American Idol XIII – Hollywood Group Rounds! Live Blog – VIDEOS

Tonight’s hour long American Idol XIII episode features the Hollywood group rounds! Gather round while I live blog the trainwrecks, and missed lyrics!

Usually there is at least one group in group rounds that’s killer. The performances were mostly mediocre, but the reality elements kept me interested. As the judges said, several times in a couple of different ways–the group rounds is really a test to see who can handle the pressure, think on their feet. I was interested to see who rose to the challenge.

My love for Harry Connick Jr. grows. He is really making a point to give the contestants useful feedback if they ask. I wish Jlo would quit critiquing music altogether, and just stick to commenting on performance and presentation. That’s her area. I did appreciate the way she encouraged Sikenya Thompson to find her confidence despite being sick. Jlo is a good cheerleader when she wants to be.

I’m a big fan of Jessica Meuse, but unfortunately, she’s getting the bitch edit, so I don’t know how long she’s going to last. But she may do herself in. She does not seem comfortable at all singing karaoke in singing competition.  I suspect street singer, MK Nobilette, will suffer from some of the same issues.

Interesting that they gave golden boy, Spencer Lloyd the douchebag edit. Picking a song he knew, and then promptly leaving his group mates out to dry was not very sporting of him.  B Somehow, I don’t think it’s going to affect him.  Guys are smart and ambitious. Girls (like Jess) are bitchy and mean.

Shots of former Idols not looking happy during Hollywood. Remember poor Scotty McCreery and his meltdown! And who can forget “I DON’T DO GROUPS”

Get ready for the agony and the ecstasy of group rounds!

It’s the morning and the tears are already falling. Group day. HELL DAY! “This is going to ge the hardest day,”

Three Mo DaysTony Foster Jr, David Oliver Willis, Sarina Joi Crowe – “Too Close” by Alex Clare – They were all laughs last night! Oh. They are ALL group rounds veterans. Oh. The group rounds are off to a good start. Great harmonies. Strong lead vocals. The experience shows here. Jlo loved the harmony, but found problems with the choreography. Jlo warns once again that half will be cut. Tough eliminations. When Tony asks why he was cut, Jlo kinda brushes him off. But then Harry interjects that he spent 805 of the performance looking at his feet. Love that Harry is giving specific critiques. David and Sarina go through. Tony is eliminated.


3 Mo Days – Group Round – American Idol 13 by IdolxMuzic

Backstreet Cowboys – “I Want it That Way” by The Backstreet Boys – Ben Briley, Casey Thrasher, & Dexter Roberts – Harry jokes that there’s a huge shortage on plaid at the moment. Three country boys singing Backstreet boys. Clever. This is a little sloppy, though. Ben needs to knock off the runs. Jlo is charmed. The novelty wins the crowd over. Keith is impressed that they took it out of the box, without looking uncomfortable. Harry says it’s not about the vocals, but taking the moment and making the most of it. All three advance!


Backstreet Cowboys – Group Round – American… by IdolxMuzic

George Lovett Hamilton, Neco Starr, & Sandie Lee – Treasure by Bruno Mars

Paula Hunt and Andrina Brogden are in one group singing a souled up “Done” by The Band Perry and EmKay Nobillette, Briana Oakley sing “Royals” by Lorde. Whoa. Jlo qinces at Briana’s off key singing. Still, one of Jlos favs.  Both groups go through

Brandy Neelly, Emily Piriz, Kenzie Hall also make it through.


Collage Of Girl Groups – American Idol 13 by IdolxMuzic

Spencer Lloyd, Megan Miller, Alyssa Siebken – “Best I Ever Had” by Gavin DeGraw – Crafty Spencer chose a song he was familiar with. When he felt ready, he left the two ladies in his group to their own devices. Rude. They’re begging him to rehearse. Nope. Megan misses an entire verse. There are off key harmonies, too. Ohh. Jlo soothes Megan with a “don’t cry” when the tears begin to fall. “I didn’t think I’d miss that,” she says. Jlo suggests group have a plan to spot each other’s lyrics (RIGHT). The reveal is so dramatic, we have to wait until after break to learn the results! Jlo tells the group, “When you hit the stage, you got to leave everything else behind.” Alyssa says, “It sounded even worse before.” Harry says it’s hard to believe. Keith says the group rounds reveal how the contestants “know to shine in the midst of all of this uncertainty.” Megan Miller and Spencer Lloyd are through. Alyssa Siebken is eliminated. Alyssa says, “I’m pissed.” Megan admits, “I did not deserve that!” “I feel like there were some hidden agendas,” says Alyssa. “And it worked out for them.”


Spencer Megan & Alyssa – Group Round – American… by IdolxMuzic

Madison Walker, Keith London, Austin Percario, Stephanie Petronelli, Adam Roth are eliminated.

Tiquilla Wilson quits the competition! “This competition isn’t for me,” she says. “It’s our loss,” says Harry. “You gotta follow your heart, baby,” says Jlo. “I am leaving here with a better sense of self and what I want in life,” says Tiquilla. Keith doesn’t get it. But Jlo says, if she doesn’t’ want to go through with it, she has to follow her heart.

In the face of such drama, Harry steps in to make an announcement of his own. HE’S QUITTING TOO! “I’d also like to take this opportunity to say that I am dropping out of the judges panel.” “What’s the reason Harry!” says Keith. “I just don’t like the other judges,” quips Harry. He walks away. Jlo begs him to come back. “No,he’s fine,” says Keith, “His loss!” Harry gives them the double finger salute, with the convenient blue AI logo obscuring. Laughing, Ryan pushes him back on the stage, and he goes back to his seat. “Randy’s in there!” warns Keith. “EXACTLY,” says Harry. LULZ


Some No’s & Harry Quits The Panel – Amercian… by IdolxMuzic

Matthew Hamel, CJ Harris, Caleb Johnson, Tyler Ahlgren – “Too Close” by Alex Clare – Mathew was the contestant who Jessica Meuse ditched after he had trouble with harmonies. Caleb jokingly calls his former group’s drama “just a bunch of bullshit.” Or at least I think that’s what he said behind the blue logo! Caleb is the only one with a mic stand cause he’s a rock star! Tyler sings, “I don’t know the words, cause I forgot them! But I’m going to keep singing for ya’ll.” Keith laughs. This is kind of a mess and a mish mosh of styles. Caleb power rocks his way through, while CJ is hesitant. Matthew is mush mouthed. Pulling a line out of an old Henri Mancini song, Harry calls Caleb “next to closing.” Supposedly in the old days, the last act wasn’t necessarily the best. Harry felt Caleb owned the performance, that CJ did not seem comfortable. Tyler and Matthew couldn’t hang. Therefore, Caleb and CJ advance. Matthew and Tyler are eliminated.. An angry Matthew calls his elimination bullcrap. “I’m pretty sure I killed it,” he says. Well that’s one way of putting it. Jlo says he’s a good singer, just not good enough.


Matthew, CJ, Caleb & Tyler – Group Round… by IdolxMuzic

The group, Collision, heads to Hollywood. Your twitter vote is in agreeance by 60%.

Munfarid Zaidi, Jena Asciutto, Allie Odom, Sikenya Thompson  –Clarity – “Too Close” by Alex Clare – If you recall, Sikenya lost her voice, which left the rest of the group unable to rehearse. She’s considering dropping out, but comes back after a little vocal rest. On stage, she admits she’s sick, and Harry wonders if it’s a good idea to mention it. Munfarid speaks for her, so she can save her voice, explaining that Sikenya came down with a horrible flu, but is hanging in there because she didn’t want to give up the opportunity.  She stops and almost quits, until Jlo encourages her “c’mon! You can do it mama!” and she finally gets into the swing of things. The rest are strong, carrying the performance. Keith wants Sikenya to know “how incredible it was that you pushed through that.” He adds, “When your name is on the marquee, and you’re sick as a dog, nobody can come in and fill in for you.” Jlo is impressed that she chose to go on, rather than quit. Munfraid, Sikenya and Jena advance. Allie is eliminated. Oh my gosh. Sikenya tells Alli that when the show comes to her town, she’ll make sure she gets front row tickets. LOL. Harry jokes that he didn’t want her to get too close. He didn’t want to get sick.


Collision & Clarity – Grounp Round – American… by IdolxMuzic

Savion Wright, John Fox – Royals by Lorde – Harry asks John to step forward, noting out of the four singers, he was not comfortable. “It’s hard to see how you would be comfortable as the shows go on,” says Harry. John Fox is eliminated. Savion Wright and the rest advance. Savion crumples at the news of John’s elimination. “The whole time we’ve been here we’ve been inseparable,” says Savion, “I kind of feel I’m on my own now.”


Savion Wright & John Fox – Group Round… by IdolxMuzic

Jessica Meuse, Nica Neshae, Stephanie Hanvey, Cara Watson – “Single Ladies” by Beyonce – Jessica admits that she’s struggling, having joined the group late after her first fell apart. Stephanie’s stage mom, who was bugging the crap out of Jessica, is out in the audience dancing along. ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER. Jessica is so obviously awkward and out of place with the cheesy single ladies choreography. All of them struggle with the lyrics, but they do try to spot each other. There’s a group hug afterward. Jlo loved the girl power and camaraderie. Nica Neshae, Cara Watson and Jessica Meuse are going forward. Stephanie is eliminated. Stephanie’s mom shouts out from the audience “YOU’RE AWESOME” “She is awesome!” says Harry, “The people we have to cut really are fantastic.” Mom is all smiles, but, backstage, she lashes out at Jessica. “Unfortunately, the judges didn’t see behind the scenes,” snides mom at Jessica, “The truth is, you did give up.” You knew that was coming. “You are so rude!” says Jessica. “I am working my ass off too!” She says, “Drama follows me everywhere. I don’t ask for it.” Oh no honey. It doesn’t’ work that way. If your life is constant drama llama, it’s time to look inside. As Stephanie faces the camera for her post-elimination interview, her mom abruptly cuts her off and pulls her away. Sheesh.


Jessica, Nica, Stephanie & Cara – Group Round… by IdolxMuzic

Terrica Curry, Carmen Delgina, Emmanuel Zidor – Loves Angels – “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child – This group’s drama centered around EmKay, who left the group entirely and Terrica who abandoned them and only returned because she had nowhere else to go. The performance is OK, but Harry criticizes them for picking a song with no melody. He adds that there is only one person who came closest to being the whole package, and that’s Emmanuel. Emmanuel advances. Carmen and Terrica are eliminated. Guess Carmen will be heading back to home to her daddy, Wonder Mike.


Terrica Carmen Emmanuel – Group Round… by IdolxMuzic

Christina Collins, Olivia Diamond, Queen Bulls, Malaya WatsonLoud and Fierce – “I Want You Back” This group was a hot mess the night before, including crying and histrionics. But when they finally hit the stage, they pulled it together. “I Want You Back,” says Jlo ALL OF YOU! All 4 advance.


Loud & Fierce – Group Round – American Idol 13 by IdolxMuzic

The 77 remaining contestants will perform one final solo.

About mj santilli 34841 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!