‘American Idol’: Hollywood Week Separates Lovebirds Jacqueline And Nick
At the beginning of American Idol last night, Ryan Seacrest tells us that this year there are 327 contestants to appear during Hollywood Week, more than ever before. (Does it have anything to do with the fact that Randy, Jennifer and Steven had a problem saying no to everyone?) After two arduous days, the judges whittled that huge number down to 168. Jump below to find out who’s leaving on a jet plane and who’s got another shot at bludgeoning pop songs on national TV.
I haven’t been especially impressed with the judges so far, but over the past few weeks they’ve definitely grown the cajones to tell contestants “no” without whimpering or altering their votes to echo those of the others. And last night, Steven Tyler offered some reassuring words of encouragement when a girl gets flustered and can’t remember her song. “We’re singers, too,” he reminds them, building a bridge of trust between them as opposed to the Us vs. You vibe Simon loved to give off. Dare say, do we like these kinder, gentler judges? We’ll get back to you on that.
We also have to give the Idol producers a hand for their genius move of rooming together Jaqueline Dunford and Chelsea Oaks, girlfriend and ex-girlfriend (respectively) to contestants Nick Fink and Rob Bolin. Way to make Chelsea and Rob feel even worse about their breakup (Rob more than Chelsea, it seemed) by having them shack up with each half of the world’s (or at least Austin‘s) most irritating couple. Or are they?! A couple, we mean. We already know for certain that they’re irritating.
WHO GOT THROUGH:
**A bunch of youngsters! 15-year old Jacee Badeux, 16-year old Robbie Rosen, 16-year old Brett Lowenstern and 17-year old Hollie Cavanaugh all get through to the next round. Is Jacee good enough to have made the younger age limit worth it? Not really. But he’s kind of adorable and we’re rooting for him anyway.
**You know why people hate hearing “My Heart Will Go On”? Because most people can’t sing it as well as Celine Dion. Paris Tassin got pretty close and made us actually enjoy the song for the first time since we blubbered through the end credits of Titanic.
**We get a nice reminder of how heartbreaking Milwaukee auditioner Chris Medina‘s back story is (fiance that’s brain-damaged), and after hearing him for the second time, we realize his personal story of struggle and inspiration is more captivating than his singing. But he’s good enough to go through to the next round.
**The recipient of San Fran’s sobbiest story James Durbin continued his Adam Lambert High Note streak with The Beatles’ “Oh Darlin’.” He seems to be one of the season’s favorite people so far – unless he has a total meltdown and forgets all the lyrics to a song or offers an incredibly bizarre arrangement of a classic song, we definitely see him in the Top 10.
**15-year old Lauren Alaina, the teen who sang Aerosmith’s “Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” in Nashville, sings “Unchained Melody”. More like “Unrecognizable Melody”! Ho ho! But seriously we could barely tell it was that song. She gets through.
**Scruffy-cute Casey Abrams, he of the melodica, sang an Ella Fitzgerald song from the 50s and sails through.
**Exes Rob and Chelsea both made it to the next round, as did Jacqueline. But not all is well in Loveland, for you see…
WHO’S GOING HOME:
**Jacqueline’s boyfriend Nick is sent home! Aghast! True love does know bounds! Nick’s reaction, of course, is to plead and beg with the judges to give him another shot, revealing a disconcerting crazy quirk of smiling even bigger when he’s upset and angry. He’s got the same look in his eye that shows itself in the employee who finds out he’s fired and just sits there and laughs and laughs. What we’re saying it, Jacqueline, watch out for this one, whether you’re dating him in real life or not.
**”Maybe people will look at me like I’m looking at these mountains!” says the most annoying 17-year old North Carolina girl in the world, Victoria Huggins, staring out her hotel room window. She doesn’t get to stare at them for much longer, because she’s gone. And I’d like to take this time to personally thank Jennifer, Randy and Steven for not stretching out the duration of which I need to listen to this girl exist on my TV.
**Nicole Scherzinger now has no need to be threatened by her belly-dancing doppelganger Heidi Kazam, cause she’s out.
**Accountant and Will Ferrell look-a-like Steve Beghun sang Michael Buble’s “Just Haven’t Met You Yet”, but he’s out.
**And a bunch of other people. Sorry, nameless contestants! You got all the way to Hollywood and Idol producers still felt you were too unremarkable to spotlight!
Who were you sad to see be sent packing? And did we get a brief glimpse of our next American Idol in this episode? Keep in mind, this time last year, we didn’t even make mention of Lee Dewyze in our recap of Season 9’s Hollywood Week, so our next Idol could still be waiting in the background for his chance to shine.
