Mae Out, Ten are left on Pinoy Idol

Monday, June 30, 2008

pinoy_idol_08 Last night, a couple of fans were shocked because Warren Antig and Mae Flores are in the bottom two. During the performance night, the two received unfavorable comments from the judges.

Unfortunately, Mae Flores who sang “I Didn’t Love You” ended her Idol journey last night. Actually, she’s popular especially during the beginning of the semi-finals (the Top 24 stage).

The remaining 10 finalists of Pinoy Idol – Sue Ellen, Penelope, Jay-ann, Warren, Gretchen, Mae, Kid, Toffer, Robby, Daryl and Ram

A "Superstar" Fell : Mae Flores

I guess votefortheworstpinoy.tk truly has an influence over the voters of Pinoy Idol.

However, it is still a shocker that someone tagged just 2 weeks ago as a “superstar” would be eliminated after a less than stellar performance.
 
Especially when it’s really the fault of the band or the musical director for making song arrangement that sucks. I hardly recognized Penelope’s take on Ne-yo’s So Sick because of the sintonadong banda; just like what happened to Jayann’s Bleeding Love weeks ago.

Of course, these shocking vote results happen to American Idol as well (say, Michael Johns and Chris Daughtry). But at least, they don’t happen almost consecutively and almost all throughout the whole season. Walton, Meryl and Bev are just among the very early exiteers.

And despite being the Idol hopefuls people love to hate, Sue, Warren and Daryl remain.

It won’t be surprising anymore if Kid, Jayann, Penelope or Ram would be eliminated next week.

Toffer and Gretchen still remain at the middle or at the brink of being awful or perhaps, good enough.

As far as the 7 seasons of American Idol are concerned, 100% audience voting to determine the winner still works. After all, these American Idols truly deserve the title, at least as far as the competition is concerned (whether they have a career or none after the show is another matter altogether). Kelly Clarkson, Reuben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carey Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook all deserve their Idol titles.

For our so-called “first Pinoy Idol” despite the dismal production, I still hope that the end result would still be, at least, as convincing and deserving.

Idols We’re Down to Eleven

Thursday, June 26, 2008

pinoy_idol_09 The Top 12 Idol Hopefuls sang their hearts out at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage. The set was bigger and a lot better than that of the Semi-Finals stage. Of course, there are still technical glitches, which are evident throughout the show. A representative from Fremantle Media watched the first gala performance night live. I’m sorry but I failed to take note of the name. Dulce and some of the winners of Pinoy Pop Superstar were in the audience too.

The theme for the first gala performance night is the “greatest performance of their life” or something to that extent. The bottom three for this week are Kid, Jeni and Sue.

The Idol hopeful from Iloilo, Jeni Rawolle left and ended her Idol journey last Sunday night. Next week, we are down to 11 Idol hopefuls. The 11 contestants left are: Penelope, Jayann Bautista, Gretchen Espina, Mae Flores, Sue Ellen, Ram Chaves, Kid Camaya, Daryl Celis, Warren Antig, Toffer Rei, and Robby Navarro.

Don’t miss Pinoy Idol see your Idol hopefuls grace the Idol stage every week! Performance nights are every Saturday after Pinoy Records while results nights are every Sunday after Kap’s Amazing Stories. If you want exclusive backstage access to Pinoy Idol, catch Pinoy Idol Extra every Sunday after SOP and Mondays thru Thursdays after Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita.

Aktres at ‘Idol’ finalist, nahuling naglalaplapan!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Sa sagot ng Final 12 ng Pinoy Idol sa Q&A portion ng presscon nila last Wednesday night, handa na sila sa gala performance nila bukas, Saturday, sa Centerstage (may nagsabing sa SMX) ng Mall of Asia.
   
Matira ang matibay kina Penelope, Jayann Bautista, Gretchen Espina, Jeni Rawolle, Mae Flores, Sue Ellen, Ram Chaves, Kid Camaya, Daryl Celis, Warren Antig, Toffer Rei at Robby Navarro at iitsa-puwera muna ang friendship.
   
Color-coded ang isusuot ng fans ng F12 para makilala sila. Orange for Gretchen, dark blue Mae, light blue for Penelope, pink for Sue Ellen, white for Jayann at yellow for Jeni. Sa boys naman, violet for Warren, black for Ram, red for Kid, gray for Daryl, green for Toffer at brown for Robby.
   
Nabanggit ni Hazel Abonita, program director ng Pinoy Idol, na may mall tour ang F12 sa malls ng SM at tuluy-tuloy ang TV guestings. May lawyer na ring magre-represent sa kanila at ang first Pinoy Idol winner ay ima-manage ng GMA Artist Center.
   
Inalam din namin kay Darling de Jesus, AVP for magazine/musical/variety formats, kung may balak silang imbitahan si Chris Daughtry na mag-guest sa Pinoy Idol.
   
Darating sa bansa ang American Idol 5 finalist sa July para mag-concert. “We’re trying to make arrangements” ang sagot ni Darling sa amin. So, keep your fingers crossed na makapag-guest ito sa show.

Ayaw tigilan ng mga galit sa kanya ang young actress na ito’t lahat na yata ng klase ng tsismis ay ikinabit sa kanya. Ang latest ay ang pakikipaghalikan daw nito sa isa sa Final 12 hopefuls ng Pinoy Idol.
   
Sa Filmex studios daw, kung saan ginawa ang four- week competition ng Pinoy Idol, nakipaghalikan ang young actress at nakita pa sila ng staff ng talent search. Malabo ito’t super higpit ang staff sa F12 finalists, tapos pababayaan nilang nakikipaglaplapan ang isa sa kanila?
   
Saka, ang sinasabing kahalikan nito’y parang harmless at takot sa babae. Pero, tatanungin pa rin namin ang actress and as for the F12, ’wag na nating dagdagan ang stress nito sa paghahanda sa contest at sa ibang araw na natin siya pangalanan. Ang masasabi lang namin, masuwerte siyang ma-link sa young actress.

Pinoy Idol finalists nabubuwisit kay Wyngard Tracy

According to most of the top 12 Pinoy Idol contestants, si Wyngard Tra-cy ang kanilang ‘Simon Cowell.’
    
Ipinakilala na ang na-titirang top 12 contestants ng PI through  another concert but this time sa Music Museum na.
   
Nakatutuwa ang na-ging last question for the contestants noong paubos na ang mga tao.
   
Sino raw sa tatlong jud-ges na sina Jolina Magda-ngal, Ogie Alcasid  at Wyngard ang  pinakabuwisit si-lang mag-judge or pina-katakot sila. And almost half said it was Wyngard.
   
Hindi naman daw  inis, more on takot dahil grabe raw mag-comment si Wyngard sa  performances nila.
   
Siyempre, lahat ng nag-sabi na kay Wyngard nga buwiset  sila, may kabig din  na  ginagawa lang naman daw nito ang trabaho  for their good he he he!
   
Bale siya si Simon sa PI dahil sa American Idol naman, most dreaded din ang comments nito kahit sa  last winner na si David Cook.
   
In time though, maiin-tindihan nila why Wyn-gard is doing that.

Top 12 Pinoy Idol Gala Night Comments

Sunday, June 15, 2008

We expected a better show with the new set of Pinoy Idol. But I guess, expecting even a little improvement would just bring us more disappointment. The lighting sucks. I have never seen a singing contest with lighting that is so bad you can hardly see the faces of the contestants. It's like watching apparitions.

They shouldn't pay the ligthing director whoever he is... they shouldn't pay the director, Louie Ignacio at all.

The stage sucks. What kind of background screen is that? The lights are all over the place, sometimes even in front of the camera. Isn't that the number 1 rule not to shoot against the light? And the color schemes... such an eye sore
 
Why are the contestants walking from the stairs? Kitang-kita ang telon at mga kalat sa gilid ng hagdan. Isn't the stage big enough that they should sing from the stairs?

The judges' area sucks. Why are the judges so far up on their pedestals? We can't even see the audience behind them... all we can see are people walking around behind their dark platform.

The setup of the host sucks. Where the heck is Raymond while he is talking? It's like he is too far from the contestants..that after the judges comments, the contestants seem to look for him somewhere in the stage.

One minute performances? I beg to disagree Jolina, try mo ngang kantahin ang Paper Roses ng isang minuto kung may matuwa sayo. One minute for each song is not enough, especially with your awful musical director and arranger. Sobrang bitin ang mga kanta... parang mismong mga contestant nabitin, with the exception of a few.

Top 12...

1. Mae Flores - was obviously on top of her game last night. "You Oughtta Know" had a good arrangement, taking every bit and pieces of the highlights of the song. Mae's voice was very clear and controlled. That was very nice.

2. Penelope   - She did great with "Alone". She could sing the "phone book" (As Randy Jackson puts it.)

3. Robby Navarro - The level of difficulty of the song is enough to put him in the running. He should just lessen those "kulotations". But he still got a good falsetto. Robby should still work on his versatility and give a surprising performance, just like what he did with Wild Flower and What You Won't do For Love.

4. Kid Camaya - Bitin lang! But he still got the clear and strong voice. He also needs a minor makeover, the lighting doesn't flatter his face.

5. Jayanne Bautista - Such a hottie. She's really a Diva, truly a Natural Woman. haha!

6. Gretchen Espina - She's gorgeous last night. Her looks surpass her performance though. But her take on "Respect" is respectable.

7. Sue Ellen - Alright. It's probably her best performance. She's got to work on her movements though. Wag na syang mag-kuba kasi maliit na sya eh.

8. Ram Chavez - Ram did okay. I just don't get why he is insisting on the Bamboo motion.  

9. Warren Antig - His "Shout" was actually good. He practically nailed it. Justice served well.

10. Toffer Rei - He redeemed himself with his take on Honestly. Bagay sa kanya.

11. Jenni Rawolle - Too old fashioned and nothing really surprising or excellent. There's no spark unlike the Jasmine Trias' cover.

12. Daryl Celis - Masyadong pilit ang grrr factor sa pagkanta nya ng "Superstar". Poor kid. It's not his fault that the judges got him in the contest in the first place. A for effort.  

JJ at Daryl, Inu-okray sa PEx

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

May giyera sa thread ng Pinoy Idol sa PEX, dahil sa pagkaka-eliminate nina Walton Zerrudo at Meryl David sa third elimination ng talent search.
   
Inu-okray at talagang inaaway ng fans ni Walton at ng ibang PI hopefuls ang fans nina JJ Jr. at Daryl Celis sa paniwalang dapat mas unang naalis ang dalawa kesa kay Walton na mas magaling daw kumanta.

Kahit ang judges na sina Ogie Alcasid at Jolina Magdangal ay hindi happy sa resulta ng text votes at naniniwala silang dapat pang manatili sa contest sina Walton at Meryl.

Kaso, nagpabaya ang fans ng dalawa, kaya maaga silang na-out, kahit belong sila sa mas magagaling sa grupo.
   
Wish ng fans ng dalawa’y magkaroon ng wild card para makabalik sila sa contest at matsugi ang mga hindi dapat pumasok sa Top 12.
   
Ipinarating pala namin kay Ogie ang maraming reklamo ng viewers sa Pinoy Idol nang makita namin siya sa presscon ng Urduja.
   
Sabi nito, in-address na nila ang mga reklamo at kung napapansin ng viewers, iba na ang lighting at lilipat sila ng venue ’pag Top 12 na.
   
Sa tanong kung sino ang gusto niya sa natitirang hopefuls, agad ang sagot ni Ogie na “I like Robby (Navarro), he’s good. Hindi ko itinatago kung sino ang bet ko, pero hindi kami puwedeng bomoto. All we can do is encourage the viewers na iboto ang dapat pumasok sa Top 12.
   
“Kaya lang, ang ibang texters, alam lang nila kung sino ang maganda at guwapo at ’pag maganda o guwapong magaling, ’di sila maka-identify.”

Idol Song Choices of the Top 14

Monday, June 9, 2008

Here's the list of the correct song choices from Idol Mole.
 
Top 7 Boys
Toffer Rei- I Could Not Ask For More (Edwin McCain)
Robby Navarro- If Tomorrow Never Comes (Joose)
JJ Jr.- When I Need You (Luther Vandross)
Daryl Celis- Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx)
Kid Camaya- Gone Too Soon (Michael Jackson)
Warren Antig- Panaginip (POT)
Ram Jose- My Sacrifice (Creed)
 
Top 7 Girls
Jeni Rawole- You Raise Me Up (Andrea Joss)
Sue Ellen- Thank You (Dido)
Carol Leus- I Turn To You (Christina Aguilera)
Jayanne Bautista- I Am Changing (Jennifer Hudson)
Mae Flores- Angels (Jessica Simpson)
Penelope- You Light Up My Life (Leanne Rimes)

Gretchen Espina- Try It On My Own (Whitney Houston)

‘Pinoy Idol’ moves to new home, picks 12 finalists

From the Filmex Studio in Makati City, the show will move next week to CenterStage at the Mall of Asia, Pasay City, where the final 12 contenders will be picked.
Four contestants—Rye Estrada, 28, Sherwin Marquez, 26, Regene Ong, 20 and Vrenilyn Villaflor, 17—were eliminated last week, leaving only 18 to slug it out for a slot in the Top 12.

Estrada, who hails from Iloilo, is a band frontman and a Robbie Williams fan who became emotional after dedicating his solo piece to his mom Fanny during Hell Week.

Villaflor, a daughter of a retired police officer, is a Quezon City resident and alumna of the “Batang Kampeon” and PLDT “Tuklas Talino” tilts.

Ong impressed the judges by singing diverse tunes like those of Elvis Presley’s and Sarah McLachlan’s. She also stood out for her unconventional outfits, which she makes herself.

Marquez, Sherwin Bayangan in real life, is a son of a folk singer. He performs regularly at a friend’s bar in Tuguegarao, where he now lives with his parents.

Karylle, host of “Pinoy Idol Extra,” was the first person the contestants spoke with after getting the boot. “I was there right after they got off the stage. That’s the hardest part of being a host of this show,” she told Inquirer Entertainment on Tuesday. “My job is to introduce them to the viewers. I’m also there when they need to respond to controversial issues.”

But Karylle also gets to spend fun time with the contestants. “I went to a bar at The Fort with the Top 24. We all had a good time,” she said.

The job to host “Pinoy Idol Extra” was first offered to Karylle in May. “The producers said they saw how I work on SOP. They based their decision on my performance there and in every New Year’s Eve program I hosted for GMA 7,” she explained.

Karylle alternates with Rhian Ramos as host of the show. Unlike Karylle who was handpicked for the program, Rhian, had to pass a series of auditions.

Rhian also had to contend with detractors who say she only got the assignment because she is the niece of GMA Artist Center boss Ida Henares.

Walton, Meryl Booted Out!

Sunday, June 8, 2008

It's a shock to see Walton and Meryl go out from the competition this early. The 2 was actually predicted to reach Top 5 by many. Their performances this week did not even gave a clue that they will be booted out!

Meanwhile, the worst among the performers, Warren, Daryl,  Carol, and the inconsistent Sue and Gretchen remained safe - and were not even among the bottom 3s.

The show is early reflecting "kamag-anak votes system" or "mayaman votes"  or are the viewers voting for the worsts?

Robby and Penelope, Standout on 3rd Week!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

The frontrunners for the past 3 elimination nights of Pinoy Idol are obviously Robby Navarro and Penelope. It was very daring for Robby and Penelope to pick their song choices, Wild Flower and One Step at a Time, respectively.

I've never seen anyone perform Wildflower the way the lead vocalist of Colour Me Badd did it. Robby took the challenge and got away with it almost effortlessly.

I'm also rooting for Kid Camaya with his honest take on Love Always Finds a Way. 

Penelope did brilliantly with her take on Jordin Sparks' latest single. Her diction and stage presence made her a cut above the rest.

We hope not to see them on the bottom group.

The arrangement of Jayann's Bleeding Love ruined it for her. It almost sounded that the band was sintonado- I wonder why nobody seemed to notice that. The arrangement sucked and so did her singing. And the back-up vocals - geez - the worst.

The same goes with Carol Anne's Voice Within. It almost appeared that her voice died slowly as the song progressed. Not really impressive.

We can't even start with Warren Antig, so we'd rather not talk about him. Is it the swan song for Sue and Warren tonight? Are the judges silently campaigning for the exit of Gretchen after a fairly good take on Jaya? Let's find out tonight!