4 Go, 16 Stay! Kellie Pickler performs!

Sundance sounded better in the group song than he has in his performances.

Wow, y'all were right! Nick is the first to go! I really didn't see that coming. The judges even gave his performance more props than I did, but I didn't anything really bad about his performances.

Alaina is another surprise, though she would have gone soon enough anyway.

Kellie was refreshing. Glad to see her.

AJ leaving is absurd, and another example of the kinds travesties enabled by the limitless voting system. 'Nuf said...don't let me get started.

Antonella's safe, so bye bye Leslie. There's no way Jordin was going.

Paula twice makes a valiant effort to remind the teenie boppers that it's a singing competition and not a high school popularity contest, but we know how that goes...

Argh - Leslie's so far off key when she starts...thankfully she brought it off with a little humor.

Not my favorite results show.

...John

Top 10 Guys (Well, Top 3 and the Other 7)

So I'm sitting on the couch with Stacy thinking, "I wonder if anyone will be any good this week," and by the end I have no idea who isn't moving on (well, I know one person leaving, but #2 is a bit fuzzy). I am so glad the guys got the jitters out last week because now we have an actual competition to watch in the foreseeable future.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I learned a lot of math tonight. You need 6 guys and 6 girls to add up to 12; 866 vs. 800 numbers; joint = illicit drug, but also joint = song; and the attributes of geometric shapes (trapezoids have 4 sides, 2 of which are parallel lines). Now who's the "Geek in the Pink?" Tonight, it's actually blue. So does Jeff Foxworthy really like American Idol, because if not, what a way to spend an evening waiting to plug your show. I'm not going to watch "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" for 3 reasons: (1) I don't need another show to watch, just when I'm scaling back; (b) The last Fox show that had a premiere with multiple episodes just ended up making me feel dumber (anyone remember Ian Bernardo, Crouching X-sentrikk Hidden Talent, et. al.?); and (4) I'm pretty sure that whether or not I am smarter than a 5th grader, I don't need Jeff Foxworthy to validate that. Simon seems a bit silly tonight. Sometimes I wonder what show he's watching. Some comments seemed alright, but he appeared to be stretching for some ridiculous analogies. What the hell are they drinking?! And I guess girls aren't in the Dog Pound yet. I'm a bit confused because in the past they have been. Keep an eye on that one.

OK, one by one, song titles, maybe they're correct, blah, blah, blah . . .

PHIL STACEY ("Missing You"): This was actually a good song choice for him in that his voice came through quite well. The song itself is just OK, but he did a good enough job to stick around. First can be the worst spot in the order because I always find myself saying, "Oh yeah! That's right," when I see the numbers played back. He got 2 + 1 (that's 3) yo's, too!

JARED COTTER ("Let's Get It On"): I did say he was one of my 2 "something to prove guys" tonight and I think he did. I'm with Jared: the Love Boat would have been something with that guy singing. Great performance. Much better than last week.

A.J. TABALDO ("Feeling Good"): First off, I have real difficulties with anyone singing anything Michael Buble has done because I think he's one of the recent great artists, and he has such a great sound it's hard to beat it. With that, I think A.J. did a great job switching it up this week (overhead helicopter notwithstanding).

SANJAYA MALAKAR ("Steppin' Out"): Sanjaya is a nice kid with a million-dollar smile, but he has no power and he seems young out there. I had the same thoughts as the judges, with a bit more tact and compassion however. He did seem like a performer in a high school talent show. He'd win, no doubt, but he's just not quite there as far as A.I. goes.

CHRIS SLIGH ("Trouble"): Great song choice! These were the vocals I was waiting for. It's as if he was actually reading this blog! Big improvement on last week. Brilliant dedication. Show the talent and the rest is taken care of.

NICK PEDRO ("Fever"): I was glad he picked this song since that's the kind of thing that got him to Hollywood in the first place. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when we knew he would not be singing another Richard Marx song. Maybe Jon Heeter can get him a few votes to keep him around. Oh! And the happy drummer should be good for a half dozen or so more as well.

BLAKE LEWIS ("Virtual Insanity"): Cap on sideways = beatboxing tonight (more math!). I knew he'd do it, but I loved that he kept it short, blended smoothly into a dope scat solo, and slid right back into his vocals. Awesome! It actually gave me a younger, hipper Al Jarreau type vibe, which is a good thing in my book since I like the older, less hip Al Jarreau as well. I think Simon was right in that he was out of tune in a couple of spots, but as far as originality of moves? I checked out the Jimiroquai video to see for myself, and unless I missed cockroaches, ravens, sliding couches, and enormous fuzzy top hats in Blake's performance, tonight's was quite different from the original!

BRANDON ROGERS ("Time After Time After Time After Time After . . ."): OK. My most frequently accessed memory of this song is of a Japanese guy I met when I lived in Japan, playing his guitar, and singing this song with the most stereotypical accent possible. And that version is the most interesting I've heard, including Brandon's tonight. I don't agree with Simon that sentimentality is "rubbish," and I'm not surprised that Simon can't get beyond the surface of real emotion. A heartfelt song can be quite powerful. But Simon's point is well taken: he has got to do more to stand out, or his stay will be a short one.

CHRIS RICHARDSON ("Geek in the Pink"): A few good things. Not a song done by Elliott Yamin (you're no Elliott, right Stacy?). Great song choice for him. And he had a lot of fun up there. He definitely has that boy-band, front guy type vibe, just like Justin Timberlake. And if Chris ever says that he doesn't try to look or sound like Justin, I think he's lying.

SUNDANCE HEAD ("Mustangs, Driving, Wax On, Wax Off"): The other of my 2 guys to watch this week really did his thang! I am glad to see Sundance return from the nearly dead. You can see the relief on his face to finally be out of the "box." As a father I can relate to the distraction and difficult emotions he must be feeling while he's away from his son, but it looks like he finally realized what he needed to do to stick around. If he keeps singing like this, I'll forget all about the "between auditions and week 2" period of his life.


MY QUICK HITS

PHIL: Better start this week = see you next week
JARED: Way to step it up. Now you gotta keep it up
A.J.: Unless you're planning to land on the roof of the building, your arm motions are just distracting.
SANJAYA: It's been a pleasure hosting you on A.I.
CHRIS S.: Keep picking songs like tonight, and you have a way to go.
NICK: What a shame that your best performance coincided with so many other bests.
BLAKE: Perfect blend of talents to keep that degree of difficulty up.
BRANDON: Maybe backgrounds are better for you. Prove me wrong if you get the chance.
CHRIS R.: What a geek.
SUNDANCE: Way to advertise for Ford. You'll get the check at the end of the week.


MY TOP 3: Blake, and the 2 C's (kind of like my freshman Physics classes!)
MY BOTTOM 3: Sanjaya, Brandon, and Nick (too close to really tell)
STEPPIN' OUT TIME AFTER TIME: Sanjaya and Brandon.

Admittedly, the guys are mostly on even footing in my mind, and there is no way to really differentiate them in my mind. Tweeners and Grannies make the difference tonight in Sanjaya's life. Even the Top 6 are tough to pick at this point. At least the guys brought it this week!

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.

Top 20! - 10 Guys

I liked the subtle nod Ryan gave to Oscar-winning Jennifer Hudson at the start of the show in which he emphasized (literally) how the AI judges had discovered her (even if they thought she wasn't good enough) - a sad attempt at damage control, but a good example of what we psych people call 'reframing'... ; )

I also fine-tuned my home stereo system this week, given the sucky audio I encountered last week. So far it sounds much better.

Phil Stacey - I agreed pretty much with Simon. Good, but not outstanding.

Jared Cotter - Sounded a little strained and unpolished to me. Paula picked up on him pushing the song. I didn't disagree with Simon's cabaret appraisal. About the same as last week. He may survive on looks for awhile.

AJ Tabaldo - Very smooth start, and adds some kick and owns it pretty well. Best so far tonight, but not huge.

Sanjaya Malakar - Let's hope he's found some fire. Not so much. Smooth and pleasant, but he needs some growl in his voice, especially with that song! Randy agreed. Paula remains the patron saint of diplomatic, positive feedback, and Simon remains intent on squashing her like a bug when she does that. Still, it wasn't bad, so maybe he'll last another week and finally show us something more impressive. I was the same way as a singer - too sweet, and not enough bite, though I did manage to make a lot of girls cry... ; )

Chris Sligh - Nice looking wife, and I'll bet he deserves her completely. The song is unknown to me, but he certainly kept me interested in it. I like his suit and sneakers. He gave me some chills, so that's the key for me. Very good, and I'm glad to hear the judges agree.

Nick Pedro - Smooth and smokey...about the same as last week, with a couple of tries at adding some pizazz. Unfortunately, those attempts took him off-key. Just okay for me. I think the judges liked it a little better than I did.

Blake Lewis - I can see he gets a lot of his strength and confidence from his parents. He let himself be himself in tonight's song choice. Once again he owned the stage, the song and the audience. Awesome! Randy agrees. Paula nails how smart he's being, and I agree. Simon's being tough, but I know where he's coming from - he's expressing his disappointment as though he's talking to the American Idol already. What's clear to me is how strongly the energy of his performance has affected the judges. Both last week and this week they are all over each other. Clearly they were strongly impacted and it manifests in energetic interactions. I've seen the same thing with mental health clients with powerful energies surrounding them - the entire treatment team becomes galvanized, and no one remains indifferent.

Brandon Rogers - Pitchy and timid, to start, and the song wasn't played fast enough. I understand the dedication and intent to express feeling, but I agree somewhat with Simon that it's still a competition, and this wasn't up to par.

Chris Richardson - A good example of a dedicated song with feeling and some pop to it. Simon's point is made, and Paula has nowhere to hide except humor. Up there with Blake's performance, though I liked Blake a little better.

I must say I'm liking the pace of the show much better tonight.

Sundance Head - He makes a good attempt at bringing it and not sucking. I admire his efforts, but I don't think it was as impressive as Randy and Paula. Like Simon, I feel like, "let's not get carried away".

Tops: Blake Lewis, Chris Sligh, Chris Richardson, AJ Tabaldo.

Bottoms: Brandon Rogers, Jared Cotter, and, for me, if I'm honest, Sundance Head.

I'm expecting much better from the girls...

...John

Idol Chatter from the Good Doctor, Episode 5

Since my children, especially my son, are Star Wars obsessed lately I was tempted to subtitle this "The Guys Strike Back" (you know, "Star Wars" Episode 5 . . . never mind), but I've been getting geared up for the next round of performances, thinking of some people to watch. Here are some things that crossed my mind.

Guys

Blake Lewis--he needs to follow up his somewhat surprising first performance with something great. He can't afford to be just OK this time around if he wants to keep the momentum going.

Sanjaya Malakar--NO STEVIE!!! First round jitters should be out of the way this week, so this is his "make it or break it" week in my opinion.

Nick Pedro--This guy could jump up quite a bit since his first week's performance was somewhat less than inspiring. But if he comes out singing "Hold On to the Night" I will write him off!

A.J. Tabaldo--Pointing to the sky and doing a helicopter maneuver will not do a whole lot this week. After last week's solid performance he's in a good position to keep on keeping on.

Brandon Rogers--This is one guy I want to see bring it. Look for him to step it up and wow us this week.

Chris Richardson--(this is for Stacy) Let's not do an Elliott impersonation. What if he come out in some wild afro wig like Rickey Smith in Season 2 (think Earth, Wind, and Fire--"September"). Given the weak performances last week he's in good position to do well again.

Chris Sligh--I like him and think he's got the potential to do quite well, but I'd like to see something a bit "reined in" from him this week, something a little more "musical."

Phil Stacey--This guy has got to sing the beginning of a song well! If he can do that his stock rises a bunch.

And my 2 with something to prove . . .

Jared Cotter--His performance last week was a weak one, but I could tell he has got some real talent there. A good improvement tomorrow and he will be rapidly on the rise.

Sundance Head--Listen. I like him. I have nothing against him. But he seems "lost" up there. If he can finally pick a good song befitting his bluesy style, this guy stands to gain the most of anyone this week. If he's got "it" at all, it will come out this week.

So, the guys I'll be watching a little more closely this week will be:

Blake (an early favorite for me)
Sanjaya
Jared
Sundance

So there is the chatter on the guys. Stay tuned for thoughts on the girls. . . .

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?

TOP 12 BOYS!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!

First of all, I'm so glad to be down to the "real" stuff of American Idol. We get to see full performances, not edited snippets that leave you wondering about the rest of the story! YAY!!!!

I make notes and write my opinions as I watch the show - before I hear what the judges say (though I may respond afterward to something they say...) and before I read what anyone else has said. I don't claim to be any kind of expert, just a music fan who loves seeing somebody's rise to stardom!!!

LET'S GO!!!

RUDY - Very good! It's tough to start off the night, and for that matter, the season! But Simon hit it on the head - it wasn't unique. I didn't feel a connection with him. He didn't *move* me, and that's what I look for in a singer.

BRANDON - Very smooth, very likeable (spell check is telling me I spelled "likable" wrong, but the correct way looks like "lickable", so I'm going to leave it!! ;) )! I don't know if he *brought it* tonight, but I look for more from him in the future.

SUNDANCE - I really wanted him to do well, I really did!!!! But it was just average for me. He seemed very nervous or something. I felt bad for him after the comments from the judges, but he's got to be able to rise above everything and shrug it off if he wants to do well in the competition and in that business! And he certainly is a *short* man, which becomes blatantly obvious when he's standing next to the 5 foot Ryan!!! Not that that has anything to do with his singing or performance, just something to note! :)

PAUL - Another one I'm rooting for, but I didn't feel like it was *unusually good*...

***I'm remembering here that I rarely like the songs they sing in the Top 24 - they usually are old-fashioned and a little "elevator-y".

CHRIS R. - I haven't been *into* him so far...I'm not much of a "boy-bander", but he did REALLY WELL!!! (And his dad was SO FUN to watch! I loved it!) He's been better than anyone else so far. But so far his style is just not for me, we'll have to see if he wins me over (which I'm open to!) as we move along.

NICK - He's a cutie! His nerves showed, but he did all right. "NERVES" seems to be the theme of the night!

BLAKE - I think this is the first time I've actually heard him sing!!! I am so surprised...I REALLY liked it!!! It was completely unexpected and he pulled it off! GREAT song!!!

***I'm loving watching the parents!!!! :)

SANJAYA - I *love* his relationship with his sister!!! He's younger by far than any of the other boys - does that have anything to do with why they put him through? He's adorable, but the song was old-fashioned and boring. I'm just waiting for one of the judges, probably Simon, to say something about the lyrics matching the performance - "I don't want to bore you..." - and there it is, from Simon himself!!! So predictable...

CHRIS S. - Great Job!!! I *really* like him. He's got great humor, great personality, great uniqueness, and he tops it off with a great voice...WOO HOO!!!!

JARED - A little nasally for me...a "safe" song choice. His falsetto was great! Nothing extraordinary, but good. Oooooh, I cringe when I hear Simon say what I've just written down...("nasally").

AJ - I'm still in shock that he's tried out 5 times!!!! That's persistence. I love that Paula gets up and dances when she feels it. He really enjoyed it, it was fun to watch him having a good time. He did well...I'm not invested in him yet, but we'll see what he brings!

PHIL - Well I'm glad that he's cleared up the "missing my baby's birth" fiasco - that was bothering me! I'm dying to hear more of that "When You Love A Woman" performance they keep showing clips of from Hollywood - it sounded awesome! When his song tonight started I was like, "Oh, he's nervous, he looks stiff..." etc. But when he got to the chorus he BELTED IT OUT!!! It made me think the beginning was planned to be so non-descript to amplify the impact! I *love* his voice! And his eyes are beautiful, perfect for the close-up camera shot at the end. WOO HOO!!!

Watching the replays at the end made me wonder what we would think if they had all sung in a different order - placement and how everyone does before you seems to make such a big difference! But there's nothing you can do about that, so I guess it doesn't matter. You go when you go!

Now it's time to start ranking...

BEST OF THE NIGHT (in no particular order) - Blake, Chris S., and Phil!!!

BOTTOM 2 - Ahhhh, it pains me to say it... but Sundance and Sanjaya.

I can't wait for the girls! From what we've seen so far they look to be better than the boys this year, which is unusual!

Until then... :)

Top 12 Guys

Top 12 Guys

Let's begin, shall we?

Rudy Cardenas- Oh, it sucks to be first. And wearing a bullseye on your shirt? That just doesn't necessarily send the "on the mark" message. Concentric circles. Several of them. Where might the arrow land? Oh, poor Rudy. Urgh, but I feel for him. What's he saying? Freedom? Free ride? Oh wait, fee ride? So it does cost? Feline? What? I have no idea. What's with the Clay Aiken hip action?

Well the judges are at it. First contestant and Simon's already interrupting. Though I do have to say that it's more than a little stupid to diss Simon in your pre-performance interview. Simon was already chomping at the bit. You could tell the way he rubbed his stretched lips with his finger as if it were chapstick itself. And then when Ryan asks and Rudy responds with "I had fun. I had a good time." Oh Rudy. That's usually a farewell speech. At least you won't be alone. Perhaps a barefoot companion will join you. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Is Ryan wearing lifts in his shoes??

Brandon Rogers- So long as Magistra is going to Studio 60 this, he can be Simon and Leslie can be Harriet. Aww, how balanced is that? This man is good with the camera. Of course we already knew that from Hollywood. He wants to "Rock Witch You." I'm not sure what that means. It was a little too low energy for me. It's like he'd taken a sedative. Or maybe I had. White belt. White shoes. He's not supposed to be wearing white, right? Labor Day or something? Someone wasn't talking to these boys before they hit the stage. No one told him that only half his shirt was tucked in. Or half wasn't tucked in. I'm not sure which is right. There was such a mix tonight. This wasn't nearly as bad as the flipped up polo collar. But I'm getting ahead of myself again.

It's not ever good when Paula starts breaking out the "hopefully people will remember your previous performances" speech. I mean, we JUST started. He'll be safe if just for his connections in the industry. Simon's chatty tonight, isn't he! But at least it's constructive.

Sundance Head- Unfortunately, I'm bored with him already. "Nights in White Satin?" Brave song, don't you think? And those hideous backgrounds. I think that WAS white satin! This was more than karaoke for me, dawg. This was worse than Nick Andopolis singing "Lady L" on "Freaks and Geeks" (and I *love* that scene). Oh, it was off. Badly. And he's wearing white shoes, too! I bet the girls put them all up to these things. Oh yeah, wear white shoes. Oooh ooh and a white belt. Chicks think that's hot. Oh, flip your collar up. But just on one side. Yeah, that's right. The girls will go crazy and like totally vote for you. And Sundance Head totally loves YOW, though I have no idea who that is. Perhaps his wife is Asian. He's sporting a mohawk, too, in case you missed it. In the back. Totally distracting profile. Like a chick's (as in a baby chicken this time) butt behind his head. It was rough, dude. And off.

The judges were on opposite sides of the criticism spectrum with Randy on the left and Simon on the right. Like this:

"Bring back the blues, Dawg!" -------------------(British pouty accent) "I didn't like you tonight!"

So, I'm not wowed yet. And a favorite alum is going to be on the show with exciting news?! Is Clay going to formally announce that he's out of the closet? Maybe Corey Clark will show up to say that Paula is the mother of his baby to promote his new single, "I'm a Big Daddy and Paula's the Momma and if you didn't believe me before, hear me now because I'm here to say that she called me on my cell phone and I have a bottle of pills with a label I made, I mean, with her name on it." Maybe Jennifer Hudson will show up to tell Simon to kiss her Golden Globe behind. Oh sweet justice.

Paul Kim- "Careless Whisper?" Careless song choice. Pitchy doesn't begin to explain those sounds. He might have to put on his shoes to catch that bus. That was the worst so far. On the bright side, maybe Sundance and Rudy will be safe.

The judges have got to be cringing. After all, they're the ones who've chosen this group. They say it's up to America, but see, we would've kept Marisa and Jenry and that Brokeback Mountain cowboy. Yes, America judges the judges tonight, too. And we say, "Bad, judges. Bad." Bleh.

And take note, y'all. Whenever Randy breaks out with "Paul Kim, Paul Kim, Paul Kim" or any other nomenclature three times in a row, it's not a good sign. That and when he starts off with a question like "What's going down, Dawg?" That's when you cringe because you know he's going to slam them nicely or not. And he did both tonight with Paul Kim, Paul Kim, Paul Kim. Not that we didn't already know that was oh. so. bad. Ugh. Maybe it'll be a girl idol after all! Eek, and Paula's asking how he's doing, too. Not good. More reminders from Pauler to recall earlier auditions. Yeah, I don't think so. Who knows. He IS representing Asians as he said in his audition interview. Maybe there's a big voting contingency. Look what they did for Jasmine Trias. And look at that, Ryan's shoeless. And a metro. Some things just don't shock anyone. Ryan IS wearing lifts! I knew it!

Oh and Paul? We don't call you. It's an automated machine.

Chris Richardson- The word "punk" comes to mind when I look at him. Something in his eyes scream "I have a mug shot" and you just know the editors at The Smoking Gun are working overtime looking for an expose. That was a disturbing performance on so many levels. I take issue with the WHOLE thing. That's TWO Elliott songs now. TWO. Elliott Yamin is the master and this clown is trying to imitate him and no one has called him on it. Well, *I'm* calling him on it. They read the boards. Hey, Chris. You're not Elliott. Just because you're from Virginia and have now sung TWO songs that he has in the same exact freaking style as Elliott no less, that does not make you Elliott. No. No, no, no. Justin Timberlake? No. Elliott? NO! "I don't wanna be" indeed. And Elliott dances better, too. The whole performance was just wrong. It was nasaly and wrong. I'm mad because he's imitating (poorly) MY BOY ELLIOTT. No. I will give him that his falsetto was better than Paul Kim's, but unfortunately that's not saying much tonight. Those are the SAME FREAKING MOVES as Elliott's! No. Best so far tonight, but no, no, no, no, no. Whaaaaaaaaaa. I miss Elliott.

Okay, the judges. What the HELL?!?! That is NOT a new arrangement. That is the very SAME arrangement Elliott did less than a year ago! What is WRONG with them?! That's ELLIOTT'S! Stupid idiots. Chris is probably safer than anyone else so far tonight, much due to the judges' -albeit misguided- words, but I don't like him. I'm mad. "I don't like you tonight."

Nick Pedro- "I Will Be Your Man." Oh, Nick. I have high hopes for you. Cute boy, dimples, and reminds me of every guy I've ever known in my high school. Our school played Nick's school, for crying out loud (though that would've been while I was in graduate school, ahem). He is one of my early favorites with his smokey tone. It was off and a bit pitchy, but I like his falsetto and I hope hope hope he sticks around. Not my favorite tonight, but I like him. Dude, don't do the arms! They just told Sundance not to do the arms. What are you doing?

It's always good when Simon likes what Randy and Paula don't. Go Simon. Hope to see you next week ("by the grace o' gahd"), Nick. Yes, vote for Pedro.

I so wish the first week of the top 24 and the first week of the top 12 would be no-vote weeks so they can get used to the stage and band and people watching and get good feedback and THEN start the competition. But I'm warm and fuzzy that way.

Blake Lewis- He's cute!! I love his John Mayer and John Peter Lewis -like style. Woohoo! I love his voice! "Somewhere Only We Know" Yes, indeed. I love this song. Most challenging song so far. He was a bit off, but you gotta cut him some slack. Nice song. I like him a lot!! I'm happy to say this is my first official TOP 12 prediction of the season.

I don't like when people knock on Paula. She often hits the nail on the head like she did tonight with Blake. He does have a "contemporary vibe," she's right. Cool vest, cute boy, I like him. His own style. I agree with Simon (gasp!)--best so far! And I think he's wise not to beatbox. It makes him all the more likeable to not be annoying. He's a wise boy. Go Blake! I think I may already be getting attached.

Sanjaya Malakar- Look at that girly hair! What will the stylists do with him? Great smile. And he always kisses his sister and I LOVE that. It takes a real man to do that. It was a little old fashioned (which isn't ever good right after the judges have told people that old-fashioned is bad and contemporary is good, but what are you going to do, John Mayer your Stevie song?). It was a good, safe performance. Nice job, not great.

Ah, first week and we're already hearing about the "Best Singer in the Known Universe" (hereafter to be referred to as BSITKU), but we knew that was coming, too, didn't we? And geez, Simon was harsh! Poor kid.

Chris Sligh- He's great. Excellent even. He's substance over style in many ways--voice, talent, stage presence, humor, performance. Great job. "Don't wanna be the typical." Love it.

I hate stupid judge banter taking up valuable feedback time. And did Simon just call him a teletubby?! I predict that Simon will eat his words after he watches that back on TV. Which always sucks because it's post voting. But I'm so sure he'll do it, that I'm repeating my prediction. In italics. I predict that Simon will eat his words after he watches that back on TV. You watch.

I think I've figured out another dream job. Therapist for the Idols! Did Simon just call Chris a Teletubby?!?!? And SIMON is the guy behind that show?! Well, that wasn't in his book! Chris is a serious performer and I believe that he is probably quickly tiring or being called funny and entertaining.

Jared Cotter- Cute boy. Reminds me in some ways of my brother-in-law (Greg). Oooh, and he broke out some Brian McKnight. Dreamy. My first chills of the evening. Oh Yikes. Until he went off like that. But he's good. Um, Idols? It's cheesy when you say "thank you" into the mic after you sing. It's not a bar. You're on TV now.

Judges said something. I don't remember and it's not in my notes. Ryan keeps his distance from the tall guy.

A.J. Tabaldo- Fifth time's a charm? Do I do? Everyone remember Mario Vasquez singing "All My Love?" Okay, really. Someone couldn't have told A.J. that his collar was up on the polo shirt?? Holy flashbacks to grade school! Nice falsetto. He's cute. Cute dance moves. Good job. I'd like to see him continue. Could no one tell him to pick either up or down on that collar?? I'm totally distracted by it. He's gonna cringe on the replay.

Phil Stacey- I knew he didn't miss his baby's birth on purpose! He clarified that because people read the boards, I tell you. They do. So may I say, "Hey, Chris. You're not Elliott. Just because you're from Virginia and have now sung TWO songs that he has in the same exact freaking style as Elliott no less, that does not make you Elliott. No. No, no, no. Justin Timberlake? No. Elliott? NO!" I'm sorry, we were talking about Phil. Back to Phil. Too much make up. Who put on his rouge? I bet it was the same chick that untucked Brandon and "fixed" A.J.'s collar. Cute wife. Shaky start, better once he got going. Nice job.

My top favorites tonight? Blake Lewis and Chris Sligh. By a mile. Yay! I have favorites! Let the games begin!! Not that I'm voting. No. I'm blogging. But I'm doing my part.

The two boys going home? Someone hand Paul Kim his shoes and joining him will be either Sundance Head or Rudy (Feline? Free Ride? Fee Ride?) Cardenas.

One Down . . .

So class, the word for tonight is "underwhelmed." I'll admit that I was a bit disappointed in the quality of performances tonight, but I can also understand how nervous these guys must have been. It must be tough to be the first ones to perform on Little Big Stage. But I was looking for something more interesting than the pathetic homophobic banter between Ryan and Simon.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: They could have done this in an hour thirty, tops. That would have moved up the first "pitchy" comment by at least a minute fifteen or so. "Sing well." Thank you Simon for your sage advice. There was a lot of "numbering for dummies" tonight. Everyone gave the requisite fingering for their individual phone numbers, although no one was as "creative" as Corey Clark was in Season 2. Remember his math lessons--we learned that 2+2, 1+3, and 3+1 all equal 4. Jared, being number 10, deftly realized that the only humanly possible way to show 10 fingers at once with two hands is to drop the microphone (or place it somewhere, ahem, inappropriate a la Kellie Pickler last year) so he made sure to sing a numerically oriented song and get his fingering out of the way early. The Randy Formula is still the same--say the contestant's name + ask a question = poor opinion. Watch and learn! And why didn't Ryan thank Simon at the end, too? Oh, he was being funny! OK, I missed that the first time through.

Now, on to the performances. As always, since I don't feel like looking things up, I will title the songs in a way that makes sense to me (I get them right sometimes). And to avoid needless repetition, all contestants are assumed to have been "pitchy" tonight unless otherwise noted.

RUDY CARDENAS ("Free Ride"): Upbeat, yes. High energy, yes. Memorable, no. I thought it was a fair performance, but like Simon said, we've seen it all before.

BRANDON ROGERS ("Rock With You"): His performance was totally safe. He seemed a bit uncomfortable as the front man, as well. He can sing, and I know we'll see a lot better things from him in weeks to come. His actual vocals were pretty good, though. I thought he was one of the better ones as far as pitch went tonight.

SUNDANCE HEAD ("Nights in White Satin"): This is one of those songs I only know because of all of those compilation 8-tracks I saw advertised as a kid (Is that Freedom Rock? Then turn it up man!). Since his audition was the one performance the judges have really liked up until now, wouldn't it stand to reason that Sundance would go back to that style. I guess not, since he didn't. I loved his audition but have not seen a reason to keep him around at this point either.

PAUL KIM ("Careless Whisper"): Mr. Kim has a good voice and he has the potential to do really well, but tonight was just "aight" for me. He looked kind of like he ate one too many bananas and now he really has to go but can't. I liked the syncopated section he did in the middle, but the rest was off. He should make a deal with Simon, though: put on shoes if he wears something other than that old black t-shirt he loves. Like that's ever going to happen.

CHRIS RICHARDSON ("I Don't Wanna Be"): First of all, judges, Elliott did the exact same arrangement last year in the finals and was a lot better. Chris did a good job tonight, thought. I think it's pretty obvious he's trying to continue giving the Justin Timberlake vibe. Take a look at Justin's performance at the Grammys this year and you'll see a similar gray suit, tie, tennis shoes outfit.

NICK PEDRO ("I Will Be Your Man"): I like Nick, but I think he's still shaking off that lyric fiasco two years ago. With a little more confidence we'll see much better things from him. Overall I liked it, though.

BLAKE LEWIS ("Somewhere Only We Know" or "Somewhere something something da da dum"): I think I speak for most of the A.I.-viewing public when I say this performance was the one I really wanted to see tonight. Would he beatbox? Can he sing? Can he keep the mohawk going? Blake's performance was probably my favorite tonight. When he started singing I got flashbacks to Jon Peter Lewis (ooh, I just noticed that!) and I agree that his performance came off as very contemporary. I'm looking forward to seeing what else he can do.

SANJAYA MALAKAR ("Some All-Universe Stevie Song No One Should Ever Sing"): I really like Sanjaya, and I know he'll be around for a while since he is this year's young love. Teenie-boppers and grandmas will keep him around longer than his talent dictates. I think he has potential to legitimately do very well if he can start to stand on his own two feet and do the A.I. thing for himself. Tonight was not a strong performance but we all know he can do better.

CHRIS SLIGH ("Typical" or "Now or Never" or ???): Chris did well, but not as well as I had hoped. He's got a good fan base to keep him running for a while, plus he's pretty funny. Who knew Simon and the Teletubbies had such a tight relationship? I think he was the one with the triangle and purse.

JARED COTTER ("Back At One"): This is one of those performances that didn't go really well, but where you can tell the guy can sing. Give him another week and I think we'll be a bit more impressed. I haven't heard anyone pull off a Bryan McKnight song since Rickey Smith, Season 2, and even he had a rough go at it.

A.J. TABALDO ("All My Love"): OK, this guy is thrilled to be on the A.I. stage. After 5 tries the guy could have come to center stage, kissed the floor, and then cried for a minute and a half and I'd still give him at least one more week. He had the most energy of the night and seemed the most excited of any of the guys to be there. He did well overall and deserves one more week.

PHIL STACEY ("I Could Not Ask For More"): It's sort of weird to think a lot of the same things as the judges, but I thought the same thing. Rough start. Hit the chorus--wow! He brought the feeling. His notes went into tune and stayed there. And he had a strong finish. More useless banter. I love you guys. Blah blah blah. Good start. One of the two best tonight.


MY QUICK HITS

RUDY: Bullseye's a bad idea in an elimination-type show.

BRANDON: When you really realize that you are now the star, we'll be amazed!

SUNDANCE: For you the dance is over. Time to ride into the sunset. (Oh, that was awful!)

PAUL: More fiber and a bit more water.

CHRIS R.: Be yourself, not Justin or Elliott.

NICK: You made it this year. Fuhgettabou last year.

BLAKE: OK, you can sing, too!

SANJAYA: Show us that you're more than this year's "Chicken Little."

CHRIS S.: You can do a bit better. I mean, c'mon, you have a My Space page!

JARED: Polish it up and get original and I think I'll really enjoy your style.

A.J.: We need another good "initialed" contestant in the finals.

PHIL: They told you in your auditions you have a weak start, and you did it again tonight. Fix it!


Based on tonight's performances . . .

MY TOP 3: Blake, Phil, Chris S?
MY BOTTOM 3: Sundance, Rudy, Sanjaya
GOING HOME FOR A SHAVE AND A HAIRCUT: Sundance, Rudy

It's way too early to write off the guys, nerves and all, but I have high hopes for the girls tomorrow. I'm actually looking forward to hearing some of these people we know next to nothing about. Five hours a week for a while. It's on!

Top 24! - 12 Guys

Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a fun ride, methinks...

Rudy Cardenas - pre-performance: very handsome and smooth voice and personality. Energetic performance, but the smooth factor goes a little too far for me for most of the song, in that his voice seems to have no edges. Words and notes slide into one another, indistinctly, somewhat similar to his relatively smooth, featureless good looks. The audience loved him much more than Randy. I agree with Simon in that the performance lacked distinction, and think he's hearing the same thing I am. I can see Paula defending him, as I think he has much more appeal to the ladies than the guys, but I don't think his smoothness is enough.

Brandon Rogers - I love this guy's smokey crooning, nice personality, and good looks. His song choice was good in combining his crooning with some rocking. The song started out well, became somewhat predictable and not as good as the original, and ended well. Again, in parts, his voice and performance lacked distinction.

Sundance Head - Affable fellow. Bad song choice. 'Nights in White Satin' is one of my favorite songs, and very hard to sing without being pitchy, which he was. It also requires tremendous control and very precise, rhythmic phrasing, which he didn't do. The judges agreed. The worst so far.

Paul Kim - another nice, husky voice. I don't think the barefoot fetish will take him very far. He also chose a song which requires precise, rhythmic phrasing, and, though he got better at it, he didn't do the song justice. Songs like this require the voice to be partly a rhythm instrument. He was completely off-key in the falsetto part. I don't think his voice is adequately trained for the necessary breadth of this competition. Unless he surprises me, he'll be an early cut. He and Sundance are tied for last for tonight.

Chris Richardson - pre-performance: seems strong. I don't know the song he chose, but I didn't like the song, at least the way he sung it. His stage presence was strong, and he was on key, but there was something off about the way his voice blended with the background music. Simon picked up on that - "your voice sounded small". I've noticed this in earlier years, and I've wondered about who's mixing the sound, and felt that I could have improved on it considerably. Like Rudy, his appeal to the ladies outweighed his talents.

Nick Pedro - another smokey voice with a promising audition, good looks, and strong personality. Nice song choice, but somewhat safe in the crooning genre. Overall, very enjoyable, but again, lacking somewhat in 'edge' and distinction. Simon said it well. But, I expect him back. He's another one that will go some distance on sex appeal.

Blake Lewis - I'm curious to see his hair tonight, and whether he can handle a normal song. He CAN! Very relaxed and connected! He gives me chills, which is not common for most male singers. The hair is suitably toned down. I thought the last third of the song was somewhat weak, compared to how well he started out, but it wasn't so bad that it put me off him. Definitely my favorite so far. Simon agrees with me, again. I'm beginning to put aside my objections to Simon's personality quirks when I recognize his real skills as a judge - at least tonight.

Sanjaya Malakar - His song is unknown to me, but he held my attention on it. It was in the "somewhat safe crooning" category, but his performance was very nice - just not exceptional. If I knew the song better, I might find myself agreeing with Simon. Since it was a Stevie Wonder song, chances are I've heard it, but just didn't recognize it from this performance, which may be why Simon is saying what he's saying. I think Sanjaya will last awhile, again, due to sex appeal and some clear talent and heart, but I think his lack of training will limit his abilities with harder songs. It's uncertain he'll make the top 12. It's almost like he's still representing his sister more than himself. He needs some fire in his belly - the Eye of the Tiger.

Chris Sligh - I don't know the song, and it's not my favorite genre, but the boy's got TALENT! Golden Vocal Chords, and tremendous connection with the song and the audience. Again with the chills! I loved how he responded to Simon, who I think is in error on this one. Frankly, I think Simon resents just how good Chris is, because he doesn't fit in to Simon's image of what an idol should look like. Chris actually owned the song and the stage a little better than Blake, but Blake has unbearable cuteness working for him, so I'll say they're tied for now.

Jared Cotter - Very good looking, and his audition of Cupid rocked in Hollywood. Somewhat safe song choice, and he sings it tolerably well. I do hear occasional pitch problems, and he brought nothing new to the song. Simon's "unadventurous" was accurate. He'll go a ways on talent and sex appeal.

AJ Tabaldo - Solid performance, but a little safe. He connected well with the song and the audience, and I'd place him up there with Chris Sligh and Blake Lewis, but he didn't give me chills. Nonetheless, it was a very engaging performance.

Phil Stacey - His Hollywood audition of 'Really Love a Woman' was outstanding. I'm hopeful. He starts out somewhat muffled and weak, but BRINGS IT! Massive Chills! Definitely the best tonight! Randy agrees completely. Awesome job for a first song! Simon seems to have acquired a mood which tinted his judgments following his tiff with Chris Sligh.

Favorites: Phil Stacey is top dawg. Chris Sligh, Blake Lewis, and AJ Tabaldo, not in any order.

Most cuttable: Paul Kim and Sundance Head, in that order.

Peace...

...John

Top 12 Boys Perform Tonight!

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

Performing Tonight are:

A.J. Tabaldo
Blake Lewis
Brandon Rogers
Chris Richardson
Chris Sligh
Jared Cotter
Nicholas Pedro
Paul Kim
Phil Stacey
Rudy Cardenas
Sanjaya Malakar
Jason "Sundance" Head

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

Week 2B - New York

Nice to have Carol amongst the judges. I love her music. I see Paula took the opportunity to have her sit between Simon and Randy for a change. Heh.

Ian needs a another couple of therapists. I hated him on So You Think You Can Dance...he was even worse here. Fran Drescher on crack, without the redeeming good looks. I'm glad he already has money - maybe that's his problem in the first place - clearly he's never worked for anyone's respect.

Sarah Burgess was good, and I'd like to see her back. Though I don't know how far she can go, she'll be interesting to watch. Definitely a story for the reality part of the show, even if she can't keep up with the talent. I'm betting her dad is a lot madder than he indicated on the phone call afterward.

Missed the next girl's name - that's okay.

Ashanti Johnson - not good enough, but I was less than amused by the soap opera setup they created to accompany her pleading.

Amanda and Antonella - off key together. Amanda - pitchy by herself, and needs more training. I wouldn't have passed her. Seemed to me she was passed on her looks. Antonella on her own was actually slightly better than Antonella. The judges agreed.
Good old 'kick em while they're down' Simon.

Clifton Biddle - not so much. What's the point of playing a harmonica on your second and last chance in a singing audition?!

Kia Thornton surprised me with her deep, powerful voice. Definitely a contender. I also liked Carol's advice. Simon seems to have gotten Bo's email about exceeding 100%, but Randy apparently missed it.

Jason, was it? Very good for his age. He'll be enjoyable to watch.

Kia - much worse on her second try. Should've have stuck to the first one.

Sarah Goldberg - no, thank you. Pretty smile, though. Too bad she's delusional. Simon was suspiciously/conveniently absent for this one. Did he know better from having met her earlier? Ah - no - just late for work.

Antonio - learning to pronounce your 'k's should happen shortly after getting your green card.

Jory - very nice singing, but she didn't move me, yet. Definitely worth a chance.

Porcelana Portino - her style is not to my personal taste, but she's definitely worked hard, and will continue to do so, and it all showed in her performance. I think she may have trouble with different genres, however.

Christopher Henry - range was too high for me or the competition, but definitely talented. Easy Simon prey, and of course he pounced.

Rachel Zevita - a bit loud, but decent talent. Just not quite good enough, for me, though I might have gone along with the crowd in letting her through. I predict an unhappy and probably dramatic end to her time with the show. Simon will have it in for her, but in the end, it won't just be his opinion.

Chris Richardson - refreshing, but I'm not convinced he's got the breadth. Still, definitely worth a shot. As Paula noted, he'll definitely be a hit with the ladies.

Nicholas (bowed out last season) Pedro - wonderful voice, with a unique, sexy edge. If he can learn/remember lyrics this season, he'll go a long way.

Clairvoyant Isadora should have known better (I'm typing this before hearing her, to prove I'm more psychic than she is - her flat affect gives it away). Surprise! I was right! For phone readings, feel free to call me at 1-800-555-1223, or see my page on Kasamba.com.

I'm beginning to understand that they don't have time (in the decent cities) to show all the good ones that get the golden ticket, so it's better to show some of the disasters than hand-pick only from the golden prospects, which would set those contestants up with viewer expectations more so than the occasional golden ticket we get to see as it is.

See you next week!...

...John