What’s Worth Watching: American Idol Plays the Blues

Rob Moynihan February 18, 2015, 6:00 am

Matthias Vriens-McGrath/FOX

American Idol Season 14

American Idol, “Showcase #1” (Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8/7c, Fox)

Year after year, American Idol‘s Hollywood Week proves to be a grueling challenge for the new crop of wide-eyed contestants. After enduring solo performances under the spotlight of Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre and weathering the pressure-packed group rounds, the remaining finalists travel tonight to the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard for a final round of cuts before the Top 24 are announced. The House of Blues showcase tests the singers’ stage presence as they perform to a packed house of more than 200 fans and the judges. It’s a fresh step in the Idol journey to ensure that this year’s best of the best are able to shine during the live shows and bring the extra dose of charisma that last season’s finalists were so desperately missing.