by Todd Betzold

 

We saw drama and sickness take over group night last week on American Idol, however we never saw any singing...tonight that changes as we finally get to see the groups hit the stage.

 

We ended the last show with the first group ready to sing and now we have to see even more drama before they start singing? Just let them sing already Ryan and be quiet! Up first are the girls of The Betties, who fought and argued their way through the night, but they go out there and it shows...a hot mess. Two of the girls move on, even though none were that good.

 

Now time for Group Sauce, featuring Reed Grimm, Creighton Fraker, Aaron Marcellus, Nick Boddington and Jen Hirsh, come out next and they rock the house. They all did amazing and were so good together as a group...if they all don't go through it's a disappointment. And that is how it went, as the whole group moves forward.

 

The group Six Seven Nine is up next, with Kyle Crews, Joshua Ledet, Shannon Magrane, Brielle Von Hugel and apparently Brielle's mother has joined the group as she voices her opinion often. Brielle was so full of herself and I don't think she did that great. They all make it through except Kyle.

 

The Make You Believers are up next, with Amy Brumfield who brought the sickness to everyone. Jacquie Cera, who claims to be fine, faints before heading backstage...another one bites the dust. She gets the strength back and performs with the group. Dustin Cundiff and Amy forget the lyrics and Jacquie screams her part, so they all are headed home. Mathenee Treco does alright and moves on.

 

Forgetting of the lyrics continued, as singer after singer struggled to remember the words and made it look ridiculous. Now time for Those Girls and That Guy, with member Alisha Bernhardt, the cop who couldn't find a group. It also featured Samantha Novacek and Christian Lopez, but it was a boring performance as some in the audience were yawning...it continued with the judges, as the whole group was sent home.

 

Area 451 is out practicing and yet another one bites the dust, as Imani Handy passes out from her sickness. Will she be able to perform? We will find out later as Hollywood 5 takes the stage. Ariel Sprague, Eben Franckewitz, Gabi Carruba, David Leathers, Jr. and Jeremy Rosado had the support of their parents backstage and that helped, as they all made it through to the next round.

 

Time for Area 451 to take the stage and Imani gathers the strength to join her team, but for how long? Bryce Garcia starts them out on a terrible note, forgetting the lyrics. Johnny Keyser and Kristi Krause bring it back strong, then Imani takes front and center and starts out amazing, but then passes out right at the end. Like a douche, Johnny catches her and then continues to sing...way to go. Unfortunately it wasn't enough as Bryce, Kristi and Imani were sent home and Johnny moves on.

 

Time for the last group, M.I.T....cowboy versus Heejun. The cowboy comes out with some big words, but I think he is going home big time. Jairon Jackson, Richie Law Phillip Phillips and Heejun did an alright job, but the judges like them all and the whole group will be moving on.

 

Now we are headed to the solo round...one last chance for the singers to prove their worth. Joshua Ledet kicks it off and apparently he sets the bar high, but I am not a fan. Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips keep the momentum going strong, as they both put on some stellar performances. Jen Hirsch shows that the girls can do it too, as she belts out an amazing song.

 

So, once we get past all the drama and unnecessary crap and just let them sing...these people can sing! Creighton Fraker is next and oh my, what a voice...excellent job. Just as I say that, the rain comes down outside and that continues onstage, as we get to see some of the singers crash down like the rain.

 

Meanwhile, Reed Grimm was told a half hour before he is set to perform that he can not sing his song a capella like he planned on doing, so he has 30 minutes to rehearse a new song. During that time, Shannon Magrane takes the stage and sings the hell out of her song. After a small breakdown and calling his mom to see what he should do, he comes out and surprises everyone and plays the drums while singing and you know what, he does an awesome job.

 

Skyler Laine, having gotten sick overnight was taken to the hospital and given fluids, but now can she muster up enough strength to make it through one song? And she does, as Steven says it is the best performance of the day.

 

Rachelle Lamb starts her song out wrong and has to regroup and start over again, but does an awesome job, but will the judges look past the error at the beginning? Adam Brock is the last singer of the night, as he attempts to bring some white chocolate to Idol...I think I like white chocolate.

 

We are down to 98 singers and they all sit in the holding room with their hopes and dreams in the hands of the judges. The judges discuss the singers and then they are broken up into four different rooms. In Room 1: Creighton Fraker, Erin Hirsch, Erica Van Pelt and Hallie Day. In Room 2: Phil Phillips, Eben Franckewitz, Skyler Laine and Shannon Magrane. In Room 3: Rachelle Lamb, Brittany Kerr, Jennifer Malsh and Jerod Gibson. In Room 4: Stephanie Renee, Hailey Brown, Britney Kellogg and Angie Zeiderman. So, they mention these people and where the hell were they the past three shows? I don't recognize half these names.

 

Time for the judges to give out some results...up first is Room 1, which will moving on (including Adam Brock and Jermaine Jones). Next up is Room 2, which will be moving on as well (including Reed Grimm). Now time for Room 3, which had the burp from Rachelle set off the room...silly girls. And on that note, the room is sent home. One more room to go, Room 4 and they move on. Now these three rooms are moving on to Vegas.

 

Tune in tomorrow to see what happens in Vegas on American Idol when it airs Thursday at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

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