(Credit: Michael Becker/FOX)
The taped interviews have to be the bizarre highlight of the semi-finals, and this week the producers asked the top 16 what their most embarrassing moments were. Almost all of them recalled events from before they were even 10 years old. Really?! “American Idol” may be family TV, but these guys have to have something more scandalous than “I hugged a man at church who I thought was my dad... but wasn’t.”
Getting ousted from “American Idol” has got to be a little more uncomfortable, so you can bet that four contestants will probably be changing their story after tonight. After all, this cut is the harshest. Twelve contestants will live on in American memory forever (well, at least until the finale), and the other four will be purged from the history books the second Seacrest signs off.
The judges’ table
Simon's harshest slam: Simon really says it best when he says nothing at all. None of his snide comments were half as funny as the looks of bewilderment he shot at Paula and various people off-camera during any one of her particularly hilarious ramblings.
Randy’s most repetitive comment: Switching things up a bit, people weren't “pitchy” so much as they suffered from "pitch problems." You’re keeping us on our toes, dawg.
Least intelligible Paula-ism: Someone's tank is on empty. Paula communicated mostly through grunts and fits of laughter this week, and at one point she was heard mumbling something about “the moth and the melon ball thing.”
The good, the bad and the pitchy
The frontrunners: There's nothing like a little well-executed '80s nostalgia to win folks over, and Aussie Michael Johns rocking out to Simple Minds was as swoon-worthy as it gets. On ladies' night, Asia'h Epperson finally showed herself for the package deal we knew she could be with a fun take on pre-crack Whitney. It should also be noted that David and Syesha burned down the house and then built it back up again, but nothing new there.
Who should get the axe? Luke Menard is abysmal, Danny Noriega might be a lady and there are still several blonde women who may or may not be the same person. None of them are top 12 material.
Who will America vote off? Jason Castro is awesome, but it's doubtful that his awkward bashfulness is earning him many votes. Plus that story about one of his dreads falling out was just nasty. Joining him in oblivion will be Luke Menard (seriously this time), Kady Malloy and possibly the darling but forgettable Kristy Lee Cook. Wait, who?
Alright, it’s time to get serious. The competition trades up to its larger venue next week, and we’ll still be right here. So dust off that melon baller and get ready, America!
