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Karen Rodriguez Eliminated From ‘American Idol’

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart join her in the bottom three, while Black Eyed Peas and Lee DeWyze perform. By Adam Graham Karen Rodriguez Photo: FOX “Love Will Lead You Back” paved a path straight to elimination for Karen Rodriguez, who was shown the door on Thursday’s (March 17) elimination episode of “American Idol.” The 21-year-old bilingual-singing New Yorker, who was praised by Steven Tyler for her “ethnic what-it-is-ness” on Wednesday’s performance episode , pleaded her case before the judges when asking them to use the season’s one save to spare her another week. “I know I can do so much better, and I know you guys believe in me,” she said, fighting back tears, after a Hail Mary rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” But it wasn’t enough: While Randy Jackson said the decision was not unanimous, the judges decided not to let Rodriguez sing another day in the competition. It was Rodriguez’s second straight trip to the bottom three, real estate she shared this week with Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Adedapo was the first to be shown mercy by host Ryan Seacrest, leaving Reinhart and Rodriguez behind to face the music. Ultimately it was Rodriguez — who performed Taylor Dayne’s 1990 hit “Love Will Lead You Back” on Wednesday’s show, while wearing a sci-fi silver miniskirt and a Snooki-like pouf atop her head — that came up on the short end of America’s votes. During the teary goodbye, Rodriguez was consoled by the three judges, as well as her fellow contestants. When they were sent to the bottom three earlier in the show, neither Reinhart nor Adedapo seemed very surprised with their fates. Reinhart, who in a winding speech explained that she ultimately sees herself combining “rock and funk and blues” into one style (note: she sang Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” this week), gave a sighing “yippee!” when Seacrest told her she might be in the bottom three. Later, she mock dusted off her chair before sitting down in the same seat she held the week prior. Adedapo, who mouthed “wonder who?” when she was told it was either her or the week-winning Stefano Langone in the bottom three, practically marched to her seat before Seacrest even read the results. Call it the curse of the ladies: So far this season, a male has yet to land in the bottom of the bunch. Thia Megia thought she was going to see the wrath of the bottom three and explained to the judges that she’s got more in her than she’s shown thus far. “If you guys put me through, I’ll do so much better,” she said. “I can show so much more.” She survived another week, but she should be held to her promise to step things up a notch beyond the bland balladry she’s shown to date. Everyone else was safe to sit back and watch the show, which squeezed in performances by the Black Eyed Peas (who dedicated their new single “Just Can’t Get Enough” to “our friends in Japan”) and “American Idol” season-nine winner Lee DeWyze, who performed the sleepy, John Mayer-like ballad “Beautiful Like You” from his album Live It Up. The show opened with a medley of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” (sang by the guys) and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” (the girls), a cheeky homage to the week’s songs-from-your-birth-year theme. Were you surprised to see Karen go? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Karen Rodriguez Eliminated From ‘American Idol’

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Karen Rodriguez Eliminated From ‘American Idol’

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart join her in the bottom three, while Black Eyed Peas and Lee DeWyze perform. By Adam Graham Karen Rodriguez Photo: FOX “Love Will Lead You Back” paved a path straight to elimination for Karen Rodriguez, who was shown the door on Thursday’s (March 17) elimination episode of “American Idol.” The 21-year-old bilingual-singing New Yorker, who was praised by Steven Tyler for her “ethnic what-it-is-ness” on Wednesday’s performance episode , pleaded her case before the judges when asking them to use the season’s one save to spare her another week. “I know I can do so much better, and I know you guys believe in me,” she said, fighting back tears, after a Hail Mary rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.” But it wasn’t enough: While Randy Jackson said the decision was not unanimous, the judges decided not to let Rodriguez sing another day in the competition. It was Rodriguez’s second straight trip to the bottom three, real estate she shared this week with Naima Adedapo and Haley Reinhart. Adedapo was the first to be shown mercy by host Ryan Seacrest, leaving Reinhart and Rodriguez behind to face the music. Ultimately it was Rodriguez — who performed Taylor Dayne’s 1990 hit “Love Will Lead You Back” on Wednesday’s show, while wearing a sci-fi silver miniskirt and a Snooki-like pouf atop her head — that came up on the short end of America’s votes. During the teary goodbye, Rodriguez was consoled by the three judges, as well as her fellow contestants. When they were sent to the bottom three earlier in the show, neither Reinhart nor Adedapo seemed very surprised with their fates. Reinhart, who in a winding speech explained that she ultimately sees herself combining “rock and funk and blues” into one style (note: she sang Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight” this week), gave a sighing “yippee!” when Seacrest told her she might be in the bottom three. Later, she mock dusted off her chair before sitting down in the same seat she held the week prior. Adedapo, who mouthed “wonder who?” when she was told it was either her or the week-winning Stefano Langone in the bottom three, practically marched to her seat before Seacrest even read the results. Call it the curse of the ladies: So far this season, a male has yet to land in the bottom of the bunch. Thia Megia thought she was going to see the wrath of the bottom three and explained to the judges that she’s got more in her than she’s shown thus far. “If you guys put me through, I’ll do so much better,” she said. “I can show so much more.” She survived another week, but she should be held to her promise to step things up a notch beyond the bland balladry she’s shown to date. Everyone else was safe to sit back and watch the show, which squeezed in performances by the Black Eyed Peas (who dedicated their new single “Just Can’t Get Enough” to “our friends in Japan”) and “American Idol” season-nine winner Lee DeWyze, who performed the sleepy, John Mayer-like ballad “Beautiful Like You” from his album Live It Up. The show opened with a medley of Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” (sang by the guys) and Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” (the girls), a cheeky homage to the week’s songs-from-your-birth-year theme. Were you surprised to see Karen go? Let us know in the comments! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Who Was Sent Home on American Idol?

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Following performances by Adam Lambert and Diddy Dirty Money, the first American Idol finalist received the news he/she was fearful to hear tonight: it was time to go home. Who would the unlucky contestant be? Ashthon Jones, who sung Diana Ross one more time for the judges in an attempt to stave off elimination. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be, as Jennifer Lopez broke the news to the hopeful: “Not this time, baby, I’m sorry. And it was unanimous.” Jones proceeded to break down in tears and was comforted by her fellow finalists as the credits rolled. Did Ashthon Jones deserve to be eliminated this week?

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Who Was Sent Home on American Idol?

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Maybe We’re Amazed by James Durbin…

Posted on March 10, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

http://www.youtube.com/v/EHdHUqnei3g

Excerpt from:

Following a performance by Judas Priest last week, James Durbin channeled another famous hard hard metal artist last night in the form of… … Paul McCartney?!? This versatile contestant proved his range by going a bit soft during his first rendition as a finalist, covering “Maybe I’m Amazed” and earning wild praise from the judges. Said Randy: “You just kind of turned the other cheek, showed you… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Hollywood Gossip Discovery Date : 10/03/2011 04:28 Number of articles : 2

Maybe We’re Amazed by James Durbin…

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‘American Idol’ Top 13 Preview: Will Pia Toscano And Casey Abrams Deliver?

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

We take a look at what the semifinalists need to do to stay in the race. By Eric Ditzian “American Idol” top 13 Photo: FOX Word on the reality-show street is, Wednesday’s (March 9) “American Idol” theme will have the top 13 contestants singing the tunes of artists they worship, but that’s the farthest we’ll drive into spoiler territory. Producers made the decision to pretape the performance episode , and while the Web is rife with info about what went down during the show, we’ve chosen to avoid all that. What’s the fun in reading about a reality competition before actually seeing it? So diving into the upcoming episode with only past shows to inform us, let’s take a look at each singer: who we’re excited about, who we honestly don’t care for and who better step it up or risk getting the boot on Thursday night. Ashthon Jones The 25-year-old has a whole lotta potential, but as someone wiser than us once said, potential just means you ain’t done sh– yet. Jones displayed boatloads of confidence and stage presence last week, yet never set sail toward the front of the “Idol” pack. She’s got some R&B gifts, but something about her take on Monica’s “Love All Over Me” felt too self-consciously like she was reaching for a diva moment. Ashthon, you’re not quite there yet. There’s a reason the judges had to use a wild card to save you. Show us your fun, energetic side first. Win some voters over. Wait a few more weeks before going diva again. Casey Abrams This kid has two things going for him: a free-wheeling, blues- and soul-infused instrument and a likable, everydude demeanor. Whether he’s too quirky to win the whole shebang (see: Bowersox, Crystal) is an open question. But there’s no doubting he’s a fan favorite, and even if his new performance doesn’t even approach his eyebrow-raising take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You,” Abrams will be safe. We think we can count on him bringing the blues on Wednesday. Let’s see if he can tone down the growls a bit. Haley Reinhart Hey, we didn’t feel her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” but America clearly did, voting her through to the next round. If she delivers another performance with notes that ping-pong across the musical scale, she might be in trouble. Like Jones, we encourage Haley to dial back the diva-tude and realize she’s never going to out-belt someone like Keys. Song choice will be the key to her survival, or lack thereof. Jacob Lusk Last week, we argued that while Lusk is potentially on the brink of a breakout performance, he’s not quite there; there was something simply too old-fashioned about it. Though a Luther Vandross tune is already on his “Idol” r

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‘American Idol’ Top 13: The Experts Weigh In

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

All agree that Stefano Langone deserved his second chance, but some think Kendra Chantelle was robbed. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” contestant Brett Loewenstern Photo: FOX Hearts were broken, some dreams were dashed and others were realized while a trio of singers was saved from the pop-culture trash heap on Thursday night during the two-hour “American Idol” results show . We reached out to some of our favorite “Idol”izers to get their take on the action on the elimination extravaganza, and while they all had their complaints about who did and didn’t make the cut, the one thing they could all agree on was that Stefano Langone absolutely killed it when the chips were down. Entertainment Weekly critic Annie Barrett said that for the most part, the top 13 was dead-on. “Everyone who we knew in our hearts should be in the top 10 was voted in,” she said of such finalists as Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Paul McDonald and Pia Toscano. “The one surprise was that Haley Reinhart was voted into the top 10 by America,” she said of the singer who did a competent but unimpressive take on “Fallin’ ” by Alicia Keys this week. “I don’t think she would have gotten a judges’ wild card.” Barrett was firmly behind the decision to give Langone a second chance and said he killed it during his take on Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” which she said was full of feeling and emotion. As for the other wild-card winners, Barrett said Naima Adedapo did a nice job after choosing the wrong song on Wednesday night and proved she deserved to be on the show, but she wasn’t feeling Ashthon Jones. “I didn’t think she was good last night,” said Barrett of Jones’ just-OK attempt at the “Dreamgirls” number “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” “I’m surprised, but not surprised they wanted her because of who she is and what she looks like,” said Barrett. “She has that diva attitude and she’s a good character, so it’s good casting.” MTV’s resident “Idol” expert, Jim Cantiello, for one, was pissed at America and the judges for not giving Bette Midler-esque Lauren Turner another chance. “I’m livid with the judges for not letting her sing for a wild-card spot,” said Cantiello of the sassy former housecleaner. “Other than that, I’m not mad at the results, a far cry from last season’s semi-final bloodbath. Brett [Loewenstern] and Rachel [Zevita] were fun distractions, Robbie [Rosen] and Kendra [Chantelle’s] attempts at nuance went over the collective head of the voters, and Tim [Halperin] and Julie [Zorrilla] were both contestants who wilted without instruments.” For Cantiello, and for everyone, really, the night’s highlight was wild card Langone’s game-changing “I Need You Now,” which he said blew him away. “By the end of the two hours, America (and the judges) had selected a diverse, solid top 13 that should have us all glued to our TVs for the rest of the season. We have belters, young countrified whippersnappers, two sassy divas (one male, one female), a sex kitten, an exotic flower, a hair-metal throwback, and however you’d categorize Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams.” TVLine.com “Idol” recapper Michael Slezak, was adamant about one thing: Chantelle was robbed, robbed, he tells you! “Call 911, that was a felony!” he said of Chantelle’s failure to earn a wild-card berth despite what he called her show-stopping performance of “Georgia on My Mind” during her second-chance slot on Thursday’s show. “There’s no way you can tell me [after that performance] that the judges didn’t have minds made up of who was going into the top 13. I think those six performances we saw were a bit of ‘Idol’ theater more than them making their decisions.” Slezak also had high praise for Langone’s slam-dunk effort, saying the judges had already declared how much they liked him on Tuesday, even if America didn’t seem ready to commit. He thought the top 13 was solid and has him excited in a way last season’s finalists didn’t, mostly because there are no clear front-runners amid a talented group of vocalists who all have different, interesting strengths. “Last year, Crystal, Lee and Big Mike had already emerged at this point as ones to watch,” he said. “But while some of this year’s contestants have gotten more airtime, there are seven or eight [contestants] with a legitimate chance to take home the top prize.” Among his picks to watch are Toscano , whose story we haven’t really heard yet and who clearly was saving something in the tank considering her wow-worthy final slot on . He also likes McDonald’s “young Bradley Cooper-meets Mumford & Sons” look and style, though he worries the smiling singer’s quirky nature could doom him to “Idol” also-ran status. “I’m hoping Stefano remembers that feeling every time he takes the stage,” Slezak said of Langone’s go-for-broke emotional performance in the wild-card round. “It would behoove the other contestants to play that every time they take the stage to remind them that it’s do-or-die each time.” Do you agree with our experts on the top 13? Let us know in the comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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‘American Idol’ Top 13: The Experts Weigh In

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

All agree that Stefano Langone deserved his second chance, but some think Kendra Chantelle was robbed. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” contestant Brett Loewenstern Photo: FOX Hearts were broken, some dreams were dashed and others were realized while a trio of singers was saved from the pop-culture trash heap on Thursday night during the two-hour “American Idol” results show . We reached out to some of our favorite “Idol”izers to get their take on the action on the elimination extravaganza, and while they all had their complaints about who did and didn’t make the cut, the one thing they could all agree on was that Stefano Langone absolutely killed it when the chips were down. Entertainment Weekly critic Annie Barrett said that for the most part, the top 13 was dead-on. “Everyone who we knew in our hearts should be in the top 10 was voted in,” she said of such finalists as Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Paul McDonald and Pia Toscano. “The one surprise was that Haley Reinhart was voted into the top 10 by America,” she said of the singer who did a competent but unimpressive take on “Fallin’ ” by Alicia Keys this week. “I don’t think she would have gotten a judges’ wild card.” Barrett was firmly behind the decision to give Langone a second chance and said he killed it during his take on Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” which she said was full of feeling and emotion. As for the other wild-card winners, Barrett said Naima Adedapo did a nice job after choosing the wrong song on Wednesday night and proved she deserved to be on the show, but she wasn’t feeling Ashthon Jones. “I didn’t think she was good last night,” said Barrett of Jones’ just-OK attempt at the “Dreamgirls” number “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” “I’m surprised, but not surprised they wanted her because of who she is and what she looks like,” said Barrett. “She has that diva attitude and she’s a good character, so it’s good casting.” MTV’s resident “Idol” expert, Jim Cantiello, for one, was pissed at America and the judges for not giving Bette Midler-esque Lauren Turner another chance. “I’m livid with the judges for not letting her sing for a wild-card spot,” said Cantiello of the sassy former housecleaner. “Other than that, I’m not mad at the results, a far cry from last season’s semi-final bloodbath. Brett [Loewenstern] and Rachel [Zevita] were fun distractions, Robbie [Rosen] and Kendra [Chantelle’s] attempts at nuance went over the collective head of the voters, and Tim [Halperin] and Julie [Zorrilla] were both contestants who wilted without instruments.” For Cantiello, and for everyone, really, the night’s highlight was wild card Langone’s game-changing “I Need You Now,” which he said blew him away. “By the end of the two hours, America (and the judges) had selected a diverse, solid top 13 that should have us all glued to our TVs for the rest of the season. We have belters, young countrified whippersnappers, two sassy divas (one male, one female), a sex kitten, an exotic flower, a hair-metal throwback, and however you’d categorize Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams.” TVLine.com “Idol” recapper Michael Slezak, was adamant about one thing: Chantelle was robbed, robbed, he tells you! “Call 911, that was a felony!” he said of Chantelle’s failure to earn a wild-card berth despite what he called her show-stopping performance of “Georgia on My Mind” during her second-chance slot on Thursday’s show. “There’s no way you can tell me [after that performance] that the judges didn’t have minds made up of who was going into the top 13. I think those six performances we saw were a bit of ‘Idol’ theater more than them making their decisions.” Slezak also had high praise for Langone’s slam-dunk effort, saying the judges had already declared how much they liked him on Tuesday, even if America didn’t seem ready to commit. He thought the top 13 was solid and has him excited in a way last season’s finalists didn’t, mostly because there are no clear front-runners amid a talented group of vocalists who all have different, interesting strengths. “Last year, Crystal, Lee and Big Mike had already emerged at this point as ones to watch,” he said. “But while some of this year’s contestants have gotten more airtime, there are seven or eight [contestants] with a legitimate chance to take home the top prize.” Among his picks to watch are Toscano , whose story we haven’t really heard yet and who clearly was saving something in the tank considering her wow-worthy final slot on . He also likes McDonald’s “young Bradley Cooper-meets Mumford & Sons” look and style, though he worries the smiling singer’s quirky nature could doom him to “Idol” also-ran status. “I’m hoping Stefano remembers that feeling every time he takes the stage,” Slezak said of Langone’s go-for-broke emotional performance in the wild-card round. “It would behoove the other contestants to play that every time they take the stage to remind them that it’s do-or-die each time.” Do you agree with our experts on the top 13? Let us know in the comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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‘American Idol’ Top 13: The Experts Weigh In

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‘American Idol’ Top 13: The Experts Weigh In

Posted on March 4, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

All agree that Stefano Langone deserved his second chance, but some think Kendra Chantelle was robbed. By Gil Kaufman “American Idol” contestant Brett Loewenstern Photo: FOX Hearts were broken, some dreams were dashed and others were realized while a trio of singers was saved from the pop-culture trash heap on Thursday night during the two-hour “American Idol” results show . We reached out to some of our favorite “Idol”izers to get their take on the action on the elimination extravaganza, and while they all had their complaints about who did and didn’t make the cut, the one thing they could all agree on was that Stefano Langone absolutely killed it when the chips were down. Entertainment Weekly critic Annie Barrett said that for the most part, the top 13 was dead-on. “Everyone who we knew in our hearts should be in the top 10 was voted in,” she said of such finalists as Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery, Jacob Lusk, James Durbin, Paul McDonald and Pia Toscano. “The one surprise was that Haley Reinhart was voted into the top 10 by America,” she said of the singer who did a competent but unimpressive take on “Fallin’ ” by Alicia Keys this week. “I don’t think she would have gotten a judges’ wild card.” Barrett was firmly behind the decision to give Langone a second chance and said he killed it during his take on Smokie Norful’s “I Need You Now,” which she said was full of feeling and emotion. As for the other wild-card winners, Barrett said Naima Adedapo did a nice job after choosing the wrong song on Wednesday night and proved she deserved to be on the show, but she wasn’t feeling Ashthon Jones. “I didn’t think she was good last night,” said Barrett of Jones’ just-OK attempt at the “Dreamgirls” number “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” “I’m surprised, but not surprised they wanted her because of who she is and what she looks like,” said Barrett. “She has that diva attitude and she’s a good character, so it’s good casting.” MTV’s resident “Idol” expert, Jim Cantiello, for one, was pissed at America and the judges for not giving Bette Midler-esque Lauren Turner another chance. “I’m livid with the judges for not letting her sing for a wild-card spot,” said Cantiello of the sassy former housecleaner. “Other than that, I’m not mad at the results, a far cry from last season’s semi-final bloodbath. Brett [Loewenstern] and Rachel [Zevita] were fun distractions, Robbie [Rosen] and Kendra [Chantelle’s] attempts at nuance went over the collective head of the voters, and Tim [Halperin] and Julie [Zorrilla] were both contestants who wilted without instruments.” For Cantiello, and for everyone, really, the night’s highlight was wild card Langone’s game-changing “I Need You Now,” which he said blew him away. “By the end of the two hours, America (and the judges) had selected a diverse, solid top 13 that should have us all glued to our TVs for the rest of the season. We have belters, young countrified whippersnappers, two sassy divas (one male, one female), a sex kitten, an exotic flower, a hair-metal throwback, and however you’d categorize Paul McDonald and Casey Abrams.” TVLine.com “Idol” recapper Michael Slezak, was adamant about one thing: Chantelle was robbed, robbed, he tells you! “Call 911, that was a felony!” he said of Chantelle’s failure to earn a wild-card berth despite what he called her show-stopping performance of “Georgia on My Mind” during her second-chance slot on Thursday’s show. “There’s no way you can tell me [after that performance] that the judges didn’t have minds made up of who was going into the top 13. I think those six performances we saw were a bit of ‘Idol’ theater more than them making their decisions.” Slezak also had high praise for Langone’s slam-dunk effort, saying the judges had already declared how much they liked him on Tuesday, even if America didn’t seem ready to commit. He thought the top 13 was solid and has him excited in a way last season’s finalists didn’t, mostly because there are no clear front-runners amid a talented group of vocalists who all have different, interesting strengths. “Last year, Crystal, Lee and Big Mike had already emerged at this point as ones to watch,” he said. “But while some of this year’s contestants have gotten more airtime, there are seven or eight [contestants] with a legitimate chance to take home the top prize.” Among his picks to watch are Toscano , whose story we haven’t really heard yet and who clearly was saving something in the tank considering her wow-worthy final slot on . He also likes McDonald’s “young Bradley Cooper-meets Mumford & Sons” look and style, though he worries the smiling singer’s quirky nature could doom him to “Idol” also-ran status. “I’m hoping Stefano remembers that feeling every time he takes the stage,” Slezak said of Langone’s go-for-broke emotional performance in the wild-card round. “It would behoove the other contestants to play that every time they take the stage to remind them that it’s do-or-die each time.” Do you agree with our experts on the top 13? Let us know in the comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘Idol Party Live’ With MTV News’ Jim Cantiello Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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‘American Idol’ Top 13: The Experts Weigh In

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‘American Idol’ Spares Stefano Langone, Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10. By Gil Kaufman Stefano Langon performs on “American Idol” Photo: FOX After what’s felt like years (OK, just two months), “American Idol” finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists. After copious time-killing segments, Ryan Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher’s “OMG,” Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women’s slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one’s surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone’s guess who would be out when two of this season’s standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls’ bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple’s “Criminal.” Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men’s spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the “Dreamgirls” classic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful’s emotional ballad “I Need You Now,” filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia on My Mind,” starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn’t sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada’s “Angel” to the woman he once loved, figuring he’d try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was “you did all you could do,” which didn’t sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn’t seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway’s “For all we Know,” but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima’s tears signaled that she didn’t feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard,” reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren’t ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez’s “On the Floor” to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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‘American Idol’ Spares Stefano Langone, Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones

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Can Pia Toscano Or Thia Megia Win ‘American Idol’?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Experts weigh in on the top 12 women and their chances of making it through to the finals. By Gil Kaufman Pia Toscano Photo: Michael Becker / FOX Thursday night is when some “American Idol” dreams will come true, and a dozen or more will be crushed and sprinkled all across the seizure-inducing new IdolDome stage. But before all that carnage and celebration, we once again turned to some of our “Idol” experts to make some predictions about this season’s front-runners after the top 12 women did their thing on Wednesday night. Because he just can’t get enough of all things “Idol,” we turned to MTV News’ resident expert Jim Cantiello for his take on which ladies soared and which ones crashed and burned. Despite a few serious stinkers, JC said he continues to be shocked by the caliber of vocalists on the show this season. “You believe that these were the finest singers they found while on the road,” he said, noting two “atom-bomb-sized surprises” on Wednesday night. His first revelation was former housekeeper Lauren Turner, whose choice of Etta James’ “Seven Day Fool” he deemed perfect and full of attitude. “[She] stood out from the pack with her gravelly blues voice and in-your-face performance style,” he said. The other big surprise was show-closer Pia Toscano , the raven-haired beauty who sang the Pretenders’ “I’ll Stand by You,” which he said, “dug deep and showed off her pitch-perfect pipes. Her range was sick, she had confidence, she effortlessly hit some major power notes. America stood up and noticed, as did the judges, who gave her the first official standing ovation of season 10.” If he had to pick a stand-out front-runner, though, at this point, Cantiello is still going with 16-year-old sassafras Lauren Alaina. “[It’s her] race to lose,” he said. “She’s everything ‘Idol’ is looking for. [She] got up onstage and looked like she could have commanded a live audience 10 times bigger without flinching. She has stage presence, a powerful voice, and she has a unique ability to live somewhere in between R&B, pop and country.” And while he thought the Carrie Underwood/Kelly Clarkson comparisons from Randy Jackson were not off the mark, Cantiello wondered if Alaina’s need to always be the center of attention might start grating on voters’ nerves? As for the other 16-year-old, Jim said Thia Megia has great pitch and a large fanbase, but he just can’t “picture her at the Nokia, covered in confetti. Unless she steps up her personality.” A great measure of how polarizing “Idol” contestants can be is the list of hot prospects submitted by Top Idol blog founder Melinda Green. One of her favorite performances was from this year’s obligatory oddball, Rachel Zevita. Though the judges thought Zevita blew it with her jazzy, off key take on Fiona Apple’s “Criminal,” Green loved it. “I really hope we see more of her. Alas, I think the judges would prefer sending through Ashthon Jones,” Green said of the Nashville native with the giant, blow-out hairdo whose sultry cover of Monica’s “Love All Over Me” earned raves. Green wasn’t sipping the “Idol” juice, though. “Every performance I’ve seen of this girl has been the same tired R&B diva wannabe shtick we’re treated to every season,” she said. She also liked Naima Adedapo, but is looking for more personality from the Erykah Badu-like singer and clothing designer. Lamenting how many of Wednesday night’s singers opted for tunes we’ve heard a dozen times in past seasons, Green said Karen Rodriguez made it interesting by singing half of Mariah Carey’s “Hero” in Spanish, but wondered if it was a bit too obvious pandering to judge Jennifer Lopez. Green agreed with Cantiello that Alaina might start to strike some viewers as a “precocious coquette as taught by her stage mother” and said despite her “perfect tone,” Thia Megia may not have the emotional maturity to connect with the songs she’s singing. “With this year’s emphasis on youth and the show’s clear aim of getting a viable female winner, we’ll be forced to see more of both Thia and Lauren Alaina,” she lamented. Bottom line, Green agreed that Toscano can go far and just needs to show more personality and that Turner has the goods that could take her deep into the competition. “She’s got the kind of voice I love,” she said, agreeing with Randy Jackson’s description of Turner as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. “If ‘American Idol’ wants current, they best do everything they can to keep Lauren Turner around. She’s the real deal, no theatrics, just raw talent.” Do you agree with our experts? Who do you think is headed for elimination tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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