13 Days to American Idol

"Before Idol, I was lost.... Now, I've actually followed through with something. I am a better man for it!"

-- Elliott Yamin


(Today's entry is brought to you by Lindsay Hemphill)

I don’t really remember Elliott from his audition, or even Hollywood week (though I remember he was stuck with one of the Brittenum Twins from hell). But what I definitely DO remember is when he sang Moody’s Mood for Love during the early stages of the competition. I know that I sat up and took notice. I don’t remember (before or since) anyone singing something THAT hard and pitch perfect at that stage of the competition!

Elliott always had that ‘something special’ quality that made me very quickly become a fan! Week after week, he put out outstanding performances that made me say, “man, this guy is amazing!” And THEN we found out that he is 90% deaf in his right ear. AND he has diabetes. I mean, he’s a walking inspiration…with an AMAZING voice!

I have had the privilege to see him live twice. Once during the AI Tour and then a few months later at the Virginia State Fair. And I have both his albums (one with the hit “Wait For You” and also his Christmas album), and both are incredible. He is just fantastic and I will gladly pay any amount of money to see him live or buy anything he puts out. I hope you enjoy two of my favorite Idol performances.

14 Days to American Idol

“Never stop, sing with your heart and do what’s right for YOU!”

-- Diana DeGarmo, www.americanidol.com


No one can ever accuse Diana DeGarmo of failing to follow her own advice. Throughout her run on American Idol’s 3rd Season, she never stopped competing, she always performed with an abundance of emotion, and her pursuit of a career in music was undeniably the right path for her.

It’s no secret that I was underwhelmed by AI’s third season. The trajectory of events highlighted the limitations of the show’s age restrictions. Between inexperienced performers and puzzling eliminations, excitement was mostly lacking. The strength of the season presented itself in its display of pure and malleable talent. Diana was one such artist.

One of the most alluring appeals of this show is to watch aspiring singers find themselves and their individual stage personas. Diana embraced this aspect of the show, took criticism to heart, and grew as a performer with each passing week. She was an unlikely finalist, outlasting early favorites in Jennifer Hudson and LaToya London. But unlike all others except eventual winner Fantasia Barrino, she connected with the audience and made her mark.

She has since found success on stage under the bright lights of Broadway. The American Idol studio stage taught her well!

15 Days to American Idol

"The greatest glory never comes from winning, but from rising each time you fall. A person is defined by what he chooses to do with his life, not by what happens to him."

-- Clay Aiken


(Today's entry is brought to you by Lindsay Hemphill)

Since I watched Season 2 from the beginning (already soaking up ever detail that I could), I remember Clay’s audition. Ryan was doing his normal voice-overs leading you to believe that Clay Aiken was going to be another “geek” with a horrible voice. So, in walked Clay who said he believed he was the ‘next American idol”….all of us at home saying “riiiiiiiiiight”! And then he opened his mouth to sing and this huge and amazing voice came out!

What followed over the next few months is very much the reason American Idol is still around and thriving. By the time we got to the final 3, we had three very non-American Idol looking contestants. And all 3 of them could have vocally kicked any season 1 contestant (except, of course, Kelly) right out of the running. Clay (along with Ruben and K-Lo) had talent. During Clay’s run, he was able to build a serious fan base! They are the Clay-mates….my Mom is one, so I’ve seen him several times since Idol and I must say that he sounds EXACTLY the same in person as he did on TV 6 years ago!

He’s since had multiple albums and is currently on Broadway (he’s actually QUITE funny in Spamalot right now!!) But mostly, Clay was the proof that you didn’t have to win American Idol to be successful! I have a feeling that he’ll be around for quite some time!

[PS. Ssssshhhhhhhh, don’t tell Marc, but here’s a bonus clip: Clay singing my favorite Christmas song, “Mary Did you Know”, on the View a couple of years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scHi3SaoeQk]

16 Days to Amercian Idol

"Someone who, when given the platform, represents who they truly are and can convey it in a way that makes the audience want to know more."

--Melinda Doolittle, on her definition of an American Idol, www.americanidol.com


(Today's entry is brought to you by Lindsay Hemphill)

When Melinda Doolittle auditioned for Season 6, she was auditioning as a background singer who had gotten the push to audition by her friends. In a season where the younger contestants were often taking the spotlight, she was able to take it right back and prove that she deserved to be there.

As the weeks progressed, everyone could just watch her confidence grow in her own performances! It was a joy to watch the transformation. As the weeks continued, she became a clear front runner who everyone thought was going to win, and she fell into the trap that many front runners face: fans getting too comfortable with their favorite contestant, so she “only” came in third, but really….she will have a great career! So, please enjoy my two favorite performances from Melinda!

17 Days to American Idol

“I think we are all very different, so just being me will be the key.”

--Jason Castro


(Today's entry is brought to you by Lindsay Hemphill, with minor commentary by me in blue.)

Season 7 was a truly entertaining season of American Idol! There were no “Sanjaya’s” and it was all about watching the amazing talent put on stage week to week! I remember watching the Top 12 Boys, week one of the Semi-finals round. All of a sudden this kinda cute guy with quite a different look (cause, you know, he had dreads!) came out and sang “Daydream.” I, along with millions of others, fell in love just a little bit. Jason Castro was just the ‘breath of fresh air’ that American Idol needed! A few weeks later, he knocked it out of the park with his version of “Hallelujah,” made popular by the movie Shrek.

After many consistent weeks, he made it all the way to the Top 4. Towards the end of the season, even though the pressure was clearly getting to him, he continued to work hard (contrary to popular belief) and have hit after hit!

Sidenote: Some of my favorite performances were “Fragile”, “I Don’t Wanna Cry”, and “Travelin’ Thru.” His choices of song were almost always daring and slightly offbeat, as evidenced by Lindsay's list here and the songs we chose to highlight below. Though he wasn't always successful, his originality truly made him a standout. Jason, along with Brooke White, brought folk music to the American Idol stage.

Jason just has a great, laid back quality about him and his voice is nice and smooth! I think I could listen to him all day….plus, he just seems like he’s a nice guy! I was thrilled he made it as far as he did and I can’t wait to buy his first album (you know I’m going to!) Anyway, I hope you enjoy the clips Marc and I picked out for you!

18 Days to American Idol

“I don’t say this lightly… that performance was on a par with Whitney Houston, Celine Dion. Seriously! Honestly, Tamyra, it was one of the best performances on TV I have ever, ever seen, in my life. It was superb! Amazing!”

-- Simon Cowell, about Tamyra Gray’s performance of “A House Is Not A Home,” Season 1


Another early favorite, another shocking 4th place elimination. Actually, this was the first of AI’s shocking late round eliminations.

Back when AI first premiered, I wrote it off, protesting what I thought would be the “fad” of reality television. Boy was I wrong… about the show and about reality television in general. Looking back, I wish I had embraced it sooner, because I missed what looks like an incredible season. I have since seen most of it on AI rewind, and I’ve watched countless clips on the web. Had I been watching, I would have been pulling for a Tamyra/Kelly finale.

While she’s gone on to appear on TV and most recently as Mimi on Broadway in Rent, she helped make American Idol the powerhouse that it is now. More than just being a remarkable singer, she’s a crazy talented performer. Check out her stage presence in “A Fool in Love.” And with performances like “A House Is Not A Home” and “Touch Me In the Morning,” it’s a wonder that she didn’t fare better than fourth, not that has held her back since.

19 Days to American Idol

“Be sure of yourself. Know who you are and no matter if you make it, you know in your heart you are still a star.”

-- George Huff, www.americanidol.com


Season 3 of American Idol was what I consider to be a mediocre season, especially where male talent was concerned. On the heels of Ruben’s upset win over Clay the previous year, the women stepped up and greatly overshadowed the men. George Huff was that season’s last man standing, and he was voted off in 5th place.

I remember George as talented singer who struggled throughout the season with consistency and confidence. His greatest strength, other than his deep soulful voice, was his personality. He radiated warmth, sincerity, and positivity. He was one of those performers who took the judges’ advice to heart. From week to week, you could tell that he worked to improve upon his weaknesses. And improve, he did. He was an underdog, for sure, up against the likes of LaToya London, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino, and Diana DeGarmo; but when he chose the right song and connected with the audience, he made quite the impression. By the end of his run in the competition, he had come into his own.

Today’s entry goes out to Natala, who sang his praises when I first told her about my plans for the countdown and reminded me of the magic he brought to the American Idol stage.

20 Days to American Idol

“The best thing about your voice is…. you tell a story with your song. You convey a story and it moves and touches everyone in this whole building.”

--Paula Abdul, about Jennifer Hudson’s performance of “I Believe in You and Me,” Season 3

(Today's entry is brought you by Lindsay Hemphill)

When Jennifer Hudson stepped foot onto the American Idol stage, there was no denying her incredible voice, though I would have denied some of her outfits! For a majority of contestants, the judges say, “Don’t sing Whitney” or “Don’t sing Mariah” because they have huge songs that only they can sing with their huge voices! Well, J-Hud was one of the few exceptions to that rule within the American Idol universe. She walks out on that stage (screen, too) and demands your attention.

Jennifer knew that she didn’t need to win American Idol for her to get the career she had been dreaming about since singing in church as a little girl! As we all know, what happened after American Idol is the real story. She beat out hundreds of other actresses for the dream role of Effie in Dreamgirls. I saw that movie when it came out on Christmas Day a couple years ago. I was captivated by her performance! Even moved to tears on more than one occasion. People were applauding in the theatre (which, in DC, is practically unheard of)!

J-Hud has taken a seventh place finish on Season 3 of American Idol, and turned it into one of the most successful post-Idol stories ever! She’s the only Idol to have gotten the notoriety and validation as both a singer and an actress (complete with an Oscar win)! This year, she released her debut album, several years in the making, and has appeared in two feature films. I know that we have not heard the last of Jennifer Hudson!

21 Days to American Idol

“Every ounce of you is totally authentic to who you are.”

-- Paula Abdul, about Brooke White’s performance of “Hero,” by Mariah Carey, Season 7


First off, quintessential incoherent Paula comment. But beyond the redundancy, Paula captures the appeal of a contestant like Brooke.

I loved Brooke from the very beginning of Season 7, and momentarily, she was my favorite. She had little range and versatility, but like Paula said, she was possibly the most authentic contestant in American Idol’s seven seasons. Everything, from the tone of her voice to her look to her song choices, identified her as a quality folk musician. She stripped away the affectation, opting for simple arrangements that focused on the lyrics, infusing her songs with layers of meaning.

Brooke’s pursuit of the title derailed most when she tried to mix things up and do too much. She’s not, nor will she ever be a pop starlet. Instead, she’s a grown-up singer-songwriter. In the vein of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Sarah McLaughlin, her strength is in unplugged storytelling. She doesn’t need bombastic orchestration or back-up singers. Give her a guitar or piano and her voice, and she’ll be just fine.

“Let It Be” is one of my favorite AI performances for those very reasons.

22 Days to American Idol

“Finally, the show has started. This is unbel… Dude, you’re the best that I’ve heard every week since we started the show. WOW! WOW! WOW!”

-- Randy Jackson, about Latoya London’s performance of “All By Myself,” Season 3


LaToya is the first of several 4th place finishers that we plan to feature. She’s in pretty lofty company, what with the likes of Tamyra Gray, Chris Daughtry, Jason Castro, and LaKisha Jones all bowing out in that position. Superb talent falling a bit short of expectations and potential. All were early favorites and serious threats to win, but for one reason or another, they failed to build enough of a fan base or to motivate their fans enough to vote.

In a season overloaded with soulful R&B singers, there was no denying LaToya’s talent. Her problem, perhaps, was a lack of individuality, an absence of that one quality screaming, “LATOYA.” Regardless, there was no denying her superior vocal abilities, as evidenced by the clips below. Her delivery was straightforward, infused with emotion and playfulness. She was my Season 3 favorite.

While Diana DeGarmo proved to be a worthy finalist, I have always felt that a LaToya/Fantasia finale would have been much more interesting, and much more competitive.

23 Days to American Idol

“You didn’t give me chills. I think you managed with what you could.”

-- Simon Cowell, about Kristy Lee Cook’s Top 7 Performance of “Forever,” by Mariah Carey, Season 7


The “chills” were a reference to Mariah Carey’s assessment of KLC’s version of “Forever.” High praise from the Pop Diva, herself, for Season 7’s overachieving country girl. But Simon’s comments encapsulate the uphill battle she fought from the very beginning of the competition. Still, KLC earns the spotlight here over other middling AI contestants for several reasons.

First, she never backed down from the mountain of opposition placed in front of her early on in the competition. Her early performances were admittedly weak, and she could have easily been voted off much earlier than she was. Instead, she embraced the negative criticism and used it to her advantage with the voters. She was self-deprecating, putting on a brave face regardless of how much it might have hurt her confidence.

Second, she stepped up, playing the competition like a game. Her song choices were thinly veiled attempts to connect with, and even pander to the voters. Still, it worked. “God Bless the USA” was as transparent a song choice as they come, but it kept her in the competition. She followed it up with “Anyway,” a Martina McBride song clearly in her wheelhouse. The lyrics were all about perseverance, never giving up despite people trying to bring you down. It was as if she were singing it directly to Simon, who clearly wanted her gone. It helped that she knocked it out of the park, but she still survived another week.



Finally, she worked hard and showed improvement. It was evident in her journey, and despite the fact that I didn’t care for her as a singer, I respected her fortitude and her moxie. Her swansong performance of “Forever” earned her a place in my heart, and a place in my countdown.

24 Days to American Idol

“This! Is! American! Idol!”

-- Ryan Seacrest, Host


This sweet phrase, uttered two to three times a weeks for four months each winter/spring with various emphasis and inflection, heralds the arrival of the defining pop culture phenomenon of the 21st century.

In 24 short days, the search beings for the next pop princess, country and western star, rhythm and blues crooner, rock and roll front man. The search begins for the next American Idol!

I love this show for the music. Crazy talent, each contestant reaching for their own brass ring. Passionate, dedicated artists finding their identities and finding their voices. Despite the trite video packages, lame themes, incoherent blabbering, homophobic banter, and pointless filler, the show offers moments of pure magic.

Each day, until the premiere of Season 8, Lindsay (my BFF) and I will be bringing you some of those magic moments. While the only thing we intend to count down are the days until the premiere, we will be posting clips of our favorite performers and performances from the first seven seasons. So sit back and enjoy some tremendous AI memories. Rediscover why you’re a diehard fan, like us, or become a diehard fan, like us.

To start things off, I present a sampling from the audition rounds. Behold, the triumph of taking that first step towards a dream.

The audition that started it all: Kelly Clarkson




When "wholesome family values" prevent, or in this case, delay a star from being born: Frenchie Davis



When American Idol finally embraced the homosexual population: Leo Marlowe



Who says AI auditions can't be good AND funny: Michelle and Jeffrey Lampkin



Despite the size comment, there's no denying talent when you hear it: Mandisa

TV Theme Song Quiz

"Thank you for being a friend,
Travel down the road and back again.
Your heart is true,
your a pal and a confidante.
And if you threw a party
you invited everyone you knew,
you would see
the biggest gift would be from me,
and the card attached would say,
Thank you for being a friend!"

-- Golden Girls, Theme Song

The theme song for a television show quickly becomes its calling card. In a few quick notes, a flood of images appear, recalling beloved characters, tragic and triumphant storylines, laughs, tears, and angst. These days, theme songs have given way to very brief musical interludes, sometimes lasting only a few seconds over a screen shot of the show's title.

In honor of this dying art form, I present this video montage, found online, of TV themes in quiz form. See how many you can guess. Lindsay and I were able to collectively get 24 out of the 27 highlighted here. And afterwards, I dare you to disagree with me over the importance and relevance of the TV Theme Song. Good Luck!

MMMM... Shrimp Cocktail!

“Gay marriages will save the economy!”

-- Prop 8: The Musical

The beauty of comedy and satire is its ability to diffuse emotionally charged, contentious situations to reveal the underlying truths. I’ve written before about the atrocity that is the passing of Proposition 8 in California, so you know how I feel (along with just about every other gay and/or reasonable person in this country). Besides being absolutely HILARIOUS, it turns the argument against gay marriage completely on its ear! Watch and enjoy!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die