Results Show: The Lord storms off!
The Lord may have regretted moonlighting on American Idol last week, as he was left with a bottom two which did not make him happy. In fact he looked like he was positively fuming. Could it be that all is not happy in camp, following his u-turn with Ashley last week and the panel’s dislike of Keisha which clearly clashed with his own views?
When asked who did well in the group song, DVO said Jodie and Andrew was mightily impressed with Keisha, which explains his temper tantrum later on. The panel were then asked who was NOT Nancy. Barry said Keisha, DVO said Ashley and John said Keisha. This is where I believe the rot had set in, as Andrew is clearly not agreeing with the panel and either expects them to tow the line or is thinking that he is on the wrong show.
What did the viewers think? Well, unbelievably, Samantha was first through, followed by the posture-challenged one; Jessie. The best singers of the evening Rachel and Jodie were the next ones through, so it’s not all bad. Keisha and Ashley’s names were called out next. Scotland kept Ashley in, leaving Keisha in the bottom two.
Niamh and Sarah were the final remaining pair. With Sarah through, this left Niamh and Keisha to battle out via the song “The Rose.” It was an unremarkable sing-off as neither girl could take the role really. Buit Andrew was fomaing at the mouth, describing it as “an utter travesty” adding that he was “angry!” There were no shots of the pane, who presumably thought this was the right result.
Then Andrew said that he would have to take note of his panel’s words (agreeing with them again, rather than making his own decision) by letting Keisha go home. As Keisha stepped up to the mark with the exit song, The Lord applauded her. Then bizarrely, he stormed off the stage!
Could all be not well in Nancy Land? Could this be the last time Andrew asks for more reality television? Is he taking the show too seriously? Or are these strops just good for newspaper headlines? Who knows? Well, it looked formulated to me. But if the public keep voting for Ashley over some of the others, expect the Lord to do an Incredible Hulk impression, well more like The Incredible Toad! You won’t like him whe he’s angry, but it makes mighty fine TV as he spits his dummy out, whether it’s for real or not!
My money is still on Rachel. But who do you like? Should Keisha have gone? Will the Lord cast her in his next show? Stay tuned to find out, next week. Don’t cry for Keisha as the Phantom looks set to give her a role just to make a point!
April 28th, 2008 at 7:48 am
I thought ALW’s reation was pathetic. We all know that he wanted Ashley to be in the bottom 2, but who else did he want there? It was ridiculous him saying that neither of them deserved to be in the sing-off… Kesiah plainly did - her performance was average and 2 of the 3 judges thought it was time for her to go.
It’s time he stopped moaning and got on with his job of judging.
April 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I disagree with colouredlights. ALW was perfectly in order to be angry that Keisha was in the sing-off.It should have been Ashley and Niamh with Samantha. I have worked in the Theatre Industry and none of these three will star in Musical Theatre. Keisha has arguably the best voice in the competition. She may not be Nancy but I am sure she has a great future ahead of her. ALW certainly thinks so and no one can argue with his pedigree.
The reason he saved Niamh must be that he knew that the panel’s dislike of Keisha had completely damaged any chance she had of winning. I have seen Denise Van Outen and Barry Humphries in musicals. They should think about improving their own performances before pretending to be experts and criticising others so harshly. John Barrowman is very talented but a loose cannon.
I would say that at the moment it is between Rachel, Jodie and Sarah - in that order. I have a sneaking feeling that Jodie’s personality may be the deciding factor and she will be Nancy. I look forward to the on-going battle !!
April 28th, 2008 at 10:52 am
James - I take your point about Nimah and Samantha, but think that Ashley has something that people are missing so far. You don’t get a scholarship from Mountview, one of the top drama schools for musical theatre, without having real talent.
As for Keisha, having a good voice was never going to be good enough to win this competition given the quality of acting and performance on display elsewhere…
April 28th, 2008 at 11:04 am
colouredlights I have actually worked in a Drama School with an even more profilic reputation than Mountview. I am not so niave to think that every graduate has immense talent and is going to be a star. There are thousands of theatre graduates from all the drama schools who have never worked consistently in the professional theatre afterwards. We are not missing anything with Ashley. There is nothing to miss. I am not even sure she would get a leading part with a successful Amateur Musical Society. I agreed with the panel on Saturday - her performance was pure cheese. I further agree with ALW that she does not have a great voice. Ashley has a very likeable personality and I wish well but she is not in the same class as Keisha. Like Amy and Tara she should never have been in the final twelve.
April 28th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Unfortunately, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one… I’m sure you’ll accept that working in a good drama school doesn’t makes you the single authority on a subject like this…
April 28th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I am not trying to be the single authority on the subject. I talk to a lot of people about the show and you are the only person who has so far talked positively about Ashley. All four of the panel are of a simlar mind to me. Only ALW knows why he saved her last week. I certainly do not. I was also pointing out that it is very niave to say that just because someone has been to drama school they must be talented and destined for stardom. There are many talented graduates who have never “made it”.
April 28th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I take your point about Ashley, although equally, I’m not the only person to think this (plenty of people voted for her this week)
As for your point about drama schools, I am not naive enough to think that all drama school students deserve to make it - I know plenty that aren’t. But if you re-read the original post, you’ll see that she didn’t just go to drama school - she got a prestigious scholarship from Mountview. Presumably someone must think she’s talented otherwise she wouldn’t have got it…
April 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Niamh is the best. She’s the only one I enjoy watching/listening to, along with maybe Jessie. Disappointed she was in the bottom 2. People must have thought she was safe. Ashley to go next for sure. Not keen on Sarah either. Samantha’s performances are a bit weird. She does these funny looks with her face all the time. I don’t really like her. Not too keen on Rachel but she’s ok. If not Niamh, then Jessie or Jodie to win. BUT Niamh is certainly the best.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
I think there’s two things going on with the elimination of the Nancys, one is: who has got talent? And the other is who has got talent and could be Nancy? I think they are separate but they’ve got blurred.
Now I thought Keisha had talent, definitely, but Nancy? No not really. Chicago, yes, but Oliver? No.
So I think ALW wanted her to stay because she had talent, not because she could have been Nancy - and whether or not this is a valid reason, I hope he is as good as his word and helps her to find work in musical theatre somewhere.
I think ALW actually was being honest when he said he was upset. It’s easy to be cynical but I think he was probably being honest; I might have believed it was all a front from any of the others - they are actors after all, but I think ALW was being straight.
Unfortunately I dont’ think he will get much sympathy. He is after all loaded, he’s getting free publicity for the show, and if he really didn’t like one of them he should have ditched them before we got to the TV program. He can still dump Ashley if he really wants to, she wont be in at the last I don;t think.
For what it’s worth I think the ‘posture’ thing with Jessie is overdone, she could be Nancy, so could Sarah, I don;t think Ashley or Jodie are right at all for the part, and I’m neutral on the others, although Niamh is rather endearing.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I agree with almost everything Andy C has said apart from his comments about Jessie and Sarah. I think Jessie has a great voice but her awkward “stage movement” and lack of acting skills is a serious problem. She has not responded to the constructive criticism and that is also a problem. She has immense talent but there is obviously a question mark about her. I love Sarah’s voice but she again has real “stage movement” problems. Her performances are stunning vocally but very stiff performance wise.
Arguably Rachel is the obvious Nancy at the moment because she has both the vocal and acting skills required. The worrying thing about her was that her performance was OTT on Saturday. That could have been because she was trying too hard because the competition is fierce amongst the top four.
I think that Rachel’s strongest challenger at the moment is Jodie. The only thing against her is probably her age. I can see her as Nancy and she has proved herself to be vocally versatile. She has brashness and vulnerability.
Hopefully this has taught ALW not to get involved in any more of these kinds of competitions.
Like Andy C I can see Keisha in Chicago. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
May 1st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
OK James-I don’t care where you have or haven’t been, but you must be tone deaf to say Keisha had the best voice-she strained vocally-and not just when she had a sore throat-I personally would have said she was not only not the best but possibly the very worst, with the exception of possibly Amy and Francesca who were equally appalling.
As for Ashley I think she’s great, her performance of The Winner Takes It All was probably the best, most emotional performance of the series thus far. And not only that but she is something a little different.
Niamh was dreadful this week, but normally I like her unique style. Whereas Rachel and Jodie are both dull, dull, dull. They have good voices and are good actresses, but there’s nothing special about them. Jessie is quirky but not right for Nancy. Sarah has a fantastic voice, but again is too dowdy and upper class to make a realistic Nancy. Samantha has a very strong voice, but she is a rubbish actress.
If I had to vote for a winner it would be Ashley at the moment and I’m not a Scot, just a fan of a good voice, a great actress and someone a little bit quirky.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Kingathon - I know you are probably trying to be controversial but a friendly suggestion to you is go to a singing teacher. You may then learn something about Tone, Pitch and Tuning. Virtually all the experts agree that Keisha has a great voice but was not suitable to be Nancy.
Ashley has neither a good voice or any kind of acting skills. ALW is correct about her. Only he knows why she is still in the competition. Her performance on Saaturday was dreadful. The Panel agreed. If you are prepared to spend £50/£60 to see her play Nancy more fool you. Oh forgot you are just a wind-up merchant.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Absolutely not! I am a fan of the show and indeed musicals in general and I really couldn’t care less about being “contraversial”. Actually I do know a bit about singing, having been in a choir for a number of years, but anyone can tell what is in and out of tune. Keisha could not sing and I think the public agreed-voting her in the bottom 2 nearly every week and the only time she wasn’t it was out of sympathy. Ashley in my book is probably not the best singer there, but I like her as a genuinely quirky and different performer with a great tone to her voice. I would say that her performance on Saturday was not her best, but she has proved in the past that she can be outstanding. Personally I would pay any amount of money to see her in the West End and indeed would buy any album she released. Likewise with Niamh.
May 1st, 2008 at 6:14 pm
And also the person that rights this critic agrees that on many performances Keisha was out of tune and that Ashley was better-or is he trying to be “contraversial” too. Also apart from this week the judges loved Ashley and hated Keisha-in fact my view seems to be more in tune with everyone than yours…..
May 1st, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I think you should watch all the shows again. The panel did not love Ashley every week and on a number of occasions said she was not Nancy and the week she was in the bottom two she had the lowest votes from the public. Ashley is the rank outrsaider in the betting so not many people agree with you. ALW has consistently said he does not rate Ashley so it is hard to understand why he kept her in. He is probably the most knowledgeable and influential voice in British Musical Theatre at the moment. I think the public rate his view higher than yours.
The panel did not hate Keisha’s voice. They praised it on most occasions. Their criticisms were mainly that the song choices did not give her the chance to show whether she was suitable for Nancy and that they did not think she was a Nancy anyway. That is very different from hating her.
The could many reasons why the public did not vote for Keisha and most rational people would have a much better reason than she could not sing. The most likely reason is that she was not a Nancy and with that I agree. The reason that people vote for Ashley could easily be the sympathy vote because she has received a great deal of criticism from the panel.
A piece of constructive criticism for you is that just because you have been in a choir does not mean you can sing or that you know anything about singing.
I think that you should read again what the critic on this blog has said each week. If you also read my previous comments you will see that like the critic I think Rachel will win as well.
I think they agree with me much more than with you.
I did not agree with all the comments made by Andy C and Colouredlights but their comments were rational and coherent. I afraid most of your comments are without foundation and can easily be challenged and dismissed.
Rachel is 7/4 to win and Ashley is at least 33/1 to win and the outsider of seven. The previous form is that the winner in these kinds of competitions has been either favourite or second favourite. I expect you are going to argue with that.
What three words spring to mind oh yes- dull, dull, dull. Just as you described Rachel and Jodie. The Panel and Public do not agree with you on that either.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Well-I think you should also watch the shows again-I guarantee you that EVERY week other than this week-all the panel praised Ashley apart from ALW and that apart from Denise-once-this week they have never singled her out as the person that couldn’t be Nancy….. Even the Lord himself said that based on how strongly the panel felt about Ashley he saved her.
Keisha was OK at singing the songs where she simply talked her way through, e.g. mad about the boys, lady and the tramp, however she certainly fell flat when it came to singing get the party started-parts of which were out of tune-without doubt. The reason the public disliked her was because she was one of the weakest singers and performers.
I too think Rachel will win, but surely that not mean I have to want her to win. The public love a bland, strong performance and that will secure her votes, however in my eyes-her average voice and OTT acting does not make her a star.
Look, I know Ashley will not progress much further in the competition, however the bookies do not have a plethora of knowledge about singing talent and they certainly should not be cited as evidence of a good/bad performer-rather foundation-less evidenceone might say.
And finally I clearly know a hell of a lot more about singing than you if you mindlessly support Rachel as the winner-there is absolutely nothing special about her voice-sounds to me like a standardly trained voice by a stage school-and I think that ALW along with the panel all expressed a desire to have a ‘raw’ talent playing Nancy. Rachel is not raw-she is the most polished, professional performer there. She would fit in well-in a chorus, but not as a leading lady. Whereas Ashley, Niamh even Samantha all have something a bit more special about them.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:35 pm
By not referring again to the critic’s views on this blog I conclude that you have re-read them and have had to concede that you were incorrect. They certainly have not praised Ashley every week or continually criticised Keisha. In the early weeks they had Keisha as the possible winner.
With reference to the programmes you have obviously been watching different ones to me. The panel has not praised Ashley every week and she was named as not Nancy.
Sadly not only do you not have any knowledge of singing or the requirements of musical theatre you know nothing about the betting industry. The odds are compiled after researching the professional and public view as who is likely to win. They are then refined by who the punters put their money on.
There is no point debating any further about singing and what is in tune or out tune as you clearly have no training or expertise. To say that you know all about singing and musical theatre because you sing in a choir is not evidence of any weight. If the choir waas of any note I am sure you would have said so.
The fact that you have picked out the three least favourite contenders in the betting and polls shows that you are either a wind-up merchant or have no idea about the priofession.
You are perfectly entitled to think that Ashley is the best but please do not rubbish ALW and the Panel and the public when their views are different to yours. You are definitely in a minority with your views whether you accept it or not.
If ALW and the Panel were only looking for a “raw” talent they would not have put Rachel and Francesca through as they are both professional or Ashley had she had been professionally trained. So in your own words Ashley should not have been in the final twelve.
If you really want to learn about singing and what is out of tune you should watch a number of the performances by Samantha, Niamh and Ashley and then listen to the comments of ALW and the Panel. A number of times all three received comments about their tuning problems.
Rachel is not my favourite performer and interestingly neither was Keisha. I do not think Rachel is a polished performer yet which is why she has not yet been a leading lady in the West End. She may bore you but the same as Jodie and Sarah she does not bore a large part of the viewing public.
I have had great fun reading your unsubstantiated rantings but to use one of your favourite words I am now “bored” and I will not be reading any more.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
OK I accept that you will not be reading any more, but it seems to me that you are rather snobbish about the industry and indeed hold yourself and your own opinions in extremely high regard, which is good I suppose-a sign of self-confidence, although be careful it does not stray into arrogance. I could quote to you every week who the panel said was ‘not Nancy’, in fact I will (week one-jb-amy dvo-tara bh-amy, week two- jb-samantha, dvo-keisha, bh-keisha, week three- jb-tara dvo-keisha bh-tara, week four-jb-keisha dvo-keisha bh-francesca and week five-jb-keisha, dvo-ashley bh-keisha). Point proved. And I would also point out that in the results show performances of the show where ashley was in the bottom two, jb singled ashley out as the ONE nancy who stood out.
ALW doesn’t like Ashley-this is the same guy who in the Maria show repeatedly put through that awful girl-Helena and eventually talented people like Aoife were knocked out before her. This is the same guy who loved Lewis, who was truly terrible. So no as a matter of fact I don’t take his opinions all that seriously. Clearly I can make judgements based on my own terrible, unsophisticated analysis, rather than simply sheepishly following the Lord.
Having said that I do understand it when you say that Niamh and Ashley and Samantha have tuning issues. I agree-Niamh’s performance of Valerie was quite frankly a car crash and Samantha has shouted through her songs at times even my beloved Ashley has hit some bum notes. I don’t deny that for one second and equally that Sarah and Jodie are both brilliant singers. But for me to be a star in the West End takes something really special-I mean look at the two girls in Wicked at the moment-they are both phenomenally talented and for me I can’t see Rachel or Jodie bringing the same kind of presence to the role of Nancy and I think you would agree that Nancy’s songs in Oliver are not the most vocally challenging numbers, hence tuning would be less of a problem and the real things which would matter would be acting ability and a rich tone in their voice. Thats what I think-I accept that everyone is of a different opinion though and I accept that the masses will probably go with you and what you think-so maybe I am just a poor person commenting on a rich man’s game.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDzPLhCO-zY Also try watching this again! It may explain my point better than words can.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Well just to mix it up a bit…
I’ve taken Kingathon’s advice and watched the clip of Ashley, and thought about the show. A number of thoughts spring to mind.
First, I think all of us, however experienced we are and however much training in this area we’ve had, will have favourites in this competition. This will be for a host of complex reasons and they don’t all have to be objective and we don’t have to feel the need to defend all of them. I like Jessie, and I liked Sarah, who sadly went out this evening. I liked them for a mix of objective and subjective reasons. My theory is that all our views are a mix of objective assessment and personal preference.
Second, well done to all these girls! Unless we’ve been in front of lights and cameras in a studio we don’t know what it’s like and these ladies are under an amazing amount of pressure, largely to make this whole thing an entertaining spectacle. So respect to all of the girls who made it to the last 12 - they are one in a thousand or more all of them!
All that said, I really think I’d be sending Ashley home (and Jodie) and I have to admit that a lot of that’s because for me they just don’t look or ‘feel’ like Nancy’s. That said, I do think Ashley lacks the passion that my remaining favourite (Jessie) has in spades; and I think Kingathon didn’t even pick Ashely’s best performance to show her off - I’d have gone for ‘I want to dance with somebody’.
Both Ashley and Jodie are big personalities, big voices, confident, a bit brash, Jodie is the more talented I think of the two, but neither of them have the vulnerability and innocence that form a part (and I stress just a part) of Nancy’s character. I said in my earlier blog that there’s a question around who’s talented, and there’s a question around who’s talented and who’s Nancy. Jodie’s certainly got talent, but she’s not Nancy, Jessie’s got talent and she could be Nancy. Ashley is the weak link amongst them all, but I suspect that Niamh for all the fact that she is a lovely girl, probably isn’t Nancy.
Then there’s Samantha and Rachel. I’ve had problems telling these two apart quite honestly, I think Samantha probably has the edge though.
So there you have it, my preference in order, with the one I’d most want to see as Nancy first, would be:
Jessie
Samantha
Rachel
Jodie
Niamh
Ashley.
Constructive criticism welcome!!
May 4th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Lol-thanks for a civilised reply! I do however disagree about Ashley, personally I would say she is the most Nancy-like out of all the contestants and it seems that the public tonight agreed that she was not worthy of the bottom two and I think she really does have (as the panel tirelessly say) ‘all the colours of Nancy’. She can be brash, vulnerable etc etc and she really has proved herself-also I really do love her voice-I know it may not technically be the best, but for me its great!
I would have to say that last night Jessie was outstanding in terms of singing, acting, pretty much everything, but I dod think that while Ashley and Niamh both have accents, Jessie’s is just soooo strong that in a real audition she probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
I think when Ashley goes home, as she inevitably will without ALW’s support, I would support Samantha, who I thought was fantastic last night.
Rachel definitely deserved to be in the bottom two, her performance was out of tune and quite frankly a train wreck, however Sarah just could not act, and hence despite her brilliant singing deserved to go.
I also thought Jodie was poor last night and probably only got through on the strength of her performance the week before.
Niamh is a strange one-I always will her to be good and want to like her, but as the weeks go by I realise that she always slightly disappoints and its a real shame….
Ashley to win!!!
May 8th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Oh and by the way James-if you’re still reading-I’m so glad that the public backed me up by putting Rachel in the bottom two and once again saving Ashley-so it seems that perhaps your rants were the unsubstantiated ones…… You’ll never know how happy I was to see Ashley and Niamh and Sam go through-I won!