American Idol 6 News (Page 5)

We can say this much about tonight: Lakisha Jones is safe. That's almost the only sure thing, so let's get to it ...

- Wow, quite the set of guest judges coming up this season: Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Toney Bennett, Martina McBride and an American Idol Worship favorite ... Jon Bon Jovi!!!

- Chris Sligh if funny, talented AND smart (too bad he's married!). He tries to clear up his tiff with Simon. Meanwhile, Brandon Rogers is assured that he's moving on.

- Some people may be upset about this one, but Sundance Head is staying. We still say this guy has a lot of potential - but he better step up next week.

- And that's it for Paul Kim. A lesson, as always: never rely on the bare foot gimmick.

- Okay, ladies, let's see which of you is going home. Not Jordin Sparks. Good. We like her a lot. Sabrina Sloan and Stephanie Edwards are safe, too.

- Not so much for Amy Krebs (pictured), though. Not too hard to see that one coming.

- Fantasia Barrino comes out and makes the announcement that she's be starring in The Color Purple. She also does a solid job on "I'm Here."

- Wow. Antonella Barba stays. We're surprised by that one. Due to the looks? The topless pics? Hard to believe it's the voice.

- In her place, Nicole Tranquillo is given the boot. We never got to know her well.

- Looks like Daughtry and the song "Home" will be this year's Daniel Powder. A better selection, we say. Too bad Rudy Cardenas had to hear it so soon, though. The singer of M-Pact won't be leaving an impact on this season anymore.

Our thanks to TV Guide for its weekly American Idol round-up. That being said, let's turn it over to Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez as they discuss last week's auditions, as well as what to expect tonight through Thursday ...

TVGuide.com: Topic No. 1, Baylie Brown, aka Miss "Commercial with a Capital C" who was stuck with two best friends....
Kimberly: The best friends who want to kill each other? [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: She was such an early favorite. Do you think she got a raw deal?
Rosanna: She forgot her lyrics and she didn't even try to make something up. If you're going to make a mistake, you have to make up for it while you have a chance.
Kimberly: She is more commercial and more American Idol, but at the same time, it's not like they have had to remember a whole song. If you can't remember four sentences under that kind of pressure, imagine trying to learn a whole song with Simon staring you down.

TVGuide.com: That's a good point: Sing something.
Kimberly: Exactly. At least be able to remember the melody enough to, "Blah, blah, blah..." Throw something out there.
Rosanna: You can't blame it on, "Oh, the other two girls were throwing me off." No, it's your responsibility. Yes, Baylie is really talented and beautiful, but she didn't go for it.

TVGuide.com: Is the Hollywood round perfect? Fair? Is there anything you would do to change it?
Rosanna: It doesn't seem to be perfect. I think [Sundance Head, pictured] said it best: "If I knew what the formula was, I would sell it." You're not sure who is getting picked or why.... There are obviously people who are talented, and others who are questionable.
Kimberly: The group numbers are silly and they shouldn't have to do them, but at the same time it's a reality show and it's really, really good drama. And speaking of the group numbers, everybody complains, "Well, we only had overnight." OK, did you see the four guys who were amazing, with the [human] beat box?! They were amazing and they did that overnight.

TVGuide.com: Who did you cheer for?
Rosanna: I was really excited about Chris Sligh. He's got a great personality.

TVGuide.com: I think I read somewhere that he has "Christ on his side." But can Jesus text vote?
Rosanna: Well, He can influence other people who do text vote.

TVGuide.com: And you, Kim, happy for your JT-alike, Chris Richardson?
Kimberly: Chris was a little nasally, but I think the girls are going to absolutely fall in love with him. And Lakeesha, she has the whole package.

TVGuide.com: Is there anyone you are wavering on now, based on their Hollywood performance?
Rosanna: Well, Sundance I think is inherently talented; he just made wrong song choices during Hollywood week, several times, forgot some lyrics, and hit some really bad notes. But hopefully he'll get a lot better. He's going to have to rehearse more carefully.
Kimberly: Sundance was all over the place, it was just wrong. He's one of my top picks, and now I'm really hoping that he comes back and proves himself. I personally do not think he should have gone through, with the performance he gave in Hollywood. And the two girls who were friends, the one that made it through.... They're both catty and mean-spirited and shouldn't be on the show.

For five years, the South has dominated American Idol, but it looks like the judges have decided to give the rest of the country a chance with the selection of the top twenty-four for American Idol 6.

In particular, the state of California is very well represented in the twenty-four semi-finalist.

There are a total of six American Idol contestants from California among the semi-finalist. They are:

• Alaina Alexander
• Brandon Rogers
• Rudy Cardenas
• A.J. Tabaldo
• Sabrina Sloan
• Paul Kim

Also well represented is the state of Washington which claims three semi-finalists: Sanjaya Malakar, Blake Lewis, and Amy Krebs. The only other states with more than one American Idol 6 semi-finalist are Illinois and Texas, which both have two.

10 Western U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Sanjaya Malakar – Federal Way, Washington
Blake Lewis – Bothell, Washington
Amy Krebs – Federal Way, Washington
Alaina Alexander – West Hollywood, California
Brandon Rogers – North Hollywood, California
Rudy Cardenas – North Hollywood, California
A.J. Tabaldo – Santa Maria, California
Sabrina Sloan – Studio City, California
Paul Kim – Saratoga, California
Jordin Sparks – Glendale, Arizona

Seven Southern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Sundance Head – Porter, Texas
Haley Scarnato – San Antonio, Texas
Melinda Doolittle – Brentwood, Tennessee
Phil Stacy – Jacksonville, Florida
Chris Sligh – Greenville, South Carolina
Stephanie Edwards – Savannah, Georgia
Chris Richardson –Chesapeake, Virginia

Five Northern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Jared Cotter – Kew Gardens, New York
Antonella Barba – Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Nicole Tranquillo – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nick Pedro – Taunton, Massachusetts
Lakisha Jones – Fort Meade, Maryland

Two Midwestern U.S. American Idol Semi-Finalists
Gina Glocksen – Naperville, Illinois
Leslie Hunt – Chicago, Illinois

SOURCE: Reality TV Magazine

It was a fast and furious broadcast of American Idol auditions in Hollywood last night.

Some early favorites, such as Sundance Head, were shaky in their performances. He was lucky to make the cut, for example.

Others, such as Sanjaya Malakar, impressed the judges immensely. But they were forced to watch friends, family members and other fellow Idol hopefuls head home.

Here's a photo recap of some of what went down ...

The sassy Melinda Doolittle tried to remain calm as she received approval for the next round.

What would Jesus look-a-like, Sean Michel, do? He'd go on to sing another day.

Is Simon Cowell ready to go home already? Chin up, cranky one, we've got a long way road ahead.

An early favorite, Chris Sligh did nothing to diminish his popularity.

This is just a rumor ... but what a rumor it is!

Sources are putting together various reports to determine if Michael Jackson will appear on American Idol later this season.

Realitytvmagazine.com reports that "several signs" point to the possibility that Jackson will have his own Idol theme-week, and might even "mentor" the impressionable young talent on the show.

Why all the Jackson buzz?

First of all, American Idol producers have hinted for weeks at a "big event show" during this season. Also, reports have swirled that Jackson has turned to Idol creator Simon Fuller to help revive his sagging career, perhaps involving a comeback show in Las Vegas.

Finally, in a recent conference call, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe explained the show's impenetrable wall of silence around contestants, and used Jackson as an example, saying they wouldn't want it to "slip out with somebody telling their mom that Michael Jackson is coming."

Would a savvy operator like Lythgoe really let such a big scoop just slip? Reps for the show had no comment. A rep for Michael Jackson could not immediately be reached.

It's time for our friends at TVGuide.com - Kimberly Caldwell and Rosanna Tavarez - to discuss the current season of American Idol. Let's see what they have to say ...

TVGuide.com: Was it just me, or was Week 4 a little bit stronger? They seemed to offer us more warblers to watch, to keep an eye on.
Rosanna Tavarez: Yeah! I have a feeling they were listening to some of the grievances that some people had, about listening to too many bad auditions. It was a welcome respite from previous weeks. I was enjoying it, though. I know a lot of people were over it, but I laughed through most of them. I really liked "the belter" [Lakisha Jones, pictured, who sang Aretha Franklin's "Think"].
Kimberly Caldwell: I feel like Week 4 completely and totally faded into Week 3, and I don't remember anything from this week. [Laughs] You know what I'm saying? They're all starting to look the same, and no one is standing out anymore. They're showing little clips of the good people, and then 20 bad people. But Tami Gosnell is probably one of my top two as of right now, with Sundance Head.

TVGuide.com: I was reading one blog that said Tami perhaps should lose the lip piercing, because it might turn people off. What do you think of that?
Kimberly: Oh, I don't think so at all! The reason people have been so successful on Idol is because they're original, they don't look and conform like everybody else. Ruben Studdard is not the typical American Idol, and neither is Clay Aiken....

TVGuide.com: But maybe in this instance, the issue is courting the vote from middle America, where a "scary" piercing might turn people off.
Kimberly: Right, but you can't change yourself for middle America. If that's who Tami is as an artist, you can't take it away just because it might piss off somebody.
Rosanna: The most important thing is to stick to your guns and know exactly who you are and not try to sell out, just because somebody is telling you the piercing is not going to appeal to certain people. There's always going to be something that doesn't appeal to people.

TVGuide.com: Meanwhile, "rollergirl" Ebony Jointer, I understand, is no stranger to reality TV. She was in one of those Lingerie Bowl things, alongside the likes of Adrianne Curry (America's Next Top Model).
Kimberly: Oh, my god — I was asked to do that, actually. And then I saw what the Lingerie Bowl was.... [Laughs] A bunch of hard-core bitches bringing each other down in hot lingerie? I was like, "No way. Not happening. Never." But Ebony, she was amazing. I don't think she should have gone in there with her two friends, but maybe the reason she did was, subconsciously, she wanted to show the judges how good she was in comparison. Did you notice that she went last?

TVGuide.com: Is your expert intel telling you anything as to why Akron Watson, who received a golden ticket on last Tuesday's show, was "disinvited" shortly after revealing he was once busted for pot? I mean, people with known rap sheets have made it to Hollywood before....
Kimberly: I actually think it's silly. I don't understand why he's being kicked off, when off the top of my head I know 10 [previous contestants] who have been arrested for something or other. As long as you're up front about it, normally they're cool about it. If he wants to audition for Idol and clean up his life and do something with himself, he is probably not able to do that now, because they're not giving him a chance.
Rosanna: Didn't Bo Bice have some [legal] troubles as well? There have been a lot of people whose "dirt" has come out halfway through the finalists' competition, so... I'm not exactly sure why this year is any different from any other year. Yes, an American Idol should be an American Idol and not have any previous offenses, but again, I think it's odd.

TVGuide.com: What has the typical golden-ticket holder been doing these past weeks in preparation for Hollywood?
Kimberly: There's really no way to prepare for Hollywood. When you go there, you have a list of songs you have to choose from, and they're like, "Sing it tomorrow."

After the latest round of auditions, and the moving of the competition to Hollywood this week, it's time for a new American Idol Power Poll.

Thanks to our friends at Entertainment Weekly for sharing their following rankings with us ...

1. SUNDANCE HEAD (last week No. 1)
Burly, genial son of '60s hitmaker Roy Head was a bluesy delight delivering ''Stormy Monday'' in Memphis. It's early, but he remains the heavy favorite.

2. CHRIS SLIGH (last week No. 2)
Jack Osbourne clone hooked us from the get-go with his Hasselhoff joke, and his vocal and emotional range on Seal's ''Kiss From a Rose'' proved equally appealing.

3. TAMI GOSNELL (new this week, pictured right)
Brought a soulful magnetism to the Allman Brothers' ''Whipping Post'' and evoked memories of the great Janis Joplin. Still, the Colorado pedi-cab driver could face an uphill climb in the competition, given her makeup-free, slightly androgynous exterior.

4. EBONY JOINTER (new this week, pictured left)
Auditioned with two gal pals, but this leggy lass didn't really need a gimmick, not with a schlock-free ''I Believe in You and Me.''

5. BAYLIE BROWN (new this week)
''Commercial with a capital C'' was how Simon Cowell described this Denise Richards look-alike after her powerful, controlled rendition of Faith Hill's ''Stronger.''

6. SANJAYA MALAKAR (last week No. 4)
Younger half of a potent brother-sister combo tackled Stevie Wonder without sacrificing melody for melisma. With the help of a stylist, there's no telling how far he'll go.

7. PORCELANA PATINO (last week No. 3)
Okay, so she shares a name with a face cream and snagged only 1 percent of Entertainment Weekly's votes in its reader poll, but her rendition of ''Love No Limit'' was the best thing to come out of Queens since Ugly Betty.

8. MELINDA DOOLITTLE (last week No. 6)
It'd take a Grinch not to root for this 28-year-old backup singer, who fought off a mean case of the nervous shakes before her home-run audition of ''For Once in My Life.'' Still, lack of confidence may not look so cute in front of a live audience.

9. JENRY BEJARANO (last week No. 5)
What's this? A 16-year-old who looks like Tyson Beckford's far hotter younger cousin? And who delivered an above-average version of Gerald Levert's ''I'd Give Anything to Fall in Love''?

10. LAKISHA JONES (new this week)
Perhaps the only thing bigger than this soul sister's voice is her appealingly confident personality. Admit it: You got a little misty when she tearfully embraced her daughter after getting a ticket to Hollywood.

11. BRANDON ROGERS (last week No. 7)
His smooth, seductive ''Always on My Mind'' was the lone cause for celebration from Idol's lackluster Los Angeles audition episode; is it any wonder Christina Aguilera and Anastacia brought him along for backup support on their respective tours?

12. PAUL KIM (new this week)
If this big-voiced poolboy loses the breathy affectations that hindered his take on Shai's ''If I Ever Fall in Love,'' he might just get his wish and replace William Hung as the nation's best-known Asian-American Idol — and not a second too soon.

13. RACHEL ZEVITA (last week No. 10)
Brilliantly neutralized Simon's accusation of musical schizophrenia by pointing out that Idol wannabes need to tackle different themes each week. But while she aced the rock, AC, and opera genres, she desperately needs a tutor in Style 101 — and a tweezer.

14. ANTONELLA BARBA (last week No. 8.)
Untrained half of New York episode's ''Jersey girl'' duo proved to be a surprisingly powerful vocalist with a great sense of rhythm on Deniece Williams' tricky ballad, ''Free,'' but is there enough genuine fire beneath that low-wattage façade?

15. SEAN MICHEL (last week No. 17)
It takes chutzpah to point out your resemblance to Osama bin Laden, Jesus, and Fidel Castro, and while his audition sounded weak to me, the dude is shockingly popular in our reader polls. Plus, rumors of his elimination for refusing to submit to a makeover in Hollywood week have kept his buzz going.

16. SHYAMALI MALAKAR (last week No. 12)
Sure, her jazzy take on ''Summertime'' wasn't at Fantasia levels, but at least she did it her way. Not only that, Sanjaya's sister is sassy without being mouthy, and her success would leave Simon regretting that ''nothing unique'' critique.

17. GINA GLOCKSEN (new this week)
Tattooed rock chick was impressive in Hollywood week during season 5, but didn't make the top 24. And while her season 6 audition of ''Black Velvet'' wasn't as vocally impressive, her flirtation with Simon was cute. This year's Melissa McGhee — but with a personality?

18. SARAH KRUEGER (last week No. 9)
She's pretty, she's unassuming, and she gave a lovely rendition of ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' at her Minneapolis audition. But three weeks after her initial appearance, the buzz on the curly-haired diva is quieter than a dog whistle.

19. JIMMY MCNEAL (new this week)
His very jaunty version of ''Cupid'' prompted Simon to describe him as ''a little, fun Ruben'' — which isn't the worst comparison in the world. Bonus points for his hilarious exchange with the little girl outside the audition room. Him: ''I'm goin' to Hollywood!'' Her: ''So?''

20. NICHOLAS PEDRO (last week No. 14)
Yet another chap who had Paula salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs, but his ''Fly Me to the Moon'' proved he's more than a handsome face. Still, after botching his lyrics and bailing during season 5's Hollywood round, his guts remain a question mark.

Remember that these American Idol spoilers must be taken as mere rumor at this point.

While we've heard that hopefuls such as Paul Kim and Brandon Rogers are moving on to the top 24, nothing is confirmed yet.

But can you really imagine Jordin Sparks being sent home any time soon? Neither can we. That's why we feel confident posting the following American Idol photos of these future finalists ...

While viewers are developing favorites this season, such as Tami Gosnell and Sundance Head, is there any doubt that an American Idol All-Star show would be a ratings bonanza?

The idea has veen brought up, says executive producer Nigel Lythgoe:

“Yes it has. It’s something that I’m trying to make work this season.”

This is Lythgoe’s idea for an All Stars version: a special with ten former finalists occurring during this season of American Idol.

“They’re talking about doing a song competition on the Web, and have people write songs for the next American Idol finale," he said. "Because whenever they come out and sing a song on the finale, the only criticism Randy Jackson can do is, ‘I don’t like that song.’ That’s not very helpful. They’re going to be putting it out next week and trying to sell it, and here’s you saying, ‘I don’t like the song.’”

Lythgoe continued:

“So the way to do it ... why don’t we let America choose the song they’re going to sing, as well as their Idol? Then, we sort of encapsulate the whole thing. My idea was, okay, well give me ten songs, and I will bring back ten Idol finalists to sing them on a special, and then America can really see them rather than just have them on the Web and download them or whatever.

Let’s see Constantine Maroulis again, let’s see Ace Young, let’s see Vonzell, Tamyra Gray, and all of the great people that we voted for over the years. I’d love to do that. And with good reason at the end of the day for doing it, which is to produce the song that the next American Idol is going to sing.”

So will an American Idol All Stars edition actually happen?

According to Lythgoe: “I’ve pitched it to Fox, and Fox hasn’t come back to me yet and said yes or no.”

Word is leaking around the Internet of the final 24 American Idol Six contestants. We cannot confirm or deny these reports, but discovered the following information via American Idol forums online.

So take these 12 men and 12 women with a Randy Jackson-sized grain of salt, but the rumored final 24 singers (some with first names only revelead) are:

Males:
1. A.J. Tabaldo
2. Blake Lewis
3. Brandon Rogers (pictured)
4. Chris Sligh
5. Chris Richardson
6. Jared "J.L." Cotter
7. Sundance Head
8. Nicholas "Nick" Pedro
9. Paul Kim
10. Rudolpho "Rudy" Cardenas
11. Sanjaya Malakar
12. Phil Stacey

Females:
1. Alaina Alexander
2. Amy
3. Antonella Barba
4. Gina Glocksen
5. Haley Scarnato
6. Jordin Sparks
7. Lakeesha Young
8. Leslie Hunt
9. Melinda Doolittle (pictured)
10 Nicole
11. Sabrina Scherff/Sloan
12. Stephanie Edwards