Australian Idol

Television Seven Network
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Applications for tickets to the top 12 live performance round are now open at That’s the Ticket website.

The first thing I’ve noticed is that the first live show was still listed as happening on Saturday, February 25, even though Ricki-Lee said on radio that it would be held on the same day of broadcast (i.e. Sunday February 26). For the first top 12 elimination show on February 27, the finish time has been pushed back to around 9pm.

After that, the performance shows will be filmed on Saturday evenings on March 4, 11 and 18, with elimination shows on Monday nights on March 6, 13 and 20.

The top 12 shows (apart from grand final) will be held at Sydney Coliseum, and start at around 5.30pm Sydney time.

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Yeah, like I said last week, the performance shows are not live and are filmed on the Saturday so I’m not sure why Rikki-Lee said that.

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Seven’s advertising is calling them “live shows” so no wonder even the hosts don’t know what’s happening.

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That’s what happens when you have an age cut off in the mid-late 20s. Weirdest decision and just cuts the talent pool off at the knees… and as well, I feel, would stop a broader audience watching.

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To be fair though the other talent shows don’t have that cut off and similarly struggle to find talent. Idol was perhaps always about giving young talent their first break rather than older talent a second chance.

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Yassss the original theme music is back!!

And I love the play with the Touchdown.

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Another big difference is that the contestants’ waiting area is in the auditorium, a short walk to the right of the judges’ table. In the past, contestants returned to the green room backstage after their own performances.

Carmen Smith, who was a contestant in the first season of The Voice Australia, was the vocal coach for the top 24 stage.

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793

That first performance felt very over produced. Quite a point of difference to the original show.

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Just happened to catch a few minutes of the show. Amy Shark delivering the first “Touchdown” looked so lame and lacklustre. She looked really embarrassed doing it. Must have been forced to deliver it like that because she was in no way comfortable doing it. How embarrassing for her.

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I watched the first half an hour of this show for the first time this season and it’s terrible. A poor imitation of the first iteration. It’s just plain shit and far to try hard. I’m glad I’ve given it a miss. It will ruin my view of the show from a bygone era.

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I think if both of you had watched the whole thing and been along for the ride, your minute impressions may not have been so negative.

Enjoying tonight the most of the whole season so far.

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I seriously doubt that. It’s too painful to watch.

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But you haven’t been watching right? I’m as big of a critic as the next. Idol is a very fond memory for me. And I was worried when 7 took this on. I just don’t think it’s as bad as a non watcher thinks.

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Too much cordial from the crowd tonight. lol.

As a top 24 show, its doing okay. The forcefulness of the Touchdown was a let down. Should have saved them for the actual top 12.

At least the judges gave some constructive criticism to the singer whose voice wasn’t as good as the other singers.

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I’ve seen bits and pieces before tonight. Have been forced to watch more of it tonight and have found it very underwhelming and so much of it is cringeworthy.

What are all those squeaks and noises coming out of Meghan Trainor?

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I thought the same.

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As much as I’m into the show, Ben going through is bloody ridiculous.

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Four contestants make their way to the Top 12

Amy Shark awards Touchdown

Australian Idol Channel 7 Top 24 Anya Hynninen 001_resize
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The legendary Touchdown came back swinging in tonight’s Top 24 performance show of Australian Idol on Channel 7 and 7plus. Each of our star-studded judges – Harry Connick Jr, Amy Shark, Kyle Sandilands and Meghan Trainor – were granted one Touchdown to fast pass a contestant into the Top 12 live shows.

Performing first was Amali Dimond from NSW, who took on Unstoppable by Sia to prove that age is just a number. Kyle said: “We’ve got a contest! If this is any indication of what’s ahead, I’m shocked!”

Queensland’s Royston Sagigi-Baira wowed with his buttery-smooth vocals as he performed Versace On The Floor by Bruno Mars.

Returning to the stage after passing out at the Top 24 verdicts, Noah Cookson performed Blinding Lights by The Weekend, wowing Amy and Harry, but leaving Kyle unimpressed.

After being mesmerised by Victorian Anya Hynninen’s blues spin on Tina Turner’s The Best, Amy awarded “the Australian Adele” her Touchdown. An emotional Anya was shocked to be instantly put through to the Top 12 and dedicated the performance to her unwell mother.

Brisbane guitar teacher Ben Sheehy donned a leather jacket to embody his rock and roll persona as he performed Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song. Harry’s regional road trip find, Piper Butcher, stripped back Madonna’s Like A Prayer, but failed to take it up a notch for the live audience.

Adelaide electrician James Vawser wowed the live audience with Thirsty Merc’s 20 Good Reasons, with the crowd begging the judges to give him a Touchdown.

Bec Voysey from Western Australia performed Coldplay’s anthem A Sky Full of Stars, however the judges believed it wasn’t her best performance.

With only three remaining spots in the Top 12 after Anya’s Touchdown, the judges deliberated before selecting Amali, Royston and Ben to proceed to the next stage of the competition.

Tomorrow night on Australian Idol: Eight more contestants perform in front of the biggest Idol audience to try and secure their place in the Top 12.

See tonight’s performance highlights here:

Amali Dimond - Unstoppable by Sia

Royston Sagigi-Baira - Versace On The Floor by Bruno Mars

Anya Hynninen - The Best by Tina Turner

Ben Sheehy - Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

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I can see Amy was reluctant to give a touchdown. Just because the judges were given the privilege, didn’t mean they had to use it (unless the executive producer forced them to), it cheapened the purpose of touchdown.

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