Star Search, February 21: The Plot Thickens

Week six already. Where does the time go? After last week’s entertaining Winners’ Circle showdown, we are back to the standard formula and will no doubt be witnessing another lackluster parade of sacrificial lambs brought forth to challenge the remaining Winners’ Circle contestants. With Freedom, Mark, and Jon Cruz safely ensconced in the finals, it will be interesting to see how they handle tonight’s competition. Shall we begin?

Arsenio’s voice excitedly tells us about the show’s format and there is a quick review of last week’s show. We see Matti and MC’s less than positive comments about Spensha and Candace and Brandon and then a shot of the victorious threesome. Vicki tells us she’s a fighter will keep going, no matter what.

Arsenio appears to the hoots and hollers of the audience, introducing himself as Ryan Seacrest! He points out that the NBA wasn’t the only All-Star game last week and the audience cheers for Mark, Jon Cruz, and Freedom, all of whom are still standing on their respective circular platforms. Arsenio tells us that we “blew up the Internet” with more than a million votes and let us know that we will be judging the finales. He introduces the judges, Naomi (double D) Judd, Matti Leshem, and MC Lyte, and we are ready to begin.

The Junior Singers are first and we start off with a 14-year-old who Arsenio first calls a “she” but, realizing he has somehow misread his card, cleverly corrects to a “he.” Jacob Boyd, who comes from a law enforcement family, is singing “Like a Good Cowboy.” He has a good voice and really owns this song. But he’s a bit stiff on the stage and the song doesn’t really challenge him too much. The audience loves him but how will he fare with the judges?

Naomi thinks his potential is as big as his belt buckle but Matti thinks he’s more like a good lumberjack and hates when he doesn’t understand the words of the song. He was not impressed. The audience boos. MC comments on Jason’s performing skills and notes that he had the audience with him.

Arsenio is back to getting hit with the digits and Jacob gets 10 stars. (Naomi 4, Matti 3, MC 3)

Next up is a 13-year-old Alexandria Lushington, who loves to play baseball. She has chosen to sing “My Funny Valentine,” an odd choice for a young girl, but she quickly proves that she can do justice to this song. Her voice starts out rather deep but she has remarkable range and wonderful tone. Wow. I am impressed. This was a very mature performance and I think she has a good shot at winning tonight.

Naomi is all agog, oozing out, “smoky, shimmering and ooohhh, round tones,” comparing Alexandria’s voice to a warm glass of milk. Matti loves her phrasing, calling it incredibly original and points out her resonance. MC says she loved the continuity from one phrasing to the next and also comments on her tone calling it full-bodied. Good description. .

“Make like a Marvin Gaye and get it on with these digits.” Alexandria gets 13 stars (5-4-4). We could have an upset tonight.

The winners from last week had a chance to go home for a few days but the others had to stay behind. In tonight’s fun filler piece, we follow our winners on their triumphant returns to their respective hometowns! Mark returns to his school and is greeted by his screaming classmates. Back in the studio, poor Spensha and David tell us how much they miss their friends and families. Meanwhile, Mark is reveling in his victory and enjoying the adoration of his classmates. Spensha and David both know they need to do their best to stay in the competition.

As Alexandria decides who to challenge, Mark is seated comfortably on a stool placed on the Winners’ Circle platform (let’s call this the “immunity” stool). Mark is grinning from ear to ear. He is safe and, although he says he will continue to practice, he doesn’t have to worry about being eliminated. Who will Alexandria pick? With 13 stars, she has a good shot at the Winners’ Circle. This could be an upset. I say Spensha, but she picks David. This could be a mistake.

Arsenio wonders aloud if David has the voice to make her regret her decision. He introduces David by saying he isn’t sure how David got to L.A. from Sandy, Utah, but figures that somewhere along the way he “got on the Soul Train!” Ugh.

Tonight David is singing “Get Here.” I grimace. This song has been done to death and, in my opinion, should be permanently banned from all TV talent shows. But David puts some serious feeling into the performance and brings it once again. We get a quick shot of his emotional father singing along and David does it to me again. This boy has the voice of an angel. But he makes a few mistakes tonight and breaks just a little at the end. This could be tight.

Naomi says this is the hardest job she’ll ever love and says she has enjoyed watching him all these months (weeks?). Doesn’t look good. Matti is also subdued and says simply that he enjoyed the performance. MC loves David’s sensibility and points out that he always puts a twist on the song that makes it his own. I am holding my breath.

“Let me see the digits.” David gets 14 stars (5-4-5) and, although I enjoyed his performance tonight, I think Alexandria was better and deserved to win. I wonder if the judges (Naomi and MC in particular) didn’t give him extra stars just because they hated to see him go. There’s something a little fishy going on here.