Idol-Talk: Season 9 Top 10 [& Top 11 Results]

American Idol Season 9: Top 11 Results Show
Airdate: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 [9-10pm]

• The Top 11 lip-sync their way through "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"
• Ford Commercial: "Our Time Now"
• Ryan chats with the contestants
• Paige Miles - Bottom 3
• Tim Urban - Bottom 3
• We find out next week's theme will be R&B/Soul (with mentor Usher)
• The Top 11 mentor, Miley Cyrus, performs "When I Look At You" in a pre-recorded performance. It was so obvious because whenever you saw the judge's area, it was plain as day that those were look-alike stand-in's sitting in those chairs.
• Katie Stevens - Bottom 3
• Katie Stevens is safe
• Demi Lovato & Joe Jonas perform "Make a Wave" live.
• Paige Miles has the lowest number of votes. Before she even has the chance to sing for her survival, Simon announces that the judges will not save her.
• Paige Miles - Eliminated [Correct Prediction: 1/1]
• After the goodbye montage, Paige sings "All Right Now"
• Season 9 Correct Predictions: 8/14

American Idol Season 9: Top 10

Airdate: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 [8-10pm]

Theme: R&B/Soul

Here's an interesting new addition to the show: After coming back from each commercial break, they are showing footage of the previous performer's immediate reaction after leaving the stage, either in the form of their comments to the camera or going back to the green room and being greeted by the other singers. When we saw Siobhan go backstage, she was obviously mad and didn't really want to talk to the others. So it'll be interesting to see if they keep doing this from here on out. It definitely makes for dramatic reality TV, depending on how the judges critiqued them.

1. Siobhan Magnus [Through the Fire]: She started off in the lower register, which didn't work with her vocals. I was hoping the power notes in the last half would improve the performance, but the pitch problems lingered all throughout. This was definitely her worst performance, unfortunately. But, you know what, even the better singers on the show need to have off nights so that American doesn't get complacent with their voting leading to an early elimination.
2. Casey James [Hold On I'm Coming]: Vocally, this was one of his best performances. On that end, I don't think there were any problems. But I still think he needs to loosen up more a little, move around the stage more, but besides that, this is the best he's been in a while.
3. Michael Lynche [Ready For Love]: Casey started the ball rolling, and Big Mike continued it with a solid performance. His vocals were soulfully engaging as usual, and while I kind of agreed with Randy about it not being as exciting, his voice was what sold it.
4. Didi Benami [What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted]: While I agree with the judges that it isn't a top performance, I thought it was at least better than they made it out to be. The ending was really sharp, though, but the first half was somewhat good.
5. Tim Urban [Sweet Love]: Once again, this was a terrible performance from Tim. He can't hold a strong note in his lower register, and he didn't really own the stage. His eyes seemed too confused, and he couldn't relax and enjoy it.
6. Andrew Garcia [Chris Brown's Forever]: I have been waiting for him to improve, and tonight he stepped it up quite a bit. His voice brings you in (when he's good), so I'm relieved that he stopped that downward spiral. This was one of the better performances tonight.
7. Katie Stevens [Chain of Fools]: This song has been done to death on this show, and this was such a predictable choice for Katie. The vocals seemed consistent from last week (which is a fairly good thing), but it wasn't always in tune. However, her voice was at its best during the ending.
8. Lee Dewyze [Treat Her Like A Lady]: Lee has provided the best performance of the night so far. He is coming into his own more and more, and starting to put the nerves away (little by little) as he's growing and improving. It was as if we were at a rock concert.
9. Crystal Bowersox [Midnight Train To Georgia]: This is another song that's been done a lot on this show, but Crystal changed the arrangement and stripped it down to bring another exceptional vocal. The slower feel drew me in and I was hooked. And her falsetto was great.
10. Aaron Kelly [Ain't No Sunshine]: Another overdone song on American Idol. Overall, he did pretty well. My continuous problem with him is that I don't think his musical experience is vast enough yet to feel safe picking less familiar songs (or less overdone songs).

Favorite Performances: Crystal Bowersox / Lee Dewyze / Michael Lynche / Andrew Garcia / Casey James

My Vote(s): Lee Dewyze [15 votes] / Crystal Bowersox [30 votes]

Bottom 3 Prediction: Didi Benami / Tim Urban / Andrew Garcia

Elimination Prediction: Tim Urban

My Season 9 Vote Tracker:

Crystal Bowersox: 110 votes

Lee Dewyze: 45 votes

Siobhan Magnus: 20 votes

Michael Lynche: 15 votes

Total: 190 votes cast so far this season

When I was considering who could be in the Bottom 3 this week, I immediately chose Didi and Tim. But the third spot is a little trickier. It could be Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens, or Aaron Kelly. Aaron was just okay, but he performed last, so he has the edge. Katie was pretty good, but since she was in the bottom 3 last week, her fans have probably rallied around her this week enough to spare her from a repeat appearance. And even though Andrew gave one of the better performances of the night, his fans may think he's safe and may not have voted for him as much, thus a possible Bottom 3 appearance. That is why I have chosen Andrew to take the third spot, but like I said, I would not be surprised at all if Katie or Aaron are there instead.

Now, in terms of who will be going home, this one seems easier to predict. It's between Didi and Tim. My initial instinct says to choose Tim, for obvious reasons. But will it be Didi instead? While that's a great possibility, here's my reasoning for her staying: After her performance, Ryan tried to pry out of her the reason she chose that song and why she was emotional. She said there was a personal reason to it, but wouldn't divulge any further. Her on-stage emotions, combined with Ryan's prodding, may well be enough to spare her from elimination this week (and even the Bottom 3 altogether, which could make for some drama if that were to happen). Thus, my prediction is Tim Urban to go home.

If you want to buy any of the audio performances, head on over to TV Watch Online's American Idol on iTunes page. If you don't see this week's links up when viewing that page, they may not be released on iTunes yet. If that is the case, keep checking back.

Tonight, we find out which contestant will be the first to perform on Tour. Plus, this week's mentor (Usher), Diddy, and season 2 winner Ruben Studdard will all perform. See ya then...

Kaleb Nation Interview, Bran Hambric Review

TV Watch Online EXCLUSIVE:
Interview with Author Kaleb Nation
September 9, 2009

Meet Kaleb Nation: Blogger. Internet sensation. Writer. And now, published author. And it just so happens that his debut novel, Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, is being released today through Sourcebooks Jaberwocky. I had the distinct privilege to be able to read an Advanced Readers Copy just over a month ago. With the release being today, I thought it fitting to share with everyone TV Watch Online’s exclusive five-question interview with the author and my own review of the book.

From BranHambric.com:
Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind -- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.

Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot which started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete.

Haunted by the spirit of his mother’s master and living in a city where magic is illegal, Bran must undo the crimes of his past...before it is too late.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse is the first book in a planned series, which chronicles 14-year-old Bran Hambric as he discovers who he really is by delving into the past.

I am a huge fan of fantasy novels, but it is rare for me to read one where, afterwards, I am willing to pay money to buy my own copy. Bran Hambric is one of those rare exceptions. The book is being marketed towards a middle school level; however, it is an enjoyable read for people of all ages, just as Harry Potter is. And speaking of Harry Potter, if you are a fan of the light-hearted, funny, witty, and comedic moments of the earlier HP novels, or of any Lemony Snicket books, then this is the book for you.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket, this book is for you!

My favorite scenes are with the Wilomas family, Bran’s adopted family. Sewey, who works at the bank that Bran was found in as a baby, is Mr. Dursley-ish, but has his own hilarious phrases, such as “Oh rot!” I say Mr. Dursley-ish, instead of saying he is just like Harry Potter’s uncle, because he is, if you can believe it, more likable and funnier. I am not sure if Kaleb meant for that to happen, but that is the feeling I felt from his character. His wife, Mabel, is a germaphobe who is also such a unique character that you want to spend even more time with this family, no matter how horrible they treat Bran. Then there’s Balder, who always needs the biggest and newest products, and Baldretta, who, at three-years-old, needs a translation every time she says something. The only sensible one in the family, and the one who is the closest to Bran, is Mabel’s cousin, Rosie.

“Oh rot!”

One of my favorite lines is one that is repeated throughout: “No gnomes, no mages, etcetera.” What does that mean, you ask? Well, you should read the book to find out. But I will say that you can find out more about this in my interview.

All fantasy novels seem to feature the cliché speech about doing what you are meant to do . And Bran Hambric is no exception: “Are you going to be ordinary like everyone else? … Will you just give up when things get hard? Let them force you to forget who you are? Or will you find the courage to make the choice—and be a hero?” [Page 331, ARC] But when an author can make it work, like Kaleb has, it can be a powerful thing.

For those who have read the final two Harry Potter books, you will be familiar with the Horcrux storyline and the history behind it. There is a similar feature in Bran. While that may seem like Kaleb took the easy way out by not being original, take note: he has not even read the HP series, so I will let him off the hook this time.

I can’t talk about this book without talking about the cover. Wow! Brandon Dorman, the illustrator, did an amazing job. I know that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. But by browsing the shelves of a bookstore, we are drawn towards particular books because of the covers. And if you see this cover, you will be drawn towards it, too. There is such detail and depth in the illustration that clearly captures the magic and suspense of the story. And you may ask questions like “Who is Bran running from?” and “Does the crescent moon necklace have any meaning to the story?” The answer to the latter is “yes.” I really hope that Mr. Dorman illustrates the covers for the rest of the series; I know Kaleb wouldn’t mind.

[The cover] clearly captures the magic and suspense of the story.

I won’t keep going on and on, because I do not want to give too much away. I want you to experience it for yourself.

If you are still not persuaded to read it, you can read a four chapter preview at branhambric.com to get a sense of what the book is like before you buy it.

TV Watch Online Interview:

And now, without further ado, I present to you the TV Watch Online interview with Kaleb Nation:

TV Watch Online (TWO): Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse takes place, for the most part, in the city of Dunce. Is this the only city that outlaws gnomes, mages and etceteras? If so, why?
Kaleb Nation: In the story, as of now, Dunce is the only city that completely outlaws magic and gnomes. However, there is still a great deal of prejudice against gnomes throughout the whole world, so it's not much better for them outside. As for the reason why, I'll be writing more about that in one of the books.

TWO: Each member of the Wilomas family is unique in their own way. Did their characteristics and qualities come easily to you when writing?
Kaleb: The Wilomases appeared in the story fully formed in my mind. In fact, they have mostly been the same from the beginning, except that Balder was two people (Balder and Nasier) that I merged into one, and Mabel's medicine obsession appeared a few years into writing her character. When I'm writing, the scenes with the Wilomas family are probably my easiest to do, because they really drive their own scenes by themselves!

TWO: How did you decide that gnomes would be featured, and why are they discriminated against?
Kaleb: I'm not exactly sure where that idea came from. It was just something that has always been a big part of the story, and never was any different!

TWO: Why did you decide that the story would take place in a modern setting, as opposed to a more historical time?
Kaleb: When I had the first idea for the book, way back on 3/3/03, I imagined Sewey and Bran on the rooftop of a modern house. That was simply how it appeared in my mind. I didn't really take the time to think "this is an alternate, fantasy world with cars and buildings instead of knights and castles" because the modern setting was just how the story was originally envisioned.

TWO: You have mentioned in previous interviews that a prominent theme found in this book is the power of choice, whether it is with Bran’s mother, or Bran himself. Will that theme continue to reappear in the rest of the series, with Bran knowing that he has a choice in aligning with the good side?

Kaleb: Choice is certainly a strong theme throughout the series. When Bran is faced with such a strong predisposition to be a criminal, nearly every choice he makes is an important one so that he doesn't fall for the same fate his mother did. I think that the choices we make in real life are the same way, and can alter so many things that we may never know about -- even if we don't have a mother who is a magic criminal!

Many thanks go out to Heather Moore, Liz Kelsch, and especially Paul Samuelson for sending me the ARC and setting up the interview.

If you want to purchase a copy of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by debut author Kaleb Nation, visit the TV Watch Online STORE, where this product can be found on the front of the TV/Entertainment Products page.

You can also bid on an extra ARC on eBay. Click here to read more and place your bid.

This interview is one of many stops along the Bran Hambric Blog Tour. Click here to see the complete list.

Keep visiting T.W.O. and our Twitter page to find out the latest on when any future interviews will appear here on Blogger. Until next time, you know you can always find the latest television, movie and entertainment news on TV Watch Online.

TV Watch Online to Launch on Blogger with Kaleb Nation

ANNOUNCEMENT:
TV Watch Online Launches on Blogger
August 21, 2009

As previously announced, TV Watch Online will have an additional online outlet aside from the T.W.O. BLOG, and that is on Blogger. This particular blog will not focus on the usual commentary and news seen on the TV Watch Online BLOG. Rather, it will feature a new segment not seen on this website yet: interviews. Starting in September, the first interview for the site will be posted online here at tvwatchonline.blogspot.com.

I previously gave a hint of who would be featured first, and now I can announce that debut author Kaleb Nation will launch the interview blog on September 9. Kaleb is known in the Twilight fandom as the ‘Twilight Guy.’ At twilightguy.com, he comments on each chapter in the series, giving a male perspective to the Twilight Saga. You can also follow him at kalebnation.com and various other outlets. His debut book, Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, is the first in a planned fantasy series, and is being published by Sourcebooks Jaberwocky, with a release date of September 9, 2009 (that’s 9/9/09).

In the leadup to the release, Sourcebooks is launching a Blog Tour for the online community to interview Kaleb. I was fortunate enough to receive an Advance Readers Copy of Bran Hambric, and have submitted my five questions for him to answer.

On September 9, my mini-interview with Kaleb Nation will be available online at the URL mentioned above.

If you want to purchase a copy of the book, click here, or visit the TV Watch Online STORE, where this product can be found on the front of the TV/Entertainment Products page.

To stay up to date on this or any future interviews, keep visiting TV Watch Online (& on Twitter) and here at tvwatchonline.blogspot.com.