Idol Rant 4.15.09

Overall this was a pretty rough week for Idol though no where near as dreadful as Downloads week. They had the judges pair off in sets of two to take turns critiquing the Idols which made no sense to me. If you can't manage to have 7 people perform 1 1/2 minutes of a song during an hour long show then you need to go back to school or just cancel the show. There has to be something else that can be cut to allow more time for the judges comments.

Here are some suggestions:
1. Cut the segment at the beginning of the show where we introduce and make small talk with each of the judges. If people don't know who they are by now then they can study up on the internet. It is a waste of my time.
2. Stop all "chats" with Danny Gokey. He doesn't have anything interesting to say and wastes our time. Why even talk about the guitar if he is not going to play it on the show?
3. Don't allow Kara to speak. She doesn't have anything useful to say anyway so just fire her already.
4. Only let Randy speak if he can do so without using the words "Yo", "Dawg" or "Hot". That should pretty much keep him quiet throughout the night because I don't think it is possible. Just fire him too. If we only need two judges to address the contestants each week then it should be Paula and Simon.
5. Only let Paula speak when she has been given and passed a breathalyzer and drug screen prior to the show. When sober, Paula's comments actually make a little bit of sense.
6. Let Simon chain smoke throughout the show so that he won't be so crabby. Since he is usually the most honest, his opinion is the one most people want to hear anyway.
7. Cut the mentor segments. Quentin is a remarkable director who uses music as an extra character in his films but is it really necessary to let a different celebrity come by each week to promote their newest work under the guise of helping the contestants with their songs? Most of the contestants are so arrogant that they aren't going to take the advice anyway which makes it a pointless waste of time.

The Best

Kris - "Falling Slowly"/Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, Once
Awesome! I honestly did not think that Kris would be as good without an instrument to bolster his confidence. I was wrong. He showcased his fabulous vocal abilities and was truly a stand out. Randy seemed to think that the entire song was "pitchy". Randy is in need of a Q-Tip. It was his second best performance of the season behind "To Make You Feel My Love"

Anoop! - "Everything I Do"/Bryan Adams, Robin Hood
Once again, when I read the spoiler on MJ's Big Blog that Anoop would be singing this song I thought he was done. I was also dejected because I abhor this song and the movie as well. However, once he started singing it was his best performance of the season. He showed control of his vocals and connected to the audience. He has improved greatly over the past few weeks. I know that he does not have a huge following but this performance should have been good enough to keep him around. Anoop!

The Worst

Matt - "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?"/Bryan Adams, Don Juan
This was easily the worst of the night. Bad notes all over the place and he seemed really nervous for some reason. Since I like Matt, I am willing to give him a pass this week in hopes that Lil will go instead but this was a lesson that Matt needs to never forget. Don't ever sing Bryan Adams again. There was no excuse for two of his songs tonight, his schmaltzy stuff sucks and it cursed you with a bad performance.

Lil - "The Rose"/Bette Midler, The Rose
Lil has proved over the past several weeks that she is no Martina, Celine or Tina. Tonight she proved that she doesn't have what it takes to tackle Bette Midler either. It was really not good. She just had to follow up her horrid performance by arguing with the judges. Give it up Lil. The judges are done with you and I am too. Please get gone this week. I am begging you.

The Rest

Allison - "Don't Want To Miss A Thing"/Aerosmith, Armageddon
Allison was a little off this week. It wasn't bad but the song just didn't seem to fit her and didn't really go anywhere. The good news for her is that the judges seem to have finally got the memo that Lil is awful and are finally starting to give Allison the support that she has deserved all along.

Dr. Frank N. Furter - "Born To Be Wild"/Steppenwolf, Easy Rider
Over the top screeching from the start which you all know that I HATED. And what was with the borderline hyperventilation between each verse? The gasping was reminding me of Upchuckuleta. I was just waiting for the lip licking to kick in. He is not a rocker people. He is a drama queen and I am completely over it and the weekly praise that he gets from the judges no matter how good/bad his performance is. Simon did finally call him for his theatrics hence his new nickname on the Rant.

Go Danny Go - "Endless Love"/Lionel Ritchie & Diana Ross, Endless Love
He was ghastly while sitting on the stool but improved when he stood up until he started yelling at us. I am morally opposed to him winning due to the wife pimping and he proved again tonight that the judges should have taken his best friend Jamal over him.

Should Go
Lil

Will Go
Lil (please?!?!?)

DialIdol Predictions
Safe: Only Danny is safe
In Danger of Leaving (in order from top to bottom): Lil, Adam, Anoop, Allison, Matt and Kris (What!?!?!?).

Idol Rant 4.8.09

After the truly awful spectacle that was Downloads week, I was ready to throw in the towel on Idol for good. In spite of this, I was optimistic that the show would be better when the producers started the program without the judges walking out across the stage and my hope did not die in vain. Maybe I will be able to make it through this season after all.

The Best

Allison (4/27/92) - "I Can't Make You Love Me"/Bonnie Raitt
Was this a love song to the fickle fans who will not vote for her for some reason despite her obvious talent? Allison proved why she is the lone hope against the judges picks for the season finale. If everyone out there has used their Q-Tips before the show then they should be voting for her this week and she should definitely be safe this week. If not, then they need to go ahead and crown Adam so they they can put this horrible season out of its misery.

Matt (5/11/85) - "Part Time Lover"/Stevie Wonder
This was the first time that I really liked Matt when he wasn't at the piano. Very solid vocal and, unlike Gokey, he wasn't at all boring. He has the talent and with a little polish he could be ready to realease an album. It seems that the judges are ready to get behind him as well.

The Worst

Scott (6/22/85) - "The Search Is Over"/ Survivor
I actually thought that Scott was much better standing up. Sadly, Scott is just not a good singer. He was flat for the first half of the song and then brutalized the ear drum piercing high notes at the end. He is the new Vote For The Worst pick but, hopefully, they will not be able to stop his exodus from the show.

Kris (6/21/85) - "All She Wants To Do Is Dance"/Don Henley
The arrangement of the song was so strange that it was virtually unidentifiable. I am not sure how he managed to do that with such a well known song. This was also so lackluster that the song felt 15 minutes long. Not good. Luckily for Kris, he as actual talent and should bounce back unless DialIdol has it right (which would be a shame).

Go Danny Go (4/24/80) - "Stand By Me"/Mickey Gilley
Before I critique his performance, I wanted to mention his collection of eyewear. I wasn't aware that contestants were allowed to have endorsement deals while on the show but that is the only reason that I can come up with to explain why he is able to wear a different pair of glasses every time we see him. That gets on my nerves almost as much as Danny himself. He lost points this week for wussing out and picking a song from the 60's. There had to be something that would have fit his raspy vocals from 1980. He, of course, got a tongue bath from the judges anyway but he didn't deserve it. The performance was very boring and I am sure that the judges secretly wish that the producers were not forcing them to say nice things about him. Come on, Simon. Do you really need the money that bad? Call this tool out!

The Rest

Anoop! (12/20/86) - "True Colors"/Cyndi Lauper (no wonder I like 'Noop. He has the same b-day as David Cook.)
When I read the spoiler on MJ's Big Blog that Anoop woud be singing this song I thought that he had already written his ticket home and I began to prepare myself. Once he started singing though, I actually thought this was pretty darn good. He was very solid vocally and his presence on stage was, in fact, strong as well. Hopefully, Scott will get the boot and I will get to enjoy Anoop for at least one more week.

Lil (10/20/84) - "What's Love Got To Do With It"/Tina Turner
I can't believe that I am about to defend Lil Rounds but here goes.... Her performance was not original at all (or that great) but I would like to remind the judges that when Syesha Mercado sang "Proud Mary" last year while wearing a Tina Turner style dress and doing the signature Tina dance they couldn't wait to slob all over her. The Lil Fest is obviously over and they are ready for her to get to steppin' back to Memphis. As an Allison fan that works for me.

Adam (1/29/82) - "Mad World"/Tears For Fears
The first verse and chorus of his performance was really good but someone has apparently told him that screeching is the way to go and he butchered the last half. I love, love, love this song and never want to hear it sung in the key of Mariah again. Ugh!

Should Go
SCOTT

Will Go
SCOTT (please?!?!?)

DialIdol Predictions
Safe: Only Adam is safe
In Danger of Leaving (in order from top to bottom): Danny, Allison, Lil, Matt, Scott, Anoop and Kris.

Idol Rant 4.1.09

Am I the only one out there that thought this week was a complete bust on Idol? The bad far outweighed the good last night on iTunes Download night to the point that I couldn't wait for it to end. The judges found plenty to love, though, so I must be losing my hearing in my old age. Stupid, pimping judges. Over the past few seasons there has been much conversation about the "decline" of Idol even though they were able to produce stars from each season. I don't see much hope for producing a star from this season. Those Adam fans out there (I know deluded people think that he has what it takes to be a star) were probably Blake Lewis fans too and we all know the Blake fans couldn't even be bothered to buy a copy of his debut release and he has already been dropped by his label. I had a Best of Season 7 cd of performance downloads for the contestants last year but there haven't been enough good performances this year to even bother. This may be the season that kills Idol or, at least, makes me stop watching.

I am not using the traditional format this week because at least six of the nine contestants would deserve to go under "The Worst". I am just going to grade the Idols in the order that they performed.

Anoop - "Caught Up"/Usher
Did I actually ask for a more contemporary theme for Anoop? I wish now that I hadn't. Anoop totally let me down. Usher? Really? Anoop, if you want to be an R&B singer then there are much better artists that you could have picked. It is probably not a good idea to pick someone who is known as well or better for their dancing ability than their vocal prowess. I hope this doesn't get him kicked off but he will definitely see the bottom 3. Grade: C

Megan - "Turn Your Lights Down Low"/Bob Marley
Anoop should thank God for Megan and hope that the VFTWorsters are all suffering from broken dialing fingers. She was her usual bad dancing, worse singing self. She will definitely be in the bottom (right?). Grade: F

Go Danny Go - "What Hurts The Most"/Rascal Flatts
What really hurts the most is hearing the judges praise Danny after he bleats and screams his way through the song to the point that there are quite a few words where his mouth is moving but there is just nothing coming out. Now, I know he can't really help it if he is losing his voice but the judges pretended that they didn't even notice. The acoustics in that auditorium must really be something. I am sure that he will be the top contestant again this week in votes since he will not only get the sympathy votes over the wife but now grandpa has passed as well. Grade: C-

Allison - "Don't Speak"/No Doubt
The song started off well and playing the guitar was cool but then she ditched the guitar and it went a little south. I did find it interesting that the judges called her for "shouting" the song but didn't call out their faves Adam, Danny and Lil for the exact same thing. Also, the judges shouldn't pick on Allison for her choice of outfit. It looked awfully similar to what Paula had on. Despite the ending of the song, Allison sang it better live than Gwen Stafani ever has. Grade: B

Scott - "Just The Way You Are"/Billy Joel
This may have been his "best performance so far" but is that really saying anything? This was more of the same old boring junk. Scott seems like a nice guy but I can't wait for him to go. Grade: D

Matt - "You Found Me"/The Fray
I liked this performance. It wasn't his best of the season but I prefer it when he goes a little rock and roll and abandons the falsetto. Performing in the crowd was cool. I didn't get why the judges told him that he needs to decide what type of artist he wants to be (either R&B or Rock) and stick with it. The producers are picking the themes and since that changes every week it would seem to me that he would need the ability to change it up every week as well. Grade: B

Lil - "I Surrender"/Celine Dion
Lil was shouting at us in desperation and wondering how in the world she got into this mess when she started off as a judge favorite. Lil can sing better than I can but I just don't think she has what it takes for this show. She is a one trick pony (Mary J) and whenever she steps out of those confines it is just not very good. By the way, judges, she can't sing Mary J Blige every week or you will crucify her for that and I will have to start watching her performances in mute. Grade: C-

Freakshow - "Play That Funky Music"/White Cherry
Screech was back with Danny Zucko hair. Over the top shrill notes with odd prancing and air thrusts. The judges look primed to get what they want with an Adam win though they may want to be careful what they wish for (see Blake Lewis reference above). Grade: C

Kris - "Ain't No Sunshine"/Bill Withers
This was the best of the night. I liked the updated arrangement. Grade: A-

Should Go:
Megan or Scott

Will Go:
Megan or Scott

DialIdol Results
Safe: Everyone except...
Bottom 3 Danger: (in order from most to least votes): Scott, Matt, Anoop, Allison and Megan. Please let it be Megan.

Buh-Bye Micheal.

Idol Rant 3.26.09

There were lots of great songs during the Motown era but this theme week is always brutal because the contestants just can't live up to the originals. For the most part, this years crop of contestants were no different. I have been sick all week so I was a little crabby during the show and less lenient than usual.

The Best

Allison Iraheta - "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"

Allison finally did what I wanted this week. She has had a great voice all along but did not stand out in the crowd. She changed that this week. There was more soul in her performance and she sang the tar out of that song. Lil who? Allison proved what I knew all along which is that she is the strongest female left in the competition.

Anoop! - "Baby Baby"
Anoop gave the first performance of the evening that I enjoyed and he went fifth. He picked an extremely hard song that showed the control that he has over his voice. He does need to work on the stage performance aspect though. I just wish that they would pick a more contemporary theme so that he could sing "Buy You A Drank", as he does here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_on7EOG8yk) with the UNC Clef Hangers, which is awesome.

The Worst

Michael Sarver - "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
I ain't too proud to beg Michael to just withdraw from the competition and put us all out of our misery since he can't sing. And Michael, for the love of all that is holy, should STOP ARGUING WITH THE JUDGES too because it makes him look like a jerk.

Megan Corkrey - "For Once In My Life"
Crazy dancing. Check. Dress coordinated with tatoos. Check. Awkward stage performance. Check. Awful singing. Check. Yep, it's "Megan Joy". This was just as bad as I expected it to be. Please, VFTW, let her go. Pick someone new. She begged you to keep voting for her though, so I know that you won't.

Scott MacIntyre - "You Can't Hurry Love"
Scott told us that he wanted to take a risk this week. I don't think it gets any riskier than the Supremes and pink pants. Scott also mentioned that he is single right now. Sorry, Scott. I think you are going to stay that way for a while. He just needs to go. His performances are exactly the same each week. He should just sing the exact same song. I strongly disagreed with Randy and Simon. If I was forced to sit through "Reach Out and Touch" this week, I would have had to stab myself in the ears with pencils to end my suffering. Take Michael and Megan and just go.

The Rest

Matt Giraud - "Let's Get It On"
I like Matt a lot better behind the piano. I know that he has got to show the judges that he can be versatile but I just don't think that this was the week to try it. Once he stood up, I thought his singing was off. It wasn't really bad. Just not as good. I was surprised that the judges were really talking him up. Does this mean that they are about ready to throw Adam, Danny or Lil under the bus?

Kris Allen - "How Sweet It Is"
I just didn't get it this week. He was okay but nothing spectacular. What was with the numbers written on the shoulders of his shirt? They were very distracting. He looked like he may have escaped from prison. Simon told Kris that he needed more conceit in order to be a star. Is that why they love Adam so much? He has enough conceit for everyone.

Lil Rounds - "Heatwave"
Lil continued her descent from the pedestal this week. She looked the part (though the hair was a little over the top) but she just wasn't very good vocally. Yelling and singing are two different things, Lil. She is the judge favorite that will get thrown over second behind Alexis if she is not careful.

Adam 'Freakshow' Lambert - "Tracks Of My Tears"
I couldn't decide who he was trying to be. Danny Zucko (Sandy was in the audience)? Corky Collins from Hairspray? Or a combination of Zac Efron and the Jonas Brothers? I think maybe Danny after Sandy made him sell out and get a Corporate job so that he could support and take care of her in the manner that she was accustomed. Regardless it was Weird. This was the least annoying performance from him so far in my opinion. I could live without an entire song sung in the key of Mariah but then Adam doesn't take advice from me.

Go Danny Go - "Get Ready"
He didn't take Smokey's advice after they had just shown him saying that he would. That was a touch disrespectful and he was punished for it when Smokey cursed him with another not so great, borderline bad, performance. Danny also needs to work on his pronunciation. "Get Re-tay"? Really? I was re-tay for it to be over. Simon should have said that it was like bad karaoke. Because it was.

Should Go
Michael, Megan or Scott

Will Go
Michael or Scott

DialIdol Predictions
Safe: Everyone except...
Bottom 3: Scott, Megan and Michael. Can we just send them all home at once?

Idol Rant 3.18.09

Country week is always telling. It separates the good singers from bad and the talented from the mediocre. Grand Ole Opry week did not disappoint. There were truly bad performances and some absolute standouts. I don't know why I find it shocking that the producers, "Idol Artists", judges and half the free world continue to disrespect country music as if it is not a legitimate commercial music format but as something that only "bubbas" that ride tractors listen to. You would think that Idol would have more respect for something that they have made so much money off of thanks to Carrie Underwood. Who am I kidding? Country does just fine without them. Let them stay in the dark.

The Best

Anoop! - "Always On My Mind"
I admit that I was very worried about my boy this week. What in the world would he be able to find to sing that would fit him? Silly me. No need to worry. He has actual talent unlike some of the other hacks on this show. He proved to Simon and the disbelievers that he should still be in the competition. I hope that this is just the beginning of 2 1/2 months of stellar performances. Anoop!

Kris Allen - "To Make You Feel My Love"
Absolutely perfect though I could have lived without the last note. Why does he feel that he has to end each song with a falsetto? It is not needed. Please leave it at home next week. He is proof that of the judges manipulation. He has more talent than any of their favorites but he was unknown before the actual competition started because he was not a recipient of the "pimpin'" treatment. Once all the judges favorites are banished to obscurity by the voters (please), he should get at least as far as Chris Daughtry.

Matt Giraud - "So Small"
I was not aware that Carrie Underwood songs would be a hit with the fellas. Obviously I was wrong as this was the second song of hers that we heard this week. He also busted out the unnecessary falsetto to close his song. It was so good up to that point that I am not going to hold it against him though. He showed Go Danny Go how it is done. I am happy that my boys were the standouts this week. :)

The Worst

Adam 'Freakshow' Lambert - "Ring of Fire"
Where to start? He blatantly states that he will not be singing anything country. After all, he might loose 'cool' points with the 'cool' crowd and we can't have that. I am just being mean. He won't sing country because he is staying true to who he is as an "artist". Gag! Give me a break. This guy is so arrogant. We haven't seen it this bad since Constantine Maroulis. He even gave us the signature Constansuck wink with sneer/pout during the performance. If anyone out there is a fan, I have a challenge for you with the show next week: Keep your eyes closed during Adam's performance. I guarantee that you will not like what you hear. Try it with the "Ring of Fire" performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7Rcealqmng. Just because he looks the part doesn't mean that he is actually talented and just because you can perform vocal gymnastics doesn't mean that you should. There is no way that he would be able to sell millions of copies albums on which he screeches. Radio stations would go out of business if they put him on heavy rotation. His performance tonight was the strangest and most heinous thing to air in Idol history and he has had lots of competition. I would rather sit through Sanjaya every week than have to watch this shrieking poser. I am glad that Simon had the cajones to call him out this week. No one else did. Randy compared him to Nine Inch Nails. Randy, Trent Reznor would wipe the floor with this guy. Now we just need to figure out a way to let the little girls who keep voting for him know that he is really not that into them so that they will give up their phones and voting rights in protest. Mama's, please don't let your babies vote for Adam. I beg you.

The Rest

Michael Sarver - "Ain't Goin' Down Till the Sun Comes Up"
Michael deserved to be in The Worst this week based on his performance but I decided that no one deserves to get lumped in with Freakshow. That is just so not cool. I saw an interview with the Idol contestants where the anchor was asking each of the contestants what special skill or trick they could perform that the general public would not know about. Michael was not able to answer her because he was "saving his voice". For this? Really? Seriously? This is not the best Garth Brooks song. It was horrible when Josh Gracin did it on Idol during Season 2 and it was just as bad tonight. Boring and forgettable. I couldn't wait for it to end. I also couldn't wait for him to stop arguing with the judges. Dude, just go away quietly.

Allison Iraheta - "Blame it on Your Heart"
I understand why she picked this song. I just wish that she had chosen something else. She is still the best female singer left in the competition.

Lil Rounds - "Independence Day"
I was SHOCKED that she didn't sing "I Will Always Love You" and I give her credit for that. However, the verses had no melody whatsoever and she walked the line between singing and screaming during the chorus. Lil looked very vulnerable this week. There have been other contestants before her who were not fans of country that managed to show that they can sing anything (Fantasia). She shouldn't have let this sideline her. This was proof that perhaps the judges were too quick to crown her. It is a good thing for her that Michael and Megan are still in the competition.

Scott MacIntyre - "Wild Angels"
Why Martina McBride? This was rough. His falsetto is just. not. good. They did tame the Art Garfunkel hair a little this week. It is too bad that Scott can't sing as well as he plays the piano.

Alexis Grace - "Jolene"
I expected much more from a girl out of Memphis who seemed familiar with country music. It was all over the place and for the most part not very good at all. Simon is obviously not familiar with country music at all if he thinks that she sounded like a copycat of Dolly. Simon. Dolly was just on your show last year. I wouldn't think that she would be easy to forget. Alexis is not fit to shine Dolly's shoes.

Go Danny Go - "Jesus Take The Wheel"
Carrie Underwood is going to be on the show Wednesday night. She should walk across the stage after her performance and smack Danny so hard that his super matchy glasses break. This was bad and he botched the words though he didn't get called on it. Lucky for him the judges don't even listen to the music of former winners. He should get with Lil and thank God that Michael and Megan are still around. The verses were BAD and he shouted his way through the chorus. Despite what Kara thinks, in order to be an "artist" you have to be able to sing more than the chorus. If I had to sit through 1 1/2 minutes of Danny yelling the chorus each week along with the sounds that come from Freakshow, I would literally be deaf by the end of the season. Sometimes Kara shouldn't speak,

Megan Corkrey - "Walkin' After Midnight"
I know she was sick with the flu but you all know that she would have been just as bad regardless. I was eternally grateful when it ended.

Should Go
Adam Lambert

Will Go
Michael Sarver or Scott McIntyre

DialIdol Predictions
Safe: All the guys and Lil
Bottom 3: Megan, Allison and Alexis (Will the judges have to use their save this week, will they just let her go or will they do what is right and kick off one of the boys? I just don't think that they are going to let Alexis or Megan go. I am not sure that they support Allison as much as they should so she could be the sacrificial lamb.)

Idol Rant 3.11.09

They used an awkward new opening for the show this week where the judges all pranced across the stage to their chairs. They should call a halt to this immediately. We see enough of the judges without seeing them walk the runway. I also found it interesting that the advice Simon gave to the contestants at the beginning of the show was to not forget the lyrics. Really? It didn't hurt Joanna Pacitti since they put her through during Hollywood week even though she totally botched the words to her song (until they were busted for it and she was sent off into oblivion). For the first week of real competition the producers chose the catalog of Michael Jackson. The judges should be careful about preaching to the contestants about their relevance to today's music scene when they are forcing them to sing songs from someone who hasn't been relevant for 15-20 years. That being said...

The Best

Allison Iraheta - "Give In To Me"
She is the best singer so far this season. Yes, she is better than Lil Rounds who the judges continue to push down our throats. She is so much better than Carly Smithson was last season. This girl is a true rocker chick and she is only 16 years old! I love the gritty quality of her voice. She is so confident when she is on stage (as she should be based on that voice) that I am looking forward to what she can do with future themes.

Kris Allen - "Remember The Time"
With the guitar he has a cooler vibe and seems more in his element. There was a slightly uncomfortable part towards the end when it looked like he wanted to wave his hands in the air to get the crowd involved (with a few bad notes as well) but he pushed through. It is obvious that Paula has decided that he should be her boyfriend. Simon was secretly trying to hook Paula up by mentioning that Kris should not mention the wife. Out of sight, out of mind. Right, Paula?

The Worst

Jasmine Murray - "I'll Be There"
Please don't. Just go away quietly with no more singing. I beg you, Jasmine. It was like watching the talent competition from the Miss Teen USA pageant. Even they would eliminate her from the competition after a performance like this. Just because she is attractive doesn't mean that she can sing (Ricky Braddy deserved her spot). She should go be an actress with Tatianna and never sing again. Ever.

Adam 'Screech' Lambert - "Black & White"
Before this performance I was all set to call him Jazz Hands. That is no longer fitting. His screeching gave me an instantaneous headache. Every performance is annoying and over the top no matter what he is singing. In the beginning of the competition I thought that he was trying to imitate Mick Jagger which is why he was sashaying across the stage while trying to break glass with his super high notes (don't forget the Billy Idol sneer followed by dancing the Axl Rose). Now I know that is just the way he always performs/sings. Ugh. Leave it up to the master manipulators to give him so much praise that he needed a shower from the tongue bath. I obviously watched a different show or my ears are no longer working because I just didn't see and hear what the judges did. Also, Paula mentioned being "mind boggled" by his performance. No, Paula. That's the meds doing that (and to think I thought you might be able to be somewhat coherent this season in an attempt to save your job).

Jorge Nunez - "Never Can Say Goodbye"
Not a great song to start with and poor Jorge did a really bad job with it. If he sticks around then he should try to do a better job of picking his songs. Like Scott, he needs a major makeover (wax those eyebrows please!).

The Rest

Lil Rounds - "The Way You Make Me Feel"
She sings better than this performance. It was over the top and not all that great. She was also wearing a dead animal on her left shoulder. Despite it all, she was predictably praised by the judges and according to them on her way to the finals with Adam and Danny.

Scott MacIntyre - "Keep The Faith"
Scott seems like a really nice guy and I know that he is facing obstacles that the other contestants aren't. That being said... he has a tendency of dropping notes midway through. He gets away with it because of his disability but they would call others on it. He is a better piano player than singer. I found it interesting that Simon told him that you can't be artistic on the show. Well Simon, David Cook took some artistic liberties last season and I think they paid off for him (not that Scott is in David's league). Scott also needs a complete makeover prior to the show next week. Art Garfunkel hair has got to go.

Danny frickin' Gokey - "P.Y.T."
This was the song that I was hoping Anoop! would be able to sing. Of course, Danny ganked it from him. The beginning was absolutely heinous. He shouted the rest at us while dancing badly. I was not impressed but the judges did not get my memo.

Michael Sarver - "You Are Not Alone"
Poor Michael is just not very at ease on stage and it shows. He was not the worst but being a nice guy is only going to get him so far in the competition. Though, maybe I have it wrong. Randy seems to think he is one of the best.

Anoop! - "Beat It"
When they announced what he was going to sing, my first thought was that is was either going to be awesome or a complete disaster. In actuality, it was neither. It was a little karaoke but I enjoyed it. It wasn't painful but based on the judges comments they have never heard anything worse. I can't figure out why they are trying to get him booted already though I did do my part to try to keep him on the show. :) Anoop!

Megan Corkrey - "Rockin' Robin"
This was very odd. She is not a horrible singer but the dancing is just not acceptable and she can't seem to help herself. She then decided to end her performance by making bird sounds and I thought Howard Dean had rushed the stage. That made it even worse. Ricky Braddy or Junot Joyner should have had her spot. She has not proved deserving. Rant Extra: Translation of comments that Gordon Ramsey made from the audience concerning her performance: "That was bleepin' bad, Donkey! What were you thinking! I should put you in the bin! Get out! Bllllllleeeeepppppp!"

Matt Giraud - "Human Nature"
The piano is back! He was really good tonight until he busted out the falsetto. I am really not a big fan of that. I have, however, been a fan of Matt since the beginning and am very glad that he redeemed himself from the Coldplay incident. I did not need to hear additional pimping of Adam during the judges critique of Matt though. Good grief!

Alexis Grace - "Dirty Diana"
Huh? She took the judges to heart when they told her to dirty up her image. I don't think her outfit could have gotten any more skimpy and Keri mentioned that she looks a lot like Joan Rivers from the side profile (and she's right!). I didn't enjoy her performance at all but I did think that the judges were unfair to her for saying that she messed up by going over the top when two performances before that they told golden boy Adam that in order to do Michael Jackson right you had to be over the top. Which is it? Or are there different rules for Adam, Danny and Lil than everyone else?

Should Go
Jasmine, Jorge or Michael

Will Go
Jasmine

DialIdol Predictions
Safe: Danny, Screech, Lil, Alexis and Anoop!
Bottom 3: Jasmine (yes!), Allison (What!) and Jorge