BuzzSugar

Whose Post-American Idol Album Are You Most Interested to Hear?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 08:15:25 -0700

As I watched all of those sparkling song and dance numbers during the American Idol finale, I couldn't help but remember the good old days when Michael Johns had a shot at winning and Carly Smithson was surely destined for the top three. It was good to see them again!

The producers of the show proclaimed all year long that this was the most talented group on Idol ever. I don't know how much I agree with that, but while watching the finale I realized there were more contestants this year whose albums I would be interested in hearing - and perhaps even spend money on. Despite Brooke White's implosion on the show (starting and stopping her song, etc.) I think she has the potential to make the kind of music I might dig. Does anyone think Chikezie could make an interesting contemporary album? And what about Kristy Lee Cook? Do you see a country album in her future?

Of the this year's top ten, whose album are you most excited to hear?

Photos courtesy of Fox

Buzz In: Which Actors Do You Associate With One Character?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:32:14 -0700

It's been a few days, and I still haven't been able to get my head around the notion that Tristan Wilds from The Wire is joining the cast of the 90210 spinoff. I'm so used to seeing him as this hardened, tough little boy on the streets of Baltimore that it's going to be a challenge to see him among the glitz of posh Beverly Hills - and, to some extent, he's just always going to be Michael.

I can think of a lot of other actors who, like Wilds, so embodied their characters for me that I have a hard time changing the way I think of them. Will and Grace has been off the air for a couple of years now, and I still can't see Megan Mullally as anything but Karen Walker. When Gio pops up on Ugly Betty, it takes me a minute to remember why Freddy Rodriguez isn't in a funeral home a la his Six Feet Under character. And we all know that Jared Padalecki will always be Dean to me.

Felicity Huffman just talked to the Hollywood Reporter about this issue, saying that when you're on a weekly series, "You go into acting jail for a number of years afterwards because people are so tired of your face," and when you get offers, they're all similar to the roles you just played. This is probably the biggest problem on TV, where we can check in with characters weekly, but it can also happen with particularly memorable movie roles (just think of how many people immediately thought of "the lotion girl" from Silence of the Lambs when Brooke Smith joined Grey's Anatomy ). So tell me: Which actors will always just be a certain character to you?

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American Idol Elimination: Who Are the Final Four?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:30:00 -0700

Just three more weeks till this year's American Idol is crowned! Which of the five smiling singers pictured above couldn't make it past the rigors of Neil Diamond week and was sent home on Wednesday? To find out, just read more.

Aw, Brooke! At one point, I had her pegged as the last woman standing - and maybe even making a run at the finals. But it's no secret that she's been declining for the past few weeks. I don't know if she just lost confidence or faith in herself or what, but it had been a while since we saw the same singer who turned "Love is a Battlefield" into a dark, heartbreaking ballad. She's one of the few contestants from this year whom I'm legitimately curious about, though; I think she could have an interesting career, and no Idol alum has really broken into the singer-songwriter sphere yet. If she gets a contract (which I bet she will), I'd definitely check out her album. I'm also proud of her for pulling herself together enough to sing - I honestly didn't think she could do it.

Syesha dodged a bullet again, ending up in the bottom two but staying safe. As for Jason Castro, he was the first guy sent to the Safety Couch. Um, he can't actually be the winner . . . right? I'm a little worried that if he could be safe after Tuesday, there's nothing that will get him voted off.

Some other thoughts on Wednesday's show:

At 9:26 p.m., we knew Brooke and Syesha were the bottom two, and Ryan had them both out on stage together. I got momentarily hopeful that the show was actually only half an hour. Yeah, no.
The only comment about PaulaGate came from Seacrest: "The rumors? They're not true. She's part of our family, and we love her." What, by the way, were the specific rumors? That Paula was drugged/crazy/fired?
Maybe I'm wrong, but David Archuleta seemed to be genuinely surprised that he was safe. Either that, or he's just learned to fake it better
Who is this old flame of Simon's from when he was 9 years old, and how did she get the number to call American Idol? That was actually funny, though I admit I'm perversely intrigued by both Simon's personal life and his childhood, so it was kind of the perfect storm. Also: "For all the kids watching, 9 years old is too young to kiss."
Neil Diamond looks like a sweet old man when he's not wearing a glitter-laden sparkly shirt.
I was thinking the group sing really seemed to be missing something, and then I realized what it was: Carly! Without her, there's just nobody else with a big enough voice to carry the songs forward.
It is ridiculous how excited I am for So You Think You Can Dance - except that it looked like Sex is back again at this year's auditions. Seriously, the show really needs to move past him.

Your thoughts? Was it Brooke's time to go? How long can Syesha squeak by? And does a Young David vs. Older David finale seem inevitable at this point?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Neil Diamond Night

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:30:12 -0700

I always look forward to the moment in the American Idol season where the contestants start singing two songs per night. Not only does it make the whole show move a lot faster, but it also demonstrates what the contestants can do under more pressure and given the chance to really show off different sides of their singing styles.

That said, Neil Diamond night was a mess - not the least because of Paula, who amazingly criticized Jason Castro for a song before he'd performed it. I'm sure she had notes from the dress rehearsal and whatnot, but still, it was the first time I think I've ever seen Seacrest rattled (his panicked look offstage was telling). Also, going through the first half of the show without judges' comments was an interesting choice, but it actually made the flow of the show feel even more rushed than it needed to be - and none of the contestants really got a meaningful critique on both songs.

Overall, I thought the night was just OK - no real standouts from the contestants at the top of the pecking order, no real challenges from those at the bottom. What did you think? Don't forget to tell me which singer you think is headed home, and to hear my take on their songs, just read more.

Jason Castro - I actually liked Castro's take on "Forever in Blue Jeans." The tempo, the range, and the style of the song were all perfectly suited to him, and he seemed to be at ease performing it. Maybe too much ease, as he didn't really do anything interesting to the song, but it wasn't a disaster. His take on the ballad "September Morn," on the other hand, was a wreck; his voice couldn't handle the verse, and from the look on his face at the end, he knew he'd botched it. He didn't seem that bothered, though, and that's something that's bugged me about Castro for a while now: Does he even want to try? The judges were all unimpressed, with Paula making sense for a moment and telling Jason she doesn't see him fighting.

David Cook - On first listen, I thought David's take on "I'm Alive" was disappointing and "All I Really Need is You" was a showstopper, but actually, after hearing those 30-second song clips at the end of the show, I'm tempted to reverse my opinion. "I'm Alive" sounded about a half-step too low for his voice, but it had good energy. "All I Really Need is You" was one of those power ballads meant to show off his tender side, but I actually found myself annoyed at how he needed to bring a rocker growl into every single note. The final verdict, though, is the same: On balance, he was the best of the night. The judges mostly preferred his second song to the first, and Paula said she felt like she was looking at the winner already - because, as we know, she can see the future.

Brooke White - Show of hands for how many people thought it was a given that Brooke would pick "I'm a Believer"? I certainly did. And on that one, she showed off the same weakness as she had on "Here Comes the Sun": Uptempo stuff isn't her comfort zone, and even this relatively simple song was a stretch for her voice - Simon even called it a nightmare. "I Am, I Said" was a thousand times better; she fits best at the piano, her voice was clearer and more secure, and she managed to make even a horribly cheesy song sound earnest. The judges' comments were along those lines: First song awful and weird, second song a reminder of why Brooke has gotten this far.

David Archuleta - OK, new beef with this kid. Every song he sings sounds exactly the same. Doesn't matter if it's "Sweet Caroline" or the Beatles or Stevie Wonder; it sounds identical to every other midtempo, adult-contemporary song in the book. I would have loved to hear him have some fun with "Sweet Caroline" rather than bust up the arrangement into something I'd hear in an elevator, and "America" was - to steal a Simon term - theme park-y. Simon even called him amateurish at one point, but in the end, the judges said he was in the zone, and Simon praised his clever song choice (as you must if the song mentions America).

Syesha Mercado - Syesha won me over a little last week with her Broadway-esque performances, and I think she must have realized that was the way to go, because we got more sing-acting from her last night. "Hello Again" sounded nice and pleasant, but it was old-fashioned and a little too hotel-bar for my tastes. "Thank the Lord for the Night Time" was better, possibly because Syesha's obviously fake stage personality makes more sense when she's throwing herself into an uptempo song. I don't think she'll win Idol, but she could have a great Broadway career. Oh, and I want her dress. Randy said Syesha is finally coming into her own, and Simon said she could be in trouble, which I think was a gift to her because it will get her fans to call.

Bottom two: It should be Brooke and Jason. Syesha could end up there, too, but again, I think Simon saying she's in danger should actually help.

Going home: Jason

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:30:13 -0700

Good times never seemed so good? The top five American Idol contestants sang the songs of Neil Diamond on Tuesday - words that, frankly, I never thought I'd type. So, how did they do? And whose interpretation will land them a one-way ticket back home?

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: Who's in the Top Five?

BuzzSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:30:46 -0700

There comes a point in every American Idol season when it begins to occur to me that America and I must not be watching the same show. And in this season, that point came Wednesday night. Anyone else feel like they were in bizarro world? To see who's safe for Neil Diamond week and who headed home, just read more.

There were weeks - like, say, last week - when I would have said it was no surprise had Carly gone home. But this week? After one of her best performances of the season, when she finally seemed to be relaxed and rocking and having fun? Carly obviously had a tough time connecting with voters; she was ending up in the bottom three when there were far, far worse singers still in the competition. But her personality was finally starting to show through, and she was looking cute and acting delightful. So why now, America?

In fact, everything that happened after the Davids were proclaimed safe made no sense to me. Syesha (whom I liked for the first time on Tuesday) and Brooke (of the False Start Heard 'Round the World) paired together - and Brooke's the one who was safe? And Carly's adorably up-tempo "Superstar" got trumped by Jason's warbling "Memory"? All of my predicted bottom three were safe, and the two performances I liked best landed in the bottom. Did this make anyone else feel a little out of sorts?

Carly seemed like such a wreck any time she'd ended up in the bottom earlier this season, but she handled her departure with class on Wednesday - and she should be proud of herself. At least she went out with a strong performance, and I honestly hope her second real crack at a music career works out better than the first.

Some other thoughts:

Does anyone else think Syesha has been trained to know exactly where the camera is at all times?
This week brought in 38 million votes, which I think is the highest total we've heard this season.
Some of the harmonies on the "All I Ask of You" group sing were awesomely bad. There were some notes that I don't know if any of the six of them could hit individually - and they were being asked to hit them together. Disaster!
Ryan called Brooke's false start the first time anyone had ever stopped and started in all of Idol history. Except that's a lie, cause Brooke did it a couple of weeks ago.
While the show was really mostly filler (why on earth are they still an hour long?), I actually enjoyed the chat with Andrew Lloyd Webber, especially when he called Jason's decision to sing "Memory" the "most curious song choice" of his career.
Why does Young David always get the most boring role in the Ford Pimpomercials?
Hey, that was President Bush's second appearance on TV this week! But it didn't do much to boost ratings for Deal or No Deal.
If that was your first time hearing or seeing Leona Lewis, did you think she lived up to the hype?
I totally crack up every time I see a scene from season one that has Dunkleman in it.
I think I prefer the sing-out ending to the awkward standing around that happened last night. Why diminish the last moment in the spotlight?

So, are any of the rest of you baffled by America at large? Can anyone take out the two Davids? And who's going to sing "Sweet Caroline" next week?

Photos courtesy of Fox

American Idol Rundown: The Top Six On Broadway

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:38:55 -0700

You know how Simon often cuts down American Idol contestants by telling them their song was "too cabaret"? This week, that would have been a compliment. The top six had the unenviable task of having to take on songs by musical theater legend Andrew Lloyd Webber, and while I can't say I understand what singing Broadway has to do with being a viable, chart-topping pop star, I'm willing to make the stretch. Well, sort of - to be honest, listening to bad Broadway is actually lower on my list of things to do than listening to bad Mariah Carey imitations.

That said, it was interesting to see which contestants made the most of Lord Andrew's catalog - and which were swallowed up by the theme. Don't forget to vote for the singer you think is going home, and to check out my thoughts, just read more.

Syesha Mercado - Syesha's so theatrical anyway that a Broadway theme should have played to her strengths - and sure enough, "One Rock And Roll Too Many" brought out the shiny, slinky, diva-licious side of her. It was hilarious to see her turn on the "Showtune Syesha" switch the second Lord Andrew asked her to. She took command of the stage for the first time, and she sounded pretty great for most of the song (though am I crazy or did she lose some steam leading up to the big ending?). Randy said it was her best performance to date, Paula said this style was "her happy place," and Simon said it was sexy and one of her best.

Jason Castro - If there's one thing to say about Jason, it's that his Sir Andrew footage was the funniest of the night. I loved the lukewarm endorsement of Webber saying Jason "kind of got what ['Memory'] was about . . . I think," especially when paired with Jason's "I didn't know a cat was singing it!" Unfortunately, "Memory" taken down to the five-note Jason Castro range is just pretty boring; it's not the kind of song that's meant to be strummed on a guitar or crooned in the college quad. Randy said the song was (still!) too big for him, Paula liked that he still put his spin on it, and Simon said it was like Jason was forced to sing at a wedding he didn't even want to attend.

Brooke White - Brooke also got a talking-to from Lord Andrew about the meaning of her song, and the footage, which showed her sincerely appearing to get it, got me so excited to hear what she'd do with "You Must Love Me." Unfortunately, it was a disaster. The starting and stopping at the beginning might have been forgivable if it hadn't rattled her so much; the rest of the song just seemed desperate, like she was using the lyrics to plead with voters. The thing is, I thought she sounded pretty good in parts, and it could have been a big moment for her if she'd been able to keep it together. Randy said it wasn't great but he appreciated the vulnerability, Paula chided Brooke for the false start, and Simon said that all the drama made him uncomfortable.

David Archuleta - Sorry, Lord Andrew, but Young David's eyes look closed even when they're open. Maybe he should have picked on the false humility or lip-licking instead. I was expecting David to sing "Think of Me" straight, but instead he delivered the adult contemporary radio edit, complete with relatively cheesy arrangement. His voice is undeniably good, but he didn't make this song particularly special. Randy anointed him the one to beat again, Paula said it was absolutely perfect, and Simon was more on my side, saying it was pleasant but one of his weakest.

Carly Smithson - Carly has Lord Andrew to thank for making her stop with the "All I Ask of You" and bust out some "Jesus Christ Superstar" instead. I love Rocker Carly, I really do, and she came out looking relaxed, actually moving around the stage and seeming less stressed about hitting every note perfectly. I wish she'd taken control of the chorus more, rather than leave much of it in the hands of the backup singers, but I think it's proof that Carly should stick to the up-tempo stuff. Randy said it was good but not her best, Paula loved the surprise of it, and Simon said it was one of his favorites of the night, which is kind of weak praise when you think about it, but it was enough for Carly to bust out a custom-made "Simon Loves Me" T-shirt.

David Cook - I admit, I was distracted throughout this performance because I just realized that "Music of the Night" is all about sex. I saw Phantom when I was 10 years old, OK? Jeez! Anyway, if I'd been asked to name a contestant who would do a traditional Broadway arrangement, Cook would have been at the bottom of my list, but hearing him sing the song straight with no frills was an important revelation: He can't just rock - he can also sing. I think that was a wise choice for him. Randy called it "a molten hot lava bomb," Paula praised him for being well-rounded, and Simon didn't like this side of him but said he made the most of it.

My favorites: Carly and Syesha, followed closely by David Cook.

Bottom three: Brooke and Jason, for sure. I'd actually like to see Archuleta get his first bottom-three scare, but I doubt it will happen, so I'll say Syesha will end up there (but be safe).

Going home: Brooke. Honestly, I feel like I'm watching her nervous breakdown.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which American Idol Contestant Is Going Home Next?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:30:17 -0700

It's really starting to feel like crunch time on American Idol. The six final contestants (remember way back when we still had 24?) did their best Broadway impressions on Tuesday, belting the show tunes of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Which contestant will be only a "Memory" after tonight? Make your choice below!

Photo courtesy of Fox

American Idol Snap Judgments: Pop and Buzz Pick the Top 12

BuzzSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:30:21 -0800

American Idol announced its top 24 last night, and that can only mean one thing: It's time for irrational predictions! Last year, Pop and I faced off with our snap judgments about which of the 24 semi-finalists would make it to the finals, and we had so much fun taunting each other about it that we decided to do it again this time around.

This year's a little tricky because we've hardly seen half of these guys, and a few of the girls haven't had much screen time, either. But no matter - that's what gut feelings are for, right? To see which guys and girls we each think will make it through, just push play:

For our full lists plus pictures of all the contestants, just read more.

View 24 Photos ›

The Guys
Chikezie Eze - Buzz & Pop
Colton Berry - Neither
Danny Noriega - Buzz & Pop
David Archuleta - Buzz & Pop
David Cook - Neither
David Hernandez - Pop
Garrett Haley - Neither
Jason Castro - Buzz
Jason Yeager - Neither
Luke Menard - Neither
Michael Johns - Buzz & Pop
Robbie Carrico - Buzz & Pop

The Ladies
Alaina Whitaker - Neither
Alexandrea “Alex” Lushington - Buzz
Amanda L. Overmyer - Buzz
Amy Davis - Neither
Asia'H Epperson - Buzz
Brooke White - Buzz & Pop
Carly Smithson - Buzz & Pop
Joanne Borgella - Pop
Kady Malloy - Pop
Kristy Lee Cook - Neither
Ramiele Malubay - Buzz & Pop
Syesha Mercado - Pop

Photo courtesy of Fox