Reality Roll Call

(press release)

by Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight’s season finale is chock full of live performances by the likes of such superstars as, Donna Summer, George Michael, Idol alumni Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard and Jordin Sparks, and much, much more!

We begin with a performance by the final 12 paired with the dancers from Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.” They sing “Get Ready”, by The Temptations. Then the two Davids sing a duet of some song that I don’t know but it’ so obvious that Cook is definitely a cut above Archuleta. His voice is gritty and soulful and he reminds me of Daughtry; another one I thought should have won Idol.

by Deb Porter-Jones

This is the second to the last performance show for this season and the competition is really heating up. Tonight’s show has the last three contestants competing by singing three songs each: One song chosen by one of the judges, Randy, Paula or Simon, one song chosen by the producers, and the last song to be chosen by the contestants themselves.

For David Archuleta, Paula Abdul chooses a song by Billy Joel: “And So It Goes”, a slow, pretty song full of melancholy stringed instruments. David did surprisingly well with this song. It required extreme control over his breathing and David did really well with it. Paula and Randy loved it. Simon thought it was, “very good, a bit predictable; not outstanding, but really good”. In my opinion, it wasn’t fabulous, but he did a good job. I give him a B.

by Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight’s show is definitely a nail-biter because this is the show that will give us our final three contestants. After last night’s train wreck for Jason Castro (both of his performances were unbelievably bad), and Randy making Syesha cry, it’s anybody’s guess who’s actually going home tonight. Historically, Syesha has almost always been in the bottom two, even when she didn’t deserve to be there. But now that most of the contestants are gone, and she’s clearly better than the worst contestant left, Jason Castro should be going home. If there’s any justice left in the world, that is.

Of course, Jason and Syesha are determined to be in the bottom two, a familiar place for Syesha, I’m sure.

Finally, after all the days of speculation all over the web, we apparently have the truth. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were married on Wednesday in the Bahamas. This marriage is as weird as the Lisa Marie/Nick Cage marriage, but far from being as weird as the Lisa Marie/Michael Jackson deal. I anticipate a union lasting as long as Pam Anderson’s last marriage.

Mariah 38, has been spending a lot of time hanging out on American Idol in recent weeks, reminding us all that she still exists, and letting Randy Jackson remind us incessantly that he has worked with her. Nick Cannon, 27, has done tv masterpieces like Wild ‘N Out and Nickelodeon’s The Nick Cannon Show.

Nick, who has been linked romantically in the past to Kim Kardashian, and Christina Milian, proposed publicly to Victoria’s Secret model Selita Eubanks on the Jumbotron at New York’s Time’s Square. They broke up a few months later. Mariah was married to record producer Tommy Mattola from 1993 to 1998.

by Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight’s show features the song stylings of the musical singer-songwriting legend, Neil Diamond. He’s also written such iconic hits as “I’m a Believer” sung by the Monkees, “Solitary Man” and Sweet Caroline”. Diamond is probably most well known for penning the music performed in the film in which he also starred, “The Jazz Singer”. This man is truly a legend and our young contestants are truly blessed to have the opportunity to be in the presence of and learn from this superstar.

Our contestants are to sing two of Neil Diamond’s songs and then face a bit of nerve-wracking critique from the judges.

Jason Castro is up first and he performs “Forever in Blue Jeans” and “September Morn”. In the former, he plays guitar and sings rather well. Jason’s a really laid-back fellow so obviously you believe that he’d rather be “Forever in Blue Jeans”. That’s a no-brainer and he did a great job. I give him a B.

- According to an interview that Blake Lewis gave radio station WAPE in Jacksonville, Florida, Sanjaya Malakar was put through with his sister because they thought that it would be “cute” to have a brother and sister on. When, he was cut later on, they decided to give him another chance, expecting that he would be cut before making it to the actual show.

- Some ex-Idols have a bone to pick: Kelly Clarkson is upset that songs from her CD were leaked before the album was actually finished, and Carrie Underwood is annoyed when the media ask questions about her break up with Chace Crawford.

- David Archeleta’s voice coach calls in several times a day from Salt Lake City to take him through voice exercises. Is that cheating?

- Danny Noriega is working on his own YouTube channel. Why?

By Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight American Idol has invited country music legend Dolly Parton to share some of her wisdom gained from more than four decades in the music business.  The singers will all be performing Dolly’s own country songs.

Dolly is such a warm, inspiring performer (just like Paula, right?) and she said she finds it difficult to critique other singers. She knows what it’s like to be a singer and have your performances judged – so most likely she’ll be taking it easy on our young performers.