Tuesday, May 20, 2008

David vs. David - The Showdown

Kim Reis

It’s been all over the entertainment shows.  It’s been all over the radio.  And now, the moment is here.  David vs. David.  Talk about a distracting day as I wondered who would be this season’s winner.  I flop back and forth.  Archuleta has been getting tons of press (well, actually, his father has been getting tons of press).  Simon Cowell was on Ellen and talked about him.  They talked about “daddy” on “Extra” tonight.  It almost seems like the media is trying to help him win because I haven’t seen hardly anything about Cook.

So, as I sit here on my bed with my laptop on my lap and my cat purring at my side, I think about how all of these contestants’ lives have changed since January.  Amanda Overmyer and her white patch of hair.  Brooke White and her constant tears. Carly Smithson and her big voice. Chikezi and his very sweet smile.  David Hernandez and his strip tease controversy.  Jason Castro and his weird Hawaiian versions of songs.  Kristy Lee Cook who stayed on the show longer than she should have.  Michael Johns and his gorgeous accent.  Ramiele Maluby - the tiny singer with the big voice.  And Syesha Mercado, who grew more than anyone.  Most of them will have some sort of career in the future.  And, both David’s have no reason to fear.  Whether they win or lose - their lives will change forever.

I loved the “LET’S GET READY TO RUMMMMMBLE” beginning.  The David vs. David Smackdown!  That was a great way to start the night!  And, all of the stars in the audience with their kids.  I think I saw a “has been” from “90210”.  His kids probably think he’s the coolest dad ever. 

Each contestant will sing 3 songs.  I couldn’t believe it was scheduled to be an hour instead of a 3 hours marathon.  Idol usually stretches the thing on and on and on.  Trust me, an hour is plenty.  But Idol usually drags it on.

I had no idea that neither one of them was ever in the bottom three.  They are both undefeated.  WOW!  Should make for an awesome night.  After a coin toss, Archuleta decided to sing second.  When he started talking, he oddly sounded like Michael Jackson.  He’s a little odd.  And, wasn’t Michael Jackson’s dad a crazy stage father?  Hmmm? 

It was so funny when Simon Cowell told them that they have to bring out strong and hate their opponent.  Archuleta went on to basically say, “I love you man.“  I was so hoping that Cook would tell Archuleta to screw!  HA HA HA HA HA!  But, the love was flowing and they both took the safe road.  They told each other how great they are, blah, blah, blah.

Cook opened the show with “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2, chosen by Clive Davis.  Good song for Cook’s big voice.  He definitely made it his own and controlled his voice before he rocked it out at the end.  At the beginning of the song, he focused on the vocals to show the world that he could really sing.  Nice way to open the show, but he has to make sure this was his low point.  He has to ramp up with each song.  Cook set the pace, now let’s see if Archuleta can keep up.

Clive chose “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John for Archuleta.  Good song for David who does much better with slower ballads.  And, this song has some big notes.  He did a nice job and, after round one, I think Archuleta won by a nose.  Although they both sounded great, Archuleta definitely took round one.

Andrew Lloyd Weber chose the songs for round 2.  Cook will sing “Dream Big” and Archuleta will sing “In This Moment” - two unknown songs.  Weber said that a true performer will be able to get the audience to love a song, even if they’ve never heard it before.

Cook - going for the gold - started off slow.  It almost sounded like he couldn’t find the right note until the mid-way point where he rocked it out.  Not his best performance by far.  I think he’ll look back at this song and wish he could dream bigger by singing a little better.  Randy loved it, but I think he’ll disagree when he listens to it back after the show.  Cook really never found the note. 

Archuleta came up next.  He was very emotional after the last song, so I hope he’s backstage pulling himself together.  I’m guessing by the title that “In This Moment” will be very ballad-like.  Sounds like a Whitney Houston title.  Yup - another ballad.  Started off slow and ended a little better.  Round 2 goes to “Archie” again - but barely.  (Ryan Seacrest called him “ARCHIE” - what was that all about?)  I didn’t think either one of them had a stud performance in Round 2.  But Archuleta’s words really matched what he was probably thinking in his mind.  “No one can take away this moment from me.“  He sang those words straight from the heart.

As I take a quick intermission - may I just say that Simon is the only one who is honest.  Randy and Paula play paddy-cake with the contestants.  You might not like Simon on a personal level, but at least he’s honest.

OK - so Round 3.  The final round.  Their last chance to wow America.  This last round was the contestant’s choice.  This choice could be the biggest decision they ever make.  They could sing any song they wanted.  Cook chose “The World I Know” by Collective Soul.  Archuleta chose “Imagine” by John Lennon. 

Cook took a song that I know pretty well and made it sound like a totally different song.  I do like how he takes songs and really owns them.  Just like he took Billie Jean and made it sound so different.  I think he did a very nice job and just focused on his voice instead of trying to scream through a rock song.  He’s got such a unique sound and he really did a nice job.  I didn’t like Cook’s tears at the end.  I felt like he was just turning on the waterworks to compete.  Archuleta has true emotion after he sings.  Simon called him “nice and sincere”.  As a viewer, he doesn’t come across that way.  Simon said, “wrong song”.  Either way, it doesn’t matter.  David Cook will have a successful career.

Sidebar - Simon winked at Cook.  What was that all about???

Archuleta - “Imagine”.  He sang the song once before in a previous round.  Not sure if that was a good idea because some viewers might consider it a cop-out since he already sang that song once.  He did a very nice job - just like his first time.  The kid can sing, that’s for sure.  I just hope he can handle the kind of fame that will be thrown at him in the next few years.  David -  keep your feet on the ground, kid.  Keep your feet on the ground.

After Round 3 - Archuleta will be the next American Idol.  And, his career will follow a path like Clay Aiken.  He will do just fine and I’m sure he’ll be touring with a Christmas concert to theatres like PPAC in the coming years.

Til tomorrow Idol fans.  We’ll all be sitting close to our TV’s waiting for the final announcement. 

It Could Be a Woman’s Year!  (Dancing with the Stars)

Kim Reis

It could be a woman’s year!!!  Kristi Yamaguchi ruled the dance floor last night in both dances.  She really was the best dancer - by far!  Not to say that Christian and Jason aren’t nice guys,  but they trail behind Kristi by a mile.  If she doesn’t win, it will be a travesty!

They first danced the cha-cha in a “dance off” style.  First was Christian and I was smiling and moving in my seat.  That man can wiggle and I thought, “He’s the one to beat.“  Next came Jason and it slowed the night to a screeching halt.  Then came Kristi and I was WOWED! 

Then, they danced a free-style dance that included some hip hop moves and some awesome lifts and flips.  It was so neat!!  Again, Kristi stole the show and she set the pace.  I loved their costumes, the moves and, the dance itself was very fast and very difficult.  Jason tried, really hard, but he just couldn’t keep the fast pace.  He does much better in slower songs because he’s an elegant kind of guy.  I know he’s used to winning in football, but I don’t think he’ll take the prize in DWTS.  I hope America doesn’t vote for Christian based on sympathy because of his arm injury.  Look - he did a great job and it was amazing that he could swing his partner all over the dance floor with one arm.  BUT - he was not the best dancer in this competition.

I’ll go out on a limb and say Congrats to Kristi for a job well done.  She’s been favored to win since day one and I think she’ll take the prize!!!

And - since it was already a Woman’s Year with Biggest Loser.  Kristi will carry it on.  Too bad Idol became a battle of the David’s.  It would have made a trifecta if a woman had been in the finals for that show too!