Lee Wins!! Simon Leaves! Season 9 Ends...

Our American Idol Winner is…. Lee DeWyze!

The buzzword for the finale was SURPRISING. Surprising how nice the farewell was for Simon (idols galore) and how gracious he was (although Paula rambling was not surprising), surprising all the guest stars who came (Bret Michaels?), and surprising the outcome. I wanted Lee to win in general, although I didn’t think he deserved to win by his finale performance. (Crystal clearly outperformed him then.) So, for the second year in a row the person with the flatter finale performance came out the winner. Idol has become a different animal. In the early years, you needed to make a huge impression early on and ride it in. Later on, it was all about the “moment”, having that one big performance you rode to the end. Now, it’s become almost like a horse race. It’s almost a detriment to be racing from the front. Lee was helped a huge amount by the fact Crystal seemed almost disinterested at times in the outcome of the show. (When Ellen or others say things like “Crystal is unparalleled, etc. it makes me cringe. I see nothing of that in her. I’ve seen it in others, Carrie, David Cook, etc. but never in Crystal.) Lee kept building fanbase, building fanbase, and he finally passed her.

Simon said the people are the ultimate judges in the show, and he’s right, the public has taken the decision away from the judges. Before, the judges would speak, and the public would reflect what they said. That hasn’t been the case for three years now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4SO6ttHnLk&feature=related

(BTW, Crystal’s boyfriend dumped her pre-performance show. Maybe this was why her tributes to him felt so empty? Nice guy. “I know this is important to you and you don’t need distractions, but this feels like a good time to split. Good luck!”)

Our pool winners are.
First/Second: Tracey Reynolds and Jaqueline Ferrante ($225 each, First and Second Place together, divided by two)
Third: Adam Cohen $100 (2nd time winner)
Fourth: Toniann $50
All money will be mailed tomorrow or Sunday. Please let me know where to mail the check ASAP, otherwise you need to wait till I return Friday.

As for going forward…
-Who will be the new judges? How will the show be?
No clue. Hopefully it’s an inspired choice that also works out. Ellen was inspired but ultimately flat. Kara is a good choice for judge but she takes herself way way too seriously. With Simon and Paula gone, Randy is really not needed.
-Will there be an Idol Pool next year?
Why not! If the show is awful without Simon we won’t have to end the pool, TV will end the show so that will be the outcome anyway.
-Will we do an X-Factor Pool?
My general feeling is yes, assuming the rules of the show lend themselves to it. Remember though, X-Factor doesn’t start until after the next season of Idol.

Thanks for participating! See you never time…

THE TOP 2!

Vs.

Let's get this started!

The first choice is the repeat choice.

Lee with THE BOXER: That was just ok. I think he was better the first time. Judges concur and want him to bring more for the remaining songs, Kara is happy though as she gets to make fighting references.

Crystal with ME AND BOBBY MCGEE: Better than Lee. I don't like that song at all thought. Randy hopes she makes a record like that. Not me. The judges love it though. Eh...hopefully we get better because if this was the best it's disapointing.

Round 1: Like much of the season, Crystal wins because the other contestants are so-so.

It's the Producers Choice. Guess that IS in.

Lee with EVERYBODY HURTS: I love the song choice for him. (Am i the only one who thinks of Dwight sitting in his car when you hear this song?) Much better although not fantastic. Lee is very nervous, which Simon points out. Lee needs to be VERY good on his last song or this could be slipping away.

Crystal with BLACK VELVET: Not a song I like (anyone who grew up with that on the radio has to hate that song, no? ) BUT i think it's a great choice. And it was great. It made me like that song at least for that moment. She tore it up, looked great, looked like she cared, look into it. Simon agrees with every single thing i said almost to the word. (I think i should replace Simon, i'm completely mentally in tune with him here.)

Round 2: Lee on the ropes, getting pummeled by Crystal.

FINAL ROUND:

Lee with BEAUTIFUL DAY: Ooh, great choice. This will be his single if he wins they say. Great song. Good performance, not slam dunk top 10 moment that you will remember forever though. Simon mentions it's his last time judging, that this is what this show is about, someone like Lee needing a break, and getting his break from the show. Congratulations Lee on a great season. But at this point, you really feel like the runner up.

Crystal with UP TO THE MOUNTAIN: This really has a chance to feel like her coronation. Great performance, but a bit subdued so it was not a slam dunk sendoff. But did it have to be? Judges like to be dramatic so I expect over the top praise. Yep, Ellen says no contemporary star can measure up to her. Crystal says goodbye to Simon. Simon's final critique: That was outstanding.

Round 3: Crystal.

Unless I am totally mistaken and Crystal really doesn't have fan support, then Crystal will be crowned our American Idol tomorrow. What has been missing the last few weeks was her energy and her emotional involvement with the show, and it was there today.

Be back tomorrow with lots of guests including one special one seeing Simon off. I was going to list everyone but I am not sure who is announced and not announced officially so i will not do so!

One more day!

Idol Finale Tonight!

THE POOL
IF Crystal Wins
1st: Tracey Reynolds, 2nd Adam Cohen 3rd Jacqueline Ferrante 4th Toniann

If Lee Wins
1st Tracey Reynolds, Jaqueline Ferrante (You share the combined 1st and 2nd place price divided by two), 3rd Adam Cohen, 4th Toniann.

THE FINALE
It’s time for our 9th idol finale. Let’s look at our contenders….

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX: Made absolutely no real impression until Top 10 Week, where she led off the show in spectacular fashion, and has really never looked back. Looking back at my recaps, she basically was the best of what was really a lackluster bunch through the Top 24 and the first few weeks of the Top 12. (I was wondering when they started treating her like the chosen one (which funny enough has stopped the last two weeks) and it was way back in Top 12 (Rolling Stones) week. I think this actually has served to her detriment, she is chasing a level of performance which I’m not sure she has actually even given us). She has been consistently good, but never really spectacular. (Case in point, when I say Fantasia you think SUMMERTIME. When I say Carrie, you think ALONE. When I say Crystal, you think “she plays guitar”.) Crystal has been on cruise control, and not afraid to let us know her mind is somewhere else (her family, her bf). She needs to stop that at least for one week. This week has to be about her winning. I don’t care if she wrote this song for her boyfriend. It has to be good and it has to feel heartfelt to the audience, not him. Crystal’s strength is she seems authentic, and she can wrap her voice around a song and make it emotional. She needs to stay away from country or anything peppy and she will do well.

Big Moment of Season: Crystal gets hospitalized for diabetes complications, Idol flips the shows (men and women) so they don’t need to cut her Top 10, and she comes out and absolutely shines.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSEyOa-cmko&feature=PlayList&p=4F1A07B8A06BA0C5&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=13

LEE DEWYZE: Lee is on the almost exact slow burn path Kris Allen took last year. He didn’t really get going till top 10, where after his performance Simon told him that you “may look back at tonight as the most important night of your life”. (He performed right after their awkward first “backstage cam” moment with Siobahn crying and being consoled.) He has capitalized on Crystal going on cruise control, creeping closer and closer and ending the show last week as if he was the favorite. (It almost felt like a coronation, it was bizarre.) Lee’s strength is his great voice and an ability (the last few weeks) to make songs his own. He is really likable and seems like he really cares about winning, much more than Crystal. Lee needs to stay away from anything too cookie cutter (like when he sang Kiss from a Rose, he doesn’t have that kind of voice). He also has to bring the confidence he has found in the last few weeks. It has served him well.

Big Moment of Season: Week 10 – Simon confirms Lee has joined the fray.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1vv7lo9YVg

BTW, as for show format, I’m at a loss. Idol has said there is no producer’s choice this year. (Final 3 has judge’s shoice, Final 2 producers choice.) However, I have also heard that the coronation song will NOT be sung tonight, but rather by the winner at the finale. (Which makes about 10,000 times more sense which makes me feel like it’s wrong.) What I have heard is the following

1) Personal Choice (Repeat)
2) Clive Davis’s Choice
3) Original Song (written by artist)

Getting the idol format for any weeks show is like cracking the codes for the nuclear football so your guess is as good as mine.

GOODBYE SIMON!
It’s also goodbye to Simon Cowell. By far the most important idol judge, he will give his final critiques tonight. (Who would have thought, out of all the Idol judges, Randy would be the last one left standing.) They are sure to acknowledge this and give Thanks sometimes on Wednesday’s show. (I’ll talk more about the finale tomorrow.)

BTW, and I have to say this at least once (totally off topic), Didn’t LOST promise us way back in Season 1 they would not end like they did?

See you tomorrow! Should be a great show!

TOP THREE, MY THOUGHTS...

I'll critique each separately then give my thoughts where things will wind up...

CASEY JAMES
His Choice - It's Alright By Me: Totally boring, uninspired, sung like someone strumming a guitar waiting to be thrown quarters on the subway. Judges killed him and basically said "at least you have the second song.

Judges Choice (Kara & Randy) - Daughters by John Mayer: Much much better than the first choice. Kind of subdued all throughout which Simon comments on (it had no climax, the arrangement was dull). Kara says it's not supposed to wow you. Well, that was nice of them to give him that then.

CRYSTAL BOWERSOX
Her Choice - Come to my Window: Good performance. No wow factor though, just a very solid Crystal performance which looked ten times better after the initial sleepy Casey Performance. This was a good start.

Judges Choice (Ellen) - Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney: Good song choice by Ellen, that is a place where approaching as a fan is a good thing. Pretty good. She shouted A LOT. (If she was a diva singing an R&B version they's say she shouted, but rockers don't get that criticism. Why is that? I liked it because she wasn't singing soft boring country which she seems to want to lean toward.

LEE DEWYZE
His Choice - Simple Man: Not a bad start for him. Best performance of the three. If he kills the second song he'll possibly be the favorite heading into next week, which is amazing. Judges love it.

Judges Choice (Simon) - Hallelujah: Simon picked something he knows will go over huge. WOW. He killed it, plus the made a huge production of it. Just over the top ridiculous. Made everything before him just not matter at all. He had a moment. It took almost the whole season but we had a moment.



Wow, Casey is so gone. Crystal MAYBE but that would be a huge upset. Lee / Crystal for the title next week?

IDOL TOP THREE!!

SORRY for the late update. A bunch of you know that I had chaos from Thursday on, which is done (at least the chaos part). I’ll update sooner this time, I promise. I did watch everything ( http://ai9pool.blogspot.com/ ) and can’t argue the results at all.

We said goodbye to Michael Lynche.

This definitely gave some clarity to the pool. It also got rid of a lot of the ties we would have. Please see the file (sheet 2) for the winning scenarios. I have scenarios for all 6 possible outcomes. First thing Thursday morning I’ll send out what happens in either of the two outcomes. For those of you only want to look if you MIGHT win, the possible list of winners includes Tracey Reynolds, Adam Cohen, Jacqueline Ferrante, Corrina Spears, Kyoko Tanaka and Meredith Rosen.

This week we are down to the final three. It’s two songs each, Judge’s choice and Personal choice. I think it’s a real tossup who gets eliminated this week, although I don’t think Casey can win. I think he can definitely come second. Lee is the contestant with the most momentum, he is better now than when he started, and he seems to be trying harder and harder each week. Crystal has seemingly been the frontrunner all season, but she is on total cruise control. She has been one real “moment” away from putting a stamp on this season and all but guaranteeing a victory, but she hasn’t even come close. It would be nice if tonight, for once – everyone just comes out and wows us. Some one needs to come out and seize the moment. And right now if you asked me to choose who that will be, I’d say Lee – but it’s a tossup.

See you tonight! Let’s hope we have two fantastic weeks to close out the season.

Movie Night!

It's Movie night! Jamie Foxx is our mentor and he will be obnoxious, book it. Tonight we have six performances, four solo and two duets. Should be interesting although it almost always (this season) falls below expectations. Maybe I should reduce my expectations...

First is Lee with Kiss from a Rose. OH, awful song choice. Jamie Foxx doing his "i'm going to stare right in your face like a psycho" motivational technique, and i remember how stupid it looked last year. You get a t-shirt from him saying "ARTIST" that he will take back if you stink. It's black and says ARTIST. Sigh... It was ok. Not great, not bad. He's got to a place where he is almost always ok. It just wasn't a song which fit him. Judges say the same. Simon calls it Karaoke. Not great way to start.

Michael Lynche with WILL YOU BE THERE? (I don't know this song). It turns out to be a Michael Jackson song from Free Willy. BTW, Michael's goal is top three. You are top four - can you be a bit more ambitious? This was remarkably so-so, from the song choice on down. Simon asks what Free Willy is and Michael answers which makes it even worse.

Casey James with Mrs. Robinson. Not bad but not great. Randy credits Kara as his inspiration (Kara would be Palinesque with a pair of glasses.) They keep talking about it as Casey looks horrified. (Simon has to be explained what this song is about too. I get Free Willy, but he doesn't know The Graduate?) Simon thinks he did not do enough. Well, someone has to continue on.

Crystal with I'm Alright from Caddyshack. Crystal thinks the judges have been tougher on her the past few weeks (because she is above criticism). Ehh, it's good, has energy but is WAY WAY too country. Is she country all of a sudden? The judges like it. Simon doesn't know that movie either. Simon says Crystal is back. Honestly, if we graded on a curve, this was really good. If we graded based on past seasons, it was weak.

Duet Time!
Crystal and Lee with Falling Slowly. Good performance, really lame song. What is this? Such a generic ballad. Judges agree with the good performance thing, not the lame song. Kara loved their chemistry, support for reach other, etc. Lee is her musical crush Crystal says. Haha...

Mike and Casey with Have You Ever Really Seen a Woman? Not Bad. Michael with the better singing, Casey with better guitar playing. Best thing on the show by far. Randy says same thing I said. Ellen with the line of the night "Yes, I have loved a woman." Simon agrees with how much better the duets are.

Strange show, i think anyone could be bottom three. If i had to pick, I'd think Casey or Michael is out just cause they have been weaker, but no one distinguished themselves as a must stay.

BTW, i saw it all out of order so apoligies for the confusion.

Top Four!

Let’s say goodbye to

Aaron Kelly. He made a nice run considering how limited he really was stylewise. He was also (IMO) never give a fair shot by Simon and Kara, so many times they mentioned he was young, he didn’t compare, etc. He was sixteen – no he was not going to compare to Frank Sinatra. The pool picked him to be out next so there wasn’t that huge of an impact.

This week had both good and bad things about it. Harry Connick Jr. was a great mentor, he was funny, he had both great feedback for the contestants and about the contestants, and he actually arranged the songs for all of them. And that was a bad thing also because it made sure no one could do anything contemporary, that it would definitely be an old fashioned arrangement.

Of the remaining people I thought Lee came across the best. He seemed real confident, he got great feedback from the judges, and he possibly came out of this week stronger than he went in. I’m not sure anyone else can say that. Michael was also good, and picked a song choice that really suited him and worked well. Crystal is on cruise control. I don’t like a few things the last two weeks, she seems really disconnected, she seems determined to argue she is connected because she is singing about her family (I don’t care) and she argues every criticism, no matter how small. I liked her better when she was great and not explaining to us her motivation. We are talking about her motivation now because her performances lack a wow factor. I’m not sure she gets that. And Casey – he was awful. There’s nothing else to say, it was awful and hopefully he gets much better.

This week is MOVIE WEEK! Not sure who the mentor is, nor am I sure (again) if it’s 1 song or 2. God forbid idol tells us these things. One step closer to the finale…I want someone to completely blow us away and take the title, rather than right now which feels like Crystal is leading by default.

A few people asked how the Scenarios work. (Next week when we are top three I will give the winners in each scenario if you’d like to wait for them.) Basically, let’s take an example: Michael wins, Crystal Second, Casey third. Go to the second sheet and type FIRST, SECOND, THIRD and FOURTH in cells B4 to B7. Then go to the SUMMARY PAGE and look at column AC. That score will be what the final score would be. So if you are in the top 4, you win!