Celebrity Duets: Little Richard Needs An Interpreter
Episode 2 Recap by Jenny Lane
September 8, 2006
Previously on Celebrity Duets, we were introduced to the eight celebrities who will be showing off their singing talents this season: Chris Jericho, Lucy Lawless, Cheech Marin, Carly Patterson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Jai Rodriguez, Hal Sparks, and Lea Thompson.
The celebrities each performed duets with established recording artists. Last week on Celebrity Duets we saw Michael Bolton, Michelle Williams, James Ingram, Smokey Robinson, Lee Ann Womack, Gladys Knight, Randy Travis and Peter Frampton. We can expect to see additional recording artists over the course of the season.
At the end of last week's show, the judges (David Foster, Marie Osmond and Little Richard) eliminated Chris Jericho from the competition. (By the way, a huge Thank You to everyone who e-mailed me after last week's show to tell me the names of the songs I didn't know AND to translate Little Richard's "commentaries!")
Starting this week, the elimination will be up to the viewers, who will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite celebrity following the show. On Friday's results show, the celebrity with the fewest votes will go home. The final celebrity will receive $100,000 to be donated to charity.
Tonight's show begins and host Wayne Brady introduces the judges, Marie Osmond, Little Richard and David Foster. Oh boy, I had expected two of the three judges to change each week. I'll have to prepare myself for another episode of incomprehensible Little Richard comments! Wayne Brady apparently shares my sentiment, saying that "Little Richards needs no introduction - an interpreter maybe, but no introduction."
First to perform is Hal Sparks. Hal tells us that he's prepared to work as hard as he has to in order to do well in the competition. Tonight he begins by singing "I Want to Know What Love Is" (alas, still no song titles are being provided but luckily I'm able to name this one in four notes). Hal is joined onstage by Wynona. I did not for one second believe that the two of them were singing a love song to each other. Wynona looks a little frightening, that's the only way to describe it. Marie says that Hal sounded good. Little Richard says he "let it out tonight" and he did a good job. David Foster said he did well, but he would like it if Hal didn't go from "zero to ten" all the time.
Next to sing is Lea Thompson. My pal Travis is a HUGE Lea Thompson fan so I don't dare say anything too insulting! She sings "Heaven is a Place on Earth." She looks great but yikes…it seems someone mugged poor Lea backstage and stole her pants!! So I don't get Travis mad, that's all I'll say about that! She's joined by Belinda Carslisle who sounds good but is dressed a bit matronly. Marie says that it was good. Little Richard says she reminds him of Tina Turner, but it's her legs, not her voice. David says not to worry about disappointing her kids, because she didn't.
Cheech Marin is next, and he sings one of those mysterious country songs which I can't name, joined by Clint Black. I love watching Cheech, he always looks like he's having fun. Marie says that it was great. Now up until now I was encouraged because I was able to understand Little Richard….that is until now. He says something to Cheech about getting clothes and finding a voice and going in the closet and pulling something off the rack?!?! David says that although he's the only one who has actually had a hit record, he's not going to make it to the end. (Ouch!)
Alfonso Ribeiro performs "On the Wings of Love" (which took about nine notes for me) and is joined by Jeffrey Osborne. Marie says she likes what he did with the performance. Little Richard says he's never heard Alfonso sing a ballad and then went off on his tangent about going out and coming in and finding a friend and my my my! David says to stop dancing but he has a good voice.
Next up is Carly Patterson, who was in the bottom two last week and narrowly avoided elimination. Tonight she sings "I'm so excited" with Anita Pointer, who sounds fantastic. Marie says she did a good job. Richard says the Pointer sisters were really pointing, and she was pushing and pulling and pointing, and that's when I gave up. David says she's come a long way but has a long way to go.
A side note - last week someone sent me a link to a montage of all of Little Richard's comments. It was hilarious!
Cuteypie Jai Rodriguez is next, and the poor baby has a sore throat. He sings "One" with Brian McKnight. I think Jai did a great job if he was working with a sore throat. Marie says that Jai wasn't "sick," he was "sik." Richard seems to have found his composure and says that Jai was out of sight, he has a whole lot to offer, and he's alright. David says he held his own with Brian McKnight.
Lucy Lawless is the last to perform. She sings "Whenever I call you Friend" with Kenny Loggins. Lucy looks fantastic. Kenny Loggins looks a little haggard but sounds great. I have to say that it's the first performance of the night where I felt like they were actually singing with and singing to each other. Marie says that Lucy missed some words, but she's doing great. Richard says she made him think of tutti fruity and she's alright and I'm not sure what else. David says it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.
That's it for tonight's show! Tomorrow is the results show and one of the celebrity performers will be eliminated from the competition.
Jenny lives in the Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter and five furry kids. In addition to all things reality tv, she loves Nip/Tuck, Big Love and the Food Network. She’s addicted to her laptop, so if you’d like to feed her addiction, you can e-mail her at Jenny@RealityTVCalendar.com
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