Judges' "super power" to the rescue?

I was a little surprised to see Anoop in the bottom three last night although I guess Kris Allen is just too damn cute to be at risk. Hey, it's the girl tweens voting, not me! Joining Anoop were Matt Girard (again) and Lil Rounds. Once Anoop was declared safe I assume Matt would be going home. And he would have, if not for the super power awarded to the judges this season. Personally I think they just delayed the inevitable and Matt will be one of the double elimination next week, but I could be wrong. I also think it's kind of a waste of the veto because does anyone really think Matt will win the whole thing? Didn't think so.

If I interpret Ryan's remarks correctly then the judges only have one more week to use their super power. Unless it is Adam (and possibly Allison) on the chopping block, I doubt they will use it again.

Last night also highlighted that four judges are just too many for the TV format. Because of Kara's blathering (Randy too but he's original recipe so he can stay) the show keeps running long. So Tuesday's performances only allowed for two judges to comment at a time. At different points during the results show judges piped up to disagree with the comments from the performance critiques. I hope that the producers only signed a one year contract with Kara.

So, do you think that the judges (and by judges I really mean Simon) made the right decision keeping Matt? Will he be cut next week? I predict that next week's theme, disco, will have Adam Lambert back in the money spot. Any takers on that bet?

Megan Joy Corkrey lives to see another week

I realized that I have been spelling Megan's last name incorrectly for weeks. Perhaps I just want it to be Corkery and not Corkrey because it sounds better? I'm not sure. Regardless I am annoyed I need to spend another week recapping her name at all.

The men continue to dominate this season with another female contestant receiving the boot. Alexis Grace apparently didn't do "Jolene" justice and America voted her off. Another kick in the butt for her was that the judges decided not to use the new Veto Power and save her perky ass. That's got to hurt considering she dirtied herself up for them and everything.

People have been asking my opinion about the Veto Power. Well, at least one person has. I think it's a crock of crap to be perfectly blunt. The judges have had their opportunity to stack the deck with their Wild Card selections. By introducing this Veto Power American Idol is telling America that we suck at selecting Idols. While I would agree that selections have been somewhat tragic (see Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barino) the benefits far outweigh the risks (see Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, David Cook).

I can see the judges using the Veto Power if a genre is particularly trying for a top tier contender. For example, if Lil Rounds had been voted off just because it was Country week. That would suck. But the judges should recognize that the people who vote (I am not in that category) tend to vote regardless of actual performance. So voters support one or two particular contestants and won't let one bad performance stop them from voting. This is contrary to what we see in shows like Project Runway (when are you coming back!?!?) and Top Chef where you are only as good as your last performance. The real risk comes in once we get down to 5 or fewer contestants because voters switch their allegiance to a new contestant which can drastically change voting tallies.

So was Alexis the right choice? How many more awkward performances catering to the blind guy will we have to endure? What do you think about the Veto Power? Does anyone know when my beloved Project Runway will finally return? Inquiring minds want to know.

Stick a fork in me

Looks like my dream of winning this year's American Idol pool was cruelly dashed by last night's results show. I was talking with DH about it this morning. What did I do wrong to pick Jasmine and Jorge to go so far? He assured me that my logic was perfectly rational. After all, they were much better singers than Megan or Scott and gave better performances than Anoop. But we've been watching the show for weeks and see their potential. The rest of America? Way more superficial than I gave it credit for. And to think, this is my second season recapping and fourth in the pool! I should know better. I really did think that Jorge having an entire country (OK territory, but still) would bring him through for many rounds not to mention the Latino connection, but obviously that wasn't the case. Yes, Jordan, you were right. Dammit.

In other news, thanks for the advice from everyone about getting my wedding ring unstuck. I tried the ice water trick last night. First of all: that hurt! I did figure out I had to gradually put my hand in or I couldn't keep it in as long as I needed. But after 20 minutes of soaking I still couldn't get the ring off. Even slathering it in oil too. Sigh. I am going to hope that the cooler weather in Charlotte that started today will help. At least it's not so tight it is hurting my hand. I have hope that if I can't get it off until I deliver that it will still be OK and I won't have to have it cut off. But I'll have DH bring the cutting equipment to the hospital just in case!

It has been an extremely long week and I now know why so many women on my pregnancy web boards bitch about still being pregnant in Week 37. I am exhausted by the end of the day and want nothing more than to curl up and watch TV. But I'm so ungainly I can't seem to get comfortable on the chair or the coach. I'm going to start working from home more often with the hope I won't feel as run down by the end of the day. Of course then I have to listen to DH bitch about his job stress (since he telecommutes) but we'll have to get used to this togetherness for the 12 weeks I'm home with the baby!

Is it Friday afternoon yet?

AI Group C results

I'm going to go ahead and give myself a big old pat on the back for my AI predictions of the next 3 to join the Top 12. I actually predicted it without seeing the show! I guess hype and marketing really do pay off for some of these contestants.

Lil Rounds is through first followed by Scott MacIntyre and Jorge Nunez. They join the rest of the Top 12 we know so far:

Danny Gokey
Alexis Grace
Michael Sarver
Kris Allen
Allison Iraheta
Adam Lambert
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre
Jorge Nunez

The judges then selected 8 contestants from all three rounds to participate in tonight's Wild Card round (is AI trying to kill me?). I was very surprised by some of their choices and the judges seemed defensive about them when introducing the selected contestants so they are aware of the backlash. So, who's on tonight?

Von Smith - Group C (Ju'Not would have been a better choice)
Ricky Braddy - Group A (really? this boring guy?)
Jesse Langseth - Group B (very pretty but kind of annoying)
Anoop - Group A (really the only one I want to see make it through to the Top 12)
Matt Giraud - Group B (dueling piano player)
Megan Joy Cokery - Group B (here's hoping she doesn't dance oddly again)
Jasmine Murray - Group B (she could easily make it through if she doesn't screw up)
Tatiana Del Toro - Group A (I just can't...)

Interestingly, I think that Group C had the strongest competition but only Von Smith represents that Group. I thought for sure Ju'Not would have come in but since it came down to him or Anoop, I'm thrilled with Anoop. Did y'all see how shocked Anoop looked? He was like a deer in headlights. Not sure if that means we should think he's adorable or worry for him.

So far we have 6 guys and 3 girls. I am a bit confused about judging for tonight. Does that mean the judges actually select the last three Top 12 contenders? There is no results show scheduled so I assume so. I wonder if that means they will try to balance out the guy/girl ratio and we end up with 2 girls and one guy selected.

I have to make my Top 12 picks after the last 3 are selected. I am keeping it close to the vest since several competitors in my pool read this blog but I will say one thing. If Scott MacIntyre has to do group performances for more than a couple of weeks, we will all suffer. Poor guy, it's totally not his fault but the choreography! The cheesiness! It's all to much to watch with a blind guy bopping around the stage.

SJ out.

AI Season 8: Group B results

Ryan opens the show by recognizing the awesomeness that is Simon Cowell. Simon is modest and turns it back to the contestants in Group B. Ryan shows us a clip package of how all the contestants made it to Group B. We've seen the footage before, no need for me to recap it here.

We are "treated" to a group performance of Neo's "Closer" and it's as horrific as you would expect the group performance to be. Ryan spends another 5 minutes recapping last night's performances. You want the scoop? Read it here.

Allison is first up for the results and paired with Jesse and Matt. Randy predicts Allison will be moving on. He is correct.

Megan Corkery and Kris Allen are pulled on stage next. They are joined by Matt Girard and Jeanine. I predict Megan will move on but Kris is a cutie and he could pull out the tween vote. Paula thinks any of them could make it except for Jeanine. She is right and Jeanine is the first sent home followed by Matt. Kara talks for far too long about basically nothing. Simon razzes her and I'm in complete agreement. Kris Allen makes it to the Top 12. I'm a bit surprised but you really can't underestimate the tween vote.

So who is the final stool? Got to be Adam Lambert which means the guys could far outweigh the girls in the Top 12. That gives us 2 girls and 4 guys so far.

Brooke White comes on stage to perform. Last season I really liked her until she started talking back too much to the judges. Here's hoping she doesn't screw up and have to start over again. Simon would hate that. Seeing her perform makes me realize how crappy the contestants are so far. Of course, a lot of the contestants' progress is about building confidence in performing and we have many more weeks to get there.

Mishovanna, Kai, Nick, Jasmine and Adam are called out together on the stage. Ryan reads through their song selections and judges critique. Mishovanna, Kai and Jasmine are all out. That leaves us with Nick/Norman and Adam. How pissed would Adam be if Nick/Norman beats him? He might have a nervous break down. I'd be OK with that.

Unfortunately my wish isn't granted and Adam is through to the Top 12. Enjoy the next 6 days until the fiasco that is sure to be Group C. So Adam, Allison and Kris join Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver in the Top 12. I think that Anoop and Megan Corkery will be in the Wild Card race, but we have 2 weeks to find out. How are folks feeling about our Top 12 so far? Any surprises?

SJ out.

AI Group A results and baby update

So 2 out of 3 isn't bad, right? It appears as though Simon's wish for Michael Sarver to still be in the competition came true. I was kind of surprised because I thought for sure he and Brent Keith would split the same demographics leaving Anoop as the third top vote getter. I can only hope that Anoop is one of the contestants selected for the "Wild Card" round. All of the judges responded very favorably to him for both his voice and personality. There is no guarantee that one person from each Group will be selected for "Wildcard" but considering how bad the other performances were the only other person I could see is Anne Marie.

That leaves us with Danny Gokey (no surprise), Alexis Grace (cute as a button but needs to stop wearing silk slips to perform), and Michael Sarver (who will need to step it up to stay in the competition). Who are we extremely happy to see go? Say it with me: Tatiana. I didn't watch the results show but DH told me she was crying loud enough to drown out Danny's repeat performance. I also heard that Michael Johns and Carly from Season 7 performed a duet. Considering the crap we had to sit through on Tuesday night it's nice to remember the good performances from last season, no?

In other news I had the start of my weekly doctor appointments yesterday. I put on a few more pounds than I would have preferred but apparently that is normal at this point in the pregnancy. I am measuring at 36 weeks even though I am not even 35 weeks. So this little one could possibly be early! But A. had Finn late and Mommy, Esq. went right up to her C-section date with twins so there is no guarantee...

Because I am measuring more than a week ahead, my doctor said I will get another ultrasound at around 38 weeks to measure the baby's size. Yay! I was hoping I would get to see her one more time before she comes out. Of course if I'm told she is already at 8 pounds I will not be a happy camper. Smaller babies run in the family so I don't think it will be much of an issue.

DH and I were supposed to meet with a pediatrician on Tuesday evening but I ended up with a flat tire so we had to reschedule for early March. Thank goodness DH works from home and he could pop over to the parking lot I was stranded in and change the tire. Yes, I do have AAA but it always takes so long for them to come. DH was there in 15 minutes and we were home another 40 minutes later. It took him about 15 minutes to change the tire. I was impressed. I am annoyed because we bought the tires 2 1/2 years ago and now I need to get a new one. It wasn't a nail or anything that could be patched. It was a decent sized rip.

DH and I are planning a big baby shopping trip on Saturday for the remainder of our "essential" items. We were very fortunate that many of our registry items were gifted to us for the baby shower. So it should just be lots of little stuff. I also have about 6 loads of laundry to do for all the cute baby clothes we received. I think I need some more little hangers...