Live Blog: Nashville Star, Season Six, Episode Five
Another episode of Nashville Star. Meh.
As always, our live blog begins at 8 p.m. central.
8:59 – Matt C: That’s right, folks. Two contestants are going home tonight. I know who I’m rooting for (or against).
9:01 – Matt C: Katie Cook introducing BRC is like Dwight Yoakam introducing…whatever sorry excuse for an artist he introduced at last year’s CMA Awards.
9:02 – Matt C: Tommy Stanley is gone already and we don’t even have to hear him sing. Heh, I’m starting to like this show.
9:03 – Matt C: That makes Melissa Lawson the top vote getter from last week. I disagree with America on that one.
9:05 – Matt C: It seems like they should be playing the Rocky theme song right about now.
9:06 – Matt C: This is the first performance where Melissa hasn’t really tried to belt it out, and I kind of like it.
9:06 – Matt C: Ok, that just changed. Unlike previous weeks, she didn’t hold pitch very well on those big notes.
9:07 – Matt C: When John Rich praises Melissa Lawson, just remember that he’s the one who called Gretchen Wilson the next Patsy Cline.
9:12 – Matt C: It’s close, but I think that America’s Got Talent beats Nashville Star for forced drama.
9:12 – Matt C: Uh oh, Laura & Sophie are BFF’s no more.
9:14 – Matt C: Laura & Sophie sound much better tonight. However, something tells me they don’t really know what this song (”Walkin’ After Midnight”) is about. That arrangement was too bright and too gimmicky.
9:15 – Matt C: I think that one of these girls (the one in the red…don’t know who that is) could make it on her own, but this duo is just way too radio Disney, even in the Hannah Montana age.
9:16 – Matt C: Still, the judges were much too critical. I feel that Laura & Sophie are the in the top two to three of this competition. Why can’t they save that criticism for Coffey?
9:18 – Matt C: I’d also like to point out that Laura & Sophie have been the most consistently country act on this show, and they’ve performed songs over three times older than they are. They ought to get some credit for that.
9:22 – Matt C: With this Keith Urban performance, I’m ready to declare that the country sheen has worn off of Gabe Garcia.
9:23 – Matt C: And it’s not a very good performance either. Smacks of imitation, and those dance lessons only made things worse.
9:24 – Matt C: Yeah, John. Nothing screams Texan like Keith Urban. That mediocre performance was so not worth all of the proselytizing.
9:25 – Matt C: Chris N: 10 out of what?
9:27 – Matt C: Rick: I’m starting to wonder if maybe Oprah endorsed Melissa on her show one day..
9:28 – Matt C: Our readers disagree with me about Gabe’s performance.
Matt B: It’s a good KU song and it sounds country coming from Gabe. Melissa, meet your top competition….
Paula: Gabe was good. I kinda liked the Keith Urban with a twang. ;-)?
9:30 – Matt C: Shawn Mayer “fired” John Rich and is now being mentored by Jeffrey.
9:31 – Matt C: She’s performing “The First Cut is the Deepest” and kind of sounds like Emmylou. I really like it.
9:32 – Matt C: Here’s a question no one has asked: what happens if Shawn wins and John Rich has to produce her album?
9:33 – Matt C: I’m starting to feel like a voice in the wilderness here, because I am definitely not on the same page with the judges this week.
9:35 – Matt C: Coffey is just annoying, and is now trying to become a Tommy Stanley surrogate. I really have nothing else to say.
9:37 – Matt C: JR again criticizes Coffey for being “not country” but then asks: “can you go on stage with Keith Urban? Can you go on stage with Rascal Flatts?”
9:43 – Matt C: John Rich is just shameless. Watch him criticize Ashlee Hewitt for being not country after telling her to sing a Steve Miller Band song.
9:45 – Matt C: A surprisingly good performance from Ashlee Hewitt, but I think that she’s more obviously wrong for the genre than any other performer on the show, not because she’s bad at country music so much as good at folk-rock.
9:47 – Matt C: Chris N.: A “hanging chads” joke! How topical.
9:51 – Matt C: Ouch, Pearl Heart caught the pitchy virus.
9:52 – Matt C: I’m sorry, but I can in now way call this “three-part harmony on the guitar.” I’ve yet to count three chords among the three of them.
9:54 – Matt C: I no longer doubt my disagreement with the judges. They’re just stupid tonight. “Good job on the guitar?” They made George Strait look like a guitar god.
9:55 – Matt C: I can’t quibble with either choice here. Pearl Heart is just bad, whereas Ashlee Hewitt is “not applicable.”
9:55 – Matt C: And Pearl Heart gets the ax.
9:57 – Matt C: I’m just not going to respond to judges who call Pearl Heart “the most country thing I’ve ever seen.”
9:59 – Matt C: Nashville Star is on the “abysmal ratings schedule.” Two more finalists are going home next week.
10:00 – Matt C: See y’all next week. I’ll post a wrap-up shortly.
10:20 – Matt C:
Wrap-up:
Best performance: Tough call this week, but I’ll disagree with the judges and pick Shawn Mayer, “The First Cut is the Deepest.” It was more of a promising performance than a good one, but I think that Shawn Mayer may prove a late-blooming talent.
Worst performance The judges raved about Pearl Heart’s “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til the Sun Comes Up), but it definitely wasn’t worthy. “Pitchy” may be the most overused word on reality television, but it accurately describes this performance, and it’s simply cheating to sell your performance as a gutsy, do-or-die instrumental and then let your guitars rest at the hip. And if it was Paula Abdul instead of Jewel who inexplicably complimented the trio on their guitar work, it would be the lead story on Entertainment Tonight.
Should be eliminated: Coffey (for being annoying) and Ashlee Hewitt (for being a folk singer).
Will be eliminated: I have a very poor track record on these predictions, but I’ll guess that the viewers will agree and eliminate Coffey and Ashlee Hewitt.
Should win: I still side with Gabe Garcia, but I’m beginning to doubt myself. He’s shown more talent than any other contestant, but also less identity.
Will win: Melissa Lawson was the top vote-getter again this week, so I’ll stand pat on that prediction.
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106 Comments
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July 7, 2008 at 2:38 pm Permalink
Ahem … the guy who forgot about Laura and Sophie?
July 7, 2008 at 2:57 pm Permalink
Wow. I knew that I should’ve checked my notes before posting that. I think we can call that my most embarassing moment at The 9513.
I’m correcting above. For those who wonder what this was about, I mistakenly declared that there are no duos competiting on Nashville Star.
July 7, 2008 at 3:10 pm Permalink
Well, Matt, we all have moments like that…
July 7, 2008 at 3:15 pm Permalink
Oh on a side note, I’m working up a review on Katie Armiger and I noticed that she’s good friends with Ashlee Hewitt. Ashlee co-wrote many of Katie’s songs with Katie and also sings harmony vocals and also produced one track.
July 7, 2008 at 6:26 pm Permalink
It’s no big; there probably won’t be any duos competing on Nashville Star soon enough.
July 7, 2008 at 6:41 pm Permalink
Ashlee and her older sister Katrice put out a 5 song EP titled “Caribou Road” after their home address back in 2006. Its not bad and a couple of the songs, and especially “Girl In a Car”, are quite catchy. It was recorded and produced by Mark Oliverius, who also did some co-writing on the EP. Its a pretty respectable effort for an amateur debut release and would appeal to Taylor Swift’s fan base if they ever got a chance to hear it.
Link: http://www.hewittsisters.com/merchandise.html
Most of the rest of their webiste links from the homepage seem not to be working. Hmmm……
July 7, 2008 at 7:03 pm Permalink
And that wasn’t a shock.
July 7, 2008 at 7:04 pm Permalink
I just don’t know if I can hack this tonight.
July 7, 2008 at 7:04 pm Permalink
Chris, Tommy’s gone. It just got infinitely more bearable.
July 7, 2008 at 7:05 pm Permalink
Why does America hate America?
July 7, 2008 at 7:07 pm Permalink
Once again I see “Trisha” in her performances but Trisha’s never that pitchy and off-key.
July 7, 2008 at 7:07 pm Permalink
The terrorists just won, with Navy Boy getting booted.
Melissa Lawson: She at least approximated country music this week, which I believe is a departure for her.
Yay, it’s an hour long show tonight!
July 7, 2008 at 7:07 pm Permalink
Damn! That was actually good!! (Melissa, that is)
July 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm Permalink
Is Jewel sporting a female mullet tonight?
July 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm Permalink
I want my mullet back!
July 7, 2008 at 7:08 pm Permalink
Matt B, are you ready to rumble?:)
July 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm Permalink
OMG Laura & Sophie aren’t BFF’s! TMTH!
July 7, 2008 at 7:14 pm Permalink
Of course, Leeann…
Laura & Sophie fighting? Teenage girlfriends fightning? Nah, never would’ve guessed that!
Yikes. I hear “Judds” here but it’s pretty Karaoke to me.
July 7, 2008 at 7:16 pm Permalink
I think they just want this to be over…because they’re not BFFs anymore.
July 7, 2008 at 7:16 pm Permalink
well – if anybody can handle teenage girls fighting, it’s jeffrey. :-)
and comparitively speaking …. they were better this week than they have been …. but they still are not up to par.
July 7, 2008 at 7:16 pm Permalink
The Hillbilly High School Musical sound just isn’t working out for me. I’m starting to root for them just to tick off John Rich every week.
July 7, 2008 at 7:18 pm Permalink
I can’t believe the way the N.S. audience goes crazy for Melissa as he is just not that good of vocalist. Maybe they should have also cast Mandy Barnett to show this audience what a real singer sounds like. I get the sneaking suspicion that the NS audience is packed with current and former members of Weight Watchers or fans of “The Biggest Loser” who are confused…..
July 7, 2008 at 7:19 pm Permalink
Yeah, Jeffrey was bing Mr. Dad there.
July 7, 2008 at 7:20 pm Permalink
Can I just say that I’m annoyed that Jewel asked Melissa Lawson if she and her family were ready for this? What did that have anything to do with a critique of her performance? I mean it’s a relevant question in an interview, but not a performance critique.
July 7, 2008 at 7:21 pm Permalink
And ready for what? The show is happening right now, ready or not, and I don’t foresee much of a future for Melissa.
July 7, 2008 at 7:21 pm Permalink
Leeann, that’s because it looks as if Melissa is the one to beat.
July 7, 2008 at 7:23 pm Permalink
Thanks Jewel. Take the countriest sounding person on the show and tell him he needs dancing lessons. Brilliant analysis.
July 7, 2008 at 7:23 pm Permalink
It’s a good KU song and it sounds country coming from Gabe. Melissa, meet your top competition….
Rick, never underestimate the American Housewife who sees themself in Melissa Lawson.
July 7, 2008 at 7:24 pm Permalink
Gave was good. I kinda liked the Keith Urban with a twang. ;-)
July 7, 2008 at 7:24 pm Permalink
10 out of what?
July 7, 2008 at 7:25 pm Permalink
Matt B., I’m starting to wonder if maybe Oprah endorse Melissa on her show one day….
July 7, 2008 at 7:26 pm Permalink
Chris,
Out of 50? 100? 200? 1000?
July 7, 2008 at 7:26 pm Permalink
Seriously Chris N.?
July 7, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink
I’ve never been aboard the Gabe Garcia train.
July 7, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink
What do you not like about him?
July 7, 2008 at 7:27 pm Permalink
I know everybody loves Gabe, but he doesn’t do it for me. His voice just sounds weak to me.
July 7, 2008 at 7:28 pm Permalink
Yea Chris!!! I thought I was the only one.
July 7, 2008 at 7:28 pm Permalink
Prediction:
If Coffey makes it this week, he does a pop song…
I know, BIG stretch….
July 7, 2008 at 7:29 pm Permalink
Having heard him in person he really is an outstanding singer. My opinion.
July 7, 2008 at 7:29 pm Permalink
Not Coffey…Gabe
July 7, 2008 at 7:30 pm Permalink
John was a jerk to her last week. I’m not surprised she wanted him off her case.
July 7, 2008 at 7:30 pm Permalink
Gabe isn’t spectacularly bad like some of the other contestants, but … ehh.
July 7, 2008 at 7:30 pm Permalink
Too whiney
July 7, 2008 at 7:31 pm Permalink
Shawn Mayer is the smartest person in the competition for finding out a way to get away from John Rich.
Too bad Jeffrey Steele can’t help fix that quivering voice tonight. Far and away the worst of the week so far.
July 7, 2008 at 7:32 pm Permalink
Leeann, He’s not my favorite either. In fact, I don’t have any favorite.
I do think Ashlee Hewett might have the best talent due to the writing I’ve heard on Katie Armiger’s new CD.
July 7, 2008 at 7:33 pm Permalink
I’m glad Jewel approved of Shawn sticking up for herself. I’m sure John will hold a grudge against her. There’s no way he’s producing her album…not that she’s gonna be the winner or anything.
July 7, 2008 at 7:33 pm Permalink
Shawn Mayer isn’t a bad singer but I may be the one guy in America that can’t stand watching her sing.
July 7, 2008 at 7:34 pm Permalink
Proud Mary…I was right…Coffey so predictible.
July 7, 2008 at 7:34 pm Permalink
John is right that Coffey isn’t country.
Matt, Hewitt is my personal favorite, I think. I’m not even overwhelmed by her at this point either.
July 7, 2008 at 7:34 pm Permalink
WOW..Surprised he made it!
July 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm Permalink
Talk about not being able to watch someone sing…
July 7, 2008 at 7:35 pm Permalink
If Shawn Mayer wins, Jeffrey Steele produces her album. Coffey too.
July 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm Permalink
BRC: “If You’re a Cafe fan…” you can’t make this up.
July 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm Permalink
Well, we have one thing to be thankful for! The shortened version of Nashville Star no longer conflicts with “The Mole”! (lol)
July 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm Permalink
The judges are officially getting off the Coffey train, and none too soon. I still see him sticking around to nearly the end, and I don’t expect to hear any country music from him until it’s forced down his throat.
July 7, 2008 at 7:38 pm Permalink
Is this only a one hour show? Because there are only two performers left.
July 7, 2008 at 7:39 pm Permalink
Yes it is ..Thank the Lord!
July 7, 2008 at 7:40 pm Permalink
I do like cafes, that’s for sure.
July 7, 2008 at 7:40 pm Permalink
Matt they get to sing two songs I guess…
July 7, 2008 at 7:41 pm Permalink
Well, that’s a welcome reprieve.
July 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm Permalink
Only 15 mins left. How can they sing 2?
July 7, 2008 at 7:42 pm Permalink
wait, no guest tonight?
July 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm Permalink
They probably couldn’t convince anyone else to come on the show.
July 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm Permalink
I don’t know this song.
July 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm Permalink
Ah yes, that great country classic “Take the Money and Run.”
July 7, 2008 at 7:44 pm Permalink
Matt C: 9:01–Katie Cook…
Dwight Yoakam actually introduced Sugarland at the CMAs last year. :)
July 7, 2008 at 7:45 pm Permalink
Assuming that wasn’t scripted, how do you end up in a singing contest on national TV and have the mentor pick out a song because you don’t know what to sing? There’s tend of thousands of songs out there, for crying out loud.
And no surprise, Ashlee doesn’t sound like she should be singing “Take the Money and Run.”
July 7, 2008 at 7:45 pm Permalink
Leann, you’re being funny, right? right?
July 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm Permalink
I’m glad Jewel likes Ashley, but I didn’t love this performance. Apparently, she and John get along okay.
July 7, 2008 at 7:46 pm Permalink
Kids today. No culture!
July 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
Well, as long as Sugarland didn’t sing “All I Wanna Do” (I think they sang “Stay”), I guess I have to stick my foot in my mouth for the second time tonight.
July 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
A “hanging chads” joke! How topical.
July 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
HAHA..I’m with you Matt…Excellent song Leann
July 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
Ashlee has been in Nashville long enough to have thick skin. Shawn probably hasn’t.
July 7, 2008 at 7:47 pm Permalink
No, Matt, I’m afraid not.
July 7, 2008 at 7:49 pm Permalink
Leeann, you would know it if you heard it.
July 7, 2008 at 7:49 pm Permalink
Hey now, Ashley didn’t know it either.:)
July 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm Permalink
Wow, Leeann. It’s a great song and in the early part of the decade Julian Austin from Canada recorded “Take The Money And Run.” I guess my dad playing the hell out of the “Best of Steve Miller” makes me know it…hehe
July 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm Permalink
I’m not hatein’…lol
July 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm Permalink
Who sings it?
July 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm Permalink
That was not the way to hear it for the first time.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fFGZufk4HFs
July 7, 2008 at 7:50 pm Permalink
oy vay…a Garth Brooks song?
July 7, 2008 at 7:51 pm Permalink
Steve Miller, Leeann
July 7, 2008 at 7:52 pm Permalink
Very HSM to me..Not likeing the mesh of their voices.
July 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm Permalink
That was good but it’s probably too late.
July 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm Permalink
I would watch a reality show that has just Jeffrey Steele mentoring a dozen wannabes and eliminating them one by one each week. For being the least well-known judge on the show, he’s been the most original and creative of the bunch, and he got a mighty good performance out of Pearl Heart.
July 7, 2008 at 7:53 pm Permalink
I thought it was better than anything else they did, but they’ll be voted off.
July 7, 2008 at 7:54 pm Permalink
Sam G.,
Jeffrey Steele may be the least ‘known’ but he’s made more money than J.R. and maybe even Jewel too. He’s the one who knows what he’s doing the most.
July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm Permalink
No shock there. but if you’re gonna go, that’s not a bad way to go.
July 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm Permalink
But they all held guitars!
July 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm Permalink
I think they should consider changing their name to “Pearl Harbor” as I sense a torpedo heading their way…..
July 7, 2008 at 7:56 pm Permalink
I know nothing by Steve Miller. I’ll have to educate myself.
Oh, the two that I predicted were voted off this week.
July 7, 2008 at 7:59 pm Permalink
Leeann, Steve Miller Band is good classic rock. It’s just fun music. Garth owes some to Steve Miller.
Well, looks like Pearl Heart will have a deal through Jeffrey Steele producing them.
July 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm Permalink
Leeann, the only time I’d ever heard that song was in one of those “Best of the 70s” Time-Life TV commercials, and even then it was only the chorus. You’re definitely not alone.
Bummer about Pearl Heart, but with this talent level, it’s hard to sort out the mediocre from the adequate.
July 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm Permalink
Till next week fellas….Misty out!
July 7, 2008 at 8:00 pm Permalink
I dunno, remember when Wynonna used to promise every other act getting voted off that she would produce their album?
July 7, 2008 at 8:04 pm Permalink
Yeah Chris, I remember but Steele is actually a producer. That’s the key difference.
July 7, 2008 at 8:07 pm Permalink
If Jeff said it, he will follow through with it. IF the girls want it. Notice though, he did not say he would produce their album, he said he would continue to mentor them. If they will work hard (really hard) and listen to Jeff, they stand a chance.
July 7, 2008 at 8:09 pm Permalink
Sam G, I’m glad I’m not the only one. Matt, I guess I’m really not into classic rock too much.
July 7, 2008 at 8:12 pm Permalink
Leeann,
But there’s so much ‘classic rock’ in current country music….lol. Honestly, I get that way with alot of classic country GASP. I didn’t grow up w/it like you probably didn’t grow up with classic rock.
July 7, 2008 at 8:16 pm Permalink
So – is the reason they are doing double elimination so they can get the show over with before ALL the viewers disappear?
July 7, 2008 at 8:21 pm Permalink
Paula, it sure seems that way. If a show has good ratings they will try to stretch it out, but it looks like Nashville Star will be subject to a premature “mercy killing”. Considering the level of talent they’ve had this year can’t say I blame them…
July 8, 2008 at 7:39 am Permalink
Was Shawn Mayer leaving John Rich played for drama with a blow-up or was it just, “I want to work with Jeffery.”
Also was the Laura & Sophie fight played for silly drama.
I think the show is getting desperate if that is the case.
July 8, 2008 at 8:15 am Permalink
It could have been staged, but I doubt it. John was pretty rude to Shawn last week by telling her horrible she was but refusing to explain why even after she asked what she had done wrong. He just talked over her and stressed one more time that she had done a horrible job. I’m sure it didn’t help matters that he treated her that way in front of her family. As far as the duo, they’re young; it’s not hard to believe that the stress of doing a pretty poor job would get to them and result in a teenage fight.
With that said, those two dramas didn’t do anything to improve the dismal show anyway.
July 8, 2008 at 9:25 am Permalink
props to shawn meyer for getting rid of her ‘mentor’ john rich. i’d pay cold hard american cash for the rest of them to fire his ass. then there’d be less of him on the show. it’s a win-win for america, Jesus, and children everywhere.
ok, i have to ask this: who is jared carter and why did they show him on tv for a split second? seriously, who is jared carter? also, should i care?
whatever that thing is in coffey’s voice is, please make it stop quivering. it’s like joan baez on testosterone injections.
lauren and sophie just need to sing into hairbrushes at home. subjecting america to this just helps the terrorists. i generally love young girls with braces, but this is just too much.
there also may have been a 5-minute span last night when no one mentioned how patriotic tommy stanley was. which, of course, swelled the hearts of taliban sympathizers all across the world. clearly, this program needs to amp up the patriotism. it’s just not clear to me that everyone on that stage loves this country. the clear absence of kneepads is also becoming bothersome.
i hate myself for watching this show.
July 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm Permalink
Jeffrey Steele could beat everybody on that show.
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