ClayManiacs

It's here! The dreaded Season 9 of American Idol. Paula is out, Ellen is in, and Kara is still here  :doh

It has been much publicized that this is Simon's last season. He's off to bigger -not necessarily better - but definitely more lucrative things.

I'm not sure how many people are still around who will be watching AI. Unfortunately with my added job I will most likely be working every Tuesday evening and may or may not be working Wednesday evenings. I'll start a thread every week and put what information I can but I won't be able to do a play-by-play as I've done in the past.

Anyone is welcome to jump in and give a play-by-play for lurkers and those who can't watch the show but like to keep up on what is going on.

Tonight the auditions begin in Boston with Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) as the guest judge. :rolleyes

Thanks, Michelle.  I'll try to be there, but I think this year I'll let others do more of the talking. 

Posh Spice? :lol

I can't wait for Season 9!

Did you all see that after this season, Simon is leaving to start a new show? He will no longer be a judge.

FINALLY!  It's HOLLYWOOD WEEK!!!!! :bouncy :bouncy :bouncy
This is where it starts getting good for me!  Plus, we get Ellen.  Love her!

:bouncy
Me too Karen!

Anybody watching? :para

So far I'm impressed with Andrew Garcia and Casey James (guys) and Crystal Bowersox, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, Janell Wheeler, and Lilly Scott (girls).

They built Dave Pittman up so much (cute guy with Tourettes), then *poof* he's gone, didn't see him perform at all in Hollywood.  :icon_rolleyes: Was rooting for him....

Nice interview with Kara DioGuardi :

Kara Interview (http://www.fanbolt.com/headline/7430/Interview:_Kara_DioGuardi_from_'American_Idol')

I Like her as a judge, but sometimes I feel all alone in that opinion! :lol Wonder why people don't like her?   :bduh

KAREN, I guess I'm also one of the few people who DOES like Kara DioGuardi.  She is very professional and seems to know what makes a good singer.  I think she's definitely assumed a more assertive role among the judges since Paula Abdul left.   I miss Paula quite a bit, though.  (again, that probably puts me in the minority).  I also felt that behind all of that gibberish she would often make a lot of sense.  Of course, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, come to think of it!   :doh

As to Ellen DeGeneres, the jury's out as far as I'm concerned.  I'm just hoping she doesn't take too much leeway in going off on her comedic rants when it's her turn to comment on the contestants.  She already did so once, and it did irritate me a bit.  But all in all, she seems "harmless" enough so far.  :para

Thea, I really thought that the 4-judge thing was just a way of introducing a new judge (Kara) before kinda forcing Paula out.  But I guess they are committed to four.
I think 4 will work, now that Paula is gone.  Loved her but she really did go on and on when it was her turn, so the 4-judge concept wasn't working out. 

So far I feel that Ellen is trying pretty hard to take this new job seriously.  I enjoy a little fun from her as long as it isn't at a contestant's expense.

I'm with you; it's a "wait 'n' see" at this point!

My favorites all made it into Top 24! :bouncy :clap
Now to see how they hold up next week.  I assume they'll do the double eliminations from the girls and guys each week till they're down to 6 each like in the past.

Some of these people I haven't even heard at all yet.  Should be interesting!

Hmm, disappointing tonight.   I really thought the girls were going to dominate this season; now I'm not so sure. :para  Still like DiDi and Crystal, and I'm adding Siobhan to my short list.
The song choices tonight were weird to me.
Anybody else watching?  What did you think?

Karen, I have been kinda disappointed with a few exceptions in both nights :wink  I also thought the girls were really strong til last night :para Guys were some better tonight, but no real standouts so far :nixweiss:

Johanna if I had to pick out two and two of my fav's they would match your's~~Crystal, Siobhan, Casey and Andrew.  I'm with you in the judging too, still miss Paula :lol

I agree.... to Karen, didnt like most of the song choices.   hopefully they get better.......     just a couple i like so far.  Sharon i like the same ones you like...






Sasha

Hope there are some wise song choices this week, and that a few people break out with star-quality performances!  :bouncy  Are they getting wardrobe, makeup and hair help at this point, or does all that start with the Top 12?

Karen, by the casualness of some of the outfits I think maybe not yet :para :lol And then there was Adam, he didn't need help :lol :wink

Alex got voted off. :sad Strange, I thought he was becoming a popular favorite.
I'll miss that very unique voice, and hope by getting this exposure, that he gets some great opportunities.  I'd buy his album, for sure, if he gets an offer!!

I actually liked Todrick better than several who stayed in.  What a great sing-out; he was great!

Katelyn......so great last week.  I downloaded her song, I liked it so much.  Then the mistake with the Carole King song.  It's too bad.

Lilly.....sometimes loved the sound of her voice, but never felt the urge to download any of her music.  Maybe song choice?

Can not believe ALEX got voted off.  Really upsetting to me, to me he had the most unique voice of all.  Not really interested in the others. 

I have to admit it didn't bother me to see Lilly leave.  I never did care for her.  Not my favorite AI at all.  Just no one that reaches out and grabs me still.  Now that Alex is gone we will see.  Maybe someway they will bring him back.

I do worry about Crystal's health.  When she sang on Tuesday I noticed as soon as she had finished singing she hurried to sit down on the stage and knew by that she is still not really well.  I think she needs a hug.  :hugg

Shirley, they had Top 13 last year, why not this year?  They would've saved Alex during the show tho, if they were going to do Top 13.  I've never really known them to bring someone back after they end the show, unless someone gets disqualified or something. :sad

No more banana jokes for Ellen, I guess. :para :lol  I think she's probably upset about his leaving; seems like she could've pushed to have a Top 13, if so, since she's now a judge.

Shirley, I noticed that about Crystal, too!  Gee, she seems fragile!  I wonder if she will be able to handle the stress of the show.  From everything I've heard, they keep those kids so busy!  They'll start filming Ford commercials, now that it's Top 12, so that's even more to keep her from resting!

KAREN, Crystal seemed tired to me last night.  Seemed like it was an effort for her to even try and smile.  I think she is a nice and kind person so it seemed like she was just totally exhausted.   Yep I am worried about her and hope she has a doctor checking on her near by.  I just don't  understand why Alex was voted off.  I guess others couldn's see and hear what I did in him.  I would have enjoyed seeing his progress as the show continued.

I really liked Alex too and was very disappointed he was booted off.  wished Katie would have gone, I don't like her.  Without reading back, someone may have already said thsi but I heard Crystal has diabetes.  I thought she looked like she didn't feel well at all!!  I felt so bad for her!!

I signed a petition today to "Bring Alex back!"  :bouncy

It won't work, but I feel good for doing it.  Maybe he'll see that there is a petition and it will make him feel better.

Lori, I don't like Katie either. 

Go here to sign the petition, if you are interested!

http://www.change.org/actions/view/bring_alex_lambert_back_on_american_idol