American Idol

Is is really that big of a surprise to anyone that the group numbers on "Idol" are prerecorded? The thought never crossed my mind until last week, when the wannabes were racing all around the stage — They’re downstage! Stage left! Back to centerstage! — with perfect vocals and no hint of breathlessness. It’s true,…

Seacrest promised that it was gonna be a good show and, in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, suggested that it might get even better after a few pints. As a card-carrying Kelly, I can attest that this was indeed the case. I can also tell you that Paula’s brow lift seems to have settled…

Seriously, are the producers just making the rules up as they go? First there was the (supposedly) spur-of-the-moment Top 13. Now comes the Judge’s Save, in which they can overrule one of America’s votes during the season. Yet another way for the judges to push through their favorites. You’d think it would be easy to mock…

First things first: Nice brow lift and new cheeks, Paula! Secondly, thank God for Seacrest! How else would we know to be “extra careful” when dialing the “special number” given to the 13th contestant? No doubt 866-IDOLS-13 got more traffic than usual last night as fans either misdialed or called out of curiosity. Didn’t have…

The long awaited Wild Card round aired last night, with performances at the top and results at the end of the show – yes, including yet another “shocker.” Don’t you wish Hollywood Week had been this efficient? The Performances: Jesse Langseth kicked off the night with a sultry performance of “Tell Me Something Good.”  It…

“Idol” again took a stab at making us misty-eyed by airing slow-mo clips of the hopefuls crying and whatnot, backed by poignant music. But at least this week’s results show had a bit more meat to it than last week’s. Let’s get to the good stuff. After a cheesy Up With People group version of…

Confused about how Thursday’s Wild Card round will work? You’re not alone. In fact, it could be that’s just what Fox wants – part of the network’s master plan to drum up viewership. There’s reason for the confusion. Initially, it was announced that the next-highest vote-getter from each group (essentially the fourth-place contestant) would automatically…

Does Fox actually program their “Idol” shows now with the knowledge that everyone is watching on Tivo? How else to explain the hour-long Results Show? And the filler. Did I mention filler? Oh, sorry, they call them “recaps.” First, there was a video montage RECAP of the hopefuls’ “Idol Journey,” which mainly featured our contenders…

Unlike a certain curvaceous diva who is touted as a great songstress yet chose to lip-synch on Oscar night, at least last night’s contestants actually sang live.    You’d never have known it. As the judges continue to stress, with only three people from each group moving forward, now is the time for these would-be’s…

ANOOP TROOP DISAPPOINTED IN ‘IDOL’ SHOCKERAlthough viewers were promised a shorter results show this season, last night’s “American Idol” timed in at the usual 60 minutes.  Time was filled with recaps, a toe-tapping group performance of Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” encores from those progressing to the Top 12 and a duet from last season’s Carly…

GROUP ONE SUFFERS IDENTITY CRISIS Last night’s show definitely had a theme and it was this: identity crisis.  Many of the contestants, perhaps in an effort to “take risks,” sang songs that completely contradicted the artists that they had claimed to be in weeks prior. There is a sense that the contestants feel that they…