Barnsinger's Blog

This season's Top 24 is one of the best, most exciting lineups ever!!! If America chooses right, we are in for a mind-blowing Top 12.

All of my favorites are in: Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, Amanda Overmyer, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook, Alexandrea Lushington, and Alaina Whitaker.

The judges were very careful in their selections this time around, making sure to include country singers, rockers, and as many unique, unusual contestants as possible. This is by no means the run-of-the-mill collection of pop and R&B singers like last season. Season 7 is going to be more like Seasons 4 and 5, which will not only make for an amazing competition, but also a fantastic Idols Live tour.

I can't believe we already vote next week!! It seems like we were just laughing at the bad auditions.

I went over to Dupont Circle yesterday for Mic at the Metro. After much running up and down those long escalators trying to figure out which side it would be on (and some help from a very nice Metro kiosk employee who called Fox 5 for me to find out - and even they didn't know), I found a group of young people standing on the Dupont Circle South side as if they were waiting for something. I asked if they were there for the Mic, and they said yes. By this time, it was already about 5:15 - the Mic was scheduled to begin at 5 - and the Fox 5 folks were nowhere to be found. We just waited and waited, and it was bitter cold outside. Some of the others went to nearby restaurants and down into the station to keep warm. Another Mic contestant whom I remember from some of last year's installments showed up around 5:30, and still, no Fox 5. Finally, it was about 5:40 when this guy and I decided that the Mic was a no-go that day. I knew they weren't at the Q Street entrance, because several Metro employees confirmed to some of the others that the Mic was going to be on the Dupont South side. Later that evening, I wondered if Fox 5 may have shown up after I left, but I checked MyFoxDC.com for the finalist videos, and they were not there, which indicates to me that there definitely was no Mic yesterday. What happened? I keep looking on the site and watching Fox 5 for an explanation, and so far, there is none.

ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) The wait is almost over, and I can hardly sit still!!!!! The judges are praising this season's talent to the sky, moreso and more sincerely than usual. Even Simon is fired up!!!

The first audition city, on Tuesday night, is going to be Philly. I think that one was chosen to be first because I heard it brought out a lot of crazies. Next up, on Wednesday night, is Dallas. A lot of people complain about the early audition process and the bad and downright weird contestants, but it's all part of the ten-ring circus that is Idol, and I just love it!!! Also, it is interesting to see how the search for a new recording star began.

Randy says the guys are stronger than the girls this year. I would love to see a male country singer win, a guy who can take Nashville and America by storm the way Carrie Underwood is.

Let the season and Idol Mania begin!!!!:)

I wondered why the Mic moved from the Metro to the malls, and after performing at White Flint last night, now I know. White Flint's comfortable Center Court lounge, where everyone can sit on a couch, a comfy chair, or even the ledge around the elevator,  was a vast improvement over standing, packed in like sardines, outside the Silver Spring Metro.  The whole atmosphere of the mall was so much better, too, and the mood was relaxed and fun, and to say that the crowd was better behaved was an understatement. It was also a pleasure not to have to sing outdoors in frigid temps, and since it's now warm outside, the air conditioning was a definite plus. Also, there are restrooms, and plenty of places to eat and shop. I got there early and kicked back with a Smoothie King while I waited - can you do that at Metro?

I really had the time of my life yesterday, and of course, singing into the Fox 5 mike while a cameraman captures it all is a thrill like no other. It was extra special experiencing it at one of my favorite malls. Thanks to everyone at Fox 5 for this great opportunity. Sue Palka - awesome to see you again!!:) It was really cute when you rode off on the White Flint Express with the kids. Bet that was better than Metro, too (GRINS). 

Expanding the American Idol results show to an hour was the smartest move Fox could have made.  Wednesday night's show was incredible. The judges got plenty of face and mike time, Ryan bantered and teased with them throughout (and J. Lo. joined in as well), there was horseplay between the judges, we got to see more footage of Simon in Africa (that was so cute and funny!!!), the contestants did an awesome group number, the Ford commercial was excellent once again, we saw more of J. Lo. mentoring the kids, J. Lo. heated things up with her HOT Latin number, the contestants got to say a few words before the elimination process began, Hayley's entire last performance was aired (with time left at the end for goodbye hugs) and there was even a new segment with Ryan asking people on the street what they thought of Tuesday night's show. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a results show this much. See how much better it is when the judges are involved instead of just furniture, and when the whole show is relaxed and fun instead of rushed? I hope this improvement will remain, and I hope it will apply to the finale, which was a total fiasco last season.

Spring has sprung, so why is the next round of the Mic being moved from the Metro to the Mall? Malls were the Plan B location this winter when cold weather conditions made it necessary to move the Mic from outdoors to indoors. With warm, sunny days ahead, shouldn't we take advantage of that and get outside and sing? Not only that, Mic at the Metro was so much more convenient to get to. This time, we will need to drive or take a bus to the Mic locations.

Weatherwise, I'd love to hear Sue Palka's opinion on this.:)

Once again, the judges got a raw deal on this week's Idol results show.  Like on last season's finale, and several results shows last season, they were not given time to speak, and got hardly any camera time (they got virtually none in two hours on last season's finale). Half hour results shows are just no longer feasible. If they want the celebrity mentors to perform, the show has to be expanded to an hour. Diana Ross' grand entrance wasted a whole minute, and the applause used up another minute. Ms. Ross was a wonderful mentor, but her performance took away from the real stars of the show - the judges. They each got an intro and a closeup, and then were only shown twice from the front during Ms. Ross'  performance, and during those shots, the camera was not close enough. For the rest of the show, all we saw was their backs. Ryan didn't even have time to review their comments on each contestant during the results. Had the show been an hour, there would have been plenty of time for each judge to speak, and for a recap of their contestant critiques. There also would have been time for Brandon to sing his swan song; being voted off is hard enough, but having your last song cut off is the final slap in the face. Let's not forget that this is American Idol and not the Grammys; if hour results shows are not in Fox's plans, cut out the celebrity performances, and give that time to the judges and the contestants.

I am just FLOORED!!!!!!!!! I had no idea it would be anything like this!!!!!!!!!!!! All I could think was it was some kind of lame big name concert, based on last season's fiasco finale with Prince being the main event, and the general emphasis that the producers are placing lately on snagging big names to appear on the show. This event will have plenty of big names, but not self-promoting, egomaniacal ones. What a WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL idea!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO excited about this show, I can hardly sit still!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And how amazing was it to see Simon and Ryan visiting children in Africa? God bless both their good, kind hearts. The same goes for Randy and Paula who will soon visit Hurricane Katrina victims in Randy's native Louisiana. The four of them will also visit other places in need around the U.S. I also love the fact that a donation will be made for every vote on the night of that show. The announcement of the Top 12 was exciting enough last night, but this beats anything that was ever done in Idol history. When the producers said it would knock our socks off, I said, "Yeah, right," but they were not kidding at all!!! The announcement has rendered me barefoot!!!!!!!;)

What does everyone else think of this?

 

 

Mic at the Metro was once again awesome at Silver Spring last night!! Just as at Dupont Circle last week, so much talent showed up. It amazes me that everyone who comes out for this is good; there are no weirdoes or wannabes like at the American Idol auditions. The Mic is SO exciting, and so much fun. It's also habit forming!! And for me, in addition to doing my taped performance, the highlight was singing live on the air during Sue Palka's report. Sue's a great lady, and a great weather anchor, too. I also got to meet Marcus Johnson, which was really cool. And I met so many great people in the crowd. I'm bummed that the last two Mics are too far away for me, but I've already done two and gotten on TV twice, so while I'm not tired of the Mic, I think everyone must be tired of me by now.