'American Idol': Last-Ditch Efforts to Make the Top 24
By Joseph Brannigan Lynch, The Set | Friday, February 25, 2011, 7:20 AM
Casey BigMouth Upright Bass.
YouTube
"American Idol" revealed season ten's Top 24 last night in another two-hour extravaganza. With futures, dreams, life's work, and the only thing that ever mattered to them on the line, the remaining "Idol" contestants pulled a variety of Hail Marys to ensure their fate.
Successful Last-Ditch Efforts for a Top 24 Spot
Karen Rodriguez: She sang Jennifer Lopez's first #1 hit, and followed that up with a Selena song. And if I'm not mistaken, there was a copy of "Gigli" slyly poking out of her back pocket.
Casey Abrams: People who insist on a "whole package" contestant are already saying that a guy who so closely resembles Seth Rogen can't win. Abrams's last-minute strategy was to turn his "disadvantage" into an endearing half-joke by declaring, "People like me can be sexy." And hey, looking like Seth Rogen isn't all that bad: It's not like he resembles Jonah Hill or anything.
Note: Casey Abrams was sent to the hospital yesterday due to severe stomach pains. While I sincerely hope he gets better soon, I can't help thinking this is divine retribution for auditioning with "I Don't Need No Doctor."
Lauren Alaina: She went with the tried-and-true strategy of showing off her boo...ts. Actually, she did have some fancy pink kicks, but Lauren primarily stood out for showing an excessive amount of cleavage, particularly for a 16-year-old. She called herself a Barbie cowgirl, but she looked closer to a call girl's version of sexy prom night.
Scotty McCreery: The low-voiced country boy told Jennifer Lopez, "My grandma told me to tell you I am a quarter Puerto Rican." Nice way of couching it. "Now, I don't think you should choose me just because we share an ethnic heritage, but you know grandmas..." But if he's Puerto Rican, so is the Pillsbury Doughboy.
Rachel Zevita: This girl, who had formerly been one of the sweet-faced multitudes, suddenly started dressing like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I suppose dolling up like a manga cartoon assassin is one way to stand out from the crowd. And her bejeweled necklace in the shape of a necktie? Thanks, Claire's Boutique. You put her in the Top 24. Skip ahead to the 3:00 mark:
Jacob Lusk: For some, a last-ditch effort is just being insanely talented. When he got the good news, Lusk scream-sang his joy. This guy breathes music.
James Durbin: Acknowledging that he's mostly relied on his Lambert scream thus far, Durbin therefore mixed things up by...continuing to scream throughout his final audition. But you know what? Durbin reworked "A Change Is Gonna Come" and somehow made it sound authentic coming from a white guy. He just might be the real deal. Skip ahead to the 4:00 mark:
Milking the Drama 'Til the Bitter End
For the final girl admitted into the Top 12, the producers brought Thia Megia and Jessica Cunningham into the room at the same time. What do these two have in common? Well, the "Idol" producers used them as an opportunity for a rather sadistic elimination. As it turns out, Thia is the first 15-year-old girl in the Top 24, and Jessica — who turned 25 that very day — had her "Idol" dreams crushed for the seventh year in a row by someone ten years her junior. Now THAT'S good television.
In a similar but less sadistic move, the judges also brought Brett (orange clown hair), Jacee (chubby 15-year-old), and Colton (equivalent of a "Star Trek" redshirt) out at the same time. In a relatively tear-free ending, Brett got the go-ahead with the judges making Jacee promise to try out again when he gets some more experience (like the tenth grade) under his belt. The kind-hearted, hand-holding-happy Brett assured them that in spite of the outcome, "We're all shining stars," which Colton laughed off, but by which Jacee seemed comforted. Awww.
