You might say I had my reservations when they announced a Jennifer Lopez week. Can you blame me? The artist formerly known as J. Lo doesn't exactly have a classic hits catalogue; but having the show billed as a "Latin Night" put me at ease ... a little.
Only a little because having Latin night in English doesn't make any sense. With only Santana's 'Supernatural' and Gloria Estefan's greatest hits to show off their voices, it's no wonder the judges were harping on the kids about how unexciting they were -- except Sanjaya, oddly enough. I think what he got right and the others didn't understand is that if you're going to make the effort to have a night for Latin music, you gotta go all the way.
¡En Español por favor! But, then only 12.5 percent of America is included and that's not enough to make it a good idea as a theme for the show. I was secretly hoping, though, someone would bust out 'Eres Tu' tonight so I could have a Tommy Boy moment. I'm not gonna lie, those over-dramatic Spanish melodies are a guilty pleasure.
No such luck. Instead tonight I was mostly fascinated by some of the contestant's idiosyncrasies. Like, for example, how Phil seems to enjoy punctuating his performances with a Howard Dean "Wooooooo!" At first I thought it might be a one-time thing, but the last three episodes have made it a thing. It's kind of creepy.
Creepy or not, I think he's probably safe this week. My guess is that Haley is out tomorrow. With Simon's criticism and her forgetability, she won't have enough to stick around. What do you guys think?
I thought last week was pretty boring, but this was a bigger yawn. Good news, though, 'Heroes' starts up again on April 23.
Jon Peter Lewis was a finalist on the third season of "American Idol." His newly released debut album, "Stories From Hollywood," is available everywhere online and can also be downloaded at americanidol.com. Visit Jon's Web site for more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-11-2007 @ 2:48PM
"Gidget" said...
I too am looking forward to Heros return!!! Idul is so sucky it's almost not worth blogging about. I wish you did this blog for last season!
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4-11-2007 @ 3:18PM
Alex said...
Umm... Jon Peter Lewis was AWFUL; he couldn't sing, his dancing was terrible, and he was one of the worst contestants of his season (which America eventually realized). Why on EARTH did they recruit HIM to critique OTHER singers? It seems very strange to me...
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4-11-2007 @ 3:29PM
lookNoHands! said...
it seems to mean that contestants get "advised and styled" away from the very qualities that got them into the contest in the first place.
when was the last time you saw blake act like blake?
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4-11-2007 @ 3:46PM
chuck said...
Come on Haley's the one! She's got beauty, charm, marketability and a good voice, plus lots of personality. The judges are way to hard on her. Simon keeps saying "its a 'Singing' competition. No its not, its a popularity contest, evrything in pop culture is a popularity contest. You want the dfinition of American Idol? Its Haley Scarnato!
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4-11-2007 @ 4:11PM
Dave said...
I think Haley or Phil will be gone tonight but it wouldn't surprise me if someone like Lakisha was voted off.
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4-11-2007 @ 4:19PM
NAN said...
ALEX...I SUGGEST U LISTEN TO JPL"S NEW ALBUMS AND SONGS...THE GUY IS TERIFFIC..AND THE MUSIC IS GREAT...IDOL WAS RIGHT...THE GUY HAD TALENT GALORE OR HE WOULDNT HAVE BEEN IN THE TOP 10.................JPL U ARE FANTASTIC
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4-11-2007 @ 4:26PM
Beth Gaston Moon said...
LaKisha wouldn't surprise me ... Haley has been on borrowed time for eons but continues to rise like a phoenix from the ashes ... Phil has a bizarre fan base, possibly people trying to avenge the ghost of Chris Daughtry by voting through another bald Dad ... Simon would love Blake or Chris R. to win (and so, ahem, would I). That is all.
As for JPL's write-ups, Alex, I think they are clever and smart - LOVE the Howard Dean comment! Who cares what his qualifications are for critiquing - have we ever heard Simon Cowell sing?
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4-11-2007 @ 5:29PM
Alex Deagle said...
I LIKE SANJAYA! HE IS A GREAT SINGER AND I THINK HE SHOULD WIN THE IDOL! I DONT KNOW Y PEOPLE R MAKING A BIG DEAL OVER A PERSON IN THE IDOL THEY DONTY LIKE! THEY JUS HAVE TO GROW UP N REALIZE THAT JUS B/C IT SOUNDS BAD AT FIRST, DOESNT MEAN IT WILL SOUYND BAD FOR THE REST OF UR ANNOYING LIFE :) from Alex Deagle
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4-11-2007 @ 5:35PM
Tia said...
To #4 - you're kidding right? Haley's performance last night was horrible... And I agree with Beth - Phil does have a wierd fan base. Who the hell is voting for that guy? His performance was awful and every week he just sounds wierd. I mean Maria, Maria is a really sexy song and somehow he managed to turn it into this boring, lifeless number.
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4-11-2007 @ 6:18PM
Jennifer said...
Where have I been all this time? Where has JPL been all this time?! I voted for him a gazillion times! I think of him every time "Vegas" starts.... Loved ya! Lovin' Blake this year.....
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4-11-2007 @ 8:21PM
J-me said...
So maybe the Sanjaya boy is smarter then we thought? He did make a effort by singing the song in spanish.
I stand by my support of Phil. Weird fan base, eh? Well I'll just keep my thoughts to myself on that one. I guess we know something you don't know and wouldn't you like to know what that is?
As for Jpl writing these critics, write on please. He knows a hell of a lot more about AI then the rest of us being he was on the show and did the tour.
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4-11-2007 @ 11:33PM
Bruce said...
Well looks like Haley bit the dust. No more eye candy, thats too bad.
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4-12-2007 @ 1:19AM
Stigmata said...
thank god haley is out at this stage, and thank our lucky stars that she cant sing, cause that means................................................... SOFT PORN someday soon! YIPEEEE
sanjaya did a good job, but i dont think he can win. SHAKE AND BLAKE!!!
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4-12-2007 @ 7:37AM
Pipes said...
I am sick and tired of all this Latino crap. This is the USA and our language is English, not Spacnish. One thing that keeps a country together is a common language. Look what happened in Canada when they left Ontario switch to speaking French, now they want to be their own country, and one of the biggest reasons is no common language. Because of what these idiots have done to a wonderful show, I will no longer watch a show that wants to devide our great country.
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4-12-2007 @ 12:03PM
Sarah said...
#2
Do you not realize that Jon Peter Lewis is the one you're commenting to? How mean can you be? And wait, did YOU ever get onto American Idol? Cuz I think he did. And I think we all know who he is. So, he obviously didn't do too badly. If you're going to insult people, know who you're talking to.
And I think Latin Night was boring too, Jon. But Blake was the high point for me. Man, I just love him. He's more original, I think, than anyone on idol so far.
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4-19-2007 @ 10:46AM
dee said...
i agree with pipes---beside i can't enjoy ths sounds(hearing impaired) heck now i can't even enjoy closed capition--it said spanish song no words------what are we watching a spanish american idol ------that those of us that choose -not to learn spanish--but speak the english laugage---which is our countries language----suppose to do? put up with it or not watch---and jennifer lopex ---you have now lost my vote---take our money for your records from us but don't speak our talk---shame on you!!!!!!!!!shame on americal idol----turn it back to english boys---whats next---british?
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6-04-2007 @ 3:52PM
Marc said...
Jon Peter,
You are not worth a single hair on Sanjaya's balls. He is far better than you ever were, asshole. He got more votes in one show than you got in a season. You keep your shitty comments to yourself and remember fuckface, you should be the last person to criticize any other american idol contestant.
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