I haven't watched the Results Show yet, but saw who was eliminated when I started Glee. Good ol' FOX! Will post results once I watch them......

Okay, here we go...

Results

Top 6 medley of Bacharach/David songs

Ford Fiesta Mission #3: Shoot Out

Last week's Top Three:

Angie, Stage Right
Lazaro, Stage Center
Kree, Stage Left

Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery performs "See You Tonight"

Janelle, Stage Right
Candice, Stage Left
Amber, Stage Center

The three groups will end up being Top 2, Middle 2, Bottom 2

Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson performs "People Like Us"

Top 2 = Kree, Candice
Bottom 2 = Lazaro, Amber

Middle 2 (Angie, Janelle) are also safe

After 34 million votes....

Not a shock, but Lazaro sings "Feelin' Good" for his life, but is not saved

I guarantee this: A girl will win American Idol this year!

...hopefully it's Candice.

Geoff, just curious, what did you think of this week's Glee? I haven't watched it yet, but it's taking a lot of heat. Also, Cory Monteith is in rehab now, so I don't know what they'll do with Finn. Anyway, back to Idol!

Buh-bye Lazaro!

THE VOICE is better!

I thought it was timely, scary, emotional, and important. It took a lot of heat because some people are hypersensitive (IMHO) -- I think it's good not to forget. Then again, that's my opinion having (thankfully) never lived through anything like that.

Without JG's critique, I say the girls are pretty good. I haven't been watching much this year, but its going to be a tight race. No flaws. It will come down to style.

Now, for the aberration of AI - Nickie Min-ouch. She could be living proof that there is life in outer space. She is an alien. Those eyes are not human. I think I saw them blink sideways. Don't even consider the one inch of black roots. Did she have a baby's butt stuffed in her top? Her voice is a cross between Fran Drescher and Gilbert Gottfried. Whoever has bought her music must be quarantined to Siberia.

Sorry I'm late again...

Top 5

Birthyear Songs


CANDICE had perfect vox as usual, interesting version of Abdul classic.
K: So good, great version; N: You're the boss; R: So in the zone; M: Smart, genius, A-mazing; J: Disagree, song had limited range

JANELLE was proficient, good vox, not very exciting.
N: Persuade you to use guitar more, angelic; R: Really great job, back were belong; M: I believed you, singing with whole heart; K: I didn't feel it

KREE was okay, less pro than first two.
R: Naturalness in spirit and voice; M: Can sing anything, organic; K: Voice is so fine; N: BOTN, felt current; J: Song not strong enough, Kumbaya

ANGIE had some rough notes but was okay.
M: Pefect; K: Beautiful tone; N: Great performance; R: Best Top 5 in a long long time, on your way; J: Fabulous, BOTN

AMBER had some flat spots singing the Mariah song, but I like her.
K: Amber Alert!, beautiful; N: No feeling in beginning, not impressed; R: Not perfect but mad props; M: Loved a lot of your choices; J: A for bravery, low register not emotive enough, #2

Songs by Divas


CANDICE was flawless, easily the best singer.
N: That is how you do a Mariah/Whitney song; R: Again? BOTN; M: So proud of you; K: Vocals stop me in my tracks

JANELLE should've seemed more 'fun'
R: Fun, but not much vocal; M: cute, fiery; K: Not best song to shine; N: You are great, in jeopardy of going home

KREE almost sounded like Celine Dion, sometimes shaky.
M: Very smart choice, got away slightly; K: Stayed in control; N: You're not country, your worldly; R: You can sing anything

ANGIE's high parts were okay sometimes.
K: Definitely Top 3; N: Angie is back!; R: IITWI; M: Yes Diva, clarity

AMBER sounded old-fashioned.
N: Perfection; R: Most difficult song of season, current; M: Classic, beautiful, elegant; K: Knocked it out of the park

My order: Candice, Kree, Angie, Janelle, Amber

RESULTS

Top 5 perform a Donna Summer medley

Ford Fiesta Mission #4: Scavenger Hunt

Angie, Candice recaps. Paula Abdul shows up to congratulate Candice.

Season 2 Runner-up Clay Aiken performs "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Recaps for Janelle (including a note from Dolly), Amber, and Kree

Idol Update: Season 3's LaToya London

Season 3 Winner Fantasia performs "Lose to Win"

Candice safe
Angie safe
Amber safe (My #5)

At risk of going home is......
Janelle. Kree is safe.

Janelle performs "Keep Me Hanging On" but is not saved (2 votes for, 2 against). Guess Jimmy had a say?

--

Top 4 next week, and another 2 HOUR show?!

Top 4

The contestants visit Children's Hospital L.A., and have perhaps the most boring night in the history of American Idol.

Contestant's Choice


AMBER was good, but not very exciting [no one was, apparently].
K: Taylor-made for your voice, amazing; N: You are so current, ready; R: Most growth, now a pro; M: Gave classic song flavor, #POW; J: Difficult to beat

CANDICE was proficient, but boring [like everyone else].
N: Wish you had stuck to the melody, don't be old fashioned; R: Love you, can't always be churchy; M: Can sing anything, risky; K: Your finding yourself; J: Second best of night

KREE was a little shaky, and a lotta Zzzzz.
R: In your blues/country element, not best vox from you; M: Had moments connected to audience; K: Gotta pour your heart out; N: Not a Top 4 performance; J: Agree with Nikki again, wrong song

ANGIE contributed to the sleepy first half.
M: Professional moment, stunning; K: Got looser along the way; M: No one compares when you're at the piano; R: 10 out of 10 out of 10, BOTN, IITWI; J: Neck-in-neck with Amber

DUET: Amber/Kree okay with "Rumor Has It"
DUET: Angie/Candice [Potential Top 2] good with "Stay"

AT&T Theme Pick: One Hit Wonders


AMBER was just plain awful this time! Judges are nuts!
K: Dominating tonight, incredible; N: Blooming flower Angie [got her name wrong!]; R: IITWI, ready, current; M: Inner star glow, quality; J: Disagree with judges, song was corny

CANDICE had good vocals as usual.
N: Classic but grooving, Super-Hero; R: Yes, yes, yes; M: Not a one hit wonder; K: Breezy, lovely, but didn't stand out; J: Better than Amber

KREE was much better.
R: Can flat out sing, brilliant; M: Have no words; K: Middle ground song, come out; N: Not gonna keep you out of Bottom 2

ANGIE was great, BOTN.
M: Elegant, clarity, beautiful; K: Mystical, celestial, powerful; N: Snatchin' wigs off heads; R: BOTN, IITWI, hands down

--

My ranking: Angie, Kree, Candice, Amber.

Amber really screwed up that last song, so had to be on the bottom. I have Candice in the middle, but she's better than that -- better than all of them -- so got 20 of my votes. Angie got the other 30 for BOTN.

I hear rumblings that they may still use the Save, despite it technically being out of play after last week. Guess we'll see....

I watched the first half. They all have potential, but as a performer I think Angie's got the soul. I love Kree's song, "It Hurts So Bad" when sung by Susan Tedeschi. Kree didn't come close.

Angie's teeth are too white.

Results

Video showing a week in the life of the contestants

Back to Children's Hospital for a mini concert

Top 4 perform "Girl on Fire"

Fiesta Movement Mission: Chasing Ryan

"5 Things in 20 Seconds" about the Top 4:
Angie (1. Hates color pink, 2. Lives in heels, 3. Eats lots of olives, 4. ?? 5. ??)
Candice (1. Loves SpongeBob, 2. Sleeps with socks, 3. Loves Drake, 4. Loves purple, 5. ??)
Kree (1. Bitten by a snake, 2. Loves rap, 3. "She sucks!!!", 4. ??, 5. ??)
Amber (1. Showers not baths, 2. Likes 90° weather, 3. Was on drill team, 4. Was in a play, 5. Loves neon green, 6. Has a pierced septum)

Amber recap
Kree recap

Season 10's Stefano Langone performs "Yes to Love"

Candice recap (Drake shows up to congratulate her)

Season 9 winner Lee DeWyze performs his single "Silver Lining"

Angie recap

Amber, stage right
Angie, stage left
Kree, stage left
Candice, stage right

Bottom 2 are.... Amber & Candice

At risk of going home is.... NO ONE because the judges didn't use their Save, and there's an extra week in the schedule.

Next week's scores will be combined with this week's to determine who's going home.

Next week's theme: "Now & Then"

Can we just move on to the finale and crown Candice the winner? She's just amazingly talented. Kree has always been a favorite, but her version of "Stormy Weather" was just horrible. Amber has been going downhill lately, although she did a nice job on "Funny Valentine". Angie, after being just magnificent last week, was forgettable tonight. I honestly don't even remember what she sang.

Top 4 Redux ...with Harry Connick, Jr.

Songs from 2013


ANGIE was pretty strong, but not most exciting song.
K: Not right song, kept waiting for it to happen; N: Bland, lackluster; R: Didn't go anywhere, didn't love it; M: Played to camera

AMBER was a bit shaky and flat in spots.
N: Sometimes in, sometimes out; R: Not having fun? Let it all go, not stellar; M: Need to see confidence; K: Clarity, fantastic

CANDICE had good vox as usual, but song choice? (not lyrics-wise).
R: That's how you sing, amazing; M: Candice has musicality to change to suit her; K: Winning performance; N: Deserves a Standing-O, felt like it was your song

KREE was okay, middle of the road.
M: Felt you in beginning, authentic; K: Not quite connected, conflict between seeing and hearing; N: Loved my Kreedom performance, sang with eyes; R: Amazing voice, great vocal

Standards


ANGIE had good tone, but sounded too old-fashioned.
K: Sang it so beautifully, choice didn't matter; N: Disney Princess; R: Loved beginning, this girl can sing, amazing vocal; M: Can't get past piano situation

AMBER had some great moments.
N: So beautiful, great job; R: Last half absolutely beautiful, slayed it; M: Spirit there bigger and better; K: Stellar, needed confidence

CANDICE was BOTN, IITWI.
R: IITWI, stellar, amazing; M: There is no critiquing; K: Power and control, beautiful; N: Not going to add anything else

KREE was pretty good, too.
M: Should've gone bluesy to me, still great; K: Different song; N: Song choice; R: Stick to who you are, good job

--

After that, the Top 4 performed "Wings"

My Top 4 order this week:

1. Candice
2. Angie
3. Amber
4. Kree

My Top 4 last week:

1. Angie
2. Kree
3. Candice
4. Amber

Combine those scores, and my B2 this week is: Amber & Kree.
Close, but probably Amber's time is up. Or Kree's. We'll see.

Harry was calling out YO DAWG Randy, who basically is a half-ass jerk, but entertaining. Harry took his job very serious. Kree didn't heed his advice and tried all those stupid "runs", which added nothing to the song. Kree is his-toree. Angie has to polish her teeth a little more. Candice has a great voice but needs some coaching to harness that great voice. Amber...nice try.

Results

Top 4 perform "Crazy in Love"

Fiesta Mission 6: Music, Design Mash-Up

Jimmy's comments:
ANGIE had opportunity, not special enough nor bad enough.
AMBER sounded karaoke, not enough time; Crushed it.
CANDICE was magnificent on both songs, head and shoulders above the rest.
KREE hasn't lived up to full potential, but did well.

Season 7 winner David Cook performs "Laying Me Low"

Will.i.am performs "Bang Bang" from The Great Gatsby

An update on Season 4's Constantine Maroulis

Harry Connick Jr performs "Every Man Should Know"

Results, after over 81 million votes, combined over two weeks:

Angie safe
Candice safe
Kree safe

Amber is eliminated, sings "I Believe In Miracles" awfully

The remaining 3 get to go home

---

BTW, I'll be out of town next week so may not be able to post notes....

Oh, that group sing was the worst ever, or was it my imagination? And then that awful will.i.am AND David Cook AND Harry Connick all making me grateful for the fast forward feature on my DVR??

Sorry to see Amber cry, but she was in the bottom almost every week. It's amazing that she lasted as long as she did. She's a talented girl, but obviously never built a fanbase.

I hope JG watched the show while on sabbatical. I need his critique. I only saw the last performance by Candice, "Somewhere" and the wrap up.

I don't know if my TV sound is off or TV in general, but I thought Candice hit a few sour notes. Plus, I'm not a fan of the "runs". I think they are afraid of blowing a bad note so they modulate.

Nickie looked like she just go off of her broom.

I did get to see the whole episode, and I thought that Angie was the most consistent of the night. However, the Idol judges love those big notes, so of course they were all over Candice. I like Candice a lot, but I thought she was overpraised last night. She was good, don't get me wrong, but I think she's had better performances.

As for Kree, her video actually moved me to tears. I think it's the first time she actually connected on an emotional level with the audience. However, I think she blew it last night. She was in the clutch, and she didn't sustain it at all.

Candice v. Kree...or Candice is your new American Idol. The producers rigged this one of course. Angie would have been too much competition for Candice. they couldn't take the chance.

That's the sense I get, MC!
Will post my notes when I get back; Sunday or Monday.

The newspaper ran article about the state of the Idol; ratings, judges, talent, etc. I was a bit shocked by this item: Mariah Carey got $18 mil, Nickie - $12 mil, Keith - 6 mil.......for doing what? Our society is F'd up.

Hey, it's Tuesday! WTF???

Today's paper has Candice at 4 to 1 odds and Kree is even.

At least I posted it before the finale

Because I was away, I didn't take notes on the judges' comments.

Top 3

Jimmy's Picks


KREE was hardly "perfect" on this; can't stand up to Candi & Angie
CANDICE didn't disappoint, but another awkward choice (haven't heard Mary J Blige's version)
ANGIE, not at the piano for an Elton song, was proficient but a bit one-dimensional

Jimmy picked Angie, I picked Candice

Judges' Picks


CANDICE goes home (St Helena Island, SC); Did okay with a less than exciting song
ANGIE goes home (Beverly, MA); sounded good with this song, natural
KREE goes home (Woodville, TX); did a little better in her genre

Jimmy picked Kree, I picked Angie. I guess he wanted to give each contestant a round, so they assumed [knew?!] who'd be better I guess.

Producers' Picks


ANGIE, even at the piano this time, didn't blow me away for a Top 3
KREE dropped back to the bottom with this
CANDICE sung a West Side Story tune, really? And she rawked it!

Jimmy and I both picked Candice, who won the night for both of us.

My standings:

1. Candice (35 votes)
2. Angie (15 votes)
3. Kree

---

Results

Well, we already know what happened.

EPIC "cast" in the control room

Ryan glanced at Randy when he said who might not be back and Randy giggled. I thought I had a scoop, but hadn't heard yet how he was planning on leaving the show after this season. While he was mostly worthless this season, I just can't imagine the show without ANY original judges. Keith has been great, and while infinitely annoying, even Nikki was a good, honest judge. Mariah was pretty worthless as well, so I don't need her back. But who can possibly fill Randy's shoes??

Top 3 perform "Who Says"

Fiesta Mission: Choir

Round 1 highlights: Jimmy says "Angie should've played piano, but she still won, 9/10"

Season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina sings "Barefoot and Buckwild"

We get Season 13 Auditions info

Round 2 highlights [missed most of it]

Mariah video "Beautiful" feat. Miguel

Video of Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert who has 10 #1 hits!

Alicia Keys performs "Tears Always Win"

Round 3 highlights: Jimmy says "if Candice goes home, I'm going with her" to studio clapping

Candice is safe

Now the b.s. begins....

Kree is safe!! ...what b.s.!! I suppose they want to guarantee Candi the win and didn't want to take a chance on a close call with Angie, but c'mon now.... Kree was NOT up to par!!

Angie attempts to sing through her balling.

So..... did Idol jump the shark this season, last season, or will it next season?

Wow. Candice's version of "I Who Have Nothing" was just incredible. It's one of the most difficult songs to sing. It takes great power and range, and she obviously has both. I really hope the better singer wins, but that's not very typical Idol. Candice may go the way of Melissa Doolittle, Adam Lambert, et al.

It was good, but not as good as the first time she did it.

Top 2
"Country vs Soul"
"Kreedom vs Candi Girl"

From the Nokia Theatre....

Simon Fuller's Picks


KREE wasn't too bad, nice falsetto.
CANDICE had a boring song, with nowhere to go.

M: Wow, beyond, proud, magnificent talent, blown away
R: Good two Final 2, both sleepy choices [ty!], edge to Candice

Embarrassingly, the Coca-Cola "Perfect Harmony" song "Take a Picture" is performed by Carly Rae Jepsen (a Canadian Idol finalist)

Potential Singles


KREE has a boring single, not terrific performance
CANDI has a better song, better vox, but still a bit Zzz

K: to me soul is soul, songs taylor made [for both]; "fit her like a Glover", KREE [for Round 2]
N: Love Kree's composure, love Candi's song; CANDICE for Round 2

Season Favorite


KREE, Ballad #3, okay, Zzz again.
K: Beautiful, your story
N: Energy is uplifting, rich, beautiful voice and soul
R: Winning kinda performance, your BOTN, very nice
M: Felt you on both [?] performances, gave us power here

CANDI, Big song, big voice, but not as good as Week 10's.
K: OMGosh, such a powerhouse, incredible
N: Loved that perf, super-star, command the stage
R: That girl can plumb flat-out sing, how you do it
M: Innate ability, undeniable talent

For me, closer than last week, but gotta give it to Candi (50 votes)

R: So close right now, amazing performances, vote!

OK- who wins tonight ???

I predict Candice ....., what? she won, I told you so.

I only saw the second half -- Angie Miller has talent. With the right songs and managers she can go far. Candice? I'm not sure she has that commercial appeal for big success. She'll have a good run, but not a super star.

Season Finale - probably the worst one I can remember, too.

Top 10 perform "Glad You Came"

Band Perry performs "Done" [fast-forward moment]

Boys 'sabotaged' by Jordan Sparks

Top 5 Guys sing a medley "Let's Hang On"/"Walk Like a Man"/"Who Loves You" then joined by Frankie Vallie for "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" and the theme to "Grease"

With Randy on bass, Mariah does a medley of her songs "I Had a Vision"/"Make it Happen"/"For Your Love"/"Hero"/"Sweet Love"/"Beautiful"

Amber sings "Next to Me" with Emeli Sandé

Idol Favorite Fiesta Missions: Candi's grandmother and Kree's friend/guitarist both receive Ford Fiestas for being their mentors

PSY (of "Gangnam Style" fame) actually has another song. He performs "Gentlemen" [fast-forward moment]

Keith Urban performs "Little Bit of Everything"

Candice sings "Inseparable", joined by the more-powerful Jennifer Hudson

Angie sings "Titanium", joined by Adam Lambert; then, performs "Domino" with her personal idol, Jessie J

Talk About The Judges

Team Kree, sister Lacey

Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joins Kree, Randy, and Keith on "Where the Blacktop Ends"

Thank You & Goodbye to Randy

Singing along on video because she doesn't like to fly, Aretha Franklin joins the Top 5 girls for a medley of "Natural Woman"/"Respect"/"Freedom". Aretha says, "Candice, you're a winner, win or lose"

Audition Info

Which car? Fusian/Fiesta/Escape? Top 2 get... Ford Escapes

Tribute to the season featuring Phillip Phillip's "Gone Gone Gone"

Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull perform "Live it Up" [fast-forward moment]

Top 2 perform "One Less Bell To Answer / A House Is Not A Home"

And finally, the results.... the winner is.... Candice!
(finally, the one I wanted actually won)

Candice sings her single "I Am Beautiful"

The End.