It’s the end of the road for five of our top 24, as only seven will remain from the first round of 12 performers. I like how the producers have switched things up for the farewell season of American Idol, and have included these showcase rounds. I think former Idols returning to serve as mentors as well as duet partners is fitting for the last chapter in this 15 season story.
EMILY BROOKE AND SEASON 10 RUNNER-UP LAUREN ALAINA: Both of these young ladies were 15 when they first auditioned for Idol, and both auditioned in the city of Nashville. It sounds as if this would be the perfect pairing, based on those facts alone. As the duo performs Carrie Underwood’s “Flat on the Floor,” it’s almost as if Emily is a little unsure of herself, and performs more to Lauren than to the audience. It’s clear who the veteran is here, and who the nervous newbie is. (And how much did I love getting to see Lauren Alaina fall down the stairs again in a season 10 flashback??)
THOMAS STRINGFELLOW AND SEASON 14 WINNER NICK FRADIANI: For me, this is a perfect match-up, before even hearing a note that is sung. I loved Nick last season, and I love Thomas this season. Their take on “Man in the Mirror” is everything I would hope from them, and there’s plenty of crowd interaction. I enjoy getting to see Thomas play off of Nick’s confidence, and it works. Jennifer has a different opinion, and thinks while the performance is “very Nick” it’s “not very Thomas.” Harry doesn’t offer much love for this, but raves about Thomas’s solo from the previous round.
STEPHANY NEGRETE AND SEASON 2 WINNER RUBEN STUDDARD: It’s kind of fitting that these two are partnered up, because I often forget that Ruben won his season, and I keep forgetting who Stephany even is in the competition. They look like the king and queen of the prom as they perform “Superstar” by The Carpenters, but I don’t think we will see Stephany taking the Idol crown. Jennifer thinks their number has “magic” and Harry calls it “strong,” but I’ve already forgotten the performance by the commercial break.
SONIKA VAID AND SEASON 13 WINNER CALEB JOHNSON: I find myself rooting for Sonika this season, and I think she’s flying a little under the radar. She has a quiet presence about her, and I don’t think we’ve seen the best she has to offer just yet. (As for Caleb, I took season 13 off because of Idol burnout, so I actually know nothing about him, other than the fact he could be Meatloaf’s long lost… grandson?) I feel like Caleb offers good mentoring advice to Sonika, and the two impress the judges with their version of Adele’s “Skyfall.” J.Lo thinks that the “sky’s the limit” with a voice like Sonika’s.
JENNA RENAE AND SEASON 10 WINNER SCOTTY McCREERY: I like Scotty, but I hope there will come a day when I can hear his name and not be reminded of his “Baby lock the door and turn the lights down low” audition. The two take on Scotty’s own song, “See You Tonight,” and for me, it works even better as a duet. This is the first time I remember taking note of just who Jenna is. I’m afraid by now it could be too little, too late, though. Harry thinks the performance was “nice to see,” and my favorite part was Jenna’s dad beaming in the audience.
LA’PORSHA RENAE AND SEASON WINNER FANTASIA: Game over. Shut down the competition, crown La’Porsha, and call it a day. Fantasia comments that she loves how La’Porsha “loses herself in the music” and it’s clear that she’s certainly not lost in this competition. As if last night’s “Proud Mary” weren’t enough to convince me that she deserves a spot in the finals, she delivers a “Summertime” duet alongside Fantasia, and for the first time tonight, the talent is equally matched. It’s a standing ovation from Keith, Jennifer calls the performance “mind-blowing” and Harry thinks La’Porsha is an “unstoppable force.”
MACKENZIE BOURG AND LAUREN ALAINA: Lauren returns to perform with MacKenzie, and begins her mentoring session with some almost uncomfortable flirting. (Or maybe that’s my jealousy talking.) As the two perform “I Hope You Dance” I can’t decide if Lauren is shouting her part, or if her voice is just that much more powerful than MacKenzie’s soft tone. After their performance, Harry revels in “the amount of talent that has come through the ranks of American Idol.” Harry also thinks that this number was a little “mismatched” but that MacKenzie set the bar for how talented he is with his previous performance.
GIANNA ISABELLA AND NICK FRADIANI: Nick shares the best advice he received while he was on the show: “Stop treating this like a crazy competition and just have fun.” Gianna and Nick take on Nick’s Idol victory song, “Beautiful Life.” For me, it pales in comparison, because I love Nick’s solo version so much. I feel like here I was robbed of half the song. Gianna comes across almost as a precocious child star, kind of like Mayim Bialik’s young Bette Midler in “Beaches.” (I haven’t seen that movie in more than twenty years, but that’s what it made me think of.)
AVALON YOUNG AND RUBEN STUDDARD: While Avalon may have only been in the 2nd grade when Ruben won the Idol title, she still seems every bit as star struck with him today, and it’s precious. The two take on Ruben’s winning number, “Flying without Wings” and it’s magical. Avalon performs without a flashy costume and without elaborate jewelry… just a girl with her voice, and I can’t wait to vote for her. Jennifer calls her “incredible” and Harry thinks it’s a “really strong duet.” (And we also get a flashback scene to Paula Abdul giving her seal claps to Ruben in season two.)
JAMES VIII AND CALEB JOHNSON: I actually checked out of this performance and scoured all my social media accounts and checked my email, because that’s how uninterested I was in this performance. The duo performs “Gimme Shelter” and the judges appreciate the fact that James could hang with Caleb, who was obviously completely in his element. (Which would be an element that is completely not me.)
JENEVE ROSE MITCHELL AND SCOTTY McCREERY: This is just weird to me. I’ve never seen The Baldknobbers perform in Branson, Missouri, but I imagine they would be something like Jeneve in this performance? Their take on Montgomery Gentry’s “Gone” is just strange, and has Keith wanting to “forget that performance ever happened.” Harry refers to it as “bizarre’” but all three judges make it clear how much they like her and how unique she is.
JORDAN SASSER AND FANTASIA: Am I the only one who remembers Fantasia when she had a last name? And I think I decided what it is that bothers me so much about Jordan: I think he might resemble a Mr. Rogers puppet, and I think I used to be scared of those guys? Fantasia’s voice on her crowning Idol song, “I Believe,” has Jennifer in tears, but Jordan is warned about upstaging his duet partner. I think it’s another show-off performance, and I don’t think I need to worry about any future puppet nightmares, if you know what I mean.
After all 12 have given their all on last time, it’s time for the judges to cut five, leaving only seven to carry on. I like that this isn’t live, and it all happens pretty quick, without the dramatic “dim the lights” music.
The Idols surviving are La’Porsha… Sonika… Avalon… Gianna… Thomas… MacKenzie…. and Jeneve.
It’s curtains for the others, and next week the second half of the top 24 will get their chance to impress the judges with one final solo number, as well as a duet, as six new Idol mentors will join them.
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