I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but here's an article from the Dayton Daily news about Matthew:
American Idol judge Simon Cowell, known for his scathing criticism of contestants, is on the record as actually liking Matthew Metzger.Dayton Daily News article Matthew Metzger
Oxford's Matthew Metzger gets second shot at fame
by Laura Dempsey
After messing up a bit during one performance, Metzger said Cowell stopped him and said, "Matthew, we've gotten to know you, and we like you."
Metzger, 23, of Oxford, failed to get the votes needed to make the cut during his performance in the semifinal round on Feb. 10. He came in a close third, which he and his supporters hoped would be influential enough to land him one of 12 "wild card" spots.
"I wasn't that confident," said Metzger, calling last week from Hollywood, where the American Idol machine was prepping him and the 11 other wild cards for Tuesday's show. "They didn't call until Sunday (Feb. 29)."
Metzger's tall, wholesome good looks and stage presence served him well during the Feb. 10 performance of Walking in Memphis, which judges Cowell and Paula Abdul praised. The third judge, Randy Jackson, wasn't as positive, but Metzger is ready to try to make it 3-for-3 during Tuesday's show, in which he'll perform a song chosen, he said, from among several he tried.
"We run through some choices and decide which one works best," he said. "It's all our decision, though."
After Tuesday's performances by the 12 wild cards, viewers can vote for their favorite by calling the show's hot lines. One will move to the finals, along with three others chosen by the judges.
Metzger was one of the top 48 contestants in last season's American Idol (this season is the show's third), and his close call he sang Isn't She Lovely spurred him to try again.
"I got so close," he said, "I thought, 'I just gotta give this another go.' "
He tried out in Atlanta, securing his line number before crashing at a friend's house.
"I was able to sleep while a lot of the others trying out had to wait outside," he said.
The Fox network goes out of its way to ensure contestants' comfort, Metzger said, flying out family members for the tapings and providing counselors to help everybody handle the highly stressed environment. Tuesday's performance will be seen by millions of viewers, but Metzger says that because he can't see them, it's no big deal.
"If I were in an arena or something, I'd be freaking out like crazy," he said, laughing.
Metzger was born in Peoria, Ill., and moved to Hudson, Ohio, at a young age. He attended Miami University, graduating with a degree in marketing last year. He's always been a singer, performing in choirs and in glee clubs at one point, he even shared a stage with one of his idols, Harry Connick Jr.
His fiancee, Natalie Witwer, is a Miami senior and Miss Ohio 2002. She was there for his third-place finish. School will prevent her from being at Tuesday's show, but if Metzger makes it through to the final round of 12, she'll fly out for much needed, and much appreciated, support.
Witwer's paternal grandparents, Norman and Helen, live in Friendship Village, a retirement community in Trotwood, one of a few places in the country where the American Idol is just another young people's television show.
The Witwers acted to change that, enlisting the help of a neighbor to print posters with Matt and Natalie's engagement picture and the date and time of Metzger's appearance.
"We ask them to watch, and that we'd appreciate their vote," Mrs. Witwer said. "It's not a familiar show for most people at Friendship. I don't think I would ever have known about it had it not been for Matt."
Natalie plays piano "beautifully," her grandmother said, "and she's performed here a couple of times, so people have gotten to know her. We knew Matthew was a singer almost from the beginning . . . I think he composes, too.
"He's such a wonderful guy!"
"I truly appreciate all the support being shown from the people I meet," Metzger said. "I'm still always surprised."
He's no doubt surprised, too, about the Internet sites that have sprung up around him, with message board and chat rooms buzzing with words such as "hunk" and "dreamy" and "gorgeous eyes, beautiful smile." Sometimes he's known as "Ohio boy," which is fine with him.
"When people (in Hollywood) hear I'm from Ohio, sometimes they get this look like it's something bad," he said. "But I love being from the Midwest we're just down-to-earth."
Ohio will be watching Tuesday, certainly in Oxford and Hudson and at Friendship Village, where the proud soon-to-be grandparents-in-law hope to rally the votes.
"It's gotten a lot of people in here interested," Mrs. Witwer said. "Since they know Natalie, they are very interested, and interest that's what we need at this age!"
American Idol's wild-card round, featuring Matthew Metzger of Oxford, goes from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on channels 45 and 19. Voting takes place for two hours following the show.
A Kyngsladye Original. RMMW!
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