Taking a Leap of Faith!

Last week on “Any Dream Will Do”: Everyone was amazing, no lie. For their mission, the boys had to seduce Denise. In a moment that I’m sure Denise and Lee that find funny, he failed that mission. In the end, Webber chose to save Lewis over Daniel and I got mad. Who goes next? Find out on tonight’s (not-so) live show!

Graham suit watch: Blue and orange again. He’s repeating colors! What’s with Denise and John doing jazz hands? Anyway, the final five Josephs sing a mix of the “Prologue” and “A Pharaoh Story.” It’s an…interesting…combo. I think Lee is overpowering the other four a bit. Scratch that. Lee’s just overpowering the other four. The boys leave the stage as the cameraman focuses on the Chrises. Graham introduces the panel (Zoe Tyler, Bill Kenwright, Denise van Outen, and John Barrowman) as well as Andrew Lloyd Webber. Graham says the Josephs have to handle different perspectives.

Lee is up first, as a dreamer. Lee remarks that Webber has seen his intense side. You think? So he says he has to find his “dreamity”—actual quote—and thinks of his Nana, who took him to shows. He performs the Monkees’ “Daydream Believer.” Webber says he needs to switch up from last week’s dark song. To help him get “dreamer,” wardrobe put him in pajamas! Hmm, for some reason, I remembered my view and thinking Lee fell short of the “dreamer” part. But re-watching it, I think he got it. Either way, this song’s already on my iPod. Hey, is he singing to his girlfriend? The one the camera just got?

Lee says he was surprised to see Daniel go and that its proved that anyone could go. Zoe thinks that Lee has learned to relax and she’s happy with his vocal. John compares Lee to a glass of lemonade on a summer day. Webber loved Lee.  I won’t repeat his “mojo” joke.

Coming Up: Ben blows a note or two.

Graham says that Ben has arrogance sorted but Ben needs to show his vulnerable side. Ben says that he doesn’t want his vulnerability to come out on the outside. But Webber wants to see it. Ben says he’s biggest fear is being in the middle of an ocean. So he goes to an aquarium and faces his fear, complete with a shark. He crawls out. Webber feels the song Ben has tells a journey and is about vulnerability. Ben sings “Crying.” The vocal starts off well. And I think vulnerability is getting through. Oh, here are the flat parts. Ouch. I don’t think Ben’s voice was ready for this song just yet. Oh Ben…I think Webber and I are making the same face. But he’s nailing vulnerability if not the notes. Please…please, end the song. Please, I can’t take anymore.

Oh thank God. Graham notes that “Crying” could be the Josephs theme song because of all the tears. See: Barton, Chris. And he says he felt more vulnerable in the fish tank. Bill starts. He apologizes for the song choice and notes the bad notes. But he liked how Ben kept the song simple and that he kept the story. He thought Ben gave a great vulnerable performance. He lets Zoe talk about the notes. She says he did improve and he did work on the song. She wants to work on his vibrato but that Ben did well enough with such a hard song. John reminds people that Joseph will never have to sing so high and that Ben did well enough with his song choice. He feels Ben could go the whole way. Webber thinks that Ben did have a hard song and Bill’s impressed with Ben’s last note. He tells him to stick through the competition.

Coming Up: Craig’s smile.

Graham says that next is betrayal. Craig has that one! He says he loves being with the boys and living in the Joseph house. He said he doesn’t like to betray his friends and starts trash talking the others. We get a shot of Lewis crying and Keith flipping over a banister. Webber wants him to tell the story and doesn’t want him to smile through the entire act. Craig sings “Suspicious Minds.” It looks like Craig struggles not to smile while he sings. However, I do believe there are times where he smiles with his eyes, Tyra’s favorite talent. He has a good vocal. Oh, there’s a smile. I think he just slipped into Cabaret mode to me. And another smile. At least his parents left the creepy Craig masks home this time.

Craig says he had doubts in the beginning but now believes he can be on the West End. Craig’s Number 1 Fan Bill goes first and, surprise surprise, praises Craig. He thinks Craig had a twinkle—you know, smiling with your eyes. Bill wants Craig in the semi-final. Denise finally gets a critique. She’s impressed and felt he acted it all the way through. Webber spotted the smile and decides to forgive him for it.

Coming Up: John v. the Audience

Lewis is up to show courage. Lewis talks about being in the bottom two…again. He cries. And cries. Webber says he needs to prove he deserves to be there. Lewis says letters from fans give him courage. Lewis sings “Hero” and Webber defers any comments till after the performance (only saying that this was the theme song for the FDNY after 9/11 and calls them heroes). Unlike the other three before him, he gets a Josephine. It’s a lovely song, Lewis gives a lovely vocal performance, but how does this show courage? I would think Mariah Carey’s “Hero” would be a better choice. This is more of a confidence/romantic side song. Courage =/= confidence.

Lewis jokes about his tears. Graham reminds us that Lewis is one of the youngest Josephs there. He says he has to move on while Graham says “No business like Jo business.” He cringes at the pun. Zoe comments first. She feels that Lewis should be a pop star but wants him to remain in the competition. John agreed with me—Lewis should’ve gone home over Daniel. But he felt that Lewis sang the song better. John thinks that Lewis would be a better pop star than West End actor. Denise reminds him what they are looking for, but John thinks he doesn’t have the star quality like Justin Timberlake. The audience boos as Bill tells Lewis to go for his dreams. Webber is just as confusing. He says Lewis has charm but not strength. Just angst. But he does have charm. Lewis says he could go all the way.

Coming Up: More Keith comparisons to famous people!

Graham says that the boys were able to sing with Josh Groban, but only one could sing with him. Webber puts Groban in a secret room to spy on the Josephs as they think they are recorded some tracks. Webber surprises the boys with Josh Groban and Keith declares his love for the singer. Groban announces the winner is…

FAKE OUT! Graham introduces Keith, who has to be arrogant tonight. The other boys say that Keith has a bit of a strut and can nail arrogance. He doesn’t think he’s cocky. Webber wants Keith to entertain us. So, he sings “Let Me Entertain You.” SING OUT LOUISE! Oh, wait, it’s not that one? Oops…Keith has Josephines as well. I can understand Keith this week, always a plus as we know his diction problems. He also has grabbed that stage and is not letting go. Wonderful vocals and I think he has found his cocky side.

Graham says that it’ll be a fun night in the Joseph house after that package. Graham mentions the Liza Minnelli comparison. But a fan thought Keith looked more like Tommy Steele…it is uncanny. Poor Keith. John thinks that Keith is one of the strongest competitors but told Keith to watch out when he does dance moves—he loses focus. Zoe loves Keith’s vocal. Bill thinks that Keith is still on a journey to West End star but he’s on his way. Keith promises to show it to him. Graham turns to Webber. He thinks that Keith could handle the last ten minutes of the show well and that Keith is a great Joseph.

Coming Up: Hope no one is afraid of heights!

The Josephs tells us about their weekly schedules. Rehearsals on Sundays, Mondays off, Tuesday has more rehearsals, acting class, choreography, fitting fun into the schedule, food fights, Wednesday features shirtless soccer—sorry, football—while Thursday has costume fitting, Saturday is the live shows.

JOSEPH MISSION! Webber admits to being scared of heights, like me. But he tells the boys that they stick Joseph in a cherry picker at one point, so he sends them to test their dealing with fun. Lewis jumps while screaming “Nana!” After doing a regular jump, they send the boys up a 50 foot pole to sing “Any Dream Will Do.” When the finish, they must then jump to a pole a few feet ahead of them. Ben, Craig and Lee make it while Keith just misses. Lewis goes next and makes it.

The Final Five sing “Born to be Wild.” I think these guys need to work on harmonies a bit. Craig’s voice is perfect for this song! So is Ben’s! If I weren’t watching the second showing at midnight, I’d have cranked that up. You need to when this song comes on—it’s law, like “Wild Thing.”

Coming Up: Who gets to duet with Josh Groban?

Josh chooses Lee to sing with. He says he was surprised and happy to get chosen. Keith is devastated because he is a big fan. And the other four have been relegated to back up singers. Josh and Lee sing “You Raise Me Up.” I love Groban’s voice, especially “Believe” from the movie “The Polar Express.” He should NOT have had to duet that with Beyonce at the Oscars. Good job being back up, boys! I think I can see why Josh chose Lee as the winner—besides having a great voice, they are both in the same range and mesh well.

Coming Up: Elimination!

ELIMINATION! Graham reads off the results. Lewis is safe. Lee is also safe. Ben is in the sing off. That leaves Craig and Keith. Keith is safe so Craig joins Ben in the sing-off. They must sing “I Made it Through the Rain.” Sorry, Craig (and my sister), I think Ben is the better bet to keep. While Craig might be the stronger vocal, Ben is the better actor. The boys finish and go before Webber. Who does he save? The audience votes for Ben. Webber agrees. Sorry, Craig. Ben hugs his fellow Joseph before leaving the stage. Webber also didn’t see acting. Craig’s family cries. He says he has grown, thanks Bill, and thanks the public.

Craig sings his good-bye as Bill cries. Craig gives a lovely rendition of “Close Every Door” as Lewis and Ben take his coat.

Could Still be Joseph: 

Rob

Lee

Chris B

Daniel

Craig

Keith

Seamus

Antony

Lewis

Johndeep

Ben

Chris C

Next…Wait, it’s not next week? TWO WEEKS? Anyway, the final four compete in the (not-so) live semifinal. TWO WEEKS?

Quote of the Episode:

“Joseph was handsome and clever, a bit like John. The problem was that he knew and his arrogance sickened his brothers, who ended up betraying him—a bit like John. Sold to slavery,  Joseph dreamed like becoming extremely rich and powerful, a bit like Andrew. But he courageously fought back and become one of the most powerful men in Egypt, a bit like Bill.” –Graham.

Agreed that Ben should’ve stayed over Craig? Well, don’t worry about Craig, you’ll learn that Number One Fan Bill helped him out. Anyway, see you guys in two weeks due to Memorial Day weekend (you really don’t show ANY new episodes over this American holiday. We’re too busy barbecuing, hitting the beaches and just welcoming spring. Oh, and remembering those who died in battles. That too). But once again, TWO WEEKS.

Damn you, BBC-America.