We are only one episode away from the live performances. An interesting thing has been added this season. During the chair episodes, they are letting people they are undecided about have a sing-off to earn their spot in the semifinals. I like this because it is tough to get eliminated once you’ve made it through Hollywood Week and haven’t performed for the judges since…. I don’t like it because it seems very awkward for the contestants. I would have hated to be in any of the sing-offs, whether I won or lost.
I remember being at the hotel the night before the chair episode and that was awkward enough because you know people are being eliminated. The truth is that I never expected to make it through Hollywood Week, so I can honestly say that I was hoping the best for everyone. When I made it through, I was terribly excited to be on the show, but also terribly guilty for having taken someone else’s spot.
I can tell you that there are people that the other contestants aren’t rooting for. On my season, there were a few people from Hollywood Week that did not stand out to us at all. We came back for the chair episode and wondered how in the world they made it into the semifinals when some of our friends who were great got cut. It wasn’t until we saw their original auditions that we understood how they had made it through.
Consider Joanna Pacitti. She’s a great singer, but she forgot her lyrics every time she sang in Hollywood. The other contestants can’t possibly know how great she is just yet.
Or consider Tatiana Del Toro. She’s a good singer, but she couldn’t be any more annoying. I think the other contestants are a little frustrated that many other great singers have been cut so they can feature her on more episodes.
At the end of the day, most of the decisions were expected. Here is a list of the top 36:
Anoop Desai
Von Smith
Alex Trugman
Adam Lambert
Taylor Vaifanua
Jasmine Murray
Arianna Asfar
Casey Carlson
Megan Corkrey
Mishavonna Henson
Stevie Wright
Joanna Pacitti
Kendall Beard
Kristen McNamara
Alexis Grace
Scott Macintyre
Lil Rounds
Jesse Langseth
Allison Iraheta
Danny Gokey
Ricky Braddy
Matt Giraud
Ju’Not Joyner
Jorge Nunez
Brent Keith
Stephen Fowler
Norman Gentle, or Nick Mitchell
Jackie Tohn
Tatiana Del Toro
Nathaniel Marshall
Jeanine Vailes
Kai Kalama
Anne Marie Boskovich
Kris Allen
Matt Breitzke
Michael Sarver
I was a little upset to see Jamar Rogers get cut. He’s an outstanding talent. The fact that Norman Gentle is there instead of him makes it all feel a little off. Don’t get me wrong, I like Norman. But I haven’t heard him sing anywhere near as good as Jamar. Who knows… Thoughts?
19 Comments
I have a lot to say about Tatiana and some of if is amusing. Or not.
Right now I am on the rampage about Joanna Pacetti. Oh..I forgot how to spell her name just like she forgot the lyrics of every song she sang in Hollywood. But then, her boyfriend is recording one of Kara’s songs so she could have basically wet her pants on stage and drooled and been moved to the top 36.
And they rejected Jamar because they wanted somone relevant like Jorge who makes Ricky Ricardo look modern.
I’m sorry..I’m still not happy about Jamar. To think they did a sing off between Nathan and Cheesecake Guy (who I never saw even audition) and let Jamar go?
Tatiana maybe can sing I don’t know. I don’t like her and no one else will either. But really…Joanna Pacetti who all who heard through 3 rounds of Hollywood is MMMM MMM forgot the words MMM MMM. Hey if they let her through (and they should not have) Tatiana is not the worst of the bunch.
And what about Simon saying *if you forget the words your gone?* Guess that only applies to people who don’t have agents, previous record deals, or who are not recording Kara songs.
OK I am being mean I know but really…the only reason they cut jamar was for the drama of him and danny being separated. that sucks. i get keeping around annoying person tatiana so people will turn in just to see her get voted off but why keep boring JORGE?
What about the guy that forgot the lyrics in his final performance? Jamar certainly deserved it more than him.
The Jamare elimination really bothers me.
Tatiana-Not even that good of singer.
The two blonde girls that sang-off last night were awful.
Jamar and “Cheesecake guy” should have made it over both Tatiana and the winner of the blonde sing-off.
I am a big Norman fan, but do not think he can win. I have faith in America voting now. Just kick off tatiana ASAP
I am just sickened that Jamar got voted off! But i know they did it because heaven forbid that friends make it on to the show. (Friendship and niceness are not permitted on this show…this will be the downfall of many a contestant!) Just like they split the married couple early on during Hollywood week and then axed the wife last night. Oh and during that little sing off, what the heck was Simon’s issue?!?! He was trying to get Paula and Randy and Kara to pick the wife (sorry don’t remember her name) because she was pretty. Excuse me…but does the idiot know this is a singing contest not a beauty pagent! Remember when he did the same thing to Kelli Pickler? I felt bad for Kristen, she was just nervous…just like everyone else. Geez…they need to give her a chance. As for Tatiana….I have no words! Nothing could describe how ANNOYING she is! She needs to just chill out. The hyena laughing is getting old. And Norman Gentle…I feel bad for him, he got cast as the laughing stock. Oh well, such is the life of American Idol. Can’t wait until we can all vote! Then we’ll see who’s hyena laughing!
I think the most tender moment of the night was when Scott MacIntire made it through! When his mom started crying…it was soooo sweet!
Phil, last night I was really curious to hear your perspective on these cuts. I’m sensing that same “rigged” feeling as with seasons past. Jamar appears to be one of the most truly talented males, but I had a sinking feeling the judges wouldn’t send both sides of the bff duo through. Tell me, do you think the judges really make these decisions, is it really the producers, or, do the judges make decisions as producers, keeping in mind “what’s good TV” and not solely who has more talent? Otherwise, how in the world can one explain crazy Tatianna or goofy Nick/Norman verses Jamar? Side note: no matter how talented Jamar seemed or how much I liked him, my husband and I both said he would not get through b/c of his barfy cheek piercing. America just is not ready for that kind of uniqueness. Yet.
Joanna Pacitti, who has been hotly debated on Idol fansites because of her former record deal with A&M Records, has been booted from the competition, according to a Fox press release. “It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition,” the statement read. No further explanation was offered.
In addition to chatter about Pacitti’s previous recording career, the singer has also been rumored to have a close relationship with some of the executives of 19 Entertainment, the company that produces Idol.
In Pacitti’s place will be Felicia Barton, who was seen being eliminated Wednesday. She wasn’t heavily featured on the show, but her rendition of “Put Your Records On” during the Louisville, KY, audition round did create some buzz among fans.
Pacitti has endured public controversy before. At age 11, she was cast to star in the revival of Annie and embarked on a national tour. Two weeks before the musical was to hit Broadway, Pacitti fell ill and was replaced by a new actress — permanently. Her firing generated national headlines and her mom sued for $50 million. The case was settled out of court.
What do you think of this twist?
I was sooo mad that Jamar was voted off. I can name at least ten or more people who deserved to go home instead of him. I think they voted him off to get people to react…to get people to buzz about American Idol. I just hate this, and it makes me not want to watch, but I know that I will. I can not stand Tatiana and they let the girl through that already had a record deal and still can’t remember words?? Come on. I am so mad.
Well, VFTW has always said she is a plant and had connections to the Idol machine. And you know, if she had performed well in Hollywood Week, I would not have been enraged that she made the top 36 even though she a) didn’t stand in line in Salt Lake City; b) already had a record deal and toured with Nick Lachey; c) is dating someone who is recording with Kara; and d) has other apparent close relationships with the production company running idol. I wonder if there was a fan outcry when it became too obvious the fix was in for her.
You guys are fabulous investigators!!!!! It does put a new twist on things doesn’t it!?
I’m glad to see that other people were blown away by the decision to send Jamar home as well. After watching the first part of the show and seeing some of the contestants that made it through, I figured both the BFF duo would make it to the live performances, not based on their story, but because of their individual talents. AI is starting to annoy me. I know we don’t see everything, Phil, but perception is everything in media, and thy smells a rat.
Tatiana Del Toro ugh, what an annoying female. Worse than Sanjaya. Please, let’s hope she gets cut really fast.
I know Joanna and she is a sweet girl with a great voice. My problem with this whole thing is why did they let her through only to let her go and crush her dreams. They had to know all of this from the beginning and I think they are all cruel for letting her get to the top 36 and snatch it away without letting anyone hear her on national TV. I will never watch Idol again and anyone who knows our family will not as well!
I was very disappointed they let Jamar go. I too felt he was worthy of moving on when others…specifically Norman Gentle..wasn’t. I mean, ok, the judges got a kick out of him but is it fair to yank someone elses dream away when someone comes along that doesn’t even take it seriously? What a slap in the face to those who put forth the effort. I hear the chick that cant remember the lyrics got her walking papers…finally. Glad to hear it…although it would have been nice if it would have been a guy, then they could have give Jamar another chance.
Joanna may be a sweet girl. It is unclear why she was ruled ineligible. Her associations with Idol producers and judges and previous record deal may not have been the reason. Something may have surfaced in the last few weeks. Idol suffers from a perception that it is rigged. Had Joanna sang well in Hollywood week I had no problem with her being on the show. What irked me is that other girls, who did perform well, had their dreams crushed in order to make room for Joanna who could not get through ONE performance in Hollywood without forgetting the words. And for someone with her vast experience in the business that was pretty lame. It looked rigged and probably was.
Its interesting that given Felica as the replacement, those sing offs were simply a gimmick.
It was because she was pretty. Simon likes pretty girls.
I’m exercising my phone button pushing fingers and getting ready for next week. What’s done is done. We’re left with 36 musicians. Of those 36 probably 15 are good enough to succeed. The remaining just aren’t that good, IMHO. Jamar would have been in my “not that good” category. Norman Gentle is there, too. And though Joanna did have a lovely voice, she didn’t belong in the top 36. Lyrics. It’s all about memory. She failed.
I just went to youtube and watched some of David Cooks perfomances from last years show. Oh my gosh…I just love the guy. I have been a loyal viewer of this show since it began and I have to admit that I have never enjoyed a performer more than I did David Cook. Not only is he a talented artist, he seems genuinely nice. I have to admit I even purchased his CD. I have never done that for any of the past winners. I think this year the only one that has my interest even a little is Danny Gokey. Another genuinely nice guy(or so he seems from what we’ve seen so far). I hope he does well.
Hi, Phil. There is some controversy over how this year’s season will play out over the next several months. Is there somewhere we can check to see how many will be cut each night? Tonight the 1st 12 perform; how many will be cut?
Thanks & keep up the good blogging.