6 down, two more to be picked this week.

(roll titles)

To start, Zack can't understand who writes Ben's lines.

Ben: So the groups are getting better and better every week.  Do you think that the trend is going to continue? Jake: Well, unlike you Ben, they ARE getting better.

Player number one is from Schomberg, Ontario (hello, L.E.) and his name is Brock Groombridge.  He will never ever forget the time he got into the top 32.  Tonight, he sings "Beauty and the Beast".  Unfortunately, there seems to be more emphasis on the Beast.

Jake: It's just syrup. no artistry.
Farley: I wasn't feeling it.

Brock's sister is his biggest inspiration.

Singer number two hails from Hamilton, Ontario as goes by Danielle Falco.  She's a music student.  She says the most challenging thing is keeping control of her
nerves.  She's chosen "Think Twice" by Celine Dion.  It suits her voice well.

Sass: Your delivery was really intense.
Zack: You're way out of your league.  Dreadful.

She says that she can sell herself through the camera.

Crooner number three is Jason Greeley and is from Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador (yes!).  He's a musician.  He had strep throat at St. John's but he made it through.  He sings "Heaven".  He does a decent job but I wonder if there might have been a better song selection.

Jake: I think you're a great singer.
Sass: You're my type.

Chanteuse number four is Manoah Hartmann, a schoolteacher from Regina (yes!).  She wants people to hear her voice because she thinks she's been holding
back.  She picks a personal favourite of mine, Evanescence's "My Immortal" and just lets 'er rip!  She could win this.

Farley: You made the song better than it is.
Zack: I think you're a real pro.

Manoah takes time to say hello to all of her students.

Karaoke king number five is Shane Wiebe and he hails from Abbotsford, BC.  He describes himself as a "run-of-the-mill" singer.  His choice is a song that I'm not familiar with but he sure does it justice!

Jake: It was quite awesome.
Zack: I feel like I got stuck in a Clay Aiken universe. You're a good singer.

Shane states that being on CI doesn't afford much free time.

Vocal inspiration number six is Ottawa's Becky Abbott and she's a vocal coach when she's not on the program. She loves leather.  I say nothing.  She's selected
"Moondance".  It's nice, but probably not good enough to move on.

Farley: Your tone was unbelievable.
Sass: You surprised the heck out of me.

Becky is told by her fellow competitors that she did a good job.

Competitor number seven is Toronto's own Jermaine Richards.  He's a very grounded person who compares making the top 32 to winning the lottery.  He chooses
"Endless Love".  It's a decent job.
Jake: It was bad.
Sass: I did not love that performance.

Jermaine doesn't understand why the judges didn't like it.

Contestant number eight is Ted Senécal from Calgary. When he stepped on the Idol stage it really hit him that he had made it that far.  His speciality is blues, and he picked "Georgia on My Mind".  He's got the pipes for it!

Farley: You represented what you are.
Zack: You did yourself proud.

Ted's biggest influence is Harry Connick Jr.

RESULTS

Ryan Malcolm, last year's winner, is in the audience, as a subtle reminder that the wild card roster will be announced tonight.  After two of them go directly into
the big house.

The Jon Dore bit of the night sees him dropping in with the Idol to Lou Pomanti's (he who plays the piano in the group heats) bar.  Side note: how did 16 year old
Brock get in?
Anyway.

Danielle: NO
Jason: Top 3
Jermaine: NO
Ted: No
Shane: Top 3
Brock: NO
Manoah: Top 3
Rebecca: NO

And moving on are. Shane and Manoah!

WILD CARD BERTHS

Andrew Broderick
Jason Greeley
Elena Juatco
Bernard Quilala
Raj Ramawad
Kyla Sandulak
Ted Senécal
Liz Titan

See you next time.