Star Search, April 11: Bring on the Semis

We've waited through three episodes, and the favorites have come out on top. But who of these semifinalists will be able to make it one step further to the finals? The game has been raised a notch, and hopefully the performers have raised their game too. Mr. Charming himself, Arsenio Hall, welcomes us, and makes joke about the judges being quiet. I have a feeling that won't happen. And speaking of the judges, here they are.

Naomi Judd is with us, as always, and she seems a bit giddy tonight. Interesting. Watch out for her tonight. Ben Stein checks in with his constant praises for our troops overseas. Ahmet Zappa rounds out the celebrity judges, but don't forget about our guest judge. Tonight country crooner Brad Paisley is joining our panel. Brad seems like a nice enough guy, so don't expect any Simonesque comments from him.

Alright. The judges are ready. The lights are set. This can only mean one thing. Time for our Junior Singers Category.

Jeremy - "Overjoyed"

This kid seems absolutely scared to death. If I could tell the singers anything, it would be to look natural and like you're having fun. I'm so worried for this kid that it's hard for me to watch him. He does sound a little flat, but he has soul, and I like it. Still, I don't think it was his best. He cracks at the peak and oversings the ending. But did the judges notice?

• Naomi says he has a soulful voice. True, true. 4 stars.
• Ben says that he "started off weak" but got better. I completely agree. 4 stars.
• Zappa seems to be running out of things to say. And this is only the first performer. He "really liked" Jeremy. 4 stars.
• Brad hopes that Jeremy doesn't make it til he's older so he doesn't get ruined. That's nice… I think. 4 stars.

That gives Jeremy a grand total of 16 stars.

Luis - "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"

Talk about a turnaround from the last guy. This kid has enough emotion and charisma to make up for the both of them. It's even almost to the point where it's a little too cheesy. Still, he's comfortable and having fun. He nails his vocals too. And give Luis a few years and he'll be on the cover of Tiger Beat. He's a cute kid.

• Naomi seems like she's getting a little too excited. She calls Luis a salsa heartthrob. That's nice, but she goes on to compare him to Rickey Martin. He had like two hits and faded from the spotlight, is that really a compliment? 5 stars.
• Ben brings up a tough subject. He claims he was better the first time. Does this mean he should be given lower marks though? Luis does alright with 4 stars.
• Zappa seems to have come to work drunk, because he can't hold himself back when exclaiming Luis was "so good!" 4 stars.
• Brad compares Luis to Wayne Newton, and I definitely agree. Cheeseball all the way. 4 stars.

That gives Luis a grand total of 17 stars.

Mariah - "The Prayer

Up last is the ever-adorable Mariah. She's a cute kid, but kind of struggling with the low notes. She did the same last time, if you'll remember. She definitely has some power behind her voice though. The only thing that rubs me the wrong way is that her voice is so mature sounding. When I hear the junior singers, I don't want to hear a 35-year-old's voice coming from a 9-year-old's body. It's just not right.

• Naomi is trying to be nice, and tells her that she "needs practice." 3 stars.
• Ben, on the other hand, loves her. He says he's "moved." 5 stars.
• Zappa says she's "adorable." I think he scares her in the process, too. Tone it down Zappa. 4 stars.
• Brad hits the nail on the head when he calls Mariah "raw talent." She's very good, but very inexperienced. But what do we expect? She's nine! 4 stars.

That gives Mariah a grand total of 16 stars.

Luis is in the lead with 17 stars and Mariah and Jeremy are tied for second with 16. This is close. It's still anybody's game. Arsenio's ready, and he hits us with the digits. Luis is the victor! And I have to admit, I'm glad. He's very deserving.

Next we have the Young Dancer Category.

Knucklehead Zoo

You HAVE to remember these guys from the preliminaries. They brought the house down with their street choreography. Tonight they're back and I can't wait. I think these kids are so polished that it's hard to find something to critique. They're clean. They're together. They even have these break poses in the middle where they freeze. The best part about them is that they're original.

• Mr. Stein calls the boys "choreographic." 5 stars.
• Ahmet says they're "so totally cool." If he doesn't start to actually comment on the acts, he's going to be fired. 5 stars.
• Brad compares them to "The Matrix." And EVERYBODY loves "The Matrix." 5 stars.
• Naomi's going a little crazy. Calm it down, Naomi. She loves the "well-choreographed bursts of energy." 5 stars.

Knucklehead Zoo has a total of 20 stars. Perfect Score. Nice!

Mike and Gina

Mike and Gina are up next and they have a tough act to follow. While they're good, I don't think they're up to the caliber of the first act. They have some small missteps, and I even think Mike slipped once. They are pretty repetitive. I just really didn't feel them.

• Mr. Stein, however, likes their energy. 5 stars.
• Ahmet did catch the few small "snafus." And the audience boos. Maybe this is why he never actually judges. 3 stars.
• Brad doesn't have the heart to tell them the truth, so instead he says it's "great." 4 stars.
• Naomi can be a little harsh at times, but she does always try to keep it positive for the kids. She tells them to "keep growing." 3 stars.

That leaves Mike and Gina with 15 stars.