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.