American Idol – Final 11 Live Analysis (Round 2)

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Round 2 is here and we are minus one cheese and scandal covered Hernandez. He carried the baggage of his scandal into the ring with him, and then slathered it with a thick layer of fake nacho cheese and it all added up to a mess…and the ring has now been cleared of his appearance. Tonight we catch the remaining 11 contenders in shifting power rankings. Last weeks rankings changed up and down the board. So tonight, some will be trying to reclaim momentum, some will be trying to start it for the first time, and others will simply be trying to weather the storm of gut punches they’ve already taken. Last week’s biggest surprise contender was Cheezit, sporting a new spicy brand. I’m completely unsure as to who will provide this week’s fireworks, but the bell is getting ready to ring for round 2 (and it sounds an awful lot like the Beatles). So…..let’s go…..or, just let it be!

• Amanda “Rock ‘n Roll Nurse” Overmeyer– Out of the locker room and into the ring first is our rock ‘n roll nurse, AO. Back in the USSR is probably about as good a song as she could have picked for her female-Elvis vocals. She’s got a lot of appeal, which is really good since she doesn’t have a vocal style that can hold a note for more than a split-second. I guess her style is quick hitting….get on a note and get off. BUT….she still was able to deliver a strong enough performance that she will be fine for this round. Gotta give her a few extra points on the scorecard for holding true to her form after the judges had their say with her. (BTW – all you folks in Lafeyette, get ready. ‘Cause she WILL be coming back home. But the ticket prices may be a bit higher than the last time you saw her)

American Idol – Final 11 Rankings (Pre-Round 2)

Busted!  Going, going…..GONE!  Very happy to see Hernandez get the big hook in Round 1.  I thought his performance in Round 1 bordered on a high school performance that you might find in Napoleon Dynamite territory.  It was awful.  Granted, he had a few competitors for the worst, but he still managed to stand out to me last week as SUPER BAD!  (And that does NOT mean Super Good).  Anyway, there are some changes in this week’s rankings (click here to see last week’s rankings).  Get out your ring cards and let’s see who’s moving up and who’s moving down.  Click read more to check out the rankings.

American Idol Final 12 Elimination – Round 1

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Elimination Time – The judges have added up the scorecards from round one and someone is going to suffer a knockout hook. The worst performances by my calculations last night were in order:

American Idol Final 12 – Round 1

The preseason is over and it’s time for the real game to begin.  This is a 12-round championship bout.  (I know….I’m mixing my sports metaphors, but WORK WITH ME PEOPLE!  Sheesh!)  It will be interesting to see who’s in top form tonight and who’s susceptible to the hook (get it?  Hook?  Come on…that was pretty good).  I think the four at the bottom of my power rankings (Cheezit, “Busted” Hernandez, Malubay Barbie, and KLC) are the most vulnerable which is why I placed them there.  But there are always the potential surprises.  Which is WHY WE PLAY THE GAMES!  So, in the immortal words of Michael Buffer, “LLLLLLET’S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLE!” 

American Idol – Final 12 Rankings (Pre-Game)

OK, tomorrow night kicks off the real competition.  It’s time for the gloves to come off and the cleats (or pleats in this case) to go on.  So in the spirit of competition, it’s time to roll out the power rankings. In other words, these are my predictions for who will leave spike marks on whose back.  (You never knew vocals could be so violent, did you?)  So here goes:

American Idol – Sweet Sixteen (Men’s Bracket)

 Ok gang….here we go!  Or should I say “Going, going, gone!”  It will be a steel-cage death match tonight as the guys fight it out to get into the final 12.  Wouldn’t that be fun?  That would be a real talent…being able to sing while being put in a sleeper hold, or while delivering a flying scissor kick.  I wonder who everyone would gang up on first?  Oh well, first out of the gate is:

• Luke Menard– Comes out of the gate doing his best impression of George Michael.  I’m not sure that’s an icon you really want to impersonate.  I’m really suprised the “force” is still with him and he’s still here.  I know that one of my readers is a Luke fan, but I’m just not seeing him make the next round.  I’ve predicted his departure every week so far.  Eventually I’ll be right.  It’s like the hypochondriac tombstone that says:  See, I told you I was sick.  Wake me up when he is gone-gone. 
• David Archuleta – I almost don’t want to like this kid, but I’m beginning to think he’s the genuine deal.  I don’t think his “aww shucks” personality is an act. 

American Idol – Top Ten Men

TIN MEN

Well, tonight, we’ll see which guys have the heart for this.  We’re getting to that point where there are usually some choke-jobs in the vocals as guys just don’t quite have the fortitude to stand up to the pressure.  I won’t miss the guys that left last week, and there are still a few more I’m good with sending back home to mama.  The worst thing about tonight is I’m afraid at least one, if not more, of my “growing up” songs will be mutilated.  So here we go

Michael Johns– This dude has been one of my favorites ever since he totally rocked Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.