Fame, Episode 7: Eight Plus One – The Spoiler Is Revealed

Before the show, Joey reviews last week’s show and we get a brief reaction from Lauren and Garry. Garry claims he isn’t upset that he was cut last week and then we move right to the action! The remaining contestants are on the stage along with Joey and Debbie. We meet the judges and then get our instructions for the evening. Debbie reminds us that we are looking for the “triple threat” – that one person who can sing and dance and has “bigger than life personality and can light up the screen.” And, tonight, for the first time we will meet the mysterious “spoiler.”

OK, so once again they are going to call the contestants who made it through in random order, one by one. They are visibly nervous - some holding hands, others holding their breath. Like last week, we are going to drag this out as long as possible with drumbeats and all sort of contrived drama. I will refrain from the sound effects this time around and just tell you that the first person up tonight is Allyson Arena. She’s doing “We are Family” by Sister Sledge. She starts off having trouble with the mike and looks like she is lip-synching. Her dancing doesn’t match the song and she is shrill. Not her best performance to be sure. She tries to make it up with some dance moves (that are totally off), but the entire number just doesn’t work for me at all.

Debbie is all worked up again tonight. JoJo says he’s been critical of Allyson the past few weeks, but tonight she hit him with the left hook. He’s through doubting her. “You’re good,” he says. Debbie tells her she rocked, and Allyson is really excited to have made it. I guess we will be getting the abbreviated judging again tonight.

Debbie tells us they have received thousands of applications to be the “spoiler,” and we get to see what the finalists think. Not surprisingly, they are not happy about this at all. Alex thinks it’s a slap in the face to all of them. Raymond is accepting now, but wasn’t happy at first, and Shannon would have done it if she wasn’t already on the show. Justin thinks they should have been at the auditions (unless they were in jail or something!). Serena is not happy, and Brandon and Harlemm both think it’s unfair. Moy isn’t in favor of it, but is curious. Jamisen is OK with it, and Allyson takes the high road.

After the commercial, more drumbeats… the second performer who is going on is… boom, boom… Justin Jacoby (I really can’t believe this). He is doing yet another original rap. He steals from Ali (“float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”), but at least he is sort of with the beat tonight. “Shake with me, come on and shake with me…” – the audience is into this after he calls on them to get into it several times. This song recaps his previous raps and then he shakes his booty and it is blessedly over. Joey is impressed. Johnny says he is going to make Justin great and that he was better this week.

Two have been chosen; we have six more to go. The third performer is (long pause) Serena Henry. She has chosen Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings.” She starts out on a stool, which is nice for a change. This song really showcases her vocal skills, and I am impressed. Very nice arrangement and she really owns it. This was a very strong performance from Serena. Excellent. Her folks are proud, and they should be. She made Carnie cry and she can’t say enough good things about her. Serena thanks the voters and says “hi” to her very proud mother in the audience.

After the break, to celebrate the Fourth of July, all ten will perform Prince’s “America.” They are dressed in various outfits of red, white, and blue. I like Serena’s flag halter. They all have canes and use them as props, spinning them as they dance around. Anyone who has baton-twirling experience would be ahead in this number. Alex and Harlemm seem to be into this but the rest are just going through the motions. I yearn for “I Came to Work.” Shouldn’t they be getting better at this? Debbie is “ha-ha-ha”-ing like crazy tonight and this is also beginning to annoy me. I am not in a good mood tonight so this may well influence my reactions.

After a commercial for the For Love Or Money “heart-pounding” finale, we return to this torture. Our fourth performer (thirteen second pause – you were right, David!) is Alex Boyd doing “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder. Yay. But Alex is a little off tonight. He does some great dance moves, but his singing isn’t wowing me. He was so good last week, but this song really isn’t right for him or something. He does manage to charm the audience, though, and should survive this one. I sure hope so. Joey thinks it was fantastic, and JoJo cleverly points out that chicks dig him. “You’ve really got the stuff,” he tells Alex, and I agree. Alex thanks America and tells us it’s all for God.

We started with ten; only four more will move on. The next performer America has chosen to stay in this competition is… Moy. She is thrilled and does Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.” Damn - she’s off, too! It has to be nerves tonight. She is flat as can be. She does some nice moves to finish it and smiles coyly, but she just didn’t do it for me with this one. Carnie says it was a great performance and that Moy seemed comfortable with the song. “You’re gonna come back,” Carnie finishes. Is she?