Aw well… here we go with the individual reviews…

Jasmine Murray

I’m totally disappointed by Jasmine. I had high hopes for her as a candidate for “Mahhh Woooman”, and she totally tanked.  She sang all the way around that song, and just messed everything up.

I’m also already tired of the judges lamenting, “but you’re so commercial!!!”  Is that a compliment?  It’s not one to me… “Yes, you could be like a ham sold on the open market.” Ugh!

Matt Giraud

Our dueling piano player… who I also had high hopes for… but the song choice just absolutely slayed him.  Why even try to take on Viva La Vida?  Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea.  This song is still so freshly  and indelibly linked to Coldplay.  Bad idea.  And he didn’t do anything that showed his biggest assets in his voice.  He just kind of sang it…  Bad Bad Bad.

Jeanine Vailes

Here is another person (so many in this top 36) that we never got to see at all – and she knows it.  She was a little resentful in the comment to the judges about America not being able to ‘get to know her’.

But from what we saw, we don’t really want to know you, honey.

She totally hit the hallmark of an untrained and inexperienced singer, she pushed down on notes she held.  Not even push down – she just sat on them and let them sag like a plastic surgeon’s 90-year-old widow.  She even broke into an entirely wrong key halfway through that song.  She couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, even if it was strapped to her track-star thigh muscles. Overdone. Twice baked. Pitchy…I agree with Randy:

Would have been better if it was in tune.
- Randy

Yeah.  That’s kind of the baseline around here…

Nick Mitchell (Normand Gentle)

Wow!  All I can say is Wow!

Will Normand Gentle be the undoing of American Idol?  I think so!

All the truly awful contestants who come on the show (from William Hung to Sanjaya) all have one thing in common – they think they can actually sing, and they really believe they can be the American Idol. They buy into the concept of the show and we all laugh at them for not knowing how bad they are.

Nick, on the other hand, is not a bad singer – but has created this character that is not a great singer – totally subverting the whole concept of American Idol.  Suddenly we now have a contestant playing by a different set of rules – rather than coming out week after week to peel paint off the walls and show off his vocal prowess, his strategy is to be so unexpected and outlandish and endearing that you can’t help but smile and vote for him.

By appearing as his alter-ego every week and hiding is actual musical talent behind a comic persona, he is in part mocking the very concept of the show — and the best part is — America is digging it!

This has got to be American Idol’s worst nightmare.  He threatens the very credibility of this program, just as Sanjaya did in Season 6.  If Nick gets into the top 12, the question is how far can he go?  Can he continue to entertain his way to the top of the program?

Well, sad to say it was the best performance of the night thus far.

Kara, in trying to explain his genius made an analogy:

You come out and wear the same shirt, like Simon, every week.
- Kara

And before the commercial, Ryan really hits the nail on the head…

This is live, can you tell?
- Ryan Seacrest

Back after the commercial and wondering what we are going to do to top Normand Gentle… and we have Allison… who appears she is intoxicated during her interview, and not giving a coherent answer to any question Ryan poses.  Poor Ryan… he is having a rough night.

Allison Iraheta

So, Allison had something that none of the other contestants as yet demonstrated… and what I think is the key to the early rounds: to relax.  She was relaxed and had fun (even if it was due to the use of controlled substances).

I will say that she is by far most put together we’ve seen so far this season… even rivaling Danny from last week.  She has a great musky quality to her voice, but can really blow in the high ranges as well…

Does someone have a drug test, though???  Really.  They talk about steroids in baseball?  I think we all oughta focus a little more on drugs in the music business!

Kris Allen

When they said he was singing “Man in the Mirror” we all heaved a collective sigh… I thought he was doomed from his song choice.

One thing is for sure: Kris is a proud graduate of the David Archuleta School of Hand Motions.  Man… he is awkward.

BUT

I am surprised to say that he really did a good job with the song!  He had good pitch, made it his own (as far as that’s possible with Michael Jackson songs) and made me a believer.  He could go somewhere in this compeition.

It did have a distinct “white boy singing Michael Jackson” vibe – so it’s weird – but he really sang the heck out of it.

Keep your eye on this one.

Megan Joy Corkrey

She picked the right song for her voice.  She does that kind of boring, slacker, bar singer thing pretty well…  I just don’t think it’s enough for this competition.  The format of this always favors the ones who can peel the paint off the walls and get people out of their chairs.  When she stays in the lazy, low register, she sounds great, but if she tries to get up into the rafters she just pushes too hard and it sounds like she is hurting herself.

And again with the selling people:

you could be very viable in this market
-Kara

Is that a compliment?  “I promise, you could totally sell yourself out there…”

I’m just about to label Kara the Grand “Madame” of the music business…

Matt Britezkie

Does Season 8 have enough heart for two blue collar worker dudes, or does having Michael in kill Matt’s chances?  Will Normand et al steal too many votes?  The song was nothing special.  Didn’t do himself any favors by that, and he is forgettable by my standards.  If he stays in, he’ll be one of the first out – which is sad, cause I like him better than I like Michael Sarver.

Jesse Langseth

I do like her voice, and I liked her song choice.  It’s a unique song that people might remember her for.  But she’s kind of competing for too many other people’s votes.  I think she comes in somewhere in the middle of the pack.  At this point you have to make a memorable splash, and I don’t think this song will have done it for her.

She’s does get the Brooke White award for totally trying to carry on a conversation with the judges, being impressionable and sensitive to their comments, and really genuinely caring too much.

Kai Kalama

Can someone give this guy a comb or a pick?  Either your hair should be in a fro, or not.  You are in a very dangerous middle ground that I simply can’t support right now.

For the singing… meah…. I’m no fan.  I’m not sure he was connected to the music at all.  I think I would put this into the cruise ship singer category.

Mishavonna Hensen

She has nice self-indulgent moments in between each phrase.  She has nice a solid voice, and sounded alive.  She really engaged with her son, I think.  She is a comer… and is working hard for the girl slot.  The self-indulgence is off putting, though.  Simon and Kara were getting to that, but didn’t quite get there.

Adam Lambert

Oh Adam… dear Adam… what do I do with you, my friend?

First, Adam is one of my people… direct from the musical theatre stage, so I understand him, and am qualified to break him down!  Musical Theatre stars have a huge problem – besides the fact that they tend to play everything too big for the screen.  The problem is that they live in such a netherworld of scripted musical reality that they have a hard time being truly creative and real.  They have very little human experience to draw from to add depth and meaning to their music.

Now, the dude has some crazy, crazy pipes, though he does get kind of nasally and shouty when he goes way up there – not like a typical rocker.  Musically, he is leaps and bounds in front of the others.

But there is so much that is wrong about him – that I don’t like about him – and that I think America won’t like about him in the long term:  the eyeliner, the bling, the self-assuredness, the feigned humility… I could go on and on.  He pushing too hard, too indulgent, too disingenuous. He has the “I practiced this too much in front of the mirror” syndrome with his whole fake smile/sneer lips, too.

Unless he can come across a little less put on, I don’t think he has a long-term chance with the American people, despite his amazing talents.

My Top 3

1. Allison
2. Normand
3. Kris

Who is Going to Be Top 3

1. Adam
2. Allison
3. Normand

Getting In On a Wildcard

1. Matt Giraud
2. Kris

Wow… Doogie Howser and Ted Danson are in the audience.  I’m star struck.

That being said, let’s take ‘em one by one…

Jackie Tohn

We never got to see her in the Hollywood Round. So I’m not really excited about her. She’s trying really hard, and what’s up with those sneakers – Are high tops coming back in? And what’s up with the reflective pants?

Perfect is sometimes boring.
-Paula

Thank you, Paula.  Way to open the season up right with a stupid comment.  Let ‘em flow!

BAM!  Then Simon came out the gate hard at her!!!  Yeah!  Nice work, Simon!  Way to keep the bar high.

Ricky Braddy

We didn’t even see him on the auditions did we?  Great song choice, I think.  He needed to shave the sides of his ears.  With the back lighting you see the fuzzy ears.  I like his vocals, I’m just not sure he is or has “it” — but he is good.  Some times he does weird things with his mouth which makes the tone do funky things.

Alexis Grace

Nice bold lip color.  She is working that microphone, hard core!  Trash it up, yo.  I mean, to sing the blues you gotta dig, and I think she accomplished that. But I have to say that I disagree with Simon.  She was really into it, but I think the whole thing was a little ‘put on’ – a little Tatinana-esque.  I just didn’t totally believe it.

Oh yeah… and …Drink Coke… Buy Ford

Now a shout-out to Seacrest for his MAD SKILLZ at hosting AI.  When the tape didn’t run of Brent Keith, he totally was solid under pressure.  He’s been doing this like 8 years.  You would think he could have done that interview with his eyes closed.

Brent Keith

Snoozer.  He maybe should have chosen more of a slow, tender ballad.  He just didn’t have the power to really do that country song. At least he went down swingin’ – taking a few hits at Simon!  He should have just gone over there and decked him!  Then I’d have voted for him. He’s barely keeping it together during the interview too… wow.  He was P.O’ed.

Stevie Wright

The top of the song was too low for her, and her voice was super-shaky.  Oh… Sad.  Just so sad.  So pitchy.  All over the place.  This was a bad bad thing.  Poor lady.

Which all led to the best quote of the night:

Paula: “America Votes…”
Simon: “Yes, but they listen to me…”

She’s a cute girl, though… maybe a career in modeling?

Anoop Dawg

Besides his eyebrows, I’m really excited for him.  I’ve never seen an Indian guy who could sing like him.  Sadly, though, he went to the David Archuleta School of Stage Presence.  (Which is probably as widly successful as Paula’s little fake star jewelry)

I really like him, though, and I’d like to see him in the next round – just to see what he can do.  He has a great voice, but I’m not sure this is the song he needed to catapult him into the next round.

I got mad love for you
- Randy

He is a class act, and he is hugely likable.  Let’s hope that’s enough to get him through.

Can I just take this moment in the middle to say that Ryan is looking more and more like a grown up each year?  A little less fake bake.  A little less open shirt action.  Nice touch, Ryan.

Casey Carlson

She kind of looks like my cousin Rachal.  The subtext of her song seems to be: “I’m lookin’ hot, huh.  I’m gonna say the lyric ‘turn him on’ now.  Bam.  I did it.  I’m super cute.  Awesomeness!  K.  Remember to open your mouth on the long notes.. nice and wide.”  It’s too bad.  Sad, sad, sad.  Bad.  The song was just too big for her.  Way too big. Even the track sounded like a karaoke track.

Michael Sarver

That was a train wreck… or an oil rig wreck… or whatever.  Not great.  My guess is the judges pick him as the wildcard when he doesn’t make it through.

Anne Marie Boskovitch

Well, the song was bigger than her, and the middle was WAY shaky.  The end, though, was good.  Way good.  I thought she almost made it happen there at the end.  Oh well.  Better luck next year.  I don’t think it was enough, especially after the tongue lashing she got from the judges.

Stephen Fowler

He’s took a big chance with the song choice, and totally pooped it.  It was super-poopy.  Big poop.  I’m talking diaper blowout with streaks up the back.  EWWWW!

He isn’t going anywhere with such a poor performance of a song that’s indelibly linked to Michael Jackson.  The song killed him, but I think he’s a candidate for the Judge’s wild card pick as well.

Tatiana DelToro

This girl is going to be my undoing.  Her voice is actually not terrible, but I can’t even stand to look at her.  She is so awkward and young and insecure.  And, yes, wearing Paula’s ring on her microphone hand.

She is totally schizophrenic, too! When asked where she fits into the music business by Kara, she replies:

I fit everywhere.
- Tatiana

She is just a complete mess.

You are desperate to be famous.  …A complete and utter drama queen.
- Simon

I couldn’t have said it better, Simon.

If she wants to “market” herself, I know a few street corners she can work, but please don’t make me watch her sulk in front of the cameras any more!

FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE, FAKE.

Danny Gokey

The best of the night, as expected, was Danny.  Ending was great.  Beginning was nice.  The song was nice.  He was for reals when he sings.  He’s not putting on a show, he’s not.

Conclusion

A HUGE disappointment for the first night!!  Thought it was going to be a killer night, and I am really sad that some of the ones I was totally counting on let me down.  Danny is the only one who earned it tonight.  Everyone else who makes it through is just getting a lucky second chance.

Here are My Picks:

Top 3

1. Danny (and Jamar)
2. Doogie Howser
3. Ted Danson / Santa Claus

Needs another chance

1. Anoop
2. Ricky
3. Stephen Fowler
4. Anne Marie

Take Them or Leave Them

1. Alexis
2. Stephen Fowler

Worst

1. Tatiana
2. Stevie
3. Casey

My Guest’s Picks

Best

1. Jacky
2. Alexis
3. Danny

Worst

1. Stevie
2. Casey

… Simon flips off America!  What a great way to start off Season 8!!!

This girl was very excited to get to hug Paula.  Simon got a hug from her first, but she wasn’t quite as excited.

Simon and I were right.  This was the first girl I really liked.  She has a nice quality to her voice, but I kind of wish we could have heard a second song.  She looks like she practiced her song way too long in front of the mirror – she had pre-programmed mouth movements and everything.

This was the second girl I really liked.  She has a lovely musky quality to her voice, and was super natural in front of the judges and cameras – not put on at all.  Hope she stands out enough among the freaks in Hollywood.

And now for the worst of the night…

Michael Gerr!

… or as I will call him…

“GRRRRRR!”

This guy is like a cross between someone from the Adams family, the Munsters, and Gollum from Lord of the Rings.

(oh, and a shout out to Bulgaria!)

And now for something substantive:

I really like Kara DioGuardi.  She knows what she’s doing, and she hasn’t totally wrecked the show (yet).  I don’t know if this is a long term strategy or a short term one for Idol, but so far it’s OK. The only problem is for Randy and Paula who will get stuck playing 3rd and 4th fiddle and who are already becoming less and less relevant to the show.  Before, they would team up against Simon, but now with Kara in the middle and stealing limelight from them, it is just a matter of time before one or both of them will find something better to do with their time.

Now, Kara, darling.  You did break a cardinal rule of judging when you sang the song better than the contestant.  Listen to me honey – take this piece of free advice from me and Simon (we know).  Never open yourself up to the contestant.  Ever.  You have to maintain your haughty superiority… always!  Busting out and singing like that totally set you up to be attacked by the bikini wearing, freak of a contestant.  So, you gotta learn, girl!

Don’t worry, you’ll have the artist driven out of you soon enough, though.  And it will be replaced by a cruel shell of a person… you know… like Simon and I.

Oh, and Simon: nice to see you again, old chap.  Your presence on my television is like a warm blanket of hatred and loathing.  I have missed you my kindred brother.

Here’s to a great next 5 months!!!

(P.S. This is what happens to me on Friday afternoon when everyone logs out and leaves work early, and I’m stuck here.)

The Miracle of Christmas Poo

Barack’s speech was a very high-level, kitchen sink speech.  He is basically going to do everything in the world when he’s president.  McCain’s speech just served to reaffirm that which we think he will already do. So I think I have a much more solid idea of what McCain’s priorities are.  Barack, still not so much.

However, the best part of the convention came at the balloon drop where certain members of that “elite media” were given large red X’s to stand on… and poor Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC/NBC got exactly what was coming to her…

Last night’s headliner was Michelle Obama, and can I just say that I am now more excited about Michelle than I am about Barack and McCain combined?  Call me young and idealistic, but you can’t help but watch her and be amazed by her beautiful vision of our country.  And man can this woman can give a speech!

Forget Barack… I want Michelle Obama for President!  At least she can get through a complete thought without pausing awkwardly in the middle, like Barack.

(Someone does need to teach her the right way to say “Iraq”, though.  The public television people are probably curled in the fetal position over in the corner…)

A while ago, on my way home from church, I was listening to a mix CD of Sunday music. When the song “His Hands” came on, I quickly pressed the next button, but unfortunately it was too late… the other person in my car had identified the tune. “I LOVE that song… why did you change it?” they said. So I was forced to go back and let them listen to it.

It took the rest of the trip home to try and explain the following:

Growing up, I listened to a lot of Mormon pop music. A lot. It mostly grew out of the fact that I often sang in church, so I tended to listen for new material, and to be part of that universe. I was practically an authority on all things Perry or Cope.

Mo-Pop exploded in the late 80′s and 90′s with a plethora of really, really sappy songs.  “In the Hollow of thy Hand” comes to mind.  These songs seemed to take the religion out of the music and put in all the emotional pop elements.  They focused on love and human relations rather than God, Jesus, and our ability to transcend this existence through them. Many were created specifically with the EFY (especially for youth) program in mind, thinking they could more easily get a young person to feel something if they just put in some guitars and drums.  Music in our services took a sharp turn for the worse during this time as people broke away from the rigid old standards and embraced this funky new pop music, while still trying to tame it for the old people’s ears.

Then I went to college and my world started opening up. I quickly learned how one dimensional my world view was, and how incomplete my understanding of human diversity was due to the level at which I had been saturated by Mormon Pop Media.  What do I mean by this?  When I would read something, I would pass a quick judgment based on my world view that was often very reductive.  In other words, I didn’t really take into consideration all of the possibilities and nuances of the totality of the situation.  I would just reduce it down to some nugget that my simple head could digest, and call it good.  The problem was that all of my papers, performances, and classwork was coming off as notoriously one-dimensional with broad overuse of stereotypes and generalizations.

Eventually, higher education (especially humanities and literature classes) forced me to actually consider and digest people and situations that were outside of my world view.  It took a while, but eventually I was no longer looking at the world through a rose-colored lens, and I started seeing things that were central to my own worldview in a whole new light.

I realized how manipulative my church music and videos were, and grew to violently resented art that manipulated me.

A little more history…

In the 1970′s, when my church was first learning to use film and media, they decided to make several films that were ‘morality plays’, vignettes which took a sympathetic protagonist and basically did something very awful to them or with them to teach a lesson.

For example, Cipher in the Snow was about a teenage boy who was overweight and ugly who everyone ignored.  At the end of the movie we see him collapse in the snow in a moment of suicidal depression.  Apparently, this movie was supposed to spur a discussion on how you can be a better friend and include others.  Really it was just confusing, sad, and frankly disturbing.

My all time favorite was “I’ll Build you a Rainbow”, the story of a young boy who has the coolest mom in the world.  She plays football with him and his friends, and life is just grand.  She is his best friend.  Then she dies of cancer.  Everyone is all choked up as she is whisked away in the ambulance until the little boy comes over to his dad, tugs at his jacket and says, “It’s all right Dad, families can be together forever.”  Music swells and chorus refrain sings… “I’ll build you a rainbow… way up high above!”  Cue the audience sobbing.

So what makes something manipulative?  It’s a fine, fine line.  In my definition, manipulative media is such that is requires you to feel or react a certain way rather than asking you to.  It forces you to cry.  It begs you, “please please please cry at me.”  It often violently swings between emotional extremes to push you over the edge.

Thankfully, the church media department has since seen the error of their ways, and since the late 80′s, we’ve been creating video that is much more honest.  I think we reached a new high on this venture with the church’s recent ad campaign, which is one of the most honest, human things I’ve ever seen them produce:

I’ve really picked on my church here in this blog, mostly because they’re an easy target based on my long history with them.  But these same principles apply to all media out there.  As a society, we consume media too much like we consume fast food – without any care as to its actual contents.

I get sick of TV shows and films which require me to think or feel a certain way.  The extremely didactic Michael Moore documentaries and a plethora of other TV media come to mind.

So my plea?  Don’t be a blind consumer of media.  Don’t just sit back and bottom feed on whatever sludge is thrown your way, no matter how much you trust the source.  Become a fine media connoisseur, just as you might become a connoisseur of fine foods.  Don’t settle for mere table scraps.  Don’t allow yourself to be manipulated by something.  Question it.  Poke at it.  Ask it if it’s being honest with you and the universe.

Chances are, it’s not.

They really front loaded the show tonight with the amazing dancers.  Twitch and Kherington were amazing.  Only Kherington could look that good in an orange jumpsuit, and I loved their matching fake glasses.  The guys are working the popularity vote like crazy!  And I think it’s working.

Gev and his partner were also a-freaking-mazing.  The rumba was totally hot, and her dress was amazing!

I liked Tice’s choreography with the African themed jazz thing, and I didn’t think they did as bad as the judges made them out to be.

Will and Jessica… Disco?  Well, she just looks like a robot compared to him.  He needs a new partner before she sinks him.

I still can’t stand Matt.  I’m not sure what it is about him.

I love Thayne and Chelsea.  They’re quirky and fun, but what was up with their song… Can’t hurry love?  Come on… crappy song choice.  It just didn’t fit the dance style at all for me – and they didn’t do very well either… oops.

Mr Axe Murderer and Yet-Another-Chelsea… besides the fact that I can’t ever remember their names… I absolutely, positively, really loved this choreography, and they did a really good job with it, too.

This one deserved a video.  I think it might stand out as one of the best routines of the year, on par with the bench routine from Season 2 and the table routine of Season 3.  You know why?  All of those were incredible stories.  The other two or three awesome routines tonight were fun, sexy, and well executed, but this is the one we remember because of it’s really cool story.

I have to ask, who is this Joshua guy that keeps showing up every week with his gangsta grill and hair, and who is just an INCREDIBLE dancer!  He tears it up every week when I’m just absoulely sure he’s going to tank… Broadway?  Jazz?  Samba?  He can do it all!  Talk about unexpected… this guy is sick!

Ramiele

I was writhing in agony…. It’s painful. I’m cringing… you know it’s bad when I am totally focusing on listening to the backup singers more. You were all over the place, pitch-wise. It was shouty, it was awful. “I give you credit and brave” is what Paula says… I say, I give you a big fat plane ticket home. That was terrible, and Simon couldn’t have been wrong-er.

And what’s up with the stupid “my voice went bye bye” cutsie thing…

She may as well have been saying, “where’s my binky!”

Jason

When this guy sits down with his guitar and sings, he does one of two things, either he transports us to a new world, or he just goes there himself without really taking us along.

It was as ‘just fine’ performance, but he totally went to that other world tonight without taking us there with him. I think that’s the difference between the ‘chum with a guitar in the subway’ (as simon would say) and a real artist.

With performances like this you will make it into the top 5 or so, but unless you do something else, you are sunk soon.

Oh, and be careful, you’re teetering on pulling an Amanda… not visibly caring enough on TV about what happens in the competition.

Syesha

In spite of you being engaged now you are still my WOOMAN, and this was an awesome performance. So engaging and beautifully executed. It wasn’t quite the breakout moment as David’s “Imagine”, but it was brilliant!

I am totally upset at the judges for their less than glowing comments on this one. I thought it was one of your best performances since Hollywood week, and they were just lukewarm on it. GRRRR…

She really doesn’t deserve a video, but I went ahead and made one anyway, cause I was so excited for her to finally do really well, and ticked at the judges for not acknowledging it… (I’ve been waiting for this!)

Chickezie

I am now official fans of the EZE Family! His parents are awesome.

“Chickezie is like smooth milk chocolate!” TLB says. I think I agree.
I loved it. I couldn’t disagree more with those judges (again). I thought this was a great moment for him. I don’t think he picked up a lot of new fans with the song, but it was MUCH better than they gave him credit for.

Brooke

With every step you take… I’m watching you Brooke White. You are just lovely and blonde.

I thought it was good, aside from forgetting your first pitch. I thought your playing the piano didn’t add a whole lot to the song, and you would have sold it better up on your feet.

Oh, and I love how you went to a totally black outfit tonight after last week’s SUNSHINE EXTRAVAGANZA! (maybe a slight overcorrection… but oh well)

Michael

Well, I will say that this is much better than his past 3-5 weeks. He did leave it out there, but it still didn’t quite do it for me. I didn’t think he should have started with We Will Rock You. The transition was awkward, and he couldn’t hit the high notes in the middle. I’m not convinced. It seemed like a great, fun choice, a real crowd pleaser, but nothing I would go out and buy a CD over.

Carly

Man… she sang the devil out of that song. I thought the arrangement was bad, it didn’t back up what she was throwing down out there. It was slightly forgettable for me.

Whats up with Randy’s little fits tonight? Somebody put a quarter in him, cause he’s coming out with all kinds of opinions tonight!

David A

The little Archuleta siblings dancing their Mexican dance was freaking amazing.

Too bad I can’t say the same about Little Davy’s song tonight. Being the only one with the liberty to pick a song from the 90′s, I would expect that he would have picked a MUCH better song. The beginning was shaky… really shaky for me… He sold it by the end, though (in spite of the bouncing up and down all over the stage) He moves almost as awkwardly as me.

Two weeks with terrible song choices does not bode well for America’s favorite 17 year old.

Kristy

I’m going to say it since Simon didn’t get a chance to: this is exactly what I would have heard at any local state fair!

HOWEVER – It was probably the smartest song choice a contestant in her position has ever made on American Idol. The judges and audience can’t pan the song, and likewise they can’t pan the singer. She now has the entire southern and ‘heartland’ vote tonight. Smart cookie, even if the song was a cheesy, karaoke version of the original.

David C

So if Kristy Lee Cook is the BAD COOK on American Idol this year, then David Cook is the GOOD Cook. In fact, he’s like the gourmet five star executive chef! Bringing together flavors and memorable entrees for weeks now!

It was stunning. It was brilliant. I had to watch it over and over and over again. Then we watched it yet again even. Brilliant.

With David’s performance tonight, he has cracked my upper echelon of American Idol contestants this year. Previously this position was only held by David A (who has been slipping lately). David Cook is gaining solid ground in my top 2.

This one deserves a video: (only the 2nd video yet)

And now for predictions:

Bottom 3

TLB: Ramiele, Kristy, Jason C
Braun: Ramiele, Kristy, Carly

WhiteEyebrows: Ramiele, Chickezie, Kristy

Who Should Go (We all agree): (umm… i don’t know… anyone who pouts a lot and has a comb over… or who says “bye bye” a lot)

Who Will Go (Brauns): Ramiele
Who Will Go (WhiteEyebrows): Kristy (she’s got to be sick of hanging out in the bottom 3 every week… put her out of her misery already, America!)