American Idol, February 17: And Then There Was Group Two...

Time for the second round of eight, and if last week was any indication, this will be another week of excellent talent! What separates the wheat from the chaff could be as significant as a bad song choice, or one misplaced run! Fantasia Barrino and Diana Degarmo have already made the cut. Let’s find out who takes the broader steps to join them.

Ryan Seacrest welcomes us with a thank you for making American Idol the “most popular show on television!” Band flourish!

Ryan intros the judges who already look downright grim. Maybe catering forgot the crepes suzette! Ryan then introduces us the Group 2 en masse. Matt Rogers says he’s ready!

Matt Rogers loves being on camera, he says, and thinks most people see him as the big dumb football jock guy, but football is over. He doesn’t know what a metrosexual is, but he does like to shop, spend a little extra time in the mirror, and is known to cry on occasion (how do you not like this guy?). He’s also wearing a ribbon for his mother, a cancer survivor (see what I mean?). He wants America to “feel him.” Line forms to the left.

Matthew Rogers, “What You Won’t Do (Do For Love)”

Randy - I wasn’t feeling it... it was very safe... I felt like you could do better.

Paula - I didn’t feel the confidence from you... where is that big, larger than life personality?

Simon - I would give that performance three out of ten... I’m serious.

Sting7 - Do what now? Did the judges see the guy I saw? I thought Matt is an absolute natural in front of the camera. He lights the screen up! He had some decent runs, frankly I was pleasantly surprised. I wanted to hear more. The song choice was kinda eh, but he gave it energy and personality. Not sure what the judges are talking about this time.

Next up, feisty Briana Ramirez-Rial, who says she loves suspenders, they are the source of her “superpowers,” and her Dad is responsible for her being the person she is. She also says her mother is like Simon.

Briana Ramirez-Rial, “Don’t Know Why”

Randy - You know I love Norah Jones... you didn’t show you have a great singing voice.

Paula - In the auditions, you celebrated you uniqueness... I didn’t see any of that tonight.

Simon - It was just nothing... I said to Paula, what the hell are you supposed to say after a performance like that?

Sting7 - I kinda saw this coming. Briana’s appearance screams edgy, but she sang the least edgy song on the list! Briana! What was that? She sang it decently, but so effortlessly it was like she wasn’t even trying. Saw no sign of range at all. Disappointed. I expected more.

Now, one half of the amazing Roman brothers, Noel says he feels overwhelmed by being on the Idol set, and by the experience. He’s eager to sing, he’s never been to a concert, but he’s in one tonight!

Noel Roman, “This I Promise You”

Randy - That was terrible... you got five notes right out of twenty... I’m beginning to think we made some mistakes.

Paula - Where is that dynamic personality we saw in the auditions?

Simon - If the criteria was to sing every note out of tune, you’d be the winner... it was terrible, beginning middle end.

Sting7 - Oh boy. I didn’t make him a Pick to Click because I thought Jesus was clearly better, and I guess I was right! He was so off-key, I didn’t know what he was singing until the chorus! He knew it, and he gave up. He didn’t try to find the key and clean it up, he just stayed wrong. He seems like a nice kid, and the nerves totally conquered him. I feel sorry for him. If he sang like that in the auditions, he’d be sitting next to Edgar Nova wondering what if.

We get our first look at Kara Master, who was not featured at all during the auditions. In those auditions, Simon compared her to Julia DeMato “but better.” She also says she is told she looks like Sarah Jessica Parker.

Kara Master, “I’m Out Of Love (Set Me Free)”

Randy - Dude, I don’t know – come on – it wasn’t for me.

Paula - Anastasia has a huge voice… it was a hard song for you.

Simon - We’re lucky we didn’t charge admission or the audience would want a refund... this is terrible.

Sting7 - Here is an example of someone singing waaay out of their league. Gotta agree with Paula (two weeks in a row, what’s up?), Anastasia has a massive voice and can make this song crack, Kara is nowhere near there. Nowhere. Horrible song choice only because she wasn’t capable of delivering. Do I still have Group 1 on TiVo?

Now on deck, Lisa Leuschner, who says she picked up some bad habits from karaoke, and she wasn’t fond of Simon’s comments on her weight. She feels comfortable in her own skin and that’s gonna have to do.

Lisa Leuschner, “Sweet Thing”

Randy - Finally a voice in Group 2!... someone who can sing!... Thank God!

Paula - I’m happy for you... you did yourself proud.. not an easy song to sing.

Simon - You did something different – you sang in tune... it was good but not fantastic... the best so far.

Sting7 - Now we’re talking! Did I detect a little bit of Teena Marie funkability in this voice? While Kara couldn’t touch Anastasia, Lisa handled Chaka Khan quite nicely. Took some rewarded liberties, gave it some personality, kept me interested. Very nice. That said, she would have struggled in Group 1, I think.

And now, the other half (and so far more popular half) of the Brothers Roman. Jesus says the judges told him he had to step up his game, and he wants America to vote for him because he’s tired of slinging the mop.