American Idol Blog: February 2006

Becky O'Donohue

A few days after Maxim published steamy pics of Becky and twin sister
Jessie from a photo shoot a couple of years ago, the 25-year-old from Dobbs
Ferry, New York, was the first contender booted from the show. Her
rendition of "Because the Night" earned mediocre reviews, prompting the
athlete/model/singer to tell Ryan Seacrest she was worried about being
eliminated.

MTV: Do you feel like the Maxim spread had something to do with you being
eliminated?

O'Donohue: No, I don't think so. The two were unrelated, and I'll never
really know why I was eliminated.

MTV: Do you think you'll follow the judges' advice and pursue a modeling
and/or acting career?

O'Donohue: I would, but I woul dn't put singing on the backburner. Singing
has always been my first love, but I am willing to pursue avenues — in
acting and modeling, especially — to get my name out there for singing. I
love being in front of the camera and I feel very comfortable [there] and I
love doing it, and what better way to spend your day than doing something
you love?

MTV: You have called Simon your favorite judge. Still think that?

O'Donohue: My opinion on Simon hasn't changed. He's always been very
honest, and if you can get him to say something nice about you, it makes
you feel good because he doesn't say it much, and when he gives you a
compliment, you know he really means it.

Stevie Scott

The classically trained 19-year-old from Fair Oaks, California, sang Josh
Groban's "To Where You Are" to show another side of herself, but it
backfired with a scathing review from the judges.

MTV: Looking back on your performance, do you wish you had taken more of a
risk with your song choice?

Scott: Unfortunately I was really sick during the first show, and that was
a bummer especially being on national television. But I did the best that
I could under the circumstances and I'm happy with that. Obviously the
judges said a diffe rent song would have been better for me and might have
kept me in the competition longer, but I'm just happy to have come this far.

MTV: Do you agree with Ryan Seacrest that the judges should be more
constructive with their criticism?

Scott: I think it's important as a performer that you can take criticism
and use it to better yourself. There's no good in just having someone take
you down; I think it's good to have someone who can build you up and make
you a better performer, like, turn "a coal into a diamond" as [fellow
contestant] Brenna [Gethers] said. I think it's important to take that
pressure and use it for good.

MTV: Do think Josh Groban would stand a chance on "Idol"?

Scott: I think he would do great, personally. At least I know me and my
friends my age love him, and I think he has a beautiful voice and a really
great quality. I think he would do really well.

Patrick Hall

After wowing the judge s in the quarterfinals, the 19-year-old balladeer
from Gravette, Arkansas, changed up his game with a rock song, "Come to My
Window." But the judges weren't feeling it.

MTV: The judges really lambasted the song choices of those who were
eliminated. Do you think that's what hurt you?

Hall: I think song choice did play a factor. I think this competition
really requires some versatility. One of the reasons I chose the song [I
did] was to show a different side of me, but I think the side of me that
everyone wanted to see was what they saw [at the audition] in Hollywood. It
just wasn't the right time to pick ['Come to My Window']. I don't think
that was the only factor, but I definitely think it was front and center.

MTV: What else do you think played a part in it?

Hall: I went first, and I don't want to use that or anything else as an
excuse, but I was a little nervous and didn't commit to the performance
like I know that I can. I'v e been a performer onstage and I've kind of
used the piano as my crutch, if you will, all my life, and that's not
always such a bad thing. I think in a different venue and in a different
setting, I can really, really shine, so I'm definitely looking forward to
showing America that side of me.

MTV: What was your second song choice?

Hall: I had about three or four songs that I was thinking about. This might
surprise [people], but I was actually thinking of doing a rendition of
"Amazing Grace," of all things. I write and arrange music and was going to
do something a bit more melodic and a bit more of what people saw during
Hollywood week.

Bobby Bennett

He sang "Copacabana" to his grandmother, but her taste differed from that
of the judges, who blasted the song choice. So, despite clearly possessing
one of the most likable personalities among the final 24, the 19-year-old
lounge singer from Denver had the lowest votes among the gentlemen.

MTV: You said you knew before you were told that you would be the one to go
home. When you were standing on that stage waiting for Ryan Seacrest to
read the verdict, what was going through your mind?

Bennett: I just thought, "OK, hurry up and say my name! Just get it over
with, let me sing the song well and let me go home!" The reason I say that
is because [you learn in this competition that sometimes] less is more, and
having watched that first performance back, less could have been a lot
more. So I think the performance I gave last night during the elimination
process was much better than my first one.

MTV: You've said your dream is to win an Oscar, Grammy and Tony. Which will
you pursue first?

Bennett: With the vehicle ["Idol" has provided me], I think a Tony will be
the first one I'll pursue. I always wanted to do Broadway anyway, and I
think that's where I will shine the most.

MTV: If you could have your choice of any musical, which one would you pick?

Bennett: Oh gosh. There's so many, but I always loved "The Music Man." That
would be really cool to do.