Paula Abdul returned to American idol on Monday, and the world was good for two fleeting hours again. And by good I mean wonderfully weird.
The living legend, that during IdolThe first nine seasons (2002–2010), returned to the panel to fill in for Luke Bryan, who announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19. This reunited her with host Ryan Seacrest, who led her on a gloriously uncomfortable walk through memory.
“It’s a bit nostalgic,” she said she was back Idol“I feel like visiting my little brother at the show we started with our other brother Randy … and, of course, our grandfather Simon [Cowell]Seacrest added, “He’ll love that,” before clarifying, “He’s not looking.” (Let’s hope he doesn’t look, as Abdul later called him ‘the STD’.)
Seacrest and Abdul then looked back at a photo of themselves from the show’s first season, a moment that went downhill … instantaneously. “Why do I look like I’m not happy?” he asked. And when Abdul noticed that she was also did not smile, but asked, “Why were we so miserable?” Yikes.
Then came the biggest surprise of the evening: after introducing Abdul, Seacrest announced that Wyatt Pike “will not participate in the competition. He had to drop out, but we wish him all the best. “Uh, okay? I wish we had gotten some more information, but at least that explains why Idol season brings back 18 participants to compete for his spot.
To get to the results, the following 10 singers were sent to safety: Casey Bishop, Deshawn Gongalves, Cassandra Coleman, Caleb Kennedy, Ava August, Chayce Beckham, Alyssa Wray, Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler and Hunter Metts.
Unfortunately, the following finalists did not got enough votes and were therefore sent to danger zone: Colin Jamieson, Madison Watkins, Beane, Alanis Sophia and Graham DeFranco. The judges got a chance to save just two, and they ultimately decided to keep Watkins and Beane in the game.
Read on for a rundown of Monday’s gigs, with official videos to be added as they become available:
CASEY BISHOP, 16 The first to pass this week, Bishop gave me chills from the moment she started singing ‘House of the Rising Sun’. Not only was it another perfect choice for her timeless voice – which has more tricks up its sleeve than crazy Mary Poppins – but it really set the tone for the rest of the evening. Watch:
COLIN JAMIESON, 22 First of all, I have to give Jamieson kudos for performing Dean Lewis’ “Waves” like he did as he had only was told he was the first competitor to enter the danger zone. Something about the delivery of that news didn’t feel right. That said, it was exactly what we’ve come to expect from Jamieson – the energy and the notes were there. (What more could you want, America ?!) Click here to watch.
DESHAWN GONCALVES, 20 This Ohio native was in a much better position, receiving good news from Seacrest before embarking on a feel-good performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” It was cute, and Goncalves was clearly having a good time there, but I was hoping for something more impressive. It was to Goncalves’ credit that this was his first up-tempo song in the league. That is growth. Click here to watch.
CASSANDRA COLEMAN, 24 I felt like we were seeing Coleman in its purest form during that performance of Maggie Rogers’ ‘Light On’. I’ve fallen for the ethereal quality of her voice, even though she often loses control over it under the pressure of the competition, and I’m excited to see what else she has in store for us. Watch:
CALEB KENNEDY, 16 I’m still not the biggest fan of this objectively talented teen, but that’s only because I can’t understand him. And the judges cannot. How could the same man who gave us absolutely nothing turn around during that pre-performance interview and become a completely different person once the music started playing? We’ve passed the point of debating whether Kennedy has the chops (he does!), But I really wish he’d even give us a hint of a personality to hold on to. Click here to watch.
MADISON WATKINS, 26 I can’t say I ever expected to hear Drake’s “Hotline Bling” performed by one Idol participant, but I absolutely did not hate it. Watkins conceived the late-night love anthem as a sultry lounge track, before adding a lot of emotion and some vocal gymnastics. I wasn’t surprised she ended up in the danger zone, although I wouldn’t have put her there myself. Click here to watch.
AGM AUGUST, 15 I love that the youngest finalist in the competition chose one of the oldest songs of the evening – Queen’s “Love of My Life” – and showed everyone what it’s like doneAngelic, both in image and song, her performance was simply divine. Click here to watch.
BEANS, 23 Guys I think I might be a Beanie baby? I wasn’t terribly surprised when Seacrest sent him to danger zone, but I was used to be surprised by how much I enjoyed his performance of Ben Platt’s “Grow As We Go”. Beautiful, emotional, authentic. There was not a hint of cheesiness from the wedding singer on that stage tonight – just a legit performer who gave me chills with his magical voice. (OK, yes, I am definitely a Beanie baby.)
CHAYCE BECKHAM, 24 After it is brought to safety, it becomes incredible relieved, Beckham treated viewers to an encore of his audition song, Kolton Moore and the Clever Few’s “What Brings Life Also Kills.” It was everything we’ve come to expect from Beckham – from the growling voice to the all-black ensemble – and it was very good. That said, it was very good in the way that even the Grammys have a few performances that double as bathroom breaks. He’s always been a Top 10 shoe, but if he really wants to stand out from some of his more defined competitors, Beckham has to take a page from Katy Perry’s book and give us some fireworks. Click here to watch.
ALYSSA WRAY, 19 A few weeks after crushing ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’, Wray returned to the stage with a solid take on a slightly more dramatic Whitney Houston ballad, ‘The Greatest Love of All’. I am convinced she can sing the phone book and make it sound exciting. Click here to watch.
ALANIS SOPHIA, 19 Real talk: I even have to applaud Sophia to attempt this challenging rendition of “Heart Attack” by Demi Lovato, which is difficult enough on its own. And she absolutely killed it … until she didn’t. I was impressed with the jump, but by the end of her performance, the highs just weren’t there anymore. It became uncomfortable to watch and even more unpleasant to listen to. Click here to watch.
WILLIE SPENCE, 21 I’m so glad Spence chose to sing Rihanna’s “Diamonds” because that’s exactly what he is as an artist – a crazy diamond. Not only was this another impressive performance, vocally speaking, but it was easily Spence’s most confident. He was life as he sang that, and the energy was contagious. Depending on what America is in the mood for this time around, he could really win this thing. Watch:
GRACE KINSTLER, 20 Not all queens wear crowns. Just look at Kinstler, who beat Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman” this week. Her voice, her confidence – she’s the total package. Lionel Richie was right when he called it an “oh my God” show, and something tells me Grande would say the same. Click here to watch.
HUNTER METTS, 22 The last contestant to be brought to safety, this Tennessee native celebrated with a beautiful performance of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” I didn’t find Metts to be the most dynamic performer this season, so I really appreciated the emotion he brought authentically into this performance. Click here to watch.
GRAHAM DEFRANCO, 28 Perhaps it was because DeFranco was the last singer to be sent to danger zone, but there was something particularly bittersweet about his performance of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up.” And make no mistake, it was very good – the kind of gig that makes you wonder how he wasn’t sent through it. (Oh, America, you’re so fickle.) Click here to watch.
Your opinion of Monday’s results? Abdul’s return? Whatever you think about Idol drop it in a comment below.