My Top TV Shows of 2012-2013

Artwork by Francesco Francavilla
And yes, this is a spoiler for my #1 show.

Since the Emmy Awards are right around the corner (my Emmys predictions post will be up on Sunday), I figure its as good a time as any to rank my TV shows of the 2012-2013 season. Because why not? I watch enough to do it, and I review pretty much everything else on here. That's why.

These rankings are completely subjective, a ranking of my general approval over the entire season. These are different than my Emmy picks... I'm not even considering the Emmys in this list. I simply went through the master list of shows that I watch and put them into three categories (excellent, decent/solid, and eh) without paying attention to the number of shows in each category. Then within those categories, I put them in some semblance of an order. I'm going from Emmys-to-Emmys... shows premiering between early September 2012 and late August 2013 (and in the case of shows that are still running right now, like Dexter and Breaking Bad, I'll evaluate them based on what they've aired thus far).

Without further adieu...

Official timmmc.com 2012-2013 TV Show Rankings.

23. Smash (NBC)
If this show wasn't about my beloved Broadway, I would have given this the Glee treatment and kicked it out of my life without the slightest bit of hesitation.

22. House of Lies (Showtime)
Absolutely loved the first season of this show, but the change in tone for season 2 was really off-putting. Still a show I enjoyed watching, but it was a bit more of a chore than the first season.

21. Girls (HBO)
Another case of enjoyed the first season, but the second didn't do it for me. Perhaps it's part of a larger plan, but the character development in season 2 made me want to punch someone in the head.

20. New Girl (FOX)
More of the same. I found season 1 full of charm and quirkiness, but season 2 was tiresome by the end, as they tried to make the characters actual people. Problematic.

19. Elementary (CBS)
A noble attempt to capture what the BBC's Sherlock does effortlessly, modernizing Sherlock Holmes. CBS succeeded in that, but the end result was yet another twist on the CSI formula CBS has in abundance.

18. Doctor Who (BBC America)
The early Amy/Rory episodes (save for Asylum of the Daleks) lacked focus, a trait shared with the later Clara episodes. The middle episodes, however? Good stuff. Uneven series (British!) as a whole.

17 (tie). 30 Rock (NBC - Final Season)
17 (tie). The Office (NBC - Final Season)
Both series, for me, returned to form a bit by the end of their runs. The Office, especially, should be commended for it after a run of bad stuff since Steve Carrell left the series. 

16. Dexter (Showtime - Final Season)
The closing moments of episode 11 worked, and the finale may well be fantastic, but it's too little, too late for the show. It was a season of false starts, the storylines never quite building to something that would send the show off right.

15 (tie). Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
These two shows have nothing to do with each other, so they get separate blurbs. While I understood the need to tear Nucky's world down, the end result seemingly changed the character altogether. I get it, but I didn't enjoy the season as I did previous ones.

15 (tie). Downton Abbey (PBS)
To be honest, PBS is the reason this show is so "low" on my list. Had the twist at the end of the Christmas special not been spoiled by months due to PBS airing on a 6 month delay, my memories of the season might not be as tainted. Alas, that is it's reality.

14. Veep (HBO)
This is an example of a show building on a strong first season, changing tone a bit, and still getting it right. Loved Selina as a moron, loved her even more as an actual politician.

13. Homeland (Showtime)
Despite a major (and probably expected) drop off from season 1, Homeland was still a must-watch. Not many shows on this list where you have literally no idea what the end-game is, and that's great.

12. True Blood (HBO)
12? Really? I know. But I absolutely loved this season. Maybe it was the shortened length, but the re-focusing on the core characters really helped. The new showrunner also seemed to embrace the inherent cheesiness a bit more than in the past, which is certainly welcome. Fantastic rebound.

11. Shameless (Showtime)
Emmy Rossum's performance the entire season was top-notch. The show suffers a bit by Frank never changing, but his dastardly deeds went to new lengths this year. Made for delicious if nauseating TV.

10. Arrow (The CW)
Obviously, I'm a sucker for superhero fare. The split-focus storytelling gets old after a bit, but both stories are compelling enough to warrant time. And a fantastic finale certainly keeps things fresh in my mind.

9. Fringe (FOX - Final Season)
Truly fabulous finale for a truly fabulous series. Tragically disappointing ratings, but massive kudos to FOX for letting this show conclude right.

8 (tie). The Walking Dead (AMC)
8 (tie). Game of Thrones (AMC)
The genre shows packaged together. Both shows had their strengths of the season, but the actual close to their seasons were not them. Game of Thrones suffered from the let-down from the Red Wedding, and Walking Dead made the puzzling decision to let The Governor live. That said, the latter provides for some interesting stuff in the new season.

7. The Americans (FX)
Fantastic suspense, great performances, didn't get the buzz it deserved. I wonder about the long-term options for the show (like Homeland), but I'm excited to see it through.

6 (tie). The Mindy Project (FOX)
6 (tie). How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 
Perhaps it was The Mindy Project's high enjoyment level that hurt New Girl. Quite possible. But I love it. Mindy Kaling is used perfectly, coming off quirky and adorable while simultaneously human. Whereas some shows had disappointing finales that leave a bad taste in your mouth, How I Met Your Mother didn't have that. In fact, the long-awaited reveal of the mother made for one incredibly long summer of waiting.

5. The Newsroom (HBO)
I didn't love the pace the overall story unfolded at, but the content of the episodes were top-notch. I know Aaron Sorkin's writing has its detractors and I fully acknowledge its faults (females, relationships, too smart, etc), I absolutely love it.

4. Parks and Recreation (NBC)
I read something at some point that P&R was on a Cheers-like run of constant laughs... and that is 100% accurate. Best comedy on television, for my money.

3 (tie). House of Cards (Netflix)
3 (tie). Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
These totally count. In both cases, I actually looked up how they ended up on Netflix, and I still don't get it. Did networks actually pass on these shows? House of Cards is great drama and better performances, and OITNB had the best blend of characters I've seen on a show in a long, long time. Top notch, both of them.

2. Mad Men (AMC)
Another return-to-form season. Mad Men set the bar really, really high in the past... and this season might have been the show's best. I could have used more Joan, but minor quibble.

1. Breaking Bad (AMC - Final Season) 
The season isn't over yet, I know.... but it doesn't matter. I initially thought that there was no topping the shootout episode, but I was proved incorrect the next week. I've never watched a show that left me in physical pain before. Breaking Bad does just that, and it's a GREAT thing.

REVIEW: World War Z

Directed by Marc Forster
Watched June 23, 2013

Is it weird to say that World War Z is a pretty decent zombie apocalypse flick, but the worst part is undoubtedly the zombies?

Now, I don't mean the zombies themselves. They look fine. They are appropriately creepy. They aren't the same old re-hash of the zombie stereotypes (shuffling along moaning "braaaaaaains", etc). In theory, these zombies are pretty scary.

The problem with the zombies are in the execution. The whole zombie apocalypse, as told in the film, unfolds somewhat realistically. Then, all of a sudden, you meet zombies that are flinging themselves through the air, climbing all over each other to scale walls and take down helicopters, literally clicking their teeth at characters on the run. The zombies come off very campy, which doesn't juxtapose real well with the otherwise-realistic feel of the film. TV's The Walking Dead demonstrates that things like zombies can successfully populate an otherwise realistic world.... why is that not possible here?

And yes, I realize how unfair it is to compare WWZ with The Walking Dead, but it's an inevitable comparison you are sure to make if you've ever watched the show.

The film is also riddled with plot holes and massive jumps in logic... but that's pretty much a staple of big-time summer blockbusters. Sure, it makes no sense that the only person that can stop the zombie apocalypse is a retired United Nations investigator with luscious, flowing locks... but if you just accept that (along with a few other leaps), it doesn't prevent an enjoyable time. And I really did enjoy the movie. It's a great popcorn flick, full of suspense and tension and special effects and excitement. I'd recommend it for anyone that likes action suspense flicks.

But... just ignore things. Like the zombies.

REVIEW: Man of Steel

Directed by Zack Snyder

Watched June 13, 2013

Going into this, I freely admit that I was not a Superman fan. The original movies never grabbed me, the TV shows didn't interest me at the time, the comics bored me, the character just never clicked for me. The trailers for Man of Steel definitely had me excited, though, so I certainly had my hopes pretty high.

And the flick delivered.

The cast is uniformly great. Henry Cavill is absolute perfection in the title role, with Michael Shannon a great foil. Amy Adams plays Lois Lane with conviction for a change, not just the damsel in distress. Kevin Costner and Diane Lane leave a wonderful mark as the Kents, with Russell Crowe certainly a fitting Jor-El. The effects look great, with the flying especially being a highlight. In all prior Superman adaptations, the flying has been what's killed me, but the visuals here made it actually seem realistic. Director Zack Snyder uses quick zooms and camera effects heavily at times, but I don't recall feeling overwhelmed or distracted by them. For yet another retelling of the same old origin story, the story telling felt fresh and original to me, which is certainly welcome. The first challenge for the hero felt organic, personal and was interesting, more Batman Begins than Green Lantern (lucky for absolutely everyone involved). The film plays like an always surging roller coaster, the slow points only making the high points more fun.

Now, don't get me wrong, the film is by no means perfect. The "classic" love story between Lois and Clark is under-developed and rushed, and actually somewhat goes against the new take on Lois (she's not merely a damsel in distress type and is actually vital to the action-filled third act... but she still falls in love with the hero seemingly simply because he's the charming, sculpted hero of the story). The lack of development there also kind of makes Clark's decision to choose Earth over a new Krypton somewhat hollow and merely plot-based... aside from following his Earth father's lead, what inclination did Kal-El show that he loved Earth? He certainly didn't care enough to save Metropolis from near complete destruction, which was another of my problems with the film. Seems to me that when you are building a film series, you want to ramp up the destruction, not start off with essentially decimating Metropolis. This qualms, however, are overcome in the movie, I would say.

I know the movies don't exist to sell comics, but the first thing I did when I got home was to crack into Scott Snyder's new Superman Unchained comic. For the first time, I was exposed to Superman and craved more (the first issue of the series, by the way, is very strong, setting up what could be a great story). I would absolutely say the film has made me a fan of the character, which has been an issue for me in the past.

I don't think I could recommend Man of Steel enough. While I know I am solidly in the target audience, the film absolutely met my expectations (which have been set really high due to recent superhero movie experiences). To reuse the analogy from before, this film is much closer to Nolan's 'Dark Knight' trilogy than the messy, underwhelming Green Lantern. Bring on MOS 2 (and, dare I say it... The Justice League?)!

Idol 2012: MY Finale

Remember how all season long, I've been pulling for a Kree/Candice finale?

:)

I'm recapping tonight slightly differently.

The Top 2, Song 1: Simon Fuller's Choice

Kree Harrison, "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan

Candice Glover, "Chasing Pavements" by Candice Glover

I'll give this round to Candice. Both song selections were pretty decent, all things considered, but the arrangement of Kree's really hurt her. Not to say that the arrangement of "Angel" was bad... quite the opposite, really. The problem was that it didn't allow for Kree to have that special moment to stick in your head. "Chasing Pavements" had moments for Candice, and as always, she nailed them. Both performances were very strong, but I'll give the edge to Candice just because she was more memorable.

Song 2: The Potential Winning Singles

Kree, "All Cried Out"

Candice, "I Am Beautiful"

After last year's delightful "Home", we return to underwhelming, sappy, generic winning singles. Oh well, at least they aren't about climbing mountains or magic rainbows or something random. Once again, Candice's song allowed her to shine a bit more, perhaps because there was more connection there for her. Not sure. Both girls sounded absolutely fantastic, however. I would give the edge to Candice, but not a major one. I would probably buy Kree's first. How's that for indecision?

Song 3: Finalist's Favorite Performance

Kree, "Up to the Mountain" by Patty Griffin (from the Vegas round)

Candice, "I (Who Have Nothing)" by Ben E. King (from Top 10 week)

What a way to end the season. Hot damn. Kree's song was new to me (I started watching after Vegas), and she completely sang her face off. Her runs were spot-on and completely real (I have written down "buttery"), and she had her MOMENT. By far Kree's best in weeks. Candice, on the other hand, reprised the song that made me realize she was the future champ. I can't say that I liked this as much as I did the first time she did it, I certainly cannot deny that she once again slayed it. It's shades of Adam Lambert's "Mad World"... perhaps the unpredictable nature of the first performance gave it the edge for me. I would give this round to Kree, but again, a very narrow edge.

Wrap-Up

Great finale. Sometimes finales can be duds, but this one was great. Both finalists sang their faces off, raising the bar each time. Great stuff. Great end to what I'm going to call a solid season. I know I'm in the minority there. But whatever. Can't wait until tour!

Timm's Votes

I've tried to base my votes this season on the actual performances. For the most part. I know I've failed, but whatever. This week, I'm voting for who I want to win... which doesn't exactly match up with how I evaluated the night. Based on tonight, I'd probably go the reverse, but I'm not.

Kree - 30

Candice - 20

I'm going to guess it's the difference in the music styles... and Kree is right up my alley. 

I will say, however, that Candice should be the winner. She absolutely slayed this season, with the domination not really seen since Adam Lambert (I would say). And yes, I know he wasn't named the winner. But he should have been (coming from a big Kris Allen fan). 

Great season.

Idol 2013: The Top 3, as Projected

I think, to this point, this might be the most predictable season of Idol yet. Has there really been one actually surprising development yet? Maybe Lazaro lasting as long as he did... but even then, there wasn't anyone that could have won that left for him to stay (a la Jasmine Trias in season 3).

That is, until this week. I'll bet Kree is next to go, but I wouldn't be surprised to see her survive (and for the record, I obviously think she should).

Anyhoo, on to this week's theme-less show. Producer's choice, Judge's choice, Jimmy's choice? Fun stuff. Except when they use the show uses their song choices to sabotage contestants (see: Allen, Kris). Good times.

Top 3, Song 1: Jimmy's Choices

Kree Harrison "Perfect" by Pink

Not surprising that they would give Kree a song where she can't really shine. Girl's a country singer that doesn't always click with her material... let's give her a sincere rock ballad! C'mon man. Honestly, it came across somewhat karaoke, though sung with Kree's usual awesomeness. 

Candice Glover "One" by U2

This was pretty much exactly what you'd expect from Candice here. I admit that I don't know the Mary J Blige version, but I can hear it in Candice's version. She did a good job with it, but really, it's a lazy song choice by Jimmy.

Angie Miller "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John

Can a song choice be simultaneously lazy and wonderful? It's painfully obvious why this song was selected for Angie, for her to do exactly the same performance she's done about 50 times. But for once, she didn't do that, and it came off great. Not perfect, but this was one of Angie's best, I would say.

Top 3, Song 2: Judge's Choices

Candice "Next to Me" by Emili Sandé

HOT. Perfect.

Angie "Try" by Pink

And... yelly karaoke. Definitely a disappointment after her first performance. She seemed comfortable, sure, but her usual musicality was missing.

Kree "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts

Not a perfect vocal, mostly because she kind of mangled the big note... but that was, without question, the most connected Kree was to a song so far. And the result was one of her best so far. Fantastic.

Top 3, Song 3: Contestant's Choices

Angie "Maybe" by Emili Sandé

Ah, here's that Angie performance. But you know what? I liked this more than all the other ones. Maybe it's the song (note to self... check out Emili Sandé), or maybe she just sold this one better, but I liked. Wasn't her best vocal, but I still liked it.

Kree "Better Dig Two" by The Band Perry

Not the type of song that Kree excels on, but she did with it what she could. Was that the sound of the bus being thrown into reverse?

Candice "Somewhere" from West Side Story

I don't get this song choice from a pop music standpoint. But oh. my. goodness. 

Wrap-Up

Great week. Great. Week.

I would give round 1 to Angie... round 2 to Kree... and round 3 to Candice. Round 2 was close, but the other two rounds weren't close.

This is going to be a great finale next week, whatever the pairing is.

Timm's Votes

I'm actually not going to vote this week. I got the top 3 I wanted, and I'll be happy with any finale pairing. And really, I'd probably just split my votes three ways, and give Candice the remainder. 

I'm still reeling from that "Somewhere".

Idol 2013: The Top 4 (Yep, Part 2)

What's to review from last week? Nothing. Predictable.

A now and then theme for this week? I can't wait to head more of the same... then see what Idol's definition of "now" is. The Adele catalogue is "Now", right?

Top 4 (Again), Song 1: Now, which is 2013

Angie Miller "Diamonds" by Rihanna

Same old same old, but a great re-arrangement. But that high note? Yikes. Bet the judges will single out the note as being brilliant, though. Or ignore it completely, because telling the truth would be criticizing the producer's favorite! Can't have that!

Amber Holcomb "Just Give Me a Reason" by P!nk and Nate Ruess

What we have here is a really good karaoke version. Amber sang the song well enough, but there was absolutely no connection to the lyrics. The original song, like all of P!nk's ballads and mid-tempo songs, are so personal and heartfelt... but Amber performed it like an Idol victory song. 

Candice Glover "When I Was Your Man" by Bruno Mars

Idol is trolling us by putting these two songs back to back, right? Candice takes a song that doesn't apply to her at all, and still connects to it in a way that makes it seem like her song, all the while singing the hell out of it. As usual, another master class by Candice. 

Kree Harrison "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood

You know, this is probably my favorite song on Carrie's album... and Kree improved on it, in almost every way. You can see it in Kree's face that she got the song and was singing it from where it should be sung from. Spectacular.

Top 4, Song 2: Then

Angie "Someone to Watch Over Me"

Terrible arrangement. Angie doesn't have the vocal prowess to do what this arrangement required, and it showed. Such a simple song, and this take on it ruined it all.

Amber "My Funny Valentine"

Harry Connick, Jr. for the win. Him calling out Amber for not knowing what she was singing was absolutely perfect, and was completely right. I'd dare say this was Amber's best performance so far, the first time I've ever bought into the judges hype. I don't know if this performance will win her votes (and she should still be the one to go home), but in the moment, this was fantastic.

Candice "You've Changed"

I vote that Harry Connick, Jr. replace Jimmy Iovine, and mentor the contestants each and every week. His tips here are, again, spot-on, leading to complete and utter perfection. By the end of Candice's run on the show (and if this was her end... shame on you, America), I don't think you'll be able to pick out a 'best performance'. Girl is a star.

Kree "Stormy Weather"

Alright, now here's where Harry stumbles a little bit. I totally get and agree with him about how runs and singing songs straight... but there is a line between showy runs and making a song their own. The little licks that Kree uses at the end of some phrases, to me, would be perfectly fine for standards. Runs, not so much. Personal preference, I suppose. I do think Kree got a little bit in her own head here, trying to strike that balance. Overall, the result was quite good, but could have been better if she was freer, if that makes sense.

Wrap-Up

Overall, this week completely made up for last week's stinker of a week. All four contestants brought their A-game (for the most part). While I don't quite understand the value of having a standards theme on Idol (I never have), they are almost always my favorite. This season is no different.

And the judges weren't blatantly throwing contestants under the bus for no apparent reason this week! Huzzah!

Timm's Votes

I'm throwing all my weight behind a Kree/Candice final. I've been pretty clear with that from the get-go. 

Kree - 25

Candice - 25

I will freely admit Candice won this week, but Kree needs my support. 

I would guess that Angie is safe... and I'll pick Amber to go home. Who will be in the bottom 2, I don't know. 

Idol 2013: The Top 4 (Part 1?)

Poor Janelle. She deserved it after last week... and if anything, she's a gone a week early... but still. Sadface.

But what's interesting is the judges not using the save... Obviously, the producers can do whatever they want, but the "established" rules of the save render it null and void after Top 5 week. And the finale has been publicized as 4 weeks from now. So unless the finale is going to be a 4-hour Candice Kree solo concert... something screwy has to happen. Yay screwy!

As we begin (and I'm watching on an hour delay... enabling fast forward through crap. Yay!), I literally have no idea what the theme is. So that's a first for me.

Top 4, Song 1: Contestant's Choice!

Amber Holcomb "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion (GASP! Sigh.)

At the beginning of the season, some Idol pundits online generated a list of most over-done and therefore terrible song choices in Idol history. As it turns out, Amber apparently took that list as a challenge, and is running the gamut. And the performance was exactly like all her other ones... strong vocals, but absolutely nothing new. It's the top 4. Come on now.

Candice Glover "Find Your Love" by Drake

Candice is back. Maybe it's because I've never heard this song before, but whatever. Fantastic.

Kree Harrison "It Hurts so Bad" by Susan Tedeschi

Definitely Kree's best in a number of weeks. The runs were great, the feeling was there, the performance as loose as Kree gets.... what the hell the judges were watching, I have no idea. It actually kind of smells like the annual bus-job the Idol producers judges partake in around this time annually... 

Angie Miller "Who You Are" by Jessie J

Let me start by saying I really liked this performance by Angie. In fact, I'll go as far as saying it just may be her best yet. But everything Angie does comes across perfectly choreographed, well rehearsed. She knows how to work the camera, something Kree struggles with a little bit. So naturally, the judges wet their pants over her constantly. I like Angie, but I feel like she's being jammed down my throat by the Idol producers (though, to be fair, the judges didn't mess their pants for this as I expected them to, naturally making my mini-rant kind of silly... but I ain't deleting it!).

Oh, duets again? Looks like my fast forward button is stuck. Oh damn. I will read about the reaction to the performance before I write my wrap-up...

Top 4, Song 2: One Hit Wonders

This could be FUN. Probably won't be. But it could be.

Amber "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris (though I'd love to hear Richard Harris sing this arrangement...)

I don't get it. But then again, I don't get disco. I missed the singing/dancing cupcakes from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Broadway, though.

Candice "Emotion" by Samantha Sang

Probably the most boring Candice song yet. The bit after the key change was pretty good and she does her thing with it... but I don't know. Maybe it's just my distaste for the song. 

Kree "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum

I didn't connect to the song, personally, but Kree sure did. And she sang the hell out of it. Great week for Kree.

Angie "Cry Me a River" by Julie London

Perhaps my rant from the first performance is more applicable here. Good, but rehearsed and made for the cameras. But good.

Wrap Up

It seems like every year around this time, the judges make an abrupt about-face on a contestant for no apparent reason and become overly harsh on them, while blowing all sorts of smoke up another's ass for the slightest thing. Unfortunately, this year, the person under the bus is the incredible Kree Harrison. And the person with their tires being pumped is the Angie with a side of Amber. Is it my bias showing? Maybe. But either way, I hate it. HATE it.

Also, Seacrest announced a twist that will be announced tomorrow.... GEE, I wonder what it could be???

Timm's Votes

I'm making a very transparent attempt to offset the bus-job. And yes, I know my 50 votes won't make a dent. But I'm doing it anyway.

Kree - 50

Sorry Candice. Love you, but Kree got the bus, so she gets my 50 votes. 

I would put someone on alert as I normally do... but I'm not going to bother. I doubt anyone will be going home tomorrow. 

Back here next week!

Idol 2013: Girl Power

Damn it, Idol stole my title for their hashtag. Bah.

All girl top-5? Finally, some justice in the Idol world!

That's all. I'm watching on DVR on Thursday again, so my votes aren't actual votes. Lame on me, I know.

Top 5: Songs from the Year They Were Born... Or, "Idol Makes You Feel Old!"

Candice Glover "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul (1989)
I'm all for doing songs in totally different styles, and this was a pretty strong performance from Candice. Not her best, not the most exciting, but strong. BUT. Is this the only song that could be changed up like this? Because this exact thing was done with this exact song by Andrew Garcia, what, three years ago?

Ooo, a Jimmy Iovine instant reaction? What a novel concept that only took years to figure out!

Janelle Arthur "When I Call Your Name" by Vince Gill (1989)
I can appreciate what goes into doing an old fashioned musical performance like this... but this really felt too old fashioned to me. Sure, Janelle sounded great, but I can't see this performance resonating with the voters. I didn't feel it. Thanks, Keith.

Kree Harrison "She Talks to Angels" by The Black Crowes (1990)
Not my favorite performance by Kree. I absolutely love the sound of her voice, but something about this performance didn't ring true. And I think the judges are kind of hitting on what I'm talking about... Kree almost seemed distracted by all the crazy bells and whistles Idol has. I definitely see what Nicki was saying about Kree sounding completely current, however.

Also, can we get a catfight on live TV? PLEASE?

Angie Miller "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders (1994)
Haven't we seen this same exact performance by Angie before? Except with more confidence, the right lyrics, and better vocals. Very disappointing. And the judges and Jimmy freaking out about the performance? Fishy...

Amber Holcomb "Without You" by Mariah Carey (1994)
I never knew Amber could do ballads that require belting and riffing and all that! I'm shocked! This was good... but absolutely nothing new. Sigh.

Divas! A theme that totally wasn't planned before Lazaro was eliminated, right?

Candice "When You Believe" by Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey

Oh Candice. Candice has come back to Earth a bit. This is falling right in line with some of the other performances this week: all well and good, great vocals, all that... but nothing new. Candice is a star, but this week was a disappointment... an expected disappointment, sure, but a disappointment nonetheless.

Janelle "Dumb Blonde" by Dolly Parton

I'm now scared for Janelle. I know these performances are planned in advance and this isn't the case, but this seemed like Janelle took Keith's criticisms of her first performance and over compensated to appease him. Kind of a mess. 

Kree "Have You Ever Been in Love?" by Celine Dion

Here we go. Again, not my favorite Kree performance, but she did a great job of making the song her own without doing too much. She doesn't seem lost or overwhelmed, she's just just sanging [sic]. Much better. 

Angie "Halo" by Beyoncé

If you told me that this was a totally different performer than Angie's first performance, I'd believe you. Literally night and day different here... Still not at the level of a Candice or a Kree, but this is the type of performance that shows her regular top-3 appearances aren't necessarily way off base.

Amber "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" by Barbra Streisand

See Janelle's first performance. Sure, strong vocals, good performance, all that... but so old fashioned. And rather boring, honestly. 

Wrap-Up

I'll be completely honest: I kind of regret watching Idol tonight. I know I would have regretted it had I skipped, but there wasn't a ton here tonight that made it worth while. 

Timm's Votes

Candice - 25

Kree - 20

Angie - 5

I do think Candice came back to the pack a little bit tonight, but not a huge amount. Angie gets some votes for her Boston shoutout and for a good 2nd effort. Woo.

Bottom 2 should be (and probably will be) Amber and Janelle.... but I could see either going home. I'll go with Amber.

Idol 2013: Watching Late Again

This week, the Boston Bruins played at 7:30 on Wednesday night. There's something about a 7:30 Bruins start time that makes me want to do absolutely nothing afterwards.... 7:00 is fine, but 7:30? Pass. So, I skipped watching Idol live (obviously) and on DVR, so I'm watching Youtube clips after the Bruins game on Thursday night. So, the results are already in.... but I'm going to go in blind. You'll have to take my word on it. But I am.

Last week... Lazaro in the top 3? Of course he was. Ugh. I had Burnell on my list, and he was absolutely the worst last week, so it's not a shock. He is going home early, but not crazy early. So, whatever. Initially, I thought maybe the save could be in play with Burnell, but then I thought better of it: that save is obviously reserved for a situation that jeopardizes a Kree/Candice finale. MAYBE a Kree/Candice/Janelle final 3. This is not that challenge.

This week's themes are the Bacharach/Hal David Songbook and "Songs You Wish You Wrote". Ugh. Aka, songs from the 60s/70s and a bunch of ballads. Gotta love it.

Top 6: The Burt Bacharach / Hal David Songbook...

Angie Miller "Anyone Who Had a Heart"

For someone that struggles a bit with performances being a little overdramatic, this arrangement doesn't do Angie a whole lot of favors... but other than that? Solid. They picked a great key for Angie's voice, and she sounded great, but the performance did seem to be on autopilot a little bit. Solid base for Angie to build on later tonight though.

Amber Holcomb "I Say a Little Prayer"

Of course someone would do this song... and it's done exactly as you'd expect it to be done. I absolutely love the song, don't get me wrong... but I'm so over it. The song Amber put on during the second verse, though? HOT. But not really the right song for that. But HOT.

Lazaro Arbos "Close to You"

Yikes, old Lazaro is back. Weak song choice, and massive pitch problems throughout. Add into it the usual Lazaro diction/performance issues, and this is a new low for Lazaro.

Kree Harrison "What the World Needs Now"

This performance is a bit of a mixed bag for me. The very beginning started off quite exciting, but the second part was a bit of a drag, the key change was fantastic, then the ending wasn't up to the OMGKREE level. Perhaps it's the saccarine song. I don't know. I'm very excited for a second Kree song tonight though.

Janelle Arthur "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"

This is EXACTLY the song I wanted to hear from Janelle... but I'm underwhelmed. I've heard some great, re-imagined, pure country versions of this song, and this wasn't one of those. I really hate to say it, but this was very lounge singer like. Unfortunate.

Candice Glover "Don't Make Me Over"

And then we have Candice. Candice's Burt Bacharach is literally on a completely different level than anyone else. Candice sings the song in the original style, then fast forward to completely current with ease. Absolutely spectacular.

Top 6: ...and Songs They Wish They Wrote

Angie "Love Came Down" by Kari Jobe

THAT'S the Angie that I love. While I am a little concerned that this was very similar to her Colton Dixon performance, it won't matter. Wonderful.

Amber "Love On Top" by Beyoncé

I didn't feel this performance at all. I didn't like how the song sat in Amber's voice, didn't like the staging, didn't like the look, didn't like anything. Not the worst of the night (ahem), but probably the worst from Amber so far (for me).

Lazaro "Angels" by Robbie Williams

Lightyears better than his first performance of the night, but still pretty bad. Can the judges use a reverse save, and just give him the boot right now?

Kree "Help Me Make It Through the Night" by Kris Kristofferson

Pains me to say this, but I'm not feeling this performance either. A little sleepy for my tastes, and she didn't look too confident as she was performing. I understand it wasn't a big vocal song, but Kree felt to be holding back. Disappointing.

Janelle "The Dance" by Garth Brooks

This is, unfortunately, a very similar performance, results-wise, to her first performance. I was very excited to hear her sing this, but I was disappointed in the execution. I really wish Janelle made it her own a bit, as the karaoke approach didn't work for me. I'm nervous for Janelle. 

Candice "Lovesong" by The Cure

You know, I typically hate when they proclaim something 'one of the greatest performances in the history of Idol', as Randy Jackson did... but you know what? That's accurate. Sure, she took a page from the Kris Allen Playbook (borrowing the Adele arrangement of an older song), but I don't even care. This was easily the best Idol performance in years.

Wrap-Up

I was previously holding out for more of two-woman race, but after tonight, there is a clear-cut front runner, and her name is Candice Glover. This is the Candice show and everyone else is jockeying for second place. What a night for her.

Also, what a night for Lazaro. In the other direction. Eek.

Timm's Votes

Well, what my votes would have been had I watched live.

Candice - 40

Kree - 10

I wanted to put 50 for Candice, but Kree's night wasn't a failure. I'd also throw some votes Angie's way, but I don't want to take any more from my girls. So, 40/10.

I'd probably name Lazaro, Janelle and Amber my bottom 3, with Lazaro going home. That said, Lazaro was SO BAD and the judges SO honest that he'll surely get a wave of sympathy votes. God, I hate America voting. 

*checks results*

Kree/Candice? Then Janelle/Angie? Then Amber/Lazaro? And Lazaro is mercifully cut? I take it back... America, sometimes, you get it right. 

Also, how fabulous was KELLY CLARKSON?!?! 

Shut up, it's my blog, I can fangirl Kelly if I want to.

Idol 2013: Rock 'n' Roll, Woo

I suppose I don't really need an "intro" this week, since I don't have results to discuss. So...

Calling it now: this week's show is going to be trainwreck-city. Here's to hoping it's fun trainwrecks, not just painful ones!

The Top 7: Rock Week, Sans the Pesky Ballads

Burnell Taylor "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi
Well, at least Idol put the person that will struggle the most up first. And struggle he did. Complete trainwreck, and Burnell obviously knew it. Too bad, could have been LOL-worthy. The kick was a good start, though (if way too late).

Lazaro and Angie sing Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"... Lazaro is every bit as train-wrecky as you'd expect, and Angie shows her theatre-roots again. She wins this battle. Oh, it's supposed to be a duet? Oops. Wrong show.

Kree Harrison "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin
Eargasmic. I seriously don't think Kree can do any wrong. I wouldn't say this was the best of Kree so far, but still damn good.

Candice and Burnell sing a duet of some sort... but I continued fast forwarding. Oops.

Janelle Arthur "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel
When the song choice was announced, I cringed a bit... but this was fantastic. Not the best vocal by Janelle, but the arrangement was just country enough to make everything just right. Well done.

Lazaro Arbos "We Are the Champions" by Queen
This season's Sanjaya is past the point of judging the vocals, but in all, not a bad job tonight. Entertaining performance, as far as Lazaro performances go. So there's that.

Janelle, Kree and Amber singing my favorite song ever. And it's as awkward as any forced trio arrangement would be. Sigh.

Candice Glover "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones
There is absolutely nothing about this performance that wasn't AWESOME. Hot vocals, hot lighting, great stage set-up everything. Completely obsessed.

Amber Holcomb "What About Love?" by Heart
Oh hey, Amber, what's up? HOT vocals, but I really didn't feel anything behind this performance. That said... best vocals of the night. Hot damn.

Angie Miller "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence
Not really a fan, if I'm being honest. I'm really not a fan of that song, and Angie's version came off somewhat second rate and karaoke. Sad face.

Wrap Up

Not NEARLY as trainwreck-y as I was expecting! I can't say there were a whole bunch of performances that blew me away (besides the usual suspects), but overall, a good week. I really liked the "no ballads" stipulation, which was a particular breath of fresh air this season. I totally look forward to next week... Whitney week? Maybe Celine week? Maybe just "all ballads"? DO IT UP!

Timm's Votes

Candice - 15

Kree - 15

Janelle - 15

Amber - 5

I have my trio. I support my trio (who were all fabulous this week). And Amber gets 5 votes so my vote totals are simple (and her vocals were HOT).

I'm going to venture a guess that the bottom 3 will be Lazaro, Burnell and, unfortunately, Amber. Lazaro should be going home... but I'm thinking he'll end up being the "safe" one. Ugh. 

Idol 2013: Idol Goes to Detroit

Yep, Paul voted off last week. Not a surprise, as I had him on alert, but still: he was cut too early. I like that Idol has obviously worked hard to not have another "white guy with a guitar" win the show, by avoiding anyone with a guitar... well now they got rid of the last white guy. Not to say Paul could have won, but it is humorous anyway.

I missed the show this week, actually. And I didn't feel like watching my DVR recording until Friday morning. That's what I think of Motown week. So, this recap won't have some of the same features as my usual recaps.

Oh, sorry, it's Detroit week! Anyone from Detroit is fair game? I can't WAIT to hear who takes on "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. Surely, they'd change it to "Detroit Week" from "Motown Week" for a reason, right?

The Top 8: Motown Week Songs from Detroit

Candice Glover "Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Probably one of the better versions of this song done on Idol. And there's a hell of a lot of them! If I had to guess, I'd guess this song has been done every single year. Unfortunately, I'm holding that against Candice. But I love her.

I'm not even bothering with the duets and trios. Sorry Idol.

Lazaro Arbos "For Once In My Life"
Much better than recent efforts. Still not great, but much, much better. At least he doesn't look like he's going to burst into tears!

Janelle Arthur "Keep Me Hanging On"
Absolutely phenomenal. I'm sure Motown purists hated this... but Janelle took yet another tired song choice and warped it into something totally new, contemporary, and fantastic. Brilliant.

Devin Valez "Tracks of My Tears"
Idol's resident lounge singer was a trainwreck on this song. It's one thing to not quite connect with a song's lyrics, it's another thing entirely to completely ignore them. A mess and a half.

Burnell Taylor "My Cherie Amour"
What a strange performance. Burnell does some completely fantastic things vocally here... but also constricts his voice really weirdly at times. Hard to explain, but it's almost like he's trying to add a quirkiness to his voice that does not need to be there. Still, overall a good performance.

Angie Miller "Shop Around"
What even is this? I understand that Angie probably wants to show she can do more than the Colton Dixon type stuff she shines on... but make sure you can pull something off before you try to do it. This performance was a mess in almost every way possible. Yikes.

Amber Holcomb "Lately"
I'm glad this week had Stevie in it. He's really under-represented on the Idol stage. This performance was pretty fantastic, but not exactly anything new from Amber. Wonderful vocals as always, but she's just not the most exciting contestant.

Kree Harrison "Don't Play That Song"
Drop that mic, Kree. Those runs in the choruses? No big deal, just whatever. Just Kree. I do feel like she was holding back a little bit... but when you do what she does week in and week out, why bring out the big guns now?

Wrap Up

Kree and Candice continue to pull away from the pack, and Janelle hops on board the leader train too. Angie bumped off? I'd say so.

Speaking of trains, the Devin train hit a wall and was sent packing, and rightfully so (based on this week, anyway). Lazaro will probably get the boot last week, leaving a top 6 that is probably as it should be. 

Coincidence that the guys are getting picked off one-by-one? Not at all. The girls are just that much better than this season... which I'm sure is by total coincidence, right Idol producers?

Timm's Votes

Obviously, I didn't vote this week, but if I had....

Janelle - 20

Kree - 17

Candice - 13

I like to think week-to-week with my votes. Janelle was the clear cut winner for me this week, with Kree and Candice rounding out my top 3.

As for my bottom three... Devin, Angie and Lazaro, with Lazaro going home (based on the body of work... because he was the best of those three this week).

Idol 2013: The Beatles

Justice served last week. Goodbye Curtis.

Also, the sing off for the tour? Yippee! I totally didn't even bother to watch the performances, because the whole concept is silly. But good for Aubrey, I guess.

I know I bemoan tired themes... but Idol ALWAYS needs a Beatles week (or Lennon/McCartney week... whichever this actually is). I do, however, reserve the right to bitch about obvious/uninspired song choices in the theme. So, there.

The Top 9: The Songs of John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Kree Harrison "A Little Help from My Friends"

Dead. Not my favorite Beatles track, but Kree killed it. As usual. I would have really enjoyed her doing something like "Oh! Darling", but then again, I'll listen to her do anything. Turn down the backup vocalists, Idol! 

Burnell Taylor "Let It Be"

You know someone would do this song. Let's just be glad it wasn't Curtis, because he obviously would have. But honestly, there was a lot to love about this performance by Burnell. For the most part, he trusted what just may be the greatest melody ever written, which I absolutely appreciate. And riffs he did add worked just right. Well done.

Amber Holcomb "She's Leaving Home" 

Bravo to Amber for not choosing one of the big hits that everyone and their mother knows.... I fully acknowledge that I have never heard this song before. Though that said, I'm not sure going off the beaten path helped her too much. Amber seemed tentative at points, and her pitch struggled a little bit because of it. I do love the sparkle in Amber's voice when she really nails the notes, which is quite often.

Lazaro Arbos "In My Life"

Ho boy. Mess and a half. There isn't much working for poor Lazaro here. He's completely out of his element in this competition.

Candice Glover "Come Together"

Dead. Absolutely dead. Absolutely perfect in every way.

Paul Jolley "Eleanor Rigby"

Paul would do the most theatrical of all the major Beatles songs. Probably not the best song choice, but I found it mostly enjoyable anyway. I really wish he found a song he could really connect with, as opposed to a song he could perform... you know?

Angie Miller "Yesterday"

Fact: I did not know Angie was from Beverly, MA. Good stuff. It's fitting that Angie "revealed" during her pre-performance interview that she was a theater kid in high school, because this song was her most dramatic so far. She said she needed to go simple... but I don't think she succeeded. Great vocals, but I'm not so sure I totally dug it. And why wasn't she on piano for this song? Also, I loved Randy's comparison's to Haley from Paramore and "old girl" from Evanescence. 

Devin Velez "The Long and Winding Road"

This would be Devin's song choice. Devin is a great vocalist, but that's about it. Boring, predictable performance... you knew exactly what it was going to be like from the get go. He's not exciting.

Janelle Arthur "I Will"

Now this is the exact opposite of Amber's song. Janelle took a largely unknown song and turned it into a star performance. Sure, there were a few shaky notes here and there, but it doesn't even matter. Perfection, a great way to end this show. Well done!

Wrap Up

Overall, I'd call this a pretty strong night. There was only one complete dud, which is a pretty good percentage from this crop of contestants! And I was actually pleasantly surprised with the song selections this week... some questionable choices, and all the usuals were present, but overall, big upgrade from last week. 

Timm's Votes

Candice - 18

Kree - 18

Janelle - 8

Paul - 3

Angie - 3

I'm sad that I limited myself to 50 votes... not sad enough to up the limit and work the phones, but still. Candice and Kree are in a completely different competition from the rest of this year's finalists, which is reflected in my vote totals. Actually, can we eliminate the other 7 contestants of this show, and just make the remaining 8 weeks* of the show a sing off between Candice and Kree? We can leave Janelle, Angie and Paul for flavor, but it really continues to look like a two horse race. 

Lazaro really should be gone this week, but given that he was in 4th place last week, it looks like his story has been effective. Because of that, I'd put Amber and probably Paul on alert (sadly)

*Not a mis-count. There are 8 weeks left. Good thing that save is in play... meaning Kree & Candice are safe!

Idol 2013: Songs That Need to Be Banned

Yeah, so I'm not all that surprised by any of the cuts from last week. Burnell making it through was a slight surprise, but not really enough to make me ask why. So, I won't dwell. Top 10!

The Top 10: Celebrating the Songs of Prior Winners

Curtis Finch, Jr.  "I Believe" by Fantasia Barrino
I'm jealous of Nicki Minaj for not having to watch that. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about that performance. Ho boy. Ho boy.

Janelle Arthur "Gone" by Montgomery Gentry (done by Scotty McCreery)
Pretty much as good as this could have been, given the arrangement. This is not the type of country music Janelle should be doing. Had she re-worked the song a little bit into what she does, this would probably be better... instead, it came off as forced karaoke.

Devin Velez "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood
Ho boy. Devin says he wants to prove he "can do more than just the ballads"... by doing a ballad? This really isn't my favorite Carrie Underwood song, and I like it even less when it's done in the style of a second-rate lounge singer.

Angie Miller "I Surrender" by Celine Dion (done by Kelly Clarkson)
Ugh. Celine. I get this performance... I do. Angie surely wants to show she doesn't need to be at the piano, and that she can be a powerhouse vocalist. The problem is that she really does need to be at the piano, and she really isn't a 'plant your feet and belt your face off' kind of singer. This performance was rather sleepy and came across rather forced. Unfortunate.

Paul Jolley "Amazed" by Lonestar (done by Scotty McCreery)
I really love Paul's tone, but so far his vocals really haven't been quite there... and this is more of that. The song choice is horrible (as it always is). Also, Jimmy Iovine using the whole Broadway singing thing as an insult? C'mon now. Let's just say it... Paul comes off a bit too flamboyant for country music.

Candice Glover "I Who Have Nothing" by Ben E. King (done by Jordin Sparks)
HOT DAMN.

Lazaro Arbos "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson
I really, really like Lazaro. I'm pretty sure it's impossible not to. But that was pretty bad. I really hate to say this, but it's kind of stating the obvious: I'd be really surprised if he's not, at best, the bottom 2 survivor tomorrow.

Kree Harrison "Crying" by Roy Orbison (done by Carrie Underwood)
Kree's tone is an absolute thing of beauty. The upper notes at the end of the song weren't as strong as the rest of it, but that's totally fine. It's only the top 10, but this already seems like a two-horse race. Sidenote: this would have been a good song for Janelle to do.

Burnell Taylor "Flying Without Wings" by Westlife (done by Ruben Studdard)
I'm sorry. If I'm being completely honest, I zoned out for the duration of this performance... just like I did for all of Ruben Studdard in season 2. Perhaps there's a connection.

Amber Holcomb "A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson
The end of the intro package was about how Amber wants to make this song into her own... she does it by runs and rushing through it. Well played. It was alright. The top notes were a bit yelly, but maybe it's just me.

Wrap-Up

Two requests from the Idol producers:

1. Please choose new themes. I'm aware this is a new theme... but it's a theme that demanded contestant rehash "Idol standards". Come on, man. Or, at the very least, create a banned songs list. Please.
2. Please set up a live camera on Mariah Carey at all times. The looks on her face when Nicki says/does Nicki things? Absolutely incredible. 

Timm's Votes

Candice - 25

Kree - 20

Paul - 5

Candice slayed a beast of a song, Kree rocked, and I like Paul. My votes are pretty straightforward. Done and done.

Idol 2013: Guys Turn

Girls last night, guys tonight. I look forward to finding this year's safe, somewhat generic white dude, likely playing a guitar, that will win the whole thing! All that said, I'm fine with that. Typically. Anyhoo. Let's go.

Guys Night in Vegas: The Top 10

Elijah Liu "Stay" by Rihanna

Sleepy, pretty boring performance. Adequate vocal I suppose, but nothing that really wows me or really makes me want to see more. The judges liked his song choice, but I really don't think it did him any favors.

Cortez Shaw "Locked Out of Paradise" by Bruno Mars

The problem with doing a song like this in it's original style is that it will always sound like the original, and will always pale in comparison. That's the case here. This was a performance you'd expect to see at any karaoke bar.

Charlie Askew "Mama" by Genesis

Was there nobody else at the auditions or through the Hollywood rounds? Or are the producers trying to make a funny? Also, I'm legit in pain over how awkward the post-performance interview was.

Nick Boddington "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls

I totally get what Nick is trying to do with this song, and as I said last night with Angie's performance, I typically love it. But this was really messy, all over the place. Good song choice, but the vocals weren't there, often times not even close. The honesty and feeling was there, but that's about it.

Burnell Taylor "I'm Here" from The Color Purple: The Musical

This song is such a terrible choice for Idol. There's no chorus to really show the singer off, save for the final note. And also, Burnell brought nothing really new to the song. Pretty generic. And he's done it before on the show? Risky indeed. Also, watch the hand gestures!

Paul Jolley "Just a Fool" by Christina Aguilera

Easily the best so far, and not even close. Pitch issues on the top notes, but got a lucky draw with the background vocalist being too loud. If he works that out, though, Paul could be onto something. Great tone. And look. And I completely get the pop-country path for him. More pop. For obvious reasons.

Lazaro Arbos "Feeling Good" from The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd

Worked the song out in a huge way. This is a song done to death post-Bublé, but Lazaro totally made it work for him. Strong vocal, and equally strong performance. Good stuff! But Mariah is right: a song that sits better in his voice would have made this even better.

Curtis Finch, Jr. "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly.

REALLY? Why do contestants chose this song? It's an automatic tune-out for me. When the opening notes are played, you know exactly how it's going to be sung... and Curtis does it exactly how you'd expect. Pass. Un-PC comment: Good to know Idol filled it's gospel singer to jam down your throat quota! 

Devin Velez "Somos Novios" by Andrea Bocelli

Obviously I'm the wrong demo, but the whole Spanglish thing totally turns me off, puts me at such a distance. Capable enough vocals, but the whole thing seemed so generic to me. 

Vincent Powell "The End of the Road" by Boyz II Men

Again with the predictable, overindulgent, saccharine song choice. I enjoy that he just gave up singing the song by the end and just went for all sorts of vocal tricks and gimmicks. Annoying.

Wrap-Up

I've vaguely followed along with assorted Idol bloggers from the beginning of the competition, so I had a very general idea of what to expect coming into this. I'd read that the guys were a rough bunch this year, but I figured that was overstating it a bit. Boy, was I wrong. Eek. There may be a few guys here that could blossom into a good contestant, but I can't see too much more than that. Hopefully I'm wrong, but this seemed mostly like tired gimmick after tired gimmick.

I guess there is a way for the producers to avoid yet another "white guy with a guitar" winning the thing... don't bring any to the voting round!

THAT SAID, I do have some favorites...

Timm's Votes

Elijah - 5

Nick - 5

Lazaro - 15

Paul - 25

I could get used to supporting Paul. While Lazaro seems like he could be a product of his story, I really enjoyed him tonight, so he gets some love. I threw some votes to Elijah and Nick, because I wouldn't mind seeing what else they can bring to the table. All that said, I'm fully, 100% expecting that Curtis will go through, no problem at all. Hell, he'll probably be the one that is trumped up as the favorite all season long until his "SHOCKING!" elimination in the top 4. But I'm so over that. Vincent will probably go through as well. Devin's got an endearing mother... him too. Hopefully, at least Paul can cut through the noise.

Idol 2013: It Begins!

Idol has finally begun! Well, for me anyway. As I wrote a couple weeks ago, this is where I'm beginning Idol. I could continue to write an intro, but it'd really end up being exactly what I wrote before. So, let's get to it:

Ladies Night in Vegas: The Top 10

Zoanette Johnson  "What's Love Got to Do With It?" by Tina Turner
It's fitting that the Vegas set Idol is working with tonight reminds me of The Voice... because this performance reminded me of The Voice. You know: loud, messy, pointless.... Eek.

Breanna Steer "Flaws and All" by Beyonce
I don't know what that was. I'm going to call that a terrible song choice, because I have no idea what Breanna is capable of going by this performance.

Aubrey Cleland "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie
Nerves? Too big a song for her voice? Hard to tell. The verses were fine, but her voice didn't soar like it should have in the chorus. Best of the three so far, but not spectacular.

Janelle Arthur "If I Can Dream" by Elvis
Randy calls for her to do something more throwback and classic-country... agreed completely. He meant it as a compliment, but I don't. The song is so simple, and Janelle tried to do too much to make it too modern, which didn't work for me. Definitely the best so far, but again, that's not saying a whole heck of a lot.

Tenna Torres "Lost" by Faith Hill
I think a more fitting title for this performance might be "lost lyrics"... It seems to me that Teena cared more about how her voice wrapped itself around the song than the diction. And that wrapping (which is how I can best describe it) was kind of sloppy. Interesting.

Angie Miller "Never Gone" by Colton Dixon
Now this is what I'm talking about. Give me an artist sanging what they believe in at the piano (yes, sanging), and I'm happy. While her tone did some weird things (perhaps it was the song, which I don't know), that performance was fantastic. Call me a sucker, but I loved that.

Amber Holcomb "I Believe in You and Me" by Whitney Houston
Whitney is such a boring, predictable choice. Always with the Whitney! But in any case, Amber sounded pretty good, overall, if a tad inconsistent. At times she sounded like she was trying to emulate Whitney (you will fail), at times she sounded a bit amateurish. But at times, it clicked in a big way. Next time... move away from Whitney.

Kree Harrison "Stronger" by Faith Hill
There it is. Not a perfect vocal by any means, but definitely the best vocal of the night so far. And I love the natural-feeling confidence Kree exudes... I can't even explain it. Loved me some Angie, but Kress is my favorite so far.

Adriana Latonio "Stand Up for Love" by Destiny's Child
Rough. It seems like the whole performance was built around the big moments of the song, and it was really shaky otherwise. And even the big parts didn't work.

Candice Glover "Ordinary People" by John Legend
Not my style of music, but Candice nailed this performance. Absolutely nailed it in every way possible. Sorry Kree, Candice wins tonight.

Wrap Up

Some contestants absolutely nailed it tonight: big ups to Candice, Kree and Angie. But a big 'ole eek to Zoanette, Adriana and Breanna. We shall see how things work out, but there's a pretty clear separation, at least at the top end.

Before I reveal how I'll be voting, I need to touch on two new things to Idol 2013: the new judges and the app.

The Judges. As I wrote before, I really dislike Nicki Minaj. But you know what? I'm eating crow tonight. While I still don't like her whole schtick or whatever you want to call it, I absolutely loved her as a judge tonight. I found myself agreeing with her almost every single time, and I loved how she got her opinions across: shockingly succinct and often hilarious. I also enjoyed Keith Urban, but it did seem like he was coming across as the dreaded "nice judge". I would comment on Mariah... but she was on the other side of Randy, who gets fast forwarded through. Sorry Mariah.

The App. This thing is a beauty. When Seacrest first started chatting it up, I was reminded of the pretty crappy X Factor app, but the Idol one is lightyears better. Why? BECAUSE IT WORKS. Even though I was watching the show on DVR, the live-sync feature works beautifully, giving me all sorts of info on the contestants and the songs they were singing (which is good, because I didn't know a number of them tonight). The app also allows very simple voting, something I'll be taking part in this year (fun fact: I've only voted for Idol once, the season 9 final. Kris Allen all night long, baby.). Also, because of the way you allot votes, that is how I'll be "scoring" each night on Idol. So without further adieu...

Timm's Votes

Janelle - 3
Angie - 14
Kree - 16
Candice - 17

Candice won the night, but I can already tell Kree and Angie will likely emerge as my favorites. I also threw a few votes Janelle's way, because I appreciate a good country singer. Obviously, I would move those three on, with the fifth advancing female being Amber. And really, it's not even that close for me. Naturally, I'll be horribly, horribly wrong. But whatever.

#OW12: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Screenplay by Lucy Alibar & Benh Zeitlin

Directed by Benh Zeitlin

Starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry

Released June 27, 2012

Watched February 7, 2013

timmmc.com score: 4/5 stars
Contenders: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Wallis)

Beasts of the Southern Wild… what a curious movie! Was unsure for at least 95%, but completely enchanted by the end. #timmmcreviews
— Timm McIntosh (@timmmc) February 8, 2013

What a curious, curious film.

The film runs a crisp 93 minutes long. The opening of the film, in which young Hushpuppy (played by the truly spectacular Quvenzhané Wallis) introduces her world of "The Bathtub" (it's not what it sounds) is absolutely spellbinding in every way. I'd say that runs around 5 minutes. As the film went on, however, I found my mind wandering, checking the clock, wondering what the point was of the film, why such random things were happening on the screen. Then came the last 5 minutes of the film. Without spoiling anything, I found myself in tears, absolutely captivated by the way everything came together and formed something so wonderful. Now, I sit here in awe of how indifferent I was to the film as I watched, but how much I really enjoyed it looking back.

Curious indeed!

I don't think I can say enough about Quvenzhané Wallis's performance. And to look at her Wikipedia page and to learn that this was her first acting gig, and she's only 9 years old (6 when the film was made)? Unreal. I know who my sentimental favorite is on Oscar Sunday!

#OW12: Silver Linings Playbook

Screenplay by David O. Russell

Directed by David O. Russell

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Jacki Weaver & Chris Tucker

Released December 25, 2012

Watched January 14, 2012

timmmc.com score: 4/5 stars

Contenders: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Lawrence), Best Actor (Cooper), Best Supporting Actor (De Niro)

Ah, the token indie movie Best Picture Nominee.

Actually, that's not fair. Well, it kinda is. Is this considered an indie film? Regardless, it's not a token nomination... I really, really enjoyed just about every aspect of this film, more so than most of the films I've seen as part of this year's Oscar Watch. 

The whole thing absolutely starts and ends with Jennifer Lawrence's performance. To me, Lawrence's performance wasn't calculated, wasn't manufactured, wasn't just thought out... it was. She completely got her character, and simply lived it. The end product was raw, personal, and absolutely real, much like Christian Bale's Academy Award-winning performance in David O. Russell's last effort, The Fighter. And like Bale, Lawrence should walk away from the ceremony with some hardware. If there's any question that Jennifer Lawrence is on the way to being one of the greats of her generation, this performance erases all doubt.

On the topic of The Fighter, there are a lot of similarities here, but one major difference: Silver Linings Playbook is an absolutely wonderful film (do recall I really did not enjoy The Fighter). Here, Russell's screenplay is much more focused, the plot much more engaging, the style much more engaging. I'm usually not a fan of the romantic genre sappiness, but here, it's just right. Great work by Russell.

All that said, the movie doesn't feel like Best Picture material if that makes sense. That's kind of where the "token indie movie nominee" description is particularly apt. Is it a better, more enjoyable film than most of the other nominees? Yes. But does it have the right feel to it for the Oscar? Not really. I certainly wouldn't mind being wrong about it, though...

#OW12: Zero Dark Thirty

Screenplay by Mark Boal

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow

Starring Jessica Chastain

Released December 19, 2012 (limited)

Watched January 8, 2012

timmmc.com score: 4.5/5 stars

Contenders: Best Director, Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Best Actress

Forgot #timmmcreviews last nite: #ZeroDarkThirty. Great stuff, though the middle act wandered a bit. Huge payoff, Chastain wonderful.
— Timm McIntosh (@timmmc) January 9, 2013

This film pretty easily breaks down into three segments: the torture, the 'we can't torture anymore', and the military action. The first and third segments are truly spectacular, especially the treatment of the Seal Team Six military activity.

My slight problems with the film lie in the middle segment. I understand the content and the purpose of what goes on, but to me, it felt like the plot was a bit choppy, a bit wandering. Again, I understand why, but I didn't feel the surge to the end game like I'd ideally want. But all that said, if I were to score all the segments, it'd be a 9-8-10. Only a slight dip. But enough of one.

Also, I'd be negligent if I didn't single out Jessica Chastain's performance. I don't think I could find enough praise... she's that good. I'd be very surprised if she doesn't leave the Oscars with a statuette.

#OW12: Moonrise Kingdom

Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola

Directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and an ensemble cast

Released May 25, 2012

timmmc.com score: 4/5 stars

Contenders: Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Best Director

Of all the films that made "the cut" for my preliminary list, this is probably the most quaint and charming of the bunch. It's a quirky depiction of young love that quite likely speaks on a whole bunch of different levels, but frankly, I was too caught up in the great look and tone of the film. I would love to revisit this film at a later time to fully appreciate it. I'm not sure there's much by the way of Oscar love coming for the film, but it's definitely a winner in the "little flick that can" category.

#OW12: Django Unchained

Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Starring Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson

Released December 25, 2012

Watched January 1, 2013

timmmc.com score:  3.5/5 stars
Contenders:  Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Foxx), Best Supporting Actor (Waltz, DiCaprio)

Django Unchained wasn’t without its faults, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. #timmmcreviews
— Timm McIntosh (@timmmc) January 2, 2013

That tweet pretty much sums up my thoughts on this film. I really enjoyed the old school Western type feel to the vast majority of this film, juxtaposed with the obvious Tarantino staples. Foxx is just right as the title character, and Christoph Waltz has to be a shoo in for a Supporting Actor nom. Sure, the movie is filled with all sorts of offensive content (and if Tarantino doesn't cross the line, he jumps up and down on it singing... well, something racist), but it'd be damn hard to tell this story without it.

Spoiler from here on out...
That said, I did take issue with the big climactic shootout scene, mostly because it is completely different in tone with the rest of the film. I understand that Tarantino includes tons of violence in his films, but that's not my issue; my issue is that the graphic violence was completely out of step with the rest of the film. The film switched from a sort of stylized realism to cartoony blood and gore and then back. It took me out of the moment too much. What happens by the end of the scene is obviously vital to the film, but the content didn't work.