Mikalah Gordon, the 11th-place finisher from "American Idol's" fourth season, joined me today as the first of our weekly check ins with our roster of former "American Idol" finalists who will give their impressions on the season, their favorites, their least favorites. In addition to Mikalah, our gang includes Anthony Fedorov, Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis and Diana DeGarmo. Look at them over there all smiling and singing! 

Each week, I'll be catching up with one of them to bring you their unique insight on the competition. You can relive how these "Idol" stars started their journeys on "American Idol Rewind," which all new episodes featuring Season 4 in national syndication every Saturday this winter and spring. Encore episodes will air on the TV Guide Channel. (Click here for local listings)

Keep reading to see what Mikalah had to say about sob stories, Tatiana del Toro and Norman Gentle, and who else should be disqualified from the top 36.

Victor Balta: So, Mikalah, what do you think of this season, so far?
Mikalah Gordon: It's difficult to tell who's going to be the front-runner until you get to the top 12, but I'm excited that they brought the wild card back. I think it gives a better opportunity for someone who hasn't done as well to kind of make their comeback and become their own kind of underdog.

VB: What are your early impressions of new judge Kara DioGuardi?
MG: I really like Kara. I think she adds a lot to this season. I think they're kind of, at this point, trying to figure out what's going to keep the audience intrigued. And it's difficult.

VB: Are there any big issues from this season that are hot on your mind?
MG: OK, I really like Adam Lambert. The only thing I was kind of bummed about with how they sent Joanna home with the disqualification when she entered the top 36, and then they replaced her with Felicia Barton. But my issue is that allegations state that she had a record deal previously and she had tracks on the "Legally Blonde " soundtrack. But I feel like if you're going to disqualify her, then you should probably disqualify Adam Lambert, too. Because he was in "Wicked" and he's coming in with his very own fan base. It's kind of the same idea to me, you know? Although he didn't have a record deal, he's coming in with a huge fan base from Broadway. So, it's kind of like where do you draw the line? And I felt bad because I really liked Joanna and I thought she was really great.

VB: One word: Tatiana.
MG: I really liked Tatiana. As ridiculous as this is, she made me laugh so hard. I just died. Of course, it's "American Idol" and it has to be about the voice. But she was just so ridiculous with the prom dress and the dramatics and you kind of either just hate her or love her and I decided to love her. So I was kind of sad to see her go home, I'm not going to lie. I want her to come back (with a wild card). I like her, I don't care.That'd be too funny.

Although "American Idol" has to be all about the voice, and it really does, again, at this point, you also have to have that great entertainer quality. You have to be somebody that people want to watch, not just listen to. It's been obvious, there are millions and millions of people with great voices, so what's going to make you different? What's going to make you sell the albums? Although it may not be Tatiana, I think some of America could learn to loosen up a little bit and calm down.

VB: Two more words: Norman Gentle.
MG: Here's the deal, I don't know if these people are just getting (gutsier) or they're just, like, "Gee, this is Season 8, who cares?" But, again, with Norman Gentle -- I think that those two people are really, really smart because you don't get better exposure than on "American Idol." And if you've got a good story -- and not a sob story, because I'm kind of over the sob stories, everybody has had to pay dues in some way of some sort. But when you come in looking at this whole thing not as a joke, but as something to take not so seriously because it's just what you love to do and you're going to do it light-heartedly and now you're trying to leave your stamp. I think Norman Gentle is incredible. I think he should continue on as Norman Gentle. I think he's really (gutsy) to do it in front of millions and millions of Americans without knowing what the repercussions are going to be.

VB: So you don't want him to change.
MG: When he went back for the top 36, he obviously came back as himself, so I was wondering if maybe somebody had told him to calm down and start taking it seriously. But it's really not that serious. It's not a life or death situation. I think that if you can run with the 15 minutes of fame, run like hell with it. And just have fun. Don't forget that this is what you want to do.

VB: Was there anyone who got cut before the top 36 that you were sad to see go?
MG: Looking back at the top 36, I really liked the little mom, Frankie. She chose a really crappy song and it sucks, because it's obviously a lot about song selection -- but if you choose a crappy song, it's a bad sign. But I feel like she did really well in her audition. I feel like she also brought something new to the table. She was somebody who was interesting to watch, as well. So I was really kind of sad to see her go home.

And I was devastated when Leneshe Young went home. She was really young and she came in with her original song. I had liked her from the beginning. I really, really liked her. I thought if they were going to take a 16-year-old, I thought they would have gone with her and I was really sad to see that she got sent home. Not necessarily because of her sob story, because I don't like any of that. I think that if you have to use a sob story or your kids to get through the audition, you're missing the point. But she was so cute and she had just a good personality and such a good light about herself that I was really sad to see her not continue on.

Also, frickin' A, man, I was so bummed to see Jamar Rogers go home! Oh my God, I was really, really surprised that he didn't make it through. Everybody likes good drama and likes something good to talk about, so of course it would make sense (if they wanted to split him and Danny Gokey up). But it's just, like, when you're letting people like Tatiana go through -- and I love her, don't get me wrong -- they could've let him go through, too. His spin on "Hey There, Delilah" was really, really smart, I think, and I was rooting for him a lot and I was really sad to see him go home, as well. I was pretty surprised.

VB: What do you think it takes to win?
MG: I think you have to be really confident in who you are and you have to be really confident about your voice. I think it's difficult for people from, like, 16 to 20 to really exceed in that kind of competition. Only because, depending on your circumstances -- I'm going to say this from a personal view -- I think you don't have as much life experience as you need to. At 16 to 20, you're transitioning from a teenager to an adult. Sometimes you don't know what it is that you stand strong, morally, in. You have to really network and brand yourself to really stand out on that show and how do you brand and market yourself if you don't really know what you're about yet?

I think that's the difficult part. You really just have to stay strong and true to yourself. You can't take everything so seriously and you can't go in there with any expectations. If you go in there expecting America to love you, if they hate you -- and they will -- if you're not strong enough to deal with that (you have no chance). And I, personally, wasn't. I had a really hard time accepting the fact that people weren't digging what I was doing. And at 16, I think that I was the one who held me back the most because eventually, I was, like, 'I can't impress these people and I don't know how to make it any further.' Just put all expectations to the side, make it as far as you do. Have fun. Think of Norman Gentle, which is why I like him so much, because he's just doing his thing. And just stay really confident. Take the critiques for what they're worth. Take them, listen to them, don't dwell on them. There's no point.

VB: Did you hear about Simon Cowell wanting to freeze his remains so he can be brought back to life when technology advances later?
MG: Oh my God, he's ridiculous! [Laughs] He's like Austin Powers. Now he's going to freeze his mojo, too, while he's at it. Just in case.

VB: Do you think that's a good idea?
MG: I love Simon. I've had the opportunity to interview him a couple of times when I was hosting "American Idol Extra," and the biggest misconception I think people have is that he's this complete jerk, and he's just really mean. But he's not. He's just a really nice guy and he's a honest guy. If he doesn't like you, he's not going to sugarcoat it. That doesn't make him an A-hole, he's just an honest guy and he's actually really nice. So, I have Simon's back, I'll keep it. I'll take his reminds. I'll save hismojo for him.

VB: Also, Anthony Hopkins said he wants to play Simon in a movie about "American Idol."
MG: Is Anthony Hopkins not doing anything else right now? OK, here's the deal, if Anthony Hopkins plays Simon in a movie about "American Idol," I want to be Paula Abdul. I would do great. I'll just clap like a little dolphin.

VB: Anything else you want to tell folks?
MG: Just that right now, as we speak, "American Idol Rewind" is playing Season 4. It's syndicating all over the U.S. and it's on TV Guide Channel, as well. It's my season and it's great, because now it's showing some of the behind the scenes and some of the bloopers and the funnier moments that you didn't get to see on the actual live show. It's also Carrie Underwood's season before Jesus took her wheel, so it'll be nice to see. And I'm not being biased, but Season 4 was really, really great, so just go watch it.

*** Click here to comment! Do you agree that Adam Lambert should be disqualified? Should "Idol" have kept Tatiana around?


Message Edited by Victor_Balta on 02-23-2009 06:13 PM