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American Idol Rundown: The Top 10 Girls

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:34:50 PST

So, might as well just come out and say it: '70s night was not exactly the best for our American Idol ladies. And now I'm really wondering what exactly it is the producers think they're doing this season. After all that promotion telling us it's the most talented group ever, why wouldn't they start without having themes at all, giving us a few weeks to get to know this group as they sing their very best songs?

That said, I'm not sure it was entirely the theme that hurt the ladies on Wednesday. How can you go that wrong with a decade that brought us Carly Simon and Heart? And yet, while there were two or three good performances, the rest seemed to range from "eh" to "ow." Still, a couple of the ladies do have me believing they could give little David Archuleta a run for his money, so to see what went down on Wednesday (and don't forget to vote for which singers will go home tonight), just

Carly Smithson: Fun fact: She's a bartender in an Irish bar. She picked Heart's "Crazy on You," and I'm surprised at how much I liked it, especially because last week had set me up to be disappointed by her. Maybe she's just better with rock songs than ballads. Randy, oddly, came out swinging - maybe to compensate for his overpraise last time - saying it had a rough beginning, Paula could tell she was singing a song she liked, and Simon said it was better than last week, though she still hasn't found the right song.

Syesha Mercado - Apparently she's acted in a bunch of commercials, and she can cry like a creepy baby. She does "Me and Mrs. Jones," except it's "Mr. Jones," and here's the thing: I really like this song, but the version she sang has to be the most boring version I have ever heard. The chorus was OK, but she lost me on the verse. Randy said it was a bad choice, Paula called her out for going off pitch on softer notes, and Simon thought it was indulgent for her to sing a song written for a guy, which is pretty lame as far as criticism goes.

Brooke White - She's a beauty school dropout! She came out looking like a '70s folkie with her guitar and sang "You're So Vain" while looking pretty directly at Simon, who - true to form - seemed to think the song was about him. She sounds an awful lot like Carly Simon, with all the good and bad that that implies; it's nothing new, but it's very pleasant to listen to. Randy liked it though it stayed close to the original, Paula said it was a great song, and Simon loved it. Because it was about him. Clearly.

Ramiele Malubay - She's a hula dancer, but she busted a different kind of move on the stage with "Don't Leave Me This Way." It was the first really disco-sounding song of the night, and it absolutely sold me on Ramiele. I could imagine her voice on the radio right now, it's that smooth and that commercially appealing. She could have put more into her performance, but it's a little early to harp on that. The judges universally thought it was just OK, though, even though Simon's criticism seemed to have way more to do with the song than the singing.

Kristy Lee Cook - I thought we could maybe get through her whole secret without her mentioning horses, but no. Hey Kristy: not a secret. She's back to her crunchier hair and was wearing a whole lot of shiny fabric, but her "You're No Good" sounded better than last week. It's a song that has about five notes and five words, and I was bored by the end, but at least she hit those five notes, you know? Randy called it a 100 percent improvement, Paula said it was a good song for her, and Simon said he wants to know what kind of singer she is; they seemed to decide that she should be this year's country girl.

Amanda Overmyer - Dear lord in heaven, what did they do to her hair? And would it kill them to dress her in pants of a solid color? I know she's "a rocker," but that doesn't mean she should look like she shopped in the discount aisle at a Halloween superstore. The chorus of "Carry On My Wayward Son" was fine, but the verse? Was B-A-D. Like, off pitch, where's the tune, "well, that's how you get picked by Vote for the Worst" bad. Randy said the song had too much melody for her to sing (heh), Paula said the song didn't fit, and Simon said the whole thing was contrived. Sad. I really like Amanda, the rocker nurse bookworm.

Alaina Whitaker - She's one of those people whose food can't touch her other food. She sang "Hopelessly Devoted to You," which is not a song I'm hopelessly devoted to. Her voice was strong enough to pull it off, but there's something about the whole performance that made her seem both 16 and 60 at the same time. Randy thought she had pitch problems, Paula liked it OK, and Simon said everything about Alaina seemed too old.

Alexandrea Lushington - She's a fire department poster child, and - this isn't her fun fact, just something I noticed - she has incredibly long arms. She tried Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now," another one of those '70s songs that I knew by sound but not by name, and she looked like she didn't even like the performance. I didn't think it was that bad, but she tried to do some things with her voice that her voice can't do, and it just hurt her in the end. Randy said it was too safe, Paula thought it was cool to hear a girl do the song, and Simon said that song is a '70s relic, period.

Kady Malloy - She sings opera. She also sang "Magic Man," and not that well. She's not awful (and better than last week, for sure), but she doesn't quite have the power in her voice to really hit the chorus, so she ends not doing much with the song. Randy said the verse was never quite on pitch, Paula said the power notes, at least, were good, and Simon said there's still a gap between Kady on stage and Kady the rest of the time. Then he claimed to have never heard "Magic Man," so whatever.

Asia'h Epperson - She, not totally surprisingly, was a cheerleader and came out looking totally different this time, with hair extensions and a sort of sassy-secretary pencil skirt. She went bold with "All By Myself" and then totally missed the first high note, so I have to give her credit for finishing the song, which got better as it went along. Randy gave her credit for the difficulty of the song, Paula said the ending counts and she made it work, and Simon said he's not a good enough singer to do one of the big diva songs, though she almost pulled it off.

My favorites: Brooke by a mile, then Carly, then Ramiele.

Should be worried: Amanda, unless she's built up enough goodwill to get votes. Kady, Alexandrea, and Alaina, if people forget they exist.

Going home: I actually think there's a chance Amanda won't go home, so I'm predicting Kady and Alexandrea.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Which AI Girls are Going Home? Cast Your Ballot Now!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:30:00 PST

It was the second part of '70s week on Wednesday's American Idol, as it was the ladies' turn to take on the songs of the disco decade. Ten went in, but only eight will remain after tonight. Which two girls have reached the end of their Idol road? Cast your ballot now!

Snap Judgment: The Top 10 "American Idol" Girls

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:27:43 PST

This feels like the point in "American Idol" when we're just biding our time until the top 12. The pleasant surprises happened last week, and now we're just waiting for the bad singers (and the good-but-unpopular-or-less-attractive singers) to get booted. The top 10 girls on Wednesday were a lot like the guys on Tuesday: good-but-not-great performances, mixed in with a few stinkers by popular contestants who will stick around longer than they deserve.

Crazy-ometer update: Paula hit about a 6 out of 10 for the two days combined. She was surprisingly snappy with Simon on Tuesday, but by Wednesday she'd reverted to her whole babbling "you're sooo beautiful" brand of "criticism."

You can fill out this ballot to predict which girls are going home, and to read my judgments and picks,

Gina Glocksen (at right): Wow, Gina's boyfriend has dyed a little red skunk strip in his hair to match hers. I like her a lot generally, but she sounded a little shrieky, and the backup singer hit the hardest notes for her. Simon spent a lot of time telling her she doesn't look edgy enough, which I think is the last of Gina's problems.

Alaina Alexander: I finally figured out who she reminds me of: an Olsen twin. I'm not familiar with the song she sang, but she did better with it than with the Pretenders last week. I'm not sure if she was off pitch on the chorus, like Randy said; I'm more inclined to go with Simon's opinion that she just ran out of steam.

LaKisha Jones: She did a pretty funky "Midnight Train to Georgia," but she didn't blow me away like she did last week. The judges told her to be less nervous, and then Simon started ragging on her outfit and her dancing, a la Mandisa, Jennifer Hudson, etc. But she'll be around next week.

Melinda Doolittle (at left): I find myself smiling the whole time I'm watching her - I suppose that because she's smiling, it's only appropriate that I reciprocate. Her voice sounded fantastic, and she's classy (almost too classy for "Idol," honestly). The judges loved it, and Simon called it the best vocal of the year.

Antonella Barba: I was psyched to hear Antonella's song dedication - maybe it will be to the person who leaked the racy photos! - but alas, it was just to her brother. She sang a too-fast, off-key, weirdly arranged version of "Because You Loved Me," and the high note wasn't the problem - the rest of them were. She tried invoking Jennifer Hudson after Simon panned her, but honey? You are no Jennifer Hudson.

Jordin Sparks: She apparently took to heart the judges' advice from last week to sing a bigger song, tackling Christina Aguilera - pretty well, I thought, until the last of the power notes, which just bombed. She cried dedicating the song to her brother and was crying again at the end, which seemed authentic coming from her. She rivals Melinda, LaKisha, and Blake for most likable contestant this year.

Stephanie Edwards: Her dedication was all about her parents pushing her to audition for "Idol." Isn't she a little old to have stage parents? She seemed to have some trouble with the tricky rhythms at the start of "Dangerously in Love" but totally pulled it together at the end. Not quite the splash of last week, but still good.

Leslie Hunt (at right): The more she talks, the more I like her; she's kind of a lovable mess. She pulled out our second "Feeling Good" of the week, with an a capella beginning and some surprising scatting at the end. Simon said she's not terribly memorable; Paula said she was "a different flavor of ice cream," and then Seacrest called Simon sorbet. I ... have no idea what happened there.

Haley Scarnato: Well, singing "Queen of the Night" was one way to banish the cabaret vibe. Oh the other hand, she didn't really have the voice to pull it off. At least she had fun this time. Maybe she should try something not sung by Celine Dion or Whitney Houston, though.

Sabrina Sloan: She sang a convincing version of "All the Man That I Need," but I can't really forgive her for breaking my no-Whitney rule for the second time in the night. Simon and I both liked her better last week, but she's clearly in the top half of the group.

Who should go: Antonella, please, and probably Haley, with Alaina a close third

Who will go: Haley and Leslie. Just when I was starting to like her, too.

Your turn! Use this ballot to tell me which girls are going home.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Kourtney Kardashian's Right-on-Trend Maternity Style

Kate Stahl — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:04:50 PDT

Ever the fashionista, Kourtney Kardashian has stayed true to her trendsetting ways throughout her second pregnancy. Expecting a little girl next month, Kourtney has kept things glam on the red carpet, with flowing goddess gowns and pops of neon color. On the street, it's been all about leather leggings, boho tops, and her best accessory, her 2-year-old son, Mason. Check out 10 of our favorite Kardashian maternity looks just in time to see Kourtney's pregnancy play out on the small screen. Yep, yet another season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians debuts this weekend.

90210 Moves to Mondays and More Schedule Switcheroos on The CW's Fall Schedule

Maggie Pehanick — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:21:06 PDT

Come Fall, the only recognizable thing about The CW's schedule will be The Vampire Diaries. Everything else is getting a major overhaul. While the network is keeping a lot of their series, nearly all of them are shifting times or days. 90210 is moving to Mondays, bumping Gossip Girl back an hour; Hart of Dixie will now be on Tuesdays before the new show Emily Owens, M.D.; and Supernatural has finally made it out of the Friday doldrums and been placed in a prime Wednesday night spot. Check out the full schedule when you

*New show

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. - 90210
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Gossip Girl/The Carrie Diaries* (midseason)

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. - Hart of Dixie
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Emily Owens, M.D.*

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. - Arrow*
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Supernatural

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. - The Vampire Diaries
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Beauty and the Beast*

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. - America's Next Top Model
9:00-10:00 p.m. - Nikita

10 Perfect Finds Every Bit as Smart and Sophisticated as the Grad You'll Gift Them To

Hannah Weil — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:58:52 PDT

Graduation is a major milestone in any girl's life - it may also be the moment in time where the lavish gifts she's dreamed of become a reality. With that in mind, we're turning our attention to the kind of gifts that are smart, sweet, and a little luxurious. If ever there were daydreams of covet-worthy bags or iconic fashion statements, these are the gifts that are sure to reward all your grad's hard work. From artwork perfect for her very first apartment to a pair of earrings she'll wear with everything, we guarantee these 10 finds reflect the sophistication and smarts of the graduate you're gifting. Click on to see and shop our favorite pieces (some of which topped our own editors' grad wish lists).

3 Iconic British Brands Launch in the US - Shop Our Favorite High-Street Picks Now!

Marisa Tom — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:37:07 PDT

The British invasion continues with today's launch of AndOtherBrands.com, a new online retail destination that allows you to shop three of the UK's most beloved high-street brands: Oasis, Warehouse, and Coast. Previously, you could find select styles on ASOS, but now you've got a real lay of the land. Oasis and Warehouse offer up a fun mix of this season's boldest prints, slick espadrille wedges, pastel-hued topper, and ladylike frocks. Meanwhile, Coast is your go-to spot for dresses, perfect for Summer wedding fare. With price points that won't break the bank and a splash of London's cool-girl ethos at your shopping finger tips, what's not to love? Click through to see our top 10 picks and shop your favorites.

Test Your Knowledge: The Best and Worst Places in the World to Be a Mom

Kate Stahl — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:03:05 PDT

Think America is the best place in the world to be a mom? Think again. According to the 2012 State of the World’s Mothers Report from Save the Children, America actually only ranks 25th, up six spots from last year. But shockingly, "When it comes to the number of children enrolled in preschools or the political status of women, the United States also places in the bottom 10 countries of the developed world," says Carolyn Miles, Save the Children’s president and CEO.

Of the 165 countries surveyed, the top three spots went to Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, all of which scored high for mother and child health, educational attainment, economic status, and the percentage of women in government roles. The world's worst place to raise children is Niger (eight of the bottom 10 are sub-Saharan African countries). Check out some crazy stats comparing the best and the worst below, and then take our quiz to test your knowledge about how mothers fare across the globe.

Almost 100 percent of births are attended by skilled health personnel in Norway compared to one-third in Niger.
The risk of maternal death in Norway is one in 7,600; in Niger, it's one in 16.
A girl will receive on average 18 years of formal education in Norway and a mere four years in Niger.

Source: Flickr User Explirer and Flickr User babasteve

6 Best Ways to Flatten Your Belly By Summer

Prevention — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:33:32 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

By the Editors of Prevention

A toned, flat tummy is a goal many of us strive to achieve in time for bathing suit season, but endless crunches and ditching all your favorite foods until July 4th isn’t the right-or fun-way to do it. A sculpted core and trim tummy can be attained by incorporating small changes into your day, like holding in your abs while you walk and adding the right healthy fats to your diet. In our lean belly guide, you’ll get diet and exercise tips that will help you eliminate hard-to-reach ab flab and reveal a sculpted, sexy midsection. Here, learn 6 ways to flatten your belly by summer.

Make Time For Cardio
If you want to burn the most belly fat, a Duke University study confirms that aerobic exercise is the most effective in burning that deep, visceral belly fat. In fact, aerobic training burns 67% more calories than resistance training or a combination of the two, according to the study.

Top 10 Reasons Your Abs Exercises Aren’t Working

Fight Fat With Fiber
For every 10 grams of fiber you eat daily, your belly will carry almost 4% less fat. Thankfully, there are more enjoyable ways to increase your fiber than scarfing down a box of bran flakes: Two apples, ½ cup of pinto beans, one artichoke, or two cups of broccoli will all give you 10 grams of belly-flattening fiber.

More flat-belly tips after the break.

Check Out the List of Tony Award Nominations

Shannon Vestal — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:57:02 PDT

Andrew Garfield and the rest of this year's Tony award nominees - The Hollywood Reporter
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson's new show is headed to HBO - Zap2It
Someone is getting proposed to in these New Girl pictures - BuddyTV
Read Hillary Clinton's sweet rejection letter to Jason Segel - NextMovie
The top 10 movie vacation spots - Rotten Tomatoes
Stan Lee spills about which of his cameos is his favorite - Moviefone
Watch the trailers for all the Batman movies - BuzzFeed
Ha! See pics of the Kardashians meeting their SNL counterparts - HuffPost TV
Get the scoop on 50 Shades of Grey author E.L. James - TrèsSugar