'American Idol' Banter: Time to say good-bye to Jason Castro

Millions of Americans are sad tonight.  Brooke White made it hard to not be sad, but I never liked her, and I'm sticking to my mild, self-satisfied buzz.

I am not sad that White is gone from "Idol." She will be fine. She had the best exit song ever with "I Am... I Said," an awesome Neil Diamond ballad that seemed tailor-made for her unmoored state, and she got through it despite one of her trademark attempts to restart. She wept in a telegenically brokenhearted way, then turned her back on the camera's prying gaze -- her classiest move in weeks.

It would have been even more perfectly poignant had Brooke's cherubic hubby jumped onstage and cuddled her, setting the course for their future Family Channel reality show. But all she got was a pat from the Paula Abdul-anointed next Idol, David Cook, which she pushed away.

In her mind, I'll bet, White has already moved on. She had a modest independent recording career before "Idol," and she'll jump to a bigger pond now. Soon enough, she'll be a fixture in online photo galleries of angelically-coiffed, wholesome ingénues, settling somewhere between Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat.

In fact, Cook's grungy charms aside, Brooke is the one who could be the next Chris Daughtry -- the contestant whose personality was just a bit too formed to save him from the niche position that dooms semifinalists, but who succeeded with a mainstream recording career, precisely because he appeals to a self-styled subculture. PG-rated folk-rockers have their place; they provided the soundtrack to "Grey's Anatomy" and help us digest bistro food. Just because I'm not into Brooke's Ivory Girl image and sleepy musical vibe doesn't mean millions of others won't be. 

My only regret is that two contestants weren't eliminated tonight. I need Jason Castro (pictured) out of there.

Irreverent as Sanjaya Malakar --  in his own slacker way --  yet actually able to sing, Castro has added a new element to "Idol." But I don't want to wait another week for the amazing vocal throwdowns that will come if Syesha Mercado, David Cook and David Archuleta are vying for the crown.

With Brooke's exit, this season is almost poised to explode with old-fashioned showbiz, the way Neil Diamond did when he shook his AARP-qualified hips on Wednesday's episode, offering a little "Ow!" to the heavens during his featured song, "Pretty Amazing Grace."

I want that "Ow!" to become the ruling metaphor for the rest of this season. I want sparks to fly as would-be Idols push each other to new heights. I want inventiveness facing off against unbridled power, and a genuine surprise (hello again, Syesha) giving us goosebumps.

I want this Top 3 to live up to last year's feisty troika of Melinda Doolittle, Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks. Simon keeps saying this is the best season ever; then why did last season -- nobody's favorite -- have more momentum at this juncture? Maybe it was because LaKisha Jones, last year's fourth-placed Idol, actually had the guts, knowledge and universe-given gifts to scare her competition into getting better every week. She never acted sheepish. She didn't know the meaning of the word.

A few weeks ago, Jason Castro, like Brooke White, started scaring himself more than anyone else. That's human, and it clearly endears him to some fans. But it's not helping to bring the drama "Idol" needs at this point. Jason needs to pack up his Jack Johnson albums and go home. We only have a few weeks left, and we have Syesha and the Davids, three survivors who are able to hit killer notes and ham it up when it seems necessary. It's time for the serious glass-shattering and hip-shaking to begin. Ow!

-- Ann Powers

Photo courtesy of Fox

Comments

[Miller]

Thank god at least someone notice how bad Jason Castro is!!!! Honestly, would you buy a CD from this guy???? NO!!!! On the other Hand so many good singers got voted out before him, which is very sad because i probably would buy a CD from Michael Johns or Carly Smithson. Brooke White's kickout last night was about time, not that i didn't like her music, but her personality was very annoying to me. So, now we down by one girl, she was also the best one in my opinion over the last couple of weeks and i hope she makes it to the finale, but i think it's not gonna be happen, because all the kids calling for they own heros, which is not necessarily the best singer(...Castro, Baby David).
My only hope is David Cook, he proof week by week his talent and fascinate me and my friends every single time!!!! Best contestant since Chris Daughtry!!!!!!!

[Danielle]

Umm, I think anyone that really knows music knows how amazing Jason is. You can actually feel what he's feeling when he sings. That's one of the most important things you can do as an artist. Jason is a great artist and will do well even if he doesn't win this thing. I cannot say the same for any of the other people that have been in this competition.

[kayyy]

Wow!
First off, I doubt Brooke will be the next Chris Daughtry. I doubt she even makes it in the music industry at all! Not trying to be mean, just facing reality! I don't doubt however your comment on her and her husband having a reality show together (oh goshhh! I can see it now!!).
Now, are you kidding me?!?! Jason Castro needs to go home?? Seriously? Wow! He's the one whose gonna have tons of record sales when he's done with Idol! He's different, unique, real, and not to mention have you heard his voice?! He is incredible! And so what if he doesn't bring enough drama to the show? Sorry he doesn't constantly complain about all the nasty comments the judges give him! He's not about to act out or do something stupid to get his name out there! He's just who he is, he's Jason! And I don't think his fans want anything else besides that! Also, Jason screams 'American Idol' material, or at least I believe so. Even if he doesn't scream and go over the top in his songs, which I think is so overrated, he has the most beautiful and soothing voice and Idol should hope he becomes the next American Idol because he is where the money is. People will eventually get bored with David A's ballads and Syesha will just turn to Broadway because that's what she knows she should be doing anyway and Davic Cook? Well I won't doubt he makes it far in the industry too, but if I were you I wouldn't count Jason Castro out. I mean, listen to the radio! His performances are songs you can definitely hear on the radio now. Ever hear of John Meyer? Jack Johnson? Ray LaMontagne? Three awesome singers who are popular right now, expect Jason's name to be added to that list soon. AND he cares about the show (no matter what everyone says). I never would have thought people would actually mistake a laid back shy personality for that of an uncaring attitude.
And by the way, top 3 should be the boys. Syesha?? I thought she was leaving the first week. Very surprised she was the last girl standing. Should have been Carly.

[Leila]

The reason why American Idol was great this year is because it had a different type of contestant: real artists/musicians with a defined style, instead of the big-voiced divas that only excell in boring R&B ballads or cheesy pop. Jason Castro, Brooke White, David Cook, Michael Johns and even Amanda Overmeyer opened the path to more original and hipper artists in this show. On past seasons Idols was akin to watching a circus, a freak show - let's see how many high notes those girls can hit! Wow, amazing. But they were tacky as hell. Jason Castro is the most sophisticated interpreter in this season, even if he doesn't conform to the standard big voice. I love the way he plays with the notes - please download Somewhere Over the Rainbow, If I Fell, Daydream,Hallellujah and I Don't Wanna Cry to see what I'm talking about.

[iwannabfishn2day]

I think you miss the point. This is no longer a singing competition. It is a popular singing competition. People are going to vote for the people they want to pay money to hear sing. (ie David Cook and Jason Castro) Now I don't believe Jason deserves to win, but I love to hear him sing. I believe David Cook will sell more albums regardless of who wins, just as Chris Daughtry did. His previous album "Analog Heart" is better that Daughtry's current album. I can't wait to hear what he can do with proper backing. Archie is destined for the Disney channel mediocrity and Syesha is destined to disappear into Broadway.

[Frank J Croce]

It's MORE than obvious that this show is rigged. For that Dumber than a Stump Jason to still be there is mind boggling!! Not only does he NOT stay in tune nor have a strong or good voice, the LACK of personal hygene with that matted hair shows you what kind of idiot he is. He couldn't sing his way out of a wet paper bag with 2 holes in it. Between his lackidasical attitude, to just about falling asleep last week, to not being able to make any statements that remotely resemble a complete thought, he's one of he worst contestants yet

[Brittany Johnson]

You are sooo wrong about Jason Castro! He is the best contestant and he needs to win American Idol! David A sounds like he is singing through his nose and Syesha sounds like she should be performing at Disneyworld rather than American Idol. Sorry, Syesha is going home next week, not Jason!

[Lee Anne]

I disagree with the author of this article. Jason Castro is AMAZING. I watch his videos on you-tube everyday and honestly David Cook is exactly the same as Chris Daughty and David Archuleta will end up on high school musical. Would you really even listen to a cd by syesha or david archuleta in your car? Jason's music is inspiring and I would buy his cd the first day it came out. He is down to earth and just because he doesn't act like a diva obsessed person with winning the show, he does want to win and shows it differently. I really hope to see Jason go all the way because to see any of the other contestants win would turn me off to American Idol completely.

[rbk]

Brooke was bound to go at some point with her Tori Amos-lite crap and 4-note range...and though I share your thoughts about the perenially stoned, blander than dirt Castro, the coma-inducing kid has oodles of 12-year old girls ringing his digits. Alas...

[CAM]

I can't believe some of the comments I am reading. Some posters talk of Jason being unique and how much that means on AI, referencing Taylor Hicks, the least successful AI winner to date. He was dropped by his label rather quickly, because his so-called fans lost interest. Jason seems like a sweet guy, and he has had a few outstanding performances, but he does not have the talent the other remaining contestants have. Might he get a record contract? Sure. But that does not mean he should win this thing. David Archuleta is incredibly talented, but he needs to become more comfortable on stage. This will happen as he gains experience, and he likely will sell records. (Although I agree Disney would be smart to get him a show or movie of his own. That wouldn't be a bad thing for David, either.) Syesha should be Broadway bound. She is very talented, and it actually seems as if that is what she really wants. David Cook won't just be warming up for Daughtry. He will proabably as successful, win or lose. The final will be as eventful as it always is, with people dialing in madly for favorite and bashing the other contestants unmercifully as many of you have done here.

[Alexandra Carter]

Jason Castro was in the bottom two last night. Syesha was not. That's why Ryan never said they were the bottom two. Anyone else find it strange that Syesha came out #1 on dialidol, with Brooke last and Jason second-to-last, and yet Jason Castro was 1st to be sent to safety?

Someone's trying to make sure that Paula, and the show, are not accused of tampering with the competition by trashing Castro's second song before he sung it.

[Mikaflor]

I disagree. Jason is great---unique, and able to really connect with a song and with an audience. "Over the Rainbow" was the best moment of the season so far.
I really like David Cook too, but there is something really genuine and new about Jason Castro.

I know that any good article needs a little controversy, but it's a pretty ridiculous stretch to compare Jason to Sanjaya. There's nothing to compare... Since when is being a little shy and laid back the same thing as "irreverent"... ?

[Vinnie]

people are so mean on here
get a life and try doing it yourself

Jason should have gone a long time ago
He can't sing

[dwightlan]

You're right - Jason has got to go. He has very little talent, a mediocre voice, and he seemed completely uninvolved and clueless when the mentors were trying to help him out. During performances, he's a block of wood. He's mailing it in while the others are showing fire and passion. Four of him couldn't amount to either of the Davids. The sooner we admit he's carrying the 14-year-old girl crowd with his eyelashes and silly 'what-me-worry' grin, and not because of any real talent, the sooner we can get on with discovering the true Idol.

[spar44]

you are such a hater...

[Ann]

David C. has always been my favorite, but now reading positive comments about Jason got me thinking. He is unique, and that is something this show really needed. He also has a shy and likable personality, so I really hope he does better next week

Almost everyone believes it will be a David/David final showdown (including me), but I would love for there to be a major upset and see a David Cook/Jason showdown!

Now that would be entertainment.

[Jude]

It's a surprise to me when L.A. Times hires writers like Ann Powers to write about a music-related show like "American Idol" when they clearly have no clue about music. It's definitely not about a mediocre singer who takes other singers' rendition of an awesome song, and then claiming it as his own by not acknowledging them at all (David Cook). I can't believe you'd prefer David Archuleta to be in the final three or two over Jason Castro, when the boy can't even figure out what genre of music he belongs to. Not all music is R and B or opera, where they belt out out all these high notes. If you look back at all the great musicians we've had in the past- The Beatles, Elvis...Jason has more in common with them than David Cook, Archuleta, or Syesha. By the way, Jason isn't going anywhere. Haven't you looked at all the polls? He might not win American Idol, but I bet he'll sell more records than any of the other top 10.

[shander]

Melisma _ I can't stand it.

That warbling attempt to run jazz riffts into notes.

There is a place for that but its limmited and the rifts need to be intresting in their timing and resolves, subtle and graceful and limmited to the emotions of the song.

David Cook has some taste when using limmited melisma.

Archiletto and Syesha have little artistry to their melisma, sorta pulling it out as a stunt in irrelvant(to the song) and cloying ways.

Jason shifts tones more with syllables or as a quick intro before hitting the true note. He sings the last note of songs gracefully and purely, not in some sort of, "better add some frills to this to show that I can"

[Jude]

It also surprises me when L.A. Times hires writers like Anne Powers to write about music-related shows when they clearly have no clue about music! Just because Jason Castro doesn't belt out the high notes like Syesha (by the way, this isn't just R & B and opera Idol!) it doesn't mean Jason isn't talented. Did the Beatles or Elvis do that? Nope, and they still sold billions of records. Jason isn't going anywhere. Have you seen the Internet polls? He will definitely make it to the final three, if not the final two. If he doesn't become the American Idol, he will still sell more records than any of these guys in the final four right now.

[lyn]

Jason Castro is the best this year. Nice to lay back and listen to a voice instead of screaming idiots this year. If Idol managers have any stranglhold on the winners that would make Jason have to change or not be true to himself, that is the only reason I wouldn't want him to win.