Category: american idol season 10

The top 2 perfomed in American Idol Season 10 Episode 38. Tonight either Scotty McCreery or Lauren Alaina will win the crown of American Idol Season 10 winner based on America’s votes.

I hope you’ve set your Tivo for half an hour extra. The show’s scheduled to run over by 7 minutes after 2 hours of filler, but American Idol producers aren’t exactly known for their understanding of the concept of either time or DVR viewing.

Going into the first Simon Cowellfree season, I didn’t expect much. Problem is I didn’t even get not much. Jennifer Lopez made something resembling an effort, but Steven Tyler is a waste of a judges’ position. May as well just record him saying “beautiful” and pay him royalties to hit the button after every performance. The lack of any real judging neither helped to weed out the bad contestants nor improve the good ones, while eliminating perhaps the best singer early.

Nonetheless, the show remains #1, although the better and fresher The Voice is the first show in the genre to be moderately competitive and has managed to put NBC on the map for a change. At least Simon will be back in the fall for X Factor.

With 4 minutes left, it’s time to dim the lights. Looks like Seacrest may get done on time. The American Idol Season 10 winner is Scotty McCreery.

Haley Reinhart was finally eliminated in American Idol Season 10 Episode 37, leaving us with a final two battle between young country singers Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina. Thankfully tonight’s show is only 1 hour long.

Lauren blew out one of her vocal chords, but the doctor says she’ll be fine to make it through the hour. At least the rumors of Haley returning did not end up coming true.

Scotty starts off with Gone by Montgomery Gentry, and Lauren kicks off the night with Flat on the Floor by Carrie Underwood.

Then Scotty sings Check Yes or No by George Strait (chosen by George Strait). Seems we’re not going to be getting much judging tonight. Not that we normally do. All we get from this panel is how everything is beautiful. Lauren follows with Maybe It Was Memphis by Pam Tillis (chosen by Carrie Underwood, who at least didn’t pick her own song).

Randy gives round 1 to Scotty, but he gives round 2 to Lauren. Jennifer agrees with him. Steven offers no useful insight. Next they’ll both sing their winner’s songs, which typically just get chucked aside quickly. The only memorable one is Kelly Clarkson’s A Moment Like This.

Scotty McCreery
Song: I Love You This Big
Randy: Not the perfect song for you, but the range was great. Brilliant vocal.
Jennifer: Amazing job.
Steven: Come a long way.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Lauren Alaina
Song: Like My Mother Does
Randy: Great song. Finally the Lauren we grew to love in Nashville.
Jennifer: You may have just won.
Steven: You are it in my eyes.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Randy gives round 3 to Lauren. Jennifer just says it was a tight race. Steven finally makes a decision, giving Lauren the win.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 39, where we will find out who the American Idol Season 10 winner is, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

The top 3 performed in American Idol Season 10 Episode 36. Tonight one (presumably female) will go home.

Between Casey and Haley, I’m quite done with the growling. Quite.

With only three people left, Seacrest has a lot of time to waste. Even the first result may not come in for 55 minutes. Strangely, though, I found this episode more watchable than the typical elimination show.

It goes without saying that the first person with a shot at this season’s title is Scotty McCreery.

That leaves us with a battle between the girls as expected. The person who will compete against Scotty in the finale is Lauren Alaina. So basically neither person in the top two can drink. Or vote. 6 weeks after her first trip to the bottom three, Haley Reinhart has finally been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 38, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on Fox.

With the elimination of James Durbin in American Idol Season 10 Episode 35, one of the frontrunners departed the competition earlier than many expected. Could be worse. America could have voted out Pia while keeping far weaker singers around instead. Oh. Wait. At least we get to watch Haley get all mad when the judges give her criticism.

Okay, for starters, two hours? Really? Even for three songs each, I repeat. Really? Still, less filler than the fastforwarding I’ll be doing tomorrow.

First, they will sing songs chosen by themselves with guest mentor Beyonce.

Scotty McCreery
Song: Amazed by Lonestar
Steven: Saw you get angry. That’s what I’ve been waiting for.
Jennifer: Good to see you use your vibrato.
Randy: I recorded the song. I produced it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Lauren Alaina
Song: Wild One by Faith Hill
Jennifer: Gotta attack it like that every single time.
Randy: Nice song choice. Could tell you were loving it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Haley Reinhart
Song: What Is and What Should Never Be by Led Zeppelin
Randy: What it’s all about. One of your best performances ever.
Steven: Superb.
Jennifer: I’ve fallen on stage.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

The judges give round 1 to Haley. I don’t get it. For round 2, Jimmy Iovine will make the song choices. Oh joy. We’ve seen how well that works.

Scotty McCreery
Song: Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not by Thompson Square
Steven: You were living that one.
Jennifer: That’s what the zone feels like.
Randy: Great song for you. Approaching that Garth level performance.

Lauren Alaina
Song: If I Die Young by The Band Perry
Jennifer: Most beautiful tone of our finalists. Got caught up in the honesty a couple times.
Randy: What she said.
Steven: Beautiful song, beautiful voice, nailed it again.

Haley Reinhart
Song: Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks
Randy: Perfect pitch. More of a somber moment.
Steven: Remind me of why I fell in love with Stevie Nicks.
Jennifer: Thought you were going to take it a little further. Nice contrast to what you did earlier.

He may have picked some pretty obscure songs, but Jimmy didn’t do too badly after all. Steven gives this round to Lauren, while Jennifer and Randy give it to Scotty. Jimmy goes with Scotty, too, I think. The judges get to pick for round 3.

Scotty McCreery
Song: She Believes in Me by Kenny Rogers
Steven: Haven’t heard you sing a chorus yet like that.
Jennifer: I guess you showed us.
Randy: So sweet and tender in the front. Hit the chorus.

Lauren Alaina
Song: I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack
Jennifer: Goosies from head to toe. You won that round for me already.
Randy: Sure Lee Ann’s watching and saying dude you slayed it.
Steven: Like you owned the Grand Ole Opry.

Haley Reinhart
Song: You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
Randy: Some amazing choruses for you. Loved seeing you rock out. A little problem with the rhythm.
Jennifer: Nobody who can match you in the choruses.

Steven gives round 3 to Haley. Jennifer gives it to Lauren. Randy agrees.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 37, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

The top 4 performed in American Idol Season 10 Episode 34. Tonight one more will be sent packing.

Can Haley be sent home already? Please? If you can’t take mild constructive criticism, don’t be in the music industry and/or on a show where there are judges whose job it is to help you improve (Steven Tyler notwithstanding), which they’re supposed to do in ways other than gushing about your performances and saying everything is beautiful. Refusing to listen to the judges and instead arguing with them is just going to irritate people, without winning you the new votes needed to replace them. Just be happy you made it this far and Simon isn’t there to be his usual blunt (but honest and accurate) self.

Lauren Alaina is the first person to make it to the top three.

Haley Reinhart is the second person to make it to the top three. Before her temper tantrum, that wouldn’t have entirely surprised me, on the basis that we’ve seen people slip through the cracks and by some accident make their way to #3 in the past.

Scotty McCreery is the final person in the top three. James Durbin has been eliminated. At no point this season would I have predicted that.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 36, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

Jacob Lusk was eliminated in American Idol Season 10 Episode 33. Tonight the top 4 will perform songs from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who I am going to assume are actual people based on my Googling (let me guess, Scotty’s going to do Elvis?).

James Durbin
Song: Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Jennifer: Great song, great job, great performance.
Randy: Highest degree of difficulty, and you did it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-05

Haley Reinhart
Song: Earth Song by Michael Jackson
Jennifer: Felt your feeling in the song. But James set the bar.
Randy: Didn’t suit you. Felt like you were just screaming at the end.
Steven: Not a hit song, but you nailed it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-06

Haley’s on stage arguing with Randy and doesn’t want to hear what he has to say. This has been a futile and frankly stupid tactic ever since Justin Guarini did it to Simon in season 1.

Scotty McCreery
Song: Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) by Alan Jackson
Randy: Perfect song choice for where we are now as a country. You’re ready for superstardom.
Steven: That passion is real important. Keep that up.
Jennifer: I’m in love with you.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Lauren Alaina
Song: Do It Anyway by Martina McBride
Steven: Your voice is so pure and perfect.
Jennifer: Exactly what you have to do. Great vocal performance.
Randy: Lauren is back in it to win it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Jennifer is unwilling to say who won that round. What, you expected her to have an opinion? Randy thinks it’s a tie between Scotty, James, and Lauren.

Haley Reinhart
Song: I Who Have Nothing by Ben E. King
Jennifer: Look what you’re capable of. One of the best performances of the year.
Randy: Just had a moment which put you in it to win it.
Steven: Classic moment with classic Haley.

Scotty McCreery
Song: Young Blood from Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Randy: You were having such a good time. We just saw both sides of a Scotty concert.
Steven: Loved the humor.
Jennifer: Really hit your stride.

Lauren Alaina
Song: Trouble by Elvis Presley
Jennifer: Some maturity from you we haven’t seen before. Serious good performance.
Randy: Out of your typical pop country kind of thing. Big ups to you.

James Durbin
Song: Love Potion Number 9 by The Clovers
Jennifer: You can sing anything.
Randy: Peaking at the right time.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 35, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

The top 5 performed in American Idol Season 10 Episode 32. Tonight one more will be eliminated.

So the question now is obvious. Haley? Or Jacob?

Lauren Alaina starts a group on the near side of the stage. Jimmy didn’t like her either. Jacob Lusk, who Jimmy did not like, too, joins her.

James Durbin starts a group on the far side of the stage. Jimmy didn’t like him or at least felt he showed weakness. Haley joins James, and Jimmy loves her (for a change) because she followed his bad advice.

Seacrest tells Scotty that last week was a lame fake out to create manufactured drama. Although he was standing there with Casey when Casey was eliminated, he has never actually been in the bottom two. That trend continues, as Scotty is safe (if it matters, Jimmy likes him, mostly). He can now join whichever group he feels is safe. Seacrest, you’ve done this like five times before. It’s been stupid every time. Scotty says no, so he gets walked over the safe group, James and Haley.

The person going home tonight is Jacob.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 34, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

Casey Abrams was voted out in American Idol Season 10 Episode 31. Again. Tonight the top 5 each perform one song from the 1960s and one current song. Sheryl Crow, who considers Idol to be overcommercialized undermining of art, will be the mentor this week. Here’s hoping she drives to the session in a Ford and partakes in a glass or two of Coke.

James Durbin
Song: Closer to the Edge by 30 Seconds to Mars
Steven: Kicked that song’s ass.
Jennifer: Showing us that you want it.
Randy: Fit well there. Showing us where you could go as an artist.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-06

Jacob Lusk
Song: No Air by Jordin Sparks, feat. Chris Brown
Jennifer: Struggling with what kind of songs you do.
Randy: Not the direction for you. Nobody should be singing both parts of a duet.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Lauren Alaina
Song: Flat on the Floor by Carrie Underwood
Randy: That is the direction for you. Loved you showing this fun, energetic side.
Steven: As good as it gets.
Jennifer: Ate that up.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Scotty McCreery
Song: Gone by Montgomery Gentry
Steven: Saw you dance with the devil tonight.
Jennifer: I heard some growling in there. (Like we didn’t get more than enough of that from Casey.)
Randy: Who knew you could rock the stage like that?
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

Haley Reinhart
Song: You and I (unreleased) by Lady GaGa
Jennifer: Not sure Jimmy gave you the best advice.
Randy: So risky. Don’t know if this did you any favors.
Steven: Took the song and made it work for yourself.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-10

James Durbin
Song: Without You by Harry Nilsson
Randy: Mark of truly a great performer. Not the perfect vocals but emotionally perfect. This competition is yours to lose.
Steven: As beautiful as it gets.
Jennifer: Heart and soul back it up. You are an artist.

Jacob Lusk
Song: Love Hurts by Nazareth
Steven: Kind of got lost in the song, but what a beautiful delivery.
Jennifer: Really brought it home at the end.
Randy: Redeemed yourself on this one. Might have been the highest note ever sung on this stage.

Lauren Alaina
Song: Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
Jennifer: Beautiful song sang beautifully.
Randy: So happy to see this other side of you.
Steven: Could listen to you all night.

Scotty McCreery
Song: Always on My Mind by Elvis Presley
Jennifer: What a well rounded artist you are.
Randy: Our youngest veteran. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Haley Reinhart
Song: The Hostile Rising Sun by The Animals
Randy: The award for the best performance of the night goes to Haley.
Steven: Think you sold everybody tonight.
Jennifer: That song has never been sang like that before.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 10 Episode 33, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.