Top 36: Group 2...The Show Must Go On

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm already about sick of American Idol this season. I don't know exactly what it is....but I am continually finding myself annoyed as I watch. Tonight's episode had me bored and antsy. Hopefully it will get better as the season moves along...hopefully.

This new format just isn't working for me. I don't want to have to get to know 36 contestants before I can pick a favorite. I'm frustrated when my favorites don't perform like I'm expecting them to (Stevie Wright and Matt Giraud). And, more than anything, it just takes so dang long to watch two long episodes a week full of commercial breaks and mediocre talent. And those judges?! Oh, the humanity! I have never in my life heard four people use so many words to say absolutely nothing at all. If I hear one more thing about "song choice" I think I'm going to throw my remote control through the screen.

I'm really rooting for my American Idol to pull through....otherwise, I fear this may just be my last season. And that makes me sad.

Okay, now that I have that off my chest, here's what I thought about tonight's show:

Paula is gone. Kara is afraid of looking stupid. Randy is NOT afraid of looking stupid. And Simon occasionally has something intelligent to say.

Jasmine Murray: Love Song - Sara Bareilles. When Jasmine first began singing, I thought she might be a reincarnation of Stevie Wright from last week. She started out way too low for her register and sounded terrible. She sort of got it together (more than Stevie ever did, anyway) later on in the song, but she definitely isn't the caliber of performer American Idol is looking for. Rating: 6

Matt Giraud: Viva La Vida - Coldplay. I was incredibly disappointed by Matt's performance tonight. He was one of my favorites from the earlier rounds and I know he is a very talented musician. Here's what I think the problem is: Matt's voice is good, but it's not necessarily technically precise. He's more of a gritty blues singer, and he compensates for the vocals with the use of his piano. I don't think he's very comfortable singing without a piano, and it showed tonight. Oh man, I really hope this guy gets a wild card. Rating: 6

Jeanine Vailes: This Love - Maroon 5. Oh my. There's a reason why Jeanine was never showcased in the audition or Hollywood rounds...the judges knew she would never make it. She was nothing more than Top 36 filler. Sorry to say that, but it's obvious. Jeanine was singing in a different key than the band playing behind her. And that "diva hand"? I almost thought she was trying to generate some momentum so she could fly away. Rating: 5

Nick Mitchell: And I Am Telling You - Dreamgirls. What a joke (and no, that's not a compliment)! For anyone else, performing a song you had already done during Hollywood week would receive stern chastisement from the judges. But the judges, in their fogged oblivion, continue to throw compliments to Nick/Norman about what an amazing entertainer he is. Well, I'm sorry, but I felt like I was watching a rerun. We have seen Nick do that same exact bit before. It wasn't that funny then, and it definitely wasn't funny now. Nick's performance was nothing more than 3 minutes of my life that I'll never get back. He doesn't even deserve a rating from me.

I can understand what Nick is doing. American Idol is the biggest TV show in the nation...and if you wanted to get recognized for your talent (whatever that talent is), of course the best venue to be recognized would be on national television, on the show with the most viewers. I get that.

What I don't understand, however, is why American Idol is trying to hold onto Nick. Is this season's talent pool really that low, that they have to rely on someone who isn't even a singer? On any previous season, someone like Nick would have been showcased in an audition episode and then sent on his merry way...I'm sure this is what Nick was expecting. But why is he still on the show, not singing well, and--honestly--not really being that funny? It's a mystery to me.

Allison Iraheta: Alone - Heart. Well, the biggest surprise of the night for me was Allison. I remember seeing her audition and thinking that he really wasn't that good. But her voice tonight sounded so rich and full. She was without a doubt in the top 2 performances of the evening. I just hope she made a name for herself tonight so she can continue on. Rating: 9

Kris allen: Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson. Kris should have chosen a song that would have shown off his range better. Michael Jackson is known as an entertainer, but nobody ever said his singing was great. I'm continually baffled at why people want to sing his songs on this show. Kris's performance fell flat, and I don't think we'll see him again, unless miraculously, the judges decide to bring him back for the wild card show. Rating: 6

Megan Corkrey: Put Your Records On - Corrine Bailey Rae. Megan is (yes, that's present tense) my favorite person in the competition this season. I love her unique voice and her free spirited style. I was concerned about how Megan's voice would sound when she started to sing more contemporary songs. I think she made a great choice for tonight's show. She was able to make the song her own and make a memorable performance. Was it perfectly on pitch? No. There were some bad notes in there, and her dancing was a little strange...but I just can't help pulling for this girl. I think she could really be successful. Rating: 8

Matt Breitzke: If You Could Only See - Tonic. Matt sounded alright...but he fell into doing an impression of the original song with his performance...right down to the strange pronunciation of the word "could" (it is NOT "kuud"). I like that song, but that always bothered me...call me picky. Rating: 7 Another thing I noticed about Matt....his dancing is like watching slow motion. That made me laugh.

Jesse Langseth: Bette Davis Eyes - Kim Carnes. Jesse had some parts of her song that were really good and other parts that were really bad. I guess that makes her a neutral in my book. I think Jesse took the easy way out this week. She should have chosen a current song and made it her own, but instead, she chose an old favorite. Simon was right: she is forgettable. Rating: 7

Kai Kalama: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted - Jimmy Ruffin. Oh boy. Kai's performance had me stifling the laughter (the only reason I was stifling was because I was watching with someone who liked him). From his "sexy" faces to his cheesy dancing to his mentions of his ailing mother...it was just all over the top. Kai was trying way too hard tonight. His voice is nice to listen to, but he was born about 50 years too late. And his hair looks like Sideshow Bob. Rating: 6

Mishavonna Henson: Drops of Jupiter - Train. Mishavonna sounded pretty good with her song. I was surprised by her, too, because I didn't like the little bit I heard during Hollywood Week. I can't figure out why the younger ones on the show tonight are the most seasoned performers...it doesn't make much sense to me. I was impressed by Mishavonna...although, her ending note sucked. Rating: 7

Adam Lambert: Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones. I think Adam is on a different caliber than most of the other contestants this season. It's almost as if he's TOO good. I prefer to see contestants who are vulnerable and imperfect....and then they progress throughout the season, so that they're ready to record by the time they get to the finals. I think in that sense, Adam isn't very relatable. His voice is unbelievable, though, it reminds me of Freddie Mercury from Queen (my favorite!). Rating: 9

My predictions for this week: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, and (I'm going out on a limb here) Megan Corkrey

Currently Listening to: The Show Must Go On by Queen

Season 8: Top 36 Performances - Group 1...Jaded

I have to tell you, I don't think it was a smart idea for American Idol producers to let America decide on the Top 36. With only 3 people from each week making it through, I think people will choose favorites too early, and then lose interest when their favorites are booted early on. But, once again, nobody at the show asked for my opinion...so I'll just passive-aggressively post it in my blog.

A few other brief issues tonight: First of all, Kara is going to need to grow a backbone and an opinion if she is interested in being asked back for next season. Did anyone else think she echoed Randy on every single performance tonight? Kara, if you're going to get your opinions from someone else, please don't let it be Randy. For crying out loud.

And secondly, did anybody else feel embarrassed and insulted by the shameless "pimping" of Mr. Danny Gokey? Man, by the way the judges were falling at his feet, you would think Danny had just singlehandedly saved a litter of puppies from a burning building.

But more on Danny later...here's a rundown of the performances:

Jackie Tohn: A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Pressley. First of all, what made Jackie decide to dress like Peg Bundy? Part of me wonders if she lost a bet and had to wear that outfit. This was not a good performance for Jackie. She sang the song too slowly. She's almost too goofy to be taken seriously at this point. I honestly don't think Jackie has a shot at the Top 12. At first, I found her raspy voice and her wacky humor endearing...now I realize, though, that Jackie's voice isn't really all that strong, and the humor and charisma is probably a mask to cover that up. Hey, Britney Spears uses nudity to compensate for her lack of vocal prowess, why can't Jackie use a couple of jokes and a pair of high top tennis shoes? Sorry, Jackie, I think your time on Idol has expired. Rating: 5

Ricky Braddy: A Song for You - Leon Russell. Ricky isn't to blame for his plight. His lack of exposure thus far in the competition has definitely hurt his chances. But Ricky didn't help anything by dressing like a lounge singer and selecting a boring and old song. He sounded decent, but I've heard better on that song before (namely, Elliot Yamin). Ricky really would have done better with a more current, up tempo song. Rating: 7

Alexis Grace: Never Loved A Man - Aretha Franklin. I don't care for Alexis' new "dirty" style...anyone who is so willing and eager to change herself for the sake of marketing is probably not really sure of who she is as a performer. I think it looks like Alexis is trying too hard to please the judges, and not worrying about what works for her. The pink hair, the red lipstick and the tight black dress just don't suit her. She seems like a girl next door type. Hopefully she figures this out before it's too late. That being said, her rendition of this Aretha song was great. I think Alexis is definitely one of the strongest voices on the show this season, and I'm fairly certain that she'll make it far in the competition. Rating: 8

Brent Keith: Hick Town - Jason Aldean. I really think Brent is a good singer. He knows who he is, and he knows who his fans are....and, most importantly, he knows how to engage them. He made a comment in passing at the end of his judgment from Simon Cowell that will make the country music fans pick up the phones and vote for him. I do think Brent should have chosen a song that would have incorporated a broader vocal range, because we heard him do much more in his initial audition, but for this performance, I think he did great. Rating: 7.5

Stevie Wright: You Belong to Me - Taylor Swift. Wow. I don't know what happened with Stevie. I think she's another prime example of trying too hard to please the judges. At this stage in the competition, I think it's better to stick with what you know. Stevie should have opted for a soulful ballad that would showcase her (usually) incredible voice. Instead, she tried too hard to be contemporary and that, combined with singing in the completely wrong key, and an unimagineable amount of nerves, proved a recipe for disaster. My heart broke for poor Stevie as she struggled to make it through the song. America's going to miss out, because I remember how awe-inspiring Stevie was from her audition. Rating: 5 (because she was really a trooper while she was being raked over the coals by the judges, and then Ryan)

Anoop Desai: Angel of Mine - Monica. What a peculiar song choice, but I think it sort of worked. It was a choice that made me raise my eyebrows, but then it also forced me to really pay attention. Much like Anoop's rendition of My Prerogative during Hollywood Week, this isn't what you would expect him to sing. I thought Anoop sounded a little whiny at some parts, and his style seems a little too old for the show. But he's still a very versatile singer with a lot of talent. Rating: 7

Casey Carlson: Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - The Police. I think we all knew this would go nowhere. It's too bad American Idol isn't a beauty pageant, or a Broadway show, for that matter, because Casey is beautiful enough and dramatic enough to be successful in those venues. The hand gestures and the winking were all a little much for her to expect us to take her seriously. Casey just doesn't have a strong enough voice to make it as a singer. She reminds me of Hayley Scarnato from season 6. Rating: 5.5

Michael Sarver: I Don't Wanna Be - Gavin DeGraw. I love this song just as much as the next guy, but didn't we hear enough of it during the audition rounds and also Hollywood Week? I wish Michael would have made a different choice. I guess his performance was pretty good, but it just seems like everyone who tries to sing that song is doing an impression of Gavin DeGraw. Michael probably should have sung a country song. It seems like that's where he's headed anyway. I thought he sounded pretty good overall. He was a little herky-jerky during his performance, but I'll chalk it up to nerves. Rating: 7

Anne Marie Boskovich: Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin. I thought this was a pretty cliche song choice. Anne Marie looks like she's 40, and she really would have benefited from choosing a song that was more current and fresh. Anne Marie suffered a few voice cracks while she sang, but she was probably one of the better female performers of the evening. She got a little snarky when she made the comment about Sara Bareilles, but I have to say, I admire her candor. She's right, Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" is not as good as "Natural Woman", but on the other hand, it's more appropriate for Anne Marie's voice and her level of experience as a professional singer. Rating: 7

Stephen Fowler: Rock with You - Michael Jackson. It wasn't a good night for people with any form of the name "Steve" tonight. Stephen's rendition of this overrated Michael Jackson song was whiny and flat. He should have made a bigger, better song choice. Something that would have given him a boost of confidence. Something by John Legend or someone like that. On top of all of that, Stephen made a lot of stink faces while he was singing. It was distracting. He certainly didn't perform up to his potential tonight. Rating: 6

Tatiana Del Toro: Saving All My Love - Whitney Houston. I love how Tatiana adopts the Spanish accent whenever she remembers to, but the rest of the time she sounds like she's from Nebraska or anywhere else in the U.S. Tatiana's song may have started out a little too low, and very, very cheesy (with all of the singing into the camera crap), but I was shocked to find that she's actually a decent singer. It's too bad we couldn't see that through all of the theatrics. She's such a basket case, I don't know what she's going to do when she doesn't make it through. Rating: 8

Danny Gokey: Hero - Mariah Carey. Notice how the "chosen one" got to sing in the best spot on the show? I'm not surprised at all....I take that back: I am a little surprised that the Producers are being so blatant about who they are obviously wanting America to vote for. I find it insulting to my intelligence, to be honest. I thought Danny's song choice was cheesy and boring. But I will say that his was the best performance of the night. That was to be expected, though. The judges were laying it on a little thick, don't you think? I thought Kara was going to walk up and start kissing his feet at any moment. Rating: 9

Who will survive this week?

Email me with your picks on the 3 you think will graduate to the Top 12. Each correct guess earns you 2 points for the pool!

You'll also win points if you can answer this bonus question: What did Danny Gokey say he does for a living?

Feel free to let everyone know how you felt about tonight's show by posting a comment.

Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Currently listening to: Jaded by Aerosmith

Season 8: Top 36...I'm Yours

It's official...well, sort of. Last night, American Idol finally named their Top 36 for season 8. According to my sources, however, a slight change has been made involving one of the slots on the Top 36. Apparently, Joanna Pacitti is out and Felicia Barton is in! As a Felicia fan, this is big news for me.

It looks like Joanna had a couple of previously undisclosed working relationships with some of the executives at 19 Management, the company that produces American Idol. Interesting.

There were a few people I was sad to see go, namely Deanna Brown, whose initial audition was nothing short of brilliant. I hope, hope, hope, she'll either try out again next year, or get a record deal on her own, because I really like her voice.

I thought last night's episode was a little cheesy and forced. As if American Idol isn't already dramatic enough without a big, scary mansion and the judges sitting on thrones! And then they just threw it all over the top with the introduction of the "Sing Offs" in which contestants would have to "sing for their lives." Give me a break!

On to the ones who made it...here is MY own personal ranking of the Top 36!

36. Tatiana Del Toro. I hope this girl realizes that she's only on the show for drama's sake. She's an average singer, and an over-the-top personality. All of the American Idol contestants will live together in a mansion this season, complete with cameras and crews following them around. There's no doubt in my mind that Tatiana and her interactions with the other contestants will make for some good TV, but it's really too bad that she took up a spot that could have been held by a more talented contestant. Once the viewers get to vote, I'm sure Tatiana will be out in a heartbeat.

35. Von Smith. If it was possible, my disdain for Von grew even a little more last night as he proceeded to blame his oversinging and poor song choices on his parents, and then went out into the hall only to hug his mom and watch her cry in celebration for him. Man, I do not like this guy.

34. Jasmine Murray. She's cute enough...but her voice isn't very well-trained. She sounds like she's holding her nose while she's singing, and I don't understand why the judges hurl praise at her every single time she opens her mouth.

33. Nathaniel Marshall. I feel like this season is full of people who don't know when to hold back. There isn't a better example than this season's skinny jeans-clad cry baby, Nate. I don't even remember how his voice sounds when he sings because all of his other antics overshadow his voice. I think Nate will turn out to be this season's Danny Noriega--does anyone else remember him?

32. Kendall Beard. Kendall is a country singer. She's cute, she looks good on TV, she's blonde. But her voice is subpar. I don't know how far she'll make it this season.

31. Mishavonna Henson. We haven't seen much of Mishavonna so far this season, but I wasn't too impressed with what I did see. Her voice just left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe she'll win me over in the future, though. Who knows?

30. Nick/Norman Mitchell/Gentle. I thought it was cute when the judges allowed him through to Hollywood based on his original audition, which was funny and charming. Then it slowly started to age, and now, I honestly can't figure out why he's still in the competition. America hasn't even heard Nick sing as himself...ever! Maybe his voice is phenomenal. But he's sort of in a Catch 22 now: If he performs as Norman Gentle, he will never be taken seriously, and people will get tired of it. If he performs as Nick Mitchell, people won't relate to him because he won't be as funny and charismatic as his alterego.

29. Allison Iraheta. I've only heard Allison perform during her original audition. I did not like her voice. She looks like a sweet girl, and she has a lot of experience, but I don't think she has the chops to make it to the Top 12.

28. Casey Carlson. Casey is another girl with an average voice and bombshell looks. She's not horrible, but she's not great either, and I don't think she'll be able to hang with the big dogs when the serious competition starts.

27. Kristen McNamara. Kristen ("the one who can sing") was involved in a sing-off last night with Jen Korbee ("the one who is attractive"). I have to admit, I felt for Kristen when the judges were saying that last night. It's not like she's ugly. She's a pretty girl. And, ironically, I thought the other girl sang better. I think Kristen is really going to have to step up her game if she wants to progress further in the competition. It already looks like some of the judges are not on her side.

26. Ricky Braddy. I feel pretty neutral about Ricky. We saw him a total of once this whole season, and I can't form an opinion about him yet. His singing last night sounded pretty good. Can't wait to see more of him.

25. Jeanine Vailes. I feel the same way about Jeanine. The brief clip they showed of her singing sounded pretty good. We'll see what the future holds.

24. Taylor Vaifanua. Taylor has won me over. I remember that I wasn't sure about her during her audition. I think she's proved to be a pretty good singer. I still can't believe she's only 16.

23. Jesse Langseth. This girl is a mixed bag for me. Once I discovered that she's the sister of Blues singer Johnny Lang, her voice made more sense to me. I'm interested to see what else she can bring.

22. Alexander Wagner-Trugman. Alex had one of my favorite auditions this season. His dead-pan nerdy humor won me over. I think he's a good singer, but he might be a little irrelevant. I see a makeover in his future.

21. Danny Gokey. Danny is an icredible singer...but I'm still on the fence about him. Something just seems amiss to me. Maybe it has to do with the fact that he mentions that he's a widower every chance he gets. It just all seems a little exploitive to me. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong.

20. Kris Allen. From the tiny morsel I've heard from Kris, he's got a great instrument. Unfortunately, he hasn't been showcased enough to be a fan favorite at this point, so I think he may just serve as filler until we get to the Top 12.

19. Anne Marie Boskovich. I think Anne has a very pretty voice. Her downfall will be that she comes across much older than she really is. Maybe she can do something to change that. She already had a staged, fake makeover during her first audition.

18. Matt Breitzke. I was impressed with his first audition, but I thought he bombed the sing-off last night. I think he's lucky to have made it through, but I also think he has an amazing talent. Hopefully he'll kick it up a notch and rise to the top.

17. Ariana Asfar. Ariana would have made a great Disney star. She's so darn cute, and she's squeaky clean, and a very talented singer.....and philanthropic on top of it all. She's the girl who started the Adopt a Grand Friend program in her hometown. I think she'll be a fan favorite.

16. Michael Sarver. I think Michael has a great voice, but he's lacking something. I think he needs to establish more of an identity for himself as an artist because right now I can't figure out if he's trying to be Nick Lachey or Rascal Flatts. He definitely sings better than both of those, though.

15. Scott McIntyre. I was really impressed with Scott's rendition of Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are. Since then, though, I don't know. His style may be too old for American Idol. His story is incredibly inspirational, but I don't know if he'll make enough noise to get the votes.

14. Lil Rounds. Lil was originally one of my favorite auditioners. I still think she's a good singer, but she's becoming a little bland for me. Lately, it seems like she's been oversinging a bit, and I hope she doesn't turn into this season's Syesha Mercado. I still can't figure out why that girl made it to 3rd place!

13. Jorge Nunez. I feel the same way about Jorge. I was originally blown away. Now I can feel the fascination starting to wear off. I'm just not sure American Idol is the right venue for him.

AND NOW FOR MY SEASON 8 TOP 12 (click on each name for a video)

12. Jackie Tohn. Her penchant for cooky outfits and her Janis Joplin-esque vocals make her memorable. Her humor makes it even sweeter. I really hope she makes it to the Top 12.

11. Adam Lambert. Adam is another one who has a habit of doing too much. I hope he'll be able to scale it back a little. But there's no denying his voice is breathtaking.

10. Kai Kalama. Kai has a wonderful voice. I just hope he can gain confidence before it's too late because it seems like he could be his own worst enemy. He botched an audition during Hollywood week, and the judges kept him anyway; clearly they must see something in him.

9. Anoop "Call me Noop Dog" Desai. I love that Anoop is embracing his "geekness". I think it's becoming on him. He would look strange if he showed up in skinny jeans with a skull print applique jacket and emo hair. His voice blows me away every time.

8. Brent Keith Smith. I'm not sure at this point what we're supposed to call him. Sometimes he's listed as Brent Smith, sometimes Brent Keith, and sometimes they go for the three-name thing. Hopefully this will become clearer by next week. I think Brent would be great for Idol. He's got a flawless country voice. And American Idol did pretty well with their Cash Cow Carrie Underwood. Is it time for a male country AI winner?

7. Stephen Fowler. Man, I love his voice. I wish he would have been featured more in the early episodes so we would have a greater feel for who he is as an artist. All I know is, I've loved what I've heard so far from him. And we'll forgive him for messing up David Cook's "Magic Rainbow" song.

6. Felicia Barton. Felicia is lucky. Honestly, she should have made it into the Top 36 anyway. But now that Joanna is out, Felicia is going to have to figure out what she needs to do to impress the judges. I really liked her audition, and a video I found on You Tube of her performing at Virginia Beach.

5. Alexis Grace. I must say, Alexis' new rockstar makeover doesn't suit her well. She looked better as her natural self. The pink hair, all flipped out, is too distracting. I am still enamored with her voice, though. American Idol needs to focus on more unique singers like her.

4. Stevie Wright. I was so glad to see that Stevie had made it to the Top 36. She's only 16, but she seems mature beyond her years. Her singing is sweet and effortless. And her rendition of At Last was perfection.

3. Ju'Not Joyner. Hey may have never been featured prior to last week, but Ju'Not is an unbelievable musician. He reminds me of John Legend. I can't wait to hear him perform again.

2. Matt Giraud. Matt hsas a natural talent. He plays for a dueling piano bar in Michigan, and he just seems like the "everyman". I love his gruff voice and his easy going demeanor. I think he's one of the mot talented contestants on the show this season. American Idol has never had someone like him before.

1. Megan Corkrey. Idol has also never seen anything like Megan. Her jazzy voice is astounding and simple. I loved her audition. I know she's an unconventional choice for my top contender, but I think American Idol needs to branch out and choose someone who is a little unconventional.

Which contestants would be in your Top 12?

Next week, we'll see the first group of 12 perform. I'm not sure how this will all work. I believe the judges select a final group of 12 from the Top 36, and that's when America starts voting.

Currently listening to: I'm Yours by Jason Mraz

Season 8: Hollywood Week Episodes 1 & 2...Chain of Fools

Hollywood Week is back and better than ever!....well, sort of.




I was happy to see the rebirth of the Group Performances this week. What can I say, I guess I'm a sucker for a good cat fight.



Other than that, we had Barry Manilow (seriously?), a Ford Commercial, already, and a few contestants who really grew on me....oh, alright, and a few who managed to still annoy me.



Lil Rounds - This girl is still phenomenal. I'm sure she'll be in the Top 12. I thought her version of the Whitney song was a little showy, but I suppose there's never a better time to be showy than when you're trying to stand out among 100 people. CLICK HERE for a video of Lil.



Anoop Desai - I was reminded this week of just how great his voice is. Can't wait to hear more from him in the coming weeks. CLICK HERE for a video of Anoop.



Stephen Fowler - We didn't get to see Stephen's audition, and I can't figure out why because he has an incredible voice! I'd like to hear more of it. CLICK HERE for a video of Stephen.



Jorge Nunez - This guy doesn't really have anything that we haven't seen before, but I think he has one of the best male voices in the competition so far. Hopefully he'll hang in there because I think he's an awesome singer. CLICK HERE for a video of Jorge.



Jackie Tohn - I like her more now than I did before. She's hilarious. And her voice is really growing on me. I think she's a contender for the Top 12. CLICK HERE for a video of Jackie.



Danny Gokey - I have to say--I wasn't too thrilled that American Idol chose to showcase a sobbing widower just as he was about to audition. I thought it was a little exploitative..and I thought Danny maybe had made a poor decision in allowing American Idol into that aspect of his life. I don't want to question his motives, though..I don't know the guy. All I can say is, his voice blew me away this week. I really like the husky quality he has, and I think he's a great singer. CLICK HERE for a video of Danny.



Adam Lambert - I wasn't too crazy about Adam when he first auditioned...but I can admit when I'm wrong (sometimes). His singing during the group performance was flawless. He's still a little theatrical, but I can't believe what an awesome vocalist he is. CLICK HERE for a video of Adam.



Nick/Norman Mitchell/Gentle - I'm not sure about this guy. I thought it was all a publicity stunt when he made it to Hollywood. But now that he's there, he's actually entertaining. They haven't really showcased his voice that much, but I'm thinking it must be pretty good if he's still in the running. We'll see....All I know is that he made me laugh.



Matt Giraud, Kris Allen, India Morrison, Justin Williams - Any group that chooses to do an a capella number for their group performance is pretty great in my book. CLICK HERE for video.




And now for the people I didn't hold in such high regard:


Jasmine Murray - I still think she is singing out of her nose. She's a beautiful girl, and with some more training, she might be better, but I don't think she really deserved to stay. CLICK HERE for a video of Jasmine.



Von Smith - Oh my. This kid should never be allowed within a 3-foot radius of a microphone. How is it possible for someone to scream that loudly while he's singing. I am pretty sure that Von is his own biggest fan. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong. He was on The View awhile back singing a song from Dreamgirls. CLICK HERE for a video of Von (if you can stand it).



Bikini Girl - And finally we see the overdue expiration of Katrina's time on American Idol. I can't figure out why they spent so much time on her, and why she was allowed to stay for so long. And by the way, wasn't it convenient that Katrina's little crying spell happened to be when the cameras were on her? And isn't it convenient that she left her microphone pack turned on and left the hotel room door open while she went into her room sobbing to her roommate about how hurt she was? Just an observation. I'm sure she'll pop up again somewhere...maybe she'll get her own MTV reality show...or maybe she'll be a centerfold.



Nathaniel Marshall - What a stinking drama queen. I don't think he would be able to hack it if he actually made it into the Top 12. CLICK HERE for a video of Nathaniel crying.



Tatiana Del Toro - I am positive that this girl is only on the show for ratings...because she's CRAZY. I hope the freak show ends soon. CLICK HERE for a video of Tatiana.



So, who has your vote so far...and who are you wishing will get booted?


I believe next week is when they finally decide on the Top 36...I can't wait!





Currently Listening To: Chain of Fools by Aretha Frankin