‘American Idol’: Group Day
Ryan Seacrest didn’t describe American Idol’s first week in Hollywood as “Hell Week” for nothing. But his warning at the start of Wednesday’s Idol episode proved apt: the remaining 96 contestants sweated through the dreaded Group Day, scrambling to plan and pull off vocal arrangements and choreography with fellow contestants they had barely met. So much drama went down, our heads are still spinning. But the lesson learned for all involved was this: never, ever, ever attempt Gwen Stefani’s “The Sweet Escape,” Idol hopefuls.
The Mighty Rangers consisted of Danny Jones, Tori Kelly, Kim Kerbow, Mark Labriola and Maddie Penrose. All five auditioned in Denver, and you could be forgiven for thinking they might have suffered some kind of collective altitude-related disorder, because they just can’t seem to get the choreography or the lyrics to Ne-Yo’s “Closer” down right. Half of the group nods off early the night before they take the stage before the judges, leaving the other half to rehearse without them. In the end, Kim, Mark and Danny are shown the door. Mark tearfully pleads for a second chance, and Simon tells him not to beg.
Two groups chose Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” as their song: Neopolitan (Jessica Cunningham, Thaddeus Johnson, Paige Miles and Liz Rooney) and Destiny’s Wild (Todrick Hall, Jareb Liewer, Siobhan Magnus and the single-named Theri). Naturally, the claws are out between the two posses. The night before the group auditions, Neopolitan feel that Destiny’s Wild are eavesdropping and copping their dance moves. But when it comes time to step before the judges, the tables seem to turn. Neopolitan do their Gaga rendition a capella and all members make it through. Destiny’s Wild also manage to get through the audition intact, but not before Ellen comments, “It was really weird… Surreal is what it was.” Gaga probably wouldn’t have it any other way.
Team Awesome (seriously?) was comprised of Michael Castro, Michael “Big Mike” Lynche, Seth Rollins and Tim Urban. After getting their routine down pat early on day one, Big Mike heads off to his room to keep tabs on his wife, who is in labor. Back in Florida, she ends up having their daughter the next day, just before Team Awesome take to the stage to belt out the Temptations’ “Get Ready.” Michael Castro and Seth Rollins—the dad from Orlando with the autistic son—get the axe, while Tim Urban and Big Mike are safe. Looks like missing out on the birth of his kid was worth for Mr. Lynche—or was it? After all, there are still those rumors out there that he’s since been disqualified after his father revealed to the St. Petersburg Times that Mike made it into the Top 24. We shall see…
The Dreamers (Erynne Hundley, Hope Johnson, Alex Lambert, Margo May and Mary Powers) and Phoenix (Jeff Goldford, Ben Honeycutt, Moorea Masa, Kat Nestel and Jermaine Sellers) were two groups that each suffered from internal power struggles, with a female in each group trying to seize the reins—to varying results. Masa had advanced to the group rounds in Season 8, and therefore feels it’s her duty to act the wise old sage of her new team. Meanwhile, rocker mom Mary Powers takes a more bulldozer-ish approach and basically just bosses the rest of the Dreamers around for a day. Kat Nestel, meanwhile, completely drops out of the competition before Phoenix even takes to the stage, saying she doesn’t want to humiliate herself. It’s a fact that doesn’t win the group any sympathy from the judges, however, as know-it-all Moorea and Ben Honeycutt are ultimately booted out. The Dreamers have a rough time too, with Kara quipping, “It’s like the dream died somewhere on that stage.” When the dust settles, only Mary, Alex and Hope have made it through.
There’s a whole montage of groups butchering Gwen Stefani’s 2006 solo hit “The Sweet Escape,” including Big Dreams (Amanda Schectman and Matt Lawrence). Needless to say, most of the members of these doomed teams seem to make the not-so-sweet escape right out of Hollywood. Two final groups that do manage to sail on through entirely intact include Three Men And A Baby (Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens, J.B. Ahfua) and Middle C (Janelle Wheeler, Jermaine Purifoy, Casey James).
Overall, 25 contestants were cut, leaving 71 safe for another week. But that’s still 47 Idol hopefuls who have one-way tickets back home looming ahead of them.
