American Idol' now down to the last 3 finalists

By DERRIK J. LANG | Associated Press 

• Email
  
  

  New: Now the email button gives you a quick and easy way to start a conversation.
• 5
•  
• Print

RELATED CONTENT

    

• 
  In this May 9, 2012 photo released …
• 
  In this May 9, 2012 photo released …

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollie Cavanagh couldn't make "American Idol" voters love her.

The soaring 18-year-old vocalist from McKinney, Texas, was eliminated from the Fox singing competition Thursday after it was revealed she received the fewest viewer votes.

The spritely balladeer rebounded in recent weeks after the judges took issue with Cavanagh's lack of stage presence, but she was dismissed after crooning Journey's "Faithfully" and Bonnie Rait's "I Can't Make You Love Me" for her solo performances Wednesday.

"Idol" host Ryan Seacrest said 70 million viewer votes were cast this week.

The three finalists remaining in the competition are booming 20-year-old gospel singer Joshua Ledet of Westlake, La.; bluesy 21-year-old pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips of Leesburg, Ga.; and aspiring 16-year-old pop diva Jessica Sanchez of San Diego.

"This is a real journey," said "Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez, who performed before the results were revealed. "This is not an easy show for these kids. For me, that's why I feel so much when I'm watching you, all of you, not just Hollie."

The three remaining finalists will return to their hometowns before taking the "Idol" stage next week.

Moment of truth for Jessica

By: Nestor U. Torre
Philippine Daily Inquirer

share279 279

SANCHEZ. Sheer talent is its own cause for being.

JESSICA Sanchez’s initially easy-breezy ascent to the top of the “American Idol” hit parade has turned out to be a decidedly dicey roller-coaster ride that ended last week with her being booted out of the singing tilt—despite having received raves from the judges.

That was the unkindest cut of all, that she went down right after the celebrity jurors had extolled her talent and performance to high heavens. But, what good are juridical raves when viewers don’t support you with their all-important “votes”?

It’s a good thing that the jurors are allowed one “save” per season—so, of course they used it to give “their” Jessica a new lease on life. But, it still isn’t clear how long she can survive in the competition, now that her inability to generate enough votes has been so shockingly revealed.

Fil-Am vote

What happened to the vaunted Fil-Am vote that pushed Jasmine Trias all the way up to third place? And, what about the similarly strong Asian and Latin-American vote-generating “machines” that, for lack of a specifically Latino bet, should have gone to Jessica?

One never knows about these things, so Jessica goes into the next round with hopes flying high—but reality pulling her back to earth again. —Especially after it was announced that two finalists will be cut this time around, to come up with the tilt’s Final Five.

Will Jessica’s “AI” hopes still be Alive at Five? Hey, Fil-Ams and other groups, if you’re going to finally, belatedly spring to life, the time to do is is now, not next week!

The recent downbeat developments on “American Idol” are a good reminder to us why we personally have stopped being as “invested” in the competition as we used to be only three seasons ago. It took us all that time to finally realize that the tilt was too dominated by the preferences of young female viewers and pop-music fans, which was why most of its winners have been cute, young males.

That’s patently unfair to all the other types of talents out there, so why care so much about how the tilt turns out from year to year, one way or another? —Why, indeed?

In any case, should Jessica fail to go the distance due to the fact that she doesn’t fit the bill for the show’s main demographic (female teenyboppers who get turned on by cute singing hunks-next-door), she should still be able to carve out a good and even glowing show biz career for herself.

The “AI” jurors have become her biggest fans, so they’ll be sure to put in a good word for her in the music biz and allied fields.

In fact, if we’re given permission to dream off the top of our heads, we can see her making it in the same way another non-survivor, Jennifer Hudson, has become a star despite her less-than-stellar showing on “Idol.”

With her pipes and remarkable musical maturity (and fashion sense), Jessica can go beyond viewer-votes’ disdain—and prove them (predictably) wrong. If she and her handlers play their cards right, she could find victory in defeat, and prove that, even in an unfair show biz universe, sheer talent is its own cause for being—and being celebrated.

‘Idol’ bet Jessica Sanchez Gets Outpour of Support from Local, International Celebs

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Jessica Sanchez: Will she bag the coveted ‘Idol’ title? (Photo from americanidol.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Several celebrities were as appalled as the supporters of Jessica Sanchez after she almost got eliminated on "American Idol" Season 11 during the April 13 results night—if not for the judges' save.

Before 16-year-old Jessica even finished her make-or-break performance for the judges, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson stormed her on stage and unabashedly declared that they would use the “one save” for the season on Jessica, believing she deserves to stay on the US talent show (despite receiving the lowest number of votes that week).

Local celebrities who tuned in on the episode have urged their Twitter followers to find ways to vote for the Chula Vista, California native.

“Nako nga pinoy gising at bumoto. Kung nasa US ako super vote ako. Diba madami tayo sa US sana naman iboto nila. She is soooooo good vote vote jessica guys;-)” Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez tweeted.

Trivia man and “Showtime” co-host Kim Atienza, meanwhile, posted: “all my US followers, please vote for jessica sanchez. there will never be anyone like her.

ever.http://touch.dailymotion.com/#/video/xq3dr6_1-of-7-voted-off-4-american-idol-2012_tv”

British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Filipino anchor Rico Hizon deemed that Jessica is worth-saving.

“Jessica @JSanchezAI11 is truly blessed. She's a talented singer… Let's always vote for her!” said he.

Comedian John “Sweet” Lapus put forward a comic perspective on the scarce votes that Jessica got, saying, “Nagholy week vacay pala ang mga Pinoy at Mexicano kaya mababa ang votes ni Jessica Sanchez. Pwes humanda na sila.#MightAsWell.”

One with the judges

Celebrities are likewise both happy about and grateful for the judges’ decision to keep Jessica on the show. APO Hiking Society’s Jim Paredes, for one, found the moment “heartwarming.”

“I am such a fan of Jessica Sanchez.. Tama ang judges. She is one of the best singers in America,” he added.

Another veteran musician, Ryan Cayabyab, is likewise impressed with Jessica’s talent, which earned comparisons to that of the late Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.

“She just keeps getting better and better, this Jessica Sanchez. Stuttering floored me! Mexican? Filipino? American? She is above all that. She is JessicaSanchez, 16!!! Tayong lahat ang panalo,” the Maestro tweeted.

Miss Universe 1999 first runner-up Miriam Quiambao enthused: “So happy that judges used their option to save Jessica Sanchez. She's really a great singer.”

TV host Cesca Litton was evidently passionate in her tweets about Jessica, as seen on this one: “If they didn't use that save on @JSanchezAI11 I'm pretty sure I would've stormed the stage myself. All the way from Manila.”

“We are all behind you, Jessica!” was TV host-eventologist Tim Yap’s assurance for the half-Filipino chanteuse, while model-host Georgina Wilson apparently got quite emotional over the episode, tweeting, “Omg Im literally crying. I've never loved any american idol contestant so much… she's the best singer in the competition!”

Meanwhile, broadcast journalist Ces Oreña-Drilon offered a prediction and supposition on Jessica’s fate:

“it's the stuff live tv just loves.next week all eyes will be on jessica &AI. She looks so calm&collected. maybe America wants more emotion?” she tweeted.

International love

This latest “’Idol’ shocker” apparently also moved some foreign celebrities. “Extra” host Mario Lopez was relieved that Jessica had escaped elimination.

“Thankfully my Chula Vista girl Jessica Sanchez was saved last night on A.I. Would've been tragic...She's the best singer there! #Truth#619,” he tweeted.

Pia Toscano, considered a front runner on “American Idol” Season 10 who got a shocking boot during the Top 9 week, likewise sympathized with Jessica.

“Still haven't watched Last nights episode of Idol last night.However, I am literally baffled that Jessica could've possibly gone home #idol,” said she.

“Glee” star and award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who watched the results show live, was amazed with the judges’ save on Jessica. She, too, believes in the talent of the youngest contestant in the lot.

“Boy was that a great move on their (judges) part. What’s not to love about this girl? What a voice! And she’s what, 16? And how humble she was, too. She just wanted everybody to know, ‘I’ve worked hard all my life.’ Pretty amazing. Oh my God the judges were absolutely correct, I’m so proud of what they did!” she enthused to “Entertainment Tonight” in its April 13 episode.

Likewise raving over Jessica is American singer-actress Jennifer Holliday, who is famous for the classic, “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.”

“MyDEAR JESSICA,I AM SO PROUD Of YOU!..UR VOICE IS SO AMAZING,But UR"PASSIONATE &HUMBLE" HEART TOUCHES ALL OUR HEARTS THE MOST!” read one of her tweets about Jessica.

Jazmine Sullivan, the original singer of Jessica’s Top 7 song “Stuttering,” was also awed by the latter’s performance.

“just saw the j. sanchez performance from last night and she killed!!! so honored she chose my song! thanks mamaz and good luck!” she tweeted.

Analysis

Various speculations have cropped up following Jessica’s almost elimination on “Idol,” with some quarters deeming that it was orchestrated to drum up the show’s ratings.

Judge Randy shared his thoughts in an interview with MTV, thus:

"Well, I think [America] thought she was safe. I think they thought she was safe, I'm sure, and I think they thought Joshua [Ledet] was safe because those two alone, with Colton [Dixon] and some of the others, have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot,” said he
.

Yet another half-Pinoy makes waves on 'Idol'

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

Jessica Sanchez singing her soulful rendition of Celine Dion’s ‘The Prayer’ on ‘American Idol’ (Screen grab from YouTube)

MANILA, Philippines – The latest season of “American Idol” will apparently be an interesting musical spectacle especially to Filipinos as another half-Pinoy contestant made it to the Top 24 cut of the hit show.

16-year-old Filipino-Mexican student Jessica Sanchez from Chula Vista, California  said after judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steven Tyler informed her of her “Idol” fate,   “This is the biggest thing that happened to me. I’ve been watching this show since I was little. And I made it. It’s crazy.”

A report from Entertainment Weekly dubbed Sanchez as one of the “early frontrunners for hairography, cuteness,” alongside 17-year-old Deandre Brackensick, who also has “big” hair. The two, along with their team mate Candice Glover, wowed the judges during the Las Vegas round for their performance of “Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”

Young as she is, Jessica, who joined "America's Got Talent" when she was 11 years old, said she has been singing all her life. She recalled in her “Road To Hollywood” interview that she was just about seven when she first performed for a crowd “for a little concert, a little event that someone had put together.”

Her “Idol” dream, however, began a little earlier. A fan since the show began in 2002 (she was just five then), Jessica’s favorite “Idol” moment was Kelly Clarkson’s glorious win in Season 1, singing her finale piece “A Moment Like This.”

But it’s Season 3 finalist Jennifer Hudson whom Jessica idolizes the most among all the “AI” contestants.

“I just love her voice… And I’ve gotten comments like ‘you sound like her,’ [and] that’s just a really big deal for me…” she said in the same interview.

More than a dream come true, Jessica sees her “Idol” stint as an opportunity to "fully" support her family, whom she’s tired of seeing “struggle.”

“My family has spent so much money on me. They’ve sacrificed so much time. My mom is unemployed because of my music career. Knowing there’s a possibility of me being able to help my family in this situation, that’s why I’m here, that’s why I’m working hard,” said she.

With R&B, urban, and soul leanings, Jessica believes that she stands out from the current “Idol” crop because of her “sense of style.”

“I think my tone is a lot different from others,” she added.

Asked why she thinks she’s the next “Idol,” Jessica said, “I believe I have something different and I’m just ready to go out there and show the world my whole talent. I’m ready to bring it and be on stage and perform in front of millions of people. I’m ready to record…” she enthused.

The previous season of “American Idol” saw promise in 17-year-old Filipino-American Thia Megia, who made it to the Top 12 of the competition. Other half-Filipino finalists in "Idol" history include Jasmine Trias, Ramiele Malubay, and Camille Velasco
.