American Idol 9 Hollywood Week Groups - Recap and Roundup Video
The Hollywood Week Group round on American Idol just happens once a year, and I've forgotten how much drama this produces. It's like a show within a show. Very entertaining.
Some of the drama of course don't matter going into the voting rounds, but some do. The whole Mary Powers power-trip on her group for example is just made for Hollywood Week. If she makes it to the Top 24, she's clearly cannon fodder. The Todrick Hall and Michael Lynche storylines however seem to have some implications moving forward since they have been rumored to have made it to the Top 24. First of all, Todrick just established himself as a diva. I can see him having a hard time getting sympathy from the voters should he make it to the Top 24. Michael Lynche on the other hand got the full-blown American Idol pimp treatment. Sure, it made for a good story -- his wife giving birth to their daughter while he was in Hollywood Week -- but to have cameras on hand just after she gave birth? Did "Big Mike" tell Fox that his wife might go into labor and Fox sent a crew out to the hospital? Feels very staged, and I personally did not go on board. Plus, the man-boobs are really scaring me. But he will get tons of fans for this I'm sure.
There was the usually flurry of Idol reminding us of who we should look out for at the end of the show. Tyler Grady for example, has not sung on screen since his audition, but has been featured many times talking to the camera. Lee Dwyze who went uncredited when he sang a solo in one of the montages, reminded me of how Elliott Yamin was portrayed during Hollywood Week -- and we know how that turned out. Andrew Garcia and Casey James got some vocal airtime -- and Katie Stevens got the oh so sacred "You could be the potential winner" from Kara DioGuardi. Could she win? I believe.
Here are the other recaps from around the Internet:
Hollywood Group Round Recap - "They Looked At Us Like We Were Such Idiots" (Vote for the Worst) - "In seasons of American Idol past, group day has brought us the amazing antics of Tatiana Del Toro, the always funny Brenna Gethers, fights with the Brittenum Twins, and more. American Idol 9’s group day didn’t live up to that kind of standard."
'American Idol' Group Night: Welcome To The Drama Club (Lyndsey Parker) - "American Idol's "dreaded Group Night," as Ryan Seacrest so dramatically worded it this evening, is always all about drama, drama, drama."
'American Idol': Hollywood Week 'group rounds' require slo-mo replay (Michael Slezak) - "Watching tonight’s “Hollywood Week: Group Rounds” edition of American Idol was the TV equivalent of spending an hour in front of an ant colony in the middle of a child’s sandbox."
Idol: No sweet escapes in Hollywood (Joey Guerra) - "Group day! OMG. So. Much. Drama. (I love it.)"
American Idol 9 – Hollywood Round Pt 2 – Recap (MJ Santilli) - "Part 2 of the Hollywood Rounds tonight features the remaining contestants competing in groups. Group rounds = Plenty o Drama!"
‘American Idol’ Turns Hollywood Into High School For A Day (Maura Johnston) - "It’s like a hybrid of ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘The Singing Bee,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ and ‘Survivor’ — and it’s all happening while the contestants are running on little more than adrenaline and their preferred flavors of Vitamin Water."
Regrouping after Group Night (Brian Mansfield) - "I know Group Day is supposed to see who can work well under pressure and impossible circumstances, but I feel like I've been put through the ringer, too."
AI 9 Hollywood Group Night: Tensions are obviously running higher than ever before (TopIdol) - "Tonight may be my favorite of nights during the entire American Idol season– Hollywood Week’s Group Night!"
Watch the video here: