Idol Territory

I heard three songs in the last month that I've liked and then almost choked each time when I realized each song was from a former Canadian Idol loser. All losersfrom last year actually (the year Brian Melo won).

I particularly like Carly Rae Jepsen's new song which sounds un-Idoly and actually kind of cool! It's quite unexpected actually.

Carly Rae Jepsen- "Tug of War" (not the actual video but it's all I could find):


Canadian radio seems to have been bombarded with a lot of Idol music. Between the American Idol's David Cook and Jordin Sparks adding to Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, and non-winners David Archuleta and Chris Daughtry getting lots of airplay, there's already a LOT of Idol on the radio.

Then add the Canadian Idol's, none that really broke out huge like the Americans but Hedley has faired well, and Brian Melo, runner-up Rex Goodie, Eva Avila and Melissa O'Neil put out pretty good albums (Rex's still ranks as one of my favorite Idol albums of them all (Canadian or not)) but now it seems like anybody who was on Canadian Idol at all has an album coming out. Well, a lot did and CTV plugged it every moment they could but now they actually seem to be GOOD with new songs from Jaydee Bixby, Tara Oram (videos below) and Carly Rae Jepsen that all caught my attention on the radio, only to later realize they were all Idol contestants. (I had already mentioned Oram's song before).

Plus, I never mentioned the latest winner Theo Tams who deservedly won last month is also, to my knowledge, the first Idol winner of any (English) version that had an openly gay man actually win. No? (Will Young wasn't out when he won, Anthony Callea was runner-up for Australian Idol and only came out afterwards as well). No idea about the other idols in other languages.

(And speaking of finales, how the heck did Canadian Idol land Mariah Carey and John Legend to perform???)

Theo Tams first single "Sing" is out at i-Tunes and the album comes out soon.

Tara Oram and Jaydee Bixby's songs after the jump:

Tara Oram - "Fly Girl":


Jaydee Bixby - "Old Fashioned Girl" from his new album Cowboys and Cadillacs :

More After the Jump...

Delayed Reality - Crushes Crushed - Project Runway, High School Musical: Get In The Picture, Canadian Idol

I go away to Shanghai for a week and return to find all the cute boys cut from my current roster of reality shows? What's going ON??? What kind of punishment was that? Wasn't the death defying cab ride in China enough?

I finally caught up with Project Runway and after Wesley (above with real life boyfriend Daniel) left, I knew Daniel's remaining flaky days were few (did he make ANYTHING that I liked? or ANTHING that had good taste that he claimed to have? at least he has good taste in boyfriends), but I can't believe Keith somehow devolved into his angry nervous second-guessing self so fast, going from winning to losing in a quick downfall not seen since Britney's career.

But when Keith started crying in his exit interview, did you just want to totally hold him in reassurance? (and secretly shave off that little bunnytail thing he has on the back of his head? What the hell is that?).

And granted, Stella was very inconsistent, I totally thought the judges were going to keep her over Joe. I loved that Joe won the drag queen challenge but his Diane von Furstenberg outfit was fugly (and a disgrace to Shanghai, including their cab drivers) and I was getting to love Stella's responses to everything in her monotone "ay'm guing ta make eet out of leat-ther". So I'm kind of sad to see her go.

At this point, my favorite is Leanne who I called out as one to watch for earlier on! Yay for winning two in a row!

I'm shocked that James Wolpert was cut from High School Musical: Get In The Picture.

Excuse me, WHAT? Considering he was by far the best contestant... WHAT? Stan had improved a LOT and was getting really awesome, but both girls who WERE good had two bad weeks in a row (imho), yet Tierney (who seemed to be totally dead in her performance) and Christina (who was vocally off for me) are totally safe. And Isaiah? Um, he's okay but I'm just going to repeat what my sister said, un-pc as it may be. James was cut because he was white and male, and the producers probably want to stick a more multicultural winner. No one to compete with Zac Efron I guess.

I'm also going to blame the poor performances by the girls, and James' ouster on the fact that they were forced to sing 80's songs. Really. How good can you sound when you have to sing songs from the 80's? (Video below after the jump). James had to emote to "Jesse's Girl". Is that fair?

After making fun of Drew Wright for only being a pretty boy a few weeks back, he since showed me up and totally improved on his performances and just as I was finally seeing him as a real contender for this years Canadian Idol, he gets cut from the Top 3, missing out on the finale by a week.

ARGH...

Here's Drew Wright singing "I'm Ready" from the Top 3 week (with more videos below):



Alright, so while I like Mitch MacDonald, at this point, Theo Tams clearly deserves to be the winner this Wednesday.

Theo Tams singing "Heaven" from Top 3 Week:


Theo Tams singing "When You're Gone" from Top 3 Week:


Theo Tams singing "Chariot" from Top 4 Week:


Theo Tams singing "You Don't Know Me" from Top 4 Week:


Drew Wright singing "Cuts Like A Knife" from the Top 3 week:


Drew Wright singing "Gravity" from the Top 4 Week:


Drew Wright singing "Hey Daddy (Hippo in my Tub)" from the Top 4 Week:


Here's Tierney, Christina, Isaiah, Stan and James singing songs from the 80's on High School Musical: Get In The Picture:

More After the Jump...

Reality Bites Boys - Canadian Idol, High School Musical: Get In The Picture

I was a little shocked that Amberly was voted off last week on Canadian Idol because that now leaves a final five consisting of all boys. I'm not saying I mind that, but I'm still a little surprised. Ben Mulroney noted that the Idol Mansion is now a frat house. He couldn't be more right. Also of note, all the boys except Earl continue to play instruments during their performances.

Theo (above centre) is still my favorite but I didn't love the Beatles song he was given this week.

The very pretty Drew (above 2nd from right) has totally redeemed himself in the last few weeks and was again, much better this week and might actually save himself yet again.

I swear Earl (above far right) is stoned the whole time he's on the show but he sounded great tonight.

Mitch (above 2nd from left) is becoming my second favorite, overtaking Mookie (above far left) but I think at this point. preferences on Theo of course but Mitch, Mookie and Drew have all gained my support. I like that the very weird Earl is still on the show but I'm not sure he should win in the end. Maybe the others just win points for playing guitar or the piano? (You can watch the videos of past performances here or here on youtube)

Over at High School Musical: Get In The Picture, the boys are dominating as well. After this week, 2 more girls are gone (so long Shayna and Bailey! Goodbye drama!) leaving my favorite two girls left, Tierney Chamberlain and Christina Brown (below).

Still, I'm still not sure about Christina's super low voice and I thought Tierney has actually gotten weaker as the weeks go on and both are still being overshadowed by the boys.

Particularly my favorites James Wolpert, who I've loved since the start (and who I feel like the judges are now trying to pick on) and Stan Carrizosa (below) who has improved SO much since the start.

TJ and Isaiah have both improved a LOT too (especially with the singing) but I'm still feeling a fakeness to their "acting" but way better than the ousted Shayna and Bailey at least.

My overall pick though still stays with James who always belts it out and just sounds a bit more professional than all the other kids, and he's got a charm about him that the others are only slowly growing into.

Here's James (love) with Ether and Shayna singing "The Remedy" from a previous episode:



Here's Tierney (loved) and Stan (beginning to love) with Isaiah singing "Unwritten" from a previous episode:



Here's James (love) with Bailey singing "Bleeding Love" from a previous episode:



Here's Christina (kinda love) and TJ (like) with Briana singing "Man In the Mirror" from a previous episode:



Here's Stan (beginning to love) and Shayna singing "Austin" from a previous episode:



So what do you all think? Or does anybody even care? Considering the prize is a lame cameo in the END CREDITS SONG for High School Musical 3: Senior Year. I actually like the show when they actually get to perform but I wish they would skip the high school drama stuff and most of the judges opinions since it's pretty boring.

More After the Jump...

Reality Bites Sings - Canadian Idol, High School Musical: Get In The Picture

Is anybody actually watching High School Musical: Get In The Picture or am I the only sucker still watching the SLOOOOOOW show just because they slapped the "High School Musical" label on it? It's been on how long and it only finally felt like it was getting started last week.

Now the final 10 are getting weird and ridiculous tasks to do (as my sis said, kinda like Beauty and the Geek, though the challenge to get hugs, food, and strangers to look at the sky all while mute was hilarious) and then get grouped to sing a song "musical" style.

And let's face it, James Wolpert is by far the best singer, he's a total cutie, and is incredibly likable. If he doens't have it in the bag, it's only because he's a white male and that's probably just too easy (especially considering they have a very diverse top 10 as opposed to other reality shows).

He's got this Michael Cera dear-in-the-headlights cuteness to him and yet his voice is so strong that he's even able to make the way-too-high-for-his-voice "Bleeding Love work for him on last night's episode. I'd totally have a crush if it wasn't illegal (he's 17).

Here's James performance with Tierney during the DisneyWorld auditions singing "Torn":



Over on Canadian Idol, how did Theo Tams end up in last weeks bottom 3? WHAT? Okay I get that people don't get Earl and sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't, but THEO? Who clearly has the best voice?

Okay, I know Drew Wright is pretty and all and he's not horrid or anything but clearly he's one of the weaker singers left. Though his singing is actually fine, as the judges keep noting, it's his performance and presence that usually lacks something (except I guess, last week when he sang "Creep" (video below)).

I like Mitch MacDonald but I think at this point, the race is between Theo, Amberly Thiessen and Mookie Morris, or at least should be. Though I thought Amberly sounded AMAZING in the pre-performance video and then sounded and looked odd doing Feist this week.

Well, at least Mark Day is finally gone.

Here's Theo Tam's performance from last week (Top 7) of "You Had Me":



Here's Theo Tam's performance from Top 8 week of "Weak In the Knees":



Drew Wright Top 8 Week "Creep":

More After the Jump...

Canadian Idol - I've Actually Been Watching

...albeit on fast forward but I've been watching all the performances this year when they started with and imbalance of more guys and than girls in the Top 24 (I think it was 15 to 9), and now we only have one girl left, and lots of scruffy rocker guy types. And Gavin Rosdale was the guest mentor this week. I know he doesn't do much these days except be Mr. Gwen Stefani but he's actually kinda cool, so how the heck did Canadian Idol land him?

Okay, I don't mind most of the people left on Canadian Idol, particularly the only girl left Amberly, Mookie and Earl (and Drew and Sebastien are cute and all... and uh...) but seriously, does anybody even come close to the polish of Theo Tams? (I'm not even going to acknowledge Mark Day since I can't believe he's still in the competition)

Theo Tams seems so much more professionally prepared and polished than the others. Plus bonus points for being completely open about being gay and even making a nod to an ex-boyfriend on one of his songs. I don't see that happening on American Idol anytime soon, which is a sad statement.

Anyways, I found all the clips of Theo Tams past performances which are posted after the jump:


Theo Tams - "Apologize" - Timbaland feat. OneRepublic - Top 24 Week:


Theo Tams - "Collide" - Howie Day - Top 20 Week:


Theo Tams - "Bubbly" - Colbie Caillat - Top 16 Week:


Theo Tams - "Silly Boy Blues" - David Bowie - Top 10 Week:


Theo Tams - "No Woman No Cry" - Bob Marley - Top 9 Week:

More After the Jump...

Reality Bites Sings - Sing When You're Winning

So when did Sunday and Mondays become singing competition nights on television? So much for American Idol withdrawal.

Nashville Star. Canadian Idol. How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, High School Musical: Get In The Picture (starting July 20th on Sundays and Mondays).

One country. Another Idol. Then 2 for Musicals. Three if you count MTV's Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search For Elle which we can't get here in Canada (legally at least... ahem) which also airs on Mondays (at 10pm).

I was going to skip Canadian Idol this year but they just announced the Top 24 and in a first, they did NOT split it evenly between boys and girls with only 9 girls and 15 boys in the finals because the boys were just so much better this year. That kind of excited me because while 2 of the best Canadian Idol winners have been girls (Melissa O'Neil and Eva Avila), I usually find the Canadian boys were generally better and more exciting and avoided the belty ballads (Brian Melo, Jacob Hogar, Kalan Porter etc). So I'll have to check it out tonight (8pm on CTV).

There's already Nashville Star (NBC) on Mondays (9pm on NBC) which I'll probably drop since there's really no one I really like except for Tommy (below, although he reminds me a bit of Elliot Yamin) and to look at Justin.

I usually like the competition because I find the judges (this year with Jewel, John Rich (from Big & Rich) and Jeffrey Steele) are actually quite constructive and I actually love country but this year I find there's very little talent to work with. No one has impressed me at all and the only person I could find myself wanting to listen to in the future is Tommy.

Finally, I just recieved my subscription tickets to The Sound of Music at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto so now I actually CARE who gets cast as Maria in the CBC show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?. Plus, I didn't realize Torchwood hottie John Barrowman was coming to judge the Canadian version of the UK hit. I may have to go stalk the CBC building on Front St. this summer. Or Niagara Falls.

And based on the audition shows and tonight's first round of live performances I think I like Allie the best. She's kinda awkward and looks like Sarah Silverman's little sister but there's something about her I really like. And if you think about it, Maria is supposed to be a bit awkward too isn't she? Plus bonus points to Allie for singing a Byork song.

Donna has a nice voice. Katie and Kyla were NOT good. Janna has a good voice but totally wrong type of voice for Maria. I didn't mind Tamara, Marisa or Jayme. I can barely remember Elicia or Allison at this point but I don't remember hating them. Still, I just watched it so that's not a great sign.

I guess the show hews closely to the British original down to the gay blond host, with Canadian Gavin Crawford taking Graham Norton's duties (though I like Norton better, so far Crawford is kind of annoying). Well, at least they brought over Barrowman. Seriously, the CBC building is 2 blocks away from my gym. I'll need to go more often this summer.

Meanwhile, ABC (and CTV by default) continues to milk the High School Musical phenom with High School Musical: Get In The Picture and sad to say, but I'm super duper excited even when the prize is just a lamo spot in the video during the CREDITS of High School Musical 3.



Still, another competition for musical theatre kids/nerds. How awesome! Let's just hope Maria? and HSM turns out better than Grease on Broadway (even though I actually liked Laura and Max).

More After the Jump...

The Business of Funny Jews Or Is That Jews In A Funny Business? - Review

Jewtopia - Diesel Playhouse - Toronto
Funny Business The Musical - Diesel Playhouse Cabaret - Toronto

I happened to see Funny Business The Musical this past weekend at the Diesel Playhouse in Toronto, and then I saw Jewtopia in the same playhouse last night thanks to Dan at The TV Addict (who beautifully did the website and program!).

I had heard about Jewtopia since its record breaking runs in LA and Off-Broadway in NY and though not being a Jew, I figure being Chinese, I'll probably get the jokes if they get too inward since, a) as I always say, Jews and Chinese people are basically the same except for our different take on pork (we love it, Jew's don't) and b) we drive a hard sale and Jews drive a hard bargain. Badaboom!

So, as much as I wanted to enjoy the comedic play, the mildly amusing play seemed to lumber more in its stereotypical jokes that I felt had played out on TV shows long time ago. The plot itself is simple enough, and can be summed up wonderfully in the two taglines I've seen: "A Goy Meets Girl Love story" and about a Gentile who wants to marry a Jewish girl so that he never has to make a decision for himself ever again. Badaboom!

It's a simple enough premise and cute enough, as we meet two friends reconnecting at 30. Chris O'Connell is the gentile who is hot for Jewish girls, while Adam Lipschitz is the Jew who needs to marry Jewish, so not to disappoint his mother. They decide to help each other out in the dating scene. Chris pretends to be Jewish. Adam teaches Chris about the intricacies of being Jewish (with a terrific scene in a restaurant about how to order the Jewish way). Chris teaches Adam about dating in Jewtopia (aka: J-Date). Throw in every Jewish stereotype in the Torah and hilarity should ensue.

And it does, in parts (mostly in the first act), but mostly due to the terrific performers Dave Kerr (directly above) and Matt Baram (above Kerr) who play Chris and Adam (respectively). Baram sort of gumbies around in the part of Adam, rolling with every Jew joke until it passes over (badaboom...). Dave Kerr (the new roving-reporter on Canadian Idol this past season, a role that doesn't have a counterpart on the American edition), who I don't think is a great actor but has enormous appeal and likability. Kerr and Baram both belong on a sitcom and while theatre is usually associated with a deeper darker performance style, Kerr and Baram set the tone for a light and comic evening, now if only the play were actually as good as its performers.

The rest of the cast does what it can with the material they were given, with Jeanie Calleja giving the most over-the-top performance (which in this case, was actually a good thing) as rotating roles including all of Adam's different dates and Adam's teenage sister. The second act's family dinner scene plays out like an awkward embarrassing sitcom, with some tasteless jokes for good measure and even Kerr and Baram aren't able to save the play in the end. While it started well enough, as an enjoyable if not totally original script (with hints of what I would imagine the play version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding or Mambo Italiano would have been like), Jewtopia sort of spins itself into a big mess.

Funny Business The Musical was one of the breakout hits from this years Toronto Fringe Festival and is now receiving a bigger presentation in a lengthened edition (especially now that everyone is chasing The Drowsy Chaperone/Evil Dead The Musical dream). Again, the premise is pretty simple. A group of office workers have been forced to put on a talent show as a way to build team morale. If this sounds awfully like something Michael Scott would do, it probably is, with some catchy tunes sung by some excellent actors in basically an episode of The Office The Musical. We know the office jokes already, but now it's in SONG!

Within the 5 person cast, we get 5 stock characters, including the bumbling boss, the smarmy go-getter, the bitter female exec, the young naive secretary and the innocent unknowing intern. They sing songs like "Close the Deal", "Bottom Line" and "hi speed LAN" as they scheme, back stab and fall in love. All in a typical day at the office. All while trying not to get fired. It's cute if not revolutionary.

Lana Carillo (above right) has a particularly beautiful voice as Brie, the Filipino secretary, (though I've heard about her voice for years since she joined my high school's musical the year after I left, and ended up being friends with all my friends though we've never actually met), but the breakout for me was Trevor Campbell (above with Carillo) as Jack, the innocent intern who is in love with Brie. The guy was like a young likable Jim Carrey who never broke out of his geeky character, who reminded me a bit of Henry on Ugly Betty. Campbell has a beautiful singing voice (apparently he has a CD out) but even better, was a complete riot every time he was on stage (even if he was only in the background). His face is adorable but his facial features are comic gold, and his whole body seems thrown into a geek contortion, incapable of being cool. Get this guy into another musical stat!

Jewtopia runs until Dec. 1st, Funny Business The Musical runs until November 4th.

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Canadian Idol - Two For The Road

Final 2 - Performance Night

Who knew that Jaydee Bixby's atrocious rendition of a Bon Jovi song, his first of three songs, would be his high point of the night?

At this point, Brian Melo better win it.

Also, why has Zack been so Zen for the last 2 years? What's with that anyways?

More After the Jump...

Canadian Idol - It's Because He's Pretty Isn't It?

Top 3 Elimination - The Cut Down to the Final 2
Children of the Cornboy Jaydee Bixby is still in this to win it?

I get the whole Elvis swivel hips thing matched up with his golden boy Ambercrombie in the making looks but seriously, if it's not Elvis he's singing, he's usually pretty cringe worthy, including that opening group number where he could barely get the notes out last night. Yikes.

So poor Carly Rae Jepsen, the last girl left is out.

It's the battle of the boys again and Brian Melo better be a shoo-in to win it.


Meanwhile, the former golden boys were back to each sing a new single.

My fave Jacob Hoggard started out with his band Hedley.

Then 1st season winner Ryan Malcolm, who seriously is in need of a stylist (because godamnit, his voice is actually not bad).

Then THE golden boy Kalan Porter sings his new single. At least this golden boy has the voice behind him. I keep forgetting how much older his voice sounds compared to his looks (seriously, he doesn't look like he's aged a bit).

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American Idol on Canadian Idol

Of ALL the years the deity herself had to come, Kelly Clarkson had to come visit Canadian Idol THIS YEAR? The year with the crappiest contestants and on a week where everybody good had already been booted off? (Particularly country girl last week and Greg Neufeld the week before?) Seriously, we actually DO have some good talent and some previous years were actually quite good, but this year just makes us look BAD.

First of all. Kelly Clarkson came to be on Canadian Idol? Just how bad is her album doing? (Apparently it's gone platinum in Canada since she was awarded the plaque on the show last night though so maybe she's just coming to where her sales are happening?).

(On a completely side note, another American, Anika Noni Rose (Tony Award for Caroline, Or Change, Dreamgirls) has been signed on to play Cleopatra to Christopher Plummer's Ceasar in Ceasar and Cleopatra for Stratford up here in Ontario next year! I'm actually a bit shocked!)

Still, Kelly returned to her Idol roots and made for a good teacher. Too bad the 5 left are mediocre at best. She looked unconfortable watching from the seats, seeing how horrific this years crop has turned out, despite her best efforts to guide them along. Notice her attempt at a smile above? Poor Kelly. Forced to watch our lame attempt at CanCon.

At this point, Brian Melo (above) will probably win, which is funny because any other year, he would have probably been one of the first guys voted off, but at this point, is the strongest of a weak bunch (though points for singing Radiohead on Idol). Carly Rae Jepsen (below) is too inconsistent. Sometimes she's brilliant, sometimes she's god-awful. Anyways, at least Matt Rapley is off now. He was WAY-Overated.

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Canadian Idol - If Rihanna Is Promoting This Hard, No Wonder "Umbrella" Is #1

Top 10 Results - The Cut Down to 9

Okay, so I haven't even bothered to watch Canadian Idol this year since Greg Neufeld is going to win it anyways, but I saw a bit of last nights results (bye bye Mila Miller. I'm going to miss the cool afro hair), watching Rihanna do her thing (RIHANNA??? on Canadian Idol? Picture after the jump) but they showed a clip of Kalan Porter making a new video for his new song ("Down in Heaven", not great but WAY better than his first album). Um, Kalan Porter looks like he got YOUNGER. Is that even possible? He already looked like he was only 12 when he won.


Brits get Ant and Dec, Americans get Ryan Seacrest. We get Ben Mulroney? Son of former Prime Minister Brian (he of the 80's Conservative party). And you wonder why we have a boring image.

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Canadian Idol - Boy Oh (Canada) Boy

Top 18 - Boys Night

Seriously, that was kinda painful. Not as painful as last weeks Ladies Night, but painful nonetheless. This is all we could come up with in Canada? And on Canada Day weekend no less? Shame. Maybe we DON'T deserve universal health care or same-sex marriages or kinda-legalized pot-depending-on-who-you-talk-to-and-when.

Seriously, just give it to Greg Neufeld already and move on...


Though I must say, Jaydee Bigsby cemented himself as the reincarnation of the 50's matinee idol and seriously needs a singing beach bingo movie made just for him. He had the whole light coloured tropical shirt and all with a great big smile the entire time. I tell ya. Children of the Corn I say...

More After the Jump...

Canadian Idol - Girls Gone Mild (and Boring and Bad)

Top 22 - Ladies Night

Wow. I was hoping the girls would be this years saviour but they made the boys look REALLY GOOD. I can't even be bothered to put up the girls pics now. Go check them out yourselves if you even care.

At best, we have Montana Martin Iles, the girl with attitude who I didn't want to like, yet then had her little speech about realizing her chance at her dream and working hard and all that crap, except this time somewhat believable. Then she sang and it was like some weird rock Chrissie Hyde meets Bjork thing. Read: Not very Idol like and thus very interesting, despite sometimes annoying french accented words still spewing from her mouth. Sorry. I can't help it. The french accent while singing annoys me. Still, she's stranger than Jacob Hoggard which will make this interesting (though Jacob had more pop qualities and thus probably an easier time reaching mass markets).

Mila Miller was okay as sort of a 75% version of Erykah Badu, and Carly Rae Jepsen annoys me as a person (she seems to be born from the world of the Disney Channel. No one can be THAT happy) but still has a quirky but pretty voice to be really cool. Martha Joy was competent at singing the big ballads but that was so 10 years ago now that it felt really old.

Everyone else? Even worse than the boys. Annika Odegard could belt those big brassy lines but couldn't sing any other range. Christine Hanlon started off strong and could also do the big notes but trembled in anything subtle or quieter. Tara Oram, Khalila G, Scarlett Burke look good (and by good I mean made up with loads of makeup) but I already forgot their performances. Naomi-Joy Blackhall couldn't hit a single note but at least she tried to rock out in some crazy Bowie-like Pinball machine (I know. That's The Who. I'm talking generational).

And the absolute worst? Maud Coussa-Jandl. Whatever the judges saw in her at the auditions, had better come back quick, because even the judges didn't know what to say with last nights performance.

Still, at this point, can we just give the whole damn thing to Greg Neufeld now and save us the trouble?

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Canadian Idol - Boy Banned

Top 22 - Boys Night

Well, so long Creature Comforts. CBS pulled it off the schedule. See my eyes roll. Why do I even try to be supportive?

So I ended up checking out the boys on Canadian Idol. Last year I checked out of the show because there was only ONE GOOD SINGER in the whole Top 10 and alas, she won. This year, they let the singers accompany themselves on instruments, thus enticing a new and possibly different group of singers to the auditions.

I'm not sure it helped.

Only Greg Neufeld was actually really good and he made last years Top 22 and was consequently voted off early on. Now he gets a second chance. Fair or not, last years bootee is now the strongest boy. That can't be a good sign can it?




Jaydee Bixby is cute enough and all in a prepubescent way and sings much stronger than one would imagine his frame would allow, but there's something creepy and Children of the Corn about him that keeps him from fully able to be a star.


Liam Styles Chang was better than I anticipated.








Dwight D'eon was half decent if not the child spawn of Chris Daughtry.





Everyone else was either boring or worse, especially Derek Hoffman who perpetuated the notion that all punkers do is yell into the microphone, and he didn't even do a good job at that, and




Clifton Murray, who was the Abercrombie choice to begin with, all style, no substance. Works for A&F ads, not so much here.






Tyler Mullendore was just WEIRD and







Matt Rapley was a tepid black soul singer (one black male in the whole competition and that's ALL we could find in Canada?)





Meanwhile, I still can't really tell Justyn Wesley apart from Brian Melo.



Oh yeah, and there was Andrew Austin. I already forgot about him.






Well, there's definitely no Blake Lewis here, which is too bad. I know we tend to go for quirkier in Canada but some of these choices are ridiculous. While others are just plain boring this year. What happened to picks like Jacob Hoggard, Rex Goudie, Melissa O'Neil or Eva Avila? Then again, I've complained about the complainers of American Idol, that usually the top 12 always has a bunch of losers still so who am I to say?

More After the Jump...