Every musical group has a standout.
The fact that the group round is even a thing to me is so strange, though.
Theres no chance of a One Direction coming out ofIdol, no matter how much they cover their songs.
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox
Case in point: Michelle Marie.
She is going to leave you behind, even if its your birthday.
In short, the group round is no time for games.
Scott Borchetta steps up as mentor again, offering praise to some groups and absolute disdain for others.
According to Scott, theres no room for mediocrity because this is the farewell season, after all.
Groups fall apart as quickly as they form.
Dalton Rapattoni and his group lose a member almost immediately.
And then theres LaPorsha Renae, who is a saint and joins a group that needs a member.
But theres always one confident powerhouse that jumps in at the outset.
This years group isTeam Blue Eyes, fronted byJordan Man Bun Sasser.
He and group memberKory Wheelerare the standouts, whileKelsieWattsandJennaRenaefall to the wayside.
They take on Bruno Mars Treasure, and all four make it through.
Her entire group makes it, as well.
Admittedly, Ive not been a Jeneve fan.
Dont love her singing.
So whenJeneve Rose Mitchelland her group tackle Need You Now, for some reason, Jeneve comes ALIVE.
Regardless, she shows up with an incredible rendition of the song and helps her entire group move forward.
Strange, strangeJenn Blosilforms a group namedMilk and CookieswithBri Ray,Lynnzee Fraye, andSara Sturm.
They decide to go after One Directions Drag Me Down.
Chynna SherrodandTerriantake on Rather Be, and the performance is fine.
It reminds me a lot of Chynna and Terrians auditions, which were good but nothing remarkable.
The performance isnt about the audition, though its about Jennifer Lopez.
Listening to the girls sing, she laments that shell missAmerican Idol.
Ray Liotta is somewhere, draped in cerulean and navy, super upset to hear Jennifers admission.
Because of his mono, he is condemned to a group of one.
Im a big Trent fan, but to be frank, I wasnt feeling it.
It was dripping with vibrato and strained falsetto.
But maybe Im the sick one because the judges were really into it.
He makes it through handily.
Itll be nice to hear a healthy Trent take on a new song.
Michelle Mariecomes back after leaving her BFF Kyrsti in the birthday dust, and guess what?
Shes still not making friends.
She joins up withShelbie Z.and two other girls, but they cant seem to find their stride.
The group settles on Undo It, and its the first time that a group starts visibly falling apart.
But thats what you should probably do sometimes.
Michelle Maries reign continues as her, Shelbie Z, and groupmate Ashley move forward.
Elvie is the only one called up from his group, though, and hes sent packing after that.
RememberAshley Lilinoefrom Hawaii who has been around the sun twenty times?
She was completely overshadowed byMacKenzie Bourg.Its a hard pill to swallow for Ashley…
I mean, MacKenzie hasnt even talked about how old his spirit is!
Ashley is kicked to the curb.
So is tiny little LouisiananCameron Richard, who just doesnt have what it takes to make it in Hollywood.
So Anatalias mom jumps in, grabs Dalton and Kassy up, and pairs them with her daughter.
reckon it’s Anatalias mom knows best, though, because all three move forward.
Anatalias moms archnemesis, follows Chicken Noodle Soup.
The group gets told during rehearsals that they all look like backup singers who accidentally wandered to the front.
They do some fun choreography to Uptown Funk, and the performance is actually more entertaining than the singing.
The judges give them praise and send them all through to the next round.
come to the stage with a rendition of Jessie Js Domino.
Theres a lot of thrusting and some decent singing, and then Lindita literally just screams.
Screams and yells and hollers.
Ironically, the fallen soldier is actually Daniel.
Fortunately, the love fest ends.
We need some Fleetwood Mac realness, andEliz Camachois here to give that to us.
Her group chooses Hit Em Up Style.
Shes withGianna IsabellaandDana Ordway.
Eliz is 100 percent convinced that she is better than everyone else.
At first it feels like serious, but Gianna mostly giggles about how weird Eliz is being.
Brenda K. Starr gives her daughter a reality check and puts it best: This is group round.
Its not Eliz round.
Preach, Brenda K. Preach.
All three girls have good moments, but the tension in the performance was palpable.
And then they note that Gianna blew Eliz and Dana out of the water.
But at the end of the day, Eliz goes home.
See you somewhere other than Hollywood, I guess.
But at the judgment,Jessica Paigeis the only surviving member of their group.
NEXT: Does anyone know the words to Stayin Alive?
To be really good as a group.
The sad approach only works if your name is Thomas, so Mr. Muglia and Stringfellow make it through.
Joey and Bryson are nixed.
But all three make it to the next round after a supportive pep talk from the judges.
LaPorsha glances at her group, throwing subtle shade that says, Dont you ruin this for me.
Laurel and Marshall move forward, but Barry Gibb will never forgive them.
As the night comes to an end, we go back to LaPorshas altruism.
She left her group of four to join up with two women who lost their third member.
Together,LaPorsha Renae,Tonie Starr, andMarlena Johnsonmake upSistas.
Clearly a Beyonce, LaPorsha shines.
Surprisingly, the judges commend her on forgetting the words the right way.
They all make it through.
Thats it for group rounds.
May the notes be ever in you favor.
