by Gina Scarpa

 

Ah, Hollywood week. It's my favorite time of the American Idol season, when early favorites crash and burn and dark horses suddenly emerge as frontrunners. I find myself rooting more for the contestants this week more than any other and I yell at my tv when the judges tell singers like Maddy Curtis and Seth Rollins that it's the end of the road for them. Still, there were more good moments than bad as the contestants fight their way through the first two rounds of a brutal, unforgiving Hollywood week.

 

There are two things that never cease to amaze me about these rounds. I still stare in disbelief at the screen when people can't remember the words to the songs. How much clearer does Simon need to make himself? If you forget the words, you're gone. Yet, they get up there and mumble nonsense anyway, hoping no one notices! Secondly, I never understand a group that would rather spend the evening fighting instead of working on their song to perform for the judges. It almost seems like they think the drama will get them camera time... and it also usually guarantees them a plane ticket home. Is it really worth it?

 

In round one, the singers had to perform a song either a capella or with an instrument. My favorite performance of the round goes to Andrew Garcia for his super smart and original acoustic rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up". If that song was on ITunes, I'd download it now.

 

Group night definitely had its share of drama and let me just say this. I'm pretty sure after watching Mary Powers act like a complete control freak to her group and the vocal coaches on the show, I wouldn't want to vote for her. This show is about more than just a good voice. You need to likeable and likeable she was not.

 

Thank god Michael Lynche (aka Big Daddy) made it through because he missed the birth of his child to continue on in the competition.

Two groups performed Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and even though Destiny's Wild tried to claim that Neopolitan stole their idea to do the song a capella, both did very well in front of the panel. Shut it, you all made it through.

 

And then there was Andrew Garcia, once again, with his group Three Men and a Baby. They performed "No One" by Alicia Keys with baby Katie Stevens, only 17 years old, really standing out. Simon thinks she could win this thing but I'm still hopeful for Garcia. This guy has GOT to make Top 24... Top 12... Top 3... winner?

 

If Danny Gokey and Chris Daughtry had a baby, it might be Andrew Garcia. He has a great voice, a great personality, he's original and marketable. But he still might be upstaged in this competition by someone a little younger, a little prettier, a little more able to be packaged. Not necessarily a bad thing. For Andrew, he might want to hope that he doesn't win.

 

By the way, final thought for the week: I've decided that I like Ellen as a judge. She got on my nerves a bit Tuesday night trying too hard to be funny (when she really doesn't need to try) but last night, we saw a much more warm, natural, honest side of her. I think I'm going to like her this season.

Tune in to American Idol, next week on FOX, to find out who made it to the Top 24.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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