Game Show NewsNet

August 25-26 - Round of 5: "Summertime Hits"

This week's theme is Summertime hits - which is pretty much a catch-all as you'll read soon enough.

(roll titles)

We start by seeing the idols at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto - performing, what else? Even Jon Dore gets into the act. Not singing, thankfully. All of the songs were directly from the show. but it's good practice anyway.

After banter with the judges, Benbot lets us start the competition. First up is Shane Wiebe. He takes a beating on the super slide but he enjoys the rest of the rides. And the food. His choice is "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". He starts off VERY SOFTLY and it doesn't help his cause. He seems a bit out of his league and this might be his swan song. It doesn't help that he forgot some of the words.

I'd like to pass along that this week they're getting more song for their buck as they're quintuplets.

Jake: It wasn't a gold medal performance. I'd like to know what the judge from Trinidad has to say (Farley laughs)
Farley: You hit the first hurdle but you kept going (in reference to Felicia Perditian, the 110m hurdler from Canada who was expected to win gold in Athens but tripped on the first jump).

Benbot comes out for Benchat. Benbot mentions that Shane's probably had the most roller-coaster based ride of the five that are left.

Number two on the summertime ride is Kalan Porter. We see footage of him wakeboarding and eating the food at the CNE. The girls are left in his drool. He sings "Long Train Running" by the Doobie Brothers. I would
have to say that it's one of his weaker performances. Not that it's forced, it's just not as relaxed as it should be. And he seems to (strangely enough) have sprouted Mick Jagger lips.

Sass: Great energy - kicking it into high gear.
Zack: Holding the one note forever. it showed a lack of maturity.

Benbot comments that Kalan always sings songs that are much older than him. Well, I'm thinking that Vanilla Ice is not really a good choice.

Professor Dore is the head of the new sketch "Back to Cool". The idols go shopping at Athlete's World (*sponsor alert*) and then are late for the Prof's anthropology lesson. It's fashion through the ages and it's really corny.

Jason Greeley is the middle Idol family member and he remembers summers in Newfoundland (they're nice - RV) and that he's big on the rides: the bigger the better. His song is "Bad Case of Loving You". I'll tell you one thing - Jason arguably might not be the best singer (don't quote me on that!) but he's there to perform week in, week out. And this week, he runs through, singing in the audience.

Why didn't I see him on George Street in St. John's before he was on the show is beyond me.

Jake: For me that was a bad case of a bad song.
Sass: What you lacked in finesse you made up in energy.

Benbot comments that Jason's the one that likes to get the audience involved the most. Thanks Ben, tell us something we don't know.

Crazy Jacob Hoggard is number four. Summertime, he says, is about the weekend. And he's always crazy at the fair, says he. The choice is "Don't Want to Miss a Thing". Oh, how I could wish that I could turn off the screaming girls. This is possibly the calmest that Master Hoggard has ever been. Good? Bad? You decide. He does a decent job but there's something missing. If you find it, let me know.

Farley: Later on I want to be able to identify your voice on the radio. and I will.
Zack: We have to decide who we're looking for. Someone with enormous star potential... who sang a song I don't like but gave me chills.

Benbot asks if the song was 100% Jacob, to which he responds that he's not wearing any underpants.

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

He and Ben also have a fun shoving match. Two minutes for corniness.

Oh look, another Jon Dore sketch. He's got a sunburn this week and it isn't helped by Zack who slaps him on the back. He takes off his shirt and indeed he has the Idol logo on his chest. Ben suggest that he go get some Aloe Vera from his dressing room.

Teresa, the lone female left, is enjoying the Zipper ride at the CNE. Summer reminds her of long car trips with her dad. Her song is "Crusin'" by Smokey Robinson. Interesting choice, but one suited to her voice, so that's a good choice then. It's right up her alley although the flower she's stapled to the microphone (it just seems like that) is pretty corny.

Jake: Your future is so bright, I've gotta wear shades (and he pulls them out). (This cracks up Farley).
Zack: Your tone is SO delicious. Great singing is about soulfulness, and you have it.

Benbot comments that she is the last woman standing, a princess among ruffians.

RESULTS

We start out with the medley. First up is "Walking on Sunshine" (you can just see Katrina and her Waves getting their residual cheques). Then "Summer in the City". Followed by a rock song that I don't recognize.
That's all.

STOP! Filler time.

This week's former idol is Gary Beals, who was runner up to Ryan Malcolm on last year's show. He's singing "Summer Nights", the new single off of his new CD. He came with his own back up dancers too. He sings well and at least is enjoying his newfound fame.

Wait! Another medley. This time it's the Beach Boys. They start with a not so great version of "I Get Around". Then it progresses to "Wouldn't It Be Nice". We segue into "Good Vibrations" which is horrid because at least one person is off or has forgotten the WORDS!!! It's really not fun to listen to. Trust me on that one.

Jon Dore tonight has a guitar and is singing a song about the upcoming Monday. It's a plug for the "Best and Worst" clips show that is coming up. Guaranteed that this correspondent (01769, to be exact) won't be on it. And it appears that the worst ones will be singing on stage at the show. My word, if I'd known that. hmm.

We gets to see the judges outside of their context of judges - all the guys are involved with distribution of records, and Sass just keeps singing on stage. It turns out that Farley and Jake are involved with the distribution of Gary Beals and Toya Alexis' records (Top 10 finalists from last year).

Scores on the door?

Jason: Bottom 2
Teresa: SAFE
Kalan: SAFE
Shane: Bottom 2
Jacob: SAFE

After they get one last song to plead their cases, Shane Wiebe will no longer be in the bottom few centre stage during the results show every week as he has to go.

Next week: Big Band singing with guest Matt Dusk (from "The Casino").