The Next Best Thing: Leaving Us With a Very Good Impression
Episode 5 Recap by Donna Emery
July 2, 2007
This week on The Next Best Thing, the judges narrowed the field of hopefuls down from 14 semifinalists to five finalists. In two weeks, they'll do the same with another 14 hopefuls, and then the choice will be up to the viewers.
Let's hope the viewers do at least as good a job as the judges did, this week.
I've had my disagreements with the judges, during the preliminary stages of this competition, but on this week's episode of the Next Best Thing, they picked some great finalists. I agree with all but one of their choices.
The evening began with our hostess, Michelle Merkin reminding us of the premise of the show. This week, her role got much more prominent and I was pleased to see that she too can do an impersonation: of a reality show hostess.
The first contestant to grace the stage was Cookie Watkins as Tina Turner. She said she's really comfortable portraying Tina, because she's been doing it so long. She looked great. Her dress was beautiful, and she's got Tina's look down pat: including her long legs. Elon said she was awesome, and Jeff said that Cookie and Tina would be in a "run-off to see which is the real Tina." He told her that she is the next best thing to Tina.
Next came the President of the United States - or, John Morgan portraying him. John is very funny, and did several jokes playing up the president's famed verbal faux paus. He looks a lot like the president, and the voice is good, too. Jeff wondered if "Mr. Bush" is "smarter than a 5th grader" and Elon said he should be glad that his brother didn't have to be governor of NBC to help him win the contest.
We all were charmed by Donny Edwards, as Elvis Presley. He said that he hadn't realized how much he looks like the King until he cut his hair a certain way and people began to remark on it. He sang "Heartbreak Hotel" and shook his pelvis just like Elvis.
He's got a good voice. I don't think he looks exactly like Presley, but he is a very good impersonator. Lisa said she was excited, and felt like Ann-Margret. Elon said that he seemed "pelvically challenged." Jeff said that of all the Elvis look-alikes they'd seen, Donny was the best.
My favorite performance of this group came next. Suzanne La Rusch does Lucille Ball to a "T". She did a bit about "fermented fennel" that brought back the memory of Lucy's
"vitameatavegamin" commercial and was very funny. She looks and sounds so much like the real thing. Lisa cheered her on with "go Big Red!" and Jeff said "I Love Lucy!" Elon just told her that Lucy would have been proud. I agree.
Next came Buck Mc Coy as Tim Mc Graw. He says that Tim is to Country music what Elvis is to rock music. He said he feels like Tim McGraw. He has a pretty good voice and looks somewhat like the star. Elon told him that he has the "charisma of Dr. Phil McGraw", but Jeff said that the audience had helped to bring his act to life.
A very funny Paris Hilton was brought to us by Natalie Reid. I thought her resemblance was more in her personae than her appearance; her face was somewhat different than Hilton's. But she was ditzy and cute, and the audience loved her. She did a magic trick with a good-looking guy who was not the most cooperative of assistants. Elon said he was "turned on and nauseated at the same time." Jeff thought her commitment to the role was incredible.
Stacy Summers was Shania Twain, and I think maybe she made the wrong choice of who to portray. She was advanced by the judges after doing impressions of both Marilyn Monroe and Shania, and was given a choice of which to do for the semifinals. Her performance wasn't that good, in my opinion, and her outfit was too revealing. Her dance moves were strange, too. Elon asked if she was wearing a doily.
Another good performance came from Marcel Forestieri as Jay Leno. He said he used to impersonate Elvis, but now does this act. He had the looks, mannerisms and personae of the late-night host. I liked his act, although Elon said his energy was a bit off. Lisa said he looked and acted like Leno.
After Leno came Celine Dion, who was portrayed by Brigitte Valdez. She has a passable voice and some of Dion's mannerisms. I thought she looked more like Reba McIntyre. Jeff joked that she is within 5 pounds of her birth weight. Not really, but she is really slender.
Next came Pavel Sfera as Bono. He looked good, but this time his voice - especially when speaking - was off. Jeff asked him if he was politically active, and he answered that justice and humanity are related. Jeff said that he was "as boring as the real Bono." Lisa said he was "bono-licious".
Simon Cowell, the guy we love to hate on "American Idol" was center stage for the next act. He was portrayed by Mike Wilson. He had some funny one-liners, but his voice went in and out of the impression - which was noted by Elon. When Jeff suggested that Cowell sing, he said that they wanted him to get "Sanjaya-rrhea".
The "Material Girl" was next, as Chris America became Madonna. She was cute, but I think her voice was off-key. Jeff said that he used to be a Madonna fan. Elon joked that he'd been this close to joining Kabbalah, and Lisa said that her act was "Borderline."
The show ended by telling us that semifinalists David Born - as Robin Williams and Craig Gass - as Al Pacino had been eliminated by the judges.
The end of the show gave us the charming Michelle, telling the contestants one at a time whether they made it to the finals.
The finalists are:
Donny Edwards as Elvis Presley
Cookie Watkins as Tina Turner
Natalie Reid as Paris Hilton
John Morgan as George Bush
Suzanne La Rusch as Lucille Ball
I think the judges made very good choices. The only one I disagree with was Paris Hilton, but that may have been because the real Paris Hilton is getting on my nerves these days with her post-prison angst. I thought that Marcel - aka Jay Leno - deserved to go to the finals instead of Paris, but I do admit that Paris was amusing and funny.
These performers are very entertaining, and they are all good, but of them all I think that Suzanne is going to be hard to beat, as Lucy. In my opinion, she is the best of the best.
However, we have to wait two weeks to see what her competition will be like for the finals, and then it's up to the audience vote. It should be interesting, to see who the Next Best Thing turns out to be.
Donna is a nurse and teacher, and a mother of 5. She lives in Pennsylvania and is admittedly addicted to many reality shows. You can reach her at mrsed4ever@yahoo.com.
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