American Idol 2009 - Top 36 #2

Went 1 for 3 last week. Michael Sarver wasn't even on the radar. He lucked out, but I like him, so it's okay. Pale chick moves on, she won't be terrible, should pick some interesting songs. Danny Gokey was no surprise. I'll look for the last performer tonight to be the best.

Jasmine - I thought they were going to start out the show with a strong performance, really get the ball rolling. I thought wrong. Love Song would be good to sing, but it's also all over. Everyone can sing along with it ... except Jasmine.

*The keyboard was really, really tin-y. It's one of rare songs on the radio that uses a real piano, they could have found a better synth sound. NOT going on.

Matt Giraud - Another terrible performance. Maybe it's time to stay away from anything that's currently on the radio. This guy needed his piano. Georgia on my Mind was sweet in Hollywood. This was sour. You can't take one of these over-the-top songs and try to do more with it. Similar to anything from Alicia Keys, to make it their own, they need to do less with it. He's still one of the judges favorites. Early favorite for wild-card?

*Speaking of wild-card, how is that going to work? I think it is an hour show next Thursday. It doesn't look like anyone will actually sing again, the judges will just pick from tapes? It would be better if everyone got another chance, but then it would be difficult to fit in three commercial breaks in the first 23 minutes.

Jeanine - Another recent pop song. Was it worse than the first two? Who cares. It sucked. Simon agrees; three performers, three terribles.

*Simon says wrong song choice AGAIN. Good singers could sing the phonebook, or any of these first three songs. I'm ready for the judges to own up. They picked these "singers," it's at least partially their fault that more than half so far have been "terrible" in Simon's words.

Norman - It's a big joke but I like it. The first thing worth watching tonight. He can kinda sing a little bit if he took it seriously. The fact he picked THE American Idol song "You're gonna love me." It was great that it was all about staying on the show. Tell you what, it was the best so far.

*More uncomfortable banter. Is this really necessary? Everything that Simon retorts to Ryan is accepted as a slam against his sexual orientation, even when the diggs are weak at best.

Allison - Uncomfortable banter, this time involving a contestant. They should test run the conversations with Ryan. This one wouldn't have made the cut. Ryan: "What is Idol School like?" Allison: "It's a room." The performance sounded good, the judges didn't seem into it, but then the comments are glowing. She benefited from the four terrible performances before her. Three will advance out of these last eight, she's got pretty good odds. Really stupid faces, could turn out to be really obnoxious.

Kris Allen - This could be one of my favorite performances ever. I've liked "Man in the Mirror" as long as I can remember. He's sings the song pretty well, but the arrangment makes it sound like an 80's soft pop song. Kara hits it on the head, the second half was really pretty good but the first half was rough. This is the way that all of these performances have been in the top 36. He went for it and is my top guy tonight.

-A second great song, part of the British female soul-pop thing going on. Good song choice for her, wasn't sung very well. Was SHOUTING the second half. She thinks she's great. Now Simon hopes America votes for her because she is "current." Not that she has sung well before tonight, or might sing well going forward. I wouldn't vote for her. Second to Allison.

*I might quit watching if I hear anymore about "package artist" "viable" "current" "camera loves you" "in this market," etc. I think the judges feel the need to justify the popularity of the show by producing a commercial success.

Breitzke - Not great, but not nearly as completely horrible as most have been tonight. I bet at least one judge calls it kareoke. And none call him "commercial" or a "package artist." Simon hated, hated the song. And he's fru-strated.

Jesse - She looks good. Sings alright. I bet the judges love it. She is also an "entertainer." Like Jackie Tohn, and the "Put Your Records On" girl, and I don't mean that in a good way. Too much talking after the singing. Just stand there and take it. She's in the running though. The judges didn't love it.

*When kids oversing, they say it's too much. When the singers take it easy, the judges want more. Sub-par singers will always sound bland when they're laid back and horrible when they oversing. This comes back on the judges choices for the top 36. A good, semi-professional singer can sing soft or slow and still bring it with some purpose.

**Fox is really pimping that new show Dollhouse. I tried watching the first episode. It wasn't very good, and if a show can't muster a good show for the series opener, it doesn't hold a lot of promise for the rest of the 7 shows that air before it's cancelled.

Crazy Hair Kai - Boring. Next.

Misshavanna - Curious song choice. Not terrible. Some register problems. The held notes had good tone. She actually would have benefitted from a slower song eventhough the judges thought she should loosen up. BTW, she dwarfed Ryan.

*No parents in the coke room this time. They probably just wanted to change up the formula, but I'm all for cutting out the parents - these kids are lame enough on their own.

Adam Lambert - He should have sung Dude Looks Like A Lady because he does. He stole Rihanna's haircut and glove, and was wearing ugs throughout hollywood week. All over the place, but because the band actually tried on this arrangement, he sounds alright. Another lock for the top 12.

Lambert for the guys, Allison for the girls, Kris Allen for the wild card. I'd be a little surprised if the wild card is guys for both first weeks. Others in the running, but not because everyone was extraordinary - Misshavonna, Jesse, Breitzke, and surprisingly, Norman.

First up on the news on Fox, this heartwarming story - Less Traffic During Morning Commute, presumably because fewer people have jobs to drive to.

American Idol 2009 - Top 36 Show #1

I'm back live blogging this stuff. If the first performer is any indication, this will be "interesting"

Jackie Tohn - Not a great performance. Katy Perry's top, M.I.A's shoes and pants. She's over the top. An "entertainer." I guess. Not good. She'd better start practicing for the wild-card show.

Ricky Braddy - That dude wasn't bad. Started out slow but really got going. I didn't know about the song choice at first, it's usually more safe to go with a fast song, especially early in the show. He sang the song quite well.

*Simon has already brought out the "star potential" bit. Why can't it just be about a singing competition. If they worried more about great singing and less about looking good, jumping around, I really think the show would be happier with the results. Last year's talent was sub-par at best. 100,000 audition, you'd think they should be able to find 36 that had some serious chops.

- This girl looks pretty pale. She looked fine in some of the pictures and videos but she looks weird here. Not top 3. Not much else to say. Well, the judges didn't agree with me. Simon LOVED her. Comparisons to Kelly Clarkson. I suppose that means she'll have to move on.

Brent Keith - some country. Haven't had a guy ride the country train all the way yet on AI. It might be time. But it won't be Brent. Seems like a decent guy. Fighting for third right now. Not a good sign. He'll have to rock the wild-card show.

*Simon digs on Bucky Covington. He's starting this season out rough. Kara is taking it easy tonight. I think by next week, the two of them will be at each other's throats.

Stievie Wright - I'm really crapping on people here, but I like her with her hair up in the front instead of flat. Sometimes she looks older than 17, so they put her in a shirt/skirt, skinny jeans and bedazzled shoes. Now she looks like she belongs on the disney channel. Really not good singing. Last place so far. Her parents are huuuuuuge.

Anoop Dogg - Said he was going to bring energy to the show every week. Then sings "Angel of Mine." That song doesn't even bring energy to a high school dance, let alone the biggest show on television. Disappointing. It looks like I'll have to pick a different favorite. Uh oh. He just said he picked a song because it meant something to him. Kiss of Death.

Casey Carlson - Her facial expressions are over the top. Vocals are weak at best. She should have done some easy country song and dressed the part. Would have made it on easily. Surprise, her mom is a fan.

*What's with the microphone? It looks like they borrowed it from Carrie Underwood.

Michael Sarver - Middle of the road, I guess. Not great, not as terrible as a couple of the others. Maybe third so far? Not worse than Carlson or Wright. Somewhere between 3 and 5. Up tempo song, that helps.

*Ted Danson in the house!

Anne Marie Bostovich - Big song. Wasn't terrible. That probably means it was pretty good. Unfortunately, Randy Jackson doesn't think anyone should sing this song. They should take it off the list, I guess. Along with Mariah and Whitney and the Police and ... Good looking, didn't suck. Close to the top three.

Stephen Fowler - Old school Michael Jackson. I really liked the song. Randy didn't like it. Simon didn't like it. Add Michael to the list of songs you can't sing. I bet Paula likes it. Ooh, she doesn't. I didn't think it was that bad. I would have said top half. But with the judges crapping on it, he won't move ahead with it.

Tatiana Del Toro - Before she sings: If she makes it, I might not watch the next show she's in. Possibly the most annoying person ever on this show. She's singing a Whitney song. Hopefully it is terrible. After the song: Well, it wasn't terrible. Unfortunately. Really weird faces at the end. Wouldn't be surprised if she goes on. Early favorite for votefortheworst.com. Simon lays it down! Excellent.

Danny Gokey - Top 3. He touched the untouchable Mariah. Started out rough but Kara LOVES it. Paula likes it. Randy likes it. Simon thought it was "good." He hit it on the head. End was great. Beginning was rough, but it was rough for everyone tonight. And usually is this early in the competition.

Top 3, consensus between me and mrroby: Danny, top guy. Anne Marie, top girl. Ricky Braddy, freebee. Others in running for the third spot: Pale Girl, Anoop Dogg, and unfortunately, Tatiana.

More next time...

MLB.com Propaganda

Almost two months and no posts. There's been a lot to comment about, Obama, recession, "stimulus" plans, etc. We've been dropping the ball. Unfortunately, this post isn't nearly that deep.

Anyway, I came across this article on mlb.com. It seems in this market, everyone is watching their ass. At least this writer knows where his check comes from. If this doesn't read like a press release from Major League Baseball, I don't know what does.

"Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig expressed sadness and anger while repudiating Rodriguez's past choices and once again detailed the significant steps MLB has taken to eradicate the problem. "

Had anyone ever heard the word 'repudiating' until John McCain started running for president? However, to explain this detail, notice the author does not use quotes, merely paragraphs of facts.

"The statement outlined several steps MLB has taken to fight drug use. Under Selig's watch, the use of performance-enhancing substances has decreased from more than 9 percent to lower than 1 percent; he successfully negotiated getting a testing program added to the Basic Agreement in 2002, and with the mandatory random testing penalties that began in 2004, MLB now has "the toughest program in professional sports with the stiffest penalties.""

The only quotes I see are on the last line. Not a big deal, I suppose, but I hadn't heard these statistics anywhere else. The latest numbers are public record. It would be possible to determine the number of players suspended for PEDs since 2005. But how would someone without access know that 9 percent used when Selig started in ... well I don't know when. 1992 or 1998.

"MLB's testing program, which is conducted at the WADA-certified laboratory in Montreal, is unannounced, random and year-round and uses the most modern technology. In addition to two mandatory tests during the season, every player is subject to additional year-round, random testing. There is no limit to how many times a player can be tested. And in 2006, MLB expanded the program and began to randomly test for amphetamines, thus attacking a problem that had existed in baseball for decades. "

Again, no quotes in the article. Just propaganda. Read the rest, it is truly ridiculous. The comments by Selig are again ambiguous and toothless.

Selig is 74. He graduated from college more than 40 years before ameeks did. If anyone knows how Selig made enough money to become the largest public stockholder of the Milwaukee Braves, I'd like to know. Also, what happened to public stockholders... maybe another blog topic?!?