Meet America’s ‘Idols’

Preview by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, February 16, 2008

“American Idol” Top 24: Back row, left to right: Alexandrea Lushington, Robbie Carrico, Jason Castro, Danny Noriega (striped shirt), Brooke White, Amanda Overmyer, Michael Johns, David Cook (bandana), Luke Menard and Carly Smithson (standing far right). Bottom row, left to right: Chikezie Eze, Colton Berry, Asia’h Epperson, Kady Malloy (seated, black dress), Joanne Borgella, Ramiele Malubay, David Hernandez (seated, front), Amy Davis, Alaina Whitaker, Syesha Mercado, Jason Yeager, David Archuleta (seated), Garrett Haley and Kristy Lee Cook. (CR: Timothy White / FOX)

Male singers scheduled to perform Tuesday, Feb. 19, (8-10 p.m.), on Fox (Ch. 6) include:

•David Archuleta, 17 – Born in Miami, but grew up in Murray, Utah.

•Colton Berry, 18 – Lives in Staunton, Va.

•Robbie Carrico, 26 – Lives in Melbourne, Fla.

•Jason Castro, 20 – Lives in Rockwall, Texas; was born in Dallas and raised in Rowlett, Texas.

•David Cook, 25 – Lives in Tulsa, Okla., but grew up in Blue Springs, Mo.

•Chikezie Eze, 22 – Lives in Inglewood, Calif.

•Garrett Haley, 17 – Lives in Elida, Ohio, but spent his early years in Alamosa, Colo.

•David Hernandez, 24 – Born and raised in Glendale, Ariz.

•Michael Johns, 29 – Lives in Los Angeles, but was born in Perth, Australia.

•Luke Menard, 29 – Born and raised in Crawfordsville, Ind.

•Danny Noriega, 18 – Lives in Azusa, Calif.

•Jason Yeager, 28 – Resides in Branson, Mo., although his hometown is Grand Prairie, Texas.

Female singers for Wednesday, Feb. 20 (8-10 p.m.), include:

•Joanne Borgella, 25 – Lives in Hoboken, N.J., although born and raised in New York.

•Kristy Lee Cook, 24 – Lives in Selma, Ore., but was born in Seattle.

•Amy Davis, 25 – Lives in Cedar Lake, Ind., but was raised in Lowell, Ind.

•Asia’h Epperson, 19 – Born and raised in Joplin, Mo.

•Alexandréa Lushington, 17 – Lives in Douglasville, Ga.

•Kady Malloy, 18 – Born and raised in Houston.

•Ramiele Malubay, 20 – Lives in Miramar, Fla. She was born in Saudi Arabia and lived in the Philippines.

•Syesha Mercado, 21 – Lives in Miami, although she grew up in Sarasota, Fla.

•Amanda Overmyer, 23 – Raised and lives in Mulberry, Ind.

•Carly Smithson, 24 – Lives in San Diego, but was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland.

•Alaina Whitaker, 16 – Born and raised in Tulsa, Okla.

•Brooke White, 24 – Lives in Van Nuys, Calif., but grew up in Mesa, Ariz.

“American Idol” selected its 24 semifinalists this week. Judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul say this year’s lineup, musically, is the strongest it’s been in seven seasons. Whether that’s true or not, “American Idol” is a lock to repeat as television’s most watched program.

Musical talent not withstanding – most “Idols” fail to sell records despite drawing millions of phone calls each week while on the show – the American public watches the Fox reality program because it’s a competition: we enjoy rooting for (and against) someone, and it’s second nature to second guess the judges – and the voters.

What’s equally fun is trying to handicap the race. It’s impossible to gauge how America will vote (cough Taylor Hicks). There are, however, some reasonable deductions we can make as we pencil in our favorites.

These “Idols” seem familiar. Seven seasons and countless audition shows in, we’re inclined to make comparisons between this year’s lot and previous notables. For instance, we can’t help but wonder if cute little David Archuleta will turn into this season’s Kevin Covais or, gasp, Sanjaya Malakar.

“Idol” judges, for their part, seem determined to revisit the past. This season is no different. We have the Bo Bice/Chris Daughtry rocker (Robbie Carrico); the John Peter Lewis/Blake Lewis reveler (David Cook); the Kellie Pickler country bumpkin (Kristy Lee Cook); the Mikalah Gordon/Brandon Rogers show-off (Kady Malloy); the Nikki McKibbin/Gina Glocksen red-haired rebel (Amanda Overmyer); and the Tamyra Gray/Melinda Doolittle too-good-to-be-true, bound-to-be-a-bridesmaid (Syesha Mercado).

These “Idols” can’t dance. Watching the singers boogaloo to Wednesday’s end credits reminded us why so many solo artists hire backup dancers. Sing they can, dance they can’t. As Simon would say, it was like something out of a karaoke bar.

These “Idols” will be the first to go. Suffering from a lack of screen time – and, let’s face it, a lack of personality – these singers appear ready to go home. Refrain from attaching yourself to Colton Berry, who barely squeaked in; Garrett Haley – who? If you remember his audition, that makes one of us; Kristy Lee Cook, whose voice is not as strong as her peers; David Hernandez, whom Simon basically told to not unpack his suitcase; Alexandréa Lushington, overshadowed by her great-grandmother in Atlanta.

These “Idols” will be the last to leave. Based on judges’ comments, talent and on-screen appeal, a handful of performers seem ready to rock. In no particular order, the potential Top 5 could include David Johns, the dynamic Australian singer; Asia’h Epperson, who thus far has received the highest compliments of any female singer; Mercado, with a voice so powerful she overcame laryngitis during the Hollywood auditions; Carly Smithson, who, outside of the cool Irish thing she’s got going, has actually spent time as a professional singer; Ramiele Malubay, a favorite with the judges.

Potential wildcards include: Archuleta and Brooke White. With the former, consider: Fellow underclassmen Jasmine Trias, John Stevens, Covais, Paris Bennett and Sanjaya all made the Top 12 – with Trias and Bennett advancing to the final five. In White, the likeable nanny, we’re sensing a strange, Bucky Covington vibe (maybe it’s the hair?).