Here's what I think: American Idol Final 3 Divas

I haven't been watching this season of American Idol. It's actually the only season since the first that I haven't watched it and I don't really want to go in to all the reasons why, I'll just say it has mostly to do with the judges and the strange format changes that I tried to work through at the beginning of the season. I was however, very excited to hear that the final three are all girls! It's about time the girls take back Idol! So I was curious and went on fox.com to see the performances of the top three over the course of the season.

Since I haven't been watching, I think this gives me perspective on who should win and I do love predicting the winners! First things first, tonight Idol will reveal the top two and I think it should be Angie and Kree. I had heard a lot of buzz surrounding Candice and after listening I think she has an amazing voice but after about 4 of her performances I was bored. That leads me to believe that maybe I wouldn't enjoy listening to her album or watching her headline a concert, so for that reason alone I think she should go home tonight.

Go figure, I really like Kree, because she's country. However, she really doesn't have much of a personality does she? Or maybe she's just super laid back? I don't know, I don't feel connected to her so me thinks others might not completely connect with her either and she may not win.

Which brings me to Angie. I did watch some of the auditions this year and a few preliminary rounds at the beginning of the season and she's the only one left on the show that I actually remember. It might be because when I first saw her I thought she looked so much like Miley Cyrus (and she totally does!). Here's the thing, she might not be the most technically amazing singer, although I think she's really good, but all of her song choices have been great. I listened to every single one of her performances from this season and couldn't pin point one where I thought she sucked it up. She has great stage presence and is a good performer. She's also fun and has personality. For all these reasons I think she should win. Maybe she wont but she should. She fits the American Idol mold perfectly and they'll market the crap out of her.

So, there's my outsider view of who I think should win American Idol. Good luck to the remaining girls, they are all talented and I'm pretty psyched that the winner will be female this year!

Here's what I think: American Idol is a source of contention in my home!

If you have been following me the last few weeks, you should know that I have entered in to an American Idol pool at work. In this pool I have chosen who will get kicked off every week (no changing my mind!), I'm fairly confident in  my choices though admittedly I have  misjudged a few of the contenders. For example, I expected Naima to get kicked off first and I have James Durbin in 5th place. If it were possible I would amend that and James would at least be in the top four if not top three.

This pool is just for fun, but I've told my family about it and every week my sister comes to watch American Idol with me. She is flat out anti-me and my choices when it comes to who I think will go far in Idol and tells me every week how very wrong I am. PS - I've picked the bottom three every week, just saying. Our discussions are becoming more and more heated as we inform one another that the other is absolutely on crack if they think "so and so" is going to make it in the top five, etc. etc.

Let me just say, I'm not budging! While I do think I've made a few bad calls in my overall line up of the season, where would I be without my confidence? I have to believe in my instincts and I'm sticking with them! With that said, let's talk a little about Idol last night.

Everyone did an okay or great job. A few disappointments: Scotty, very very weird. Not much else to say about that, just weird. Casey and Paul, I thought you would make it pretty far but I'm a little bored of you both already. Pia, you are my favorite girl and while I feel guilty for not picking you to win I still love you but you need to get a personality. You are currently stuck in the pageanty blandness that could be your downfall. You are a gorgeous girl with a stellar voice, now show us who you are and stop being so "eh" in the personality department.

I wont be able to watch tonight, but I'll be checking later on to see who's (probably Haley) is taking the long road home!

Here's what I think: Idol's Karen - You are so not J.Lo!

It's time for a new installment on What Heather Thinks about American Idol!

Let's take a moment and talk about Karen, shall we? Who does she think she is? And what in the sam-hill was she wearing on Wednesday? Hate to break it to you little one but you are not the diva that J.Lo is! While she does sing in spanish better than english, every time I see her I think she is trying to be like Jennifer Lopez, like last week with the Selena performance and this week with her overall appearance.

The sad thing is, if Jennifer Lopez wore what Karen wore last night, she would look stunning! Which brings be to the second part of my American Idol commentary of the week. Jennifer Lopez is so gorgeous! I think I'm developing a small girl crush on her because I can't take my eyes off her. She always looks so amazing! If not for her judging skills, her fashion and glamour has me tuned in every week!

Back to the real importance of this post, my American Idol pool! I have come to terms with being wrong last week about Naima and she's okay to stay until the week that I had Ashton leaving in my pool because I'm losing points no matter what! Since Karen went this week as long as Haley and Naima go in the next two weeks I'll be back on track and in it to win it!

Here's what I think: American Idol the Remix

The Top 13 American Idol contestants kicked off the "real" part of the season with a bang last night. While I said I might not watch the show without Simon, I have to admit the new remixed version of American Idol feels like a fresh start for the 10 year old Fox hit.

I've long said that I should bet on shows like this because I have a knack for picking the winners and this year I got my wish because my office does an American Idol pool and I have elected to participate. But alas, now that I'm actually betting on the outcome I feel pressure like I've never had in past seasons. This pressure makes me almost livid watching the performance show because I know what order I think the contestants will leave in and when someone I expected to make it far in the season performs less than exemplary I find myself squirming. It probably doesn't help that I've told everyone in my office to watch out because I'm totally winning this pool, darn my highly competitive nature and confidence.

One of the contests that I have picked to, well let's be honest - win, is Lauren Alaina. Last week the judges compared her to a combination between Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood - two of the most successful Idols ever. Kelly Clarkson herself compared Lauren to Kelly Pickler, so obviously this girl has got talent! Imagine my horror when the person I picked to win the whole season performed "Any Man of Mine" by Shania Twain. Seriously? First of all that song is not good. It was popular back when it came out because it was the first really country/pop cross over kind of song, but in all reality it is not a good song and no one who has ever attempted to sing it on Idol has done it well. I believe that was the point Lauren was trying to make, no one ever does sing that song well and she thought she could, unfortunately it wasn't up to the standard that we already expect from her. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't worried that she would be booted from the show already but I'm hoping that in the weeks to come she knocks it out of the park and stays on top. I'd like to hear her sing something like "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson/Reba McEntire - that song would fit her much better!

On the other end of the spectrum, I have already failed in my pool. I predicted that Naima Adedapo would be leaving us tonight. Her performance last week was underwhelming. I sort of pigeon holed her in that jazzy, put me to sleep kind of genre. Little did I know that she would rock my face off with her redition of Rhianna's "Umbrella." Don't you argue with me, her performance was pretty kick ass. I know her notes weren't always spot on, and I think she learned a valuable lesson that when you're dancing your a off it's kind of hard to sing. But this is exactly where I think she should be as an artist. The back drop scenery was great - loved the lightning, I was impressed by her dance moves and the little reggae flavor. Hands down the biggest surprise (and upset on my part) of the whole evening. Looks like at least for this week I was wrong. 

One last note from this week - how great is Scotty McCreerey? Any song he sings sounds like it could be on country radio this second. Although, I'm not gonna lie, when they said he was singing Garth Brooks my first thought went to "Thunder Rolls." That would have been bitchen, I totally pictured a stormy, rolling cloud back drop and some lightning action... and then I got it with Naima! I felt like Idol and I shared a brain for a moment.

It looks like it's going to be a long season for me, I'm counting on my top picks to rake in some high scoring points in the end!

Here's what I think: American Idol What's Happening to You?

For the past nine seasons, American Idol has dominated the ratings and captured audiences around the world; but with the announcement of Simon Cowell's last season the show as a whole has taken a downward turn that looks to me like the end of the American Idol Era.

When Paula Abdul left the show after last season and it was announced that Ellen DeGeneres was going to be taking her place, I was excited! Ellen is a wonderful positive influence and a hilarious personality. True, she does not have music industry experience, but she has been up front with audiences from the start stating that she is judging based on what she would like to hear on the radio or what she would look for in an album as a consumer or fan.  She is judging on entertainment value. Her launch to the show in Hollywood week was promising, she seemed to really hold her own and Hollywood week appeared to result in amazing talent from the contestants!

As season nine progresses, the once promising cast of contenders has diminished, not living up to the expectations they set during Hollywood week. Going into the Top 12 we lost three of the contestants with the most potential (Lily Scott, Alex Lambert and Katelyn Epperly). The remaining hopefuls have lacked the kind of star quality that we come to expect from American Idol.

Now dwindling in ratings it's hard to see the show that has brought us such amazing talent as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, and David Cook, struggling to develop another "Idol". Despite the talent of the contestants, the judges' confusing, clashing "advice" appears to be draining competitors like Andrew Garcia who broke out with an inspiring version of "Straight Up" during Hollywood week and has been beaten down by judges over the past weeks with criticism of either doing too much with his arrangements or not enough.

With the future abandonment of Simon Cowell, it is my opinion that the other judges and in particular Ryan Seacrest have an attitude of "it's the end, so who cares." I love Ryan Seacrest, I think he is hardworking, precious and funny; but this season it seems like he's gone a little crazy. His contrived arrangements for announcing the bottom three are worse than ever and his constant down talking to judges comes off as arrogant.

While I think there is some good talent this season, particularly Lee Dewyze and Crystal Bowersox, the overall production of American Idol has taken a serious turn for the worse. I can't imagine the show lasting without Simon and I'm not sure they should even attempt it. No one cares about what Randy has to say (let's be honest, he doesn't say much), Ellen is funny but again lacks credibility as a music industry judge, and while Kara does have some good thoughts, comments and advice her likeability is lacking. Simon is the glue that holds the judges together and without him the pieces will fall apart.

As a parting note, I'd like to implore you to PLEASE PLEASE stop voting for Tim Urban. He is cute as a button and sweet as pie but others deserve to be there more than him. Don't let more talented contestants go just because you have a crush on Tim. Thank goodness the judges saved Big Mike last night, as much as he bothers me he deserves to be there a heck of a lot more than Tim. Because the judges used their save this week, two contestants will leave us next week - please let Tim be one of those two!

Here's what I think: Starting out

This is my first blog attempt, let's see how it goes.

My name is Heather. I'm 25 years old and I live at home with my parents. Awesome, I know. I moved back to my parent's house a little over a year ago in an attempt to pay off some bills and save up money for when I get married and have to support my student husband (no I'm not engaged but let's not open up that can of worms.)

Now that you know a little about me, here's what I really want to say:

Stop voting for Scott on American Idol!

Okay, so he's blind. So he's a nice enough guy. So he plays the piano marginally well. That does not make him an American Idol, or even a good singer for that matter.

I don't want to be mean, I feel for him. I feel sorry for him every week during the judging. Could the judges drag on longer with him standing there looking confused and clearly not understanding sarcasm or the playful banter between Paula and Simon?

Here is a little re-cap of what Scott has done with is opportunity on American Idol. He starts with a slow rendition of the song, twinkling notes on the piano, and teasing us to believe he's going to sing a ballad. Then after the first verse, he mixes it up. The tempo increases and his vocal abilities go down the drain. He shouts out the songs in the same key he sings every song in. His mouth strains uncomfortably making his pitch bright and his appearance unsettling. This happens every week.

I'm not saying he isn't a decent singer. If he would like to stand up at church and sing with the choir, by all means, that's a good avenue for him. What I am saying is that he is not American Idol material and I'm disappointed he has made it into the Top 10 and will tour. Good luck with that.

Please, we all know he's a great guy, but let's not delude ourselves and go teary eyed over his situation and prolong his time on Idol. There are better contestants and I'm sure they would like an opportunity to advance.

Don't vote for Scott!