‘American Idol’: On the scene for Simon Cowell’s last night in the Idoldome (and, oh yeah, the results)
There was already a celebration underway on stage when I first walked into the Idoldome last night — the final night this season for the Idoldome, point of fact, as next week the show moves what is sure to be its mildly diverting positively riveting finale to downtown Los Angeles in the behemoth Nokia Theater, a.k.a. the IdolDeathStar. Surveying the scene back in the Idoldome, for a second I surmised the ongoing festivities were for Casey, Crystal, and Lee, since all twelve season 9 finalists were there (including that one with the red hair! and the other one with the color contacts!), as were Ryan Seacrest and Debbie the Stage Manager.
‘American Idol’ Recap: Texas Toast
Last night’s American Idol results-show telecast was an hour-long affair, but shockingly enough, everything you needed to know was telegraphed in the first seven words that flashed across the screen: ”Sometimes it’s good to go home. Casey.”
The message couldn’t have been clearer if Kara DioGuardi had ridden in on her broom and written the words ”Surrender, Blondie!” in a plume of black smoke. Idol was finished with the shaggy-haired guitar player from Cool, TX, and quite frankly, I think the feeling might’ve been mutual.
Idol in 60 Seconds after the Jump
More recaps after the JUMP…
‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds: Casey Makes Way For Lee And Crystal
‘Idol’ Guest Stars Worse Than ‘Idol’ Contestants
First, Travis Garland. A former member of the little-known boy band NLT (which I’d say stood for “Not Likely Talented, ” except that the group featured future “Glee” star Kevin McHale), Travis is Perez Hilton’s latest discovery. Yeah, Perez apparently is some sort of musical visionary, since according to Ryan Seacrest, Perez discovered Lady Gaga, too. (Um, check out this 2008 Gaga performance on Yahoo!, for evidence to the contrary.) Anyway, Perez salivatingly hyped Travis’s upcoming “Believe” performance all week long on his blog and Twitter, and on Wednesday’s broadcast he actually dared to declare that Travis is MORE. TALENTED. THAN. JUSTIN. TIMBERLAKE.
‘Idol’ sets final two on results night
Note: Lisa de Moraes is in New York covering the broadcast network upfronts, and will return next week. In the meantime, WaPo Team TV’s Emily Yahr recaps the Top 3 Results Night.
After a performance night in which the Judge’s Choice tunes gave Casey James a dreary John Mayer song, Crystal Bowersox a so-so Paul McCartney song, and Lee DeWyze the hauntingly beautiful “Hallelujah” with a background choir, smoke machine, and light show, it’s awfully hard to build suspense on results night.
But it’s ‘Idol, ‘ so they sure do try! Only 55 minutes to kill before Ryan Seacrest tells us who’s making it to next week’s finale.
‘American Idol’ Sets Up Its Final Showdown
Tonight’s ‘American Idol‘ elimination episode narrowed down the final two, and the interesting action didn’t take place during the recaps of each remaining contestant’s hometown visit, or during the Internet-ballyhooed appearance of Canadian teenpop sensation Justin Bieber. Instead, all the intrigue happened during the softball-filled opening interview segment, when Ryan Seacrest posed a bunch of questions to Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, and Casey James.
‘American Idol’ Finale: It’s Lee DeWyze Vs. Crystal Bowersox
Nearly a year after their journey began, Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox took one giant step closer to the promised land Wednesday night (May 19). The two singers, whose paths to next week’s season-nine “American Idol” finale at times felt preordained, survived Tuesday night’s 47 million votes as the sand ran out for Cool, Texas’ Casey James.
The good ol’ boy with the Guess model looks and the bluesy bar-band style was pegged early on as eye candy by judge Kara DioGuardi — who made him take his shirt off at his audition — even as the panel frequently praised his earthy sound and guitar skills. The focus on his sex appeal to the cougar set sometimes became annoying, but James never let it distract him from attempting to deliver solid, heartfelt performances week after week while trying to not seem annoyed by the constant jibes about his looks.
Ann Powers: It’s OK (for the finalists) not to care
Ryan Seacrest thought he was hosting the second-to-last results show of this “American Idol” season. There he was, suit artfully almost-rumpled and smirk intact, chatting up the Top 3 as they awaited the night’s climactic chop-chop. For a moment, though, did he wonder if he’d taken a wrong turn down Sunset Boulevard and ended up in a UCLA dorm room?
Casey, Crystal and Lee were so chill as they waited to find out who’d be singing for the big prize next week that I was just waiting for one to call for a taco-truck run to satisfy their munchies. The singers’ de facto exit interviews with Ryan and their hometown-journey videos, shown soon afterward, reminded us that this was a philosophical bunch of finalists.
Hippies, Hospitals and AT&T Stores
I have to say that Tuesday night’s performance show left me a little crestfallen –and not for the usual music-based reasons. You see, I was expecting a little more from the Hometown Visit. (And by “more, ” I mean less of the AT&T Store.) Thankfully, though, Wednesday night’s show granted me my yearly allotment of keys to the city, high school pep rallies and, um, visits to paint stores.
These festivities came not a moment too soon, as it was about time we saw some spark in our Idols! Let’s face it. Among its other faults (and there are many), this season hasn’t exactly provided us with the most outgoing personalities. I mean, last night’s Ford music video proved that even the Idols’ animated alter egos aren’t very, well, animated. Put them in an elementary school or a disgustingly large limo, though, and all of a sudden they’re full of personality.
