Summary "American Idol" - Hollywood Round #4-Top 36 Chosen - Feb. 11, 2009

The final 54 enter the mansion where their fate will be decided. (That number also explains my fuzzy math last night, I was forgetting the whole walk of shame/final judgement portion of the eliminations after the judges review the tapes).

And there's a twist : "Sing for your survival," says Simon in teaser. In other words there will be sing-offs.

First up: Anoop Desai. Kara says he's continually surprised them. Clips. He's through.

Next: Von Smith. He's super-nervous. Clips. He addresses Simon's comment about him singing like a self-indulgent child and talks about how he went against his family's advice on his last song. Right choice says Simon. He's through.

Cody Sheldon. They ask him to sing again. As he picks "Love Remains the Same" by Gavin Rossdale, Alex Wagner-Trugman is being summoned for a sing-off, although he doesn't know it. Cody sings and it sounds fine. Simon sends him out. Alex arrives and freaks out when he finds out from Cody that he's going to have to sing again, and that only one of them will make it through. Alex sings "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John. He's a little stronger but goofier in presentation. Simon sends him out. The judges deliberate. They bring them both back in. Alex is through. Cody is going home. They walk out together, Alex being appropriately sad for his friend. They tell the room. Some clap for Alex, some hug Cody.

Adam Lambert, i.e. musical theatre/metal guy who sang "Believe" by Cher. Simon says Hollywood was good but that they have to judge on whether they think he can win and be a recording artist. He's through.

Taylor Vaifanua. She's through with a minimum of fuss.

As are, in short order:

Jasmine Murray, Arianna Afsar, Casey Carlson, Megan Corkrey, Mishavonna Henson, and Stevie Wright

Next up:

Joanna Pacitti. Clips show her forgetting the words in every round in Hollywood. Kara asks her when she's really going to step out and show herself. Joanna says now. Simon says when somebody gives her a break. Paula says it's a tough business but unanimously they put her through. They say now she has to bring it.

Then a montage of quick rejections:

T.K. Hash, Chris Chatman, and Reggie Beasley. (Anybody remember any of these guys?)

Kenndall Beard. She's nervous. Clips, some bad, some good. But she's cute, blond, and perky, so she's through.

Then a sing-off:

Kristen McNamara - the soulful blond from the drama group- and Jenn Korbee - the blond who auditioned with her husband.

Jenn goes first and sings the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice." (I don't even need to hear Kristen, she smokes Jenn and she's gotten way more camera time). Kristen sings "I Will Always Love You," by Whitney Houston and she's miles better. Simon asks whether they should put through the attractive blond or the other one. Paula and Kara say the one who can sing. (I think they're both cute, but Simon clearly prefers the look of Jenn since Kristen is the far better singer). Kara snipes if that's how he wants to do it why not just have a bunch of models come through? Outside, Kristen is unsure. Inside, Randy likes Kristen better. Simon disagrees. They girls go back in hand-in-hand. Kara says Jenn is truly beautiful. "And that's the problem," snarks Simon. (Is this really going to be the "conflict" this year? Oy.) Kara says Jenn has a good voice but isn't always emotionally connected. Paula says Kristen has an identity crisis. They put Kristen through. But they tell her she has a lot of work to do. Simon says he completely disagrees with this decision.

Alexis Grace, single mom of one. She's through.

Scott MacIntyre, blind guy. He's through.

Lil Rounds, mom of three, confident. She's through.

Montage of rejects:

Felicia Barton, Ashley Hollister, Devon Baldwin.

Sing-off:

Frankie Jordan, stay-at-home mom vs. hippie-ish, and forebodingly overconfident Jesse Langseth. Judging by the clips alone, Frankie is stronger. Frankie sings "The Story" by Brandi Carlile, she hits some clinkers but is strong and emotional. Jesse sings a song about a wishing well. Less clinkers, but not crazy impressive. Simon calls it a horrible song. Randy calls for a vote and Simon says neither. They go back in. Jesse is through. Simon says if it's any consolation Frankie wouldn't have won anyway since she didn't stand out. Simon says based on Jesse's sing-for-survival moment she won't win either. Bad call.

Duet of rejects: Shera Lawrence and Derik Lavers

Allison Iraheta, 16 years old. Clips. She's through.

Danny and Jamar wait outside together. Clips. Fears over one being sent home. Luckily, no sing off.

Danny Gokey. He's through.

Jamar Rogers. He's going home. (This is actually shocking considering the boys they've put through so far). The room is aghast, as they should be. Jamar is shocked too. Danny is freaked. The room applauds his "this isn't the end of the road for me" speech.

Montage of acceptances: Ricky Braddy,Matt Giraud, Ju'Not Joyner, Jorge Nunez, and Brent Keith.

Stephen Fowler. He's through.

Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell. He offers to do anything to get through. Wash Simon's cars. Wear a bikini. The judges say they've spent a lot of time on him. He starts being serious and Kara stops him and wonders where the shtick is. Nick says his dream is if they allow him to perform as the character. He's through. He says it's unbelievable, Simon agrees. (If I was Jamar Rogers I'd be amazingly pissed off right now.)

(When he returns a ton of people who've already been put through/rejected are still sitting in the room so he got through early, even more annoying).

Jackie Tohn, raspy, "fun" girl. She's through and she's really excited.

Tatiana Del Toro Really annoying clips. Simon asks her to try to not be annoying. She fails as she babbles about buying Paula's QVC jewelry. She's through. (Simon points out it's not unanimous. If I was Jenn Korbee I'd be amazingly pissed off right now). She screams all the way back to the room.

Sing-off:

Nathaniel Marshall drama king who got tons of screen time but is a so-so singer vs. Jackie Midkiff who we've never seen before but in clips seems like a good singer. Jackie sings "When a Man Loves a Woman." Kara wonders why he's in a sing-off since he's so good. Simon and Randy disagree that he's that good. We get Nathaniel's sob story and then he sings "Already There." The other guy was better but, of course, Nathaniel goes through. Jackie takes it very well.

Montage of acceptances: Jeanine Vailes, Kai Kalama, Annemarie Boskovich, and Kris Allen.

Sing-off between final two: Matt Breitzke, a welder vs. Michael Sarver, the roughneck. We certainly saw a whole lot more of Sarver so my money's on him, even though the early clips make it look like the other guy was better. Matt sings some bluesy song I don't recognize. Simon didn't like the song. Michael sings another song I don't know, also kinda bluesy, he's better, shows more range, and confidence. They're both through. (And clearly we weren't keeping track of the numbers).

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