The Next Best Thing: Best of the Next Best Thing
Episode 6 Recap by Donna Emery
July 22, 2007
This week on The Next Best Thing, the ten finalists gave us their best performances and the audience finally got their chance to vote for the winner of this competition.
Some of these performers have been amazing, and for the most part, these finalists represent very good tributes to the artists that they honor and impersonate. Though many of the semifinalists - and some that were dismissed before they got there - might also have deserved a slot in these finals, the performers this week all have a knack for channeling their idols and it was a very enjoyable performance.
Hostess Michelle Merkin welcomed us to the finals, and re-introduced the judges. For a moment, I thought Merkin herself was trying for a berth on the show, since she looked amazingly like Vanna White. She told the audience that we'd have five votes apiece.
1. Donny Edwards as "Blue Suede" Elvis Presley - since there were two Elvis impersonators, they had to be designated somehow. Donny does Elvis as he was in the 50s. He said that was the era that had inspired him to pay tribute to Elvis.
He sang "Blue Suede Shoes." He has energy, a great voice that sounds lots like Elvis', and he looks great. He kind of reminded me of Steve Martin in "Little Shop of Horrors".
Lisa said he was fantastic. She said she'd seen the big internet buzz about the two Elvis impersonators, but that Donny had "set the bar high."
Elon said that he was "so awesome." He said that Donny had filled Elvis' shoes.
Jeff said that it had been his best performance in the contest.
2. Suzanne LaRouche as Lucille Ball - said that she needed to do this act to bring back the magic of Lucy. She said that if Lucy were there she would give her a wink.
Her act featured Lucy as an answering service operator who was fielding calls from several lines. She got some of the lines mixed up, with comic results. She ended with a classic Lucy wail. She is very fun and very much like Lucy.
Elon pretended he'd been on hold with one of the phone lines. He said "we all love you, Lucy!" and told her that she'd "nailed it!"
Jeff joked that she was "phoning it in." He said he was glad she was keeping Lucy's spirit alive, and hoped she'd do a one-woman show.
Lisa said that she can really work the crowd. She also told her that "you were so spot on that I wanted to sing 'Babalu!'"
3. John Morgan as George W. Bush - said that he'd gone from selling appliances to performing on prime time TV. He said that if we liked Bush, we should vote for Bush. If we didn't like Bush, we should vote for John.
He gave a very funny speech. He looks and sounds just like the President. He even had two Secret Service men in the background. He sang a song called "Freedom Boogie" about freedom, and played the harmonica. I think his act was funny but I think the song took away from the accuracy of the impression.
Jeff said that George Bush has always been one of his favorite comedians, and that John is even funnier.
Elon said he was awesome
Lisa said that he's so adorable. She said he has Bush's smile but Clinton's charisma.
4. Cookie Watkins as Tina Turner - said that she'd wanted to have a singing career but had been told she looked and sounded too much like Tina Turner. So, she turned to impersonating Tina.
She looks great, and her legs are so long. She sang Proud Mary. She has Tina's energy and good looks. I think her voice was just a shade off, but she did a great job.
Lisa said she'd given a ridiculously powerful performance, and that and she is "sexalicious." She said that if Cookie doesn't win, she'd pay her $50,000 for her legs.
Elon topped that by offering $55,000
Jeff said that she should be "prouder than Proud Mary" and that she has a huge chance to win.
5. Garry Moore as Little Richard - said he hasn't.....
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