Michael Giltz: American Idol -- Hollywood Week Day Three Wins Night http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/emamerican-idolem----holl_b_166013.html [4/5/2009 12:25:49 PM] APRIL 5, 2009 HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING STYLE GREEN WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY 23/6 VIDEO BLOGGER INDEX ARCHIVE Make HuffPost Your HomePage Get Email Alerts Twitter: Follow Us BIG NEWS : Angelina Jolie | Madonna | Chris Brown & Rihanna | Paul McCartney | More...</p><p> LOG IN | SIGN UP Michael Giltz Freelance writer and raconteur Posted February 11, 2009 | 12:05 PM (EST) BIO Become a Fan Get EmailAlerts Bloggers'Index American Idol -- Hollywood Week Day Three Wins Night Read More: American Idol , Ryan Seacrest , Simon Cowell , Entertainment News Idol won the night with a 13.5 rating, per Marc Berman of Mediaweek, though CBS's strong lineup led by The Mentalist was a very strong second.</p><p> And fans of Fringe should expect a time- slot switch -- no show holding onto just 43% ofIdol 's audience can expect to stay in place forever.</p><p> Idol hit 24.5 million viewers perHollywood Reporter, down a tad from last week.</p><p> The Mentalist, the biggest new hit drama since Grey's Anatomy, I think, hit 19.7 million viewers.</p><p> The most telling moment of Tuesday night's episode wasn't a performance or a backstage glimpse of drama (hey, Tatiana!).</p><p> It was the voice-over from Ryan Seacrest when discusssing Leneshe Young, a promising singer with a backgroundof grinding poverty.</p><p> Ryan said Lenesha stole America's heart not just with her singing...but withher story.</p><p> Really? Because I wouldn't have liked Lenesha's solid performances less if I heard shehad grown up in the Hamptons.</p><p> And the less I hear about people's wrenching backgrounds andpersonal growth in the face of adversity the more I like it.</p><p> But that's not Idol .</p><p> Especially until we get to the final 12, the Idol episodes aren't edited to highlight the singing.</p><p> They're edited tohighlight the stories. 72 people began the day and were grouped into four rooms -- with three rooms going forward and one being sent home.</p><p> Or as Ryan cruelly put it, sent back to "their everyday lives." It's almost impossible to judge them fairly because we virtually never saw a complete performance and moreoften than not it was a medley of different people forgetting their lyrics or doing well or whatever.</p><p> Adam Lambert -- sang Cher's "Believe." It could have been a bold choice but it definitely came across as cabaret to me.</p><p> The way he sang it just made the song sound gay, in the bad sense of the word.</p><p> Just strange.</p><p> Matt Giraud -- played piano and nailed "Georgia On My Mind." We even got a shot of the backup Be the First to Submit This Story to Digg Get Breaking News Alerts Share Print Comments never spam Popular Stories on HuffPost Fashion Face-Off! 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Then loads of people we barely know led by one we know too well: Tatiana Del Toro, who is shown giving a terrible performance, a relief since it means she'll be going home.</p><p> She's followed by Alexis Grace, Kenny Hoffpauer, Jasmine Murray and Nathaniel Marhsall, none of which stand out.</p><p> Joanna Pacitti -- friend of the producers who has already had her songs placed on numerous TV shows, etc.</p><p> Pacitti had a record deal that went nowhere.</p><p> Now she has a second chance and to prove how stressful Idol can be, she blows it completely by mumbling her lyrics.</p><p> Followed by a montageof other train wreck performancs by Casey Carlson, Stephen Fowler and Nick Mitchell aka Normanwho jokes his way through another song.</p><p> Is this Idol or Mad TV? Anna Marie Boskovich -- the latest of many to trudge through "I Hope You Dance." Ju'not Joyner -- who already has a cool spelling of his name to go with stardom, does a good take on "Hey There Delilah."Kaylan Loyd -- Simon ended her song.</p><p> Kai Kalama -- lost his voice Michael Sarver -- oil rigger who sounded so-so.</p><p> Now imagine being in the room with Tatiana.</p><p> Even if you think being with her is a good sign because she's so annoying you might imagine she'll get through for another day (though thecontestants won't know how much airtime she'd get for weeks), still...very annoying to sit with herin a corner, all alone, holding court with herself.</p><p> And why did we watch tonight? Did anything make sense? Of course not.</p><p> Tatiana and Nick Mitchell got through.</p><p> As did Joanna Pacitti who completely forgot her lyrics, the one unforgivablesin of Idol.</p><p> Yes, it was done just to goose ratings -- there's certainly no vocal reason some of thesepeople got through.</p><p> But before we yell and scream, remember that it's meaningless.</p><p> More peoplewill be cut tomorrow and then the final 36 will be cut down to the final 12.</p><p> THAT'S when it starts tomatter who makes it and not a minute before.</p><p> But still, Tatiana? Have the producers no shame?Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak feels your pain.</p><p> More in Entertainment...</p><p> HuffPost Stories Surging Right Now Style On CBS' "Washington Unplugged" Arianna was on CBS' "Washington...</p><p> Alex Leo The "Real Housewives Of New York City" Flowchart Of Hate I'm a little embarrassed tolove this show as much as... "BRUNO" TRAILER! Calamity, AfricanBabies, Chase Scenes And More (NSFW VIDEO) IT'S HERE! 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John Demjanjuk, Ohio ManAccused Of Being NaziGuard, Avoids Deportation Comments 4 Pending Comments 0 Comments are closed for this entry Ads by Google Watch Idol Performances Watch The Idol Performances Free! It's Easy w/the Free Videos Toolbar Videos.alottoolbars.com Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to View Comments: Newest First Expand All cliffdvr See Profile I'm a Fan of cliffdvr permalink Please explain to me, "just made the song sound gay, in the bad sense of the word." Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink "Gay" -- slang, for dumb, goofy awkward, uncool.</p><p> I'm gay, as in you know, gay, myself.</p><p> Adam Lambert's big criticism from the judges has been he's too Broadway, not code for gay as inhomosexual (like they often mean) but too broadway as in theatrical and broad -- fine forsinging "The Impossible Dream" but a bit melodramatic for a pop singer.</p><p> Singing a hit song bya diva like Cher is certainly no way to prove them wrong, unless you can somehowdramatically makeover the song and reveal some new hidden depths.</p><p> That's what Adam said he would do, but in fact his version would have sounded fine on a dance floor or a piano bar.</p><p> Hence my use of immature, schoolyard slang for "not good." stonelaw See Profile I'm a Fan of stonelaw permalink Tatiana - excusing her voice, talent and personality, I think she's quite good.</p><p> Michael Giltz See Profile I'm a Fan of Michael Giltz permalink Very funny.</p><p> She's good for the producers, maybe.</p><p> You must be logged in to reply to this comment.</p><p> Log in or Ads by Google Watch Idol Performances Women's Rights Michelle Obama Europe Newspapers Cars War Wire Video Financial Crisis Barack Obama MORE BIG NEWS PAGES » Books by this author A cabin of one's own: New England's MacDowellColony celebrates 100years of artistic utopia.And the gay and lesbianartists who prosperedthere celebrate ... 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(The national gay &lesbian newsmagazine) by Michael Giltzfuel were found in samples of...</p><p> HUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:20 PM on 02/11/2009 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:53 PM on 02/11/2009 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:44 PM on 02/11/2009 Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:55 PM on 02/11/2009This Blogger's Books from Michael Giltz: American Idol -- Hollywood Week Day Three Wins Night http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-giltz/emamerican-idolem----holl_b_166013.html [4/5/2009 12:25:49 PM] HOME POLITICS MEDIA BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING GREEN STYLE WORLD CHICAGO COMEDY FUNDRACE ARCHIVE Advertise | Login | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Jobs | FAQ: Comments & Moderation | FAQ: Huffpost Accounts | Contact Us Copyright © 2009 HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | Archive | User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type Watch The Idol Performances Free! It's Easy w/the Free Videos Toolbar Videos.alottoolbars.com
