Scott MacIntyre, the blind guy is in!
Lil Rounds is in!
Jorge Nunez is in!
So the American Idol Top 9 are the following:
* Danny Gokey
* Michael Sarver
* Alexis Grace
* Allison Iraheta
* Adam Lambert
* Kris Allen
* Scott MacIntyre
* Lil Rounds
* Jorge Nunez
On the other hand, to complete the American Idol Top 12, we need three more from the American Idol wild cards. Here is the lineup for tomorrow night:
1. Von Smith
2. Jasmine Murray
3. Ricky Braddy
4. Megan Corkrey
5. Tatiana Del Toro
6. Matt Giraud
7. Jesse Langseth
8. Anoop Desai
Photos and videos to follow!
Wait! The American Idol Top 9 is composed of six boys and three girls. So, do the boys tomorrow have a slimmer chance of getting in, right? Can Anoop Desai still be in?
http://bashhh.blogspot.com/2009/03/american-idol-group-3-results-american.html
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Is Kendall The Next American Idol?
It was a tough pool to pick from on American Idol as the last group of Season 8 semi-finalists competed for their shot at the coveted Top 12.
With so many contestants and so few slots to fill it was bound to be difficult to part ways with some, but with so many contestants winning me over Tuesday in one way or another, my separation anxiety is about to hit an all-time high.
Alex Wagner-Trugman, for example, probably had the worst vocals of the night, and yet the song he sang, "I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues" is the one that I can’t seem to get out of my head. Thanks to me, same goes for my co-workers.
While it could all be due to how hard we focused to recall the original during Alex’s performance to cover the strange growling sounds he was making, I think the real reason my office sounds like a humming Elton John choir is because of how well Alex sold the song. What he lacked in smooth singing he made up for in humor and charisma that had me watching and smiling through his entire performance.
What was even more endearing were his interviews before and after his performances when his personality really shined through. With quips like how Simon must have been using a scale of 1-3 when saying earlier that Alex’s voice was a three and his personality was a nine, Alex might not have done enough to win America’s vote, but he certainly won over a lot of hearts.
The best part about Alex is without the growl – which isn’t hard to lose -- he’d be a phenomenal singer. The worst part about Alex is despite all these great qualities he probably still won’t even make it to the Wild Card round, let alone past it.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Arianna Afsar and Kristin Mcnamara, two of the best female voices in the competition, and two more voices that will probably never again be featured in it. With only an ounce of Alex’s personality and a better grasp on song choice, these pretty sopranos would have been major threats.
But with only one spot guaranteed for a female in the group and Kendall Beard, Felicia Barton and Lil Rounds in the competition the best Arianna or Kristin can hope for is a Wild Card miracle.
It’s interesting because Kendall doesn’t have the kind of pipes that either of those two bring to the table, but what she does have is a better grasp of who she is as a person and an artist than just about anyone in this competition. Oh, and she’s the token hot girl.
Her song "This One’s for the Girls" was as perfect for her as the cute yellow dress her mom picked out for her and she sort of reminds me of Kristy Lee Cook … but better. She looks like Kristy but prettier, she sounds like Kristy but smoother and she’s got that southern charm like Kristy, only Kendall’s more likeable. She’s like Kristy Lee 2.0, I’m just waiting for her to break out a story about how she had to sell her unicorn to pay for her Idol audition.
For her part, Felicia Barton has already been resurrected once in this competition and it looks like she’s may make Idol history by accomplishing that feat one more time. Felicia was granted her first second chance into the competition after original semi-finalist Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from. Now, having proved that she certainly belonged their with a powerful rendition of Alicia Keys’s "No One," Felicia probably hasn’t done enough to secure a spot in the week’s top three but she likely has done enough to secure one more second chance as a contender in Thursday’s Wild Card round.
And in case your wondering why someone as good as Felicia would have a hard time making it to the Top 12 Wednesday, look no further than Lil Rounds. The so-called "powerhouse" proved that like Kendall, she knows exactly who she is, like Arianna and Kristin she can sing just about any other girl in this competition under the table and like Felicia she’s not taking a single second of this competition for granted. Oh and she’s pretty… and likeable… and knows how to work a stage.
Considering how well Lil did it’s hard to believe it would be possible to remember any other performances from the night , unless of course you saw Scott McIntyre’s and Jorge Nunez’s.
Despite my doubts about Scott’s ability to hack it vocally at this stage in the competition, the crooner was one of the best of the night, even with out the blind sympathy card.
And despite my fears that my latin love Jorge Nunez would fall victim to the song choice predator, he nailed it once again, singing "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me." And even hired a speech coach to teach him to mask his accent when he sings.
With a good combination of talent, passion and work ethic, I think Lil, Scott and Jorge will end up taking the top three spots. And if America happens to stiff any of them the judges will have a very easy pick ready to go for their Wild Card rounds.
With so many contestants and so few slots to fill it was bound to be difficult to part ways with some, but with so many contestants winning me over Tuesday in one way or another, my separation anxiety is about to hit an all-time high.
Alex Wagner-Trugman, for example, probably had the worst vocals of the night, and yet the song he sang, "I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues" is the one that I can’t seem to get out of my head. Thanks to me, same goes for my co-workers.
While it could all be due to how hard we focused to recall the original during Alex’s performance to cover the strange growling sounds he was making, I think the real reason my office sounds like a humming Elton John choir is because of how well Alex sold the song. What he lacked in smooth singing he made up for in humor and charisma that had me watching and smiling through his entire performance.
What was even more endearing were his interviews before and after his performances when his personality really shined through. With quips like how Simon must have been using a scale of 1-3 when saying earlier that Alex’s voice was a three and his personality was a nine, Alex might not have done enough to win America’s vote, but he certainly won over a lot of hearts.
The best part about Alex is without the growl – which isn’t hard to lose -- he’d be a phenomenal singer. The worst part about Alex is despite all these great qualities he probably still won’t even make it to the Wild Card round, let alone past it.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Arianna Afsar and Kristin Mcnamara, two of the best female voices in the competition, and two more voices that will probably never again be featured in it. With only an ounce of Alex’s personality and a better grasp on song choice, these pretty sopranos would have been major threats.
But with only one spot guaranteed for a female in the group and Kendall Beard, Felicia Barton and Lil Rounds in the competition the best Arianna or Kristin can hope for is a Wild Card miracle.
It’s interesting because Kendall doesn’t have the kind of pipes that either of those two bring to the table, but what she does have is a better grasp of who she is as a person and an artist than just about anyone in this competition. Oh, and she’s the token hot girl.
Her song "This One’s for the Girls" was as perfect for her as the cute yellow dress her mom picked out for her and she sort of reminds me of Kristy Lee Cook … but better. She looks like Kristy but prettier, she sounds like Kristy but smoother and she’s got that southern charm like Kristy, only Kendall’s more likeable. She’s like Kristy Lee 2.0, I’m just waiting for her to break out a story about how she had to sell her unicorn to pay for her Idol audition.
For her part, Felicia Barton has already been resurrected once in this competition and it looks like she’s may make Idol history by accomplishing that feat one more time. Felicia was granted her first second chance into the competition after original semi-finalist Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from. Now, having proved that she certainly belonged their with a powerful rendition of Alicia Keys’s "No One," Felicia probably hasn’t done enough to secure a spot in the week’s top three but she likely has done enough to secure one more second chance as a contender in Thursday’s Wild Card round.
And in case your wondering why someone as good as Felicia would have a hard time making it to the Top 12 Wednesday, look no further than Lil Rounds. The so-called "powerhouse" proved that like Kendall, she knows exactly who she is, like Arianna and Kristin she can sing just about any other girl in this competition under the table and like Felicia she’s not taking a single second of this competition for granted. Oh and she’s pretty… and likeable… and knows how to work a stage.
Considering how well Lil did it’s hard to believe it would be possible to remember any other performances from the night , unless of course you saw Scott McIntyre’s and Jorge Nunez’s.
Despite my doubts about Scott’s ability to hack it vocally at this stage in the competition, the crooner was one of the best of the night, even with out the blind sympathy card.
And despite my fears that my latin love Jorge Nunez would fall victim to the song choice predator, he nailed it once again, singing "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me." And even hired a speech coach to teach him to mask his accent when he sings.
With a good combination of talent, passion and work ethic, I think Lil, Scott and Jorge will end up taking the top three spots. And if America happens to stiff any of them the judges will have a very easy pick ready to go for their Wild Card rounds.
अमेरिका'स टॉप नेक्स्ट टॉप मॉडल कोउल्ड बे शोर्ट!
“Short people got no reason to live.” That’s what singer Randy Newman once wrote — and the words still haunt this easily-wounded, height-challenged TV critic, who can only dunk in his dreams.
But screw Newman. Turns out that Tyra Banks likes short people — or short women, at least. It was announced this week that “America’s Next Top Model” is searching for women 5-foot-7 and under for its 13th cycle.
“There have been top supermodels in the past that weren’t as the industry demands — like fashion icon Kate Moss,” Banks said in a press release. “So we’re changing up ‘Top model’ for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!”
For the record, the typcical “Top Model” requirement in the past has been that candidates start at 5-foot-7.
If you’re short and think you have what it takes to be a “Top Model,” be aware that the show’s casting directors will be in San Francisco on March 3. The audition session will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 50 Third street.
So what do you “Top Model” fans think of the change? Will you miss those tall bean-poles of years past? Or do short people give you no reason to watch?
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/02/24/top-model-welcomes-short-girls/
But screw Newman. Turns out that Tyra Banks likes short people — or short women, at least. It was announced this week that “America’s Next Top Model” is searching for women 5-foot-7 and under for its 13th cycle.
“There have been top supermodels in the past that weren’t as the industry demands — like fashion icon Kate Moss,” Banks said in a press release. “So we’re changing up ‘Top model’ for cycle 13 and making it a year for the shorter model!”
For the record, the typcical “Top Model” requirement in the past has been that candidates start at 5-foot-7.
If you’re short and think you have what it takes to be a “Top Model,” be aware that the show’s casting directors will be in San Francisco on March 3. The audition session will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Westin Hotel, 50 Third street.
So what do you “Top Model” fans think of the change? Will you miss those tall bean-poles of years past? Or do short people give you no reason to watch?
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/02/24/top-model-welcomes-short-girls/
Mega Millions Winning Numbers for Tuesday 4 March
Mega Millions Numbers:Mega Millions Winning Numbers - Mega Millions Numbers for Tuesday March 4 th are 26, 32, 44, 50, 56 and the Mega Ball number was 35 for $212 million.
That’s all we have for now on Mega Millions Numbers:http://news.spreadit.org/mega-millions-numbers-mega-millions-winning-numbers/.
That’s all we have for now on Mega Millions Numbers:http://news.spreadit.org/mega-millions-numbers-mega-millions-winning-numbers/.
$212 Million Mega Lottery
Greg Smith heard the figure $212 million on the radio Tuesday and decided to swing into a Shell station off Ga. 400.
He was among the many Georgians buying lottery tickets for a chance at an eye-popping Mega Millions jackpot.
t’s a chance — however slim — at a personal stimulus package when a lot of folks could use one.
“I’d get my kids through college,” said Smith, of Cumming, asked what he’d do with his winnings.
“Retire,” said Carlos Reyes, a regular at the Shell. He bought five tickets.
“I don’t need nothing right now,” said retired Ford worker Ralph Nolan, stopping at a QuikTrip in Norcross. But he said it sure would help him take care of seven grandchildren.
A single ticket matching all six numbers in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing would be worth $212 million, before taxes, if the player chose to receive winnings in an annuity, lottery officials said.
A “cash option” payout would be a single payment of about $137 million, before taxes.
The jackpot for the twice-weekly game has rolled over 13 times, building in value, since Jan. 16, when a winning ticket was sold in New York.
Georgia lottery officials say the sour economy has slowed sales growth but not reversed it. Revenue in the second fiscal quarter of this year was up $13 million from the same period of 2008.
“We certainly think if the economy was strong, our sales would be stronger,” spokeswoman Tandi Reddick said.
“Lottery tickets are an entertainment product, not a necessity,” she said. “The economy impacts our business as it does other organizations that offer entertainment products.”
She said new games and big jackpots like Tuesday’s keep people buying.
Besides Georgia, Mega Millions is played in Virgnia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington state and California. To date, there have been 92 Mega Millions jackpot winners, with 11 winning tickets sold in Georgia.
There were few lines in front of lottery counters in Decatur Tuesday morning. Managers at groceries and gas stations expected things to kick into gear after work Tuesday.
One exception: the Shell station at North Decatur and Clairmont roads. Manager Andy Jiwani said he had help with his sales from the nearby restaurants.
“People are sending their waiters in to buy for them while they eat,” said Jiwani, who said he sold about $100 worth of tickets during the breakfast rush. “I don’t even see their faces and they are buying.”
In Kennesaw, Jerry Honea, 65, used $10 in scratch-off ticket winnings to buy 10 more tickets including six chances at Mega Millions. Fellow buyer Danny Colburn, of Marietta, bought his usual single “quick pick” ticket and tossed it in his truck until after the drawing.
“If it’s meant to be, it will only take one,” he said.
Smyrna resident John Boyd, a maintenance worker at a senior apartment community, said he will “take care of family and do charity work” if he wins. “And I’d like to help my church, Providence Baptist.”
Boyd bought six tickets.
Annette Hill, of Decatur, hoped for some divine intervention on the front end as she stood in line for tickets at the Peachtree News Stand in downtown Atlanta.
“Actually, I feel blessed,” she said, asked if she felt lucky. “So I’m hoping to win.”
But Roger Schuppert, also of Decatur, was done with games of chance after buying a scratch-off ticket and winning zilch.
“I need to stop buying these,” he said. “I don’t have any more money.”
— Nancy Badertscher, Alexis Stevens, Shane Blatt, April Hunt, Steve Visser and Mike Morris contributed to this story.
Courtesy of: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/03/03/mega_millions_jackpot.html
He was among the many Georgians buying lottery tickets for a chance at an eye-popping Mega Millions jackpot.
t’s a chance — however slim — at a personal stimulus package when a lot of folks could use one.
“I’d get my kids through college,” said Smith, of Cumming, asked what he’d do with his winnings.
“Retire,” said Carlos Reyes, a regular at the Shell. He bought five tickets.
“I don’t need nothing right now,” said retired Ford worker Ralph Nolan, stopping at a QuikTrip in Norcross. But he said it sure would help him take care of seven grandchildren.
A single ticket matching all six numbers in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing would be worth $212 million, before taxes, if the player chose to receive winnings in an annuity, lottery officials said.
A “cash option” payout would be a single payment of about $137 million, before taxes.
The jackpot for the twice-weekly game has rolled over 13 times, building in value, since Jan. 16, when a winning ticket was sold in New York.
Georgia lottery officials say the sour economy has slowed sales growth but not reversed it. Revenue in the second fiscal quarter of this year was up $13 million from the same period of 2008.
“We certainly think if the economy was strong, our sales would be stronger,” spokeswoman Tandi Reddick said.
“Lottery tickets are an entertainment product, not a necessity,” she said. “The economy impacts our business as it does other organizations that offer entertainment products.”
She said new games and big jackpots like Tuesday’s keep people buying.
Besides Georgia, Mega Millions is played in Virgnia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Washington state and California. To date, there have been 92 Mega Millions jackpot winners, with 11 winning tickets sold in Georgia.
There were few lines in front of lottery counters in Decatur Tuesday morning. Managers at groceries and gas stations expected things to kick into gear after work Tuesday.
One exception: the Shell station at North Decatur and Clairmont roads. Manager Andy Jiwani said he had help with his sales from the nearby restaurants.
“People are sending their waiters in to buy for them while they eat,” said Jiwani, who said he sold about $100 worth of tickets during the breakfast rush. “I don’t even see their faces and they are buying.”
In Kennesaw, Jerry Honea, 65, used $10 in scratch-off ticket winnings to buy 10 more tickets including six chances at Mega Millions. Fellow buyer Danny Colburn, of Marietta, bought his usual single “quick pick” ticket and tossed it in his truck until after the drawing.
“If it’s meant to be, it will only take one,” he said.
Smyrna resident John Boyd, a maintenance worker at a senior apartment community, said he will “take care of family and do charity work” if he wins. “And I’d like to help my church, Providence Baptist.”
Boyd bought six tickets.
Annette Hill, of Decatur, hoped for some divine intervention on the front end as she stood in line for tickets at the Peachtree News Stand in downtown Atlanta.
“Actually, I feel blessed,” she said, asked if she felt lucky. “So I’m hoping to win.”
But Roger Schuppert, also of Decatur, was done with games of chance after buying a scratch-off ticket and winning zilch.
“I need to stop buying these,” he said. “I don’t have any more money.”
— Nancy Badertscher, Alexis Stevens, Shane Blatt, April Hunt, Steve Visser and Mike Morris contributed to this story.
Courtesy of: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/03/03/mega_millions_jackpot.html
Mega Millions Lottery Drawing Results
Tuesday night's multi-state Mega Millions Lottery drawing has gone off and with $212 million on the line, players from all across the country are anxiously waiting to see the winning numbers in the hopes that they may have matched all six numbers to win the massive jackpot.
The $212 million grand prize translates to a cash out option of almost $140 million to a single winner. That is of course, if they were to choose a one-time lump sum payment.
Tuesday night's drawings numbers are 26, 32, 44, 50, 56 and the Mega Ball number was 35.
Although there is no word as to whether or not anyone was able to take home the grand prize on Tuesday night, we do know that last Friday night's
draw saw some really big winners take home prizes in the weekend draw.
In fact, almost 1.5 million Mega Millions players took home more than $11.2 million in cash on Friday night.
Seventeen lucky Mega Millions players were able to match five out of five numbers, only missing the Mega Ball number on Friday to score a $250,000 cash prize.
Another 77 players won $10,000 in cash by matching four out of five numbers plus the Mega Ball number.
Tonight's draw promises to be another day of huge payouts as Mega Millions players came out in droves to buy tickets for a chance at the enormous jackpot. If no new grand prize winner is awarded in tonight's drawing, the jackpot is expected to be close to $250 million for this Friday night.
Courtesy of: http://www.statelotterynews.com/articles/302/1/461/Mega-Millions-Lottery-Drawing-Results-For-Tuesday-March-3rd/Page1.html
The $212 million grand prize translates to a cash out option of almost $140 million to a single winner. That is of course, if they were to choose a one-time lump sum payment.
Tuesday night's drawings numbers are 26, 32, 44, 50, 56 and the Mega Ball number was 35.
Although there is no word as to whether or not anyone was able to take home the grand prize on Tuesday night, we do know that last Friday night's
draw saw some really big winners take home prizes in the weekend draw.
In fact, almost 1.5 million Mega Millions players took home more than $11.2 million in cash on Friday night.
Seventeen lucky Mega Millions players were able to match five out of five numbers, only missing the Mega Ball number on Friday to score a $250,000 cash prize.
Another 77 players won $10,000 in cash by matching four out of five numbers plus the Mega Ball number.
Tonight's draw promises to be another day of huge payouts as Mega Millions players came out in droves to buy tickets for a chance at the enormous jackpot. If no new grand prize winner is awarded in tonight's drawing, the jackpot is expected to be close to $250 million for this Friday night.
Courtesy of: http://www.statelotterynews.com/articles/302/1/461/Mega-Millions-Lottery-Drawing-Results-For-Tuesday-March-3rd/Page1.html
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