFTW worthy than they would’ve been without her. When I slipped her that note a week ago and told her to mentor the contestants, I didn’t know she’d follow through. Well played, Ms. Gaga. Well played. The second awesome part of the episode was Haley Reinhart’s attitude. I just love this girl’s sass. She serves it up stone cold and isn’t taking crap from anyone. That’s the mark of a truly awesome VFTW pick.

VFTW

About mj santilli 34832 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!