Countdown to new 'Idol' winner has begun
• 'American Idol' contestant on her mission of aloha
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
| • | 'American Idol'
7-8:30 p.m. today, 7:30-8:30 p.m. tomorrow, Fox |
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Neither Maui's Camile Velasco nor Mililani's Jasmine Trias is competing tonight, but it's still a good time to tune in and check out the competition.
Q. When are Velasco and Trias going to perform again — and when they do, will it be against each other?
A. This is the good news/bad news deal for Hawai'i. The good news is that our tiny state has two contestants in the final dozen. The bad news is our tiny state has two contestants in the final dozen.
Both contestants garnered more than 1 million votes from Hawai'i when they competed in the round of 32 contestants. Now it's time to see if they'll split the state's vote or if we're big enough to support both. Velasco, for the record, is 18 and from Ha'iku, Maui. Trias, 17, is a senior at Maryknoll School.
Q. Who are the 12 wild-card finalists, and will they all be on tonight's show?
A. The wild-card contestants, announced last Wednesday, are: Matt Metzger, Jennifer Hudson, Marque Lynch, Katie Webber, Lisa Leuschner, Leah LaBelle, Jon Peter Lewis, Eric Yoder, Elizabeth LeTendre, Susie Vulaca, Tiara Purifoy and George Huff.
However, by showtime tonight, four will have been eliminated and only eight, to be announced at the top of the show, will go through the wringer again.
Of the eight, only one — to be announced tomorrow night following viewer voting — will advance to the final 12.
No Hawai'i entrants have a shot at the final 12.
Q. How are the other three slots being filled?
A. Judging has its perks. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell each get one pick from the remaining seven wild cards to join Trias, John Stevens, Latoya London, Amy Adams, Velasco, Matthew Rogers, Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo and the viewers' wild-card winner.
Simon has to pick someone ... we think.
Q. When will the single eliminations begin?
A. On the March 16 show. The contestant who gathers the fewest viewer votes each week is eliminated — the same procedure as last year.
Q. Speaking of wild cards, will we get to see William Hung perform "She Bangs" again?
A. Not likely; he's no longer a contestant. But, he is emerging as the second-most-famous loser behind golden-voiced Clay Aiken. Hung is even mulling a record deal.
Q. Why isn't Kalihi's Jonah Moananu a contestant tonight?
A. Moananu wasn't tapped by the judges and/or producers for a second chance. He said he's been following "Idol" and is cheering on both our remaining contestants.
Q. Who picks the contestants' songs?
A. The contestants prepare five tunes, but the show's producers have the final say. Moananu said the song he sang, Carl Thomas' "I Wish," for instance, wasn't one of his top choices.
Q. What has to happen for Velasco or Trias to become the next "Idol"? Is one more polished than the other? Does one have "star" quality?
A. Whoa, not so fast. At this stage it's hard to say. Velasco has depth and breadth, but those qualities are yet to be shown. She's working on her shyness to be a bit more charismatic, outgoing. Trias has a wide following, and her girlish stance has helped. Velasco said she has had a perm and so will look different from her first-round appearance. Jasmine expects to continue to be herself, but producers may have a "makeover" in mind.
Q. What can fans do to support both competitors?
A. This comment is from a viewer's e-mail: "The only way to counter Hawai'i's split vote is to personally vote more (use all available cell and land phones for the entire voting period) and to get more people to vote (friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, people on the Mainland). It is time to stand behind both girls to vote, vote, vote!"
Q. Who's the favorite?
A. Based solely on what Simon says (eliminate all his harshness and crudeness, and his analysis has been on target so far), a girl will become the next "American Idol." He particularly likes three: Barrino, London and Trias. At the Honolulu auditions, he pronounced Trias' the best voice to emerge from the auditions.
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.
