American Idol: The Vegas Concert

Still suffering from that American Idol withdrawal? Fear not. Fox won’t let you down. You will have enough American Idol to make you sick. The first salvo is this concert, billed as a Top 30 reunion. This reporter will do his level best to bring you all that went down, with my own thoughts thrown in. You’ve come to expect this.

The show kicks off with the whole cast singing “I’m So Excited.” I am too, I’m seeing lots of ab muscles! Out comes Justin Guarini asking how everybody’s doing! Woooo! And, it’s his pleasure to introduce two faces you never want to see again: Ryan Seacrest and Brian Dunkleman!

More slapstick from the Briyans. You don’t care. Dunkleman promises a night to remember.

Flashback to Kelly Clarkson’s crowning moment. She’s sure to fare better than Miss Universe.

Now, Kelly performs “Before Your Love” interspersed with shots from her new video. The video is nice, lots of Vaseline on the lenses, lots of candles, Kelly is glowing. Her spikey-haired boyfriend surprises her for her birthday! Awwww. I’ve decided I like “Before” much more than “A Moment Like This.”

Kelly then got to plug her video and the tour and all things befitting an American Idol.

Then we got the whole cast doing “California Dreaming,” kicking off a 60s medley. Then we had Tamyra Gray, Christina Christian (looking sensational!), Nikki McKibbin, Ryan Starr, and Kelly trading spots in “It’s In His Kiss.” It was the guys turn as Jim Verraros, AJ Gil, RJ Helton, EJay Day, and Justin treated us to “California Girls.” Solo time; Ryan gave us a spirited “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” Tamyra refreshed us with “Fool In Love,” Nikki rasped through “Take Another Piece of My Heart,” AJ Gil sang “How Sweet It Is,” Justin simmered “The Look of Love” (my personal fave of his), Christina sparkled, “Don’t Make Me Over,” EJay ignited “Unchained Melody” (this guy is truly talented... it’s just that ego!), RJ quivered through “Under The Boardwalk,” Kelly charged “Natural Woman” (my personal fave of hers), and all 30 joined in for “Happy Together.”

Can they possibly get air time for all 30? Will the 20 referred to as “The Rest” on American Idol’s website get any attention or will they be resorted to chorus duty?

Back from the break, Justin gives us a solo of “For Once In My Life.” This is not the kind of stuff Justin should be doing.

Hey! Do you wanna be an American Idol? Do you have the skin to take crap from Simon Cowell for your own good? Well, you gotta audition. Here’s where and when you can:

Detroit, October 21

New York, October 24

Atlanta, October 27

Nashville, October 30

Miami, November 2

Austin, November 5

Los Angeles, November 20

You’re welcome!

Time for a cast number, and they threw the ladies out in the Nevada desert somewhere to sing “I’m Every Woman.” Lots of gauzy, blousy material, butts pooched, backs arched. It rocked! Then things got interesting. For “Get Here” we were treated to traded parts from Alexis Lopez, Jazmin Lowery, Kelli Glover, and Tanesha Ross. Well done! Then Angela Peel was brilliant with “Run To You” all by herself! Yes! This is what I wanted! Show me some people I haven’t seen for awhile! A particularly smoldering “Midnight At The Oasis” was performed by Alexis Lopez (big things in this girl’s future), Kristin Holt (looked a touch uncomfortable with all that sexy get-up), Rodesia Eaves (I’ve missed her. Spectacular voice!) , Natalie Burge (looking astonishingly like Britney Spears! Not a bad move, considering she can sing circles around La Britney), Tanesha Ross (even more beautiful since we last saw her, but all that neck rolling was annoying), and, of course, the flagship, Tamyra Gray.

I just saw eight beautiful young ladies with voices far superior to Nikki McKibbin’s, yet she was in the top ten and they were not. How could this have happened?

Speaking of the flagship, Dunkleman said something smarmy about the outrage at Tamyra’s dismissal. So, JUST FOR US (no, just for the potential record sales, she’s already signed), Tamyra ignited “A House Is Not A Home.” If she sang this song for three straight days, I would not tire of it. What a find she is!