'American Idol' Recap: Talent Comes Out to Play in Hollywood's Third Round

At this point in the competition, I see no more reason to pull punches. If a contestant doesn’t look like they can win at this point, then it’s time for them to hit the bricks. We’re down to the top hundred, and there’s no reason to string along contestants with potential or some singular skill.

We want the total package now, and with that, I’m going to make much harsher cuts than the judges do. Here’s a rundown of the talent we saw last night:

Haley Reinhardt

A really sweet smoky jazz voice that just laid into ‘God Bless The Child’. She had a great sense of the stage and how to really dig her vocals into the musical meat of her tune. Poised, confident, and a good performer.

I say: Moves On

The Judges Say: Moves On

Ashton Jones

First of all, there should be a moratorium on ‘I’m Telling You (I’m Not Going)’ as it just seems to make anybody sound good. (Hell, it won Jennifer Hudson an Oscar by itself for crissakes).

This performance, though. Not so much. She didn’t really have a sense for the rhythm, throwing some odd phrasing in that didn’t fit with the song at all. Plus, her voice simply isn’t big enough to handle this firebomb of a song.

I say: Goes Home

The Judges Say: Moves On

Thia Megia

Her performance of “What A Wonderful World” was pleasant enough. Nice voice, vocal controlled well, but I just can’t fully endorse a fifteen-year-old performer. She seems so dwarfed by the stage that it’s impossible to find anything to get excited about with her. She’s just a good kid singer that isn’t nearly ready yet.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Clint Jun Gamboa

I’ve been down with this guy since he first auditioned, even if he crushed poor little Jaycee with his dictatorial control on group day. He flashed the same huge voice we’ve seen all along with expert control. This is why it’s good to have older people – because he has an excellent sense of how to control his huge voice and put on a show with it.

I Say: Moves On

Judges Say: Moves On

Kendra Chantelle/Sophia Shorai

These two followed in Clint’s musical footsteps, singing ‘Georgia On My Mind’. Their performances were pretty similar with something of a hotel piano bar approach, and they never really rose above that vibe. Each has a pretty solid voice, but there’s nothing exciting about either of them. Certainly no star quality.

I say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Carson Higgins

Ah, the “crazy” Malibu guy. He’s like Normund Gentle with about half the voice and a third of the humor. Nothing much going on there.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Chris Medina

He tried to do the Andrew Garcia “Straight Up” sneaky acoustic cover and didn’t do a whole lot with hit. Nothing more than subway busking from this bedraggled cat.

I say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On



Julie Zorrilia

Julie sat down at the piano for a rendition of “I’m Not Gonna Write You a Love Song”. There’s nothing better than seeing a contestant improve the song, and that’s just what she did here. She didn’t tweak the melody or anything like that, she just gave a clean and poised performance that was great fun to watch. I wish they’d shown more.

I Say: Moves On

Judges Say: Moves On

Caleb Hawley

Caleb went for another stripped down soul take, choosing ‘Sir Duke’ for his source material. This one worked extremely well as he came off as a real artist. I look forward to seeing what he’ll do next.

I Say: Moves On

Judges Say: Moves On

Brett Loewenstern

I really dig Brett’s vibe, I think he has a great sense of the song’s rhythm and how to deliver it in a compelling way. I also thing he has a really unique and interesting tone to his voice. I just don’t think his voice is strong enough to make a real impact.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Robbie Rosen

Robbie was a total mess, oversinging with a small voice. He also seemed to have a hard time playing and singing at the same time.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Casey Abrams

If this was an upright bass playing competition, I’m sure he’d crush all comers. But this is a competition about being a pop star, and he came off as a way too gimmicky. That fake zydeco tone just isn’t resonating with me. I don’t get it.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Chelsee Oaks

Just a very ordinary karaoke performer. There’s nothing about her voice that’s unique or remarkable. It’s not that she’s a bad singer, she just isn’t a very compelling one.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Goes Home

Lauren Alaina

I don’t even know that she has a good voice. She was flat and off the key the entire time she sang “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”. Her voice is…okay, I guess – enough to impress a middle school talent show, but she doesn’t have anything that will blow you away.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Jacob Lusk

If Jacob’s plan was to audition for a blues singer in a movie set in the 1920s then he absolutely nailed it. If he’s trying to be a pop star, not so much. I dug his voice, dug his vibe, but he belongs in the cast of ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’, not on this stage. Way too theatrical and genre-specific.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say:

John Wayne Schulz

I totally dig his vibe – the laid-back Cowboy, but he can’t really sing can he? It almost sounded like he was speaking the lyrics of “Landslide” as he sat lazily on his stool.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say:

Ashley Sullivan

Agh! What was that? Creeping across the stage as she just races through a song, screaming it with some sort of anger. She couldn’t have wanted to get off the stage faster. There’s no way she has any shot of winning without having a nervous breakdown.

I Say: Goes home

Judges Say: Moves On

Jovany Barreto

Really dug his voice and his take on the song. He poured raw emotion into this a cappella performance of “You Sang to Me”. A very strong effort that showed his ability to command the stage.

I Say: Moves On

Judges Say: Moves On

Jaycee Badeaux

Please, can he just leave already? He’s going to be this year’s Sanjaya if they aren’t careful. This is the guy who’s going to win over America just because he’s cute and earnest, but he doesn’t have near the vocal chops to get close to dozens of the singers in this competition. If the judges don’t get rid of him before America takes over, he’s going to hijack the competition. I really like him, but that’s the problem. And that’s why he needs to leave and come back in a few years.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

Scotty McCreary

I really think Scotty can only sing one song. I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s the same song he sang at auditions and every spot to this point. Here he tries “I Hope You Dance” and absolutely butchers it, messing up the words and rambling through the melody. It’s impossible to think he’ll have any ability to stay on form week in and week out.

I Say: Goes Home

Judges Say: Moves On

That’s it for what we saw last night. There were many promising performers on the show, and we didn’t even get to see front-runner James Durbin and many of the other show-stoppers who seemed like contenders so far. That means we may, in fact, be a bit loaded this season. It could be because the judges gave more people chances earlier on, or it could be that the producers simply decided that ultra-talented contestants make for better viewing than just watching the judges. Whatever the case, I’m excited to see what we’re in for going forward.

And, if you don’t think I broke down the final act of the show like the Zapruder film to see whether or not Molly was in the room that moved on or the room that went home, then you don’t understand the depth of my crush on the sultry siren.

She was there, in room four – the last room that got in. Seeya in Vegas, Molly. And please, producers, give her some camera time. For my sake.