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'American Idol' Season 11 in Photos

A unfortunate contestant finds out that she did not make it into the final 24 of 'American Idol.'

On the last episode, American Idol took two hours of your precious life (or at least mine) to select 14 contestants worthy of being in the Top 24. Today they will choose ten contestants in just one hour, and we can all move on with our lives a little faster.

As you may recall, despite having two hours to wrap things up, Idol opted to leave us with a cliffhanger where Adam Brock was figuratively dangling over a cliff, although it would have been far more interesting if he was actually hanging over a cliff instead of blubbering about his love of singing. Not that there's anything wrong with really loving singing, but it does not make scintillating television. The judges encourage the public humiliation by dragging out the process to ridiculous lengths. Steven Tyler finally admits that he loves "to watch a man cry," and woefully admits that Adam is on to the Top 24.

Next is Jeremy Rosado, who made the judges (as well as all the caged puppies across the land) cry by singing that Sarah McLachlan song (oh, you know the one). But it's his last performance that Jennifer Lopez deems "transcendental," telling him there is no way they don't want him in the Top 24. Shannon Magrane, the 16-year old daughter of the MLB, is really regretting forgetting the lyrics way back in group rounds. This doesn't stop her from getting through to the live rounds, though, especially because she gave Jennifer Lopez "goosies," which is way less dirty than it sounds. They don't even drag it out. Mostly because her dad is waiting in the wings, and Steven Tyler is pretty sure the guy still wants to kick his ass for hitting on his daughter.

Scott Dangerfield has a name straight out of Top Gun, but a sweater so ugly that even Bill Cosby would think twice before wearing it. It looks like a couch that has been getting its price marked down on Craigslist for two weeks. Be right back – going to create a Kickstarter to buy him a new sweater. Oh wait, he didn't make it to the live show. Guess he can go on home, and his real friends will tell him that he needs to burn that ugly sweater with fire. Following Scott's dismissal, we get a tear-filled parade of people we've never seen getting sent home with nary so much as a chyron with their names on it.

Skyler Laine gets her moment in the sun, and Randy Jackson even takes time to compliment her dress, which is either the death knell or just a time killer. It's a time killer! She's through after she promises Steven she will get in touch with her inner rocker, a feat that in Steven's world surely involves Spandex-wrapping your liver. Also in the Top 24 is Hallie Day, so don't expect her back in treatment any time soon, okay? Country crooner Chase Likens is in, as well as Aaron Marcellus, a decision for which J.Lo takes all the credit. Next, repeat contestant Deandre Brackensick, with his White Lion-meets-Richard Simmons hair (which deserves its own Tumblr), wows the judges with his falsetto. His perseverance pays off.

Jermaine Jones is the gentle giant with some serious mama issues to sort out, if he ever wants to date a gentle giantess. For example, saying this about your mother – "I call her my beautiful and she calls me her handsome" – will never, ever get you a girlfriend. Jermaine has been crying his eyes out (and drowning a Smurf village while he's at it) in the waiting room, because of his concern about disappointing his mother. The judges give him the bad news: He's not ready for this year's competition. The gentle giant cries on J. Lo's green-sequined shoulder as Randy Jackson pats his back. Eventually J. Lo starts crying, too. Probably because Jermaine is crushing her.

Three girls are left in the waiting room, but there's only one space left for girls in the Top 24. Hollie Cavanagh beats out Shelby Tweten and Ariel Sprague. The other two girls start hyperventilating, testing the limits of their waterproof mascara. Hollie does an admirable job of not gloating and humbly leads Ariel and Shelby out to the comforting arms of their families.

Finally, it's a faceoff between 17-year-old David Leathers Jr. and 15-year old Eben Franckewitz, which, in my humble opinion, is bullshit. Is Idol trying to make people hate them? I think this is the third time I've said that so far this season. These two are friends, but there are no friends in the Idol Thunderdome. (Also, I wouldn't be too surprised if Tina Turner came out and sang.) And then David Leathers Jr is sent home. The judges blame his overconfidence while chiding Eben for his lack of confidence. As David tries to hold his little breaking heart together, Eben high-kicks in the background. Eben runs into his parents' arms, while David makes his father proud by stiff-upper-lipping and telling America that Eben is a great guy.

As the Top 24 are introduced, they make all the contestants dance, just in case they aren't humiliated enough. Then, in the most entertaining part of the whole show so far, Steven strips into his skull-and-crossbones-emblazoned britches and swims in the crocodile-infested moat.

Last episode: Final Countdown

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Monday, February 20, 2012

'American Idol' Recap: What Happens in Vegas

2:47 PM

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Contestants line up in front of the judges to learn their fate on 'American Idol.'

Welcome back to American Idol. After the slash-and-burn eliminations in Hollywood, there are still 70 wannabe stars remaining. So what lies in store for the singers who are making their way in tour buses to Las Vegas? More brutal cuts, songs from the Fifties, gratuitous Elvis impersonators, and maybe a white tiger. I'm not sure about the white tiger, but I think Siegfried and Roy left some littering the road for teenagers to pick up as souvenirs.

The remaining contestants were ordered to Wonder Twin power activate in the form of a group of three or four to perform a song. Skyler Laine, the 17-year old country crooner, lost all her friends during the Great Hollywood Massacre of '12 and winds up in a group with skunkhead Colton Dixon, Cari Quoyser and some guy named Chase, who may have just wandered in off the street. Skyler struggles during rehearsals, but it's Cari who ends up going home, promising to take only good memories and her really funny facial expressions home with her. Ryan Seacrest promises others will be joining her in disgrace soon enough.

Next to hit the stage are the cast of the Kids Incorporated reboot, which may not be in the works yet, but will be as soon as some wily producer catches on to the charms of David Leathers Jr., Jeremy Rosado, Ariel Sprague and Gabi Carruba. Wait what happened to Eben? Bring Eben back! They need his dimples if they want to succeed on ABC Family. The kids sing "Rockin' Robin" admirably, considering it is older than any of their parents. Randy Jackson thinks the performance is hot, which means they all make it to the next round.

The next group looks positively geriatric in comparison to the kids, but that's no mean feat. I have socks older than Eben. Adam Brock accompanies their performance of "Great Balls of Fire" on the piano, leaving the choreographed dancing to Erika Van Pelt, wackadoodle Angie Zeiderman, who is surprisingly still in the competition, and Shelby Tweten, who is 17 and thus too old to play Myra to Adam's Jerry Lee Lewis. The performance is solid and everyone makes the cut. Where are the brutal cuts that Ryan promised? I was told there would be blood!

Colton's sister, a.k.a. Schyler Dixon, Brielle "Not A Stage Mom" Von Hugel, and some girl they don't even bother introducing do a Forties rendition of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love." With so many adorable girls on stage, obviously Steven Tyler has to chime in with some vaguely inappropriate comments. Shockingly, the girl they didn't introduce is out. So are Wayne Wilson, Stephanie Renne and Tina Torres, whoever they are. These eliminations are ridiculous. I've had more brutal paper cuts!

Reed "Boop Boop Deedoop" Grimm's bebopping is contagious (it's the true Idol plague), and Eben Franckewitz, Elise Testone and Haley Johnson have been infected. The judges give their shooby doop performance a standing ovation – clearly they too have been infected with the bug. All the performers go through. Next on stage are the unlikely pairing of gentle giant Jermaine Jones and Richie Law, the Talking Cowboy Hat, who seems to have no compunction about ticking off a giant. After a serious chiding by vocal coach Debra Byrd the duet sings a passable rendition of "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" that gets them through as well. OK, it was more than passable. Jennifer Lopez may have cooed. Also advancing? Hallie Day, Baylie Brown and Chelsea Sorrell, whoever she is. Speaking of people we've never heard of, Jessica Sanchez, Candice Glover and Deandre Brackensick funk up a Buddy Holly song. The judges like it and they go through as well. Where are the cuts? I am starting to suspect that Ryan Seacrest is a dirty, dirty liar.

Ryan (whose pants are strangely not on fire) and Randy finally clue us in on the big twist they've been teasing all night. There are 10 groups performing tomorrow. If some of them do a better job than the first-day performers, the judges will go back and cut performers who thought they were safe. Vicious! I like it.

It's finally Day Two, and the first group to perform sing Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock" (Elvis sighting!) and deliver a performance that warrants actual musical criticism from the judges. The incredibly forgettable Clayton Farhat, Adam Lee Decker and Scott Dangerfield are in, while Curtis Gray is out. Following in their (who was that again?) footsteps are a group of professional singers who didn't feel they needed to rehearse. These future MENSA members include Courtney Williams, Britnee Kellogg and Jessica Philips singing "You Keep Me Hanging On." The judges rightly tell the group it seems like they didn’t, you know, practice. Then they kick Jessica out and leave the other two. Joshua Ledet and Shannon Magrane are also still in the running to be America's Next Top Idol.

Peggi Blu, the vocal coach, is about to kill Lauren Gray, because there is no crying in singing, which is not something she says to, say, Pavarotti. Peggi's yelling pays off, though, because Lauren makes it through while Mathenee Treco is out. He should have been out yesterday with the rest of his sad-sack group, so he shouldn't complain, just pick up his souvenir white tiger on the way out.

Heejun Han is rightly scared of Peggi Blu but she loves him, as well as Neco Starr, Jairon Jackson and Phil Phillips. They deliver a stellar performance that the judges insist on fake deliberating over and dragging out until they all go through. The final group (finally!) is a nice barbershop quartet featuring Creighton Fraker, Aaron Marcellus, Nick Boddington and Jen Hirsh. Jen steals the show and Nick is out, because he was the least memorable and someone has to go, apparently.

The performances are over, but the drama is just beginning. Or so Ryan promises. But as we all know, he's a lying liar who lies. The contestants file on stage and the judges are under strict orders to cut them down to a Top 40. There are lots of tears as the judges line them up for humiliation. Out first is Gabi Carrubba, which is a surprise. She is extremely shocked and embarrassed and this is just another reminder of how much Idol is not The Voice. Also out is Colton's not-quite-as-talented little sister Schyler. Colton cries, while Schyler promises to exact her revenge next year. Kookie Angie, Candice Glover, Jairon Jackson, Brittnee Kellog and 21 other people are all cut from the Idol ranks. Most surprising elimination? The much touted and featured-in-every-promo Johnny Keyser is out. In total they cut 27 people, leaving 42 to vie for the title. It's not quite a massacre, but it'll do.

Last episode: Still in Hollywood Hell

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Monday, February 13, 2012

Suge Knight Arrested in Las Vegas

10:38 PM

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Suge Knight is seen in a booking photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Getty Images

Death Row Records co-founder Marion "Suge" Knight was jailed in Las Vegas yesterday on three outstanding traffic warrants and suspicion of marijuana possession. Knight was busted after being pulled over for a driving infraction near the Vegas Strip.

Knight's warrants included one for driving on a suspended out-of-state license. When cops searched his vehicle, they discovered less than an ounce of marijuana, a misdemeanor offense. He was released on $2,600 bail after a few hours behind bars.

These charges pale in comparison to Knight's previous legal issues, which include drug and assault charges after being accused of punching and pulling a knife on his girlfriend outside of a Las Vegas strip club in 2008 and suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for another incident in Los Angeles in 2010.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Suge Knight Arrested in Las Vegas

9:35 PM

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Suge Knight is seen in a booking photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via Getty Images

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Motley Crue Go Above and Beyond for Vegas Residency

1:23 PM

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Vince Neil of Motley Crue performs on the opening night of a month-long residency at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

When Mötley Crüe announced late last year they'd be taking up temporary residency in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel's Joint, it was one of those ideas that seemed so perfect the only question was, "What took so long?" This was, after all, a band whose celebration of the rock & roll lifestyle has been immoralized in a book and may still make it to film. So, what better place to lay down roots – even for just a few weeks – than in a town nicknamed Sin City?

As they hyped the residency, Crüe promised not just the usual exploits but to take the pyro and girls, girls, girls to new levels of excess. When it kicked off this past weekend, the debauchery was no greater than usual – women on stage several times throughout the show, aerialists and lots of confetti and pyro, but no more craziness than a typical Crüe show. After Saturday's show, drummer Tommy Lee told Rolling Stone the band is still working out the logistics.

"We’re doing production shit right up until doors open, fucking crazy," Lee said. "But it’s getting better. It’s gonna be sick in another show or two."

The band has decided to push their creativity and musicality. There were, of course, many of the expected hits, from "Live Wire," "Wild Side" and "Shout at the Devil" to "Kickstart My Heart," "Dr. Feelgood" and the closing "Home Sweet Home," which began with Lee on a piano that descended from the ceiling. Frontman Vince Neil had his own Peter Pan moment, sailing over the crowd during the song.

But there were also unexpected moments, including a brief acoustic set in the middle of the show that found them all huddled together in a similar manner to U2's stripped-down concert interludes. For the Saturday night performance, the Crüe turned three songs, starting with "On With the Show" and wrapping with "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)," into acoustic numbers.

"Doing the acoustic thing for us is something we’ve been wanting to do forever," Lee said.

Another new aspect of the performance was the inclusion of a narrator, Genocide, who worked his way through the crowd and stage, introducing the band members and providing occasional levity between songs. It's another new feature Lee was excited about.

"Being able to work the room with Genocide, our MC, we’ve never done anything like that in an arena, having people pop up here and there," Lee said.

The quartet is using the stay at the Joint to live out some performance fantasies. "We’re able to place things strategically in the best place in the room, which we wouldn’t really be able to do in arenas," Lee says. "Being in one place for a while, we’re able to really figure out how to use this building. It’s been fun, interesting."

The Joint shows run through February 19th, but Lee hopes the band can take lessons from the residency with them on the road. "Now we kind of know what we’re getting into here. Hopefully this’ll set up something else in a bigger venue, a different place," he says. "You just never know."

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Motley Crue Go Above and Beyond for Vegas Residency

10:52 AM

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Vince Neil of Motley Crue performs on the opening night of a month-long residency at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"We’re doing production shit right up until doors open, fucking crazy," Lee said. "But it’s getting better. It’s gonna be sick in another show or two."

"Doing the acoustic thing for us is something we’ve been wanting to do forever," Lee said.

"Being able to work the room with Genocide, our MC, we’ve never done anything like that in an arena, having people pop up here and there," Lee said.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here