AI Season 12- Hollywood Top 20 Elimination

So, tonight we winnow the Top 20 down to 10, five gals and five guys. Ryan explains the drill: the guys are in one room and the gals are in another. They can't see the audience and the audience can't see them. Ryan will announce the Top 5 of each, one at a time, escort the Lucky One down a hallway, giving a lovely little pep talk, to backstage at which time The Selectee will be revealed to the audience and the judges (but not to us- we get to see the whole thing), to sing a victory song.

Ryan  is wearing a charcoal suit with a black and white polka dot tie, and... lipstick? The judges enter from center stage. Keith is in a dark tee shirt (I thought I should mention his clothes once in awhile, even though he always wears the same kind of thing). Nicki is in the blonde bangy wig and an orange sheath. Nicki's heels are so ridiculously tall that she can't walk without Keith to steady her. Randy is in a blazer consisting of very wide gray, white, and yellow bands. Mariah is in a long black gown with a transparent center bodice panel that perfectly frames her huge, squooshed boobs.

We see a montage of the top 20 from audition to this week, which I have already recapped. And then rather lengthy clips of last night's performances, which: ditto.

We get right to the point of the show, Ryan stands with the Top 10 guys and opens a folded piece of paper with a name on it.

#1. Paul Jolley... seriously? Paul Jolley? Paul Jolley is wearing equal amounts of seafoam green and shock. Me too, except for the seafoam green. After a nice congratulation/encouragement/pep talk (congeptalk?) from Ryan, Paul Jolley makes his entrance. Keith does not even clap. Paul Jolley sings his *victory song*, an exceptionally pageanty version of Alone, which happens to be the song that Carrie Underwood killed dead. For the record, Paul Jolley is no Male Carrie Underwood.
K: Tonight's performance was better than last night's

#2. Burnell... that's more like it.  Burnell does not look like an 80's/ 90's TV Teen tonight. He's wearing a black, white, and red paisley shirt, and maybe a bolo tie. Once again, he stands stock still at the microphone, and lets his hands do the talking. I don't know the song he's singing, but it's not very good- Burnell is adding too many runs. Last night's performance was better but he gets a Standing O from Keith, Nicki, and Randy.
M: Says she's happy, and yet she did not stand with the others.

#3. Curtis Finch Jr. Of course. He's wearing a blue, untucked shirt. He's singing some CC song which highlights every single thing I dislike about him. But I knew he was going to make it, and certainly he has talent, and whether or not it's the kind of talent that appeals to me is irrelevant.
R: You, man, showin' your false, so happy

#4. Devin, proving that my predictions aren't worth much, is wearing a yellow and black striped shirt and a black vest. Keith gives him a Standing O. Devin is the first finalist who sounds better tonight than last night. He gets a big hug from his loud, enthusiastic, heavily eye-shadowed Mama.
N: Singing in Spanish helped

Right here and now, I predict that the judges will also choose one guy and one girl as Wild Cards.

Poor Charlie is crying already, and the rest of the guys look ill.

#5. Lazaro, also not a surprise. He's wearing a gray shirt with rolled sleeves, a black tie, and a black vest. Lazaro worries about hitting the final note and he confabs with the band before the audience reveal. The audience is very very happy for Lazaro. He's singing Bridge Over Troubled Water- it's nice but tepid, which is pretty much like everything else Lazaro sings. He hits the final note though.
M: Congratulations

So, it's the end for Charlie, Vincent, Nick, Elijah, and Cortez. They file out onstage for a final bow, but no last song. Charlie manages to pull it together enough for a wave and a smile. The others look a little shell-shocked.

Now we see a montage of the Ladies' performances from Tuesday, which I am not recapping again. It's the same drill with the selection, the walk and pep talk, and the audience reveal. I do want to say that Ryan is being exceptionally sweet with each and every one of the kids. It's hard to imagine Carson Daley managing the same rapport with The Voice contestants.

#6. Janelle... hmmmm. She's wearing a teal, embroidered cotton, empire wasted, mullet skirted, folky-dress with a purple belt. She's still wearing invisible makeup, but her hair is shiny and soft and really pretty. Janelle proves that even the worst of the girls is better than the best of the guys. She gets a Standing O from Keith, Nicki, and Randy.
N: You are my ladybug, my marshmallow, my superstar

#7. Candice!!!!!!! Give me a moment to squee. Okay, I'm back. She's wearing red pants, a sparkly top, and a too-small black jacket. I can't wait to see what the stylists do with Candice. Candice sings beautifully and effortlessly and easily earns the 4 Judge Standing O.
R: This is a singing competition  (Me: Shut up Randy)

#8. Angie. Mini-Miley's hair tonight is straighter, but somehow just as big. she's wearing a black, gray, and metallic silver top with cut in shoulders. Keith and Randy stand. There's no doubt that she belongs with the finalists, but her voice is not my style at all. Tonight, she seems to be a bit off the music, and this may be her worst performance. It doesn't matter though.
K: Teary and happy

#9: Amber, which also makes me happy. She's wearing a cute yellow skirt (with an even hem!), a blue and white striped, scoop-neck tee, a green belt, and red lipstick. Oh, she's singing disco. The band is drowning her out, but this is upbeat and fun.
M: (exact quote) I can't even know what to say

#10. I wait, worried... but Ryan says Kree! Yay! Kree is wearing a black top and slacks and a royal jacket.
She gets a 4 Judge Standing O! She's so comfortable on stage, a born performer.

There is no time for any Judgely encouragement because the show is running over (imagine that). Ryan trots Zoanette, Aubrey, Adrianna, Tenna, and Breanna out for a final bow.

So our Season 12 Top 10 are: Paul Jolley, Burnell, Curtis, Devin, Lazaro, Janelle, Candice, Angie,, Amber, and Kree. It is truly the girls' year to lose.

Oh, though I was wrong about the Judges choosing Wild Cards tonight, Ryan says that next week, the Top Vote Remaining Guy and the Top Vote Remaining Girl will have a sing-off, and the judges will choose one of them to continue on.

Do I know this show or what?

Thursday Tab- Children's Playmate Sept. 1950- Judy

I would have loved this magazine paper doll from 1950, except, you know, I wasn't around in 1950. So I'll settle for loving it now.

AI Season 12- Las Vegas Guys' Top 10 Performance

Ryan opens inside tonight, and reminds us, on the very off chance that we've forgotten, that tonight is live voting and that five of the ten guys will head home tomorrow.

Ryan is wearing a nice pewter suit. Nicki is still in her blonde bangsy wig. She's wearing a white dress with cap sleeves and an all-over hexagon mosaic motif. Once again, she has nude lipstick. Randy is in a black leather jacket with embroidered accents. Mariah is in a lavender top with a deeply scooped neck and a black cardigan. Her hair has been flat-ironed, and she's also sporting colorless lips.

#1. Elijah Liu hastens to assure us that he loves the ladies. I don't know if he's verging into Justin Beiber Creepiness or if he's protesting too much, but either way, I don't ever want to hear him talk about women again. Or girls. He's wearing an army jacket with rucked up sleeves over a long-sleeved white tee. His hair, once again, is sticking straight up. My, my, he's nasal up in his nasal (tm Paula). Whatever song this is, it has a very military drum cadence in it.
K: Clarifies that the song is Rhianna's
N: Liked it but not enthusiastically
R: Liked this week better than last week, but Elijah stayed in first gear
M: Mentions that Elijah is commercial. Does not say much about the singing

#2. Cortez looks a bit like Sam Cooke, which is not a bad way to look. He's wearing khaki pants, a long-sleeved white tee, and a denim vest. I have no idea what this song is (The Hub says it's Bruno Mars). Cortez is dancing and performing well, but this is not a song for the showing off of vocal prowess. Or the ability to remember complex lyrics.
K: Begins by asking Cortez how he felt about it, which is never a good sign
N: Is glad that Cortez enjoyed himself, but he needs a new stylist
R: For once gives an actual, musical critique
M: ummmm....

#3. Charlie is the male Zonette: unpredictable and interesting, but lacking the talent to outweigh the weirdness, or the ability to tell when weirdness is called for and when it's just plain weird. Charlie is very proud of his tiny baby mustache, which is sad. His hair is pulled back into a messy pony tail, and he's wearing a black and white tie-dyed tank top. This Genesis song is more shouty than melodic, but Charlie did okay with it.
K: wonders what the people at home are saying (Me: We're mostly just shaking our heads), and says that Charlie might be better as the front man for a band.
Note: Charlie's face begins to fall
N: Wonders where her little boy is, and wants the old weird Charlie back, as opposed to the new weird Charlie
Note: Charlie's eyes get red
R: Not good, man, not good
Note: Charlie might throw up
M: Tries to let Charlie down gently.
Note: A devastated Charlie barely holds back the tears, and in a shaky voice tries to explain what it's like to be Charlie. Ryan does his best to buck Charlie up, but I fear it's a hopeless cause. I hope Charlie goes home- he's not strong enough for this. I'm not strong enough for this. That was brutal to watch.

#4. Nick Boddington is this year's Stupid Hat. He explains that it's a style choice, chosen by his male-pattern baldness. In his rehearsal clip, I think I catch a glimpse of Katharine McPhee's mother as a vocal coach. Nick is wearing a short sleeved chambray shirt, and of course, a hat. He's sitting at the piano, and this ballad is nice. Nick's eyes are following the camera too much, but otherwise, this is fine.
K: Perfect song choice despite some nervousness
N: Fooled with the melody too much, and wishes Nick had just sung the song as written
R: Not Nick's best, but he liked the changes
M: Kicked in at the end, and she hopes the voters will remember Nick's previous performances

#5: Burnell looked better before he lost forty pounds. Back then he looked like a grownup, now he looks like a kid. Last week he was dressed like Urkel, tonight he's channeling Dwayne Wayne in a backward hat made from upholstery fabric, tortoise shell glasses, a peach shirt, and an acid washed jacket. Burnell plants his feet at the microphone and does not step away. To make up for it, his hands are in constant motion. It's distracting. His voice and performance (I think the song is CC) are okay but not at all my style.
K: Standing O- loved it x 3
N: Faint praise
R: Liked the urgency Burnell's voice- also loved it x3
M: Moved to tears

Commercial note: Can The Increcible Burt Wonderstone be anything but awful?

#6. Paul Jolley is wearing a black rayon shirt. Paul Jolley was an extra in some C/W videos. Paul Jolley drops Carrie Underwood's name. Paul Jolley has that Logan Echolls look about him. The backup singers are doing the heavy lifting here, and there is nothing natural or comfortable about Paul Jolley's wide-eyed stage presence. Paul Jolley is trying way too hard. Methinks I'd best enjoy those melodious syllables whilst I can.
K: What kind of artist are you? (PJ: A male Taylor Swift)  (Me: Dude, seriously?)
N: Advises Paul Jolley to listen to Keith
R: Likes Paul Jolley's soft tone
M: Babble babble

#7. Lazaro still looks like Chuck Bartowski in his pink shirt and white jacket. No bow tie tonight. He's singing something jazzy and he has a nice voice, but I think his enunciation issues stem more from having parents whose first language is not English, than any stuttering problem. This is fine, but man, it skews elderly. Lazaro and his pretty pretty smile will be a big hit on the Casino circuit.
K: Audience loves Lazaro. Neglects to mention Lazaro's singing, or what he thought of it
N: Loved the song and Lazaro
R: In it to win it
M: Impressed mostly because of that *s* word, which she does not say out loud

#8. Curtis Finch Jr. is anxious to prove that he is not his father. He doesn't seem anxious to prove himself unlike the jerk he was during Hollywood week. I do not like Curtis Finch Jr's personality, and I really really really don't like his singing style. He's singing I Believe I Can Fly. Of course he is. This entire performance is all squinty eyes, excessive runs, flipping up and down the octaves for no reason or warning, and ending with very high and very long notes. It's everything I hated about Jacob Lusk and Joshua Ledet, x10.  Bleargh.
So of course, he gets a 4-way Standing O.
K: Oozes God, or something
N: Every. Single. Time. Divine. Calling.
R: Yo, give props to R. Kelly (Me: Let's hear it for peeing on underage girls! Woot!)
M: Thank you

#9. Devin looks exactly like Tintin in a red sweater over a striped shirt and black bow tie. He sings Impossible, which is a very old, and a very old-style, song. It's slow, and it's boring, and when he flips into Spanish (just like last week except that I noticed it this time) it feels like pandering.
K: The beginning was shaky, but Devin found the zone
N: Muy bien. Nicki then trots out the only other Spanish word she knows: Gordo
R: Loves the tone and vibrato
M: Incredible performance

#10. Vincent shows Nick that bald is beautiful. He's wearing a lavender blazer with satin piping over a purple and white print shirt. He's singing something bluesy and he's hitting some nice high notes, but he's also embroidering way too much. He's obviously pleased with himself but there are no Standing O's.
K: Nerves got the best of Vincent
N: Overcompensating
R: Not lovin' it
M: Moments of brilliance.

Tomorrow night, five of these guys will go home (along with five of the ladies). As far as I'm concerned, all ten of the guys could go and just keep the girls (including Zoanette- she'd hit the road the week afterward), but that's not how it's going to play out. The show has stacked the deck very well indeed- even if a guy wins (something that looks highly unlikely), he won't be a Cute White Guy with a Guitar, which is the entire point of this season.

Who do I think is staying? I can't stand him, but Curtis Finch Jr. isn't going anywhere. I think Nick and Lazaro might also make the cut. Otherwise, I have no clue. We'll find out tomorrow.

It snowed yesterday

And then the sun came out.

AI Season 12- Las Vegas Top 10 Girls' Performance

Ryan explains that we have a live show tonight, and actual audience voting. I'd like to commend the show- I think this is the very first time that we've heard every one of the singers before the actual voting begins. Way to go, Show! I also like how we're moving right along in the eliminations- ten girls will sing tonight, and on Thursday, five of them will go home. Again: way to go, Show!

Ryan is wearing a brown tweed jacket, a navy tie, and a pink shirt with a white collar. Tonight, his pompadour is reddish. Keith looks the same as he always does. Nicki is in the long, straight blonde wig with bangs. She's wearing a bright red sleeveless dress and, for the first time this season, nude lipstick. Randy is in a jacket made up of assorted fabrics with either black or white backgrounds, printed with words or random letters. Mariah is wearing a black off the shoulder dress with spangly straps. The girls are firmly corralled tonight.

The pre-performance patter reminds me once again that Nicki is a smart judge and that Randy lies. Mariah conveniently forgets that she married the head of Sony Music, as she nostalgically remembers starting out all on her own, without the help of a TV Talent Show.

#1. Tonight Zoanette has brown curly long hair, a black and red striped shortie jacket, a pink shirt, short denim shorts, patterned hose, and red high heel sneakers. She's singing What's Love Got to Do With it, and it's energetic and full of drama but it's not very good. In fact, it's pretty terrible.
K: Joyous, unbridled, free spirited... but... umm... not the best song choice
N: Tells the truth- that it was not great. (Me: I think Nicki gets bleeped)
R: Loves the spirit and is a leader, but that was a mess
M: A great and enthusiastic audience member, but maybe not such a great singer
I think Zoanette should be the next Wendy Williams.

#2. Breanna looks a little like Nicole Richie. She has straight, streaky blondish hair. Her dress is a mish-mash of animal prints and odd textures, but it looks nice on her. I don't know the song she's singing, but it repeats the same refrain eight or nine times, all in the same few notes. Breanna's voice doesn't have much depth, though the performance isn't bad.
K: Good song choice but needs a better connection
N: Disagrees with Keith- it was the wrong song and Breanna strained too hard to hit the notes
R: Agrees with his own self. Song choice was cool but too safe
M: Babbles  (Me: I think she liked it)

#3. Aubrey's side-swept hair emphasizes her very large forehead. She's wearing an extremely sparkly, white sleeveless top with a gathered peplum, over a tight, short sparkly skirt. She's singing one of the few Fergie songs that I recognize and she appears to be up to the requirements of the song. What that says about the rest of her talent, I have no idea, but at least she's singing this one adequately.
K: Good song choice except where it wasn't (Note: Don't ask me, that's what he said)
N: Loved the vibrato and gives some good technical advice about holding the mike
R: Agrees with Keith and Nicki
M: Thinks Aubrey has multi-platinum potential

#4. Janelle is our only blonde. She looks pale and washed out and I realize that her makeup is nearly invisible tonight. She's wearing a black tunic with sharply cut-in shoulders and long silver fringe from neck to hem, jeans, over-the-knee boots, and she's sitting on the Stool of Seriousness. She's singing a fairly ordinary country-style song, but with far too much smile. There's a nice key change though, and Janelle does have a nice voice.
K: Loves her classic country voice
N: You are back, you little Marshmallow that I want to eat
R: Yo, listen, like a throwback voice
M: Ditto

#5. Last time, Nicki specifically criticized Tenna's hairstyle, so tonight she has sleek and side-swept ringlets (if ringlets can ever be sleek). She appears to be wearing a short blue spandex dress, and over the dress is a red bra-like contraption made of peek-a-boo straps with the *peeks* like little blue windows right to her nipples. It's a disconcerting look. The song, you ask? Dull, dull, dull.
K: Song maybe too big, distracted by the camera
N: Mentions a love for Tenna's boobs, by which she means the weird dress, but Randy starts cackling like a 10 year old because the word *boobs* makes his brain short-circuit
Note to Randy: Shut up. Forever.
M: Loved everything

#6. Angie Mini-Miley is still with the massive head of tumbled curls and many many many teeth. She's wearing a black dress that probably has a mullet skirt because she's sitting at the piano and the skirt drapes over the back of the bench, nearly to the floor. She's singing some song written by last year's Colton Dixon, and she's playing far too much to the camera, with a smirky smile and a simper. Her voice is fine, but nothing that appeals to me, though she does sing far better than Maxi-Miley.
K: Loved it
N: Babbles with love
R: Born to do what you're doing
M: Glad to see her at the piano again

#7. Amber's mom accidentally decked Ryan in her original audition (which I certainly do not remember seeing). Tonight she's wearing a tan leather blazer, a cream top, and a floaty mullet skirt with wide blue horizontal stripes around the hem. She's singing Whitney and is up to the job. This is effortless and beautiful. It's the first performance tonight that I actually enjoy. Amber gets a 4-Judge Standing O.
K: Perfect song, but perhaps could use fewer runs (Me: Excellent advice)
N: I'll call you Ber. Best of the night
R: In it to win it. (Me: sigh)
M: Favorite

#8. Kree looks a bit like a cross between Rumer Willis and Lauren Graham. I think she's probably in need of a stylist because I sincerely covet her lovely burgundy top and she's way too young to be wearing clothes that appeal to Grandmas. However, I do not covet her platform heels. Kree sings some country flavored song in her rich voice. She hits those high notes perfectly.
K: Beautiful voice, amazing range
N: You already know you're my wife (Me: again, I'm just quoting, though Kree played off the comment perfectly, proving that she has a great sense of humor and can think on her feet)
R: Another in it to win it. (Me: more sigh)
M: Amazed every time

#9. Adriana is our teeny little Alaskan. She's wearing a halter-top dark prom dress with a sparkly red swoop curving down the length from neckline to floor. She sounds okay, with a bit of a growl and a key change. I don't love the song though- the whole performance looks and sounds pageanty.
K: Not a great song choice
N: Thinks Adriana is done and says so bluntly
R: Pageanty
M: Does everything but say the word *pageanty*

#10. Candice has long straight hair with raspberry tips (which match her lipstick, which is a great shade for her). She's wearing black jeans, and a gold-studded black jacket and a matching top. Man, this girl is great. Flat-out great. She connects with the song. She connects with the audience. She connects with the camera. She's a pro. She gets a Standing O from Keith, Randy, and Mariah.
K: Old soul, yet current
N: Salutes (Me: I have no idea why Nicki didn't stand- maybe she only allows herself one ovation per show)
R: Learns by listening to her (Me: that's the most intelligent thing Randy has said in 12 seasons)
M: Thanks Candice

My Ranking:
#1 Candice, easily
#2. Kree, easily
#3. Down a bit, Amber
#4. Even further, Angie (I don't love her, but I hear the talent)

#5. Either Aubrey or Janelle, with a slight edge to Aubrey.

We'll know on Thursday. Tomorrow night, we do it all over again, with the boys. Except, you know, for the voices, and the fact that the boys don't have any.

The perks of being the writer's mom

I get advance reader copies. Coming soon to an eReader near you:

February Photo Challenge Pics

The highlights...

Cemetary- a very old grave

Pig- part of a weather vane

Rust (self explanatory)

Pattern- I sewed, and voluntarily wore each one of the little thumbnail patterns. Ah, the 70's

Word- Bracelet made for me by Voracious Reader

Silly (also self-explanatory)

Sand- I have more beach/sand pics than I can use, but I decided to go a different direction for this prompt.

Hope- My maternal grandmother migrated between Kotzebue and Point Hope for the first 32 years of her life.

Orange- taken from The Getty museum in LA.

Smell- I want some. Now.

Guilty Pleasure... um, yeah...

Turtle(s)