Time for the showcase! After more "stars" filter in the show begins. We see Billy Bush for the first time this episode. Good, I was starting to think he'd developed some facial deformity, rendering him suitable for voiceover work only. He introduces the 24 finalists who, at the end of the night will only be 12. After a 15-second, pointless group dance number we get into the nitty-gritty.
The first group of girls includes The Choker, who is nervous and shaky, as usual. Way to blow your last chance, choker. The other girls, Kate Rockwell, Juliana Hansen, and Laura Osnes, were pretty good, and as the four of them sing all together it becomes clear that Ashley is totally the weakest performer up there. Why did the show choose to follow her story line to begin with? Oh yeah, cause she's pretty.
Next up is a group of Danny's. Among them are Max Crumm, looking suitably like Danny. The judges buy his commitment from the beginning. Reed Prescott just plain sucks, Nathaniel Flatt reads waaaay too gay (what's with the falsetto?) and Dick Keeling is pretty good. For a moment, I thought I was listening to the Miss Saigon soundtrack. That wasn't some kind of weird race joke that fell flat, it just really sounded like he was from Miss Saigon. As they all sing together in harmony it sounds just AWFUL and I wonder what's up with the guys' serious intonation issues.
Next up is a group of potential Sandy's singing that aberration of a song, "Complicated," by Avril Lavigne. Among this group are Kelli LaValle, Sarah Darling, Kathleen Monteleone and Alexandra Fassler. The voice over asks whether 17-year-old Kelli can hold her own against more seasoned performers like 23-year-old hussy, Kathleen. (You can tell she's a hussy from the red lipstick and the tone of the voiceover totally implies she is.) What kind of song is this to sing at a showcase?!
Next is a group of Danny's including Nick Dalton, George Pellegrino, Matt Nolan and Chad Doreck. They all basically shout the song, but Chad gives Kathleen Marshall a little of The Eye as he sings and she giggles like a school girl. That's how you get ahead in show biz, kid! You're looking at a star! Matt Nolan makes up for what he lacks in intonation with lots of volume. What does he need two mikes for? Ugh, this whole group is so loud, like they went to the Idina Menzel School of Singing. (Zing!)
Another group of Danny's and another group of Sandy's sing unmemorably before we get to the final eliminations. Some of those that made it in include the hussy who outsang Kelli, a Heidi Montag look-a-like, the teacher from the trio, brunette Juliana, and Austin Miller. Kelli is out, as is the one remaining black girl, who could have totally pulled off being a color-blind-cast Sandy and had one of the better voices of the women there, but what do I know?
As I suspected, the last girl spot comes down to BFFs Ashley Spencer and Cara Hille, and Cara is out. Another friendship ruined by SHOWBIZ! The final boy slot comes down to either jock Matt Nolan who can't sing, but looks the part, or hipster Max Crumm who the judges think is one of the stronger singers, but don't necessarily see him as a Danny. But talent trumps looks for once and Matt Nolan is sent back to a life of ridicule by his frat brothers after 1) he confessed a secret love for musical theater, 2) is now crying over musical theater. It's totally cute though, probably the sweetest genuine moment I've seen on this show as he tries to understand the tragedy that has just befallen him. "Maybe they just didn't think I was ready. I thought I was ready," he sniffles. Awwwww. So while it's back to waiting tables and a life of anonymity for some, we have our twelve finalists – OR DO WE – DUN DUN DUN!
So what did you think of who's going through to the next round? Do you think Max Crumm makes a believable Danny? Will the boys ever be able to sing in tune? Think we'll see more crying next week? And just how big a train wreck will this Broadway revival be?
« Recap: My Super Sweet 16: What's More Fabulous Than Exploiting Midgets? | Main | Recap: Desperate Housewives: Desperate Measures »
Comments (9)
Too bad the 42-year-old Danny that looked like Joe Namath and the 17-year-old white trash Sandy both got the boot this week. I was hoping there would be some chemistry between them on stage.
1 of 9 | Posted by Foxbase Alpha
|
Posted on January 24, 2007 1:18 PM
Foxbase, they might have made a great pair if you were going to stage "Long Island Lolita - The Musical" with them starring as Joey Buttafuoco and Amy Fisher. Hey, wait. That would be a friggin awesome musical! Anyone else that would pay to see that?
2 of 9 | Posted by JasonR
|
Posted on January 24, 2007 1:58 PM
I'd pay to see that JasonR before going to see this tourist dreck.
I hope America does vote for the worst talent, and the broadway show tanks, miserably.
Am I the only one that hates Billy Bush?
KH
3 of 9 | Posted by KatiesHole
|
Posted on January 24, 2007 3:59 PM
No KatiesHole. You're not.
4 of 9 | Posted by EdHill
|
Posted on January 25, 2007 8:53 AM
Casting and rehearsing for a Broadway musical is more suited to cable (Encore, VH1).
Why would anyone care about these wannabe actors and the whole process?
5 of 9 | Posted by soflat
|
Posted on January 25, 2007 9:09 AM
As much as I wish I could love this show, as anything having to do with musical theatre on network television should be extremely exciting--this sucks. And the talent pool sucks. They should've stuck with Hillary Duff.
Hey--if they really went to the Idina school of singing, their belting might carry some weight...
6 of 9 | Posted by aclikeslater
|
Posted on January 25, 2007 10:00 AM
Guest Columnist, which Spring Awakening song is your ringtone? From one theatre geek to another...:)
As long as they don't go with Austin (too gay and boy-bandy) and Juliana (whom I just loathe), I think that there are good Sandys and Dannys to be found in the bunch. My personal favorites so far: Chad and Ashley (good True Colors Ashley).
7 of 9 | Posted by maybeimamazed02
|
Posted on January 26, 2007 9:30 AM
maybeimamazed, I've got "My Junk" as my main ring, and "Mama Who Bore Me" when family calls. Freaking love that show and getting seats onstage for the day after the Tony's...
8 of 9 | Posted by kmills
|
Posted on January 26, 2007 12:02 PM
kmills, NICE!
"My Junk," "The Dark I Know Well," and especially "The Bitch of Living" are my favorites.
I too am craving onstage seats...what a great show! Maybe it's just me, but it's refreshing to hear female voices that don't sound like every other poppy belty Idina wannabe out there.
9 of 9 | Posted by maybeimamazed02
|
Posted on January 26, 2007 3:26 PM