TOP 13 - This is American Idol and this is ME!

This is American Idol....and THIS is ME! Rubbertoe in 20 seconds: I love theme parks, and spicy food...I love to shop in thrift shops and collect really bad albums based on the album covers. I'm left-handed and I love beer! First up...Dexter...was it me? I couldn't understand a word he said in the five things about him. This is not his best performance. It seems really flat to me. Not impressed with him out of the gate. The judges were right....how do you make the song YOURS? Second up - Malaya. She's 5'2"....that's about right...because standing next to Ryan she's about 3 inches shorter. Wow...this performance is horrible. How horrible....like, this would be bad for a high school talent show. The judges were WAY too nice on her. Third - Kristen - Who is she? 5 things we don't know about her...lets name one thing that we DO know about her. Beautiful Disaster? Lets just call this one...yet another disaster. Wow...what is going on tonight....three truly horrendous performances to start the show. Fourth - Ben Briley. Folsom Prison Blues - Don't love this one either....its like Cash on Meth. Great song choice...but he destroyed it....way too spastic. I'm all for making it his own...but this version didn't work at all. Ben than the first three...but that isn't saying much tonight. Fifth up - C.J. wow...he's way off key as well. I love CJ...I think he's cute and charming...but this wasn't his best. Sixth - MK. First off...I love MK's mom and friend...or whoever they are. She needs to drop the backwards baseball cap though. The performance?...a little weird. I didn't know the song. I liked the kinda jazziness to it...but her affect was flat like the others. Seventh- Majesty. Wow...she's 21? I thought she was like 15, but tonight she showed greater maturity. This was a good performance. I think one of her best. Best performance of the night so far. I loved the up tempo jazziness. Eighth - Jena. She's got a certain tone to her voice that I really like. She's got beautiful eyes..but tonight...way too much eyeshadow. Not the best performance of the night, but better than most. Ninth - Alex. He certainly keeps up his quirkiness. He is either going to grow on me....or I'm going to grow tired of him quick. I don't know which. tonight...I'm a fan. Tenth - Jessica. We've seen this type of performer before. Good Voice, but lacking the charisma to make it far in the competition. She's also got the opposite problem of Majesty. She's comes across as a little too old for the competition. Tonight though...I thought it was one of the best vocal performances. 11th - Emily. At least she sang in tune for the most part. Kind of boring song. Didn't really do much to establish her as any kind of contender. I agree with Keith...it was ying without the yang. 12th - Sam. Sam....you let me down slightly tonight. He's one of my favorites..but this wasn't his best. It wasn't bad, but he's capable of so much more. THAT was a safe, taking no risk performance, that was just too vanilla. 13 - Caleb gets the pimp spot. Not surprised. I think its clear that Caleb is the one to beat. Vocal was great. He has a great high range. He also put on a performance tonight...something that almost everyone else lacked. Far and away the best of the night. HE is in it to win it. Rubbertoe's ranking tonight Caleb Majesty Jessica Alex Sam Jena MK Ben Emily CJ Dexter Kristen Melaya Rubbertoe's bottom 3: Dexter, Kristen and Melaya America's bottom 3: CJ, Kristen, Emily Going home first: Kristen.

Top 13 Results Nite

Results show: 

First off: Malayah? Really? She's just so freaking wacky. Then Ben. White guy with guitar? Emily, of course, since Jlo mentioned her latina-ness earlier. So good to see Alex made it. Jessica -- yes! Alabama has one in. Dexter -- now Alabama has two. Caleb -- had to have that dude. Majesty -- she's cute and spunky. MK, so good to see her make it by vote and not judge choice. Then Sam -- hmm, sure is a lot of white guys up here, America. 

WILD CARDS: First up, CJ. Love this guy. I think he was overcome with emotion. It was messed up. But the crowd loves him. 

Jena -- I have never gotten her. But Idol really wants her. They even let her bring out a piano? This is much better than what she sang the other nite. But the audience acts like it's the Second Coming. 

Spencer -- Eye candy, but kind of a soulless performance. Like a frat version of Jack Johnson or something. 

Bria -- Her gums freak me out. I think it started off OK, but she had to melisma the F out of it, and it went off the rails for me. 

Kristen? This weak white girl? I hated this song before and she's laming it up even further now. PS, 1992 called and they want their pants back. 

So, they pick Jena, no surprise. Then KRISTEN? WTF? I'm speechless. 

Thank God they picked CJ. Alabama has three LOL.

So we have our Top 13. Do you think they picked the right singers this season? I think yes and no. But I can't wait to read your take on it!

Dr. L & K out!

Top 30 Boys Nite

The Olympics have really thrown us off. We watched boys Nite and Results tonight back to back.

Boys nite: let's see if they are any better than the lackluster girls. Since we are watching/writing this on Thursday, in reality the Top 10 has already been decided. 

1. Caleb (meatloaf jr.) -- Already the boys have knocked the girls off the stage. This guy is a natural. It remains to be seen if he has subtler shades to his performances, but he does the rock thing well.

2. CJ Harris -- 1st of the Alabama Triad!!! Nice soulful rendition. Dr. L said maybe he has found his niche. Roll Tide!!! I love that he had a root canal and never mentioned it. Some people don't have to bitch to get by.

3. Emmanuel -- you know he would make it. Definitely entertaining, but a little spastic in his performance. Voice was all over the place, too. Harry keeps it real. I agree with Jlo that this was not the best song choice. He does have a good spirit.

4. Sam -- a Berkeley kid. I love this David Gray song. So far the boys have been way better than the girls. This was a little shaky on takeoff, but smoothed out. 

5. George -- seems like he was having trouble breathing on the front end. Another case of the nerves, I guess. Have a lot of Idols done this song? I don't really remember it. This was a whatev performance for me.

6. Dexter -- I don't know about his outfit -- got some moobs going on. He seems really genuine. Nice tone to his voice. I like that there is no diva action here, and he has a good connection with the audience. 

7. Alex -- I like that Idol is promoting the oddball singers this year. I like this guy, but I wonder if he will connect to middle America? He has a nice voice that doesn't rely on screaming, and that's rare on Idol. 

8. Malcolm -- good song choice. I think he really connected with this one. A little sharp in spots, but it was good.

9. Ben (gumbo) -- Dr. L said the boys in general are just more listenable. I resent the blatant Tennessee Vols promotion LOL. He did a good job. I am wondering what he will do on later theme weeks. 

10. Spencer -- an energetic performance, but maybe a little forced? His vocal was not great tonight but he's one of the cute boys so he should stick around. 

I love how all the boys hugged each other -- the girls were a little more catty LOL. Now, onto the results show.

The Top 30, Girls Nite

Sorry this is a bit late. And most of them are gone! But here goes:

So a lot of new stuff this season. They're going to try and mentor these contestants from Day One -- is this how they do it on the Voice? This week, the Top 30 get The Dawgfather, Randy Jackson, and a wall-full of Idol's behind the scenes power players, Rickey Minor, vocal coaches, stylists, etc.
Spiritual advisors? Probably the best idea Idol had in a while.
Then, to top it off, Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry are on hand to show these newbs how they did it back when you had to rely on raw talent LOL.

I'm curious how this will play out: there are 15 girls but only 10 will get to sing? This is a new and especially inventive kind of torture, Idol. I wonder how the girls who don't get called will react? One thing I am impressed with is, we have seen most of these girls. No secret hidden plants like in seasons past.

Side note: Jlo looks awesome, doesn't she? Harry looks like the mature serious one. And what is on Keith's shirt?

1. First up: Majesty. Adam loves her song choice. I love this song, too. But when she gets on stage, she seems swallowed up. Dr. L asks, what is the guitar for? It seems like a security blanket. Her singing was not great. I know she is capable of better, but maybe it was nerves. They want her to go forward, so they act like she did well. But it was the song, not her, that had people moving.

2. Kristen: looks more star-ish than Majesty? Still just as shaky sounding. I don't know this song, and I don't know if it was a good choice? The judges are softballing these guys. Maybe I'm not hearing something -- I'm going to adjust the EQ on the TV.

3. Brianna: best voice so far -- was it my TV? Dr. L did not dig the fashion choice. Still kind of a rough performance. Say, does anyone else think the new stage looks like a glass-top stove? Maybe appropriate LOL. Harry gives some good advice about the trap of vocal triple-axels.

4. Hey this Idol Live thing is cool! It's like how it is when you are really there. Randy runs up and chats with the judges. One unrealistic thing, though: in a real commercial break, EVERY one, Jlo gets her makeup touched up. Not this time.
Jena: I've heard that she is a sort of an Idol fave this season. She does seem to have the goods. Not in this performance, though. This was an odd song choice. The non-rocking-ness of Ricky Minor cannot be overstated. So why attempt it? Dr. L thought it was too theatrical. I thought it was warbly. Harry calls her out on being clueless about the song's meaning.

5. Bria: She looks better without the lipstick thing. She has a bigger voice, stands out from the others thus far. Harry keeps it real saying she shouted it, however. There were moments that were really good, but it was killed by the overdone moments.
 Dr. L says color her unimpressed so far.

6. Marielle: the girl who really wants to be Miley, IMO. Adam tries to rein her in a little.  Hearing her tonight, maybe she needed the speed for some smoke and mirrors? Doing a lame Katy Perry song. Could be me, but this was a bad choice. This was the most karaoke of the nite. But you have to  give her props for actually PERFORMING the song and not just standing there.

7. Jessica: we have been rooting for her since she's from Alabama LOL. Also, she's had a kind of a rough ride so far. She was nervous like all the rest. Keith give a shout-out to Slapout! I think they were dead-on with the criticism. They could all lose the guitars (literally and figuratively), and try to connect with the song and the crowd.


8. Emily: hearing them react to the song choice makes me realize all these girls suffer from doing what they think they want, and not what they need to do. She wants to rock it out? She doesn't do a terrible job, but not a great one either. They JUST said they liked her softer moment in Hollywood. Dr. L liked her performance, but I thought this was another bad song choice.

9. MK: Great song choice - very believable. Like the other girls - the nerves showed, but it was a heartfelt performance. Really connected to the song and the audience.

First we find out who gets saved Ben or Neco....millions of votes! and after the vote it is...Ben Briley! didn't see that coming, but congrats Ben.

10. Malaya:  Big voice, big personality and she chose a song she really loves  - it might be too old for her?  Was stomping around a lot on stage - they will want to work on that with her if she stays in. Maybe channel her energy in other parts of her performance.

I wonder if Malaya and Marielle might cancel each other out if they both stay in the competition.

Revealing the top 10...and 3 wildcards

First person through - Melaya Watson aka Tuba Girl. #2 - Ben Riley (Not in my top...but I suspected he would go through. #3 - Emily Parise - I'm pretty sure I didn't predict this one. #4 - Alex Preston aka Quirky guy #5 - Jessica Muse #6 - Dexter Roberts #7 - Caleb Johnson #8 Majesty Rose aka Disney Channel Chick....#9 ....after the break.....(I can't believe that AI is going to double down on the Spencer drama two nights in a row). Who do they think they are fooling? #9 MK....and OMG....surprise surprise surprise....last one through to the top 10 is........oh wow....Sam Wolf...I actually AM surprised.... Wild Card - First up to sing is CJ Harris. It wasn't his best in my opinion...he seemed to be straining a lot. I hope he makes it through though. Next up - Jena. Very good performance. I think that one is going to propel her through. Third up - Spencer Lloyd - this time with the guitar. Not a great performance...but he is just so damn cute....he's in. I can't imagine AI passing him up. Fourth - Bria Anai - She wants it...maybe it was just the song....but she sounded like someone who isn't going to lie down...she's fighting to stay alive. And the Final Wildcard chance.......Kristen O Conner. - I didn't love her performance, but I think the powers that be in AI like her and want her on the show.... I'm guessing Jena, Spencer and Kristen. The results: Jena, Kristen and......wow....CJ Harris. I am so shocked the Spencer didn't make it. I had him pinned for the top 3. I'm going to need to rethink my Idology. I'll be back with my top 13 rankings

Rush Week Girls

My first impression: I hope this isn't the new set. It looks very amateurish...the whole thing has the feel of a telethon telecast. It seems to be lacking the usual professional look of the show. 15 girls...but only 10 get to sing. 5 go home without even getting to sing for America. Kinda harsh!!!! First up: Majesty - "Happy"... She's a little too "Disney Channel" for me. She's got a good voice, but just comes across a little too immature personality wise. 2. Kristin O'Connor - Doing an Adele song. Kinda boring performance. I don't think it was a great song choice for her. 3. Brianna Oakley - "Warrior" Demi Lovato - Nice vocal..but again...a little bland for me. I liked her better than Kristin though. 4. Jena - She feels really uncomfortable to me. She has great high range though. 5. Bria Ana - "The girl with the lips" - Doing "Wrong side of a love song" - Good performance. I thought she had a nice mix of a strong vocal and a good stage presence. Harry thought she "shouted" it. 6. Marriale - "Roar" - The first part was horrible. It got better as it moved into the chorus, but not much better. There is something about her that just really bugs me. I thought this was the worst performance of the night. 7. Jessica - There is something about her that just feels too staged. 8. Emily Piriz - Adam told her to sing more aggressively. This was great advice because I think the song worked for her, but only because of the aggressiveness of it. 9. M.K. Nobilette - "All of Me" - She has a pretty voice but it was just nothing exciting for me. Judges called it simplistic and effortless. I was underwhelmed. 10 - Melaya - "Tuba Girl". Doing "Hard Tomes". She sings with a lot of passion and energy...but for me, she is another too "Disney channel-ish" for me. Overall - I'm not entirely impressed by this lot of girls. I would have to rank the top girls - Majesty, Brianna, Jena, Bria Ana and Melaya. I think America is going to disagree entirely - I think they will pick Majesty, Jessica, Mk, Melaya and Brianna. Anyway....not a great night...but its good to be back. Rubbertoe.....out!

Rush Week Guys

First up, Caleb Johnson - Wow...I have not been a huge fan of his, but tonight, he blew it away and I am beginning to understand why he is in the top 10. I thought his performance tonight was better than every one of the girls from last night. Excellent!!!! 2. CJ Harris - Good..but hard to follow Caleb. I have been a fan of his from the beginning. 3. Emmanuel - He's got a great voice, but I don't think America is going to embrace someone who is so flamboyant. It will be interesting to see. 4. Sam - Wow...he's giving Caleb a run for his money. He is a shoo-in for the top 5. 5. George Lovett - I honestly have no memory of him..and his performance tonight is probably why. It did nothing for me. He is not going on beyond tonight 6. Dexter Roberts - "This old boy" - He's good and he's different than the rest of the guys. I think he will make the top 5. He's also different than most of the past years, country guys...a little more hard core country, even more than OMG...I can't remember his name...(The "Baby lock the doors and turn the lights down low" winner from three years ago...oh yeah...Scotty McCleery. 7. Alex Preston - I don't know what to think of this guy...he's a little too quirky for me. He's unigue enough that I think he can go through to the top 5, but I have a feeling that he is going to be one that gets on my nerves real quick and goes further than he should. Three spots left....we all know one of the ones will be Spencer. I suspect that they are going to put him through 10th...to try to raise drama...but there is no question that he will go through. 8. Malcolm - He's been one of my favorites from the beginning...This performance was not his best though...and I think it was completely the wrong song for him and it didn't properly showcase his voice and I'm afraid that it sealed his doom tonight. 9. Ben Briley - This one kinda surprises me....I think there were better people left in the top 10. I don't think he should go through...but the AI southern vote might put his through. 10. Idol....you are soooooo transparent anymore....do you think ANYONE fell into your attempt at drama here? I saw this coming a mile away. Guitar or no guitar? No Guitar....I think that was smart, because it allowed him to expand on the image that we have of him so far. Not the best vocal, but a fun performance...and his good looks are going to propel him into the top 5...that is an absolute guarantee Rubbertoe's Top 5: Sam, CJ Harris, Alex Preston, Caleb and Spencer America's Top 5: Caleb, Spencer, Sam, Alex and Ben (I guess I think America and I only disagree on one).....I'm anxious to see. One thing is for sure....this group of guys is sooooooo much stronger than the girls. Rubbertoe....out!

Rubbertoe checking in

Hey Guys.....I've been watching but couldn't get on the site until now....I'll post my thoughts on the top 30 later tonight..... So far I've been very happy with the season. I think there is some great talent out there....and a couple people who bug me already!!!!!

Hey Li'l Tasters!

Just checking in to see if anyone is out there. Dr. L & I watched the first show of the season last night (can't believe it's Idol time already) and liked what we saw. It's like the powers-that-be took a page from the Voice and we have a more mentor-ish approach this year.

They may trot out more of the wack-jobs Idol has come to be know for later in the auditions, but it seemed more like the focus was on the better hopefuls.

And how about Harry Connick Jr? We LOVED having him on the panel, and it seemed like Keith and JLo did, too. less dramz, more entertainment.

Hope the old gang is still out there (Rubbertoe? J?) and we will be hearing from you as the season progresses.

K out!

Smoke and Mirror(ball)s

Just watched the Finale, in a kind of a novel way: Dr L is away in the Central Time Zone at a conference, and was still in the air when Idol was on live in her area.
So I played the DVR of the show while we talked on Face Time, and I held up the phone so she could see/hear it. It actually worked really well. Didn't the show zip by, at only an hour?

All in all we thought Candice did better on the night. Her first song came off as a little more current, though Kree's was beautiful. Candice's 2nd, the single, was a little more upbeat in the chorus, while Kree's was kind of a downer all the way through LOL. Both were just kind of 'whatev' performances, as many Idol Single performances are. It's not the singers' fault.
Kree did a great job on her final song, but I think Candice picked a better one, and the a capella part at the beginning was a nice confident move.

Whether any of this adds up to votes is a mystery to me. I think Idol perhaps wants Candice to win, given the pimp treatment she got with the fireworks and light behind her songs; Kree's productions were a little more subdued, if you don't count the mystical 'angel wings' floating behind her on the first song. You would think Kree would be easier to market, but we don't know the totals that have been coming in for either of them.

The crowd seemed to cheer louder for Kree when Ryan asked them who they wanted to win, but it could have been my ears or TV.

I'm going to say Candice wins it. I've been wrong all season, though, and I really thought Angie would be here tonight, so what do I know? I can't wait to see who wins this one, though. I was so proud that, for once, we didn't have to hear all about the medical conditions that seem to plague Idols as they limp into the Finale year after year. Flu, blown out vocal cords, appendicitis or whatever Phil Philips was dying of last year -- this year, it was just two really great singers, who don't have to make any excuses at end of the day. They put their cards down and played the best hand they had.

Idol Tickets! That I couldn't use :(

I actually got an email today from Idol @ 1:30 PM saying I had tickets to the finale!
Unfortunately, Dr L is out of town, and I wasn't sure I could get together with anybody on such short notice.
That, combined with the fact that even if I magically teleported to the studio @ 1:30, it would still be iffy that I would get in; on non-Finale weeks, if you don't get in line by 12:30, you might not make it.
I image for the Finale, a lot of celebs that don't normally use their VIP vouchers will show up and bump
out the rabble.
It would have been nice to be there, though!

--K

The toughest cut

Idols go Home! This is traditionally where one Idol never really comes back. Let's see who it is!

Jimmy picks Round One, Judges pick Round Two, and the Idol "Production" picks Round Three.

Tonight the Battle of the Boobs has shifted to Mariah's tummy, but I think technically Nikki showed more cleavage skin. 

1st Round: 

Kree -- Jimmy picks Perfect.  This is a miss from the start for me. I think Kree hated it. Dr. l said it was Aiight. Keith gives a non-comment, I'm assuming he's trying to dodge making a negative out of it. The other judges also throw softballs at her. She's in the KOD spot so it must have sucked in rehearsals, too.

Candice: so this means Angie will close out the night. I think there's some kind of formula that says whoever is in the Pimp Spot on Top 3 night will be in the finale.

Candice continues her interesting streak of taking a rock song and kind of R&B'ing it. This was much better than Kree. Kind of shouty at the end for me, but OK. Judges love it. I wonder if we're seeing bus treads on Kree en route to a Candice/Angie Finale?

Angie: doing Sir Elton. Why didn't she play the piano on this one? She does a nice job, but I still get a Disney Cruise vibe from her. Better than Kree though, no doubt. It's like the joke about the two guys in the woods that get surprised by a bear. As they run away, one guy stops to put on his sneakers. The 2nd guy says, that won't help you outrun the bear. The 1st guy says, I don't have to outrun the bear -- I just have to outrun YOU. The judges felt like Angie outran Kree, too.

2nd Round: 

A-ha! They're switching up the order tonight. So we have no idea who will be in the pimp spot. 

But first, the visit home. Candice looks like she had a great time. Boy, the South looks so nice, I miss it sometimes. 

Candice is doing a song I've never heard. Dr. L says if she has one styling criticism this season, it's that all the girls' boots look ridiculous. This was just Aiight for me. This was the second KOD spot, and she kind of deserved it. Boy, Mariah never really lands the plane, does she? It was one of those non-critiques. Nikki almost tears up, it was sweet. Randy is reading shit Nigel wrote for him all night. It was all overtaken by emotion, however.

Next up, Angie and her lumberjack brother. First, we see her trip back to MA. They really play up the Boston Strong stuff, Idol would never miss a chance to capitalize on that. You have to give it to her fans, though, she had a hell of a turnout. Remeber, by contrast, Katherine McPhee? She couldn't fill a mall parking lot. 

Side Note: I never noticed before what a big melon head Angie has. For some reason you can really tell it in the home footage. 

These judges songs have been pretty forgettable thus far. She does OK, for a generic pop anthem. Maybe has the edge on Candice so far. She definitely has star power, the look, the swag, and the ability.

So Kree goes home. I forget what a sad backstory she has, it had to be tough. I think she wins for the sheer number of folks in the concert crowd. Another emotional visit! 

This Rascal Flatts song sounds like a perfect fit for her. Playing to the base, and there's no other country girls left. Holy shit, the Idol crowd loves her. Keith was the super-emotional one this time, and how could you not be? I think now it's a free-for all. Anybody could win this thing.

Round Three:

We see the Top Seven Losers in the crowd. Wow, lazaro looks like a cheeky punk, doesn't he?

First up, Angie. At the piano. This was forgettable for me until the chorus. I gained a little life, but it wasn't a solid as the first two for me. Dr. L has fallen asleep so it's just me hanging on the DVR tonight LOL. The judges are clearly going to just throw praise or neutrality tonight. 

Kree: this song is definitely in her ballpark, if not necessarily a dead-on hit. She does a great job considering. Side note: Idol must be employing every fiddle player in Hollywood, I think I saw a new one tonight. This was a little too attitude-y, kind of a Kellie Pickler vibe. She has a nice humble moment before the break. I think her fan base loves her no matter what. 

So the Pimp spot is Candice. This is without a doubt the biggest song of the night. I was worried when it began because it's so old. But she blew it out like she was Shirley Bassey or something. It wasn't perfect, but holy shit, after all these weeks of killing her voice, the fact that she could pull this off was incredible. She really deserves to be in the finale. But who will join her? 

If I have to make a call (Dr. L is still asleep), I think it will still be Candice and Angie. I think the weak first song will hurt Kree. Angie had three consistent songs, and Candice had the super atom bomb at the end. So I think Kree will go home. 

Of course, part of me knows Kree has a total lock on the Country vote, which has consistently been a powerhouse block for Idols for a decade. So, if Kree holds out and Candice goes home, I'll be disappointed, but not surprised in the least.

BTW -- I got tickets AGAIN for Idol, and we were psyched to go, but Dr. L can't make it due to a work conflict. So we'll have to give the tickets up this time. But Dr. L hasn't got an email yet this season, so we're still holding out for the Finale...

Finale - Angie and ?????

Before getting onto the performances...a couple things stand out. It seems pretty clear that it is going to be a Kree/Angie performance. The comments directed to Candice seem to be directed toward reassuring her that "she is going to be fine" and that "no matter what happens....you will have a career". I still believe that Candice is the best of the bunch, but Kree has the Country vote and Angie has the young tween vote and the AI pimping push. It also seems clear to me that AI really wants Angie to win, primarily because she is the easiest one for them to market. I actually think that Kree and Candice will do better if they don't win. If Candice were to win, I think she would become another Ruben...AI doesn't know how to market a singer like Candice. They COULD market Kree, but I think Kree will do better ala Kelly Pickler than she would with the AI Carrie Underwood push. So...lets take a minute and talk about the homecomings. As usual, This is AI at its best. All three of the homecomings were incredibily moving. I love how they showed really all three of them coming from very little. Did y'all notice the cop playing with his phone during Angie's performance? Like he was sooooo not interested. One last thing before the performances....so they showed the top 10 in the crowd. It was kinda interesting seeing them again. You realize WHO you have forgotten already. I forgot all about the blond latin kid that I liked so much in the beginning when he sand in Spanish. I also found it interesting that probably 4 of the 5 guys are gay...which is a higher proportion than in years past...don't know what that says...just found it interesting. So as for the performances. Round 1 - Jimmy called it for Angie. I actually would have given it to Candice...and I think the judges agreed Round 2 - Jimmy called for Kree. I agree. I thought Kree was completely in her element on this song. Angie was also really good. It was the first time that I really felt that she was comfortable on stage not sitting at the piano, which is exactly what the judges focused on. I thought Candice was weakest. Round 3 - Angie, back at the piano. I have to admit that Angie was definitely on tonight. I don't LOVE Angie...I dunno...there is something about her that bothers me. She seems a little fake and cut-throat and pretentious..and I don't connect emotionally with her. But tonight...I have to say that for the first time I can understand what some people see in her. Kree - nice performance, but it was a little flat for me. It didn't feel in her comfort zone for me. Candice - I'm not sure what to think. Somewhere....seemed very old fashioned as a choice....and it felt a bit staged and manipulative, but not in the way that one would think...it felt not like they wanted to use to to propel her into the finale, but as a send off...I dunno. The judges swooned, but it felt weird to me...maybe its just me...who knows. While I would love to see a Kree/Candice finale. I truly believe it will be Angie/Kree. From what I've read, Angie's twitter followers are more than double Kree and Candice put together....so Angie is probably definitely in and maybe is already the ordained winner. We'll find out tomorrow!!!!!

Our Trip to Idol Top Four Results Night! (L-o-ong)

Here's a play-by-play of our trip to the Idol Results Show tonight:

We parked at The Grove, which I highly recommend if you come see Idol. It's easy in and out and around the corner to the CBS lot on Beverly. There you begin your wait in the sun LOL. Bring some drinks and snacks, unless you want to buy them off the street vendors who are making a killing off the Idol line every week. The ticket says arrive at 3PM for the 5PM show, but unless you get there early (we got there around 1PM) you won't get in. 

You stand in line until roughly 3:30-4PM. The Idol PAs come by and verify your ticket and how far you are in the line -- we were about 50 people back. Depending on the "VIPs" that show up, you may or may not get in. They threatened us with that possibility, since tonight two busloads of FOX interns AND high school students came in ahead of us. So all our tickets were relegated to "seat filler" status, even though on a normal day we'd have gotten in no problem. But we knew, at 50 back, we would get in. 200 back, you never know.

So eventually we were herded into the lot, they took away our phones but we got to sit next to the studio in the shade. We saw Will.I.Am's dancers come by as we waited, as well as Candice and Amber's family. Little did we know Will.I.Am was leaving as we arrived! More on that later.

So about five minutes until 5PM we got called in, the first group. When you're a seat filler, you usually get pretty good seats, even though it's a gamble if you'll get in at all. We were stage right, one row up from the first tier rail. It's always funny to see the Idol stage in person, it's so much smaller than you would imagine. There was a layer of mist pumped over the stage so the lights would look good. On TV you might not even notice it, but it's like a light smog LOL.

The guy working the crowd was pretty funny. After he got us on our feet, practice clapping and shouting, we learned that Will.I.Am would be performing, as well as David Cook and last night's mentor, Harry Connick Jr. Sounded pretty good to us! We saw Nigel wandering about, with about four or five massive bodyguards for him, and I assume, the judges. They were just behind the judges table. 

Then the show began. The video segments you see on TV are displayed on the big oval screen in the back of the Idol stage. Then Ryan, Mariah, Randy, Nikki and Keith came out. Dr. L laughed that Mariah sashayed any time she walked, and never quickly. She's on these massive heels, it's funny. The sound was really weird tonight, all the speaking mics were very low. But the music sounded great.

The first number was a Great Gatsby production with all the remaining girls and some dancers. Watching it back at home, it actually sounded better in the room. When they cut to the Summer Tour video, everyone stayed on stage chatting, and the techs swooped in to start cleaning up, applying fresh makeup, etc. It was funny how many guys spent the whole break sweeping.

The girls assembled on the sofa of Doom, and I was struck by how much they seemed to really like and support each other. In particular, one PA brought out some jewelry, and started to put a necklace on Angie, but she hopped up and put it on Kree, herself. It just seemed like a friendly gesture we have not seen on other Idol seasons. There was no "clique", no two or three girls that huddled away from another, and it was that way all night. Handholding, pats on knees, words of encouragement. 

The judges, on the other hand, spent time chatting amongst Mariah, Randy, and Keith, but almost none of them spoke to Nikki. The tween girls in the pit area LOVED Nikki, and screamed her name on every break. Others in our side of the crowd yelled at Mariah mostly, but also had love for the Dawg. Keith got up every single break and talked to people in the crowd. Mariah didn't get up often, but she turned around FAR more than JLo ever did, and waved, smiled, blew kisses, took pictures of fans. It seemed genuine, and I was pleasantly surprised. 

Then we were back. Side note: it used to just be Ryan that has a teleprompter, but now EVERY SINGLE CAMERA that is on stage has words on it. I could see lyrics on the camera that the Idols sang into. It was bizarre.

So Ryan shows the Ford video. As it played he turned to a stagehand, who said "five minutes", and Ryan ran backstage, and techs and PAs flitted about. They all scurried back just in time. When Ryan led in the Jimmy/recap segment, it was interesting, Candice spent the whole time looking back at her family. 

As the clips played, the Idols would laugh, or squeeze each other's arms, or pat their shoulder, etc. Lots of support. When they cut to the next break, the stagehands, techs, PAs ran onto the stage and set up Cookie's band equipment in a frenzy. It was pretty impressive. If you see the show, and consider how big his band, and then Ray Chew/Connick's band is later, it was impressive how fast they could get set up and disappear by the next break. 

When they came back, Cook watched himself onscreen and it took me a second to realize it was him. He's got some new pseudo Rockabilly up-do that looks a bit different. He played his new song, and it sounded great! Side note: it's fun to watch Keith during all these music numbers, he gets into it LOL. Head bobbing, shoulders popping back and forth. He's a very supportive musician. Ryan had a chat with Cookie and then we cut to break.

On this break, Cook talked to Randy, Keith and Mariah, and a few fans. During this time it took a while to clean up the stage, and the Stage Manager (can't recall her name but she's been there for years) got us to clap for them, they really were busting ass. It took so long that when we came back from break, the camera was on Ryan facing towards the crowd, and he introduced "Will.I.Am", though there was still some band shit onstage! No musicians…

They of course cut to a VIDEO of Will.I.Am, which we learned had been recorded just before we all came in. I guess it was such a massive undertaking there was no way to do it live. But since I think Will.I.Am kind of sucks, it was OK with me. If you watch the show, there's a quick shot at the end and there are people in the crowd, but no judges, and the room's only about half full. The Magic of Television LOL.

The stagehands etc. swoop in and assemble a big-ass band setup for Connick. 

It's kind of funny, but the girls have been sitting on that sofa for a LONG time now. Side note: Nikki brushes her hair a LOT. any time the camera isn't rolling. I swear that can't be her real hair, right? 

One of Connick's pianos broke the stage! It fell through the floor. They fixed it, but there was a moment of wtf in the room.

We come back live to Ryan with a group of giddy teen girls talking about some Idol Fun Pack bullshit. The response in the room was tepid, but the girls were very stoked to be onstage, and Ryan was sweet with them before and after. Then Harry Connick sings. It's really a good performance, kind of restrained, but very smooth. The crowd dug him. His guitar player was fantastic. After the song, and the usual Gay Panic joke from Ryan, we cut to commercial. 

The stagehands swooped in, cleaned up. Harry spoke to everyone, but did not linger like Cookie did. Spent more time with Keith than anyone. Everyone showed a lot of respect for the older black gentleman who played guitar for Connick, and spoke with him and shook his hand. Ryan came over, and for the only time of the night, spoke briefly, but intently, with Nikki. Why, you ask?…

When we came back live, Ryan is talking to the Idols. It's Results time! He throws over to Nikki, and then it became clear why he spoke with her on the break: he set her up to have something to say here. 

And the Result lighting kicks in. Boy, it gets freaking dark when Kieran dims the lights. Angie is safe, then Candice. Ryan cuts to the inevitable tension-building commercial. Then EVERYONE comes up onstage, one at a time. The girls all huddle up at the "three lucky stools" area. Randy, Nikki, Keith, Nigel, they all talk to them. Mariah sashays over, and I swear, it looked like she wasn't going to make it back to the judges table in time, she moves so SLOW! But when we came back from the break, you'd swear no one had moved.

They drop the bomb on Amber. It hits Candice so hard she sort of stumbles over to hug her, too soon. It hits Amber as she's watching her "journey" onscreen. She pulls it together to sing, and actually does all right considering. As she's singing, Ryan drags her dad out of the crowd. Amber loses it. Everyone is pretty emotional. The end credits music plays, and the Crowd Guy asks us all to sit silently. 

It's kind of awkward, but we all just look on as the cameramen, the judges, the family members all pile onto the stage and shoot the footage you'll see next week when they talk about Amber leaving. Everyone tries to console Amber, but damn, she's heartbroken. She really takes it hard. After a few minutes, we start to file out. 

Now it's time to head to the cell phone pickup line. We walked out with Candice's family, and saw Angie's mom. She was literally right next to us. A funny moment: a little girl who had just picked up her phone wanted a picture with Angie's mom, and she said "sure honey, take it quick before CBS sees you!" She took the pic, and sure enough, a hard-ass CBS security guy walked over and barked "no pictures on the CBS lot!" It was kind of hilarious.

We walked back to the Grove and had dinner at La Piazza -- yum! Then picked up our car. Note: if you eat at the Grove and get your ticket validated, it saves you $6 on parking for Idol! It was well worth it. 

We had a good time! Looking forward to next week.  

Dr. L and K out! 

When I Was Your Giraffe

Idol Top Four REDUX: 

I'm curious to see if the girls who came up short last week will "bring it" 

this week. Part of me thinks they KNEW no one was going home, and saved their voices LOL. We'll see. (BTW -- Dr. L and I will be at the RESULTS SHOW tomorrow night, so we'll get to see in person!!! We'll give you the behind-the-scenes dirt)

Mariah is still rocking the boobs and teetering like she had a couple Xanax. Nikki is rocking some kind of Yellow Submarine - meets - Cleopatra outfit with a dark wig. Keith has an awesome TOP GEAR Stig shirt.

The Idols all look great. Funny how they all get slimmer as the weeks go on. The theme this week is Songs from 2013 (are there even four good songs so far this year?) and Standards, which is actually like every week at Idol. Harry Connick is a mentor! He's awesome.

HMM -- Angie up 1st in the KOD spot. Rihanna Diamonds. I don't know this song, but then I could not care less about Rihanna. Would you love it if you love the original? I was actually liking it until the shrieking bum note. Is the contest killing her voice? I think she knew it was kind of a miss. The judges all wade in with low key slams against her. 

Amber -- doing Pink. Harry likes her, even if she forgets the words. Too bad on the night she was stiff. This is a weird song choice -- Dr. wondered if she was behind the music. Idols do this all the time: pick these "busy" songs that take too much air to power through. I would say that was only slightly better than Angie. And that's not saying much. The judges jump on her too. They want her to have fun! AND be stellar. Yet, these songs aren't stellar, right? Mariah predicts her 2nd song will be beyond stellar -- is that Interstellar? 

Candice -- doing Bruno Mars. I like that she sort of goes into left field for some of these choices. Personally, I don't care if she changed the gender or not -- this was a far better song than the first two. She has such a pleasant, emotional voice. The judges love it. I don't know if she can win, but I think she's my favorite.

Kree -- doing a FarmBot song. Harry loves her. Dr. L says this year no hot Fiddle Guy, but warm Guitar Guy? She's playing to the base. I have to say, she seems more emotionally invested this week. Maybe not as powerful as Candice, but a good second. Judges give praise, but nobody was jumping up and down. They trot Harry out to bolster her -- are they hoping to get her to the Finale?

1st Round I'd say it was Candice, Kree, Amber and Angie.

Angie: doing Someone To Watch Over Me. Harry was encouraging, but it sounded like it was Aiight. She looks great. Boy, old songs are so much better than the shit today, huh? Even if they sound old-fashioned. Which she does. This could be a plaintive song, but she makes it into a Miss America performance by the end. Good last note -- sometimes that's all America needs. Better than the 1st performance. Judges give back-handed praise. Maybe she is a Broadway Disney Princess. Nikki cracked me up with the Q-Tip thing. 

Amber -- My Funny Valentine. Harry calls her out on being clueless on the song meaning. I think he helped -- this was a far more effective performance than Angie's. Great vocal, she looked amazing. She's really got what it takes to be a star. Dr. L thought it was beautiful. Everybody gets emotional -- she definitely deserves to make it to next week. But will she?

Candice -- doing Billie Holliday. Harry gives a big "fuck you" to the 14-year-olds who vote on Idol. This is a grown-up song -- who else here could sing this? She's had the two closest to "moments" of the night. She gets a standing O. Maybe it would be better if she goes home -- then we'll get the album she needs to make, not some pop bullshit Nigel wants the winner to. 

Kree -- Stormy Weather. Harry lays it on the line with her like all these Idols -- lay off the melisma bullshit. It's a shame she had all that orchestra, it was a much more powerful song when she did it for Harry. Her voice was very pretty, but I guess she couldn't help herself but do all the runs. Harry makes some great faces as the judges throw him under the bus. When he comes up on the panel it was hilarious. 

The Idols come back from break with a harlot choir. What is this? I felt like I DVR'd part of another show. 

2nd Round: I'd say Candice, Amber, Kree and Angie. Who should go home -- Angie. 

Only 1 is definitely inittowinit

Round 1 - Current Songs Best by far - Candice. She was the only one who looked confident, professional and current. No one was even close to her tonight. Second place - Kree. She did a great job with the Carrie Underwood Song. I agree with Randy that this is the avenue that Kree should pursue Third - Angie. I actually liked it more than the judges gave her credit for. I DID agree that she seemed disconnected and artificial, but she looked gorgeous and I thought her vocals were really good for Angie Fourth - Amber. WHAT happened there? She looked nervous, her vocals were not good. I love me some Amber, but tonight...that was just not good. Round 2 - Standards Blech....really? I love standards, but if AI is trying to be current and hip, why do they keep going back to these old fashioned themes. Angie - Playing the family card tonight....first round talks about how much she loves her family and then dedicates this round to her mom...who sang this song to her. Ok....spare me Angie. (Big afro guy was missing from the string group). Something else was missing.....any excitement. Angie took this song nowhere. Amber - Wow....I hated everything about that performance...and the judges gave her a standing ovation. I didn't like the look. She looked horribly old fashioned. I hate it when contestants repeat songs that they have already done. There were parts of the song that were just screechy and off key. I didn't think this was even close to when she performed it before. Lots of tears....probably will help her, but I don't think enough. I think Amber is a goner. Candice - Perfect vocal. Candice was at the top of her game tonight. She is the only one tonight who is inittowinit. Kree- Wow...first time I've seen Kree dressed sexy and looking like a performer. Ah....big afro violin guy spotted....maybe I just missed him before. Kree looks uncomfortable though. Definitely not the seasoned professional like Candice. Round 2- Candice, Kree, Angie, Amber Big Winners tonight - Harry Connick and Candice. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Harry as a Mentor. He should be a judge next year if they can get him. But of the 4, Candice was far and away better than the rest. Followed by Kree, Angie and Amber. Sadly...Amber wrote her go home ticket tonight...and not go home for a top three homecoming. Amber needed a big night to keep her out of the bottom where she has been consistently. This week it definitely ends for her.

Someone Left My Cake Out In The Rain

Top 4 Night

Amber, Angie, Candice and Kree -- Dr. L said Amber looked great, but the leather pants weren't doing Kree any favors. Nikki mouthed "Hi Mom" which was sweet. Mariah battles rumors of being replaced by JLo by whipping out her boobs -- good move. Keith has an awesome redneck fish shirt on -- love it.

The Idols go to LA Children's Hospital. 

Up first: Amber in the KOD spot -- doing Celine --  usually the a capella opening brings some electricity to the performance, but for me it kind of went nowhere, and lasted too long. I thought she did better once the song started proper, but Dr. L liked the beginning too. She really looks like a star. The judges love it, so Clive is probably salivating at the chance to make her some new Whitney. 

Candice is doing Drake? How is this a good idea? A lot of Idol voters won't know this song, but I could hear this on an R&B station. She kind of over-melisma'd it, though, and Nikki makes a comment to this effect. Randy agreed, but Mariah's boobs disagreed. Vocally, she -should- be safe, but vote wise, she might be in trouble.

Kree - doing Hurts So Bad. She's such a pro, this doesn't seem like a competition, just a performance on a show. However, this song choice was pretty crap. It doesn't do her any favors, when this is a do or die week. Curious, the judges are throwing the two most powerful chicks on the show under the bus tonight. Also interesting, how did they pick these songs on the same night? I guess their 2nd sings of the night might be bomb-tacular, but this was odd. Keith says she should shred it up, but Kree always looks like she could be knitting while she sings. 

Angie: Doing Jessie J? Dr. L suggested that the Idols are now believing their own hype and choosing what I think Simon would have called "indulgent" songs. I don't know what it is about Angie, but I find her boring in a kind of overwrought way. She wants to bring drama, but it all feels so contrived. Amber still did the best. The judges act like they loved it, so it's clear they want the two young, thin girls to go head-to-head in the finale. I don't think it will happen, but Idol sure does.

Side Note: Keith demonstrating how to be "looser" would make the best Spaz avatar ever. And #Grandma was a pretty serious ploy for votes, wasn't it?

Duet: Kree and Amber do Rumor Has It. Amber is becoming the better performer, but I liked that Kree shook it a little bit at times.

Angie and Candice: what is this song? Miley Jr. doesn't quite have the pipes Candice does, but she does a pretty good job. I think this ended a little better than the previous duet. The crowd went nuts. Oh, it's a Rihanna song. Jesus, I know nothing of modern music. So much of it seems so lame, LOL. 

2nd songs: are these supposed to be one hit wonders? 

Amber does a classic, MacArthur Park. How the fug are these one hit wonders? Donna Summer had a bajilion hits. Idol is run by fools.

She looks like an Orange Push-Up. This was not as good as her first performance. Too old of a song, and the lyrics forced her to do too many vocal gymnastics. She's a great performer, but I don't know if this deserved the praise they gave her. #inittowinit makes me crack up every time I see it pop up in the corner. JIMMY SPEAKS THE TRUTH! He didn't dig it.

Candice: a song by the BeeGees? Again, not a "one hit wonder" if these are by massively successful groups, morons. She does a nice Urban Contemporary version of the song. I could easily hear this on the radio. I don't know how that equates to votes, but I'd listen to it. They give her lots of advice for next week -- will she make it?

HA! They pulled Jimmy up on stage to clock him! 

Kree: OK, this IS a one hit wonder, wtf happened to Procol Harum? I think this was a bad idea. This song seems stuck in some other generation, and what the hell is it even about? She looks great, sounds great, but I can't divorce this song from The Big Chill in my mind. They praise her to the skies, but so far the closest "moment" of the night was Amber's 1st, and all the rest are also-rans.

Angie: Julie London? Way to stay relevant, Idol. Angie's MOTHER might not have even been born when this song was a hit. A little over-enunciation going on, but she gives it all she's got. She's pretty, and her voice is good, but she seems like a Pop-bot to me, so I can't get too excited about her. She's like a Miley Cyrus clone. Randy blows his wad praising her, which really cements that Nigel wants her or Amber to win. 

I think Kree might be in trouble. Amber might be in the B2 with her, but they gave her more love show she will probably stay.  They announced a "surprise twist" -- so this might be the week they have to keep all four in, to make up for not using the save. I don't know if you read about Idol's dilemma, but the scheduled an extra week that they have to fill with crap now. So, maybe no-one goes home?

Cuz, I'm your lady!

So listening to Keith tonight....I decided to rate them on three different criteria - vocals, song choice and performance. First up: Amber. Wow...best performance from her so far. For me...that was a perfect 10 in each category. She looks beautiful. I'm loving the hair. It was the perfect song choice that allowed her to show off her incredible range. She took a classic Celine Dion song and made it modern and current. I loved the simple beginning and how she allowed it to build (30) Candice - Vocal. There is very little I can fault here. Candice was on vocally like she always is (10). Song Choice was not great. I'm not sure that Drake is a well enough known artist and unless the song is incredible, picking a little known artist is going to hurt you at this point (7). Performance...I agreed with the judges here. Candice has a tendency to pick songs and perform them in an old-fashioned way. She already suffers from looking older than the others. The adult contemporary/R&B crowd is not the voting bloc for this show (6). Overall-- (23) Kree - Vocals...not up to her usual. There were points where I felt she was off key and parts that were under her range. (7). Song Choice - I disagreed with the judges here, I thought this was a great song choice for her...the bluesyness coupled with the country played right into her vein (9). Performance - weak. She talked in the intro about dancing and rocking out. I saw neither. She didn't look comfortable (5). (21) Angela - The judges loved it...for me it was just an eh...performance. Vocal was pretty hot (9). Song Choice...I thought it was a little boring (5). Performance - Angie is very good behind the piano. I think the judges got it right here. (10). (24). Randy was waaaaaay overboard. That was no way near the best performance of the night. Round 1.....Amber (by far), followed by Angie and Candice (neck and neck)...Kree in the rear. Round 2 - ONE HIT WONDERS Amber- Vocals - Not as good as the first one. Parts of the lower register were out of her range. However she did great on the long notes and the runs. (8). Song Choice - I thought it was a perfect choice for her (10). Performance...she still needs to work on a little. As the judges say, she has come a long way, but her dancing/stage presence is something that she can work on (8). (26). BTW...I loved the look when Nikki called her Angie. It was almost like "EW...I hate that bitch!"...but maybe I'm wrong???? Candice - Emotion. Vocals..again, not up to her first (9). Song Choice. I didn't think this was a great choice for her. It wasn't a vehicle that let her show off her abilities and the melody is not one that can carry it on its own. (7). Performance. Nikki was right...less old fashioned, so it was good for that and she comes across very professional and comfortable (9). (25). The Judge/Jimmy fight was just weird and left Candice in an uncomfortable position. You could see her saying "Hello....Hello....its my turn here....cmon guys!" Kree - Better than Round 1, but still not up to Kree (8). Song choice was good, but not perfect (8). Performance - again good...but not Kree's best (8). (24). Keith is right when he talked about "middle ground" songs that don't allow Kree to shine. Angie - Vocals. Angie sounds awesome tonight (9). Song Choice...I don't think it was great. At this stage they have to be smart and stand out. Choosing an old fashioned song like this is not going to propel Angie where she needs to be (6). Performance. Angie did a great job with the material (9). (24). Round 2 - Amber, Candice, Angie, Kree. Wow...I'm sooooo annoyed by Randy tonight. What is with his gushing over Angie tonight? Even Nikki. Even if you thought Angie was the best of the night (which I obviously did not.....she was definitely no where near the overwhelming best of the night as Randy would have you believe. His over the top praise reeks of desperation. Is it that AI doesn't see any of them as especially marketable, but believes that Angie is their best hope? Rubbertoes final score: Amber (56), Candice (48), Angie (48), Kree (45). Bottom 2 - Is going to be Kree and Candice. Going home....SURPRISE TWIST (which really isn't a surprise at all......NO ONE. Surprised? Hardly. Everyone knows that currently the season is supposed to end May 16....but with only 4 contestants, that would put the finale on May 9. This being the YEAR OF THE WOMAN. There will be hometown visits for all four and tomorrow night we will be treated to an endless night of Ryan attempting to tease us...and all of us knowing all too well that no one is going home. If someone DOES go home..it will be Candice...although it should be Kree

I'm Every Woman

Just kidding, nobody did Chaka. But why not? What was the theme tonight? Divas? And something else. Song from the year you were born? That's the first round.

The Battle of the Boobs continues, this salvo fired by Nikki. Double barreled.

Dr. L said she loves how casual Keith is every night. 

First up, Candice: she's doing what you're supposed to do to win -- make a well known song your own, and turn in a good performance doing it. Straight Up actually sounded kind of cool here. She's probably in no danger in the KOD spot here. Nikki said she sang it like a BOSS, lol.

I like the new feature where Jimmy gives his snarky comments on the break. 

Janelle -- Vince Gill made her stop crying. Will she be crying tomorrow because of him? This was perhaps an appeal to hard-core Country fans, to snake away some votes from Kree? It was a little too much tear-in-your-beer for me. It was kind of Whatev for Dr. L. She has a pretty voice, but I disagreed with the judges, that the "comfort" was what she should be going for. It didn't have a "wow" factor for me. Keith spoke da truth. Jimmy agreed!

Holy crap these Idols are making me feel old. Kree was born in 1990? Jeez.

OK, She Talks to Angels, Black Crowes. Pretty smart song choice for crossover votes, I think. This is what i meant about Janelle going the other route, this was more pop. But she does what Candice does, which sets them apart. Not the best performance ever, but good enough to cement her top 2-3 status. Judges squabble but they basically agree she's moving up.

Angela was a fat baby like me! Hee! Her mom's voice sounds eerily exactly like her.  She's dedicating Stnad By You to Boston -- I forget she's from there. She did a good job, but like Nikki, we didn't feel the need to stand for that. Watching hr, I did think that someday she could be a pop star. If she can get a little personality injection, she could make it. Randy cracks a good joke about the judges and Jimmy being a "Top 5" group LOL. Jimmy basically calls Angie a drama queen.

Amber: doing Harry Nillson's I Can't Live (if Living Is Without You) -- not really Mariah's, but how would these kids know? Kelly did a better version. Amber had to start in such a low key it was almost inaudible. She made the key change all right. It was kind of pageant-y for me, but Dr. L liked it better. Keith makes a cringe-worth Amber alert joke. Nikki basically agreed with my view of the performance. Jimmy too!

Round Two -- DIVA time!

Candice: doing a Disney Mariah/Whitney song. She shows she has the real pipes to take on one of these songs. Oh shit, the choir descends from heaven in fog behind her. She's making Mariah cry! It's hard to be critical of real, sho 'nuff talent. She has it. Kids voting across the country will respond to this song. The judges are all gobsmacked. She looks lovely, I think she's our favorite.

Janelle: doing a lesser-known Dolly Parton song. This was a mistake, especially coming after Candice; this was like a Top 10 level performance. Nothing about this is in the same league with the other performances. I think she's going home. Why didn't she do Jolene? It was a nice thing Nikki said, keeping janelle's eye on the future. She can definitely be a Country star.

Kree: doing Celine. A great, powerful version, but somehow not as far into the stratosphere as it should have been. I think Candice still has the edge. This is like two competitions in one: the battle between Candice and Kree, The battle between Amber and Angie, and Janelle is kind of the odd one out.

BTW, isn't it amazing how the stylists start to get dialed in about this point in the competition? And then there was Angie's dress. WTF was that?

Angie's doing Halo. I wish I was playing Halo. I'm not a fan of Beyonce, but this was a pretty good performance. She still lacked the oomph that Beyonce is able to bring to it -- is it soul? Maybe she has no soul. I don't agree with Keith -- I don't disagree she has a great voice, but I wish there was some kind of spiritual connection with her singing that I get with Candice, a little with Kree, and never with Angie.

Amber: doing Babs. Incredible. This was one of those pure, transcendant performances like when Candice did the Cure last week. I was worried it would be too old when it began. After a couple of seconds I didn't care -- it was everything that was missing from Angie's songs. I was riveted. I don't think I've held Amber in this much respect before. She could be the dark horse and win this thing. 

To me, it's Candice, Kree/Amber (a tie between these two), Angie, Janelle. Janelle goes home.

Thank GOD there was no Lazaro this week, right?

Girl Power

Round 1: - Songs from the year of your birth Candice - Straight up. She does a different version...different from the acoustic one that was such a hit a couple of years ago. Her version is much more Jazzy. I have to agree with Jimmy on this one. Although it was awesome Jazzy and vocally, I don't think it did her any favors. It was too subdued and I don't think it will sell well with the voters. Janelle - Does some Vince Gil song. Great choice, kinda throw back country, but I don't think her vocal was all that great. I've heard better from her Kree - Black eyed peas. Again...I agree with Jimmy. The vocal was awesome, but it was not the type of showcase song that the contestants need to propel them ahead at this point. I think that they are resting a little too much on their laurels and not going for the juglar. Angie - Double whammy for her here. First, she capitalizes shamelessly on the Boston tragedy by dedicating the song "I'll stand by you" to the city of Boston. Who wouldn't love that like a basket of baby puppies? Second, as much as I'm not a big fan of hers, she slayed it. Amber - Can't live....not Amber's best. Key was too low for her for most of the song. Not until she reached the power ballad ending did she bring it on. Wow...the judge's loved it, except Nikki. As much as I LOVE Amber, that didn't do it for me. (Ranking: Angie, Kree, Candice, Amber, Janelle) Round 2 - The Divas Candice- Taking on Mariah and Whitney...wow, if anyone can do it, Candice can. Wow...that was awesome. I could see this as the Idol crowning song. Best of the night so far. That is how you do a DIVA song! Janelle - Takes on Dolly. I have been waiting for this from the beginning of this season....but of all the great Dolly songs, she chooses "Dumb Blonde"...serious? Janelle has such a great throwback Dollyness to her, but this song did not allow her to showcase it at all. This was the poor choice that will send this Dumb blonde home. I honestly don't know what she was thinking. Kree - Celine Dion. Kree did good, but I have to say it...the song was too big for her. She Almost was able to pull it off, but didn't quite do it. Angie - Beyoncé. Once again...as much as I hate to admit it, Angie did a great job. Her vocals are not at the same level as Kree and Candice, but I think that AI WANTS her to win because she is the easiest to market. Amber - Barbara Streisand. Angie hit a home run with "Funny Valentine" early in the season...but she has to be careful at this stage coming across too old fashioned for the average AI voter. She sang it beautifully though. Ranking Round 2: Candice, Angie, Kree, Amber, Janelle) Best of the night: Candice...followed very closely by Angie (However, Angie will be the top vote getter because her songs were much more modern and will resonate more with the voters. Third place tonight - Kree. Bottom 2 will be Janelle and Amber. While Janelle should be going home, she won't. The Country vote for AI is too strong and will pull her through. Unfortunately Amber is going home tomorrow. Too bad that the Judge's save is gone.