The American Idol 11 Top 8 performed songs from the 80s. Read my Recap. Now, read what the rest of the blogosphere had to say about the performances.
Includes On the Scene reports.
Live at American Idol: Colton and Skylar Talk Romance Rumors! Plus, Who’s Ready to Be in Bottom Three? – Oh, Ryan Seacrest, you just love to stir the romance-rumor pot any chance you get. Wednesday night’s performance show was on fire with some pretty epic performances, but it was Ryan’s comment of a hot new couple alert between Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine that had everyone in the audience going wild! – EOnline
‘American Idol’: 18 Things You Didn’t See on Wednesday’s Top 8 Show – 2. If you ever wondered how they decide which audience members get key camera time, the answer is simple: executive producer Nigel Lythgoe points his finger. Call it casting-on-the-spot and he’s an expert at it, as evidenced by DeAndre Brackensick’s opening seated among the studio audience. In no time, Lopez is getting her groove on and singing along to DeBarge’s “I Like It.” For his part, Randy Jackson nods in time, then looks to his right and mouths, “not bad.” – Hollywood Reporter
‘American Idol’ recap: ’80s Night and the Feeling’s Right – Randy Jackson really elevated his game last night by changing his verbal framing of an American Idol contestant’s potential and desire to remain in the competition from “[Tiny Teen] is in it to win it!” to “[Tiny Teen]’s gotta have it!” According to Randy, the singers who had to have it tonight were Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez, and Skylar Laine. I’d also include Steven Tyler, who rolled into ’80s Night wearing a decidedly ’70s patchwork blouse with big flowers and white bell-bottom pants. – Entertainment Weekly
American Idol Recap: Duets Abound on Eighties Night – We begin by showing a mid-eighties Journey photograph of Randy Jackson: big shoulder pads, boxy Larry Blackmon haircut. Much is made of the fashion faux pas. Ryan asks: “So you looked this way and thought: yeah, I’ll go out like this?” — but will you look at Randy Jackson now, in his glitter-piped jacket and polka-dot blouse? Why are we pretending that now is any better? You know how there are people who secretly deal drugs out of ice-cream trucks? Randy Jackson is dressed like a drug dealer who secretly sells ice cream. – Vulture
‘American Idol’ judges think everyone rocks — except Elise and Hollie – Wednesday was ’80s night on “American Idol.” Host Ryan Seacrest billed it as an evening that would send some of us back to our high-school prom. Maybe, but it sent every contestant besides Elise Testone back to the oldies station, since she’s the only one of the remaining eight singers who is not a child of the 1990s.And that makes it kind of strange that Testone is one of the two singers who did not receive lavish praise from the judges on a night when they seemed predisposed to applaud anyone. – MSN
‘American Idol’ 2012: Top 8 perform songs from the ’80s – It’s ’80s Week on “American Idol” so, naturally, the show’s three judges have come dressed like it’s finals week at Clown School. Steven Tyler is dressed in skinny white pants on which have been painted even skinnier legs. Jennifer Lopez is dressed in tinsel. Randy’s in a red polka dot shirt white tie and black jacket – he needs bigger shoes, though, and tears painted under one eye. If they don’t start tumbling, or riding bareback we’ll be disappointed. – Washington Post
‘American Idol,’ Season 11, Finalists Compete: TV Recap – Two things were clear on tonight’s “American Idol.” First, the top eight didn’t always get the same feedback from the mentors during rehearsals that they did from the judges following their live performances. Second: count nobody out. The crew sang songs from the 80’s, rehearsing with No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal joining Jimmy to help the singers along. To kick the decade off. – Wall Street Journal
Eight Finalists Compete – American Idol contestants cheat the system all the time when it comes to genre nights, often opting for covers in lieu of actually tackling a theme. I adore the drama and the fun of ‘80’s music and was afraid that tonight we’d hear stuff like “The California Raisins’ version of ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’!” but I was very pleased with the musical selections. Not only were actual ‘80’s hits covered, but it seems like they were chosen with the spirit of the era in mind. So, I liked the songs—but how about the performances? – AV Club
‘American Idol’ ’80s Night: Totally Rad, or Like, Totally Lame? – Wednesday night was ’80s Night on “American Idol,” and as soon as the cold open was soundtracked by Mr. Mister’s “Broken Wings” (accompanied by some captions in squiggly font that looked like John Hughes movie credits), I expected the episode to be totally awesome, dude. “This music is sure to send some of you straight back to your high school prom,” said Ryan Seacrest. “This is the era that brought us stonewashed jeans and neon tube socks.” (Hey, wasn’t it in-house “Idol” style advisor Tommy Hilfiger who brought us that look?) Sadly, none of the top eight contestants wore anything even remotely stonewashed or neon, but Colton Dixon was rocking some newly bleached Limahl-from-Kajagoogoo hair, DeAndre Brackensick’s permy mane was as gloriously Robbie Nevil-esque as ever, and “Idol” producers amusingly unarchived yet another embarrassing Journey-era Randy Jackson photo to fit the evening’s retro-to-the-max theme. – Yahoo Music
‘American Idol’ Recap: Eight Is Enough – Welcome to the most time-killing episode of American Idol yet. While you may have thought yesterday’s two-hour, nine-song performance was as far as this show can stretch, you were wrong. Just accept it and move on with your life, because it’s only going to get worse as we move forward in the competition. Plus, it’s always been the results shows where Idol really shines in its ability to fill an hour of primetime television with absolutely nothing. – Rolling Stone
American Idol Recap: Barenaked ’80s – It’s a tough week to predict who’s going home on American Idol – unless, of course, you’re Randy Jackson. Asked by Ryan Seacrest at the close of Top 8 performance night who was worthy of viewer votes, the “third judge” rattled off the names of Skylar, DeAndre, Phillip, Joshua, Jessica, and Colton — in other words, everyone except Elise and Hollie. But I can’t be too upset with Randy. It’s not like he pulled a basket of rotting rutabagas out from under the judges’ table and began hurling them at the competition’s two remaining blonde gals. – TV Line
