Hollywood Week: Group Round - 2/4/08

[The4thJudge]

Tight Black T

I said in yesterday's recap that I was looking forward to group night. Next year someone needs to remind me about this year's group night so that I do not look forward to it. What a frickin' mess that was. Oh, there were some highlights, but mostly lowlights. I personally like to stay in a drama free zone, but AI does not, and last night was all about the drama queens, namely Katrina and Nathaniel. Their groups were the focus of the entire night. In the end, lazy-assed Bikini Girl got the boot, posing all the way out of the Kodak, and Nathaniel, with his over-the-top crappy performance got to stay. The axe hit Bikini Girl's group, Team Diva - which also included Rose Fleck, Lauren Barnes and Jasmine Murray - particularly hard, with only Jasmine Murray making it through.

The groups that they did highlight were amazing. India Morrison, Matt Giraud, Kris Allen and Justin Williams were impressive and all made it through. I don't know how I completely forgot about Matt Giraud, who I liked in auditions. I think I need to keep a better list.

The kick ass performance of the night was by the group that included Danny Gokey, Jamar Rogers, Taylor Vaifanua and some unnamed girl. Their a capella version of Queen's "Somebody to Love" was amazing, particularly given how little time they had to work together. Jamar sounded much better than he did on Tuesday night. But the star was Danny. There is much Danny love in this reviewer. Someone posted on a blog last night that they finally realized why they didn't like Danny Gokey – he reminded them of Taylor. I don't see it at all. Yes, part of my affection for him is the rasp, but he has way more of it than Taylor does. I read that Danny's late wife was a fan of Taylor's - she had good taste. I think the SP should embrace this contestant – he's got the goods!

We found out, tangentially, some others that were among the 75 that made it through to the next round. They include Nick Mitchell ("Norman Gentle"), Jorge Nunez, Jeremy Michael Sarver, Adam Lambert, Matt Breitzke, Jesse, Langsethe and Scott McIntyre.

Next week we'll see the final group take shape – thankfully!

Lil' Dawg

First, I almost had a heart attack when I did not see Anoop AT ALL during the show. He was not in the montage of people that were leaving, nor was he in the montage of groups that made it through! GAH! Thank God I saw him in the preview for next week or I would very likely be in the hospital right now due to heart failure.

Second, Danny Gokey's group was GREAT! Still the rasp!

They didn't show many performances. They only focused on a few groups who were having drama issues. Bikini Girl is finally gone! YAY!!


Seacrest's Hair

Well, we finally got the VCR thing down. Thank goodness for that, since (as we mentioned yesterday) Group Sing is our very favorite ever part of Hollywood Week, and possibly of Idol overall. It's because when they're good, they're very very good, and when they're bad, they're (Simon voice) HORRID. Plus it brings the most dramalicious drama of the whole season!

We start with Seacrest saying there are 107 left standing, which is weird because we're certain he said 104 at the end of the last ep. Apparently someone has math problems. Then we start in on the drama...

Rose, Bikini Girl, Lauren and Jasmine are Team Diva (the "Team" seems to be an addition by Seacrest), and this is not good. Rose wants to either kill or ditch Katrina, Katrina takes off crying and goes to bed, doesn't show up the next morning at breakfast (where we love that Rose wears her number in her hair), then shows up late and wants to go on, Rose predicts doom, then suddenly everyone is optimistic right before they go on... which of course is a train-wreck. Lauren isn't bad but brings the attitude and blame-game against Katrina. Katrina tries to blame her scoliosis. Jasmine is awesome and stays above the fray, and is the only one to continue on. We're sad to lose Rose, but perhaps she was just too young/immature/emotionally damaged from losing her parents/something to go on.

Tatiana (ugh) co-opts a group that includes Muna and two other girls whose names we never catch. Then Tatiana has a meltdown and tries to join the Nancy/Nathaniel/Kristin group "Compromise"... then ditches them to go back to her original group. This totally screws up all seven of them, of course. Tatiana's group ends up sounding like crap to us, but they all get through somehow (Muna is totally off key).

As for Team Compromise (again with Seacrest adding "Team"), Nancy's a total bitch to Kristin, who is trying to preserve her voice, Nathaniel is insanely gay and starts crying like a little queen (sorry) and overnight he and Kristin also get a bit bitchy. They attempt a prayer circle, Nathaniel rips it up and is adorable to boot, Nancy is off-key, Kristin showboats in order to be heard over her sabotaging backup singers, and Nancy is booted. We love how Simon isn't taking shit this year, at least among the on-camera auditions.

Danny and Jamar's group feeds off their pre-existing lovefest. They sound awesome in the practice sesh, then decide to go a cappella and totally rock the Kodak. Taylor V. and someone else make it through with them (we hate not knowing everyone's names, it's just wrong).

There's some weird editing going on where we see Marym (?) Azoff, Austin Sisneros, J.B. whatever, Shelby someone, and Julissa screw up the same song, yet they're not all in the same group, and Nick and Jorge, who we didn't see sing, are through. Huh? Later on, Sarver, "Wicked" Lambert, Breittner, and some Jesse chick seem to have made it through on the same song, but different groups. We're befuddled.

Emily gets the stare of death from Michael, our beloved piano dude, and her group has a ton of missed cues and forgotten words -- which, as Simon said earlier, is an automatic buh-bye. Alex and Annemarie make it through, Emily and Ryan do not. Ryan tries to claim that Paula is evil, leading to some devil-eyes editing. Snazzy!

India, the little rapper girl, Justin Williams, Kris Allen and Matt Giraud rap, beatbox, whatever, nail their harmonies, move around confidently, and totally make it through... they were first to perform, by the by, but we were just getting through the drama fast up there.

Things glossed over: Apparently Scott the blind guy was dancing, although we didn't get to see him sing. Simon had a nice griping montage. The Osmond was cut! He'll just have to use his family connections to realize his dream of being a Christian pop superstar. And it looks like Stephen Fowler (we recognized his hair) and Anoop (who could miss Anoop in the previews for next week?) made it through to the next round.

Seacrest says there were "about" 75 that made it through, convincing us that he really does have math problems. Oh well. That's why he has accountants to manage all his money! See you next week...

[TaylorsDame]

Squeeeeeeeee! I gots a lotta love for Danny Gokey! He's my pick this year.

[keb]

I like Adam Lambert and the judges seem to favor him too.

[UHadMeAtWooHoo]

I like Adam and Danny so far, and for girls, Meghan. Should be an interesting season. Tatiana has to go now!

[TF940]

I have to admit........Danny has caught my attention this year. Something about his voice just grabs me.

I know there are some that we've not even been allowed to hear yet. So, who knows? There may be one in the bunch that will completely change my mind.

I will be sooooooooo glad when we get through all this pre-show stuff. I want to get on with it. LOL

~V

[Speak Out]

I'm kind of digging Danny, Stephen Fowler and Scott so far. None of the girls have really impressed me yet.