'American Idol' Recap: Safe!
Judges save Jessica Sanchez from elimination in shocking results show
By Carla Patton
On Wednesday night, at the end of a string of mixed performances, Jennifer Lopez admitted that viewers are probably just voting for their favorites at this point. Does that mean there's little a contestant can do to fall out of favor with their fans? Will Jessica Sanchez's fans forgive her for wearing that terrible white bodysuit thing during her trio performance? Or does it just mean that underdogs need to give them a reason to vote? Also, as a side note, I simply don't agree with Jimmy's comparison of Colton and Phillip. They are completely different artists, and Colton cares way more about this whole thing than Phillip.
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"Idol" alums James Durbin and Jennifer Hudson are performing in this episode, so I will enjoy at least one of those performances! I hope James goes right up to Colton, says, "I invented standing on pianos," then turns to the audience and asks, "What do you guys think?!"
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"So, let me fill you in," Ryan says, not filling us in on anything of value. Let me fill you in: Jennifer looks stunning on this night, Randy is still wearing those giant sparkly pins and the group number is back! It is a terrible rendition of P!nk's "Raise Your Glass." These kids look sad and wiped -- except Elise, surprisingly. Look at those "dirty little freaks" up there, pumping their fists to the sounds of overgrown Kidz Bop.
I don't even care about the terrible, "Napoleon Dynamite"-inspired Ford music video this week. Ryan Seacrest just made my night. The contestants got some half-hearted celeb tweets. Colton got invited to prom by Katie of Wichita, Kan. Hollie got an invite to spring formal from a surprisingly hot dude. Elise got some feather jewelry for herself and Steven. Ryan made a funny joke about Quinceañera invitations. He is really on a roll again in this episode.
Hollie and Jessica are going head-to-head for the first results of the night. Will Hollie fulfill our expectations by heading for the bottom three, or will Jessica be penalized for singing a song we weren't super familiar with? Jimmy called Hollie stiff and contrived, and called Jessica the effortless, winner of the night. Hollie? Ya burnt. Gosh, Jessica's legs are thin.
Hollie starts a group on the right side of the stage. Jessica starts a group on the left. I know whose group I would prefer to be in on this night. Although, she was wearing that jumpsuit ...
James Durbin is performing a song from his album, which is titled "Memories of a Beautiful Disaster." So overwrought. He's got blond hair now, y'all. Take that, Colton. He probably did it first. He's singing into a vocal modifier, which works for the song but not for the context. Give us the real James! The people demand it! While we're making requests, can I ask that he take off those blinding white sneakers? He screamed a lot. And when he was finished screaming, the contestants clapped slowly, reservedly.
Back to the groups. Phillip and Elise hear results next. Do you think Ryan practices this with his Beanie Babies at home? So many Beanie Babies, I bet. The judges raved about Elise and not so much about Phillip. Jimmy says they're both singer/songwriters and "character singers." Jimmy thinks Phillip will be in the bottom 3 on this night and that Elise might also be, despite being "technically correct." So either of them moving to a group won't answer anything for us. Phillip joins Hollie, and Elise joins Jessica.
Just stopping by on her way to an EGOT, it's Jennifer Hudson! Oh, my gosh. She looks stunning. Weight Watchers is the way! And her hair is fierce. And Ne-Yo? Shut up. This is awesome. Jennifer Hudson is showing off that acting ability in this performance, giving Ne-Yo all kinds of looks. Can she be Whitney Houston in the biopic everyone's discussing?
Colton and Joshua hit the stage next. So it is Skylar who must choose. Jimmy thinks they both did well, and he's "in" on both of them. Colton still hasn't gotten the ubiquitous standing ovation? What's going on with that? Even Jennifer Lopez can't believe it. "I thought we stood for everyone!"
Joshua stands with Jessica and Elise, which the audience has already determined is the winning group, demonstrated by applause. Colton joins Hollie and Phillip. Uh, oh. Colton and Phillip!
Skylar is up last. Jimmy thinks she is just great, not to be left behind. He was floored and hopes Skylar doesn't get left behind. He predicts Phillip, Elise and Hollie will be the bottom three. Skylar is safe, and Ryan graciously didn't make her choose a group. Oops, I spoke too soon because Ryan asked her to pick the group she belongs with. Skylar said, "No!" and walked away. Good girl, not acknowledging that. He places her with Hollie, Colton and Phillip in a big twist. Joshua, Jessica and Elise are in the bottom three.
Time to use the Save! Jimmy thinks this is wrong, wrong, wrong. But I kind of get it. I wonder if Joshua and Jessica are getting too advanced, too mature, too boring for the viewers. Randy says this is messed up. I only sort of agree.
No one can offer up an explanation (Except me! Let's talk later. Text me or something, Ryan). Joshua is safe. Jennifer looks like she's ready to solve a murder. The person at risk is Jessica Sanchez. The judges freak out. I wish I had gotten a screen cap of Jennifer's face. It was great. I can't even believe it! Before the judges can interrupt with "we will save her!" Ryan hands Jessica the microphone.
The judges go up on stage like this was all scripted. Jennifer grabs the microphone, "Gimme that mic! Of course we're using the Save! Go sit down." I teared up a little. I love when stuff happens like this.
"I don't expect anything," Jessica says winningly. She was almost Pia Toscano-ed right outta here! But I love that girl. For filler, Ryan has Jessica sing us out. The top 7 remain for another week!
What do you think of Thursday night's results? Did America and the judges get it right?
"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX.
(phantom vision) its very smoky on the stage of next weeks AI CL-eptisode..... each one of the contestants come out, one by one. they all look at the inconsiderate and self serving judges and say, THERE IS NO USE FOR US COMPETING. YOU HAVE PICKED YOUR WINNER.... and walk off. a file of the established singers already agreeing to sing on stage on an AI CL-eptisode come out and say to randy, I GUESS WE ARENT GOOD ENOUGH TO SING FOR YOU. (stage gets smokier and the lights go out).
NOTE: this isnt to diss jessica, just the judges.
That idiot judge Jennifer has to go. This show is so staged and scripted. She looked and acted like a idiot. This show needs to have a complete makeover starting with the judges. As far as I am concerned, Skylar is the one to beat.
We dont need another sreaming idiot like that Adam was. Peolpe voted and that was theiur choice, so get over it.
I have watched American Idol every year. This is the first year that I have been so disappointed in the Judges. They have been so biased this year and are not ashamed to show who is there favorite. Americans might not like Jessica as their favorite and decided to show last night that what she sang wasn't their favorite. I thought this show was American choice. The judges have their choices and we have ours. I like Jessica and do think she is a good singer but I did not like her song choice and the way she sang it.
So she can sing, however seems to scream more than sing at times. An Idol should be one who can not only sing but has eye appeal and she lacks good looks and stage presentation. we need Simon back as a judge on American Idol not people who sit there and praise everyone even the mediocre singers.
what's the point of voting if the judges give mulligans. if they like them, then they can always give them contacts in the business after they are out of the competition. no longer American idol, but judges idol - let Americas vote count.
Well thanks Randy! You just freed up my Wednesday and Thursday evenings! I may tune in for the final just to see which musicians the finalists are teamed up with ... but after last night's statement by Randy I am done watching this show. With only two weeks left in which they could use their save, they would probably have used the save even if Ryan was in danger of leaving the show. The problem I have with Randy's statement about Jessica being the BEST SINGER IN AMERICA! is the total disrespect he showed to the other six singers. They should have just handed Jessica the title and told the other six to go home last night. No disrespect to Jessica, I think she is a very good singer, but to say she is the BEST singer in America? Does that mean she's better than Steven, Jennifer, Scotty McCreery, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson ... and on and on? Randy's statement probably sealed Jessica's fate of finishing someplace other than first.
Congrats Jessica! Okay not that we have a winner let's start Season 12!!
Recount, or check the person turning in the numbers. Better yet lets all agree this was a scam, faked, and pretentious. This was the worst AI I have seen. Its been bad with all the bias towards Jessica and Joshua, but the Judges are the ones out of control on that. They need to hold themselves in check. Not a one of them has the discipline to maintain fairness.
Maybe the network numbers are falling on this season due to the accolades for Jessica and Joshua, makes things boring and very predictable. Throwing Jessica in the bottom 3 is the shock value, OMG! How can that be? Tell tale sign Tyler announcing "we'll use save" before anyone of the 3 was told who was safe. Show me the guy who counts these votes and I'll show you a producer crafting a numbers game. Its all smoke and mirrors from now on.
Jessica should be going home; America got it right, Dog! While she may have a big voice, her song choices are horrible, her performances are boring, and when she performs in the group numbers, duets and trios, she is awful! She has no chemistry, and this competition is about the whole deal. Jessica doesn't have it - end of story. The judges were insulting to America and to the other contestants. They obviously are pimping their favorite, but America gets to decide this one!
I'm not going to deny the fact that Jessica can sing. However, she sings the words, but doesn't really connect...just mimics the original singer. I'm just getting bored with her.
Holly might not be perfect every time but the judges are too harsh with her. She can still sing, but they constantly put her down like she shouldn't even be there.
Joshua can sing, but again, I'm getting bored with him. He picked up the pace this week but it was the same somehow. I dunno, I just don't like that particular style of music.
America to decide but the judges, especially Randy, are trying to push there view and are very biased. Essentially, the judges have determined their winner. Watch the rest of the season and I am sure you are going to see their comments pushing the audience to their point of view regardless of performance by the individuals. The judges are showing an extreme bias this year. Let America decide! Time for new judges?????
Last night, before the show aired, my boyfriend asked me who I thought would go home. I said: " It's fixed. Watch the least likely case become the reality tonight. Jessica will be the one with the least votes, and they'll SAVE her."
O-M-G!!! How shocked I was to see it happen! NOT!
A few years back my brother was on the HGTV reality show, DESIGN STAR. I saw how 'different, and UNREAL' things were, as my brother ROBB MARIANI was edited to be the shows 'villain-prick' ! Everyone of these shows is NOT WHAT IT APPEARS! The reality is, NONE OF IT IS REALITY!!!!! It's all about the EDITING, and what the industry wants you to believe. These shows give new meaning to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Show. At least with that show, nobody was juking us around because believing it or not was up to us, the viewers.! Frankly, I am sick and tired of the TV industry, insulting everyones intelligence, while sometimes even destroying many of the shows participants, all for the sake of ratings!I don't believe any of these shows. For all we know, the VOTING IS FAKE!!! Why don't they let it be real?? RobbMariani.com (my bro) has his own show now....he oversees the editing!!!!! It's the real deal--- American Trucker aires on Speed TV
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
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