Jim C recaps

Stefano (in case I missed posting it)

MTV Shows

Casey

MTV Shows

Underwhelmed

This is going to be another short entry simply because I have a couple places I need to be today and I'm not certain if I'll have time when I get home to do a proper entry. Then again, my gal in Chicago said she was perfectly fine with the shorter entry and since no one else has chimed in (I mean, really, who is honestly reading my blatherings anyhow??)................

I'm not sure what it is. The group has been so talented this year that the entire Top 10 will be having recording contracts, I'm sure. So why am I simply not overly excited. I feel that same blah as I have had the last few years and we see what kind of winners we've had recently.

I somewhat enjoyed most of the performances last night and one of the duets was actually a bit better than I expected it to be, especially since the pairing consisted of a rocker wail and gospel boy. Even though it was better, I half expect that it's because of James' performance in it and not so much Jacob's.

The only one in GREEN is Scotty, again. Although it took him longer to get there last night than it has all season. All others are listed as B3.

Jacob: 1-6/3rd, -6 on the Map (no wins, 6 losses) and odds holding even at +1600

Lauren: 2-6/4th, 5 on the Map (no losses), and odds that went up again to +300

Scotty: 1-3/1st, 12 on the Map (no losses) and odds still on the rise to a +110

James: 1-6/ 2nd, 4 on the Maps (5 wins, 1 loss) and odds that rose to a +250

Casey: 2-6/LAST, 4 on the Maps (no losses) and odds holding at +1200

Haley: 2-6/5th, 2 on the Maps (4 wins, 2 losses), her odds fell to a +2500

Who goes home?

Odds say Haley with Casey and Jacob joining her in the B3

States say Jacob with Haley and either James or Casey joining in the B3 (either one being a "shock")

Bigger shock would be to put Scotty in the B3, although I really don't see him being there this week either.

Common factor is Jacob and I will not be surprised to see him go. He needed to go weeks ago. At this point, anyone other than Jacob being shown the door will be a "shock".

You know it's a bad night when I actually preferred the girls

Greetings from DC!

Just a quick drop before running to breakfast and another day out and about. I think today's the zoo as it's a decent day for it. Nice, not hot, and a tad overcast.

Caught most of the show last night and am not so certain I should have bothered. I missed Scotty completely and had to catch him on Rickey's site. His performance did nothing for me this week. Not at all. It was so bland and safe and for some reason the performance was cheesier than usual. Now don't get me wrong, I love me some cheese. However, this wasn't cheddar, jack or Monterey, it was more like Cheese-Whiz and I abhor that stuff. No squwee for him this week. James was ok-ish, a bit more screamy than usual. From what I heard of Haley (I was in another room getting ready for a shower), she actually was on key and I found myself looking forward to getting her ITunes number this week. Jacob (I was still in the other room at this point) sounded like Stefano and I didn't recognize the song right off. Not a good thing. What a lamentable mess. I liked Casey's number. I think he really needs to work on the breath support a bit. That will be a good song to do on the tour once it's polished up some. Stefano (BARF). Omg... the only Ne-Yo song I really liked and he sucked the crap out of it. So not cool. I absolutely LOVED Lauren this week. I can't wait to get home and buy that ITune.

Most likely candidates for the B3:

Jacob & Stefano: Easily the worst two of the night. Jacob's song was unrecognizable and Stefano Nosferatu'd  a wonderful Dance tune.

Who might join them:

Casey: Too little, too late and at this stage of the game, your breath support should be much better

James: Too screechy tonight. You can do better than that. The theatrics were great though.

Who should be in B3, but most likely won't unless the producers decide to give him a huge kick in the ass:

Scotty: Cheese factor aside, a first singing position and a too too safe number should put him there. The numbers I've seen this morning dictate that he won't be there, though.

Basically, if you're sporting sausage and need a jock... then you'd better just pack.

Idol needs to come with warning signs

Edits on 4/14/11 @ 3:34pm.

This week's gonna be a short one because I have a long day tomorrow and need to be in bed like 90 minutes ago (ok, more like 2 hours). I won't be posting the Maps or Chart tonight as the final figures don't get tallied until 3am or so (we have to wait on Alaska and Hawaii) and I simply cannot stay up that long today. If I arrive home early enough on Thursday, I'll post them then. So far Scotty has a huge lead over the pack with Lauren just a little behind. All but Scotty and James have lost at least 1 state, with Jacob down by 3 and Stefano down by 2. This more than likely will change by tomorrow. Neither Map changed much from my sleep shift until just a few moments ago, but one opinion has changed.

The odds on the gender of the winner are: female at +250 , male -350.

This week we had songs from the Silver Screen. The judges blew so much SUTA tonight that it was pathetic.

We had Will.I.Am again this week and ya know, he gave much better advice over all than Jimmy. I say we vote Jimmy off and let Will take his place for the rest of the season. The kids don't need the advice from a hack that thinks something sounds good. They need it from an actual artist that KNOWS what works and what won't.

Paul (Old Fashioned Rock N Roll by Bob Seger): He has a first spot sing position and he's the poster child of that damned site. Even with the awfulness of the performance, we began the night with a dose of SUTA worthy enough to give our colons a minor sunburn. We may still be able to sit, but it's not overly comfortable. Paul's odds are UP to +2500 this week. First singing spot and a lamentable performance have him in danger this week. He listed as a 3-8/ B3/ 7th and had a 1 win/1 loss for a zero on the Maps.

Lauren (The Climb by Miley Cyrus): Not great, but not bad. A fairly decent, yet predictable, attempt. I am worried about her singing position. We got some more SUTA with her. Enough to easily take the sunburn up to a second degree. I'm afraid at this point she's splitting votes with Scotty and is going to lose out. Lauren's odds are UP to +330. She really needs to step up and show how great she can be. I feel that she's slipping backwards and this is NOT the time to start doing that. She listed at a 2-8/B3/ 3rd with a 5 state total (6 win/ 1 loss).


Joey Tribbiani Stefano (End of the Road by Boyz II Men): Ok. What was that rule again? Don't sing about going home or the end of anything. Why? It sends a subliminal message. *Gasp gasp* *lick* *Gasp* *BIG NOTE held* *lip lick* *GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASp* Ok. I think I covered the whole song. The SUTA went up to just beyond 3rd degree levels and now I can't sit. Looks like it's going to be a long night. Stefano's stock dropped by 1000 to a +4000. If I didn't despise a couple of the others so much more, I'd be screaming to send this one home. Considering the way the Maps look right this moment, I may just get my wish. He listed at a 3-8/B3/5th with a zero total on the Maps (2 wins/ 2 losses).

Scotty (Cross My Heart by George Strait): Squwee! Ok. So. I have a soft spot for him. Will he win? More than likely not. Why? Because I really like him and my choices have only won ONCE in the last 7 years that I've watched so I'm not due for a win any too soon. The minute they said he was singing a song from Pure Country, I so knew this was going to be the one he picked. Unfortunately, this just goes to show how predictable he's gotten. With the figures I'm seeing so far, he aint going anywhere this week either. Just a word of advice? Lose that one hand gesture. There's a reason JLo said she thought you had some more flavor in there and asked if you watched rap videos the other week. That hand gesture is why she asked it, I'm sure. A couple more notes incase you decide to sing from George Strait's library again. Number one, lose the back-up singers because they aren't doing you any favors in most of the songs you're choosing. Number two, George Strait's got more drawl so lay it on a little thicker, please. Scotty is UP to +125 this week. Even though he sang mid-pack, he manage to hit the Chart with a solid 1/GREEN with a 13 state win on the Maps.

Casey (Nature Boy by Nat King Cole): I wasn't familiar with this song, but I kinda dug what he did up there on stage. That said, I have to wonder if the general voting public is even going to KNOW that song or artist. Is it going to translate well enough to keep him out of trouble? I'm with JLo, "I hope America gets that". The numbers aren't looking so good right now for him. Casey broke even from last week and still holds at a +1200. He listed at a 3-8/B3/ DEAD LAST with a 1 state total (2 wins/1 loss). Things don't look so good for him right now. I think my opinion last night was accurate, it didn't translate to the masses. Then again, most true artists don't.

Haley (Call Me by Blondie): I didn't like this at all. It start rough and in my opinion, you need to be spot on in the beginning and at the end. You want a good first impression and a nice lasting one. She failed to do this for me. Then again, I don't like Haley much either. Thankfully, the judges didn't much like her either. They didn't pan her, but at least my colon got a little break.

Haley is UP from last week to a +1500. She listed with a 3-8/ B3 / 6th rating and has a total of 4 on the Maps (5 wins and 1 loss). I'm not going to count her out of the B3 simply because Pia was in precisely the same boat last week with a decent amount of states won, but still got sent home.

Jacob (Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel): Thank GOD they called him out on that crap he pulled last week. Can we send him home NOW? Puh-LEEEEZ?? That high power note was just plain painful to listen to. It was so bad, even Haley was howling. The SUTA received was such to the point that Chicagolady raced to put some reflective shorts on so her nether regions were protected. Unfortunately Omar doesn't make them in my size, and I certainly can't trust the guys responsible for the creation of the Hindenberg. As such, I had to take the full blast and now my colon is torched beyond recognition. I'm so very glad I was able to protect my good buddy, though. It was all worth it. Jacob's stock plummeted 400 points from last week thanks to that utterance and he's now at a +1600. By the looks of the Maps right now, it looks like that crap he spewed last week carried over to this week. Please, if we can get rid of him this week... I promise I'll give the rabid dog a break next week and won't harp on her performance no matter HOW bad she does. Deal? He rated a 2-4/ GREEN/ 2nd (excuse me while I have a WTF moment), yet he only got a -2 on the Maps (1 win/ 3 losses). Again, look back at Pia. With any luck last week's steaming hot turd came back to haunt him for this week. I should, considering Jimmy reminded us all about it in this week's package. Actually, Jimmy chastised Jacob regarding it, it's the producers that chose to remind us. See at least SOMEONE'S doing their job there!

James (Heavy Metal by Sammy Hager): Heavy metal. On Idol. Freakin A!!! Best yet? He told Jimmy where to stick opinion when it was suggested he not do this song. Buddy, your stock just went way the hell up in my book. Do I think this will translate to the mainstream, common Idol audience, not necessarily. However, it was a HELL of alot more memorable (and not just because he was in the pimp spot) than Casey's showing. We got a huge blast of SUTA with James, too, but by now I'm so flippin numb and overly crisped back there that I didn't even notice the extra scorching. I don't expect him to go home this week. Then again, Pia had 4 states last week and rated high on the Chart, yet still got sent packing. James is UP slightly to a +350. He listed at a 2-8/ B3/ 4th and had a 6 state win.

At this point, I'm all for just cutting to the finale with James and Scotty. Metal against Country.

In the margin of my notes I have written Paul, Jacob and Stefano. It's high time that the B3 was inhabited by nothing but sausages. Actually, if you're anyone other than James or Scotty, your pooch is probably screwed this week.

Paul: Sang first and was the usual wreck. (goose egg!)

Lauren: Isn't memorable after Scotty and James.

Stefano: Not to say he wasn't memorable, but I totally didn't add this line until after I proofed the entire entry TWICE. The only reason I noticed is because I was only counting up 7 names and couldn't for the life of me remember who I forgot. Thank goodness I'm geek enough to take notes. (another goose egg)

Casey: Again, not as memorable. (only 1 state, pretty low for this stage of the game. Definitely NOT time to pull a performance like this one..)

Haley: I'm going to plead a 5th because that's the only way I'll find her enjoyable. No, wait, I make a mean drunk. Maybe it's a good thing I generally watch this sober. (even 4 states didn't save Pia!)

Jacob: There's no amount of alcohol at this point for this one. (-3!!!pleasepleasepleaseplease??!!)

Like I said. If you're not Scotty or James, you may as well pack now.

Actually, James may wanna pack too, just to be sure. The Chart numbers are kinda iffy and I really cannot be sure that 6 states is a guaranteed safe at this point. Normally, I would say for certain but last week was plain weird numbers-wise. He did have the benefit of the pimp spot this week, but even that's not a guarantee this season. Basically, if you aint a guy, aint tall, don't sing country and don't resemble a really cute Alfred E. Newman, then you may be screwed this week.

Chicagolady's choices for B3: Paul, Stefano and Jacob

She was right last week. I'd like to see if she can make it 2 weeks in a row.

*suddenly has a desire to listen to Marching to Mars before heading to bed*

Chart and Maps added 4/14/11 @ 3:34pm

PS: I really despise Blogger forcing me to use this new editor just so my entries get posted correctly......SRSLY.

Jim C's 60 and a little bit more

Elton Week

MTV Shows

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Week

MTV Shows

For several season now, a good many of us have been wondering what the purpose of this silly show was. I mean, several of the contestants (non-winners) have gone on to do just fine without that contract. Two names that come to mind are Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. They proved that you really don't need to win this. Hell, you don't even need to make it to the finale! However, all of them had to wait until AFTER the show was complete and the tour was nearing end before any signing of contracts was even considered. At least, that's how I understood it to was to be. I'm not certain what changed to make this year different. Is it possible that Mr. Cowell was the one that made that particular rule? Or is this year different because we actually have some talent on the stage and people simply cannot wait to work with them ? All I know is that in this particular case the tears weren't even fully dry before the pen went to the paper. Anyone have any thoughts on why this year really is so different and why the rules, as we understood them, we broken/bent/twisted to accommodate Wallpaper with a good voice?

Here Comes the SUTA

Here comes the SUTA (doo doo doo doo)

Here comes the SUTA

and I say

it's alright...

Oh hell no it aint. Whatchoo smokin' boys? At least it's better than Good day SUTAshine.... I'd have to put a hurt on someone for that.

This week's "theme" was The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hundreds and hundreds of artists to choose from. Really something for EVERYONE in that list so there was no real excuse to have an off week or not be memorable, right? Right?

I gather that the PTB (Powers That Be) felt Mr.Jimmy wasn't doing an adequate enough job with the kiddos because this week we had Will.I.Am sitting in as well. Srsly. You mean with all those inductees you couldn't find ONE that would represent the theme? Really? I guess we'll have a hip hop theme in a coming week with Bjork sitting in, am I right?

So help me... if that happens I'm so going to quit.

On the plus side, the show was only 90 minutes. Yay.

We had 3 on the States Lost Map this week.

Hey Chicago! You notice we stayed sober tonight? That sucked. I guess they forgot that they still have a couple kids on the show. Tell ya what. If the group song is Ring of Fire (and you know why I picked that one..) on the results show, I'll take a double shot... one for each of us. I also propose a new game for that other problem you mentioned. I expect that one or both of us will be under the desk by the time that one gets halfway through a song!

Jacob (Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson): The only one I like less than this one is Haley and as of this week, if I HAD to vote for one of the two I'd be voting her through. Ok, I'll give him credit for dialing it back a little bit and it really was a nice song choice for him. However, if anyone was truly listening to his introduction package, they got a real earful. Go ahead and listen to it again and read between the lines. Basically, if he hits the B3 he feels it's not because of how he performed the song it will be because we can't face ourselves. Um. Excuse me? Darlin? I may not like what's there, but I can look in the mirror just fine. I also know how to take blame for when things go wrong and I know it's my fault (unlike some gov't officials we know). Can you say the same for yourself? If you go this week, you're right, it won't be for the performance because it was ok. It'll be because you took it upon yourself to preach to us, and we don't like that. That and you went first on a 90 minute show. We won't go into the fact that your performance didn't even measure up to this young man and since every show is supposed to be better than the last, you should have been able to at least accomplish that. I guess the judges didn't really catch it, or maybe they thought nothing of it, because surely someone should have called him on that blossoming ego he has going. His odds held for a 5th week running at +1200. I'm beginning to think he's already peaked and if anyone else caught that (and I know at least one other writer did and she has a MUCH larger circulation than I do... actually, I'm seeing another one who caught it too) ... well not many will have voted for him. Even with our collective colons getting the crispy critter treatment, Jacob got a big HUGE goose-egg in the Maps. I guess more than 3 or 4 of us caught that veiled snide remark he made. That's the thing about the internet, dude, once it gets out there... it never truly goes away. Although there are a couple others that I'd much rather see go home first, I would be quite satisfied to see him in the B3 just to teach the lil monster to get his ego in check. On the Chart he got a 4-9/B3/8th rating. I hope you thought to pack.

Haley (Piece of My Heart by Janis Joplin): I hated this. Alot. I don't care what the judges think. The only thing I can think of when I listen to her is... if I wanted to hear a growling , snarling, mangy, rabid dog... I'd go visit the neighbor 3 doors down. The only one I'm really not liking more than you is the show opener. Her odds leapt up to a +3300 this last week. The Chart rating has her at a 3-9/B3/5th ranking. With a 2 state win and one loss, she's at a 1 on the Maps this week and in danger.

Casey (Have You Ever Seen the Rain by CCR): He made a good choice to change the song selection. This definitely worked in his favor. Could you imagine a Sting song done as a rhumba? Yeah, me neither. He kept his growl fairly well restrained, which I suspect is a very hard thing for him to do because it always looks like he's going to bust loose on us. I wonder if he can teach Haley to do it. She might be bearable if she did. His odds slipped to a +1200. Not the direction we want to be seeing those odds going in, to be honest. I'm wondering if he, too, peaked too early and we're watching that long and painful spiral the early favorites tend to do before they crash and burn. He only rated a 1 on the Maps and the Chart listed him with a 3-9/B3/4th placing. I hate to say it, but even with a nice performance, there is a chance we may see him in the bottom again which you know has GOT to be frustrating. To go from a favorite to having to be saved to scraping the bottom more often than not.

Lauren (Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin): Oh Lauren, Lauren, Lauren. What are we going to do with you? This was a nice performance, but only that, just nice. We are in season 10 of this show and every year they tout the current year's cast is "The Best Group Evar!!!" It should stand to reason that should be better than at least the FIRST winner, yes? I mean, it's been a decade, for goodness sakes. No? Ok, how about at least better than the AUDITION performance of a runner-up? Hm. Has she peaked too early? Surely she's got more in there, right? Her odds are saying not as she's held at +500 for 5 weeks running, same as the egotistical lout who sang first this week. She had a 3 state win with a 1 state loss giving her a 2 on the Maps and a 4-9/B3/6th on the Charts. Is America already saying, "Lauren who?"

James (While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison): Dammit. I did say that I really wanted to not like this one, correct? I have said that this is not what I'm really looking for in a winner this season, yes? I'm sure I have. Yet another week in a row and I really liked his performance. Damn. There goes another $1.29 out my account. James got alot of praise without the gushing. Ok, who ordered the SUTA-block? Of all that performed up to this point, HE was the one most worthy of the gushing. His odds have been steadily climbing since day one and I fully expect that in the next 2 weeks or maybe a bit over, he'll end up in the negative (great for him, not so good for bettors). This week he's at a +375. His rating on the Chart is a 1-3/GREEN/2 and he had a 5 state win on the Maps. No way in hell he's going home this week. I will not be surprised if he goes to at least the Top 4.

Scotty (That's Alright Mama by Elvis): I'd never heard of this one until this week, then again I'm not really much into Elvis's music. However, it didn't much matter. This was such a fun performance to watch. Ok ok ok. I, umm, watchitseveraltimesover hit repeat repeatedly and squealed like a fangirly watched it a couple more time than necessary and laughed every single time (the facial expressions, the movement, it was all just so funny). He so does not need this show, truly. I do have to ask, when exactly did Idol change their views on the fans rushing the stage like that? Yeah, Chicago, I'm pretty sure that was scripted in. Although I'm not certain the judges were in on it. It's either that or Idol has lightened up their views on it since the first season. Why? Go back to one of those other links I posted for Lauren. You can clearly hear someone in charge hollering for security when the ONE fan hit the stage. They certainly should have this time when SIX rushed up there. His odds held at a +240 for the 3rd week in a row and he ranked on the Chart with a 1-2/GREEN/1 with a 12 state win on the Maps. No way in hell is he going home this week. Middle of the pack and to pull those numbers?? I can't wait to see what numbers he draws when he gets the pimp spot.

Hey, when's Lauren singing? What? She has already? Really? Are you sure?

Pia (River Deep Mountain High by Tina Turner): Ok. Yes. She can sing. We all know she can. She has an undeniably wonderful voice. BUT. There is no connection there to the fans. It's all well and good to come down on the lower end of the stage between the judges and the audience, but that's not connecting with them. This was much like strapping a boom-box to a super model's back and telling her to strut it down the catwalk. There's not much connection there either. Better yet, save the money, strap the radio to a mannequin's back and wheel it around for a bit. At least it would be a bit warmer to those who are watching. There's no sense making that trip if you're not going to really interact with the fans on your way through. Until you can take that brick wall down and make that connection, you're not going to be anything more than a glorified back-up singer with a great voice. She had a 4 state win on the Maps with a 2-5/GREEN/3 rating on the Chart. Her odds are creeping up ever so slowly and she's at a +320 this week. She's going to be giving Scotty a run for his money in short order, but if she's not careful James will surpass her. Yet another that there is no way in hell this one's going home.

Stefano (When A Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge): Ok. I tolerate him a bit better than our first two performers this week, but just barely. What can I say, I don't like SUTAtastic Archy Gaspy Lipuletta 2.0 at all. I'd love to show you an example of what I'm talking about, however it looks like the person who owned the video has shut her Youtube account down. A real shame. Seriously, dude. Enough already. His odds fell this week to a +3000. The Maps were generous with a 3 state win but the Chart put him at 4-9/B3/7th. I'm kind of on the fence about him this week. Thankfully he doesn't stay memorable long.

Paul (Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash): Ok. Now this is the kind of music he needs to be doing. This was the most enjoyable performance from him I've ever seen. The only notes I took on this one is a one word reaction that I can't print in here. Well, I could if I made it private. *chuckles* His odds PLUMMETED from last week's poor showing. The Chart has him at 4-9/B3/LAST and the Maps gave him less than love. He is the only one who lost a state and didn't have any on the winner Map to balance it out. With a -1, I will not be surprised if he's shipped off this week. You never know, though. Maybe, just maybe , VFTW and the pimp spot will do their magic. However, I do have to point out that many times over the seasons, people that had bloody awful weeks one week and a great week the next.... went home on the great week. Just sayin'.

So who goes home?

Best bet is

Paul: Even with the pimp position and being the poster child at VFTW, he pulled in some really abysmal figures this week.

tied with him

Haley: Her odds are as low as his (although she's on her way up and not crashing, like Paul), she sang second and sounds like a pack of wolves at a moose meat feast.

Other people who deserve the Walk of Shame:

Jacob: A first singing position and that snide comment certainly didn't help. I wonder if the judges DID catch it and SUTAed him just to try and save the last AAD in the competition. You just know people will scream FIXED if he goes, but he's really outlasted his welcome.

Casey: A third sing position might be better than first or second, but on a 90 minute show and you're struggling to keep going? His stock's falling.

Lauren: Wait a minute, did she sing? With odds stagnating and performances being just so-so, it's really time to step it up and do something AMAZING. Otherwise the next time her fans will see her is during the press circuit and then the tour.

Also to watch:

Stefano: This is no time to be vanilla, dude, and stop all that lip smacking. You might want to work on stage presence too. I've seen better cheese in a can of Cheez-Whiz.

Pia: I don't really believe this is her week, however, we cannot deny that lack of connection. She, too, needs to work on stage presence to become a real contender.

Basically, if you're not James or Scotty, you might want to be packed and ready.