Reality Check - Best of 'American Idol XIII' Week One - Video
TVLine.com's Michael Slezak returns with American Idol Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle for the season premiere of Reality Check, dissecting the week in reality singing competitions!
It's the season premiere of Reality Check, and Michael and Melinda are ready to dive right into week one of American Idol XIII. What do Michael and Melinda think about the new judging panel, including Harry Connick, Jr.? And what about the season premiere, which had a refreshing lack of sob stories? In addition, which contestants have the hosts excited about Season 13? It's a terrific season premiere! You can watch the full video below via TVLine:
Credit: TVLine
Thoughts
My love for Jillian Jensen is well-documented, so of course I'm going to agree with their praise of her audition, as she's shown remarkable growth between The X Factor USA Season 2 and now. I'm also completely on-board with the love for Sam Woolf and Briana Oakley, both of whom have more raw potential than I think their auditions even hinted at. And I can't really front on the John Fox praise, as he has a great rasp in his voice (he gives me James Arthur vibes. Maybe it's the glasses, the scruff, and the oddly small head). Ditto Jesse Roach, who has the most mature voice of anyone across the two-night premiere.
In addition, I really am loving Harry Connick, Jr., who brings a vintage Simon Cowell-esque realness to the panel, except his realness comes from a more musically knowledgeable place than Simon's does. He comes across much more authoritatively than anyone who's been on the panel in quite some time, and it reflects in the high standards to which he holds the auditioners. Seriously, he said no to contestants who probably would have gotten four yeses last season, like Keith London. HCJ is pretty much my favorite thing about this season so far, in addition to the relatively minimal sob stories and joke auditions. It's a genuinely refreshing take on an Idol that had long passed the point of staleness. Maybe it's not as hip as The Voice, but it's finally becoming something it hasn't always been over the last, say, five years: fun.
So what do you think? Agree or disagree with Michael and Melinda? Who were your favorites of American Idol XIII Week One? Sound off in the comments!