life after idol

The LA Times has this piece about season 7 contestant Carly Smithson's difficulty finding her recording niche post-Idol.

Carly moved to Hollywood and signed with an entertainment manager. She's now recording a demo disc.

An excerpt from the article:

Drawing on her contacts from the first time around, Smithson signed with Arthur Spivak, a veteran entertainment manager whose clients past and present include Tori Amos and Three Days Grace. Spivak advised Smithson that, rather than seeking an immediate record deal, she should work with a co-writer/producer and record a handful of songs that would create an artistic identity.

"American Idol," for all the fame it bestows, can be a marketing handicap. A surprising number of former contestants face the question, "What kind of artist are you?" This is certainly the case for Smithson, whose powerful vocal skills broke through the clutter in Season 7 but whose pop/rocker style was difficult to express around the songs of Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton and Broadway musicals.

Sure, the dilemma is obvious, but it'll at least serve as an additional word of caution for the next group of hopefuls.

about those changes...

Paula's not leaving, but AI will shake things up a bit for its eighth season. Here's a recap of what's happening:

*No "Idol Gives Back" special. A result of tough economic times, producers say.

*A different format for the semifinal rounds. Instead of 24 semifinalists, there will be 36. They will perform in groups of 12, with viewers voting 3 contestants into the final group each night. Then there will be a wild card round when the judges pick the last 3 finalists.

*We're also promised more footage from Hollywood week -- which this year becomes Hollywood two weeks.

*Oh, and don't forget about the fourth judge, Kara DioGuardi. AI's eighth season premieres Jan. 13. Get a schedule for the first part of the season here.

while you were sleeping

Finally...I've stopped shaking at the mere mention of all things David and I'm ready to blog another season of Idol.

Welcome back, everyone!

This blog has been updated sparsely since last season's finale, partially because of the months I spent in cover-tune rehab.

And also because, well, you can only write so much about an unhealthy David Archuleta addiction without being investigated by federal authorities.

Fortunately, that's all water under the bridge now and I'm back for more.

Season 8 premieres Jan. 13, but let's step back in time for a quick rundown of the AI-related news you probably didn't miss in recent months:

*Some former Idols basked in financial prosperity. Others did not.

*Despite a breakup in his personal life, Simon Cowell remains more famous than God.

*There were two AI-related tragedies: The murders of Jennifer Hudson's family, and the alleged stalker, Paula Goodspeed, who was found dead in a car outside Paula Abdul's home.

*Regarding the latter, Abdul later pointed to a conspiracy theory while discussing why Goodspeed was allowed to audition for AI. But her claims of wanting to leave AI seem more like a publicity stunt, many agree.

*At any rate, AI will add a fourth judge in Season 8. The three original judges stay the same.

*Jordin Sparks is still happy to be a virgin.

*And last, but most certainly not least, Clay Aiken has a son.

Got it? OK, now take a deep breath. It's time to move forward.

a fourth judge!

A fourth judge will join the "American Idol" panel, host Ryan Seacrest announced on his radio show today.

The addition? Kara DioGuardi -- a singer, songwriter, producer and artist who's written songs for artists like Christian Aguilera, Celine Dion and Carrie Underwood. See her official Web site here.

And listen to Ryan's announcement here.

What do you guys think about this? How do you think it will change the show's overall dynamic? Will the presence of another woman make Paula even nuttier than usual?

Follow this blog throughout the day for updates on this major "Idol" change.

that time again

Hey everyone...don't forget that WXTX Fox 54 is hosting a local "American Idol" competition Saturday in Auburn that will give one local winner a trip East Rutherford, N.J., for a guaranteed audition. The action starts at 10 a.m. CST. Get the full details here.

In honor of the audition mania, I'm posting some of my favorite audition moments this week -- beginning with these moments from the most recent season:

Here's winner David Cook's first attempt to woo Paula, Randy and Simon:



And here's what you've been missing for the past couple months...a reminder of the magic that was "Brothers Forever."

love & idol

*Here's a very brief recap of Ruben's wedding, which took place Saturday in a church in a suburb outside Birmingham. He met her in 2006, during a fan meet-and-greet in a Wal-Mart.

*Season 7's Kristy Lee cook has signed with Arista Nashville, the same label that dropped her when she was a teenager. Her first single, "15 Minutes of Shame," comes out August 11. Read more here.

*Finally, is anyone actually surprised that David Archuleta has never kissed a girl? Um, yeah, that's what I thought. Full story here.

we'll always have paris

Season 5 finalist Paris Bennett is preggers...and engaged. Read more here.

Paris is 19 now, in case you were wondering. I think my favorite part of the aforementioned article is this quote from Paris' grandmother:

"I'm proud of how she did it. I was 16 when I got pregnant," said Jamecia.

I never really liked Paris that much while she was competing. A bit too robotic. But, um, I still pass on my congratulations.

Have a good weekend!

no atlanta auditions this year

Local singers looking for "American Idol" fame will have to travel outside their comfort zones this year. Literally.

Audition cities for the eighth season of the reality TV show have been announced, and while producers traveled to Atlanta last year, it's not included this time. Still want to try out? Here are your options:

Thursday, July 17 San Francisco, Calif. The Cow Palace

Monday, July 21 Louisville, Ky. Freedom Hall

Friday, July 25 Phoenix, Ariz. Jobing.com Arena

Tuesday, July 29 Salt Lake City, Utah EnergySolutions Arena

Saturday, August 2 San Juan, Puerto Rico Coliseo de Puerto Rico

Friday, August 8 Kansas City, Mo. Sprint Center

Wednesday, August 13 Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Tuesday, August 19 East Rutherford, N.J. IZOD Center at the Meadowlands

Read more here.

back in the saddle

Can you blame me for taking a month off post-"Idol" finale? Don't answer that. Anyway, this blog is back in action now. And boy, what a difference a month makes. Here's a rundown of what's transpired in "Idol" land since I last blogged:

*Clay Aiken is going to be a dad. (Artificially.)

*Ruben Studdard is getting married. (Not to a Big Mac.)

*Blake Lewis got dropped from his record label.

*Former contestant Vonzell Solomon got caught with a gun in the airport. And her house is being sold in foreclosure.

*Syesha modeled bikinis.

*Everybody and their mother from last season is working on an album.

*The tour is coming up!

Wow. Looks like I didn't miss that much after all. Stay tuned.

rock on!

New posts will resume post-Memorial Day. Use this space to weigh in with all your thoughts on the Season 7 champion, David Cook.

idol detox

Recovered yet? Me neither. But in case you're in need of an AI fix, here are some links to keep you busy:

*Tuesday's episode outperformed last year's final performance episode in ratings, this article notes. It also represented the best AI scores since March.

*Some 97.5 million people voted in the AI finale. How many votes were cast in all 2008 Democratic presidential primaries? 35, 216,531. (Via USA Today's political blog.)

*Entertainment Weekly has this backstage interview with David Cook and this one with David Archuleta.

*The Davids had a teleprompter reminding them of their lyrics on Tuesday's performance episode. Think this makes the show more similar to karaoke? Get the full story here.

*Does a Cook victory prove that the judges don't know what they're talking about? This piece takes on that question.

*Finally, on a sadder note, Top 24 contestant Luke Menard has been diagnosed with cancer. Details here.

idol ends, cook's future begins

I have to give some credit to AI voters. Clearly, people are ready for a change of tide, and the show got its first rock Idol with David Cook's victory tonight.

He ends the night performing this year's coronation tune, "Time of My Life," tears and all, and sounds pretty good.

Despite the excessive praise Archuleta received from judges Tuesday night, I think if anything, the night proved Archie's lack of versatility as a recording artist. Cook represented something new, not only musically, but also with a personality "edge" that's not as traditionally saccharine as the AI brand.

I can still see Archie recording a song or two for adult contemporary radio, though.

Sure, this season had its down points, but in the end I think the finale proved we got a pretty strong depth of talent. I'd rank this one above Season 6, definitely.

It's been interesting, definitely, and I'd like to thank all you guys not only for checking in regularly, but also for the excellent comments. Even when they involve repeated use of "hit that" or criticism of my predictions. You've made me look forward to nights of glorified karaoke.

And, of course, I'd like to extend a special thanks to my weekly hosts, Dawn and Jeff, who watch this cheesy show just to help me out.

I still plan on updating this blog semi-regularly, at least in August when I plan to attend the Idols Live tour.

Thanks again for reading...keep the comments coming.

david cook wins!

Results time!

Simon says last night he was verging on disrespectful with David Cook. Apology!

OK, and the Season 7 Idol is...

David Cook!!

george michael performs

Another "Guitar Hero" commercial, this time featuring Archuleta in the "Risky Business"-inspired "Old Time Rock and Roll" bit. Um, it's a little more uncomfortable than watching Cook in the same bit. Think kiddie porn.

Now the Top 12 take the stage again for a George Michael medley. Again, probably not the best idea for Hernandez to sing "Father Figure." And here's George Michael! Paula is sooo excited right now. I can't recognize the song -- it's a slow one -- and I really wish he would have opted for "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go."

And Paula's crying.

Note: I don't think this classifies him as the biggest star in the world.

"dead" gladys knight

Whoa! A "dead Elvis" performance, only this time featuring Gladys Knight. Note: She's still alive. She's backed up by the "Pips" -- Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. Translation: comedy bit. They sing "Midnight Train to Georgia." And, um, ew. Jack Black's pants came off.

On a less creepy note, here's Carrie Underwood. She performs "Last Name" very well. I love her. So hot.

one republic, jordin sparks

Time for a performance by One Republic. They sing "Apologize," sans Timbaland. But instead of Timbaland...we get Archuleta!! Yes! He actually sounds really great on this one. Ballad obsession aside, he deserves to win tonight.

Back to hometown visits...Matt Rodgers is here to update us on the fun in Utah. Some of Archie's family no hablan espanol.

And Jordin Sparks is back to sing "One Step at a Time." Her outfit -- a gold babydoll dress -- is less than flattering. Not quite at Fantasia's level, but pretty awful. You get the idea.

brothers forever?

Yes! The Jonas Brothers take the stage. Archuleta must be sooo jealous right now. I love these guys, by the way. I'll pretend I'm 16.

Inevitable bad-auditioner recap. I actually remember most of these people. And as predicted, Renaldo Lapuz appears on the AI stage to sing "Brothers Forever." Joined by the USC cheerleaders and marching band. Plus Paula and Randy. Simon is having nothing to do with this.

Fortunately, he's cut off by the commercial break.

zz top and more!

Here's Jordin Sparks, who explains about living the Idol dream. Which also somehow involves Disney.

On a more exciting note, David Cook is performing with ZZ Top! A pretty awesome performance, but not necessarily supporting the case for Cook removing his facial hair. Blake Lewis is in the audience, too, by the way.

Cue the hometown visit shots. Mikalah Gordon gives an update from David Cook's hometown.

Brooke takes the stage with Graham Nash to do a guitar duet on "Teach Your Children." Fortunately, she doesn't forget the lyrics.

One hour to go!

Did anyone else see that "Guitar Hero" commercial? Was that David Cook on it? Consensus is divided.

bryan adams, jimmy kimmel

Carly and Michael Johns take the stage together to sing "The Letter." Predictably, they sound pretty good together. Probably my 2 favorite contestants of the season. Love them.

Back to comedy. Jimmy Kimmel's here to give a review of the season. His "19 weeks of karaoke" joke doesn't get a lot of laughs. But there is a crack about Paula's mishap on Neil Diamond week. Funny bit compiling Simon's criticisms.

Time for the Top 6 men to perform. They kick things off with "The Summer of '69." Probably not the best tune for Hernandez to sing, if you know what I mean. Looks like a Brian Adams medley. Archie and Cook take on "Heaven" together. Um, can you say bromance?

Oh! Bryan Adams joins the crew. Man party! Bo Bice is in the audience, probably wishing he was on stage. Maybe.

cars and fast women

Castro takes the stage for a reprise of "Hallelujah." He might not be thrilled by Ryan's disclaimer that interviewing him was like "pulling teeth," but he still turns out a strong performance. Not a duet like Syesha's, though.

Break for a Ford commercial. They crew sings "Let the Good Times Roll." It's mainly good because it's the last of this season.

Wow! The Davids get cars! Can Archuleta even drive? (Just kidding, I know he's 17.)

Back to the music. The 6 girls from the Top 12 perform a medley of Donna Summer songs. They're all wearing red. Vixens. And surprise! The real Donna Summer joins them! One of my viewing partners just mistook her for a tranny.

And Syesha gets another moment of glory, singing some one-on-one on "Last Dance" with Donna.

And speaking of red...Fantasia's in the audience, still sporting that horrendous hair. SOMEBODY didn't learn her lesson.

mike myers, seal appear

Straight back to performances. The Davids take the stage together to sing Chad Kroeger's "Hero." A little awkward, and very much out of Archie's comfort zone. It could be worse, though. Say, if they did the Mariah Carey tune of the same name.

Uh-oh. Cut to comedy segments. We get clips of Mike Myers in his Guru Pitka character. Oh, and now in a true time killer, the kids get to meet the guru. He tells Cook to fix his facial hair, and he explains puberty to Archie.

Bit continues with Guru Pitka hitting the AI stage. Waaay better than Robin Williams, though.

Back to the music, fortunately. Syesha takes the stage to perform "Waiting for You" joined by Seal. Hmm. I don't think Syesha like's sharing the stage, but this performance isn't that bad.

Sigh. One hour, 40 minutes to go.

let the finale begin

Here we go! (For the last time this season. Aww.)

Some 97 million votes cast last night, Seacrest says. The final tally? Fifty-six percent to 44 percent. Close!

We quickly get to the hometown shots, hosted by former AI contestents Mikalah Gordon and Matt Rodgers. Obviously, lots of screaming teens.

Then, it's group performance time. The final 12 take on "Get Ready" with some backup from the "So You Think You Can Dance" kids. Luckily, Brooke doesn't have to worry about too much choreography.

Stay tuned.

the suspense builds

Tonight's two-hour finale starts at 8 p.m. on Fox. I'll blog live as usual.

Keep those predictions coming!

On that front, DialIdol -- the site that monitors busy signals -- has predicted a Cook victory. Read more here. Bear in mind, though, that the prediction doesn't consider text message votes, believed to be popular among Archuleta's fan base.

Something else interesting...neither of the songwriting contest tunes the guys sang last night is the actual coronation tune. That song is called -- get ready to vomit -- "Time of My Life" and you can get details on it here.

And finally...wake me up before you go-go. George Michael is rumored to be performing tonight. Full story courtesy of E! Online.

who's gonna win?

Well, Season 7's final performance round did little to help undecided voters. Cook offered his characteristic grunge tunes, while Archie stayed on the sappy ballad route.

Then again, with opposites that polar, could any viewer really be on the fence?

At the end of the night, judges agreed Archie came out on top. After "Don't Let the Sun Shine Down on Me" and possible coronation song "In This Moment," he ended the night with a repeat performance of "Imagine" -- which the judges ate up.

I can't criticize his vocals, and if anything the night proved his suitability as an adult contemporary recording artist. But is that route best for the AI brand?

Cook, meanwhile, went his standard grunge route on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and did his best to rockify cheesy potential coronation tune "Dream Big." He ended the night with tune he hadn't yet performed this season, "The World I Know."

The decision to add something new to the mix took some heat from judge Simon Cowell, yet might reinforce Cook's role as risk-taker.

What do you think? Who's going to win this thing?

imagine archie a winner?

It's still contestant's choice, and David Archuleta has the last performance of the night.

Song: "Imagine"

Me: No surprises here. Archie opts for one of his more memorable tunes, which he performed during Top 24 round. Probably relied on some (physical violence-induced) advice from Dad. He does the song flawlessly, though, but at this point in the night we're clearly not getting any surprises from him. It's evidence of what we've seen all season. Sappy, heavy on inspiration, and primed for judges' praise.

Randy: "You are so good tonight. You are exactly what this show is about...The best singer of Season 7 is right there."

Paula: "You were stunning tonight."

Simon: "You came out here tonight to win and what we have witnessed is a knockout."

cook: rocking our worlds?

Final round: contestant's choice. Here's David Cook.

Song: "The World I Know"

Me: He contemplated singing this tune last week, sources report. Glad he ends the night with a slow song accompanied by the guitar. And bonus points for choosing a song new to the lineup. It's a quiet, more subdued, performance. A nice way to end the night, but some fans on the fence make take issue with the fact he didn't opt for his characteristic move of inserting originality into a cover song.

Randy: "That was a very nice sensitive side of David Cook."

Paula: "I look at you up there on the stage and you're standing in your truth."

Simon: "You are one of the nicest, most sincere contestants we've had...It was completely the wrong song choice for you."

archie stuck in a moment

Next up in coronation song round? David Archuleta.

Song: "In This Moment"

Me: Blech again. Obviously, Archie goes for a ballad even sappier than Cook's. It's basically a cheap knockoff of "A Moment Like This." Even worse, if you can imagine that. He turns on the typical inspirational song charm, and performs a forgettable song decently. Nothing that screams "Idol" champion in my mind, but again, his fans will love it.

Randy: "You can sing the phone book and it would be good."

Paula: "It's like you're on fire tonight."

Simon: "You definitely, definitely chose the better song there...Round two goes to David Archuleta."

was cook's 'dream' a nightmare?

Time for coronation songs from the songwriting contest. In a strange move, they'll each be doing different tunes.

First, it's David Cook.

Song: "Dream Big"

Me: Blech. Three seconds into the song and we already have a reference to changing the world. That aside, the tune is less sappy than tunes of years past, but it still seems better suited for, say, Hilary Duff. Cook does his best, though, and turns out something tolerable. It's a bit repetitive, but Cook does his best. He's not in his element, though, and I don't blame him.

Randy: "You were singing your face off."

Paula: Incoherent praise

Simon: "It was a bit of a lightweight, I thought...It didn't feel like a winning moment for me."

archie shines

Next up in Clive Davis round? David Archuleta.

Song: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

Me: A odd song choice, especially given Clay's success with this song in Season 2. It's a tune perfect for Archie, though, and he nails it. It's a performance that's hard not to dislike, once you get past the fact that it's nothing different from the ballads he's performed all season. Adult contemporary charts, here we come.

Randy: "This is one of the best performances of this season...That was flawless and unbelievably molten hot."

Paula: "The sun is never going to go down on you."

Simon: "I thought tonight's performance was obviously the best you've done so far."

cook finds the prize?

OK, down to business. Time for Clive Davis' song choices. Boxing metaphor continues, thankfully.

First up, David Cook.

Song: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

Me: Predictably, Cook is in his element for this one. He slows the opening verses down a bit, then inserts his characteristic grunge edge later on. Vocals are solid, maybe one of my favorites from him this season. Nice balance overall, his fans should be happy.

Randy: "It was hot, baby." (Randy is also apparently unaware of what year it is. He calls it 2007.)

Paula: "You may have not found what you're looking for, but we have found it."

Simon: "I thought it was phenomenal."

here we go!

Wow, cheesy boxing sketch in the show's opening. I kind of wish they really beat each other up. Like, not just vocally.

And how cool is the fact that Luke Perry's in the audience?

Archie won the coin toss contest and has decided to go second.

Cut to first commercial break of the night.

david-on-david action

Tonight's performance round starts at 8 p.m. on Fox. I'll blog "live" as usual.

The Davids will sing three songs each: one of their own choosing, one chosen by music mogul Clive Davis and one from the songwriting contest's batch of (probably cheesy) coronation tunes.

MJ has extensive info on Wednesday's finale, including the fact that it will feature another "Dead Elvis" performance, and this season's top 12 will perform a special group performance with Paula Abdul.

Another tidbit generating lots of speculation -- Nigel has promised that the finale will feature the "biggest star" in the world.

Predictions?

Oh, and for all you inquiring minds -- Jeff -- Danny Noriega will NOT be at the finale. He wasn't invited, TMZ notes. Ouch.

But back to the subject of predictions...which bad auditioners, if any, do you think will make an appearance at the finale? I think the "Brothers Forever" guy is pretty much a guarantee. Refresh your memory of him here.

Anyone else?

david...or david?

I can't believe Tuesday marks the beginning of the end for AI's seventh season. It's been an interesting one. Later this week (probably post-finale) I'll give my thoughts on some of its favorable and less favorable aspects.

Click here for my Sunday piece comparing the two Davids.

Some other AI news:

*Oddsmakers now say Cook will win AI. Details are here.

*Carrie Underwood is the most popular AI winner so far, while Jason Castro was Season 7's most overrated singer, according to results from this AOL Television poll.

*Jennifer Hudson is slated to release her debut album in September. Read more here.

*Season 7 was most popular among viewers ages 35-49, these Nielsen findings say, which throws a weird curve to Archuleta's popularity. Also included in the stats? The final hour of the Clay/Ruben finale remains the most-watched AI episode ever.

idle links

I trust you'll be spending the next couple days gearing up for Tuesday's big finale. Be sure to check out my article in Sunday's paper profiling the two Davids.

In the meantime, here are some other links to keep you busy:

*Taylor Hicks will join the cast of "Grease" on Broadway, playing "Teen Angel." Get the full story here.

*USA Today's Idol Chatter reports that the AI results show is slated to be just 30 minutes next season.

*Are male winners the weaker sex on AI? Get the answer from MTV.

*Syesha: Gone but not forgotten? I'll let you be the judge. Check out her exit interview with Entertainment Weekly here. (Note: In it, she says she expected a David Cook/Syesha Mercado finale.)

*Don't forget that tickets for Idols Live go on sale Saturday. Here's the concert's Web site.

*And finally, remember that awesome mustache on the mayor of Archuleta's hometown? It inspired this article.

least suprising elimination. ever.

Perhaps every fan's predictions were confirmed tonight when Syesha Mercado was sent home from "American Idol." While Syesha improved significantly throughout the season, it became clear early in Tuesday's performance night that she couldn't hold her own against the power of the two Davids.

A big part of that was due to forces beyond her control. Two of her three songs -- chosen by Randy Jackson and AI producers -- only resigned her to the belter mode fans have resisted since the show's early stages.

And Syesha's independently chosen tune, "Fever," didn't help her much, either. It simply confirmed predictions she's a bitter fit for Broadway than the pop music-driven recording industry.

That said, you have to give Syesha credit for beating the odds, many of which had her slated to go home as early as the Top 24 stage. Her longevity wasn't entirely unwarranted, either. After a previous stint on another reality TV show, she clearly knows how to play the game -- earning momentum and showing more charisma in the show's most critical moments.

I can't see her thriving in the recording industry, but a Broadway career seems feasible.

What do you think? Who are you gunning for in the finale?

syesha eliminated!

Results time! Let's cut to the chase, Seacrest. Paula and Randy mumble about success, and even Simon admits he likes the final 3.

If he gets the top 2 he's hoping for, we're in for a real humdinger, Simon says.

OK, real results.

Archuleta's safe! (Another shot of Dad...talk about damage control.)

Cook's safe!

Syesha's outta here.

cook helps us stall

Note: Does anyone else really like the clothes featured on tonight's Old Navy commercials? I think that stuff is hot.

Anyway, back to the show. It's David Cook's turn to recap his home visit. He also informs us it wasn't his idea to audition. He originally went to Omaha to be moral support for his little bro, who was auditioning.

Wow. Somebody must have some major jealousy issues right now.

Predictably, Cook's trip home is also characterized by lots of screaming girls. There's also a cute moment with him surprising his elementary school music teacher. Aww. No mention of the cancer-stricken brother, though.

Cook also ends up shedding some tears.

Ryan also erroneously says Cook's first tune last night, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," was originally by Chaka Khan.

Cook gets his celebratory footage against a soundtrack of Daughtry, something a little more reassuring of his future than, say, a tune by Fantasia.

Ryan corrects himself for the mishap, and I'm happy I caught it.

syesha shines, without results

As predicted, we're not getting results with this hometown visit footage. Sigh.

Next up? Syesha, who seems to attract fewer screaming fans than Archie. At least fewer screaming teenage screaming girl fans. Not too much else to report, except a brief visit with Syesha's parents.. She also oddly takes a helicopter ride.

Her mayor doesn't have a cool mustache, but she does do a handstand. Not exactly something I wanted to see.

Ryan gives us the illusion of results, but I'm not buying it.

Cue the montage celebrating her journey. Against a backdrop of Fantasia music. Given the performance we saw earlier, it's probably not the best soundtrack for the moment.

And commercial time.

archie gets teased, no results

Ryan reminds us tickets go on sale Saturday for the Idols tour. Remember, it hits Atlanta Aug. 18.

Time to start the drama, in Ryan's words. Gee, I wonder how this is going to turn out.

First up: David Archuleta. Before the inevitable declaration that he's safe, we get footage of his hometown visit. Featuring lots of screaming girls, of course. I like how he uses the word "stoked." What do you think went through his mind when he was swarmed by those high school cheerleaders?

Wow, Archuleta is giving me nervous laughter overload. But his tears did make me a little emotional, though. Even if they were induced by a beating from Dad, rather than the generosity of his fans.

Oh, and speaking of Jeff, we get a brief shot of him in this montage. That's nice.

Whoa! What's up with the Murray mayor's mustache? My favorite facial hair of the season!

Another shot of David's dad in the audience tonight.

Still stalling results...we get some footage celebrating his journey.

And a commercial break.

fantasia bores me

Ford commercial. This time the kids are singing "Heaven," all while visiting a fortune teller that reveals they'll all be living the glamorous life. We'll see about that.

Some 56 million votes cast last night, Seacrest says, followed by the obligatory recap.

Now it's time for a performance by Fantasia, who sings something called "Bore Me." Success. She accurately described my reaction to this song. The whole thing is just kind of odd, as Fantasia spends the majority of her time on stage screaming and doing some seizure-like movements on the stage. Not to metion the neon red hair.

Of her hair shade she says, "I don't know, Ryan, I just tried it."

And, um, eww. I did not need to see that mock kiss with Seacrest.

the long wait begins

Here we go!

I'm ready for perhaps the least surprising outcome in AI history. Social networking sites are minimized on my computer screen for moments of boredom.

Syesha's going home, right?

Hmm. We'll find out in an hour. Meanwhile, Simon's sporting an unusually unbuttoned shirt, and Seacrest informs us that Fantasia's performing tonight.

Group performance time. The crew takes the stage for "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," which David Cook unsuccessfully tries to make a grunge tune. Very uncomfortable overall.

But at least Hernandez is in the audience tonight. Right next to Chikezie. I know who's getting a lap dance later.

elimination night!

Tonight's elimination show starts at 9 p.m. on Fox. I'll blog live as usual.

Is there any doubt that Syesha is NOT going home?

See you tonight!

recap: good things come in threes?

Ironically, out of tonight's three songs -- two of which were chosen by the AI machine -- each contestant fared worst on the song of their own choosing.

It wasn't so much a testament to execs' song selection skills, but rather evidence of possible fatigue among the remaining three. In the end, the week didn't produce a memorable standout, but contestants didn't falter entirely.

At the night's onset, Syesha seemed to be the obvious choice to go home, and the performances confirmed that prediction. Part of it wasn't her fault. Show insiders picked songs that only reinforced her role as a belter, and her own choice, "Fever" just made her appear bound for Broadway.

Anyway, here are my song-by-song rankings:

1. David Archuleta, "And So It Goes"

2. David Cook, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

3. David Cook, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"

4. Syesha Mercado, "If I Ain't Got You"

5. Syesha Mercado, "Fever"

6. David Cook, "Dare You to Move"

7. David Archuleta, "Longer"

8. David Archuleta, "With You"

9. Syesha Mercado, "Hit Me Up"

Thoughts?

fans don't want cook gone

Last up in producers' choice round? David Cook.

Song: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"

Me: Sigh. An AI standard. Fortunately, unlike contestants of years past, he does put in some originality -- turning the song into a orchestra-backed power ballad. Cook sells me in the end, but I wish producers would have given him something a little less sappy. Or at least something with a little more room for him to wow us. Not bad, though, and fans will inevitably love it.

Randy: "It was OK for me. Very predictable for me."

Paula: "See ya in the finals."

Simon: "David Cook wins the night."

syesha gets up, then down

It's still producers' choice round, and here's Syesha Mercado.

Song: "Hit Me Up"

Me: Another very awkward song choice. This song is from the movie "Happy Feet." Nuff said. But I'll say more. It's not an incredibly awful song, and Syesha sounds good, but the tune itself is just way too reliant on backup singers. As illustrated by the unbelievable amount of air time they got here. Did anyone else notice that? And in the end, "Hit Me Up" showcases just some excessive belting -- nothing we haven't seen from Syesha before.

Randy: "It was just OK for me."

Paula: "I don't know if it's the type of song that defines Syesha as an artist."

Simon: "You had your best moment last week with the Sam Cooke song."

will archie stay longer?

Final round? Producers' choice. Here's David Archuleta.

Song: "Longer"

Me: Snore. Well, looks like the AI crew wants to keep Archie in his mold. We get another typical ballad, full of lovely romantic lyrics. Another song I'd say is waaaay to old for a 17-year-old. He's in his element vocally, though, and the hardcore fans will love it.

Randy: "You were in the zone vocally."

Paula: "It was just very lovely."

Simon: "I thought the song and the lyrics were absolutely horrible."

truth: 'dare' hurts cook

Last up in contestant's choice round? David Cook.

Song: "Dare You To Move"

Me: Cook takes the stage with a guitar, offering what is initially a kind of subdued version of this Switchfoot tune. Again, things pick up at the chorus, when Cook rocked out in characteristic form. It seems like an odd, safe choice, unfortunately. He hits all the original notes, but doesn't add the originality we've grown to expect. Seems very much like his take on "Hungry Like The Wolf."

Randy: "It wasn't your best."

Paula: "You just got to the beginning when it hit the end of the song."

Simon: "I don't think it was the best I would have expected."

syesha fever

Next in the contestant's choice round is Syesha.

Song: "Fever"

Me: Not exactly the best way for Syesha to separate herself from the Broadway-bound designation. She sings well, but the song relies too heavily on theatrics, as illustrated by the chair she dances around in the middle of the stage. (Not for lap dance purposes, unfortunately.) While the song doesn't have too many flaws vocally, it in the end illustrates that we're watching a singer not fit for the world of pop music.

Randy: "A very interesting song choice at this point."

Paula: "I'm surprised you picked this song...I'm not sure it shows me who Syesha is as an artist."

Simon: "I think you will probably regret that decision tomorrow."

with archuleta, awkwardly

Next round? Contestant's choice. First up, again, is David Archuleta.

Song: "With You"

Me: Really, all I wanted from this performance was to hear Archie say "boo." And not in the context of ghosts or Halloween. Mission accomplished. That aside, the performance comes off a little awkward. I applaud him for the switch in genres, but he tries too hard to make a faster tune a ballad. He even gets behind the backup singers at times. He's clearly not comfortable with this kind of stuff, and the dancing alone says it all. Looks like SOMEONE attended the Brooke White school of movement.

Randy: "I'm not sure that was the right song."

Paula: "This is another part of who you are...I think you did a great job."

Simon: "It was a little bit like a chihuahua trying to be a tiger...It's not really you."

want more of david's face?

Last up in judge's choice round? David Cook, singing a song hand-selected by Simon.

Song: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"

Me: OK, I get what Simon was trying to do with the song choice. In theory, the song could have given David another choice to pull out an unexpected cover a la "Always Be My Baby." Unfortunately, the first half of the tune relies too much on higher notes, which aren't exactly Cook's strong points. He redeems himself in the chorus, but this is clearly not a song he'd independently choose to take on. The characteristic grunge edge is there, but not as original as what we've seen before."

Randy: "I wish that Simon would have picked something that wasn't as predictable as this older song for you."

Paula: "That is one of my favorite song and now you're my second favorite person who sings it."

Simon: "I thought it was ever one of your best performances yet."

we've got syesha -- for now

Time for Syesha, who's performing a song chosen by Randy. She also strangely performed this tune while appearing as a contestant on ABC's failed reality show, "The One." See that performance here.

Song: "If I Ain't Got You"

Me: A typical belting-heavy performance from Syesha. It doesn't do much to bolster my opinion of her, and I'm faulting Randy for the song choice. She doesn't sound bad, but it's song she can't do much with in terms of originality. In the end, it sounds a little shrieky -- not enough yet to give her an edge over the Davids.

Randy: "You did an amazing job on it."

Paula: "You look absolutely stunning."

Simon: "You sang that very well."

here goes archuleta

Here we go! Ryan calls this the closest race we've ever seen. Hmm.

Anyway, first up is Archuleta with judge's choice. Paula picked his, perhaps while under the influence of certain illegal substances.

Song: "And So It Goes"

Me: Well, Paula didn't do much to deviate from the typical Archuleta mode. It's a typical ballad that at times the love lost seems way too mature for a guy who can't even muster a coherent response to a question about challenges he's faced this season. There's some nice vocal control at points, and I give him credit for appearing unfazed by the whole daddy situation, but this performance doesn't do much to expand his fan base. A slow, reflective tune that talks about love. Big surprise.

Randy: "You can sing anything, dude."

Paula: "It was a beautiful performance."

Simon: "It was very good...a bit predictable."

more daddy drama

Check out AI exec Nigel Lythgoe's attempt to explain the Jeff Archuleta situation to Entertainment Weekly. I'm providing an excerpt, you can read the full thing here.

NIGEL LYTHGOE: "Banished" is a terrible word, isn't it? It sounds like we're in some far-off kingdom. He has been asked not to participate in the choice of music with David or be in the room when David is working out his routines that he wants to sing. He's fine to be in the studio -- nothing wrong with that. We just want David to be able to be free like everybody else to get on and do what they want to do.

Wow.

If this is any indication of tonight's awkwardness, we're in for a wild ride!

not spoilers, but...

My co-worker, Jeff, came up with this list of songs for the three remaining contestants to sing tonight:

ARCHULETA
"Fat Bottomed Girls"
"Like A Virgin"
"Papa Don't Preach"

SYESHA
"Suck My Kiss"
"Lick It Up"
"I Kissed A Girl"

DAVID COOK
"The Stroke"
"She Bop"
"Dancing With Myself"

They might be far from reality, but these picks gave me a good idea for a blog game. Post the songs you'd most like to see the finalists sing, regardless of how well the selections match the singers' vocal talents. Or sexual preferences.

idol night!

Don't forget tonight's show starts at 8 p.m. on Fox. I'll blog live as usual.

Contestants will sing three songs each: one of their own choosing, one chosen by a member of the three-judge panel, one chosen by the producers.

Yes, that does mean that the AI machine is choosing two-thirds of each finalists' performances. Pretty solid evidence the show is at least somewhat rigged.

Anyway, in the following posts, I've written profiles of each of the remaining singers. Check them out, and then weigh in with your own thoughts.

See you tonight!

final 3: syesha mercado

Choice adjectives: Underdog, belter, Broadway-bound

Why she could win: She's stayed around this long after being named by many fans the first of the Top 12 to go home. While she's held a consistent spot in the bottom two, an unexpectedly large fan base has kept her safe. And some say it's justifiable. Syesha's improved substantially in recent weeks, turning out performances driven equally by vocals and theatrics.

Why she couldn't: It appears as if the Davids have significantly larger fan bases -- they've both avoided the bottom 3 all season. Despite recent successes, she's a singer who seems much more fit for the stage, and the likelihood of her occupying a unique niche in the recording industry is low. There's also Syesha's on-stage presence, which at times comes off conceited or just plain distant.

Scandal? Some fans think she's occupying a spot that should have gone to singers who were prematurely ousted from the competition. And like Archuleta, she's appeared on a reality TV talent competition -- ABC's failed "The One."

Advice for tonight: Sing, but don't talk. No amount of explaining could justify an attempt to compare AI's magnitude to that of the civil rights movement.

final 3: david cook

Choice adjectives: Rocker, unique, surprising

Why he could win: After a relatively forgettable showing in the show's early stages, Cook upped his game, turning out crowd-pleasing rock covers of tunes as eclectic as "Billie Jean" and "Always Be My Baby." Cook, who's seen many parallels to former AI finalist Chris Daughtry, is a favorite among viewers who think a rocker is long overdue for the title. And though it's been downplayed, there's his brother's battle with cancer -- a factor that could make his victory more emotionally poignant.

Why he couldn't: Some viewers still think he has an ego problem, and opinions over the strength of his vocals are divided. There's some doubt that success with pop-turned-rock covers wouldn't translate to longevity in the recording industry. Also, there's a belief that if Cook won, the AI brand would stifle his creativity -- so some longtime fans might actually restrain from voting if he made it to the finals.

Scandal? Fans remain divided over how artistically creative Cook really is, especially given the fact that his "innovative" renditions of "Billie Jean" and "Eleanor Rigby" were merely covers of covers.

Advice for tonight: Turn out another surprising -- and original -- cover. Cook's performances last week, especially "Hungry Like The Wolf" arguably put him in the same realm as every other rocker who has appeared on the talent competition.

final 3: david archuleta

Choice adjectives: Saccharine, sappy, teen heartthrob

Why he could win: He's been this season's front-runner since day one. Teen girls love him, and so do the judges. Plus, 17-year-old Archuleta's wholesome image is almost a dream for the AI machine.

Why he couldn't: Predictability is the teen's biggest strength and weakness. Every week, fans know he'll deliver a variation of an inspirational ballad. Perhaps to the point of monotony, though it hasn't yet landed him in the bottom three. Also, there's the awkwardness he displays during on-screen interviews.

Scandal? Of course there's his semi-pro past as a "Star Search" winner who once performed for AI's first-season finalists. But more recently, there's news of Archie's dad being banned from backstage AI access. It's raised questions about the extent to which he's a stage puppet thrust into the industry against his will.

Advice for tonight: Sing "Me So Horny." It'll throw 'em for a loop.

bye, dad!

Looks like David Archuleta's father finally wore out his welcome on the AI set.

Multiple sources, including this one, are reporting Jeff Archuleta no longer has backstage access. It's a result of his decision for David to include some of Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" in his performance of "Stand by Me" last week.

That move reportedly caused some legal problems with the song's producers and publishers.

David's dad was banned from the "Star Search" stage when David participated in that talent competition years ago.

Think all this could have any bearing on Archuleta's chances of winning?

(Reminder: Tuesday's episode, which airs at 8 p.m. on Fox, will include footage of the three finalists' hometown visits. Read a recap of those visits here.)

'dread'-ing the future?

Not exactly, Jason Castro says in this exit interview with Entertainment Weekly. Read it for his response to claims that he "forgot" Tuesday's lyrics on purpose.

My final impressions? Castro seems like a genuinely nice guy who could see decent post-AI success as a recording artist -- assuming he finds the right genre and gets a little more experience under his belt. Yeah, he may have stumbled a bit toward the end, but he seemed to stay pretty true to himself throughout the race.

(Think of how often he must have resisted stylists' requests to cut his dreads!)

I also think that like Brooke, Jason helped support the case of musical instruments on AI.

But moving on...what do you guys think of the top 3? Stronger than last year's group? Think there's anything Syesha can do to crack the final two?

shoot! jason's eliminated

Well, there was no fourth-place Daughtry-like surprise tonight. Jason Castro, the correct singer in many fans' minds, was sent home in a relatively unsurprising ousting.

From publicized behind-the-scene comments to fumbled lyrics to his possible utterance of "don't vote" Tuesday, it seemed clear at least in the last two weeks that Jason was ready to go.

I don't think his performances entirely declined in quality, and he's far from this season's Sanjaya. At least two of his songs, "Hallelujah" and "Over the Rainbow," still stand out in many fans' minds as among the most memorable moments of the season.

The problem? Jason said it best seconds prior to his elimination: inexperience. He has a limited routine, and doesn't yet have the professional gumption to personalize untraditional genres as David Cook would.

Then, of course, there's the argument that Jason's breed of music just wasn't conducive to the AI machine. It's probably best he left at this point. Can you imagine him doing "This Is My Now"? He'd freak out.

I'm still a bit sad, though.

What do you guys think of Jason's departure? Did the right person go home? Think Paula's snafu last week had any bearing on his ousting?

jason goes home

OK, down to business. Elimination time for real.

Down to Syesha and Jason.

Jason's outta here!

the bice is back

Another guest performance! That is, if Bo Bice fits your definition of "guest."

The Season 4 runner-up performs his newest song, "Witness," and while it's not as enjoyable as the stuff he did as an AI contestant, it's a decent effort. He has a good stage presence, at least, but maybe not the most originality in the world.

(And Paula's a bit too ecstatic about the whole experience.)

Bice compliments Archuleta and Cook, but is strangely silent about Syesha and Castro. Also, I'm not exactly sure Archie was thrilled about Seacrest's joke that Bice resembles David Jr.

here's maroon 5

Break for a performance by Maroon 5.

They sing a relatively unknown tune, "If I Never See Your Face Again." Supposedly their new single. Apparently Rihanna's on the radio version. Even without her live, they sound good and Adam Levine is smokin' hot.

Unfortunately, I know exactly what he would say if I ever asked him out.

"We'll see."

(not) burning questions

Ford commercial time. The gang is singing "Ring of Fire" and they're all dressed as matadors in Spandex. My viewing partner, Dawn, is exactly right. We now know why Jason Castro wants off this show.

Question and answer time. Sigh.

David Cook gets asked out on a date, and answers with a tentative "we'll see." Yeah, I've heard that one before. Don't get your hopes up, girl. In fact, start stocking up on Kleenex NOW.

Next, the gang gets asked their biggest challenge. Nobody really answers. This is why they're not orators.

OK, maybe Simon can redeem this. Why hasn't he been knighted by the queen? Simon's response: "Your majesty, if you're watching, I'm available."

Syesha gloats about being the only girl left, Cook brags about speaking with Our Lady Peace.

Finally, a delusional caller thinks Simon could be the next James Bond.

Over. Phew.

david cook's safe

Now, we get a recap of the kids' trip to Vegas. Kind of wish this would have stayed in Vegas.

Back to eliminations. David Cook's up.

Safe, no surprise.

Syesha and Jason are called to the stage. Nice tease, Seacrest. I know this is gonna take another 30 minutes.

archuleta's safe

Obligatory recap. Wow. I feel really bad for Jason.

OK, time to start eliminations.

First up? Archuleta. Safe, no surprise.

A few technical difficulties make Ryan ad lib for a bit. He survives, fortunately.

results time

Here we go!

Fifty-one million votes were cast last night, Seacrest tells us. First through third places were apparently separated by just 1 million votes each.

How awkward for the fourth-place contestant.

That (probably) means you, Castro.

After an awkward discussion of Syesha's quasi-meltdown last night -- it wasn't Randy, it was the civil rights movement! -- we're treated to a group song.

It's Steely Dan's "Reelin' In The Years," which is basically within nobody's vocal range. Very uncomfortable. Oh well. At least Brooke's happy she's missing this very detailed choreography.

(Sarcastic.)

elimination night!

Don't forget that elimination night starts at 9 p.m. on Fox.

Prevailing sentiment seems to be that Castro's going home and I wouldn't be surprised if that holds true.

Thoughts?

idols' rock: a hard place

Tonight's No. 1 lesson? Castro wants out.

The dreadlocked singer cheeseballed his way through his first tune, "I Shot the Sheriff," and then fumbled the lyrics on his second, "Mr. Tambourine Man." Judge Simon Cowell's prediction that he'll be the one to go home has some merit, but the night as a whole didn't offer too many standout moments.

For a 500-item song list, the contestants stuck with some pretty traditional bets. Leading the trend was David Archuleta who opted for two choices catering to his teenage fan base. And while his songs seemed devoid of originality, the judges responded with (over)excessive praise, declaring him the night's leader.

I don't get it.

Anyway, here are my song-by-song rankings:

1. David Cook, "Baba O'Reily"

2. David Archuleta, "Stand by Me"

3. Syesha Mercado, "Proud Mary"

4. Jason Castro, "Mr. Tambourine Man"

5. Syesha Mercado, "A Change Is Gonna Come"

6. David Cook, "Hungry Like the Wolf"

7. Jason Castro, "I Shot the Sheriff"

8. David Archuleta, "Love Me Tender"

judges love archuleta, inexplicably

David Archuleta gets the last spot of the night.

Song: "Love Me Tender"

Me: It's a perfect choice for David's teenage fans -- and probably the judges, who are a bit excessive in their praise tonight -- but this performance doesn't do much for me. It might just be the genre, but the whole thing just comes off as way too saccharine. Same thing we've seen all season. The lack of edginess annoys me. Even with the spot-on vocals, there's nothing too memorable here, and I think I'd rather watch Jason stumble through "Mr. Tambourine Man" again."

Randy: "Another great performance for you."

Paula: "That was one of my favorite performances from you."

Simon: "You didn't beat the competition tonight. You crushed the competition."

jason doesn't jingle

Uh-oh. Another performance from Jason Castro, who now seems to be kind of poking fun at the whole AI process. And I kind of like it, embarrassingly enough.

Song: "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man"

Me: Jason takes the stage awkwardly, and clearly knows the odds are stacked against him here. Case in point: He stumbles through the lyrics in the song's opening verses. He rushes things a bit, and again doesn't add too much originality. He's clearly lost his trademark uniqueness, but the ladies still love him. Signs of defeat aside, you can still catch minor traces of a some degree of vocal talent.

Randy: “Jason’s not in the zone tonight.”

Paula: “Obviously it didn’t blow us away, but you blow me away.”

Simon: “I’d pack your suitcase.”

has syesha changed?

Next? Syesha, who parallels the civil rights movement (a pivotal point in time) to her stay on AI's top four. An equally pivotal point, right?

Song: "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Me: Again, like her much better with the fast stuff. Seems like she reverts too much to the belting mode. It's shrieky, over-the-top and just a little self-indulgent. Nothing too amazing, I think. Her appeal in recent weeks has been driven largely by theatrics and stage presence, and those elements seem to be missing here.

Randy: "The first song I loved, this one I did not love as much."

Paula: "You utilized everything that I was hoping you would use."

Simon: "I'm going to agree with Paula."

Syesha then enters an impromptu meltdown, which is either happy or sad. She blubbers about the civil rights movement, etc. Very awkward moment.

david cook's wasteland

Time for David Cook, part two.

Song: "Baba O'Riley"

Me: Hmm. What an odd song choice. David takes the stage with a guitar, starts off a bit slow, but then picks things up mid-song. This one will fare much better than the first. It's a challenging tune that ends up a stronger reflection of David's vocal strength. Not as memorable as, say, "Always Be My Baby," but he seems to be back in his comfort zone -- though a bit more visibly exhausted than we've seen him before.

Randy: "That's more like the David Cook that I've grown to love."

Paula: "I just want more David Cook."

Simon: "Welcome back, David Cook."

standing by archuleta?

Last up in round one? David Archuleta

Song: "Stand by Me"

Me: Yep, another inspirational song from Archuleta. I agree with a recent blog poster -- straight out of a Disney movie soundtrack. Vocals are solid, as usual, and I was a bit wowed when Archuleta tried to spice things up by throwing in a bit of Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls." Something tells me that wasn't his dad's idea. That aside, it's a typical snoozer, but at least he doesn't overdo the belting. Judges will love it; orders for those "Future Mrs. Archuleta" tees will soar.

Randy: "Dude, that was hot."

Paula: "You are way beyond your years...you're seasoned already."

Simon: "The truth is you could have whistled a song and it could have sounded better than the last one...In the grand scheme of things, I'm going to call that as the best performance so far."

castro shoots his music career

Wow. Ryan's holding a weird mask and Carly Smithson's in the audience.

That means it must be time for Jason Castro!

Song: "I Shot the Sheriff"

Me: I love how, in his pre-performance interview, Jason tells us this song is by Bob Marley and then he adds, "Go figure." Anyway, Jason takes the stage with guitar as usual, and delivers something that ends up being pretty awkward. The vocals are kind of nondescript and there's some kind of cheesy element to the background music. There's a huge cheese factor, and I kind of had this feeling like I was waiting for a train wreck through the whole song. It never happened, but Jason did enough to repulse the judges. Not his adoring teenage fans, though.

Randy: "That was a really karaoke Bob Marley...there was nothing special about it."

Paula: "I've never seen you perform more to the audience than you did."

Simon: "That was utterly atrocious...I don't know what you were thinking."

Jason's response? "I was thinking Bob Marley."

syesha does us proud

Here's Syesha, who tells us she's very excited about the tour. I can't wait for it! Yes, I am going to go for real.

Song: "Proud Mary"

Me: Wow, Syesha's really turned up the sex appeal in recent weeks, eh? This is another performance enhanced larged by her theatrical presence. She works the crowd again, and delivers some pretty solid vocals. While she doesn't do much with the song's arrangement, I'm liking her much better now that she's opted for the fast stuff. Can't say I'm entirely converted, but I like the energy and the fact that she stays away from the belting zone that's held her down in past weeks.

Randy: "This is the third week in a row that Syesha has shown up and she's in the zone."

Paula: "You look like a star."

Simon: "For me I thought it was just a bad shrieky version."

cook leaves us hungry

First up, David Cook!

Song: "Hungry Like the Wolf"

Me: In his pre-performance interview, David says he initially had a hard time with this one. That's clear in the opening moments of this performance. It has David's characteristic grunge vibe, but he pretty much sticks to the song's original arrangement. A rushed one, nonetheless. Decent, but not earth-shattering. No points for originality, and if viewed in isolation we'd be wondering what separates this guy from any other rocker on the show.

Randy: "That was just OK for you."

Paula: "I think your 'Hungry Like the Wolf' has left me with a big appetite." (Note from me: gross.)

Simon: "I thought it was good...it was a little bit copycat."

ready to rock?

Here we go! How's everyone feeling tonight?

Seacrest tells us three of the final four have already been No. 1 in the votes. Hmm...I wonder who's left out?

Two songs each again...and critiques after each performance.

Let's rumble.

top four night!

The top 4 take the stage at 8 p.m. tonight, performing songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You can see the 500-song list here.

Don't forget that the top 4 week has in the past led to a surprise elimination.
Most notably, it's when Daughtry got eliminated, as well smaller-scale surprises like Tamyra Gray and LaToya London.

At this point, I think the only real "shocker" departure would be either of the Davids. And I really doubt that's going to happen.

Case in point: This MTV article describing all the bootleg merchandise that's arisen on sites like eBay. No, you can't get a lot of Syesha Mercado stuff, but you CAN snag a David Cook snow globe. Or a shirt that says "Future Mrs. Archuleta."

Another interesting link: USA Today offers this story asking industry experts what kind of album each of the four finalists should record. Is reggae the best genre for Castro? You decide.

See you tonight!

school of rock

Here's the official list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. The four AI finalists will choose their Tuesday songs from that list.

There's enough variety among the selections -- assuming they're all available to the singers -- for pretty much anyone could have a really good night. In the end, I assume it will come down to (you guessed it) song choice.

That said, which singer do you think is most in danger this week? Think there's a chance Syesha could end up cracking the top three?

say it ain't so!

Jason Castro's thoughts during preparations for Neil Diamond week?

"What happens happens. I'll sing and if people like it, they like it. And if they don't, they don't. I'm kind of ready to go home."

The quote come from this article an Entertainment Weekly reporter's inside look at the song selection process. Pretty interesting stuff.

Anyway, how many of you had ended your love affair with Jason?

rock career of ages?

This MTV article asks if it's reasonable to assume David Cook will be able to sustain a rock career post-AI.

You know, when he has to perform his own material instead of just cover songs.

The prevailing answer is yes, but I'd like to know what you guys think.

Do you think David Cook should fly solo post-AI, or join a rock band? And does anyone out there think he might struggle commercially after his run on the series ends?

(Remembering, of course, that individuals who vote in the reality TV competition aren't always high-volume music consumers, especially in the hard-rock genre.)

here to stay

Despite this week's controversy, Paula Abdul won't be leaving AI any time soon.

That's what Cecile Frot-Coutaz, FremantleMedia North America CEO and "Idol" executive producer, said in this interview.

The exec's thought's on Tuesday's snafu?

"I love that everyone was talking about it," she told The Associated Press over lunch in her office two days after the show. "It was so unexpected. It was something that took up 2 seconds of airtime. You'd think there was no other news on television."

In the article, Frot-Coutaz is a little more ambivalent about the future of "Idol Gives Back." She hints at maybe doing the charity extravaganza every two years, rather than every year.

time to go

Click here to see MTV's exit interview with Brooke White. Here's what she said regarding her elimination last night:

I kind of anticipated it, in a strange way. It was in my gut. I thought I was strong, I really did. I felt so grateful and happy. And then, boom, it hit me: This is done. This is over. The finality of that phase of the experience being over was sad. And then the fear of going back into the real world and what does the future hold and also excitement. It was just a lot of feelings. It was emotional, and I hoped so much that I could have been stronger, but I'm an emotional girl and I'm passionate, and that really came across on the stage, because I felt really vulnerable every time [I performed].

Did you think Brooke's excessive display of emotion was endearing, or unprofessional? And which contestant, if any, do you think her fans will back now?

brooke: no longer a believer

Can't say Brooke's departure is a huge shocker, although it's hard not to become a little sad while watching her tearfully struggle through her departure song, "I Am, I Said."

Brooke started out with some promise, but her appeal diminished as the weeks progressed. From early on, she had her critics -- the ones who said her appeal was driven almost entirely by making acoustic versions of slow tunes.

She's a contestant, I think, who would have done much worse if instruments hadn't been allowed in the competition.

Then, of course, there was the infamous do-over last week. That alone was probably enough to secure her a solid block of pity votes. But without any concrete negative feedback from judges, as well as no extremely memorable performances, Brooke was bound to be in trouble this week.

I don't think she's entirely shut out of a future career as a recording artist, but she needs some confidence and a little more originality.

Thoughts?

brooke goes home

Elimination time!

Brooke's outta here!

diamond is a girl's best friend

Ford commercial! The kids are driving a car and singing "Catch the Wind." Very contemplative. Black and white turns to color, etc., etc.

And another performance. Neil Diamond this time, naturally. Neil Diamond is soo cute. And what did you guys think about his mom? Um, cute times two.

simon gets romantic

Time for a Natasha Bedingfield performance. Very random. Think we'll ever see another former Idol take the stage this season? I think it's interesting how the judges don't give comments after the guest stars' performances. That could make the results show significantly better.

And what is up with Archuleta's affair with Natasha?

Ugh. Question and answer session. Paula attempts to give a kid advice, but ends up looking drunk as usual. He'll be in therapy for years.

And another question for Paula: Will she do another music video with Randy? Wow. They totally skirted that one. No answer.

Some lady calls claiming to be Simon's first kiss. Soo romantic.

bottom 2 = syesha, brooke

Break for a preview of the upcoming season of "So You Think You Can Dance." Do you guys like this show?

And in an equally useless filler, Randy showcases the winning Coke cup design contest winner.

Back to business, fortunately.

Next up? David Cook. Safe!

Looks like it's down to the two girls. No surprises there.

jason, archuleta safe

Here's some quality time with former contestants Constantine and Gina Glocksen. Anyone else notice how Ace Young was sitting in front of them but somehow wasn't worthy of an introduction?

Obligatory recap of last night's show. Oh, and some damage control on Paula's mishap last night. In Seacrest's words, "She's part of our family and we love her."

Um...down to eliminations.

First up, Jason Castro. Seacrest awkwardly calls him J-Cas. Safe!

Next, David Archuleta. Safe! (Unsurprisingly.)

OK, who's going home?

no results yet

Here we go!

Whoa...Kristy Lee is in the audience. Forty-five million votes last night, Seacrest says.

Group song! Of course, it's a Neil Diamond medley. Which makes for yet another opportunity to showcase Brooke's awkward dancing. And the Brooke/Syesha singing combination? Not good at all. In fact, Syesha really sounds good with nobody. Jason Cook also seems to hate the whole ordeal, which might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Stay tuned.

who's going home?

Tonight's elimination show starts at 9 p.m. on Fox. I'll blog "live" as usual. Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield perform.

DialIdol, the Web site that measures busy signals, has Brooke, Jason and Archuleta in trouble. I say it could be Brooke's time to go home.

Thoughts?

bad paula-tics?

So when my 60-year-old Dad asked me about Paula's Tuesday mess up, I knew it was kind of a big deal.

Refresher: After Jason Castro performed only one song last night, she proceeded to give him feedback for two performances.

Read an audience member's recap of the scene here.

Paula, naturally, has been busy doing recovery work today, including this radio show appearance. I think my favorite part is when she claims to have never been drunk in her entire life.

In her defense, last night's show was a bit too much rapid-fire and the judges DID reportedly watch a dress rehearsal shortly before the real thing.

But still...it's not like this kind of thing is a first for Paula.

What was your reaction to Paula's incoherent moment? Did it make you wonder if the show is rigged? Did it make you think that Paula needs to be replaced?

i am, i said...unimpressed

If anything proves the validity of recent articles attributing AI's ratings decline to antiquated song selections, it's tonight's show.

Contestants -- even the seemingly invincible David Cook, to some extent -- served up predictable versions of Neil Diamond tunes. The rapid-fire, two-songs-each setup made for relatively little extensive feedback from the judges. Aside from Paula's embarrassing moment of extreme lunacy, that is.

Still, it was clear the night didn't exactly meet expectations. And with a song catalog that was likely 95 percent unknown to the powerful younger viewer voting block, it seems like Brooke, Syesha and Jason are once again in almost equal danger of elimination.

My apologies again for missing the show's early moments. That said, here are my rankings:

1. David Cook

2. Syesha Mercado

3. David Archuleta

4. Jason Castro

5. Brooke White

syesha closes the show

Last but not least, it's Syesha's second effort of the night.

Song: "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime"

Me: Seems like she fares much better with fast songs. Why is this clear to everyone but Syesha? But doing well here might not be enough to save her. This performance, driven in part by theatrics, seems to remind fans again that we're watching a girl who's 98 percent best suited for Broadway. I'm fine with the song, though, despite the fact that it gets a bit shrieky at the end.

Randy: "I think you're finally realizing who you are."

Paula: "You've got that softness in your voice."

Simon: "You are a very good actress/singer...I think, however, you may be in trouble tonight."

brooke & archuleta, part 2

Here's Brooke White, who criticizes Simon (kind of) for calling her first performance a nightmare.

Song: "I Am, I Said"

Me: It's definitely outside the realm of nightmare. Brooke takes the stage with a piano, and gives us something that's actually pretty enjoyable. It's the first time in weeks I've actually seen some uniqueness in her vocal tone. A good performance, one that brings to mind those Carly Simon parallels that we were hearing in the competition's early stages.

Randy: "Nice job."

Paula: "Everyone loves who you are."

Simon: "This is the Brooke we like."

Next up? David Archuleta

Song: "America"

Me: Hmm. You guys can probably imagine how this went. Looks like SOMEBODY got some song choice guidance from Kristy Lee. Anyway, Archuleta could totally be in a fifth-grade talent show right now. It's another predictable performance, but much better than the first. I do have to say I like him better singing the fast stuff. He'll be safe.

Randy: "You are definitely in the zone right now."

Paula: "This was the absolutely perfect song for you to sing."

Simon: "That was a smart choice of song. That was clever."

jason & david cook, part 2

Time for the second performance from Jason Castro.

Song: "September Morn"

Me: Hmm. Jason takes the stage sans guitar and it hurts him. Badly. This guy could be in trouble. I think I'd rather watch "Memory." It's not even predictable. It's just bad. Seems like he's almost given up. Fans -- aside from those who want to hook up with him -- could hold this lack of creativity against him.

Randy: Didn't like it

Paula: Didn't like it

Simon: "This is not the Jason we put into the competition."

Here's David Cook.

Me: Unlike Jason, he DOES take the stage with an instrument. Naturally, he fares a little better. Since, um, he's David Cook. I'd never heard this song before, but he does a good job of making a contemporary rendition of it. I like it, and I imagine fans could place it near "Always Be My Baby" in their memories.

Song: "All I Really Need Is You"

Randy: "You rocked the house again tonight."

Paula: "I feel like I'm already looking at the American Idol."

Simon: "I thought the second song was brilliant."

here i go...finally

Blogging is starting late for factors beyond my control. Anyone want to be a guest blogger and recap the first 3 performances?

Anyway, I'm here right in time for David Archuleta.

Song: "Sweet Caroline"

Me: Whoa. Not the best performance to start my night with. It's like the Kidz Bop version of Neil Diamond. I am so over this guy. It's a very safe, predictable choice. This is like watching your 70-year-old uncle trying to rock out. Except David's, like, 16. Sadly, I would have rather watched a ballad.

Um, here's Syesha?

Song: "Hello Again"

Me: Decent, but your typical predictable Syesha ballad. Ugh. Nothing new to say.

OK, now judges' comments. I figured it out: We just wrapped up round 1 and get all the judges' comments at once. Randy loves Archuleta, but he's pretty hesitant about the rest. Paula is incoherent as usual. She thought Jason sang twice. Her favorite was David Cook. Simon calls Brooke a nightmare...actually, he hated everybody.

sweet symphonies?

Don't forget tonight's episode of AI, featuring mentor Neil Diamond, airs at 8 p.m. on Fox.

I will be blogging live as usual, and I will also be eating a veggie pizza from a brand-new restaurant. If you beg enough, I'll provide details on that experience, too.

Rumor is that each of the five contestants will sing TWO Neil Diamond songs.

See you tonight!

the more things change...

Could AI's ratings decline be a result of an antiquated selection of songs?

Yes, this MSNBC article maintains. It brings up some valid points. I agree, for example, that having decades-based theme nights during the competition's Top 24 stage helped no one. In fact, it's easy to say those themes actually hurt some of the younger contestants who were forced to opt for safe, generic song choices simply because they were unfamiliar with the decade as a whole.

I've never really understood the necessity having theme weeks on AI, even during the Top 12 phase.

It's not an accurate reflection of the recording industry. Someone's ability to adapt to back-to-back country and Broadway weeks hardly translates into success when he/she goes into a recording studio to make a career out of original material.

I'm talking to you, Taylor Hicks.

AI execs, meanwhile, are toying with changes to the show's format for next season. Via a viewer survey, they've hinted at presenting the audition phase as "flashbacks" during Hollywood Week. Get the full story here.

Thoughts?

idle news

The NY Times published this article following up on the idea that apparent blasphemy could have played a role in sending Carly Smithson home.

Other than that...no major AI news. Don't forget that Tuesday's mentor is Neil Diamond.

Song suggestions?

(bad) luck of the irish

One more nugget for Carly fans...here's her exit interview with Entertainment Weekly. Much like last night, she sounds pretty optimistic about the whole experience. She planned to sing "Sweet Caroline" for Neil Diamond week.

idol worship

Is it just me, or does it seem like religion has taken a more prominent spot than usual in this season of AI?

I started thinking about that when Internet commenters, this blog included, suggested that Carly's departure had something to do with the tattooed songstress' decision to sing "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Two weeks ago, there was controversy over the group song, "Shout to the Lord." Shortly before that, Dolly Parton on results night sang "Jesus & Gravity."

Then, of course, there's the issue of contestants' faiths -- namely, the fact that Brooke and David Archuleta are Mormons. (That's confirmed here.) Newspaper articles have also heavily emphasized Jason's religious background, including the many mission trips he's taken.

Sure, we've had traces of faith in years past. Carmen Rasmussen, a Mormon who appeared on Season 2, comes to mind. And last season's winner, Jordin Sparks, was very open about her decision to remain a virgin until marriage.

But no season -- at least in my memory -- has had this strong a focus on religion, whether or not it's intentional.

What do you guys think? Has AI gone too Jesus on you?

idle numbers

In the wake of Carly's departure, here's yet another article about AI's dip in ratings.

Ratings for the show are down 7 percent -- its "first significant year-to-year decline," the piece contends.

I've heard a lot about viewership numbers in recent weeks, and I think much of that is overblown. I mean, the show is still No. 1, after all. I imagine it lasting another 2-3 years.

That said, if AI producers could do any one thing to increase ratings, what do you think it should be?

A new judging panel? A new elimination process? A new approach to theme weeks?

Suggestions wanted.

carly leaves superstardom

Ironically, Carly's departure came on what was undoubtedly one of her most comfortable weeks of the season. In past weeks, she struggled with stage presence, as well as vocal tone, but the Broadway theme appeared to help her at least temporarily find her comfort zone.

So what sent her home? A variety of factors.

Of course, there's always the assumption that the performance night's stronger contestants are automatically at a disadvantage, since fans assume they're safe.

Then there's Carly's semi-pro background. Critics say Season 7 has plenty of "plants," but from the beginning Carly's brief honeymoon with MCA Records received the most scrutiny. It made many viewers naturally skeptical, especially given producers' reluctance to disclose more details.

Maybe viewers put too high of expectations on her and she never delivered. Maybe her at times robotic stage presence made seem more like a recording industry machine than a real person.

Either way, she's outta here -- well before her time, I say. Brooke's unprofessionalism should have made her the automatic choice to go home.

Thoughts?

carly goes home

Elimination time.

Carly's outta here!!!!

I am surprised.

filler, filler, filler

In a move to fill time, Seacrest has Carly and Syesha perform their songs again. Hmm...I really don't know what this accomplishes. Other than killing about six minutes. And I wonder if the eliminated contestantant will have to sing AGAIN upon getting the boot. That could be painful.

Carly performs again, sounds great and reminds us that she forgot the words last night. (But unlike SOME people, she kept singing.)

Did you guys catch that covert conversation between Carly and Seacrest during Syesha's performance?

Anyway, Syesha sounds great as well. This really is an unfortunate bottom 2.

bottom 2 = syesha, carly

Down to Castro and Carly. One goes in the bottom two.

I think Castro could be in trouble.

I'm wrong! Carly's in the bottom two!

OK...who's going home?

brooke's safe, syesha's in trouble

Back to business.

Now it's time for Syesha and Brooke.

WHOA!

Brooke is safe! I am so annoyed. Seriously. I hate pity votes.

Syesha is in trouble. Looks like they're just doing bottom two this week.

I hate Brooke sooo much right now.

Thoughts?

break for leona

Now, we're treated to a little refresher course on AI alums. Tamyra Gray and Clay Aiken tell us about their lives on Broadway. Wow, Clay Aiken is one strange ranger. Can't wait to hear what you guys think of his new look.

On a slightly more comfortable note, here's a performance by Leona Lewis. For those of you who don't know, she won the third season of the UK talent show "The X Factor." It's another show created by Simon Cowell. I really wish we got that show here.

What do you think of Leona? Is she better than, say, Kelly Clarkson? Carrie Underwood?

the davids are safe

Sigh. Ford commercial. The kids are singing "Tainted Love" while posing as action heroes in a comic drawn by Archuleta. Not pretty. Not pretty at all.

And from "Tainted Love," it's...George W. and Laura Bush. We agree that this could be the best speech President Bush has given. Ever. (PS = That's not a compliment.)

OK, down to business. First up, the two Davids. Easy. I say both are safe.

Wow...Archuleta is sooo incoherent. He must be sharing drugs with Paula.

Anyway, they're both safe. Big surprise.

quality time with alw

Obligatory recap. Hmm...what did you guys think of those "Phantom" masks superimposed on the judges' faces?

Seacrest gets some one-on-one time with ALW. Upon further reflection, I agree that he's been the best mentor of the season. Perhaps of the past two seasons. He was frank, helpful and didn't go absolutely ga-ga over every contestant -- a la J-Lo and Sanjaya. A day after the performance episode, he's still not afraid to admit he didn't see eye-to-eye with Castro.

Although I do still think they celebrated 4/20 together.

Oh, and can you guys believe ALW is 60 years old? SOME people -- Dawn -- thought he was 80.

ask & you shall not receive

Here we go!

Thirty-something million votes last night, Seacrest says. Oh no. Group song. It's a slow one this time, "All I Ask of You." ALW accompanies the gang on the piano. Uncomfortable.

And I think I just spotted Crying Girl in the audience.

Here's all I ask of AI tonight:

1. No question & answer session

2. Paula's sobriety

3. A five-contestant elimination

Thoughts?

idols live!

OK...which singer is going home tonight? Unfortunately, I have a sad suspicion that it will be Jason.

In other news, the dates for the "American Idols Live" tour have been announced. See them here. The singers will be in Atlanta Aug. 18.

I'm thinking about going to the concert, taking photos and blogging the experience. Is that something you guys would want to read?

Send me your thoughts.

(Tonight's elimination show starts at 9 p.m. I'll blog live as usual.)

phantom sounds

On the plus side, no song tonight was criticized as being too cabaret.

But that could be one of the only good things to come out of Andrew Lloyd Webber week on "American Idol." For a night when tunes could have been over the top, most singers went for the safe route, creating a sea of predictability.

In a reversal of what we we saw last week, the night's top spots went to women -- with one exception. Folksy crooner Brooke White began her song and, seconds in, opted for a do-over. Later, she attributed the move to forgotten lyrics, but it could be a serious enough stumble to send her home.

Or, it could be a vehicle for a deluge of sympathy votes.

Either way, here are my rankings:

1. Carly Smithson

2. David Cook

3. Syesha Mercado

4. David Archuleta

5. Jason Castro

6. Brooke White

david cook's night music

David Cook gets the money spot of the night. It's very creepy when he's staring longingly into ALW's eyes during rehearsal. Especially when ALW pretends to be a 17-year-old girl.

Song: "Music of the Night"

Me: Wow. No grunge version. I'm surprised. I'm still not a hardcore David Cook fan, but -- probably unlike 99 percent of the audience -- I like this side of him better than the rock stuff. I expected vocals to be a little shakier than what we got. All in all, the performance is OK. But comparatively, especially with what we've seen in recent weeks, it's a little forgettable. He'll be safe, though.

Randy: "That was an amazing vocal performance."

Paula: "You are so well-rounded as a performer and you have a beautiful instrument."

Simon: "You made the most of the song you were given."

carly is a superstar

Time for Carly Smithson, who we learn was originally gonna sing "All I Ask of You." Luckily, she averted that crisis. ALW also likes her tattoos.

Song: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Me: I'm ecstatic that Carly opts for a fast tune this week. That in itself should give her an edge. I'm impressed, though, and I think it's a good balance as far as vocal range goes. No major complaints. Seems like Carly got some of her footing back from last week. Maybe my favorite of the night. Love her dress, too.

Randy: "It was definitely good."

Paula: "I love what you did in the chorus."

Simon: "It was actually one of my favorite performances of the night."