Watch American Idol Season 9 Episode 14: American Idol: The Top 12 Guys Take The Stage For The First Time Live!!

Top 12 Guys:

1. Aaron Kelly
2. Alex Lambert
3. Andrew Garcia
4. Casey James
5. Jermaine Sellers
6. Joe Muñoz
7. John Park
8. Lee Dewyze
9. Michael Lynche
10. Tim Urban
11. Todrick Hall
12. Tyler Grady

Full Recap

First up tonight is Todrick Hall, 24, of Arlington TX, a writer/actor/dancer. One of his defining moments happened at his audition when he sang a song he’d written himself in the shower. He says people know the song he wrote and have been singing it back to hm. Every day he wakes up and thinks this is such a blessing to be here. He’s singing Kelly Clarkson’s Since You Been Gone, and it sounds like a completely different song

We start with Ellen tonight who says that’s what you’re looking for after a song, to hear that reaction from the audience. Todrick is a dancer and already has that stage presence. She likes what he did with the song, except for the chorus, as it was a little rough. The singing wasn’t the greatest, but he was a gret performer and she liked that he took a chance with the song. Randy says he’s a fan of Todricks’, but what’s crazy is that it didn’t even sound like the same song. You never want to take and obliterate a song, especially when it’s a hit.

Kara agrees, saying Todrick is a strong enough singer that he doesn’t have to change the arrangement so much, as he would take it to a different place making it different anyway. It’s undeniable that he’s a performer, and he took a risk, and that’s how you learn. Simon thinks he came over as a dancer trying to sing. He found it to be a crazy arrangement. He’s all for taking risks, providing you can improve, but what Todrick did was compleely murder the original song, verging on looking completely stupid. Todrick doesn’t have much to say afterwards, although he did question himself about changing the song. Kara gives him a hand for at least having creativity.

Next up for he guys is Aaron Kelly, 16, of Sonestown, PA. His defining moment was his last performance when he did Angels. In a split second it was pretty much silence as he forgot his lyrics, then focused and they came back to him. The experience is very surreal and is still sinking in for him. Tonight he’s singing Here Comes Goodbye.

Simon tells Aaron that bearing in mind it was his first live performance, it was really good. He looks at the moment like he’s embarrassed to be there and isn’t confident enough to now why he’s there. He’s a good singer, very likable, and cute, but he needs to take control of the song. He doesn’t think it was as good as Angels, but he does thik he’ll be around net week. Kara tells Aaron he is her favorite kind of contestant, because he has no idea how great his raw, natural talent is. A competition like this will make him better every week with the feedback. What he does naturally, they can’t teach people. She likes the pop/country thing for him with the soulful spin.

Randy thinks they’re right, saying as a guy Aaron has those incredible pipes . He had a few pitchy moments in the chorus, but he, too, wants him to believe in himself and just thinks “Wow” that a 16 year old has that voice. Ellen dittoes all of that and thinks he’ll be here a long time. She loves how humble he is, but he does need to gain the confidence so he’ll just get better and better. Aaron and Ryan talk about him indeed having confidence, but that he just has to learn to show it.

Jermaine Sellers, 27, of Joliet, IL sang Man In the MIrror on his last day in Hollywood, and practiced it to the tee. It didn’t work out that way, when he called out the band for messing up. He promises not to throw anyone else under the bus again, though, as he looked like Boo-Boo the Fool. He’s not just standing here for himself, but for his city. It’s about proving that you don’t have to dream it, you can be it. Tonight he’s singing Get Here.

Ellen tells Jermaine she’s a fan and loves his look and the song, but she felt like he was singing it more as a performance than actually feeling it. She felt he was pushing a little too much, and ther were a couple of times he went off. Randy loved the song, but it was a weird choice, as it’s an older song, and he sees Jermaine more current, to match his look. He was trying to do too much vocally. He doesn’t need to do so much with it.

Kara thinks Jermain wanted to show eveyrone waht he can do, and not everyboy can do that, but when he does the runs he has to mkae them meaningful. He’s young, though, and it felt old. He thinks he’s old too. At 27? Simon notes it’s the kind of song that if you’re playing music in a cocktail bar, someone in their 50s is going to request it. In the middle he was trying to oversing it, it actually sounded as if he was screaming He thinks Jermaine totally blew his opportunity with that performance. Ellen disagrees; she thinks he’ll be back. Jermaine suggests he do the stanky leg next time. Inside joke? Michael Orland joins him onstage to show they’ve made up after Hollywood.

Ryan talks to Tim Urban, 20, Duncanville, TX, about when he came back to the show to replace Chris Golightly. He was so surprised, but decided it would be entertaining to let his family find out watching it on TV like everyone else.. This was just a big dream when he auditioned, and Tim thought he’d make it after he got to Hollywod, but went home, until Ken Warwick called him and asked him to come back. He finds himself incredibly blessed, and knows he’s getting a chance to change his life. Tim is singing Apologize tonight, and it’s the wrong song.

Simon congratulates Tim for coming back, but feels they made the right decision on not leetting him through, based on that performance. There was nothing to take from that. The vocals were weeak and he didn’t come out as a natural performer. He just doesn’t think his voice is good enough. He might make it through because people feel sorry for him and he looks good, but if he does, he has to get it together. Kara tells Tim the music overpowers him and swallows him up. When he sang in Hollywood with his guitar and it was more organic, they could get more of a feel for who he is. Here he was just buried. People did stand up for him, though, because he’s cute and current.

Randy also thought it was the wrong song, saying Time doesn’t even have the falsetto the original singer does. He personally thinks he’s better than that, and none of it worked. Ellen thinks it’s smart to pick a song that everyone knows and is popular, but he just couldn’t hit the notes. If you close your eyes and hear that, it doesn’t sound good, but looking at him he’s adorable. He may get votes just based on that. He can’t just count on being adorable, though. Tim kind of figured it was the wrong, and it was a last minute switch, but he didn’t want to cut down the song that he really wanted to sing so much as would be needed.

Joe Munoz, 20, of Huntington Park, CA, is a student. On his first day of Hollywood, he made a choice to play his guitar, but his fingers just froze. He couldn’t play, and it went so wong. When he madee it to the next round, he knew he had to do his best. He knows he has to make sure nerves don’t get the best of him again. Joe takes on You and I Both with another falsetto that doesn’t wrok so well

Ellen confirms that Joe feels comfortable onstage and says she could see it in his eyes that he was. He had great stage presence and sounded really good. She liked it. It wasn’t the pefect song choice for Randy, but he thinks Joe has a great voice, and he loves the sound of it. Singing Jason Mraz is really tough, as he’s such a stylizied artist, but he thinks he did a good job with it. Kara likes that Joe picked a song she never would have thought he would. When he started singing he was up front and center, which they’d been missing so far. The chorus had a few issues, but in terms of singing tonight, so far, he’s been the best.

Simon kind of agrees, but notes in the show you have to get out of the bubble, and while the show finds stars that are recognized throughout the world, based on that, he doesn’t believe Joe is that kind of artist. It was a safe, forgettable performance, and he failed to prove that he was a star in the time he had. Ellen understands what Simon is saying, as it is your moment to make people pick up the phone to vote, but he has half the battle in that he sounded good. She liked his comfortability that the others don’t seem to have yet. He tells his family that are in Mexico sin Spanish to vote for him.

Tyler Grady, 20, of Nazareth, PA, is a college student. Throughout, his style has been a topic of conversation with his 70s look and sound. He wants to prove himself and and earn his right to be here as a singer as well as a stage performer. He takes on something from his decade, American Woman. From the first few seconds, here’s the stage performance and star performance we’ve been missing so far tonight. He has a few Mick Jagger qualities when he sings, just having that loose body that roams the stage. They were looking for comfortability onstage? Tyler’s got it.

Simon tells Tyler that on the plus side, people will remember the performance, and on the downside, for some of the wrong reasons. His issue with Tyler is that he comes over as somebody who has gone to “pretend to be a rock star school.” It’s cliche and doesn’t feel natural, and he doesn’t think he spends enough time on his vocals. They know what his style/gimmick is, but he needs to stop pushing that. Kara understands where he’s coming from and says it’s like Jim Morrison all up and over his walls, and it’s playing too true to it instead of adding something to it. He has a frontman persona, but she wants him to bring it into this decade.

Randy agrees that it was style instead of substance. Tyler has done this every time they’ve seen him, so he needs to show who he is what he’s bringing to the 70s. Ellen notes that what’s great about the artists he’s attracted to is they had so much stage presence and charisma. He has the poses, but he’s lacking the charisma and excitement, going through the motions without being that person. He needs to work on the singing too, as Randy adds, “and be an original.” Tyler admits he rehearsed a lot vocally, and for next week, he’ll go to the mall and find something else.

Lee Dewyze, 23, of Chicago is a paint sales rep. He didn’t think this was anything he’d thought he’d really ever do, as just a little while ago he was waiting on customers. What he remembers the most was on his last day in Hollywood when he sang You Found Me as he watched Ellen and Kara singing along and Simon tapping along. He hopes that his love for music shows through his performance. Along with his guitar, Lee sings Chasing Cars tonight, wearing a Weapon Choice t-shirt. And here’s what Tyler Grady is missing, something original. Tyler is copying the 70s, but Lee is carving his own space. We know who Lee is tonight. We’re not sure who Tyler is other than a guy copying 70s rockers.

Ellen tells Lee it was a really good song choice, except when he started screaming a little too much. But she loves the tone of his voice as it has a distinctive sound. She hopes people vote for him, as she thinks he should stay here. Randy disagrees, as he doesn’t like the song on him. He’s a fan of his voice, bu it’s a little too rangey for him and more of a pop/rock song, but he sees Lee more rocker like David Cook. He’d rather see him do something like Kings of Leon.

Kara thinks it makes a point, as the song has a small range, where he tried to change it up a little and made it almost unrecognizable. She’d like to hear him on something more like Bad Company. Simon disagrees with Randy and Kara, thinking it was the best performance on the night so far. Lee is a naturally good singer and needs to be here. His suggestion is to not do Bad Company, but take a song and turn it into his own version like David Cook did with Lionel Ritchie. Ryan wonders why Randy and Kara didn’t hear what Simon and Ellen did. Randy looks at what he personally likes, and Kara just wants to hear something changed up. Standing on the stage, Lee says it feels like he doesn’t ever want to lose this feeling.

John Park, 21, of Northbrook, IL, says his best moment of the experience was Shania Twain’s critique, telling him he had a nice bottom, nice lips and good head. He says watching it on TV was one of the proudest moments of his life and she is the most beautiful woman he’s seen in person. If she would marry him, he would propose to her. John sings God Bless The Child tonight

Simon tells John he has to do an incredible job to take on that song, and he didn’t. It came off very flat and with interestingly zero emotion. It was kind of a pointless performance and didn’t show what kind of artist he would be. Kara agrees, saying he has a really big voice in there, but there was no connection, and it got a big loungey and sleepy, and almost indulgent. She can’t figure out where he goes and where his lane is in terms of today’s music industry.

Randy notes when John hit the bridge with his runs, then the John he loved from Hollywood came back. The song made him seem old and out of sorts though. Ellen isn’t sure why he chose that song either, as it’s not going to make a lot of young girls pick up the phone and vote for him. But if it was a different song, they’d see who the judges know he is. She liked the performance, though, and thought he sounded great. She wants people to vote and give him another shot, though, as she likes him a lot. John explains the song is really important to him and makes him think of his parents, as money is a thing they have to worry about.

Michael Lynche, 26, of St. Petersburg, FL, is a personal trainer and talks about his wife calling him while he was in Hollywood as she was going into labor. To have that and make it to the final 24 in one week helps him know this is where he’s supposed to be. He thinks it’ll be amazing for his daughter to see this knowing he was really trying to be something so she could have a better life. He sings This Love tonight and plays along on his guitar which looks tiny next to his hulking body. Here’s an example of a guy who takes a current song and puts a little something different on it, as he’s not just doing a copycat performance of Maroon 5. I’m not sure the judges will agree though.

Ellen tells Big Mike he has so much personality it’s just bursting out of him, and she loves that he’s constantly happy and smiling. She thought it was a great song choice with a few little pitch problems he’ll hear later. It doesn’t matter as he has such great personality. Randy agrees, as he likes Mike and his personality, and he brought the energy up. He likes him being that kind of gregarious fun character. Randy picks a bone with Mike, though, noting he hurt him and Ellen when he picked them up making it to the top 24. Mike can’t believe Dawg is hurting.

Kara thinks it’s true that it was a bit depressing until Mike came on. If they had had a lot of great performances, they’d be more critical, as it was good, but not outrageously great. What she loves most about him is he’s up there and moving and he’s comfortable with himself. She wants to see him challenge himself more. Simon sums it up saying he was like the support act before the main act. He’s a big guy, big heart, but he delivered so little on the performance, like a vague jazzy performance. He’s someone people are interested in, so he needs to get up there and nail the performance. Ellen thinks people will love him still, and he already has them on his side after Hollywood week and having his baby. She doesn’t want him too get too cocky, though.

Alex Lambert, 19, North Richland Hills, TX, says his defining moment was Group Night, as they all had different personalities, and he thinks they fell apart because of Mary Powers, as he giggles a bit. It’s interesting that he made it and she didn’t. After he made it past that night, it sounded like he said “I hate you,” presumably meaning Mary, and hopefully joking. This has been mu h more than he expected, and he wants to show everyone what he can do. Singing Wonderful World, Alex just doesn’t have a good performance. It sounds so karaoke, and that’s being nice and ignoring the multiple pitch problems

Simon isn’t sure who was happier for it to end, himself or Alex, saying it was the most uncomfortable performance of the night. He was staring into the camera in an uncomfortable way, because he’s been told to do it. He has a good voice, but if he can’t get his nerves together on a night like this, it isn’t ever going to work. He feels for him as he likes him, but if it’s uncomfortable for him, it’s uncomfortable for people watching.

Kara feels Alex needs a hug and says he sounds so much like James Morrison, and while it’s a problem, it’s also a huge compliment. . It’s all there, but just not completely together, although he has great potential. Simon tells him he needs the voice and a great tone, but he needs to pull it together. He likes him, though. Ellen likes him too and likes that he’s holding onto the mullet and isn’t going to let it go. He has a great voice, and Ellen likes bananas, but sometimes it’s just not ripe enough yet. He needs that confidence to ripen. Alex admits this is perhaps only the third time he performed in front of an audience, and notes working with Rickey Minor was awesome.

Here’s Casey James, 27, Forth Worth, TX. His audition was a little bit crazy with Kara asking him to unbutton his shirt. He’s kind of embarrassed at the attention he gets from Kara, but also thinks it’s flattering. He’s going to pick some people to sing to tonight, and it very well could be Kara. He sings Heaven tonight, and he has a little bit of a makeover on his hair. Still long, but more stylized. Randy helps Kara wave along to the song. It’s a good performance, but isn’t anything on top of what Bryan Adams has done with it. His look is going to carry him through until he has more of a defining performance.

Kara tells Casey she doesn’t recognize him with his shirt on, then says it was hard to listen to it, because she’s married. She thought he got a little pitchy when she was in his arms in the chorus. She passes it off to Ellen, who says it was hard for her to hear, as she could feel Kara undressing him with her eyes. She thought he sounded great, though, and she knows he’ll get votes like crazy. Randy tells him from one dude to another, knowing they’re both models, he actually really likes him and it was a great song choice for him. He likes his swagger and likes him, but not in that way.

Kara gets more serious, saying Casey is eye candy, but is also ear candy. He’s noticed for his looks first, but she doesn’t care as he can still sing and play very well, with heart and soul. Simon believes they were both cursed with good looks. Somehow Casey has to manage the talent thing as well. All the kidding aside, though, what he likes about him was that he chose the right song and came over honest and sincere and likable, and obviously the “cougar” loves him. This is the best singing he’s heard from him so far. Ryan gets in on the fun, cracking that looking at the schedule, tomorrow is results, and Friday is Kara’s HR meeting, a two-hour live event.

The last to perform is Andrew Garcia, 24, of Moreno Valley, CA, a musician and stay-at-home dad. The most emotional part of Hollywood was the end when he made it. He tried to keep his cool, but it was so emotional . He feels like music is the only thing he’s good at and the only thing he knows he’s good at. He sings Sugar We’re Going Down, playing along on his guitar. This song has a different, complex beat, that requires different phrasing, and Andrew nails it with a natural ease. This guy is comfortable and makes us feel just as much so. He’s also the only one to nail the falsetto tonight.

Simon was looking forward to hearing Andrew more than anyone else, but was disappointed. It was too serious, too indulgent, and not original enough. When he sang Paula Abdul’s song in Hollywood, it made him stand out as interesting, quirky, and original. It was a risk, but tonight he didn’t take a risk, making him think it was forgettable. Simon thinks Andrew has a great story and a fantastic recording voice, but he wants him to do better. Kara thinks Andrew took the risk, but it was a strange rendition, one that isn’t meant to be played. She likes that he takes chances, and says Paula’s song bought him some time.

Randy agrees with the other judges, saying the arrangement was strange, but he’s a fan, as he still remembers the Paula thing too. Ellen agrees with all, saying Straight Up will carry him, and as a fan, if she was at home, she’d be glad to see him there. When he shined was when he looked at his girlfriend/wife, and that’s when he came out of himself. Like Simon said, Andrew was too serious, but opened up once he saw her. That’s what they want. Andrew notes he picked Straight Up because he had fun with it, but he had fun with this one too.