"American Idol" - "Hollywood Round: Part 3" - Feb. 16, 2010It's the final time for the 71 contenders onstage before the final judgement. Over the course of the two hours we see some contestants full Hollywood week journey but mostly just their final performance with the "Idol" band.Ryan talks about the journey to Hollywood and the struggle while you're there as we see a clip package of auditionees from stadium auditions to Hollywood group rounds.He explains that the 71 contestants each took... to the stage with a full band but got no feedback from the judges, they just have to wait.We get a l ook at the four judges going through the Polaroids and giving yes's and no's.The contestants are spilt into three different rooms. Each group has a few familiar faces and a bunch we haven't been introduced to.We get to see most of the very strong, effortless audition of Angela Martin doing "American Boy." She feels good and emotional.We get another look at Casey James, the guy who doffed his shirt at the judges auditions. He does "Bubbly," it sounds fine but kind of boring.We also get a look at Jermaine Purifoy who's excited to be the only one singing "Brick House." He does a fine job with it.Casey's in Room 1, Jermaine's in Room 2. Casey is not thrilled but Jermaine is excited.After the break we get more shots of the judges looking at Polaroids and the contestants stressing out as we get a recap of comments both good and bad from the judges.Jermaine Sellers did "Man in the Mirror" and he did it well but then he felt the need at the end to say something negative about the band. Not cool.Siobhan Magnus sang "Living For the City" in an attempt to seem looser and more youthful. It seems the judges liked it.Crystal Bowersox did "If It Makes You Happy" and accompanied herself on guitar and harmonica and acquitted herself nicely.Alex Lambert struggled with charisma issues on his first day and then was stuck in the bossy Mary group but still made it through. He pulls out his ukulele for "I'm Yours." It's fine, kind of busker-ish, good busker-ish.Then we get an "I'm Yours" medley."Big" Michael Lynche also did this one with the band, but he played acoustic guitar. He's definitely more charismatic. Todrick Hall threw some sweet falsetto sexiness on the Jason Mraz song.We then get a montage of Thaddeus Johnson's very excited mother, cheering him on in the early rounds and comforting him while he's stressing out. He sang "Man in the Mirror" after a false start when the band thought he was someone else. He gives a very warm, spirited performance if a little slow. His mother cheers him loudly.We get another shot of the stressing contestants in Room 1.More shots of the judges and the Polaroids.We then get a shot of the folks in Room 2 stressing out.Charity Vance sang "Gravity" gently and nicely. We see Tasha Layton the worship pastor on Day 1 singing "The Scientist" in a very tender, acoustic arrangement. Both are very Lilith-y, in a nice way.Bossy Mary Powers is sure she's in, very confident, she thinks the song is cake. She sang "Hot N Cold." It's fine, she sounds okay, tired.Also in Room 2 is Lloyd Thomas who is teary, thinking about his wife and kids back home. He also sang "Man in the Mirror". I'm starting to think things don't look so good for Room 2. he sounds fine but a little sluggish and definitely tired. Simon likes him though.Police officer Brian Walker got a finger-guns from Simon after his final audition, which they don't show us for some reason.We see a few others in Room 2 including Tisha Holland, Jermaine Purifoy who we already saw, and Hope Johnson. We get a look at Hope's Hollywood Week montage. Ellen liked her Day 1. She sang "Home" for her final shot and, honestly, she's cute and unique but the performance itself is kinda pitchy and she's got some rough finger pointy moves. The fate of Room 2 is looking even more dire.More Judges/Polaroids.Now we get a gander at Room 3 and a bunch of people I feel like we haven't really seen much of.There's [/b]Shelby Dressel[/b] who goofed her lyrics in her audition before the judges. In Hollywood, Ellen loved her voice. She continued to have lyric remembering problems during band rehearsal. She freaked out a little. during her final performance of "More Than a Feeling." She did a very serious, weird edit of the song and remembered the words but she looked really stressed and sounded a little shouty.Aaron Kellly, however, didn't remember the words to "Angel" during his performance. He got back on track and hit some good notes but his nerves were definitely palpable.Ashley Rodriguez, according to Ryan, ended on a high with her rendition of "Battlefield,' which does sound fine if a bit clenched but she looks great and has good presence.We get a quick threefer of other, also decent if not mind-blowing contestants: Lee Dewyze who did "You Found Me," Joe Munoz who was fine on "Man in the Mirror" and Haeley Vaughn who also took a crack at "I'm Yours."Janell Wheeler was having vocal troubles all week. She does "Love Story" and it starts rough and only get marginally better although she's very charming. Kara thinks it was the wrong song. Janell thinks she blew it, couldn't take the pressure.Others in Room 3 are also doubting themselves.More Judges and Polaroids as they separate those who are staying and those who are going.We get a look at a few more Room 1 people, who uniformly sound good and include Andrew Garcia who the judges clearly love so this must be a good room.Then a glimpse at Room 2 and Room 3, with good parts and bad parts.Ellen lets Room 1 know that they're all through to the final round. No surprise here.The other rooms hear the celebrating and stress some more. Simon tells Room 2 that they were all great, better than he thought they would be, but this is the end of the road for them.Which means that the folks in Room 3 are also all through, and Randy and Kara tell them that with the requisite fake out. Celebrating, etc.Now the 71 is 46 and the 46 that made it this far will get pared to 24 after the judges look over the audition tapes.Ryan explains how it works: each contestant will walk to the stage where the judges will give them their final fate.In: "Big" Mike Lynche (who must still be in, even though it was reported that he was out after his dad spilled the beans). (Simon says it was unanimous).
Didi Benami
Katelyn Epperly (after some extended faking out from Ellen)
Casey James
Aaron Kelly
Lee Dewyze
Todrick HallOut:
Shelby (they encourage her to keep singing)
Jessica (she's upset, and begs a little, it's rough, she believes she deserved to move on)They will reveal the rest of the top 24 tomorrow night.