He was from the first or second night of city auditions. He was a cutie pie, but alas, he is not one of the Semi-Final 24. S’alright, though: Will Makar is far cuter and more talented, so my heart will go on.
I love Fred Savage and Bald Guy and Gray Charles and Ace is pretty to look at. I don’t think anyone had a bad voice. The only person I remember not really liking was Basketball Star Girl. Need to hear them sing more to decide who I’m gonna root for.
I’ve got the names in front of me but I have no idea who is who. No way I’m gonna remember everybody’s name.
you’re kidding, right?
because big faced blond guy with great voice (what was his name?) and Mandeesa and not “Hollywood Pretty” (but, baby, I am ROOTING for Mandeesa!)
Ace is pretty. Will someone get me him for my birthday, please?
btw - this is the first American Idol I intend to watch all the way thru (I’ve always thought it was rather silly)
I will say this about the women - most of them are reverting to a type - they’re all trying to do the Whitney/Brittney thing. Not one of them, not even the one who (claims to) studies opera, is using proper vocal technique. They pretty much sound the same to me. I’m hoping thru the coming weeks, and the whitling down process, they present their own styles, should they have any
Did you hear her? As she was walking out, she turned and said, “I know you all are looking at my big butt.” And darn, she was right; I was. I like her attitude.
Shockingly, I also am the only one who likes Brenna. You don’t want your stars to be boring, and she is not.
My favorite guy is Taylor. He’s got personality.
This is the best looking group of finalists I’ve seen.
I thought a lot of the guys were rather average looking.
Really? I grant you I only watched this week but from what I saw she was waaay off key during the group competition. The runs she did were just terrible.
I thought what they showed of her auditions, her voice was shrill and grating. I can’t believe they kept her and let others go home.
I like the girl whose Dad is in prison.
I just like she asked, “I bought waterproof mascara. Is it working?”
Cute
Ding dong, the Brittanum twins are gooooooone…
I liked the choices, except for Brenna. She bugs the stuffing out of me.
I’m glad they kept Hicks and Daughtry in particular.
Katharine McPhee Neutral.
Mandisa Love her! Her voice is awesome, and forget her weight for a minute; she is beautiful in the face.
Melissa McGhee Cannon fodder.
Lisa Tucker I have a feeling that they’ll constantly be setting things up like it has to be either her or Paris. Simon must be aware of something about her that we haven’t seen, because I didn’t get any impression that her age would be an issue.
Brenna Gathers The One To Hate, the same way Mikalah was last year.
Stephanie Scott Sweet and cute and enthusiastic and nice. IOW, more cannon fodder.
Ayla Brown Probably won’t make it out of the semis, but will have people wailing that she was robbed.
Rebecca O’Donohue Sounds as sensual as she looks. This could have an interesting effect on the voting.
Heather Cox She’s okay, but again, will probably suffer from Either-Her-or-Kellie paradox.
Paris Bennett Slightly less convinced she has it sewn up than I once was, but I still see her going quite far.
Kellie Pickler I don’t like her, based on I already had enough of the “I’m such an adorable dumb hick!” routine last year with Carrie.
Kinnik Sky Who?
Men:
Ace Young Smarmier than Constantine. I predict final 4 at least.
Robert Bennett, Jr. Hadn’t seen him before. I liked him immediately.
David Radford Will be another “robbed in the semis”.
Jose “Sway” Panala Rubs me the wrong way for some reason.
Elliott Yamin Impressed me with his group performance.
Gedeon McKinney Hadn’t seen him before either. I rather hope he doesn’t last too long either, at least not if he’s going to give a speech every time he appears on camera.
Chris Daughtry Eh. He doesn’t appeal to me, but I can see how he does to others.
William “Bucky” Covington I am amazed! I never thought he’d get in.
Patrick Hall Oh yeah!
Kevin Covais One, two, three…AWWWWW!
Taylor Hicks So. Much. LOVE! He is just a pure musician, the way Bo was.
William Makar He’s the one they kept showing with his mouth falling open when Simon dissed him, right? Probably once and out.
Yay, it’s Rilchiam re-cap time, I’ve suddenly realized I missed that! 
I was unable to watch this week after all, good thing y’all were here, I feel suitably caught up and everything.
I so agree that they could be setting up a Paris vs Lisa cage match, I like them both but don’t want to see them unfairly contrasted. Yay Gray, yay Mandisa, yay Chris D, it’s funny when you don’t watch, I’m probably forgetting folks I really liked that wound up getting cut but I’m glad those five got thru.
I agree with this on principle, and would like to add that I think he is also less of a poseur than Constantine. I think Ace knows he’s got boy-band good looks, and he doesn’t pretend to be Chad Kroeger when he’s clearly not. However, Constantine was some kind of evil song-selection genius; how talented Ace is in this area remains to be seen.
Here’s the pictures.
I thought the group of guys was mostly dorky and ugly.
Grey Taylor : dork
Makar : dork, maybe cute to the teeny boppers
Covais : huge dork
Partrick: pencil-neck dork
Gedeon : dork
Sway : gangsta-dork. Not good looking
Bucky: redneck dork
Daughtry : just kind of ugly.
Ace looks like Shrek when he turned human. Doesn’t he just drip “California Pretty Boy”. I guaran-damn-tee you he spends about 5 hours each morning getting himself to look “unkempt”.
Anyone else keep expecting Elliot Yamin to sing “Eee Aaa Oe’s?” What’s the deal with that horrible beard?
So my son gets an eyeful of Mandisa and says, “Oh my God! That butt is alive! It could come out of those pants and live a full life all by itself!” He says this not with disgust, but with awe. Because he’s a young black male and a butt like that is awesome!
Just found out that Breena is from The Bronx, the boro I was born and raised in. Makes me feel a little ashamed— first J-Lo and now Breena. Sorry.
I’m certainly no Rilchiam, but these are my takes:
AYLA BROWN
You have a voice that sounds like a dull razor blade. The omagoshicantbelieveimhere! shtick is unbecoming of a tall woman. You need to cut out the Geisha girl tip-toeing and walk with long broad steps. Demure doesn’t work well with a water tower body.
BECKY O’DONOHUE
You’re right that I’m surprised you have a 27" vertical and can post me up, but you sing like a bottle of gas. You’re quite beautiful in a Lara Flynn Boyle kind of way, but of course you’re much taller than she. Try acting.
ACE YOUNG
Lucky for me, I don’t find you attractive. That way, I can honestly assess your voice, which sounds like air coming out of a bicycle pump. If we plugged up your nose, you’d be mute. You’re no Constantine. You’re no rocker either. Go find a boy band.
BOBBY BENNETT
Your voice is horrible. You say that your favorite singers are Babs and Barry. The problem is that your stage presence is a blend of the two of them. Stop sucking the microphone. And stop with the excessive tremolo. If you can’t find the note, just shut up.
BRENNA GETHERS
I’d sooner that Satan beats Christ at Armageddon than to see you win this thing. What you need is to be knocked in the head with a big lump of coal. You sing like a stepped on cat. You’re a manager’s worst nightmare. You will surely melt down and walk off the stage in a melodramatic tiff before this thing is over. All I ask is that when you do, don’t come back.
HEATHER COX
I know I can’t approach you, but mwa mwa mwa. You sing like a muscrat sucking on tree bark. Your hair is illegally blond. You have zero rhythm, and nothing in your favor besides ample cleavage and eight-foot-long thighs. Have you considered a career in x-rated movies?
BUCKY COVINGTON
You have a pretty decent voice, and the blond Jesus thing is kinda cool, but you gotta fix your teeth. No way people are gonna vote you through with those gapped and crooked canines. One question: is your twin’s name Fucky?
CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Sir, I am not worthy to comment on you. I’ll just say that your voice satisfies my ear like a fine wine satisfies my palate. Simon said you have no charisma and do not emote. Simon is a moron. If I were a wealthy man, I would rescue you from this miasmic contest and finance your career myself. By the way, your answers to the questionaire were refreshingly honest and interesting. Thank you for not saying that you began singing before you could talk.
KATHARINE MCPHEE
Oh, lord, another tall woman who thinks she’s a pixie. Look, I have nothing against tall women. I like tall women. Some of my best friends are tall women. But tall women have to carry themselves like tall men — shoulders up, head up, arms moving when they walk. Oh, your voice? Not horrible.
KELLIE PICKLER
I really don’t give a rat’s ass about your background story one way or the other. I do not find it endearing nor am I put off by it. I do wish you’d stop burying your face in your hands and crying every time someone says, “Hi!”. Your voice is quite good, actually. But please stop letting the producers manipulate you, and start standing on your own. This journey shouldn’t be about your dad and your past. It should be about you and your future.
DAVID RADFORD
I’m honestly not sure what to say about you. You have the good looks of a young Robert Goulet, but there’s something strikingly Children of the Corn about your eyes. Are you a pod person? Your voice has a really nice tone, and thank God you don’t try to hide anything with tremolo, but your low notes are like an overexposed photograph. I’ll be surprised if you don’t blow it when you have to sing something besides scat. But I’m open. I hope you do well.
ELLIOTT YAMIN
Nope. Your voice is passable, but you’re not going to get anywhere with that fox shaped face. I’m not talking about good looks versus bad looks. You’re not ugly, but you have a weird arrangement of teeth. When you open your mouth, it looks like a vet’s view of Lassie. And your nose is apparently a flat plane, It has no frontal dimension. Sorry, but you won’t make it very far.
KINNIK SKY
You sing like Tarzan swinging on a vine and thumping his chest. For god’s sake, tone it down. It was unfortunate for you that you couldn’t celibrate your accomplishment properly, though. Having to sit beside the person whose dream was just shattered puts a bit of a damper on your own joy, I’m sure.
LISA TUCKER
Your personality doesn’t suck, but I wish you would learn that not every note has to be at top volume. Why don’t sixteen-year-olds understand this? Also, it is not impressive to hold a note for twelve measures unless it’s written that way. We already have a Whitney. Go away. Find yourself. When come back bring Lisa.
GEDEON MCKINNEY
It is rather remarkable that Simon likes Brenna, but doesn’t like you. I, frankly, like your confidence, and I find your bravado refreshing among the sea of fawning youmeanyoupickeme!? droids in this year’s playlist. But your voice sounds like a cheese grater. You’re no good. Really, Honestly. Just shut up.
JOSE ‘SWAY’ PENALA
Why the hell do you think it would surprise anyone to know that you own a Carpenter’s album? You try to sound like Richard, but you come across like Karen. When you perform, the song gets lost in your overdramatic impressionism. You sing like constipation.
MANDISA
You really are good. Very good. A beautiful voice. A great stage presence. Absolute mastery of the material. And complete ownership of the performance. You remind me of other great singers, but you’re unique enough to be your own personality. You’re the first really great soul singer the show has had. I can’t wait to here you gut out some R&B.
MELISSA MCGHEE
Next.
KEVIN COVAIS
I want you to listen to me carefully. This is all just a cruel joke. You were selected by tossing beans at a floor full of polaroids. You have Bob Dylan’s tonal range, and Jeffrey Dahmer’s mystique. I can’t believe you’ve taken singing lessons for four years. What was it, one lesson every Thanksgiving? I’ll cut you some slack because you’re diabetic, but honestly, don’t take yourself too seriously. That way, the early cut won’t hurt so much.
PATRICK HALL
You’re an interesting person. Your voice is quite good, but you have the confidence of Rodney Dangerfield at a quilting bee. You seem to think you’re not good looking, and while your features aren’t completely symmetrical, you’re not heinous or anything. Just loosen up. Shake it out. It’s the deer in the headlights that’s gonna do you in.
PARIS BENNETT
What the hell happened to you? Okay, let me catch my breath. It is somewhat consoling that you yourself recognize that since coming to Hollywood, you’ve gone to hell in a handbasket. For any ordinary person, that would be just too bad, but for you, it is a fall from Mount Olympus. The first thing you say when you’re off the bus is to brag about how loud you are? The hell? You slather your face with butterscotch topping and call it make-up? You select a key for a song that is four notes too low? Please don’t do this to me. Go back within yourself and find that angel that descended into the audition. Or else just disappear. I don’t want to watch you die.
STEVIE SCOTT
Gah, shut up. Just shut the fuck up. Shut up!
TAYLOR HICKS
My my my. My my. Oh, my. While I’m at a loss for words here, let me just reiterate what I’ve already said. You’re interesting. But so is the goo on the bottom of my sneaker — at least until I figure out what it is. Your voice is just okay. Not great. Not horrible. Your shtick is intriguing, but Joe Cocker has already been done. I’ll be interested to see how the public receives you.
WILL MAKAR
May I just be the first to slap you? Jessica Simpson and Michael Jackson? Those are your favorite singers? What the hell. And Brett Favre is your hero? You’re from Texas. You do know where that is, right? Oy. Okay, listen. You’re gonna do pretty well, but it’s only because you do Chewbacca impressions and look like Peter Brady. Hell, you look more like Peter Brady than Peter Brady does. And all right, your voice isn’t so bad. In fact, it’s pretty good. But I just hate it when cute trumps talent, and with all those little girls out there with cell phones, it surely will for quite a while. The sad thing will be all the legitimate talent being squeezed out because of you. Now, just tag along quietly until the ride is over, and then go away.
I loved it when Patrick Hall said, “I’m not as pretty as Ace, but who is?”
I know I always ask the stupid questions and I could just look it up myself, but are we off next week or do we get to vote?
I don’t think so. Each show is two hours. Tuesday is girls, and Wednesday is boys. There’s really no format for announcing votes unless they’re gonna be on for three days.