So remember how I sorta slammed Tuesday night’s show for giving us “good” singers who weren’t all that good, “bad singers” who weren’t that entertaining, and a guest judge who was a complete non-factor?
Well Wednesday’s 90-minute audition episode from Atlanta pretty much remedied all those problems. I’m thinking the shorter running time had something to do with the higher quality of the episode. (Although, the show still did waste WAY too much time with that tragically unfunny bit mocking Jesse Hamilton — who’d had three near death experiences — as well as pretty much everyone from the south.)
Then again, maybe Atlanta is just generally a more entertaining city than Boston. (Sure, I’m trying to start something!) Either way, Wednesday’s episodes gave me the first pair of contestants I could easily see in, at least, the semifinals and maybe even on the big stage. (As an extra-added bonus, they were both thoroughly likable.)
I’m loathed to agree with Randy Jackson, but the dawg had it right when he said professional church singer Jermaine Sellers’ audition (pictured, left) was the best vocal we’ve heard this year. (He needs to slow down on those runs, though.) He brought a nice R&B flavor to “What if God was One of Us” (artistry!) and, more importantly, the guy had genuine star quality. I’d be shocked if we don’t hear from this guy again.
Meanwhile, my favorite thing about Mallory Haley’s audition (pictured, right) was that she walked in with absolutely no fanfare or sob story, stepped on the mini-dance floor the producers have set up this season and delivered a strong, confident version of “Piece of My Heart.” Her charisma may not be as overt as Jermaine’s, but her assured “I’m a star” attitude (without coming off as cocky) is just as appealing.
I wasn’t as excited about the evening’s other stars. For example, I think it’s cool that Tennessean Vanessa Wolfe likes to bridge jump and that she’ll get to ride on a plane for the first time, but it’s hard to get excited about someone who probably has no chance of sniffing the semifinals. (Then again, she has a memorable personality, which can be just as important on this show.) Keia Johnson delivered a confident version of “My Heart Will Go On”, but (like Nina Garcia) I have to question her taste level. (Can you tell I’m ready for “Project Runway” tonight?) I mean, THAT song? Really?! Then there’s Bryan Walker, the singing policeman, who is a nice guy, but much less interesting than the “Cop Rock” images that flood my mind when I hear “singing policeman.”
There were other people I liked (like, um, girl who sang “The Climb” who got lumped into a three-person montage), but there was no time to show more because we had to get in three offensive and unfunny dramatizations making fun of hicks.
The show seemed to set up Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler and “Guitar Girl” for ridicule, but (holy Norman Gentle and Tatyana del Toro!) these two could actually sing a little. Well, Skii Bo Ski more so than guitar girl. In fact, I give Skii Bo Ski (or, as his discount shirt read: Ski Bo Ski) the general edge because his character is actually pretty entertaining, while “Guitar Girl” is not interesting at all beyond the fact that she’s dressed as a guitar. (Which isn’t that interesting to begin with.) Or, as Mary J. Blige put it, “I don’t get.it.”
Out of the delusional losers, the other one who really stood out was Stereotypical Angry Black guy who was determined as hell to perform “Kiss from a Rose” for the judges. (It was actually the most unpleasant version of “Kiss from a Rose” I’ve ever heard.) Hopefully, those security guys who escorted him out of the arena walked him right into an anger management class.
Fortunately, the evening ended on a high note. (Not literally.) Sensing they had another potential William Hung on their hands, the producers held off on introducing us to Gen. Larry Pratt and “Pants on the Ground” until the very end. Yes, this was very funny, and YES, I agree with the message (people should wear pants that fit, damnit!) but the whole thing felt a mite too manufactured. It’s like they were trying to and expecting this thing to become a viral hit (which it has) rather than letting it happen naturally.
So what’d you think of this episode? Where did Simon disappear to toward the end of the episode? Did you enjoy Mary J. Blige or did you think her laughing in some contestants’ face was rude? (Sorry, but some people deserve to be laughed at.) Finally, can YOU see any of these people in the finals?
Well Wednesday’s 90-minute audition episode from Atlanta pretty much remedied all those problems. I’m thinking the shorter running time had something to do with the higher quality of the episode. (Although, the show still did waste WAY too much time with that tragically unfunny bit mocking Jesse Hamilton — who’d had three near death experiences — as well as pretty much everyone from the south.)
Then again, maybe Atlanta is just generally a more entertaining city than Boston. (Sure, I’m trying to start something!) Either way, Wednesday’s episodes gave me the first pair of contestants I could easily see in, at least, the semifinals and maybe even on the big stage. (As an extra-added bonus, they were both thoroughly likable.)
I’m loathed to agree with Randy Jackson, but the dawg had it right when he said professional church singer Jermaine Sellers’ audition (pictured, left) was the best vocal we’ve heard this year. (He needs to slow down on those runs, though.) He brought a nice R&B flavor to “What if God was One of Us” (artistry!) and, more importantly, the guy had genuine star quality. I’d be shocked if we don’t hear from this guy again.
Meanwhile, my favorite thing about Mallory Haley’s audition (pictured, right) was that she walked in with absolutely no fanfare or sob story, stepped on the mini-dance floor the producers have set up this season and delivered a strong, confident version of “Piece of My Heart.” Her charisma may not be as overt as Jermaine’s, but her assured “I’m a star” attitude (without coming off as cocky) is just as appealing.
I wasn’t as excited about the evening’s other stars. For example, I think it’s cool that Tennessean Vanessa Wolfe likes to bridge jump and that she’ll get to ride on a plane for the first time, but it’s hard to get excited about someone who probably has no chance of sniffing the semifinals. (Then again, she has a memorable personality, which can be just as important on this show.) Keia Johnson delivered a confident version of “My Heart Will Go On”, but (like Nina Garcia) I have to question her taste level. (Can you tell I’m ready for “Project Runway” tonight?) I mean, THAT song? Really?! Then there’s Bryan Walker, the singing policeman, who is a nice guy, but much less interesting than the “Cop Rock” images that flood my mind when I hear “singing policeman.”
There were other people I liked (like, um, girl who sang “The Climb” who got lumped into a three-person montage), but there was no time to show more because we had to get in three offensive and unfunny dramatizations making fun of hicks.
The show seemed to set up Antonio “Skii Bo Ski” Wheeler and “Guitar Girl” for ridicule, but (holy Norman Gentle and Tatyana del Toro!) these two could actually sing a little. Well, Skii Bo Ski more so than guitar girl. In fact, I give Skii Bo Ski (or, as his discount shirt read: Ski Bo Ski) the general edge because his character is actually pretty entertaining, while “Guitar Girl” is not interesting at all beyond the fact that she’s dressed as a guitar. (Which isn’t that interesting to begin with.) Or, as Mary J. Blige put it, “I don’t get.it.”
Out of the delusional losers, the other one who really stood out was Stereotypical Angry Black guy who was determined as hell to perform “Kiss from a Rose” for the judges. (It was actually the most unpleasant version of “Kiss from a Rose” I’ve ever heard.) Hopefully, those security guys who escorted him out of the arena walked him right into an anger management class.
Fortunately, the evening ended on a high note. (Not literally.) Sensing they had another potential William Hung on their hands, the producers held off on introducing us to Gen. Larry Pratt and “Pants on the Ground” until the very end. Yes, this was very funny, and YES, I agree with the message (people should wear pants that fit, damnit!) but the whole thing felt a mite too manufactured. It’s like they were trying to and expecting this thing to become a viral hit (which it has) rather than letting it happen naturally.
So what’d you think of this episode? Where did Simon disappear to toward the end of the episode? Did you enjoy Mary J. Blige or did you think her laughing in some contestants’ face was rude? (Sorry, but some people deserve to be laughed at.) Finally, can YOU see any of these people in the finals?
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