Colton Berry live blog
February 19, 2008 by chrisgraham
Moderated by Crystal Graham and Erin Gutzwiller
Colton Berry will finally get some airtime tonight on American Idol at 8 p.m. on Fox. For those of you who don’t know, Colton is a local theatre standout who has made the Top 24 on American Idol.
Join Publisher Crystal Graham and Bridgewater College intern Erin Gutzwiller to discuss the show throughout the evening. Join in the discussion live on Augusta Free Press. No registration required!
Welcome to the live blog! Just a few minutes before the show kicks off!
This is an open thread so feel free to post comments throughout the show and even to say hi now so we know who is here!
There are some young guys in this competition …
Wow, Colton actually got 5 seconds in the clip, that’s improvement. For those of you who haven’t watched until now, Colton has got almost no face-time to date on the show.
If memory serves me right, they perform in the order they come up, which means Colton will definitely be in hour number two.
First performer was David Hernandez with Midnight Hour. I actually think he did well. I wouldn’t want to be first.
I didn’t remember Chikezie from last season … does anyone else remember him?
Simon hated Chikezie’s performance …. esp. the orange suit and wink. He thought the performance was old-fashioned. I have to agree in this case. I certainly wouldn’t buy a CD for that song. But I think he will survive in the competition, and I think he could be some serious competition down the road.
Is anyone interested in having a Waynesboro viewing location? It might be fun to all get together and root for Colton.
david was good
I like Chikezie but I was not a fan of the song he just sang or the suit
I just realized there are three “davids” in the competition.
Colton was just interviewed by Ryan Seacrest backstage. He asked Colton something people may not know about him. Colton said he looks like Ellen DeGeneres. How funny … he totally does!
David Cook can clearly sing - but I didn’t love the song. He finished good - but most of it was just OK.
I really liked David, the third performer! I have liked him from the first audition! I hope he goes far!
I think he will.
So far, the competition is stiff for local standout Colton Berry. I can’t say anyone has done a bad job.
I think 60s-themed music will be a challenge for many of the competitors. Too bad they can’t just sing what they want on the first show.
Simon finally showed up … he criticized Jason Yeager for a cruise-like performance … I think he did a fair job - but he’s vulnerable. Simon also mentioned his age - being 28 with a child could be difficult for him. I’m not sure what age the average viewing audience is … but I know the 12-21 crowd seems to watch AI.
Of course, on the flipside, wasn’t Chris Daughtry up there as far as the age limits for AI? And he did fairly well. I’m 31, and a big fan of Daughtry.
Wow. Robbie Carrico toured with Brit Spears … that gives him some cred.
Robbie was comfortable on stage - but I didn’t love the song.
I think Robbie is my favorite so far
The judges loved him - I guess that’s why I’m not a judge. Of course, I guess we get to vote and decide who moves on.
I think he definitely stands out from the other competitors - is he the only rocker in the competition?
David Archuleta did a great job - Simon thought the best peformance of the night - by a mile. The young guys are doing well.
He’s so cute … what an awesome opportunity for a 17-year-old.
I loved the last guy he is adorable
Boy, you can tell Danny Noriega enjoys being on the stage.
I am not very crazy about Dannys performance, I didnt think it was his best performance
Simon didn’t like Danny doing Elvis … I have to agree. He was a good performer - but not a great performance as a whole.
Noriega is too funny … he’s got a lot of character.
COLTON BERRY is up after the break. I can’t wait to see how he does!
I didn’t like Luke Menard’s audition. We’ll see how he does tonight.
He has a soft voice - and definitely didn’t oversing the song - but I have to agree with Randy, it wasn’t great.
There’s our boy.
Paula is up on her feet.
Randy: You did a pretty good job … all and all, pretty good.
Paula: Nice to see a different side to you. Not your best performance, but eager and fun attempt.
Simon: It was OK … not quite as bad as the other Elvis performance. Just a young kid who might have a career in the theater. Not a recording artist.
Simon was really hard on him. I thought he was really good - I wasn’t sure with the song choice, but he did a great job.
I don’t think it was karaoke.
I didnt think the performace was great but I like Colton and I like him even more because he is from VA
i 866 IDOLS 09 for Colton Berry
I will be really mad if he gets knocked off b/c of the judge’s comments. I definitely don’t think he should be in the bottom three this week.
Many of us are bias b/c we all love Colton so much … Erin, since you don’t know him, do you think he will remain in the competition after tonight?
Boy, Garrett Haley really surprised me. He’s got a beautiful voice. Sometimes I wonder if I am watching the same show as the judges.
I have to agree with Simon in that he needs to work on his image. He doesn’t look like a typical 17 year-old - and needs to be a little hipper, I think, for a successful recording career
I am not biased at all. My perception of Colton personally is that he might have prima-donna tendencies, and honestly I worried that he was in over his head talent-wise as he got into this competition.
That said, I think he put in a solid performance tonight - and furthermore I think the comments from Cowell that his performance was akin to “karaoke” were not only over the line, but were blatantly unprofessional. And then Ms. Abdul chimes in that the performance was a “poor man’s version of …” What, Paula - a poor man’s version of what? Still waiting for an answer on that one.
If the comments of these judges end up pushing Colton out of this competition, it will be a shame, but not for Colton. I don’t know that anybody needs to be exposed to these kind of bush-league antics, not when the rewards end up going to the likes of Taylor Hicks and Fantasia Barrino. And considering that that goofy kid Sanjaya Whatever-His-Hairstyle Was couldn’t even place show in a karaoke contest in a local bar, and he made it to the Final 12, well …
I like jason he is really comfortable on stage and I love the guitar!!
I have been watching every year, and this year seems to be very biased. It never has seemed fair that they show certain people and interview them before they even audition. Everyone, then knows their whole life story,(or at least what they want you to know). USA Today did a good article yesterday about the 5 that are not amateurs. I think Colton did a Great job, and have emailed my daughter and son at their colleges with the number to call. They both went to Wilson. Colton sang at my son’s senior banquet last year, and I thought, then, that he should try out….
I really wanted to like Jason Castro - but i didn’t love his performance. He didn’t blow me away, by any means.
to be honest Colton was good but not the best tonight. I was not blown away by coltons performance
I am surprised Simon liked Jasons performance
I think Colton will remain on the show because I do not think he has been the worst tonight and Colton has a realy good voice
I was surprised that Simon liked Jason too - I was waiting for some kind of hippie remark.
Michael Johns was amazing. A nice way to end the show.
MY FAVES
David Cook
Robbie Carrico
Colton Berry (of course)
Michael Johns
FORGETTABLE
David Hernandez
Chikezie
Jason Yeager
Danny Noriega
Luke Menard
OTHER AWARDS
Adoptable: David Archuleta
Most Sass: Danny Noriega
Most Street Cred: Robbie Carrico
I think Michael will make it far i liked him he was good
Alright Virginians … vote for COLTON BERRY!
1 866 IDOLS 09
Phone lines are open for at least two hours. A good reason to stay up late and vote for Colton!
there are some young guys in this competition i cant wait until the girls preform tomorrow i thought most of them did pretty well
I’m dialing in for Colton now … and got through on the first attempt three times. Not sure that is a good sign.
Just caught Colton. I thought he was ok…nothing that stood out. Funny comment from Simon about musical theater. Just think there has to be more punch and “recording artist” uniqueness. But great to see Staunton represented on national TV!
I’m so sad Colton was voted off. He was one of my faves. =( I hope he doesn’t take Simon’s mean comments to heart.
I LOVED Colton. I thought he was far and away one of the most talented, charismatic and entertaining guys on the show.
It is utterly unbelievable to me that he got voted off!
What? Don’t get it at all. I voted for him and I really wanted to see more performances from him.
This kid is a Major talent. So sad to see him go.
Colton come back and sing on the Ellen Degeneris show!
I normally dont get hung up on all of this stuff, but I really thought this kid had it. I would have never guessed he would get voted off, he was one of my favorite performances that night. I don’t even normally blog, I was just so bothered by this that I had to get it off my chest. I hope he doesn’t give up- he was fabulous. If you are reading this - keep at it! You’ve got tons to offer. Seriously! Ok, Im done ranting and feel a bit better. At least I see I wasnt the only one incredibly disappointed.
See you on Ellen