Watch American Idol Season 9 Episode 11: Hollywood Round 3

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Full Recap

The contestants started about 6:50 AM on this final day, making sure everything was set, practicing and going over lyrics and the tunes. By the afternoon, the remaining 71 had all sung for their final time in Hollywood with a band behind them this time. The judges now start deliberating, playing with the Polaroids, marking them yeses and noes. They break them down into good news and bad news piles eventually, and split everyone into three different rooms.

Room one holds Casey James, Tim Urban, Tyler Grady, Andrew Garcia, and Todrick Hall. This has to be a group that makes it. In Room two are Keia Johnson, Mary Powers, Lloyd Thomas, Hope Johnson, and Christian Spear. Before Group round, I would have said it was a definite with Mary Powers in the group, but right now I’m not sure.

In Room three are Shelby Dressel, Haeley Vaughn, and Maddie Penrose. She’s unsure how her last performance was, and judging by this group, I’m not sure either. Also in the group are Jessica Furney and Angela Martin who had a good performance today with American Boy. After her performance, Kara said she liked her, and for Angela she felt good to be able to do this and knew it would be okay. Yet now, in the waiting room, she isn’t so confident.

Casey struggled on group day, but Jermaine Purifoy helped him with his dance moves, and he moved on. They took risks with their performances today. Casey sang Bubbly and Jermaine sang Brickhouse. He’s not sure why more people don’t like that song. I don’t know either, as it was my ringtone on my phone for awhile. Casey sounds good on Bubbly. I think it’s a risk that will pay off. He’s not super-excited about what he just did, but knows it’s just a piece of the puzzle. Jermaine had fun and wants to do it again.

Intersetingly none of the rooms have happy people. They’re all totally tense. Jermaine Sellers sang Man in the Mirror today and did MJ proud, I think. Ellen DeGeneres and Kara DioGuardi look thrilled. Yet then he notes that in rehearsal he cut the last part out, so turns around and tells the band that wasn’t right. Bad move. The judges liked what he did; he didn’t need to say a thing. They never would have known it was a mistake. Yet now he’s made himself look like he has control issues.

Siobhan Magnus is worried about the first day in Hollywood when Ellen told her to lighten up and not be so old. She let loose today, singing Living For the City. It was great. Crystal Bowersox was a one-man band playing guitar, harmonica, and singing If It Makes You Happy. Wow is all I can say.

Alex Lambert struggled to play the ukulele on day one to accompany himself to some Jason Mraz. Yet he was better on Group Night alongside Mary Powers. Despite all this, he chooses to redo Jason Mraz. Also doing Mraz is Michael Lynche, but it sounds much different from the big guy and with a guitar instead of a uke. Todrick also sang it, this time without accompaniment. Interesting that all three sounded like completely different songs, as they were all styled so differently. And let me note here if I see Kara jam in her chair one more time I’m going to lose it.

Thaddeus Johnson’s mom has stuck with him every step of the way, and she’s still there. He says he has to have his momma there cheering him on. Today he also sang Man In the Mirror, but the band started playing Bubbly. He tells Simon Cowell he is a bubbly person, though. He handled the band’s mistake much better than Jermaine. And once the song gets going, he didn’t miss any of it. It didn’t take him out of his game at all. And no one is cheering louder than his mama.

Charity Vance is in room two and sang Gravity. It sounds good, but was a little boring. Tasha Layton impressed the judges on day one of Hollywood but has her doubts now. Mary Powers feels like she’s done enough to reach the top 24. She did well on group one, but didn’t have an easy time on the Group Round. She wasn’t intimidated by the judges and feels she’s pretty intimidating herself. She sang some Katy Perry today, which I think is a bad choice. Her daughter cheered “Yea Mommy” from the audience.

Lloyd Thomas is focused thinking about his wife and kids. He’s another one doing Man In the Mirror. It definitely sounds crass, but it’s like everyone wants to do the dead guy proud. Simon says afterwards that he just likes him. Brian Walker is confident with his performance and glad he got what he thinks was an encouraging sign from Simon. Tisha Holland, Jermaine Purifoy, and Hope Johnson are all fighting nerves in room two. Hope doesn’t feel she fits in anywhere else, other than onstage, and wants to have it easy for once in her life. She sings Home, and there’s something that’s so likable about her, yet the song doesn’t sound the best, and certainly not as good as most we’ve heard tonight.

In Room 3 are Didi Benami, Lee Dewyze, Jessica Furney, Angela Martin, Lacey Brown, and Shelby Dressel. Shelby forgot her lyrics in her original audition and cursed, making everyone laugh. In Hollywood she lost her nerves and gained a fan in Ellen. However, while rehearsing with the band today, she once again couldn’t remember her lyrics to More Than a Feeling. Michael Orland encourages her to just take a few breaths. Once she got onstage in front of the judges, she did amazingly well. Aaron Kelly did forget his lyrics to In the Arms of an Angel. It didn’t go unnoticed. He was the young guy who had been adopted by his aunt and uncle before social services stepped in. When he gets the lyrics, he sounds amazing.

Ashley Rodriguez sang Battlefield, and basically sounds like a star already. Lee Dewyze, from about twenty-five minutes east of me, which I’ll have to remember the next time I need paint, sang You Found Me, which could use a little more polishing, but sounds pretty good. Joe Munoz is yet another to sing Man In the Mirror and sings it well. Haeley Vaughn sang I’m Yours and sounds like she’s shouting it at some point.

Janell Wheeler hasn’t had it easy. She’s been fighting her voice all week and sits coughing throughout the day. She admits she’s nervous and says she can’t go home. She sang Love Story, and for having a hurt voice and throat, it isn’t bad. She does need some phrasing help, though. Kara says afterwards it was the wrong song, and Janell is worried she blew it, as she couldn’t take the pressure.

We hear a little bit of Room One which includes Tori Kelly who sang Hot ‘n Cold and Lilly Scott who sang Rich Girl. Andrew Garcia, a favorite already of many, sang Chasing Pavements, and listening to him throughout the competition, I think he could easily win this thing. Room two is full of fighters, with the head honcho of them all Mary. Hope has had to fight through life. Room three has had its ups and down with many of them having the down as their last moment onstage.

The judges address Room one first. Ellen tells them it’s her first time doing this, and there are so many good singers, and they keep saying you made it this far, you know you’re good, but now it’s a matter of shining onstage. But it’s not a problem “for y’all” as they’re going through. This includes Lilly Scott, Siobhan Magnus, Tyler Grady, Thaddeus Johnson, Michael Lynche, and Katie Stevens. The other two rooms hear them celebrating and are now extra-worried. Mary wonders if she passed the test.

Room two is the next to hear their fate. Simon addresses them and tells them whatever happens, he wants them to know that most of them were better than they they thought they would be. However, they have to deliver the news, and it’s bad news. They didn’t make it. Stunned faces are all around. He tells them to give themselves a round of applause. Hugs and handshakes go around. Mary Powers, Charity Vance, Brian Walker, Christian Spear, Lloyd Thomas, and Hope Johnson have hit the end of the road.

The judges now enter room three, and Randy Jackson tells them they say it every year, but truly this year, he thinks they’ve had the best talent they’ve ever had. They put in a a lot of work and there’s just never enough room to include everyone’s talent.” Kara chimes in and talks about them starting strong, and it’s hard to tell them, but they’re going to stay. Janell Wheeler, Ashley Rodriguez, John Park, Angela Martin, Jessica Furney, and Shelby Dressel are now moving forward. Rooms one and three now celebrate together, all forty-six of them.

The judges now have to deliberate again and cut out the twelve top women and the twelve top guys. Interestingly enough, they are now announcing the semi-finalists in the Kodak Theater, instead of a hotel or similar building.

Michael Lynche, 26, a personal trainer, Astoria, NY is the first up to hear his fate. The new father steps up on the stage and tells the judges he is freaking out. He thinks he’s done well the past few days and that it’s the waiting game that freaks him out. Simon tells him they think he’s a nice guy and that he’s improved. Their problem is whether he will believe he can do this, yet they still think he’s better than when he startedHollywood. He’s through. Michael picks up the female judges to thank them and gives big hugs to the guys. Ellen warns him not to hurt her back. Michael dedicates it to his wife and new baby girl, saying Daddy’s coming home.

Didi Benami, 22, a waitress, Hollywood, CA is in next to hear her fate. She sang Kara’s song on the first day in Hollywood. Didi had lost her best friend and dedicated the audition to her. It was also because of her that she sang In the Arms of an Angel. She reminds me of Brooke White. She knows Rebecca would have wanted to do this so much, but didn’t get the chance to, so she’s dong it for her. Simon asks her how well she thinks she did. Didi thinks she did well. She breaks down, and Simon tells her she’s not alone, and that she had bad and good moments, but when she was good, she was fantastic. Unfortunately there are only 12 places, and she’s one of the 12. She tells Kara her song was awesome and celebrates and cries in her seat, then gets up to hug Kara.

Katelyn Epperly, 19, a student, West Des Moines, IA is up next. Her father had left the family shortly before her audition. Simon wasn’t totally thrilled, and after singing Something to Talk About, Ellen told her they were looking for a more emotional connection. She sang Bubbly on her last day in Hollywood, and frankly it could have gone better. Yet, she’s worked hard and is proud of what she’s done. Ellen addresses her and says she knows what it’s like to wait, as she’s auctioned many times too, and heard the word no. She wants her to hear right way, but keeps talking on and on. Katelyn is going through. She runs out screaming and knows her mom is going to freak out.

Shelby Dressel, 18, a waitress, Avon Park, FL is worried, but still riding on the mentions of her last performance. She’s so drained emotionally, and just to go further would be such a blessing. Randy addresses her, asking how she feels. She feels good, like a dream. Randy notes the high and low points, and how tough it’s been, but says they need to figure out who’s got it and who doesn’t. Unfortunately, she didn’t make this year. I’m shocked. I thought she was a lock. They think she showed a lot of growth, through the week. Simon doesn’t look happy, so I think he lost out on this one. After she leaves, either Ellen or Kara says it was hard, and Simon says it was the wrong decision. Outside, Shelby is saying it’s just the beginning.

Casey James, 27, a musician, Fort Worth survived a motorcycle accident, only to audition and be asked to take down his hair and unbutton his shirt. He started impressing more and more after that. As he walks in to hear his judgement, Ellen notes to Kara that he left his hair down for her, but it’s actually up and just falling out. She notes he’s from a town called Cool, and they all embark in a discussion about a town called Cool. Kara thinks it’s pretty cool that he’s going through to the next round. He jumps around and celebrates, hugs everone, and runs out. Kara totally flirted, doing the foot lift as he hugged her. After Casey walks out, Randy busts her on it.

Aaron Kelly, 16, Sonestown, PA is next in. He’s been anxious, and Hollywood was filled with ups and downs like his difficult upbringing. He sounded really good on day one in Hollywood with Kara thinking he had natural ability. But in Group Round he was a lyric forgetter, and Simon thought it seemed like community theater. Ellen asks him how his week has been. He thought it was exciting, but difficult. Group Round was the hardest for him. She tells him it’s good to see he’s a good guy too, and she thinks the people at home will enjoy it too, as he made it through.

Lee Dewyze, 23, a paint sales clerk, Mount Prospect, IL struggled all week, yet still thinks he’s going through. He’s trying to get the negativity out of his head as it comes creeping in and steps up on the stage to hear his judgement. He can’t be the fourth guy in a row going through. Kara tells him he has a great big voice, very powerful, and what they all saw was a lack of confidence onstage and really owning it to be a star. He doesn’t agree and thinks he can do really good things in music. She tells him they didn’t agree until about five minutes ago. He’s in and cries, as they really had him going I think. He stops halfway out and asks if they’re kidding.

Todrick Hall, 24, an actor/playwright, Arlington, TX was asking women if they would get engaged to him out by the pool, asking if their parents would be pleased to meet him, and also asking i they knew he was black. He’s feeling the pressure a lot, as he’s a trained dancer naturally, and was never known for a voice. He gives the credit for all his success to his mom. He tried out thanks to Fantasia encouraging him after he worked with her on The Color Purple. Kara tells him … yes, as he asks, “That’s it?” He made it, and again Simon doesn’t look happy. No wonder he’s leaving after this season.

Jessica Furney, 20, a caregiver, Wamego, KS had been rejected in Hollywood during season eight, but is determined this time. She was the only one in the Group Round to get the lyrics right for Sweet Escape, and insisted she get to sing it, even though Simon cut her group off before her part. There’s a joy coming out of her today. Randy notes her long walk, then says he won’t delay it, and while it’s been tough for them all, she didn’t make it. She begs, saying she’s been through so much and they have no idea.

Jessica knows she can do better. She does everything short of falling down to her knees, and Simon says they won’t be changing her minds, as they’ve made their decision. She asks what she did wrong, and he says she didn’t sing as well as the others, and she counters saying they didn’t have to deal with losing their voices, but he replies some of them did. Ellen says it’s not the end of her career. Simon cuts the session off. She’s done. She still feels like it’s unfair. If she could change one thing, it would be to not stay with the group she was in on Group Round, as she lost her voice trying to help those people, and it bit her in the ass.