Star Search, February 7: Let Freedom Sing

Here we go again. Another edition of Star Search. It’s sweeps month so, hopefully, they will kick it up a notch or two. We can only hope.

By now this show has fallen into a predictable pattern and opens with a clip of three former Star Search contestants who have made it big. Tonight Christina Aguilera, Rosie O’Donnell and Usher are cited! During the review of last week’s show where Vicki dusted the challenger, she tells us that while she was happy that she won the challenge, she wasn’t happy with 14 stars. Vicki doesn’t settle for anything less than 15 stars. That’s the spirit!

Arsenio comes bounding out and the crowd is seriously pumped. He makes a few jokes about Janet’s moment in the sun, as it were, and says that CBS is so nervous about live broadcasts that they asked if they could cover Matti’s head. He continues, saying that the only thing that will be exposed tonight is the up and coming talent in America! We learn that last weeks score of 4 Stars by challenger Nina Storey was an all-time low and that it was “crazier than a Jackson family reunion.” Heh!

He introduces the judges, Naomi Judd (the CEO of Star Search judging), Matti Leshem, and MC Lyte, who is nominated for a Grammy. We’ll be watching!

The first category, Young Singers, makes Arsenio feel like a proud daddy and we begin with an 11-year old from Saginaw, Michigan. Horrell Holmes, Jr. (still no names on the screen) is singing a Temptations tune, “Get Ready,” and is looking real spiffy, dressed up in a pinstriped suit. The kid has awesome stage presence and a great voice. Good moves too. Oh yeah. Harrell is a natural. Harrell Holmes, Sr. is going wild in the audience and his son is really feeding off the vibe. The song is just a bit too old for his voice but he did a good job with it. Hey, I’m smiling!

The audience loves him and Arsenio is crazed. Naomi loves the classy suit and the James Brown foot moves. Yikes. Matti says he doesn’t know what his parents were thinking but they were right. “You’re a natural,” he finishes. MC loves him too and says he has the “full package.”

Harrell gets 12 stars (4-4-4).

His challenger is 13-year old Charlene Cipollone from Rhode Island, who is singing Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” Once again we have a song that’s too old for a young girl. She’s off-key and over emotes all the way through it. Her voice is different, though, very deep for someone so young, and with the right material, she could do okay. This song just doesn’t work.

Naomi says it’s too bad Charlene is not old enough to go to a honky tonk where she could watch seasoned performers and study posture, pitch and performance. Matti likes her voice but points out her pitch problem and tells her that overall, he thinks it was a weak performance. She thanks him. MC would like to see her sing a happier song!

Harrell returns to the stage to await the decision. Charlene gets 7 stars (2-2-3) so Harrell wins the round.

This week’s fun filler piece is a competition within the competition. This spot is necessary, replacing last season’s Comic category, and I should be grateful for that. But I have to tell you, I find myself half-watching these segments, wondering what’s worse?

At any rate, we were told last week that all the Winners’ Circle contenders would be competing for a chance to walk the red carpet at Sunday’s Grammys. Here’s the deal. The group will meets with celebrity stylist Derek Lee, who helps them revamp their “look” in preparation for the big night. He starts out pointing out areas where they could improve and tells Mark that he should “jazz up” his suit a bit. He suggests that Spensha wear some brighter colors. For David, Derek recommends wearing something brighter as well and maybe even adding some stripes.

The kids hit a boutique and we watch as they try on a variety of outfits. David is clueless trying to pick out his sweater, and Mark thinks it was pretty cool. Spensha wants people to see her in nice elegant clothes and doesn’t want to look like a “hoochie.” Derek praises them all for their great choices but he can only choose one to go to the Grammys. He picks Spensha, pointing out her great leather pants and cool top.

Now it’s time for Harrell to select someone to challenge – David, Spensha or Mark. He challenges David. This was a good move and we may have an upset tonight. David looks a little nervous as we go to commercial.

Back from the break, Arsenio introduces David as a “singer with a soul much older and much darker!” Our host is really on fire tonight! David sings “Climb Every Mountain” and he absolutely nails it. His voice is beautiful and tonight he moves me to tears. Anyone who can do that, gets major respect from me! This was a thrilling performance. This kid has a future that’s for sure.

Naomi sees perfection, saying that she hears a round tone in his voice and loves when he sings up in his nasal cavity. She predicts a Grammy in David’s future. Naomi points out the diversity of the show (David is Hispanic and from Utah) and says she is proud to be part of it. Matti says David has beautiful tone and a natural gift. He tells him, “I understood that song as I never have before.” MC tells him that once again, she had trouble in the beginning but after he got started she “felt it” and had chills.

“Ring me up some digits.” David gets 14 stars (5-4-5) and that’s it for Harrell. Too bad for Harrell, because he was pretty good.