I’ve been trying to hold my tongue all week.
The reason? Everybody and their brother’s dog has had grand opinions on Carole King week at the American Idol machine. And, mostly, those opinions have been positive and anticipitory. “Oooooooh! I can hardly wait! This is going to be the most terrifical week on Idol yet! The contestants will rise to the occasion with Carole King’s catalog!”
Wrong.
Truth be told, what we were treated with was anything but a treat. It’s as if our Idols were forced into torture contraptions and the output they offered was the pain they felt.
Honestly, did you see one performance last evening that didn’t feel forced? Weren’t we promised long, long ago by Jimmy Iovine there would be no catalog-funneling this season, regardless of Idol‘s proclivity for such things? Old habits are difficult to break, it appears.
With the exceptions of James (who is on a kick to find his inner songster) and Scotty (whose performance, according to James, was “100% better than in dress rehearsal”), everyone failed miserably. Among the horrendous: Scotty and Lauren’s duet. Ouch. Painful. And holy shrimp, Batman, I thought Casey was going to bust a gut he was screaming so much.
There wasn’t one contestant or duet connected with the song they sang.
Which leads me to conclude this was the worst episode of American Idol I believe I have ever seen.
And that was just on the contestant’s end of things. Everyone else seemed as if they were on an episode of “UnscriptedVille.”
Randy and his “R” shirt ranted. Seacrest stumbled about incoherently. And JLo just about caused an international incident revealing so much thigh it almost caused a West Coast feed censoring.
But, I guess when the content of the main show is as bad as it was, something has to be done to make it entertaining.
I can’t venture a guess as to who might be the ousted this evening.
So, instead, I leave you with the “I’m Into Something Good” duet committed by James Durbin and Jacob Lusk. Why? Because I don’t feel you deserve to escape the torture.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Apr 28, 2011 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
This was ridiculous. Can Jacob STOP BOPPING? Is he physically able? I don’t know if you get this same vibe, but I think Jimmy detests him nd is trying desperately to hold his tongue every time he’s coaching him.
Also? Why did Lauren have to bring that guy onstage? Who does she think she is, Justin Bieber?
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*snort*
I felt like everyone was just screaming these tunes at me. Carole King was screamed at me for an entire hour. (Except for Scotty.)
James had to be my favorite of the night. He did the song a la The Shirelles…they were the first to cover the song way way back in 1960 and still my favorite version. Kudos to James. My hubby said Jacob needed a pair of big shoes to match his clown attire.
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I noticed that right away, Mikki.
It was The Shirelles’ version …
I love Carole King songs..she has written some great ones, that’s for sure. But last night..ughh. I loved loved James and did think that he connected. I think what is hard with some of these catalogues (which they did promise we would not have to endure) is that these kids have never ever heard the songs. I’m in my very late 40’s and that would be like me having to sing songs from the Big Band era..I would never connect. Thank goodness I DVR this show so I can FF when I am not liking the performance and I was done with the show in record time!
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Toni:
I’m on the fence with your thinking. Not that it’s wrong, but let me explain:
I’ve heard fantastical versions of tunes that – in many ways – folks have no clue about. But, for one reason or another, be that they researched the song or their take on it is unique and interesting, it works for them.
This can be a boon or a bane. James did something that was familiar as well as interesting. And it moved to the side of working more than anything else. Good for him.
Casey – long one of my favorites – didn’t connect. His raspy growl detracted completely from the song, in my opinion.
And the duets were just craptastic.
Still, I tip my hat they gave things a whirl. You don’t know what you’re going to get if you don’t give things a shot. And, while I hated it, they at least gave it a shot.
It’s a shame they didn’t do movie/show tunes while Paul McDonald was on..he could have sung “If I only had a brain” as only a scarecrow could!
Poor JLo got spun around with her skirt riding up – don’t blame the JLegs show on her. But I loved Steven’s reaction to that performance. He was like, “Whatever… that was crap, but at least you’re having fun… no really, what the hell were you doing up there?” James and Jacob were not taking it seriously at all. They didn’t even try. Unconventional duets happen, and they can be great. If Nelly and Tim McGraw managed to do it, James and Jacob could have at least tried to respect each other as singers and made it work.
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Ruby:
I’m not blaming JLo in the least.
I just think it’s a sad thing the show inadvertently gravitated to that to be entertaining, is all.
And I completely agree: unconventional duets do happen. James and Jacob’s pairing didn’t work.
I totally disagree with you. I really enjoyed the show. I thought Scotty, James and Casey all did original takes on these songs. And I loved Casey and Haley’s duet.
Just like you to bury the lead. In your own words: “With the exceptions of James … and Scotty …, everyone failed miserably.”
What? Can’t stand to recap Randy’s prediction? Don’t want to give the country boy his due? Both performances were like shining jewels on black velvet last night, and you talk about the grain of the velvet.
And don’t tell me you don’t have a guess who will go home. All Bozo needed to complete his clown performance was a neon sign on the back of his checkered jacket flashing “Send Me Home”, and maybe a water squirting carnation.
I made a note to myself of five things I expected to see you mention [other than James & Scotty] and you did mention three of the five. Nothing to say about Lauren’s 19 yr. old and Casey’s Sinatra hat?
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Nyela:
A wise, wise man said this: “Try and please everyone and you end up pleasing no one.” Words I like to try and live by.
That wise, wise man? Bill Cosby.
Another said this: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
And that wise, wise man? None other than the estimable Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss.
Hitting three of your five makes me very, very happy.
Now … “where’s the love” for Seacrust? He could be a lot worse, you know …
PS – I agree with Maureen about Haley & Casey’s duet, but I just chalk that up to a difference of opinion. The two of them together are much better than Haley alone and more consistently good than Casey alone.
Now if we could just put a sock in the mouth of Cupid Seacrust we’d be fine.
IMHO, the show wasnt bad at all…although Casey’s growls and facial expressions creep me out. Seriously.
Haley’s ability to control her voice is phenomenal. She’s awesome.
James is so talented and fun to watch.
Lauren and Scotty have lovely voices.
Jacob should stick to inspirational songs, that’s what his voice was meant for.
just my 2 cents..
All I’ll say about the show last night was that I was hoping for oh so much more. It was a bit lacking. Have to really agree with you about Lauren and Scotty’s duet, that was just tragic. They are so much better than that. Oh well, here’s to next week.