'American Idol' Wild Card Round: Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud, Jasmine Murray... and Anoop Desai!

Tonight American Idol showcases 8 singers we've seen before getting their second chances. We've got Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Braddy, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud, Tatiana del Toro, Anoop Desai and Jesse Langseth. I would personally like to see Megan, Jesse and Anoop advance. Let's see how they do...

Seacrest reminds us how this is about redemption and tenacity and heart and puppies and the US flag and daisies and that baby smell that babies have and kittens with string and DREAMS! I try not to launch into the Pledge of Allegiance.

He also calls this a "Very Special Episode." Oh my god. So Von gets Jasmine pregnant, RIcky and Megan smoke up, Matt and Tatiana vandalize something and Anoop and Jesse become cutters. That's awesome.

Jesse Langseth, "Tell Me Something Good" by Rufus
I still like Jesse's low, smoky tone. She has some weird pronunciation things happening but I love her tone. She is also quite the dish in a slinky black dress but she needs to lose the sweater overtop. It's like a sex kitten wearing something your grandma would wear. However, I think it was decent. Randy doesn't love it, it was just "aight." Kara likes her swagger. Paula likes her tenacity and song choice and says this will be a hard night. Simon reminds us that Jesse was last-minute and that he's glad they chose her. (I wonder who they bumped for her...) His criticism is that it was a little indulgent, more about her than the audience, but he does think she can sing.

Matt Giraud, "Who's Loving You" by Jackson 5
He's back to bluesy and slow, but I do have to agree with commenters that I don't love his "goat boy" vibrato. When he keeps it in check, though, he sounds very nice. This is such a better choice for him than the first time he sang. His first "I wonder who's lovin' you" is gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. The background drops out and he gets to be all soulful. He then gets to growl and vamp a little. Man, this was nice. My only problem is his tourettes-seizure-having-a-fit body movements, but other than that he's good stuff. Kara says thanks for bringing back bluesy, soulful Matt and great vocal. Paula advises not to go against what you're great at and says he was amazing. Simon says a billion times better than before. His criticism is about Matt's hobo outfit and Taylor Hicks affectations (maybe Matt can be the "Goat Patrol!") Exactly. Randy says "that's how to sing!"

Megan Corkrey, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" By KT Tunstall
She's still doing that freaky wiggle-dance, but vocally I really dig this. She's just SO interesting sounding. I'd like to hear her tear it up a little bit, though. This song is very middle-of-the-road vocally but on the "all these years" part she finally lets loose a little, which is nice. More of that. I don't know if that's enough, honestly, because it was kind of blah. But I would really like to see her in the Top 12. Paula compliments the song choice and her quirkiness. Simon thinks she's terrific. He likes that she's current, which is very true. Randy says not the best vocal but that this song choice was good for her and this is the kind of artist she is. I'd love to hear her sing "Suddenly I See." Kara says that we need her for variety's sake. YES! That is spot-on. Jesse and Megan are both different from typical females on this show and I like that.

Von Smith, "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" by Elton John
He starts off all church-mouse timid and too soft. When he tears it open, he gets a little shouty on the highest notes. I think I saw some intestine down there. He also is a titch off on the last note. This was just boring, plus there are better singers there in the Wild Card. Von doesn't stand a chance. Simon likes the song but didn't love the start of it. He also thinks Von is a bit boring and too serious. Randy wasn't crazy about it. Kara thought it was dark and Paula didn't love it either.

Jasmine Murray, "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera
Very prototypical Idol song choice. This shows off Jasmine's voice SO MUCH better than that "Love Song" that she sang last time. This is letting her really soar on some big notes. You know, we don't *really* have a belter yet who isn't kind of rock (Allison). Jasmine might make it just to fit that niche, plus she sang really well tonight. Whoa. Jasmine's mom looks like Pearl Shay from 227. Randy says there were bright spots, but the song was a little too big. Kara was surprised by her big voice and now Kara's confused because they can't stick her in the "pop/commercial" box. Oh Idol and their Box Obsession. Paula says wonderful job and Simon says "pretty special."

Ricky Braddy, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder
I love this song. I think Ricky is too white to sing it. No offense, my people. He does his best, but honestly... he doesn't have the soul chops to pull this off. Sure, he hits the notes. But his white-guy-bopping-around and vanilla voice are pretty boring, especially compared to what we've seen so far. He also tries to go high and it goes off-the-rails. Yikes. Not good, fella. Don't scream at me. Kara says he held his own, Paula says he nailed it. Hmmm. Simon says it was light-weight and clumsy. I agree. Randy does his requisite take-a-Simon-critique-that-I-don't-understand-and-use-it-so-I-sound-smart thing and calls it "self-indulgent."

Tatiana del Toro, "Saving All My Love for You" by Whitney Houston
Well, this ought to be special. Her pre-song videotape is like when Roberto Benigni won an Oscar. Isn't this what she sang the first time? LAME. I wanted something new. Again, the big notes are pretty. The low stuff is too low for her. It's unsupported and fuzzy. As much as I hate to admit it, the ending is nice. Hmmm. To the judges, Tatiana tries to cash in on Jorge's accent love by pretending like when she gets excited, she gets more Spanish. Spare me. Paula says it started off shaky, but the power voice was good. Yeah, I'll agree. Simon criticizes her for singing that song THREE times. No kidding. She throws a little fit and argues with Simon. I hate with people who do that, it's so unprofessional and immature. Randy calls it a mixed bag. Kara calls her out on her "Three Faces of Eve" schtick. NEXT!

Anoop Desai, "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown (or Britney)
The low stuff is too low for him but once he gets to the chorus it's a fun jam. I don't know if I would've chosen this if I were him because it doesn't really show off his voice. It's got a lot of backup singers in it. He gets to have a big note, which would totally redeem him if the American Public were voting. He does a lot of chest-thumping and OH MY GOD CUTEST PARENTS EVER! Anyway, I didn't love it vocally but he sure is fun. Simon says not the best singer but great likeability. Randy calls him Anoop Brown in a failed joke. Kara says it made her want to dance and Paula calls him "nasty" (in a good way) and says everyone loved him.

Prediction... Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud, and either one of Jasmine Murray or Jesse Langseth, depending on if they want two girls who are low-key, or one low-key girl and one belter.

We're back with the results... Seacrest brings Jasmine down to centerstage and Randy welcomes her to the Top 12 (after screwing with her a little). Oooh, mean. She gets a big hug from Allison Iraheta, which is nice. Ricky is brought down next and Kara tells him he is not continuing on. That's fine, honestly. He wasn't that great.

Megan and Tatiana are brought down together. Oooh, weird. Tatiana is clinging to Megan like a Titanic passenger to a piece of lumber. Gross. Paula tells them that Megan is through. Megan has to talk to Tatiana like she's on suicide watch. Someone gather her belts and her shoelaces. Simon looks unamused. Seriously.

We take a commercial?!?! C'mon show, I gotta recap CSI! It's not going to be Von or Anoop, I'm almost positive. So it looks like we're down to Jesse and Matt Giraud. Man, can't they BOTH get through?

Jesse is brought center stage and Simon breaks the bad news to her about not making it and he says she nearly made it. Wow, we are running uber-long tonight. Good lord, Idol. Von is next and he isn't through (no kidding).

Finally we are down to Anoop and Matt Giraud. Simon tells Matt that he is through and Simon tells Anoop that they decided recently to make this a Top 13 and put him through too! OH MY GOD, I'M SO SURPRISED!

I'm not *that* surprised. But I'm disappointed the last spot couldn't be Jesse Langseth. She is better than Anoop. Also, 13 is unlucky. They're going to start getting killed off like Harper's Island victims, I bet.

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