Top 12! Carrie Underwood performs!

Alrighty then!

More mind-messing-with postponements til after the commercials by Ryan. Poor Sligh! But we knew he would make it.

Jared is out! I didn't see that coming, though I wouldn't have expected him to last much longer anyway. He needs some vocal training and he'll have a great careeer. I'm just a little surprised that some others weren't voted off instead.

I haven't been following Carrie Underwood's brilliant career (she's country, after all *smile*), but it was certainly nice to hear her perform.

Bye Antonella...we'll always remember how purty you are... ; )
Wow! They've dialed back the cruelty and are asking the losers if they'll sing a final song! Maybe they'll only do that with the ones that are tearful...LOL!

Sabrina's out - not too surprising, and again, Haley's performance last night was her best so far, so maybe she can continue to improve.

The special sounds very cool!

Bye Bye Sundance...Sanjaya should be next. I'm really surprised that judges are acting surprised...even Simon. I thought he liked kicking them when they're down. But then again, he has been backing Sundance from the start.

Now we can get down to bidness... ; )

...John

Top 8 Girls

Well, the top 6 are pretty clear in my opinion. Yet we'll see if Salmonella gets an undeserved spot while another languishes in obscurity. Ever since they've switched from Top 10 to Top 12, there have been 2 obvious out-of-their-leaguers. Sigh. And Ryan? Ditch the turtleneck.

Jordin Sparks - Is she running out of breath again? She's not quite hitting all the notes, but overall it's very good and I really like her. She looks beautiful. What exactly was she drawing on her chest during the numbers?

Sabrina Sloan - These songs are flying by! I'm excited for 3-minute songs! Very solid performance.

Salmonella - Well, she can play violin! Yikes, it's off, she's too timid, and then she shouts so loudly there's mic feedback. Not good (though that's not surprising). The song is more her style though. I'll give her that. One of her better weeks, but it's still not great and it's frankly not good enough. She has such little belief in herself and it's so apparent. It was classy of Simon to mention the media and how she's handled it. I feel such conflicting things about Antonella all at the same time. On the one hand, urgh, she's not very good! But hey, THEY put her there against all those powerhouses. Remember Marisa? The one who didn't get the spot that Antonella did. Boy, I bet she's pissed.

Anyway, Antonella's there, so what's she going to do, step down? She keeps getting voted through so what's she going to do, not sing (I know that's debatable, but let's focus)? So, the media thing--another URGH. She's the one who TOOK the pictures. But yeah, it's pretty cheap that someone sold them to the media (but DUH on her part for taking them and having them at large like that). I was glad that Paula got the focus back to "a warm place" because they'd grilled her enough and heck, I, was getting uncomfortable.

But what BUGS me is Salmonella's defensiveness (though, again, gotta feel for her and the immense psychological pressure she must be under to A. have her breasts and butt all over the internet and TV (though again she DID take the pictures and I bet she at least gets a modeling or advertising gig from the frenzy) and B. sing in a competition against the likes of Doolittle and LaKisha). She keeps talking nonsense! Last week she said, "Hey, they were wrong about Jennifer Hudson" and this week she's saying stupid things like, "I wish the judges would stop comparing me against the others and just base it on me." Uh, number one, basing it on you alone reveals the same outcome (you're not that good a singer). And number two, it's a *%&%# competition! What the heck do you think you signed up for?? Gibberish. Take Simon's nice comment, let America vote, and stop talking. You're coming across as whiny.

If America has any sense they'll put her (and all of America) out of her misery and not vote her through.

Haley Scarnato - She's a Disney/Broadway/showgirl kind of singer. Not for this. Poor Haley. And stupid Simon. It's HIS fault he doesn't know her name, not hers. Idiot.

Stephanie Edwards - We already have a Fantasia and if you recall, she raced past the impeccable but presumptuous LaToya so Steph better watch her step. She's coming across as arrogant and that's just not endearing to America. She couldn't have told us something else about herself? I can let Mark comment on this since he's all fired up about it. Stephanie is LaToya-like cocky. Do I need to give my speech on the difference between confident and cocky? Okay. Confident is knowing you're good. Cocky is thinking you're better than everyone else and thinking of others as "less than." Confident is good. Cocky is not. She's got mad talent, but the higher-than-others sense of self may hurt her.

***You can gauge the likability of the contestants by how warm/close Ryan is with them. There's distance whenever he's with Stephanie. Reminds me of someone . . . who is it . . . oh yeah! LaToya.

LaKisha - That girl has Whitney chutzpah! At this point, anyone who sings Whitney is either crazy, deranged, or incredibly good. We all know what LaKisha is. Nice hair! She looks gorgeous! Wow, she gives me chills! She has "Yo." That was another class act moment for Simon to compliment the way she looked. Every once in a while, there's a glimmer of humanity in him.

***PET PEEVE. If it's a family show, why do they have inappropriate commercials during the family show? 24?? Are you kidding me?!***

Gina Glocksen - I love it, to be honest. I like her. And woohoo, Simon likes her, too.

Melinda Doolittle - I love that she's OCD!! Her range is fabulous! Her low notes are spot on and her high notes are powerfully on, too! No one else can boast that. She is far and away better than all the rest. This reminds me of season 3. It was sort of a weird season - you simply watch every other contestant get voted off waiting for Fantasia to be officially crowned victor. This season's AI is the same. I think she's got it in the bag. It'll be an all-girl finale. Her and somebody (probably LaKisha) and then she'll win. I love how she worked the stage, sang TO the back up singers, and threw down the idol gauntlet. Even with an in-your-face song like W-O-M-A-N, she brought tears to my eyes. Seriously. I love her. She's so genuine. She'd be a fun friend. I love her! Phenomenal!

Bottom 2: Salmonella and Haley
Tops: Melinda and LaKisha

No question.

So who's the odd one out?

You know it will happen. Ever since they've had this Top 12, even guys and girls format one undeserving guy and one undeserving girl get in. Who will it be this year? And who will be the one left out (besides the other one, who actually should be left out).

RANDOM THOUGHTS: Ryan looks like that guy Dieter from the old SNL "Sprockets" sketch. "And now comes the part where we dance!" Kinda creepy. Well, we only found a little yo, but there were wow, whatzit, and whatchamacalit sightings tonight. Two minutes. That's how long we had to wait for Randy to tell us the guys were awful and the girls are great. Maybe that's why I'm having a tough time getting into this season. Simon with the open collar--interesting, and a bit weird. So Stephanie's been singing since she was 3, and she was shy but now she's really confident on stage. How interesting. And self-aggrandizing. C'mon. Give us something more surprising than fodder for a worst auditions show. So Simon is a bit perturbed by Jennifer Hudson's comments? Would it hurt Simon at all to learn a few of the contestants' names. First? Surname? We're not picky.

I've lost interest in even trying to properly title the songs, but here are my thoughts anyway.

JORDIN SPARKS ("Heartbreaker"): Pat Benetar had her moments, and she even deserves to be remembered from time to time, but far too few idols have had good experiences with her songs. Jordin did well and showed that she belongs in the Top 12, but I didn't feel like it was much more than solid tonight. 3/5 yo's.

SABRINA SLOAN (Some song for a big voice): Sabrina was less screechy tonight, but I was underwhelmed. Again, still someone who deserves to be in the Top 12. Part of me wonders if she'll be the deserving one that is left out. Her personality is so vanilla for me. 3.5/5 yo's.

ANTONELLA BARBA ("Let Your Hair Down"): First of all, big props to Simon for mentioning the bunk press Antonella's been getting. For as much as I feel she doesn't deserve to be in the competition at this point, she's getting the raw deal over those pictures. They were in poor taste, but get over it already! With that said, she gave it her all tonight, and it was her best performance to date, but it just wasn't good enough. 2/5 yo's.

HALEY SCARNATO (Another huh song): She seemed more herself, but she is the Sisyphus of this competition. She can keep pushing, but Simon's made up his mind. Honestly, she would be better served as a sort of niche performer at a theme park or hotel lobby. She'd do well, and people would be glad they saw her. 2.5/5 yo's.

STEPHANIE EDWARDS (Some Chaka joint): This girl can sing, but Simon is right: no originality. I listen each week with an open mind, but come away feeling like I've been let down. Stephanie has talent, but the charismer is lacking for me. 3.5/5 yo's, and I'll throw in 1 whatzit for kicks.

LAKISHA JONES ("I Have Nothing"): Another overdone song on A.I. At least Lakisha did it. And what a job it was! She did great. She has set herself apart as one of the ones to beat. She's got the posse with personality. I wonder if she'll make the Top 12. 4.5/5 yo's, and one wow and an it, too.

GINA GLOCKSON (Scream, yeah, what was that?): So, I guess this is her, huh. To be honest, before she performed I thought the whole "edgy" thing was a label she got because of the pink hair, and that she really didn't have an edgy side, but it seems I was wrong. I really didn't like her performance at all tonight. I think she has more talent than she showed, and she needs to rein it in a little. She should make it to the Top 12, but it will be interesting to see how far she can go. 3.5/5 yo's.

MELINDA DOOLITTLE ("I Am a Woman"): If she keeps singing like that she can be whatever she wants. At this point she is far and away the best singer in the competition. Her stage presence is amazing. Her vocal range is astounding. Her attitude is phenomenal. 5/5 yo's, and whatever else she wants!

MY QUICK HITS
JORDIN: Seventeen? Are you sure?
SABRINA: I'm bored with you now
ANTONELLA: Next time just say, "if America wants me."
HALEY: Aren't you tired of punching the clock?
STEPHANIE: Don't you do animal sounds or something else interesting?
LAKISHA: So your father must be the sedated one of the bunch?
GINA: As long as you don't wear your bathrobe next week . . .
MELINDA: Wanna skip this show and cut the record now?

MY TOP 3: Melinda, Lakisha, someone else
MY BOTTOM 3: Antonella, Haley, Stephanie(?)
WISHING IT WAS 4 GUYS AND 8 GIRLS: Haley and Sabrina

It should be Antonella, but she's getting a spot. Sabrina hasn't shown enough personality outside of her singing, and despite the judges' insistence that this is a singing competition, we all know it's more of a high school popularity contest, and a little singing, too. I hope I'm wrong.

Top 16! - 8 Girls

Jordin Sparks - Heartbreaker - challenging song, but she seems up to it! Great energy, and the judges liked it, though Simon plays the reserved professional...or reserved Brit.

Sabrina Sloan - Better tonight at not pushing the song, but doesn't quite get a grip on the song. I think she lost synch with the band at one point, which the judges seem not to have noticed. I agree with Randy that I'd like to hear a more melodious song by which to gauge her abilities.

Antonella Barba - Pitchy in spots, and uninspiring. It seems she saved it all for the last note, and even that wasn't held long enough. Simon is straightforward, but I agree that she seems played out, and unlikely to rise to, or in, the competition.

Haley Scarnato - By far her best performance. This is the first time I've really liked her. It was almost very good, but missed the 'it' factor. Simon is brutally honest, but not really too far off base about her chances.

Stephanie Edwards - Starts very well, but doesn't handle the low register well. The last note was actually on, but the chorus was off on that note. Up there with Jordin tonight, for me. Simon likes her better than Randy and Paula, and so do I, but I think she needs to take it up a notch.

Lakisha Jones - Starts with a hug from Ryan...awww. Big song with a great arrangement, and she fills it completely. Best tonight, by far, so far, and a brilliant soft ending instead of a scream. And her hair looks gorgeous! A big improvement over last week, and a definite top 12.

Gina Glockson - Not my style, and some oversinging, but energetic and connected with the edgy genre. Not the best, but will make it to the top 12.

Melinda Doolittle - Okay, so my budding star is a little OCD. Man does she sizzle! I love this gal! Yes, she is a W-O-M-A-N!!! They were wise to close with her. She'll definitely bring us back again for more.

Tops: Melinda and Lakisha are in a class by themselves...Jordin and Gina and the rest come next.

Bottoms: Antonella, and someone I haven't already named. For me, the runners-up for worst were all about equal tonight.

See you at the Colosseum!

...John

Top 10 Girls

Anyone else notice the fine Paula banter we're getting this season? She is quick and witty with the British cynic this year and I like it! Let's get right to it.

GINA GLOCKSEN- "Alone" by Heart
I love that song! Honestly? Chills, great control. She hit the lower notes better than Carrie Underwhere. I think her image and the song are edgy, but she could've been a bit "edgier," I suppose, in her delivery. Still, not bad. I like her.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Did she?

ALAINA ALEXANDER- "Ready To Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks
Aw, her mom was crying! She looks beautiful. She was WAY drowned out by the background and seemed to run out of breath (Simon agrees). It was a bit off. And UGH, do NOT ask the judges for advice! That doesn't ever help. It results in you looking needy and them engaging in more stupid banter. I know it's a competition and in a perfect world, they'd provide more constructive criticism than "Dawg, that was a'ight," but it IS technically a reality TV show.

Stupid Finger Tricks: A study in the number 2. A peace sign. Frontwards. Backwards. "2." "2." *kiss the number 2* "1. 2." Wow, she was over compensating.

LAKISHA- "Midnight Train" by Gladys Knight
I'm forgetting her last name. That's a positive "Diva" sign, eh? Excellent! More reigned in, very good. She's VERY enjoyable and relaxing to watch, because you don't get nervous for her. She gets unfairly compared to Mandisa. She's MUCH better than Mandisa and more consistently on. Simon's full of fashion advice tonight. You say Salmon. I say Orange. Potato. Potata.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Again, none necessary and she knows it

MELINDA DOOLITTLE- "My Funny Valentine"
What's to say? She's phenomenal and has really, REALLY good control. I LOVE watching her perform because she constantly amazes herself with her own abilities. She's adorable and so so good. I REALLY like her. Very, very much.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Nope. Just shock.

ANTONELLA BARBA- Does it matter what song by Celine?
Celine?! CELINE?! You've GOT to be kidding me. Nope.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Forward. Backward.

JORDIN SPARKS- "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera
Shaky start and some spots (she started out crying--gotta love that kind of sibling closeness), but overall, WOW! She's 17?! She's adorable and amazing. She was so sincerely and sweetly emotional.

Stupid Finger Tricks: 3+3 =7? No wait. 3+3=6.

STEPHANIE EDWARDS- "Dangerously in Love" by Beyonce
She's sort of a mix of Fantasia (who I like a lot) and LaToya London (who I do not like). She has quite a range. Fantastic dynamics. She doesn't have that refreshing humility that Melinda does. She's too cocky and I think that's a dangerous thing, especially at this stage.

Stupid Finger Tricks: A Fantasia-like "7"

LESLIE HUNT- "Feelin' Good" by Nina Simone
Less oddly manic moves, but some weird scatting that didn't even come close to comparing with Blake's impressive delivery.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Kind of a psycho "8"

HALEY "Marie Osmond" SCARNATO- "Queen of the Night" by Whitney Houston
What the HECK are people thinking?! If you *don't* do well the first week and all the while you hear constant criticism from the judges to your competitors saying things such as, "That song was way too big for you" and "If you're going to take on Mariah or Whitney or Celine, you've got to be able to back it up in a big way" and the like, hey, I know. Maybe don't do Whitney or Celine. Especially if it's way too big for you. And especially when you can't back it up.

Stupid Finger Tricks: None. She was crying. But hey, she did get an "A for Effort."

SABRINA SLOAN- Something I don't know or remember
I know who she reminds me of! Gloria Estefan! She has a beautiful tone to her voice and she is a powerhouse!

Stupid Finger Tricks: 10 fingers WHILE holding the mic. Impressive.

Tops: Melinda and Lakisha
Bottom 2: Antonella and Alaina and Leslie
Going Home: Leslie and Haley. But if Haley gets sympathy votes crying after the judges' harsh criticism (which seems especially rough to take after you clearly think you've done better and have worked so hard), Leslie and Alaina

Here We Go Again!

Yes, this post is a day late. And yes, this week has been one of those weeks. But the blog must go on! So, similar to the guys last night, there were a few great performances, one or two pretty bad ones, and the rest were relatively good. Ultimately there are 6 obvious choices for the finals (one of which will be left out for a less deserving contestant) and 6 locks to go home. The interesting part is to see the order in which they depart, and which ones we are forced to endure the spotlight for yet another week. At least in the beginning we get rid of 4 (when you count the boys) at a time. Like ripping off a band-aid.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I'm living my life in color, but not quite as much as Randy's shirt shows. I'm glad dedications are over. I liked the good ones, but the cheesy ones got old fast. What's with the car tire in the Unnamed Cola Beverage Red Room. I'm surprised there isn't a big ol' "Ford" stamped across it. Randy must have a lot of difficulty making decisions since he keeps rubbing his Magic 8 Ball. And 8 Ball must have been returning a lot of "ask again laters" because he looks to Paula to soften his comments or something. "Uh, I dunno. Paula? Did I like that? Why do I have difficulties expressing myself when my opinions are lukewarm? I mean, it was okay--not good, not bad. Why can't I just say that? Paula? Paula? C'mon, help me here!" Speaking of lukewarm, did anyone clap when Ryan announced that Kellie Pickler will be performing on Thursday? Stephanie Edwards didn't care. She does care about herself, though. Why does Simon keep giving out fashion advice? He's the one who says over and over again that this is a "singing competition." Either it is or it isn't. You choose.

OK. OK. Here we go. I actually know some song titles. It helps that A.J. and Leslie sang the same song. It's like a two-for-one.

GINA GLOCKSEN ("Alone"): There are a lot of people picking songs that contestants have done in the past. Not only done, but done well. Gina's low register was great, and her style fits the song, but I've been thinking the same thing as Simon (gasp!)--she has to really stretch for the high notes, and in the process it affects her performance. She definitely is one of the top 6 girls, though.

ALAINA ALEXANDER ("Not Ready to Make Nice"): Crazy! How do you pick this song after the Dixie Chicks won so many Grammys so recently? Give Alaina points for having some chutzpah, but it didn't ever get off the ground.

LAKISHA JONES ("Midnight Train to Georgia"): I'm so shocked someone sang this song. It was going to happen sometime, and I love the song, so I'm glad Lakisha did it before someone else could get to it (except maybe Melinda). I was also glad to see Lakisha get more "musical." She also still managed to show her powerful side, lest we forget.

MELINDA DOOLITTLE ("My Funny Valentine"): Amazing! This girl is probably the most talented contestant we've seen on A.I., possibly ever. Her dynamics, phrasing, emotion, interpretation, everything was outstanding. She even hit all of her "jazz notes" with perfect pitch. The small stage of the Top 24 shows takes a bit away from the impact of great performances, and I think if she had done this same performance in the finals, on the big stage, with more fans going crazy, we'd all be saying this is the best single individual performance on American Idol in any season to date. Even on the little stage, I'll say it holds its own with any other. With her humility and talent, she is the front runner in this competition without a doubt.

ANTONELLA BARBA ("Because You Loved Me"): So her dad looks connected, and her brother's name is Vincenzo (just call me Vinnie)--no wonder she's still around! Judges, be careful when you turn the key in the ignition tonight! Anyway, she really should not have tried a Celine Dion song, as this places a huge bullseye on your chest a la Rudy Cardenas. She improved her performance from last week (whoopie!) but still is outclassed by the competition. And she had to follow Melinda. Ouch! On a positive note, great tribute to the Partridge Family with that dress!

JORDIN SPARKS (That one song from Mulan): Shouldn't Haley Scarnato be singing this song? Jordin is good. She's spunky. She's talented. She'll be in the Top 12. Blah, blah, blah. This we all know.

STEPHANIE EDWARDS ("Dangerously in Love"): We all know you don't like any of the other contestants. No need to lie. Stephanie is a great singer, and this performance was more proof, but her attitude stinks! She exudes arrogance and overconfidence, and she will not go very far if that keeps up. We learned a lot from Latoya London--great talent will not overcome what the public sees as a snob.

LESLIE HUNT ("Feeling Good"): I could just repeat a bunch of stuff I said about A.J.'s performance on Tuesday, minus landing helicopter remarks, but I won't. Better song style this week, but it was just aight for me. The scatting was actually awful, and the fact that she had it written out makes it even worse. I'm sure Blake Lewis didn't write his down for Tuesday, although, I'm not sure how one would write all of his beatbox noises down. But I digress, Leslie is another one who is a good singer but just not in the same league as the rest.

HALEY SCARNATO ("Queen of the Night"): Although, she should have changed the title to "Princess After a Nap" or some such. Just changing the song doesn't change the singer. She was still a bit over the top Broadway in my opinion. It was better than last week, though.

SABRINA SLOAN (???): Sabrina has a lot of talent, and at times her performances are outstanding. I still feel like she really pushes the high notes too much. I thought she was on the edge of yelling this week as well. And for the record, I thought of that independently from Simon. She's still finalist material, but sort of middle of the road for me.


MY QUICK HITS

GINA: Better song, good job, we'll see you next week.
ALAINA: When the sound mixer can't find your vocal, you're in trouble.
LAKISHA: Way to rein it in and show us more of your talent.
MELINDA: Go straight to the winner's circle. If you pass Go, collect millions of dollars.
ANTONELLA: Thank the producers each night for your extensive pre Top 24 airtime. It's what's keeping you around. Come on, get happy!
JORDIN: Keep pushing yourself, because the "age card" will only take you so far.
STEPHANIE: Pride goeth before the fall!
LESLIE: Doo be do doo be, rat a tata, flippin' and flappin', good bye, good bye.
HALEY: A little less crimp, a little more substance.
SABRINA: I can hear you just fine. You don't need to shout.

MY TOP 3: Can I choose Melinda 3 times? No? Then, Melinda, Lakisha, Gina.
MY BOTTOM 3: Haley, Alaina, Antonella.
SEEING A THERAPIST TO START THE HEALING: Anto--, yeah right! Leslie and Haley (I like how they performed back to back, just to make it easy on us.)

So, the Top 6 girls was set before any of the 12 started performing. The big question is, which girl will be out next week to make room for Antonella? Impossible you say? This must be your first season with American Idol.

Top 20! - 10 Girls

Here we go...

Gina Glocksen - Started out kind of slow and mild, but built well, triggering some chills for me. Randy agrees. Again they're talking to her as the future idol with the fashion advice.

Alaina Alexander - Better than last week, and pretty well done, but I think she lacked the power and the focus for that song. I didn't hear the pitchiness Randy mentioned, but her body language detracted from the song rather than adding to it. I anticipate extensive finger-signal commentary from Bo... ; )

Lakisha Jones - Here's that less agressive song I wanted. I like it. I like how she can toss in tiny pitch slides in the right places. Well done, but no chills of greatness. Simon will tell us why.
He didn't like the less agressive style or her orangeness, and is polite in how he says so? Perhaps valium does work?

Melinda Doolittle - A more laid back song. Good. Chills almost from the start, especially when she does a glissando to some smokey bass. God she's good! A very tough song to master, and she nails it! And I love her eyes. Still my favorite of all, and I'm so happy to hear all the judges agree. Even Simon calls her incredible and fantastic. I'm a happy guy. For me, the competition is over, and the show now consists of getting to hear her right up to the end. Whether she wins or not, it will have been worth my time and attention. Everything else is just gravy, as my friend Erich used to say.

Antonella Barba - Since I liked her better than the judges and other contributors here last week, I'll be listening much more carefully. She seems in good spirits, with a good mindset. Good song choice for me to judge. Again, some pitchiness at the start. Again, some chills, but her voice clearly lacks the maturity and training for this contest. Again, Randy starts with her redeeming looks. Simon thinks she was worse than last week, and I'm inclined to agree. He also clarifies (again) that the judges discovered Jennifer Hudson even if, etc. The worst tonight, so far, and definitely much further down on my overall list.

Jordin Sparks - My AZ girl. I have great expectations. A little lacking in the lowest notes, but clear and clean, with good presence and connection. Once again she brings the chills with her ending. Not the best, but far from the worst. She could compete with Haley for the Disney princess position.

Stephanie Edwards - A good clean performance with a few bells and whistles. Professionally dressed and professionally sung. Very good, and much better than last week, but for me, she has yet to set off any fireworks. Still, she'll be around a long time, methinks.

Leslie Hunt - Can she deliver without flopping? Second line is out of tune, and the entire soft part has loose pitch. She gets a little better when she's belting. Her scatting sucked, and I think she lost something by trying not to move so much. Worse than Antonella, even. The judges were kind, I thought.

Haley Scarnato - Clearly tries to bring it with a 'nasty' song. It's technically not bad, and is better than last week, but I don't feel she connected with the song or the audience. At the least, she didn't connect with me. Not nearly as bad as Leslie or Antonella, but despite the technical proficiency, her overall performance is still right down there at the bottom with them, for me. I can't really explain it.

Sabrina Sloan - This one fell short of giving me the critical chills last week, despite a great performance...let's see if that changes. Ah, yes! Much better. Still some yelling/pushing the song and her voice, both of which suffered. Simon agrees about shouting vs power. I think she still needs to work to get anywhere near the top.

Tops: Melinda, Melinda, Melinda...oh, and Gina and Jordin.

Bottoms: Antonella, Leslie, and Haley.

Leaving to pursue a modeling career: Antonella, depending on how many teenagers are in love with her, of course.

That's all...

...John

Top 10 Boys

I'm so much smarter than a 5th Grader. I'm blogging instead of watching more Fox tonight. No boob tube for me. (Ha! I said "boob." I wonder if we'll get more hits from people seeking Antonella Barba pictures).

Yo, dawg, that was a HOT show! Paula was great tonight. I like her. And those boys brought it ON (and apparently white sneakers are in?)! There was some nice falsetto tonight, mmmmmm. Lots of stupid finger tricks though. I've given this some thought. I do NOT think it helps us remember who's got what numbers, so they should probably just not do it. Though TWO boys showed some real originality when it comes to finger tricks tonight. Read on.

Phil Stacey - "Missing You"
I dislike that song. Yuck. He was off in parts. He has a bizarre voice--I kind of like it and I kind of don't. Very odd. But yo, yo, that was pretty good! I'm not sure what poor Phil is to make of the words "very, very good" and "karaoke singer" in the same sentence though.

Stupid Finger Tricks: a "#1, Baby" shout out

Jared Cotter - "Let's Get It On"
Okay, I love this song, but the best I've heard ever so far is Nikko Smith. Boy, I miss Nikko. Jared has great control and a great falsetto. The judges suck. Too much stupid banter. Very little constructive anything. I'm still not sure what Pauler thinks even though Simon seems to know.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Simple peace sign

A.J. Tabaldo - "Feeling Good"
Isn't he cute? Great song. Very good. I am LOVING the falsetto tonight. Not sure about the whole "It's a new Don" pronunciation. He seemed shifty-eyed and nervous at first, but once he got into it, it was great.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Wow, an "0" and a "3" and a mouthed "vote for me!" Huh.

Sanjaya Malakar - "Stepping Out"
Well, crap. I was hoping that outfit meant some early Michael Jackson. Which would have been oh-so-much-better than what we heard tonight. That poor kid. He has a nice, sweet, smooth voice, but it's not powerful enough to compete. He picked a not very challenging song and it was too Broadway. Geez, the judges don't even think it was that (and they're right--it really was more high school musical than Broadway). Poor Sanjaya was trying not to cry. It takes guts to wear a fedora at age 17 on national television like that. Good for Ryan for being so sweet. What a nice host.

Stupid Finger Tricks: A *sideways* "4" Wow.

Chris Sligh with conditioned hair and a cute, cute wife - "Trouble"
He almost made me forget that Taylor sang this song. GREAT voice! Wow!

Stupid Finger Tricks: A simple 5. Hello.

Nick Pedro - "Fever"
Cute girlfriend. Holy SIX cuts to the crazy drummer! Paula was grooving and Simon was snapping. He hit some GREAT notes and has a great falsetto! Everyone was so good tonight that I hope his apparent lack of "charismer" doesn't hurt him this week. I like him. What a good Portuguese boy.

Stupid Finger Tricks: 6 fingers and a "Vote For Pedro" shout out that I like and hope helps him

Blake Lewis - "Virtual Insanity"
Cute boy, great (be prepared for an onslaught of that word) stage presence, great falsetto (Damn, falsettos are sexy), beatboxing, scatting, wow! That is a HARD song to sing--there's very little breathing! Great song choices again and again! Great name, very marketable. Great, great, great. He is my favorite male contestant hands down. Speaking of hands . . .

Stupid Finger Tricks: 7 fingers and Mad Props for the very original beatboxed "7!"

Brandon Rogers - "Time After Time"
Urgh. I know he's better than he showed tonight. Cute boy, but holy BORING song. I like the cool cross gender thing that many contestants do, but Cyndi Lauper?? That just wasn't challenging or showcasing. Bad choice, bad mixing (that's not his fault). You can tell Simon likes him despite the slam and hey, he likes puppies, too. What a mood he's in.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Have you noticed the worse the judges' criticism, the more the nervous finger tricks? Brandon broke out 8 fingers and then he showed us that he is indeed smarter than a 5th grader by breaking it into a study of 4 and 4 and then oooooh, criss crossing them! Yeah, sorry, that is not going to compensate for the crappy song choice (nice dedication though).

Chris Richardson - "Geek in the Pink"
Yeah, that song is new to me, too. Funny dedication song for a grandmother, but it worked. He's good and I like him better this week. He's very Justin Timberlake this week, wow. I disagree with Simon, however. He is NOT the best tonight.

Stupid Finger Tricks: Hmmm, I didn't write it down. And shocker, I don't remember it.

Sundance Head - "Ride, Sally, Ride"
Sweet dedication, awwwww. He has redeemed himself and his thank you to America was very smart. That was good.

Stupid Finger Tricks: He has no need to put up any fingers with a performance like that and he knows it.

Best tonight for me: I heart Blake Lewis and Nick Pedro
Bottom Two: Sanyaya and Brandon
Who's getting the boot? Sanjaya and urgh, I'm nervous for A.J. and Nick even though they both did very well

Oh, and a word to the contestants. When you're standing behind Ryan and he's promoting the next Fox show to premiere next (for three days in a row!!), don't do stupid head antics in an effort to mug the camera and get more air time. You'll only annoy the hell out of people. This means you. Don't annoy me, Chris. I like you tonight.

Idol Chatter from the Good Doctor, Episode 5 (cont.)

And now, my thoughts on the girls, who at this point are ahead of the guys. Did I mention how boring this will be if the guys don't close the gap pretty soon. I'll get as tired hearing of how great the girls are as I am of seeing Simon's black shirts, but of course he has been sporting some completely different looking gray shirts, too! Anywhere, here we go.

Girls

Alaina Alexander--Honestly, I don't have really high hopes for her. Gone this week. Gone next week. Same difference.

Antonella Barba--She needs to prove that she belongs in this group of contestants. She really didn't show much last week as she was outclassed by some incredible powerhouse-type singers. If she can have a perfect performance this week, she could stick around for one more.

Gina Glockson--Last week's praise gives her a free ride this week, unless she passes out midway through her song. And even then she still stands a good chance of making it through.

Haley Scarnato--Here's another one I can't get too attached to. Not that I feel any particular affinity for any of the Disney princesses. Like Antonella, I really think Haley's days are numbered on A.I.

Jordin Sparks--Young. Spunky. Great first week. If Gina gets a free ride this week, the show will pay Jordin to stay. She's safe barring a natural disaster, like Simon's pearly whites falling out.

Melinda Doolittle--It gets redundant right now. Great first week. She can not show up and still get enough votes to stick around.

Sabrina Sloan--She wasn't my favorite last week, but I doubt she's in any danger going into Wednesday's performances.

Stephanie Edwards--I'm a bit curious to see how she responds to being one-upped like 4 or 5 times throughout last week's show. She would benefit from being toward the end of the show this week.

So, my 2 with something to prove this week . . .

Lakisha Jones--Yeah, you heard me right! She had a great first showing, but I don't want her to become another Mandisa--great when she belts it, disappears when she doesn't. I think Lakisha needs to pick a song with a bit more expressive range so at least when she's belting one, we can say, "And we know she can bring the quiet intensity. Remember week 2?"

Leslie Hunt--She has a very unique voice in this group, and on the right song I can see her holding her own in this competition. If she doesn't bring her best this week, she'll have a tough time getting into the eventual Top 12.

In summary, here are the girls to which I'll be paying close attention on Wednesday. . . .

Melinda (an early favorite of mine)
Gina
Lakisha
Leslie

Honestly, Haley and Antonella are non-factors at this point, and the others should cruise through. I'm only putting Melinda on the list because she is so damn good!

Top 24 Becomes Top 20

Urgh. First week boots are rough. No shockers, but you still feel badly for the ones getting the boot. They've packed more clothes than one week's worth! Darn it. And then to make them sing when they're crying?!

And my, they're mixing it up!

1. They're adding cheesy group numbers to the top 24, 20, and 16. Yippee.

2. They're announcing the mentors already--it's about time they do that.

3. They're adding stupid anti-Tivo quiz contests. I predict a class action lawsuit for carpal tunnel syndrome from texting AI numbers so much. What's wrong with an email?! Why cell phones? We don't have cell phones. We're being discriminated against!

So, "Sowing the Seeds of Love," J-Lo, Diana Ross, Tony Bennett and more. You know that AI just can't keep up with the rumor mill online so they may as well tell us. I love theme weeks! :)

So, Paul and Rudy. No big shockers (other than Sundance not joining one of them). I think Rudy just picked a boring song. Paul just sounded awful. Sundance is being featured on "Vote for the Worst.com" - stupid website.

Amy and Nicole. Again, no big shockers there (except that Antonella is STILL in the competition--have mercy, what pictures will seep to the world wide web next?!).

Nicole's from a town about 15 minutes down the road. I still don't know what she was singing. "Alleyayayeeewoowoo?" And apparently someone didn't want the girls joining her on stage to dance. Did you guys catch that?

Antonella and Sundance, your days are numbered.

I'm happy that Nick is still there ("by the grace ah Gahd"). He could be my cousin. I'm being totally serious.

FANTASIA! I love her! I always have! She is SO SO SO SO SO fun to watch. She has such passion. I don't care if she screeches now and then. THAT WAS AWESOME. Ryan's sure to feel like a schmuck when he figures out that he cut off QUINCY JONES HIMSELF. Talk about TBSITKU. He was about to tell us about "The Color Purple!" She was amazing and I'm very excited for her! Go Fantasia!

Okay and what the heck is with Ryan's new sign off? Bring back "Seacrest Out." "I've been Ryan Seacrest?" Who's he going to be next?

Blah, Blah, Blah, Elimination, Blah, Shock and Awe, Blah . . .

In keeping with the feeling I've been having all week--Did I really need to sit through an hour of that? I'm starting to think Fox wants to dumb me down so I will no longer be smarter than a 5th grader. They already think Antonella Barba is on that level--did you catch it last night when she was talking in the Popular Cola Beverage Red Room and they flashed up the 5th grade apple? Classic. But I digress . . .

When Ryan told the final 6 guys "we have to hurry" I was wondering what the slowdown was before. He successfully reviewed judges comments for 6 contestants, eliminated poor Rudy Cardenas, caused Sanjaya Malakar to go into hyperventilating fits, got another pedicure, picked his teeth, applied additional product to his hair, and insult Simon's shirt all in the space of about 75 seconds. That's 12 seconds or so per contestant. 24 total contestants times 12 seconds each, plus 240 more for Fantasia (great performance by the way, just awesome!), then add 2 tenths of a second for the legendary music icon Quincy Jones plus another minute and a half for each of the four eliminated contestants and you get, um . . . 14.8 minutes. We can actually ignore Q's .2 seconds since we made up for it by running the credits over Rudy's swan song.

First, here are my impressions on the eliminated:

AMY KREBS: Ho hum. No shock here. Unfortunately she has enough talent to continue on here, but her lack of airtime up until now along with her lackluster performance last night did her in.

NICOLE TRANQUILLO: It would have been next week anyway. Her performance last night was definitely in the "what the hell was that" category. That's the official name of the Gwen Stefani week, by the way.

PAUL KIM: Another predictable one. He really didn't pull it off last night. On the upside, he sounded much better tonight overall. And shoes wouldn't have mattered one bit.

RUDY CARDENAS: I feel a little bad for this guy because he has a really good voice, and given another shot I'm sure he'd wow us with a better song. But, second chances only come around once in a while (unless you're Sundance!) and I knew the bullseye was begging for bad karma.


Here are my memorable moments from tonight:

If this really is about the performances, Sundance Head and Antonella Barba should be going home right now. I know Sundance had a great audition, but I have seen nothing so far that warrants his still being in the competition. He is talented. He seems like a nice guy. But I can't say he was good enough to stick around. I honestly hope he "brings it" next week, because I think I'd like his style. Antonella is reaping the benefits of airtime and thinned voting in the early weeks. She's got a lot of work to do to make it past next week.

How in the world do you cut off Quincy Jones mid sentence. Ryan was obviously looking for a simple "thumbs up" to his asinine question, but the man wanted to say something. When a musician with 70 Grammys--not nominations, but actual stupid-looking statuettes they give to the one who wins--and who has arranged music for musicians such as Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ray Charles, and who has produced countless classic albums . . . when he wants to say something, you let him say it! Especially on a music show. Bet there's not going to be a Quincy Jones night too soon. Don't worry, we do get Bee-Gees night again!

Ryan is obviously rusty a bit. How many times did he tell Paul Kim he was the first contestant voted off American Idol this year. I felt bad for Shoeless Joe. "Paul, you're the first one off. Oh, and here's what the judges said (like you care now) . . . . So you have hardly any votes, and very few loyal fans, so you don't have enough votes, so you are the first contestant voted off. Did I mention how you are first this year?" Ouch, Ryan. That's cold!

I liked how they gave us a sneak peak at the upcoming weeks. Tony Bennett night--good. British Invasion--intriguing. Diana Ross night--not so much. I'll wait 'til each week arrives to give my final verdict.

So, it is officially on now. I'm hoping the guys figure out how this thing works next week, because I'm going to get really tired of the same old preshow banter. "Girls are the best this year, blah, blah." True or not, without a little more parity it's going to get boring. Only 4 more days and we're at it again! What a great time of year!

P.S. I'm really on a Quincy Jones kick now, so I'm going to share three albums/compilations you should definitely check out. Just look at who's sings on the albums and you'll be impressed. And Bono does a pretty good job with his jazz tune!


Back on the Block
Q's Jook Joint
Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones

OK, rant off now.

4 Go, 20 Stay, Fantasia performs!

"Bring it on!" - At first glance, Paula seems to be somewhat 'reinforced' this evening. Let's see if anything develops.

'Seeds of Love' was fun. I always enjoy the group songs, and sometimes wish they'd put out an album with a collection of the best group songs produced during the show.

I was sorry to hear Chris Sligh backpedal on his remarks to Simon last night.

I'm shocked that Sundance got through. Paul Kim was not a surprise. The continuation of the horrible tradition of making the losers sing right after they've been punched in the gut ought to be a surprise, but sadly, isn't.

Leaving Antonella at the end of the first line of 6 girls must have scared the crap out of her. Amy's departure is not surprising. She made a brave attempt to project more personality into her last performance. Kudos for that.

The American Idol Challenge question slipped right by me, and by the time I got to the website to enter, I'd forgotten the question. There's a video on that page that might contain the question, but it's not loading, perhaps due to too much traffic. Ah! The video is unnecessary. If you click the 'Enter' button, it gives you the question in text format. Wish me luck!

Fantasia was great. It's so nice to see her success.

Thank you, America, for dumping Nicole. Curse you, producers, for making me listen to her yet again. Dammit, where's the remote? Dr Mark - where's that specialist!?

I guess Rudy's featurelessness was more of a deficit than Sundance's poor performance. Rudy's departure performance was better than his performance last night. Oh well...America has often surprised me in past votes. Goodbye, Rudy.

Nothing shocking from Paula, after all. That's reassuring.

See y'all next week!...

...John

Top 12 Girls

Top 12 Girls

Well, my, my, my! THAT was a fun night! And can I just say that we love Tivo? We start 20-30 minutes in and skip every commercial. LOVE it. Here we go.

Stephanie Edwards- I suspect, before her performance, that she's a bit of a Fantasia wannabe from the few clips we've seen. Yeah, she's very Fantasia-like. WOWzers, she's good! Gorgeous, attractive girl. Great performance. On her knees. Mad praise from the judges . . . and then she plays "Where is Pointer?" to show us which number to vote.

Amy Krebs- Knowing little else about her, her name is too science-y for me. Hey, I'm a nerd. "I Can't Make You Love Me" is not a good choice. Now that Constantine has done it, it's done. No one can do it like he has. It was flat and boring. And dang, it's gotta be rough to follow Stephanie. Yeah, it was very milquetoast for me.

Leslie Hunt- Great, now all I see is Harriet from Studio 60. Thanks, Mags! :P I like her! "You Make Me Feel" is another untouchable a la Kelly Clarkson. She was a bit drowned out by the background again. This is a Kelly Clarkson classic. Leslie looks great and is fun and perky, reminiscent of Meg Ryan in any 80s romantic flick. What could be viewed as awkward dance moves, on her come across as cute and quirky. I like her raspy voice. The judges are rough on her. I, however, like her. And given how some of the others fared, I think she'll be okay. She's not tops, but she's not bottoms either.

Sabrina Sloan- My first impressions were "skanky outfit" and, aside from that, she reminds me of Lisa Tucker looks wise. But you know? She has Chris Sligh on his feet. And with good reason. That was hot!! Some pitchy parts, but really a GREAT performance! Great stage presence. The judges love her. That's gotta feel good.

Antonella Barba- I bet her friend is kicking her TV set right now. "*I* should've been on that stage!" I've had enough of both of them even before this performance, but now I've really had my fill. You know who's really got good reason to be pissed? Marisa. The one they didn't pick in order to let Antonella, er, entertain us tonight. Before she sang, I was not predicting good things. I get nervous for her the way I used to with Ayla Brown (unnecessarily with Ayla maybe), but so be it. It's not just the tall, pretty thing either. She's untrained and "nervous girl" all over the place. And I've seen pictures of her on the potty. *I* don't even do that in front of people much less invite a camera in the bathroom. Yuck. I'm a little Elliott Reed that way. And oooh, she is off. Badly. She's a nervous wreck. "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing," she says. She does better controlling her voice than she does belting it. Belting is bad. That was bad. Urgh.

Jordin Sparks- She seems big next to Ryan! She's cute and very likeable (Robynne, that IS right--stupid spell checker :P) and she's very good!! Pass the sugar, Dawg. This girl can sang! I think it's cute how she can hardly contain herself. Beautiful smile. Beautiful girl and good singer.

Nicole Tranquillo- That was weird. Awkward beginning. It was spaztic, kinetic, frenetic. It was all over the place! I don't feel like that was her and I don't even know her! I have little sense of who she is. A yeller? Is she having a fit? Yeah, Randy, that is not her vibe. It didn't fit her. And that entire conversation about the word "indulgent" was just painful, too. How awkward must it have been for her to stand there and discuss a word she didn't understand?! She runs for a dictionary while we take a commercial break.

Haley Scarnato- I've had high hopes for her since a lot of people who find our site are searching for her. She has a Marie Osmond face. She's the backless pantsuit girl. She sang Celine, but she sounded like Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." I think the Disney people just found their next princess. The smokey lights and the sweet tone and looks? She did NOT do her homework like Sabrina did. It was a very Miss America/Disney Movie performance. Her voice is too sweet for this song ("All Coming Back To Me") and while it wasn't the worst tonight, I didn't like it. Um, the judges say, "It's not good" and then you tell Ryan, "Well, that's my style." Okay, so essentially, you just said, "I'm not good." Goodbye.

Woohoo, Fantasia is performing! I don't really like her songs, but I do LOVE to watch her perform! She's one of my favorites!!

Melinda Doolittle- Is anyone else seeing the "Doolittle" irony (Eliza)? I LOVE HER! And you just know those back up singers are gonna make her proud. Go, Melinda! She is so good, no, GREAT and unaffected. That was totally effortless and she's having fun. I like her very much! I love watching her perform and seeing her expression alternate between "I am hot!" and a pleasantly surprised "Holy cow! I'm hot!!" LOL! LOVE her! She's nervous for feedback?!?! Love her. And so does Simon! He must really tire of people thinking they're all that. I think he's enjoying how amazing it is to see someone discover their own greatness. And she does it so humbly. She's fantastic!

Alaina Alexander- She seems likeable, but she's very off. Randy has this new kind of "duh" groan/whine this season that does not mean good things. And she agrees! Another stupid, "Well, that's me!" comment. Again!

Gina Glocksen- Brave song. She has quite a range! I wasn't sure she was going to hit that note, but she pulled it off! She's actually very good! And, for the record, she DID hit it. It wasn't effortless, but she DID pull it off. And Simon will eat his words on that one, too, on the playback.

Lakisha Jones- How long will this diva queen keep her second name? It's so weird how she's so deadpan before and after in her interviews but a passionate smokin' powerhouse when she performs. THAT was phe-freaking-nomenal! It's a brave song, especially right now (kind of like when Nikko sang "Georgia" when the movie "Ray" came out), but she'll do it. I'm not nervous for her at all. Look out, Jennifer Hudson. THAT was HOT!! It's taking everything in Simon to not stand up. I think it's a rule he has for himself. Sometimes you just want to see him break free, don't you? :P Rewind it and watch him. That's the most difficult time I've ever seen him have containing himself. This could prove to be a boring season if we already know the winner, eh? He's already implying that 23 people should be packing their bags. Wow. Go Lakisha!!

So tops tonight are certainly Lakisha, Stephanie, and Melinda. Jordin is great, too. And there's very little middle ground tonight. They were either really great or really not.

Bottom Two? Amy Krebs, Antonella Barba, Nicole Tranquillo, Haley "Disney Princess" Scarnato, Alaina Alexander. I don't care. Pick 2 and make one of them Antonella. My guess is that Amy Krebs and Antonella are joining Sundance and Paul Kim.

Can We Keep 8 or 9? Please?

So, how many of us are surprised that the girls seemed so much better than the boys? If you raised your hand, I have serious doubts about your taste in music. The boys seemed nervous as a group, and the girls were ready! Unbelievable (well, really good--I'm getting caught up in Ryan's superlatives) show for the first "real" week.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: This was another "an hour thirty" type of show. We started watching at 8:40, and had pretty much caught up by the end. We skipped commercials, but still watched all of the pointless banter and caught up. Can we all say "fluff 'n' stuff?" What was Ryan doing on the stairs in the beginning? "Hey, nice highlights! Nice outfit! Hello there!" It was weird. Randy must have left his Magic 8 Ball at home since he kept rubbing his head for advice. Is this one any good? Ask again later! It took two days and 15 singers before Randy finally stopped neglecting his duties and introduced us to the Dog Pound. C'mon dawg! The guys must realize how poorly they did last night since they gave everyone a standing ovation tonight! How much does Aretha Franklin make in royalties tonight? And Celine Dion for that matter.

OK, here we go, singer by singer. As always, I just make up the titles when I don't know them, and some of them seem really long!

STEPHANIE EDWARDS ("Pick Up the Phone, Dammit!"): The other potential title seemed too long. Wow! She can sing! She had a great performance to start out the night. I was a bit concerned initially because all I could remember from the auditions and such is that she seemed a bit like a Fantasia imitator, but not tonight! Yeah, final 12 material for sure.

AMY KREBS ("I Can't Make You Love Me"): People joke about the A.I. taboo songs, but this is seriously one of them. Only one contestant in my personal viewing history (Constantine Maroulis) has pulled it off completely, and Kim Locke was decent, but not great in Season 2, but that's it. Amy's performance was so-so, we have seen next to nothing besides the enormous white belt she wore over the bright green shirt to receive the news about the Top 24. None of this adds up to much good news.

LESLIE HUNT ("You Make Me Feel," "Natural Woman," etc.): I should really learn the real title since it comes up a bunch during A.I. I didn't feel like this really matched Leslie's personality, but I think she is a fun and interesting contestant worth keeping around a while. Again, not only is this Aretha Franklin, but Kelly Clarkson sang it "out the box" (is this Randy's new thing) in Season 1 and in World Idol. It's tough to duplicate it on this stage.

SABRINA SLOAN ("Never Love a Man The Way I Love You" or some other stereotypical blues title): So, here's another one that can sing. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised at the unknowns at this point. She had a great performance, full of feeling, and full of urgency. Perfect for week 1.

ANTONELLA BARBA ("I Don't Want To Miss A Thing"): Ouch! She just seemed so scared and unsure as she sang. I never thought she had fantastic talent, regardless of how much airtime she has gotten thus far, and the airtime (and "dirty" pictures) are not going to help poor Antonella. This is another overdone song on A.I., and I don't think anyone's really pulled it off yet. Put it to rest, now! A word of caution: look out for Daddy. He looks like he could be connected, and he wasn't amused by Simon's criticisms! In case you're wondering, Simon wears size 10 shoes, 10 1/2 in cement.

JORDIN SPARKS (The other Tracy Chapman song): At 17 this girl has a lot of potential, and is already showing most of it. It was a really good performance. I was a bit distracted since I felt like I was watching an ASL interpreter perform. Too many hand motions, and then when it "counts," she tucked the mic and showed us 6. She needs to review Corey Clark's instructional video "Finger Numbers and You: A Guide to Toll Free Voting." Next time, just do 2 or 3 fingers on the mic hand. That leaves at least 2 to hold it. You've got plenty of weeks to get it down.

NICOLE TRANQUILLO ("Stay Together"): The very fact that she said "I love that song and knew I really wanted to perform it" confirms what Simon said: it was indulgent. The sad part for me is I've seen next to nothing of this girl so far. No audition footage. Very little Hollywood footage. And I could tell this song was not right for her. It felt awkward all the way through, like she was trying to manufacture a good performance rather than just feel it. You can tell her voice is good, but this song was wrong, wrong, and . . . wrong!

HALEY SCARNATO ("All Coming Back to Me"): I thought she sounded really good for a Disney princess. I don't mean to be rude. That's a compliment. I just didn't like it much. Boring. Unoriginal. Next time remind Simon why he's put you through (hint: show him your back).

MELINDA DOOLITTLE (Something else Aretha): Wow! As I was watching her pre-performance montage, I thought about the power of words. (Yes, I'm getting a bit serious here.) Look at the impact of one compliment from Simon. She transformed in an instant from shy background singer girl to talented solo artist. And she came out tonight like she has had enough of the background. Yet, she gave credit and recognition to everyone performing with her tonight. This is why Simon loves her. She has the humility to show her talent (which is ample) without rubbing it in people's faces. And like Simon said, far too many talent-challenged people seem to flaunt what they do (or don't) have.

ALAINA ALEXANDER ("I'm Special"): I know the title is something about brass tacks or shiny buckles or hard candy or holes in the pocket, but whatever. Ouch and ouch again! Really, it was out of tune most of the way through. Granted, it's rough to follow someone like Melinda (or even Dr.) Doolittle, but it was not good tonight.

GINA GLOCKSEN ("All By Myself"): Pink hair and this song do not go together, and I'm not sure I really liked the fact that she sang it, but she did do a good job. I know what Simon is hearing--she really had to work for that note. It didn't seem effortless so it had the appearance of being off, but she did hit it. Overall it was a Top 6 performance.

LAKISHA JONES ("You're Gonna Love Me"): Did she really give us a choice not to?! I'll choose "love you" over getting poked by one of those death fingers! The really weird thing about Lakisha is that her interviews seem so passionless, like she just woke up from some boring dream, but her singing is anything but emotionless. She is incredible! She must just save it for the performance, like a distance runner saving all the energy for the final sprint. Wow! What a way to end!


MY QUICK HITS

STEPHANIE: Great work. Careful, they just waxed the floors.

AMY: Too little camera time to have a mediocre performance.

LESLIE: You're fun, so you stay.

SABRINA: Alright. You're here. We'll see you for a while.

ANTONELLA: Back to the beach for you, and tell your dad to smile more.

JORDIN: Maybe they'll give you a number less than 5 so you just need one hand next week.

NICOLE: When having a seizure, lie on the ground, and don't put anything in your mouth.

HALEY: Hopefully for one more week you can be part of our world.

MELINDA: So, are you tired of singing backgrounds? Backup singer on A.I.? C'mon!

ALAINA: Be glad there are a few people that could go home.

GINA: Bring us some "pink hair songs" next week.

LAKISHA: Just tell me what to think, 'cause you're "da bomb!"


Based on tonight's performances . . .

MY TOP 3: Melinda, Lakisha, Stephanie
MY BOTTOM 3: Antonella, Amy, Alaina
MAGIC 8 BALL SAYS: Send the whole auto club home (keep Amy if you have to).

I was listening to ESPN radio today, and the host actually spent more time talking about A.I. than sports. Of course, A.I. is infinitely more exciting than any sporting event going on currently (but March Madness is around the corner), so he starts talking about Top 12 guys and girls, and the finals, etc., etc. He said Fox will find a way to take Thursday's show and stretch it out to 5 hours. Sadly, I fear it will feel that way for not only 4 unlucky individuals, but for millions of viewers as well. Oh well, we're all addicted so even 5 hours this week isn't enough.

Top 24! - 12 Gals

I'm excited! Here we go.........

Simon seems frightfully pleasant, and in denial about last night. Maybe it's cuz he gets to see all the pretty girls tonight?

Stephanie Edwards - I like her pre-performance review. Pretty and well-dressed, with very good vocal styling. The mixing has her voice too low again, so I don't feel her presence as much as I'd like. I don't like the mics on the judges, either, for that matter. Simon nailed it in that she was definitely better than almost anything last night.

Amy Krebs - Pre-performance audition clips don't have me very hopeful. I wonder how she got through. Motionless beginning...I hoped to see her break out at the bridge, but no. The voice is pretty good, if pitchy in spots, but the 'performance' factor was not there. The judges seem to agree. Despite his sucky candle analogy, Simon is correct. He went too far in attacking her hair, which looks fine, to me, but, having turned in his black shirt for a grey one, I suppose he feels entitled. Maybe wearing grey accounts for the improvement in his mood. The colours one wears can definitely have an impact on one's mood, and black is a challenge for anyone.

Leslie Hunt - Badly pitchy for the first part of the song, but very engaging performance overall. She knows how to connect with the song and the audience, and the middle and ending made up a lot for the shakey start. Simon tries to correlate the dogwalking part of her with her stage mannerisms, but I don't think it applies. I think her unpolished movements are actually very honest body language, and I find them endearing, rather than indicative of her former status as a dogwalker. It wasn't as bad as Randy suggested. If she'd been stronger in the beginning, she would have pulled it off quite admirably.

Sabrina Sloan - Brings it from the start. Nice outfit, hair, and presence. I thought it was great, though I think she pushed the volume (yelling) at times. Still, I agree with Simon that it was clearly a great performance, if not the best so far. Still, no chills on this one.

Antonella Barba - Here come the chills. Occasional non-fatal pitchiness at the start, but very nice, overall. Randy asks a question, so we know what's coming. I don't think it was as bad as Randy or Simon say. Certainly it was better than Sundance, and it didn't at all strike me as the worst I've heard tonight - certainly as good as Amy or Leslie, but getting less appreciation, for some reason.

Jordin Sparks - The AZ girl - picked a 'nasty' song to avoid Simon's sweetness objection. The arrangement was twice as fast as the original, but she pulled it off, and gave me chills with her closing note. I liked it a lot, and the judges agree. I really enjoy her enthisiastic attitude. She looks like an Amazon standing next to Ryan, and I like how he put his hands on his hips to equal her stage presence...LOL!

Nicole Tranquillo - Trying too hard - pushing the song instead of connecting with it, and her facial expressions reflect that. I felt a hernia coming on just listening to her. Worst of the night so far, for me. Simon said it well, though I'm not sure what he meant by indulgent, unless he meant 'excessive', and Paula was way too generous, in my opinion. I also saw her lip curling in anger when Ryan asked her to respond. I don't like her at all. I think she's a basically dishonest (with herself, and therefore, others) person with a lot of anger issues, and it shows in her performance.

Haley Scarnato - A bit pitchy at one point at the beginning, but turns it on a bit more at the bridge, giving me some chills, but she didn't bring it as I'd hoped. Again, the mic seemed 'off', and not loud enough. As I listen more closely while the judges speak, there's a HUGE amount of static being picked up, which just isn't right for an audio-focused performance. She actually sounds better on Ryan's mic at the wrap-up.

Melinda Doolittle - I'm hoping this backup singer can step up to the spotlight. OH YEAH! She brings it right from the start, and carries it through. Lots of chills for this one, and what an ENDING! Brilliant! Definitely the best of the night for me, and definitely a top 12 contender and likely finalist, if not the winner. Hear me now, and listen to what I'm saying... ; )

Alaina Alexander - I already like this one, but let's see how she stacks up against the powerhouses so far. Either the band sucked on this song, or her mic sucked or something. Why do I hear more treble when the song stops and the applause begins? It was just a'ight for me.

Gina Glocksen - Again, the mic sounds muffled and lacking treble. 'All By Myself' requires precise pitch and phrasing, and she pulls it off with only minor exceptions. Definitely gave me chills in spots, but not for as long as the original did. Simon says it well. Still, one of the better performances, and she deserves to feel as proud as she does.

Lakisha Jones - Big voice right from the start. Brave choice of song, and she handles it very well. She definitely deserves to stick around, but I didn't love it quite as much as the judges. I want to hear her take on a less agressive song.

I agree with Randy about 4 guys, 8 girls.

Top picks: Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Jordan Sparks, Sabrina Sloan, Gina Glocksen, in roughly that order. I'm adding Stephanie Edwards, though I don't remember her performance after the latter ones blew everything out of my memory.

Most likely to be cut: Nicole Tranquillo, Amy Krebs, in that order.

See you at the beheading!...

...John

Top 12 Girls Perform Tonight

TWO (more) HOURS! TWO (more) HOURS! Oh happy day, we're done with crappy auditions!! Movin' on . . .

Performing Tonight are:

Alaina Alexander
Amy Krebs
Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Haley Scarnato
Jordin Sparks
Lakisha Jones
Leslie Hunt
Melinda Doolittle
Nicole Tranquillo
Sabrina Sloan
Stephanie Edwards

Are you excited?!?! I am!! See you after the show!