It's the final elimination show on "Rock Star:INXS." The 15 Rockers that came to Los Angeles 10 weeks ago have been whittled down to four, and tonight INXS sends one more Rocker home. One of the three remaining will become the new lead singer for INXS. If you thought things couldn't get any more tense, or that the Rockers' performances couldn't get any better, you're wrong.
The evening starts with the announcement of this week's encore. For the second week in a row it was chosen by "Rock Star:INXS" fans on rockstar.msn.com. The honor goes to Marty for his performance of "Trees." However, Dave throws the choice of opening encore to the studio audience who, in a close show of applause, gives the nod to J.D.
For his fourth time performing "Pretty Vegas," J.D. makes a last-minute decision to go acoustic, accompanied by Jim and Rafael on guitar. They give the song a bluesy tinge, and on the lyrics he usually sings through the bullhorn, J.D. breaks out an impressive falsetto.
For his encore, Marty continues the evening's democratic tradition, giving the audience a choice between electric and acoustic versions of "Trees." If they choose the electric version, he promises to smash his guitar. When the cheers are overwhelmingly for the electric version, Marty playfully whales his Gibson acoustic guitar against the stage. His performance of "Trees" (his third on the "Rock Star:INXS" stage) is a smash as well. Dave is impressed by the fact that in the last few weeks, "Rock Star:INXS" has been the launching pad for two original songs, "Trees" and "Pretty Vegas."
Next, through the magic of videotape, there's a short glimpse of goings-on at the Mansion after Tuesday's performance show. All four Rockers were pleased with their performances. J.D. is "100% happy." MiG feels he's safe for another week. Marty says that during "Creep," he hit notes he didn't know he had in him. And Suzie, still on a high after her two songs, says that she really felt the energy from the studio audience when she ran into the crowd. "I was rocking out," she says, "There's no greater feeling in the world."
Back in the studio, Dave has a few questions about what else the Rockers are feeling. Marty feels the Rockers have responded to the pressure by raising their game. "The performances have been phenomenal," he tells Dave and INXS. Tim says INXS also feels the pressure, and the high quality of their performances doesn't make their job any easier.
Dave then asks MiG if he feels the pressure of never being in the bottom three. "No," Mig says, "I'm on a winning streak." What he wants now is to be one of the "top three" and sing an INXS song at the finale.
J.D. has been on a winning streak as well; he's one Rocker who has definitely peaked at the right time. But Dave wants to know if we have seen the best of J.D. Fortune. "No," J.D. responds. He's grown as a person and performer over the last two months, and he hopes INXS will want to see how much more he can grow over the next 20 years.
Finally, Dave wants to know if Suzie -- the Rocker who has been in the bottom three five times, the most of anyone -- has any advice for the other Rockers. "Give it all you got," she tells them. "It could be your last chance." She has more advice, she says, but she's keeping that to herself because she wants to kick ass.
Before Brooke announces this week's bottom three and shares the early voting results, she asks which Rockers think they're safe this week. Considering their bravado after the performance show, it's not surprising that no hands are raised. The early returns put Marty in first place, followed by J.D., Suzie and, finally, MiG.
Brooke reads off the first name of this week's bottom three: Suzie. Garry reminds her that she's been in the bottom three "more times than he can count." Whatever happens tonight, he assures her, this will be the last time. He asks her to sing "Suicide Blonde." She navigates the song's slinky dance-rock groove with confidence, deftly mixing vocal power with sultriness. After her performance, Garry asks in what ways she's grown during the competition. She says that when she first arrived in Los Angeles, she knew she had talent but was a little unsure of herself. Now, she's ready to take on the world.
J.D. is up next. Jon tells him that INXS has been impressed with his growth as a performer. J.D.'s assignment tonight is to show them what he can do with "By My Side." He does a masterful job tonight. He shows how supple his voice can be, moving easily from seductive growl to keening moan, and whips out his falsetto for a second go round. Jon asks what he has learned from this experience, and J.D. says "never judge a book by its cover" and "love." Early on, he was so focused on being the next lead singer of INXS that he missed out on what he calls the "peripheral things." It took the other Rockers to wake him up, and he thanks them.
There are now two Rockers left: Marty, who was leading early on, and MiG, who has never been in the bottom three. When Brooke reads the name in the envelope, it's Marty who has his ticket punched for the finale, and MiG gets his first taste of the bottom three.
And for MiG's first INXS song, Kirk asks him to sing "What You Need." INXS may have worried about MiG's theatrical background, but his stage experience certainly didn't hurt tonight. He delivers an explosive performance, leaving the audience in a frenzy. It also leaves MiG exhausted with a torn shirt. Once everyone has a chance to calm down, Kirk wants to know how MiG has developed during his time on "Rock Star:INXS." When he first came on the show, MiG says, he thought he would kick ass. Once he saw the competition, his confidence wavered, but because he's gotten this far in the competition, he says he can't lose.
With three incredible performances, INXS has a tough decision on their hands. When they return, Tim tells the Rockers that INXS has been "agonizing over" this week's elimination, which he calls the "hardest of the entire season." He has some good news first: J.D. is going on to the finale. And then the bad news: Tim's truly, truly sorry, but Suzie is told that she's not the right singer for INXS.
Surprisingly, considering how often she has cried, Suzie's eyes stay dry. She thanks them for the great music they've made (it's become an addiction, she says) and is glad they'll continue to make great music no matter which of the three remaining Rockers they choose to be their lead singer. Andrew again compliments her for her voice and her tenacity and invites her up to the INXS platform for a proper goodbye.
Which of the three finalists -- J.D., MiG or Marty -- will get to hear that he's the right singer for INXS? To find out, don't miss the "Rock Star:INXS" finale at 10PM ET/PT Tuesday, September 20, on CBS. |
