Star Search, Episode 4: The First Semi-Finals

Thursday (January 16) was the semi-finals, with all three previous winners from that last three shows in each category now competing against each other for the right to come back on February 6 to participate in the Finals. Because there are three competing head-to-head-to-head instead of the usual two, the show goes fast, with limited introductions and Arsenio repeatedly telling the judges to hurry up. I thought I would like it without all the extra stuff, but it was actually very tiring to watch.

Arsenio begins by explaining his foul-up with the tie votes last night. To put it into as few words as possible, the audience acts as tie breaker. This will be important again tonight.

Our guest judge this week is Tyrese. He joins Naomi Judd, Ben Stein, and Carol Leifer in the judges’ corner.

We begin with the Junior Singer category where we meet, once again, Meaghan, Tiffany, and Maridel.

Meaghan sings “Reflections” from Disney's Mulan soundtrack. Meaghan has a unique, wonderful voice and if you close your eyes, you would swear she was a grown woman. This voice could relax you so much that a bed of nails would feel like a down comforter.

Naomi - 4 stars. She says she feel that she has been touched by an angel.
Ben - 5 stars. This is the voice he wants to hear when he gets into heaven.
Carol - 4 stars. Last week we heard Ave Maria and this week, this. Very impressed.
Tyrese - 4 stars. He would have scored her higher, but he felt her dress was too mature. He says a kid should dress like a kid.

Tiffany is next and sings “Somewhere There Is a Winner in You.” Tiffany is excellent, but she still sounds like a kid. She has a lot more power, but does not have a better voice than Meaghan. But the judges think she is perfect, and score her accordingly.

Ben - 5 stars. Perfection
Naomi - 5 stars. Stupendous
Carol - 5 stars. The next Whitney Houston
Tyrese - 5 stars. Stood nearly the whole time she was singing.

Lastly, Maridel comes out and sings “When You Believe.”

Naomi - 4 stars. Says she feels like she is Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice choosing which one of her children live. Thanks a lot, Naomi, you just gave away the movie for me.
Ben - 4 stars. Says he will pay for her to go to graduate school.
Carol - 4 stars. She had a really tough act to follow.
Tyrese - 4 stars. Loved her.

With the Audience voting, the total is 32 - Meaghan, 35 - Tiffany, 32 - Maridel. Tiffany wins.

Next up in the Model Category. Andrea comes out in a bikini and the judges, except Tyrese, do not like it.

Ben - 3 stars. Young, gorgeous, not as good as last time.
Naomi - 4 stars. Body language was too suggestive.
Carol - 4 stars. Stunning, but acting like a stripper.
Tyrese - 5 stars. Says everyone knows the black man likes a pretty face and a big butt.

Kim is next. She too is in a bikini.

Ben - 5 stars. That is what a model is supposed to look like.
Naomi - 3 stars. She has fearless self confidence.
Carol - 4 stars. Stunning, gorgeous.
Tyrese - 3 stars. Liked the walk.

Porschla is next. Again in a bikini.

Ben - 4 stars. Liked the fact that it looked like she would slap him if he didn't give her a high score.
Naomi - 2 stars. Says it don't mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.
Carol - 5 stars. Says she is thin, but has junk in the trunk.
Tyrese - 4 stars. Stands up and gets the audience cheering.

Naomi Judd should not judge these models, she is nearly rude to them. To hold the fact that they look sexy against them is ridiculous – they are models! She nearly scolds them all in some way or another.

The winner is – oops it is a three-way tie with everyone getting 29 points each! Now Arsenio is an old hat at the tie-breaking thing and we know the audience vote is the tie-breaker. But wait – two of them are tied even in the audience vote. They have to go down to decimal places! Porschla has a knowing look on her face, and is smiling before Arsenio even announces that she is the winner. Maybe her family is plugging away at the computer voting here. Porschla will go on to the finals.