MSN TV Blog - Reality TV

Karla Davis, Kim Yarbrough, Tony Vincent and Erin Martin are eliminated

By Vinnie Penn Apr 10, 2012 8:10PM

'The Voice'/NBC

I want to kick off this night's recap boasting. I really do. I want to say for the umpteenth time that Juliet Simms has this in the bag, and her moving on to the next round came as absolutely no surprise. But, how can I try to come off so all-knowing when I was equally convinced James Massone and his NKOTB-knockoff swagger would be sent packing and wasn't!? Heck, my head's still spinning from the Arsenio Hall cameo at the outset.

 

Anyway. The "Survivors"...

 

Bing: More about 'The Voice' | Photos: Meet the contestants

 

Team Adam:

Mathai

Tony Lucca (deserving of the life preserver; Aguilera's overly harsh words the night before still have me perplexed)

Pip  

 

Team Cee Lo:

Juliet Simms

Jamar Rogers

James Massone

 

And so Adam's Three K's were left, Kim, Karla, and Katrina. Each gave an unremarkable performance in an effort to get the pass. I was certain Karla would be the victor, and still can't really believe it was Katrina Parker who got everyone's seal of approval, lumbering through No Doubt's "Don't Speak."

 

Last Night on TV: Watch recaps | Video: Watch full episodes and clips

 

After that lethargic face-off, Cee Lo's hangers-on taking the stage was more than welcome. Especially because we all knew Tony Vincent, back to being able to make his own song selection, would find the right one. He did -- "Sweet Dreams." Of course, he went with Marilyn Manson's version over the originators, the Eurythmics. Cheesa selected well, knocking "All By Myself" out of the park. Erin Martin -- gorgeous as all get out, and who many vocal fans want to get out -- chose a goodie, too. Her quirky vocals worked, for the most part anyway, on Elton John's "Your Song." Still, her nervousness was palpable. It really felt like anyone's game, even if Xtina didn't even know Tony's name. But it wound up going to ... Cheesa. Bit of a shocker, really.

 

Of course, not as much as Massone making it through so easily.

 

What did you think of this episode? Tell us on Facebook

"The Voice" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

 

What you didn't see or hear during Rock Week performance night

By MSN TV Apr 10, 2012 1:18PM

'Dancing With the Stars'/ABC

By Minh Nguyen

Special to MSN TV

 

MSN TV was lucky enough to get a seat inside the ballroom of “Dancing With the Stars” during last night for the start of Rock Week. The ballroom was turned into a KISS concert with everyone from hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke to the dancers, stars, and judges getting a rock star makeover. The only person who stayed true to himself was Len Goodman. No surprise there.

 

Bing: More about 'Dancing With the Stars' | Photos: See the cast in action

 

Stars in attendance included Rita Wilson (looking fabulous, as usual), John Stamos (Uncle Jesse was true to form, very handsome and very little), Zachary Levi (wearing a t-shirt, natch), Nia Vardalos (from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), Giada De Laurentiis (who was stunning in a pink dress), Sara Gilbert and David Hasselhoff with his daughter...err, we mean girlfriend. We're looking forward to who will be in attendance next week, Latin Week, with musical guests, Santana.

 

Last Night on TV: Watch recaps | Video: Watch clips and more

Top 10 Things Seen and Heard at “Dancing With the Stars”:

 

1. When KISS was perorming, Bruno got into it and was really rocking out in his chair. All three judges gave the band an 11! KISS was throwing something (we couldn't tell what it was) but Len picked up whatever they were throwing and gave it to an audience member.

 

2. Sherri Shepherd was standing on the judges' table before her performance. Audience members were yelling, "Go Sherri girl!" The Warm Up Guy (WUG) said, "Look at Sherri up there, she is ready to do her thing!" Right before the break, Sherri lifted her breasts up with her hands, as if to give herself a quick breast-lift.

 

3. WUG: "If the dancers threw anything to the audience, you have to give it back (to the people collecting clothes)."

 

4. David Hasselhoff was seen holding his girlfriend's hands throughout the night. Her skirt was so short; we're not entirely sure it covered the back fo her derriere when she was sitting in her chair.

 

5. Did anyone notice there was more booing and cheering after Sherri Shepherd's dance? The WUG told the audience to boo or cheer if they liked or didn't like a score.

 

6. Before Maks and Melissa Gilbert's dance, Maks came out with a bandaged arm and of course, shirtless. Bruno was staring at Maks as if he was a winning lottery ticket. The audience was given red roses and told to do a practice throw to Melissa. No one threw the flowers so Maks started showing them how to throw the roses. Melissa had her hand on Maks' butt a long time before the dance.

 

7. Gavin DeGraw was carrying Melissa Gilbert down the stairs. When we talked to Gavin later about it he said that Melissa had fallen during their dance and wasn't feeling well enough to walk down to Medical.

 

8. The judges really seem to have a bond. Len Goodman offered his mints to Bruno and Carrie Ann. Carrie Ann took her ring off her finger and showed her ring to Bruno.

 

9. We heard shrieking in the ballroom and thought something bad happened. Nope! The women were screaming because William Levy came in.

 

10. We saw KISS slowly walking down the stairs to their heels. Yes, when they're not on stage, they're seniors and walk like it.

 

Bonus Moment of the Night: After the show, Donald Driver was very affectionate with his wife and kids. He posed with his friend and asked his other friends to take a picture of him and his family on the ballroom floor. Melted our hearts!

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

 

Former 'Little House' star tweets that she suffered mild concussion and whiplash

By Corey Levitan Apr 10, 2012 11:06AM
 

'Dancing With the Stars'/ABCSooner than expected after seeing stars, Melissa Gilbert will reportedly be back dancing with them. According to Entertainment Weekly, the former "Little House on the Prairie" star is expected to appear on the results show Tuesday night.

 

Bing: More about 'Dancing With the Stars' | Photos: See the cast in action


"I'm alright," Gilbert tweeted last night. "Mild concussion and whiplash. Very soon I will be safely home resting and being taken care of."


Although video of the routine does not show a clear head smack to the floor, Gilbert, 47, was rushed to the hospital for observation and tests when, following the paso doble she performed with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Monday night's show, she complained of dizziness. Chmerkovskiy also fell during the routine, for which the duo received a 22 out of a possible 30 score.


Check out the video:

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC. 

Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd dominate with their paso doble

By Kate Mulcrone Apr 9, 2012 8:16PM

'Dancing With the Stars'/ABC

Rock Week was a bit of a flop, guys. Almost without exception the stars turned in routines that fell flat or just plain went wrong. The only notable exception was Donald, who turned in a paso that brought the house down. The leaderboard is certainly shaken up this week, so it could be anyone's turn to go home.

 

Bing: More about 'Dancing With the Stars' | Photos: See the cast in action


Here's a quick look at how the stars did this week:

 

Last Night on TV: Watch recaps | Video: Watch clips and more


Sherri Shepherd

Sherri's tango was a lot of fun, but she seemed a bit out of her element. Although her lines were beautiful and her rhythm was great she stumbled a bit at one point and had trouble selling the dance as truly hers. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't up to her usual standard. Len and Bruno both praised the routine, while Carrie pronounced it good but lacking in exuberance. This was by no means a bad dance, but competition has been awfully stiff this season – let's hope Sherri's fans are turning out in droves.


Score: 21/30


Katherine Jenkins

Katherine's paso doble was intense! The routine had that push-and-pull drama that's so key to a paso doble. The choreography was incredibly difficult and Katherine kept up with Mark and then some. The crowd absolutely loved this one, but the judges were less sold. Bruno commented on Katherine's lack of precision, and Carrie Ann on the lack of cohesion in her footwork. Len put it more bluntly. He said the dance had drama, but didn't quite deliver. Ouch. Still, it's hard to believe that one so-so performance will knock Katherine off her pedestal.


Score: 24/30


Jaleel White

Jaleel's tango was a lot flashier than his other routines have been but that wasn't a bad thing. He and Kym moved well together and the routine struck a good balance between actual dance and flips and tricks. Jaleel really sold the routine, his posture was excellent and his rhythm was absolutely perfect. Len thought Jaleel's footwork was a bit lacking but praised the performance as a whole.


Score: 22/30


Melissa Gilbert

Melissa's paso doble was another great performance though it did leave Maks on the floor. (He slipped on the floor.) Melissa has great rhythm and this dance really highlighted her stamina. Bruno thought the routine was a bit frenzied, and Len agreed that he'd like to see Melissa in a slower, more lyrical dance. Carrie Ann was singing a different tune. She called Melissa's paso her best dance to date! Melissa got off to a rough start in this competition, but she's really brought her A-game the last two weeks. Let's hope she'll stick around.


Score: 22/30


Donald Driver

Like his premiere cha-cha, Donald's shirtless paso doble was incredibly intense. In this case, that worked since the paso is just a really intense dance. He was fierce, moody and totally in charge. There were some incredible spins in the routine and Donald kept pace with Peta and made sure his footwork was sharp and precise. The judges loved this one, especially Carrie Ann, who called it one of the most memorable dances of the season.


Score: 27/30


Gladys Knight

Gladys' tango was a bit too studied, though she certainly got a tough song ("Bohemian Rhapsody"). As always, Gladys' footwork was very precise. The judges didn't love the routine though you could tell they hated to tell her so. All three commented on the challenging rhythm of the song. Len said Gladys needs to make her steps a bit quicker and that her posture isn't what it should be. Not Gladys' best performance.


Score: 20/30


William Levy

William's rock 'n' roll jive was really different than the other dances he's done so far. It was good to see his funny side though the routine was a bit of a disaster. William got thrown off in the middle of the routine and never quite got his groove back. Also, Cheryl lost her shoe at one point. Len didn't mince words telling William that he had screwed up, but Bruno pointed out how much the crowd loves William. Carrie Ann encouraged him to stay focused. Let's hope he listens!


Score: 22/30


Roshon Fegan

Roshon's Viennese waltz was a real departure from his usual supercharged hip-hoppy routines. He committed to the waltz emotionally and he had a lot of grace. Bruno praised Roshon's elegant lines, and Carrie Ann compared the routine to "watching the climax of a Disney movie." Len said, "Good job" ... and then launched into some technicalities about footwork. Well, he wouldn't be Len if he didn't find fault with a mostly fantastic routine. Roshon took a risk this week, and it paid off.


Score: 26/30


Maria Menounos

Maria's tango felt a little spare and understated compared to her other dances, but that could be because she's dancing on an injured foot. She and Derek certainly struck the right moody tone and, as always, moved beautifully together. (Though he did accidentally clock her in the face at the end of the routine.) Maria's posture was fantastic and her leg extension was something else. Len said the routine lost control at times but praised Maria's posture. Bruno was a fan of the staccato action of the routine, which he dubbed "brilliant." This was a brilliant dance, but it's not clear how much Maria's injury will affect her performances going forward.


Score: 26/30


Gavin DeGraw

Gavin's tango was moody and measured but a bit problematic. He struggled with timing and his movements were a bit stiff. He also had trouble moving with Karina, though they did pull off an amazing turn-and-roll toward the end of the routine. Len said he liked the dance because it had flair and attitude, but criticized Gavin's posture. Bruno pointed out that Gavin's frame was off and his shoulders kept creeping up.


Score: 23/30


Who won over the judges: Donald and Roshon
Who won over the crowd: Donald and William

Who needs to step it up: Gladys and Sherri

"Dancing With the Stars" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

 

Only some hopefuls prove worthy to make it into the next leg of the competition

By Vinnie Penn Apr 9, 2012 8:10PM

'The Voice'/NBC

There was a lot of "ifs." "If you make it through," "If you stick around," etc. The judges got to the judging part, and between now and the next time we meet, America will have, too.

 

Bing: More about 'The Voice' | Photos: Meet the contestants

 

It was Team Adam versus Team Cee Lo, the former a fan more so of the current, and the latter someone who clearly believes every song he assigns needs to be at least a quarter of a century old. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't -- for both guys.

 

Last Night on TV: Watch recaps | Video: Watch full episodes and clips

 

Team Adam:

 

Katrina Parker "Tonight, Tonight": The Smashing Pumpkins hit was Levine's first time going back far on this episode, song choice-wise. With accompanying strings, and still channeling Adele (like so many here on "The Voice"), Parker made it her own. But, I agree with Cee Lo's assessment: There needs to be a catharsis when tackling a Pumpkins tune.

 

Tony Lucca "In Your Eyes": As far back, I believe, as Levine has ever gone. I thought Lucca killed on the Peter Gabriel classic, but clearly Aguilera thought he could've benefitted from John Cusack's boom-box. Yeah, yeah, they were Mouseketeers together -- we all know that (although I didn't realize Timberlake was being vocal about his support of Lucca, which Xtina mentioned), but she got rough on her former co-star, calling him "one-dimensional." I think there was some kissing with the Mouse ears on, and Aguilera's still sporting some heartache.

 

Kim Yarbrough "Rolling in the Deep": Yarbrough's voice was strong on the ubiquitous Adele smash. But, like Cee Lo said, it being so "current" could cost her.

 

Mathai "Ordinary People": Understated, breathy, and confident. With that said, did it wow America?

 

Karla Davis "Airplanes": A song much of America will not know, Aguilera called it the "surprise of the night."

 

Pip "When You Were Young": Giving "Bowtie Boy" a song from The Killers was another Levine head-scratcher, but lo and behold, Pip rose to the occasion. At least I thought so -- the judges not so much. He'll need a stylist to intervene at some point if he makes it through.

 

Team Cee Lo:

 

Cheesa "Don't Leave Me This Way": It was a perfect fit. "Like watching 'Solid Gold'," Shelton accurately commented. Great way to start the show.

 

James Massone "Don't Know Why": Again, Cee Lo showed he knows how to pick songs for his team, and this time around the song was in stark contrast to most of his picks; a Nora Jones song and not - Cyndi Lauper or Howard Jones. Massone mugs too much for my liking, but the ladies seem to like him, and Shelton even said he debated "tossing my panties on the stage."

 

Juliet Simms "Roxanne": If you've been following this blog at all then you know that Simms is my pick. That's why when Cee Lo gave her what I consider to be the most overrated Police song ever, I was ticked off. Seriously ticked off. But, Simms astounded. Not only did she get a standing O from Xtina, but Levine deemed it the best performance so far this entire season. Smokin'.

 

Tony Vincent "Everybody Wants to Rule the World": Speaking of overrated, Cee Lo's love for the '80s hurt the admittedly powerhouse yet off-putting vocalist, here restrained and visibly pained.

 

Erin Martin "Walk Like an Egyptian": Another cheeky Cee Lo '80s assignment, but this time with the right intentions. Cee Lo told the former model she "needed to bring it because a lot of people" felt she actually lost the battle round. She toned down the vocal quirkiness but not the preening. She's in trouble.

 

Jamar Rogers "Are You Gonna Go My Way?": He told Christina Milian during an interview he didn't want people to idolize him, and then told Cee Lo he was his idol. His is indeed a story of survival, but this here's about "the voice," is it not? The guy's got one. Energetic and a nice show-capper.

 

My prediction? The results show is going to be unpredictable.

 

What did you think of this episode? Tell us on Facebook

"The Voice" airs Mondays at 8 p.m. and Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.

 

There's more squabbling than racing in this contentious episode

By MSN TV Apr 9, 2012 7:37AM

'The Amazing Race'/CBSBy Diane Vadino

Special to MSN TV

 

We're in Azerbaijan! Specifically, in the one travel agency in the city of Baku handling all of the teams' onward travel to tonight's destination: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, by way of Nairobi.

 

Bing: More about 'The Amazing Race' | Photos: Meet the teams

 

One by one, the teams stop by -- beginning with pack-leaders Rachel and Dave -- and make their reservations. They're all going to be on the same morning flight, so there's little drama in terms of travel routing -- all the intrigue is instead focused on the the teams' personal dynamics. For example, "kindergarten teachers" Jamie and Nary might not be cops, fellow law enforcement officers J.J. and Art reveal: Apparently, at the fire-dancing night in Baku, one of them confidently asked Art and J.J. about the border patrol agents' "UC" -- "undercover" -- operations. "Teachers are friendly and .. more social," Art says. Meanwhile, Jamie and Nary are reminiscing about their friendship that should have any alert viewer concerned for their future prospects in the race. It sounds like Jamie shot herself by accident ("My gun went off") and shattered her femur. "Nary slept in [the other] bed and never left my side," Jamie says. Not all teams are obsessed with rooting out the truth: "They can be FBI agents for all I care -- they're still nicer [than Art and J.J.]," says Brendon. 

 

Last Night on TV: Watch recaps | Video: Watch clips and more

 

The fighting does not stay behind in Baku -- when the teams arrive in Nairobi, to transfer to the flight to Kilimanjaro, the squabbling continues. Apparently Brendon and Rachel push past enough grumpy, sleep-deprivate teams that both irritated words and gestures are shared. "Did you see that? He pushed him and then he flipped him off?" Art says of Brendon and Ralph. Then Vanessa and Rachel get [back] into it: "Put on more sparkles," Vanessa says to Rachel, who says something about Vanessa being 38. (She's 31.) " Yes, I'm 38, and I still look better than you," Vanessa says. "Honey, get your nose done before you get your boobs done." As Nary puts it: "Now it's getting feisty." Or Mark: "It's like watching kids in a lunch line." 

 

Rachel is distraught: "I don't think anything mean about her. All she does is say mean things and name call." Vanesa, meanwhile, is over it: "I didn't make her cry -- her lack of self esteem made her cry." If that wasn't enough, Art and J.J. pick that moment to interrogate Jamie and Nary on their true occupations: "How do you know about 'UC operations' and 'caseload'? Nobody talks like that unless they're in law enforcement." The women prove tougher to crack than Art and J.J. might have thought: "It's kind of silly, with all this confrontation [to bring this up]," Jamie says. "We just wanted to stir the pot," Art admits. Nary: "Art and J.J. think they can intimidate us." Honestly, if the arguing were cut from this episode, it would have been about 20 minutes long. No more "Big Brother" teams, producers -- they're bringing down the vibe. 

 

Back to the game, finally, the teams race from the Kilimanjaro airport to the Arusha airstrip, where three charter flights, 15 minutes apart, will ferry the teams to Ngorongoro Crater -- one of the most spectacular sights in the world. Art and J.J. fly with arch rivals Brendon and Rachel on the first, but everyone's too delighted with the scenery to fight; they're followed by Bopper and Mark and Rachel and Dave, with Nary and Jamie and Vanessa and Ralph bringing up the rear. From above, the teams see amazing African wildlife: jackals, giraffes, lions, and a literal sea of flamingoes. "It's like a herd of tigers," Mark says of some wildebeests. 

 

Once they've landed, teams pick out "a safari vehicle" and direct a driver to the rim of the crater, where they retrieve their clues from a Maasai warrior. From there, they pick out bikes, and choose from two tasks: Marksmanship or Courtship. For the former, teams need to throw a traditional Maasai weapon at a rotating target; in the latter, teams jump for a minute. (Sure, they're 8000 feet up, but it's basically the easiest challenge in the history of the show.) "I want to do the marksmanship [challenge]," Dave says, continuing his streak of choosing any challenge that's at all related to his military experience, even if it's much, much harder than the other one. Team Big Brother heads instead to Courtship, and is in and out of there in a few moments. On their way to the next challenge, Brendon helpfully advises the arriving Kentuckians: "Hey, Mark and Bopper -- Courtship!" Rachel and Dave are still bickering when we leave -- all anyone needs to know is that it at one point involves Dave saying, "Don't misconstrue my support as yelling." Mark and Bopper sail through the courting ritual: "I hope it didn't mean that me and [Bopper] was courting," Mark says. Bopper blows kisses to the crowd on his way out of the village. 

 

The next task is substantially more difficult than hopping up and down: Using an already set-up camp as an example, teams have to pitch their own tents, complete with solar-heated outdoor shower. "The attention to detail -- I won't have any problem with that, especially with my OCD," Dave says, in a curious mix of self-deprecation and arrogance. It isn't long, though, before the jokes are over, and he and his wife are fighting again: "I'm sick you just pouting, 'This isn't right, this isn't right,'" Rachel says. "You're the most negative person I know in this freaking universe." J.J. overhears this: "That," he says, "is why we did not do this with our wives." Pitching a tent sounds easy, but these tents are super heavy-duty versions, and they look exceptionally awkward. "This tent building was extreme," Rachel says to Brendon. At one point, Mark warns Bopper not to fart on him, as they heave the complicated rigging system into place. Rachel and Dave sneak into first place, followed by Mark and Bopper. Art and J.J. are next ("You look as though you need a drink," the tent judge says to J.J.), followed by Rachel and Brendon. "Some nasty words are being spoken back and forth," Phil says to Team Big Brother, disapprovingly. 

 

It's coming down to Vanessa and Ralph and Jamie and Nary -- but it's not much of a contest, as the remaining all-girl team is far beyond everyone else. They're calm in their defeat, though, even after Vanessa and Ralph leave for the Pitstop: "This is what a lot of guys at work have wanted -- me and Nary in the shower together," Jamie says, as they set up the water dispenser. "But we're not looking so hot right now." Task completed, they see a herd of elephants en route to the Pistop and actually stop their jeep to get a better look at them. "Ooh, there's elephants!" one of them says. "What a great end to our day." When the women arrive, though, Phil has an even better conclusion: It's the season's second non-elimination leg. They're still in it!

 

"The Amazing Race" airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

 

Judges decline to use Save as Deandre Brackensick departs the contest

By MSN TV Apr 5, 2012 7:14PM
'American Idol'/FOX

By Carla Patton

BuddyTV

 

This week, the top 8 performed songs from the 1980s. And, unlike in weeks past, there was a clear division of talent. Some people were amazing. Some failed to live up to ghosts of performances past. And some contestants sounded just too much like previous performances. Phillip Phillips is becoming a notable offender of sounds-the-same syndrome. The big question on this night is: Who will go home? Or will the judges use the Save? I think the real problem at hand is that no one sang a Hall and Oates song. Maybe they're saving that for an entire Hall and Oates-themed week! In my dreams.

 

Bing: More about 'American Idol' | Photos: See the top 8 singers

 

Oddly, I think Deandre bought himself a ticket into next week with his DeBarge performance. Even though he went first, Jennifer made sure to continue mentioning his performance and how good he's getting. Now that Heejun is gone, she has to focus on preserving Deandre for as long as possible.

 

More: 'American Idol' on BuddyTV | Video: Watch 'American Idol' clips and more

 

Hollie was in the bottom two last week, and her performance of the song from "Flashdance" was arguably one of the worst this week. It seems like the viewers aren't sure what to make of Elise yet, and her off-kilter performance of "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner may not help. I arbitrarily chose Joshua in my predictions to round out the bottom three. But after further consideration, I think Phillip Phillips could spend a little time in the bottom, just to get a quick feel for it. We'll see what the all-knowing, all-seeing Jimmy Iovine has to say.


Ryan stops the show mid-filler to ask Joshua how he's feeling. He's lightheaded and sick! Joshua, you can't pass out on us! "Live TV -- anything can happen!" Ryan would say. But before anything happens, a world-premiere Jennifer Lopez video. She describes it as "fun" and "dancy." Ryan asks Jennifer about chemistry with any of the dancers, and she giggles like a little girl. It was actually quite endearing. Then she tells us the song has a "great message" -- one that I will be searching for among the shots of a diamond dust-covered J. Lo. The video preview ends with a "to be continued," as though it had any plot whatsoever.

 

Oh, the contestants "went on a little scavenger hunt," only to find a terrible Ford Music Video premise! They look tired and bored in the video. These are not the attitudes that sell cars, kids.

To make Joshua feel better (how?), Ryan shows a Twitvid of some preschoolers in Vietnam wishing him luck. They're delivering results in pairs on this night -- a great move. Jessica and Joshua move to the center first. I can only assume they're both safe. Jimmy says Joshua seemed a little over-affected but has reined it in and found his sweet spot. "Tens all around," Jimmy says, bored by this whole thing already. Jimmy says Jessica was great but needs bigger, more powerful songs. Joshua picked a better song than Jessica this week, in Jimmy's opinion. Oh, phooey. Joshua is safe, so he can go back to feeling sick on the couch. Jessica is also safe. Well, isn't that nice!


The Wanted are here to sing "Glad You Came," which sounds like something Jennifer Lopez would like to sample. If only it featured Pitbull. Tommy Hilfiger clearly wasn't around to intervene with the Wanted and all that gray in their wardrobe. These guys look bored, too. One of them tiredly ground against Jennifer. Then they sauntered back to the mainstage. Bring back Lauren Alaina!

 

"Did you go to first base with Jen?" Ryan asks that one guy, once he mistakenly thought his microphone was off. Such a creep.

 

Next up: Skylar and Colton. I'm guessing they are both safe, too? Jimmy is glad Skylar didn't sing "9 to 5" and is convinced that Skylar, too, is a power singer. Jimmy says Colton was good but not great. Well, whatever. I'm sure Colton's fine. Ryan brings up Hollie and Deandre to the center of the stage, probably because they are both in the bottom three? We revisit Hollie's performance first, which Jimmy says "wasn't even a great high school performance." Jimmy thinks Hollie will be "fighting with Deandre for who's packing." Jimmy does not give a %*#&. Jimmy insists that, "No! ... Deandre was not great! ... Deandre is growing marginally." Oh, I just love Jimmy.

Dim the lights. Deandre is in the bottom three. Colton is safe. Skylar is safe, and Hollie is in the bottom three. Jimmy is at the top of his game!

 

Next, Kellie Pickler sings her new country hit, "Where's Tammy Wynette?" She looks less bored than everyone else on this night, myself included. In a classic, returning country "Idol" move, Kellie sits herself between two boys on the results couch. She didn't linger like Lauren Alaina did, because she's a bit more seasoned. She knows when her time on the couch is up. After her performance, Kellie declares that "everyone on this season gon' get a record deal!" If you say so, Pollyanna!

kellienotbored.jpg

Phillip and Elise are up next. Jimmy says there are three versions of yourself, and this was Phillip's "good version" of himself. It was safe and not great. He can't stop progressing in this competition or he'll stall out. As for Elise, she was "not incredible" on stage. It's "an old-fashioned choke," Jimmy declares. OK. Ryan asks Phillip if he's worried about complacency and Phillip says, "Naw, man. I'm just bein' myself." He's adorable.

Elise is in the bottom three. Phillip is safe. That's a lot of pleats on that skirt. Ryan reveals that Hollie is safe and can go back to the couches. So it will be Elise or Deandre. I hope it's Deandre, and then we don't have to think about the Save.


Jennifer and Randy feel "half and half" that America got one person right in the bottom. And the journey could end for ... Deandre. Deandre's family just loses it, and someone in the audience shrieks, "What!?" Oh, don't be so surprised, little girl. Deandre tells his sister to stop crying then launches into a performance of "Master Blaster." A poor choice for his final song, but maybe he knows he isn't worth the Save.

It was good for a performance under duress -- outstanding, really, given his family's emotional state. The audience is chanting, "Save! Save! Save!" But they'll get over it. Jennifer says Deandre is an amazing performer who has a lot to show the world, but she only gets one vote so Deandre is eliminated. "What!?" the person in the audience goes again. Oh, my god. Someone is going to start a riot.

DeAndrejamon.jpg
Jam on, Deandre!
 

What do you think of Thursday night's results? Did American and the judges get it right?

"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.

 

The buff banker is the latest castaway to be blindsided off the island

By Sona Charaipotra Apr 5, 2012 3:52PM
'Survivor: One World'/CBS
Blindside alert! Buff banker Michael Jefferson, 30, was definitely not expecting to be the next castaway voted off "Survivor: One World," especially because he thought he had two strong alliances going. But the women's team trifecta of Chelsea, Kim and Sabrina seems to be calling the shots these days -- and they're all about eliminating the threats. 
 

MSN TV: You seemed genuinely surprised to see Jeff call your name as the next castaway eliminated. 

Michael: I was truly surprised. I didn't see this coming at all. I really thought I'd covered all my bases. I had an alliance with the men, but I was also in pretty tight with the Salani ladies. Or at least that's what I thought anyway. Turns out I was wrong. But I was hurt by that. I really trusted Kim. I thought we were all tight. 

It's funny. Last week they really Jonas tried to get you out, but no go. What changed this week?

I guess they saw me as the biggest threat. This season has definitely been unique. We've seen a lot of the strongest players get taken out really earlier -- Matt, Bill, Monica. So I knew I had to watch my back a bit, but I felt so confident about Salani, I thought I had a free pass for a while. I thought I could coast. But Jonas really put the spotlight on me on his way out, so it was my turn this week.

Troy seemed really upset when Kim told him you were plotting against him, which clearly was a ploy. What's up with that?

Actually, Troy and I didn't really get along, unfortunately. He and Jonas really didn't want to have anything to do with me. I made the effort. They would not reciprocate. So that was that. 

Did you see Jonas as a threat?

I don't really see at all how Jonas would be a threat. He was a really nice guy, but he was really about following the leader. I didn't understand what that was all about. For me, it made sense to get rid of the dead weight. I thought they'd send Christina home, or maybe Tarzan. 

You and Jay were pretty tight, but he voted against you. Surprised?

No. I can't really blame him. He's trying to cover his ass, and that means going with the flow, at least for now. It's strategy, and it's a smart way to play it, at least for now. He knows who's got the power at the moment, so it's like he's driftwood, just floating along, hoping he's not the next target. He may eventually have to make a power play if he wants to stay in the game, but when you're out there, you've got to do what you have to do to make it to the end. 

Do you think he has it in him to make a big move?

I do think he can -- I think he may have too eventually. I think with the guys, right off the bat, it was me and Matt and Jay who were the contenders. Matt got taken out of the game really quickly, and that set the tone, really. So it's smart to lay low for now. But I think Jay may have to do something to undermine this girls' alliance. 

"Survivor: One World" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.