Lil Rounds Dazzles 'American Idol' Judges

LOS ANGELES — The drama is over for Nathaniel Marshall and Kristen McNamara on "American Idol."

The pair of singers who sparred with their group during Hollywood Week were two of nine semifinalists sent packing Wednesday on the popular Fox singing competition _ and they weren't selected to return for the special wild card round, either.

The third group of three finalists headed to the top 12: Lil Rounds, the smooth 23-year-old mother of three from Memphis, Tenn.; Scott MacIntyre, the soulful 23-year-old piano player from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jorge Nunez, the charming 20-year-old college student from Carolina, Puerto Rico. The trio received the most viewer votes Tuesday.

The show's four judges seemed in agreement with the viewer votes this week. They apparently didn't want to be without Rounds, who received the biggest endorsement after singing Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You." The panel also lauded MacIntyre and Nunez, who broke into tears Tuesday after his rendition of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."

"You're born to sing," said Kara DioGuardi. "What you have comes from the heart."

At the end of the show, the judges also announced the semifinalists who will get a second shot at the top 12.

Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Braddy, Megan Corkrey, Tatiana Del Toro, Matt Giraud, Jesse Langseth and Anoop Desai will return to the stage for the wild card round Thursday. The judges will pick the final three finalists from that group.

"Thank you so much. Thank you so much," said a weeping Del Toro. "I want this so much. This means so much to me."

Nunez, MacIntyre and Rounds join previously picked finalists Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver. The show's dozen finalists will be known Thursday after the wild card round.

Beginning next week, the finalists start competing _ with one singer sent packing each Wednesday.

___

On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com

Comments

[2horsefeathers]

Looks like beginning of a lame season. My faves are Alexis and Danny from the first round. Either one will be the next American Idol - that's my prediction.

ANd to give Tatiana another chance - that's just for theatre! I can't stand her theatrics

[MAXIE19]

There was nothing impressive or unique about her performance last night. My money is on Adam Lambert.

[thekobraah]

Adam is too cool for color TV! A real star!

[1sparrow]

the best last night was felicia... jorge is so worldly in culture that i'm surprised they didn't say he should do opera... jorge was the second best last night... ju not was third... ALLISON is the diamond in the rough...fo­r all the marbles (trust me) it is allison. ALLISON IRAHETA

[spiderbucket]

American Idol is an embarrassment and it's viewers are dolts.

[Changeling]

Its viewers aren't dolts. At least those that accept it as mindles entertainment and not any sor of legitimate talent search anymore than Dancing with the Stars is a legitimate dance competition or that they use "stars" (E-list has-beens notwithsta­nding.)

[spiderbucket]

Dancing With The Stars is asinine as well. Try reading a book or something if this is your idea of entertainment.

[DeAnnaClaudette]

Well this dolt still watches American Idol. Personally, didn't care for Lil Rounds, but there are a couple of people I definitely have my eye on.

[spiderbucket]

What grade are you in ?

[barriosbabe]

By the way, this is very subjecting but it seems to me that this year more than ever the __arrangements__ really suck and the orchestra is loud and obnoxious and drowning out a lot of really talented singers. Take Ju-Not, why wasn't that doen with a simple 3 piece combo back up? Duh! So in Lil's defense, I think she almost had to shout to get her message across.

[EDunigan]

Our CTO thinks he is the fifth American Idol judge and also agreed that Rounds Rocked it last night. I wonder if it has something to do with the Lil in her name.

He has decided to publish his commentary on the contestants periodically and you will find his comments on last night's twelve performers at the following link:

http://www.trackvia.com/blog/2009/03/04/american-idol-judges/

[barriosbabe]

Lil Rounds is so predictable. Nothing new. Lots of shouting. Seen this all before. I like 3-4 of the others but so far this year it's a real mixed bag. Danny is okay. Adam is okay. As to the latter, not sure if the scandal photos will hurt him. I too like the little pixie blond with the tattoos. I liked the headband kid but he did not do well last night. Mixed feelings about the blind piano man - like a lot of his stuff but now that I know his family is rich and that he is a genius kid with degrees from London etc I'm not so sure he fits the "needs a break" Horatio Alger weirdiosity.

[mlrlmsw]

I liked Lil Rounds, Ju'not Joiner, and Felicia ____... I think Scott MacIntyre (the genleman who is blind) did get a softer critique from the judges. That is a somewhat lame song (Mandolin Rain) in my opinion, and I don't think he did much with it. I'm curious to see how he will navigate the group performances if he gets through. I admire his courage in going for it.

[Banji81]

Lil was fine, but she didn't surprise me at all; she sounded just as I would expect her to sound. And to be honest, it's a pretty common sound - good, but not particularly refreshing. Ju'not on the other hand, totally rocked it for me - I loved his rendition of 'Hey there Delilah", simply loved it!
That cute as a button chic, awful. She obviously has a good voice, but she shredded that Abba song to bits. It was painful. The blind guy was really good; he should go far, and if he does, it won't be on his story. Kristen McNamara was pretty good as well, great voice, just needs to find herself and stop letting the judges call those shots. The country chic was cute too, but a bit of a yawn...I don't mind to see her leave just so her dad doesn't get to do that atrocious "alligator" dance. The rest I can't even remember, so I guess that speaks for itself...

[BLinCincinnati]

I agree... Lil was exactly what I expected. The same power-ballad style performance that so many seem to do well, where they just belt out vocals as loud as they can. Sure, it sounds great, but as soon as you have them perform a more subdued, finesse style song that requires control in both volume and range... most fall apart. We'll see how Lil does with that but till then I'm not impressed. People that can belt out those power-ballads are common, ones that can do that AND perform songs that require finesse and control... those are the real stars. Carrie Underwood could do both... ramp it up full volume for the power songs, and also do some really amazing songs that were soft and very controlled.

The girl that was brought back... I wasn't wow'ed, but I still rate her as one of my favorites. The country girl... reminds me of Kelly Pickler... good enough to do well as a recording artist but by no means on the level of a Martina McBride or Carrie Underwood. But she'd do well.

The rest... bleh.

I'm not sure if I'll stick around again long this year. My favorites are Alexis Grace, the girl with the tatoos that may or may not make it back in the final picks, and one other that escapes me at the moment.

[dorothyinchina]

It is no coincidence that best singer always goes last on American Idol. It's first and foremost a TV show,and the producers pace the show as they would any variety show. The lead off singer will be solid but not the best, the people slated in the middle will be the worst, and the two final performances will lead to a big finish. This will be true throughout the season. Now, the producers have often been wrong about who the audience will vote for, but you can always tell their opinions about the best performance by the way they stage the lineup. That being said, they generally do not make the same person go last two weeks in a row, but always look for the #1 and the last two as the producers picks.

[Charity]

yeah, that's a no-brainer.

[logic63]

I don't think screaming is singing. Not impressed.

[noudidnt]

Neither is whining or grunting. So what.

[Bulbul]

I agree completely with you. Most of them were screeching, that could be the reason, none of the winners are heard much later....

[BigHeadTodd]

All of the ones, so far, who sang last were the best of a pretty putrid lot. Also, the strawberry-colored hair girl who sang "Alone" at least sounded like she has potential in a Katy Perry/Kelly Clarkson mode.

Idol is going to get "stuck" with the blind singer. He really is not very good but he will get sympathy votes for a long while. Lil Rounds can belt but so could LaToya/Par­is/Melinda­/Fantasia and none of them are household names. I KNOW Fantasia has been on Broadway (yaaaaawn).

[noudidnt]

Riiiiiiiii­iiiiiight, Jen Hudson isn't a household name.

[Bulbul]

I think the blind one had the best performance and , this is not a sympathy statement. The rest were screeching !

[DaisyDooks]

You can go to rickey.org to view clips of AI performances.

[Bulbul]

Lil was good but not the best. The young legally blind young man, was the best , singing Mandolin rain . And then, most of them were off key...

[FCBarca]

Largely boring evening...­Any coincidence she was last, however?..­.She was the best