This Week In Tonight In American Idol [3 April 2007]

[Ed. Note: REFRESH frequently, and re-read after the show, because I do go back and add stuff throughout the commercial breaks, etc.]

7:58 PM: Top Nine nite is here. Tonite's mentor is Tony Bennett. I'm thinking this will be good for Melinda and KiKi. For Sanjaya...we'll see...

UPDATED: The DialIdol numbers are now in and are at the end of the report...

8:01 PM: I'm sorta digging Paula's striped jacket and scarf thingy.

8:02 PM: Wow! Tony Bennett is 80 years old??? He looks great, and he's still got it.

8:03 PM: First up tonite is Blake Lewis. Blake will be performing "Mack The Knife". ["Mack The Knife" has been performed by numerous artists over the years, but the most famous versions probably come from Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin.] Tony calls it "very rap" and describes Mack as "gangster". Tony urges Blake to remember that as he performs.

One wonders whether this is the first time Tony Bennett has ever described anything as "gangster"???

Is it just me, or could this be Blake's best performance yet?

WOW! That was great!!!

Randy: "...a very good way to start off the nite...a few pitch problems...a good choice...i liked it..."
Paula: "...a great way to start the show...you're fun...you're cool..."
Simon: "...good song choice...i'd give you a 7 out of 10..i'd give the band an 8..."

8:10 PM: Ryan tells us that the "Idol Gives Back" show has become so large that it will have to be split into 2 performance venues...Ryan gives us a run-down of some of the new performers who have been added. The big news: the return of KELLY CLARKSON!!!

Guess where Kelly will be performing? My guess -- the OTHER place.

8:12 PM: Next up is Phil Stacey. Phil is performing "Night And Day". "Night And Day" has also been performed by lots of "standards" singers.

My sister notes that Phil has allowed a little bit of his hair to come back. I think it looks good.

The performance is good but lacking in personality.

Randy: "...i don't know...there was a disconnection there..."
Paula: "...you remind of a young Frank Sinatra...but you need to let your personality come through..."
Simon: "...Paula, which Frank Sinatra are you talking about? seriously?...it sounded like something you'd hear in a funeral parlor..."

8:17 PM: Next up is Melinda Doolittle. Melinda Doolittle is singing "I've Got Rhythm". Obvs, it's "standards" nite. Tony says he likes Melinda and thinks she has a lot of "promise".

Surprise, surprise -- it's 100x the best performance of the nite.

My sister's not digging her hair, but i'm digging the dress.

Randy: "...this is how you do it America, right here!!!"
Paula: "...you are like a master class...you've got it all..."
Simon: "...i didn't like the first part of the song -- it was a bit cabaret...[to audience] SHUT UP!!!...i liked the last part of the song...i don't think we're ever going to be able to criticize you...that's a problem..."

8:26 PM: Next up is Chris Richardson, who from now on can be just "Chris". WHEW!

Ryan gives Chris a question from a fan. I was too bored to pay attention to the question or answer.

Chris is performing "Don't Get Around Much Anymore".

I still think Chris' voice is a little thin and nasally, but that was okay.

Randy: "...one of your best performances of the season...THAT WAS HOT!!!"
Paula: "...you kept it true to yourself...you made it hip...you're so cool and so fun...your best performance bar none..."
Simon: "...i agree with paula and randy...hip...maybe your best performance of the season...one of the best of the nite..."

8:30 PM: Next up is Jordin Sparks. Jordin is performing "On A Clear Day".

I like Jordin, but not as much as everyone else seems to. I don't think she has really let herself loose yet. I don't know that she can.

Randy: "...we got some HEAT up here...that was THE BOMB America!!! you're like a pro..."
Paula: [Paula is speechless, but she seems only functionally drunk tonite] "...you'll sail through to the next round..."
Simon: "...it seemed old...i didn't like it as much as the other two did...it was a little boring..."

See, I agree with Simon -- Jordin hasn't really shown herself yet...

8:34 PM: Ryan tells us that up next are Gina and Sanjaya. I think I need to go get a shot.

Wait -- make it a double!!!

8:38 PM: Next up is Gina Glocksen. Gina is performing "Smile". Tony says the song reminds him of 9/11 and the soldiers in Iraq -- does that mean it'll be a weeper???

I know Gina is all "rocker chick" and shit, but her outfit is just wrong for "standards nite" and this song. It's visually distracting.

Now she's shouting parts of the song.

Randy: "...that was a nice performance from 'the rocker girl'...i liked that..."
Paula: "...that was beautiful...nice and understated..."
Simon: "...i can't rave about the vocal, because two women came on in front of you and completely out-sang you...sorry..."

8:42 PM: Next up is Sanjaya Malakar. Sanjaya is performing "Cheek To Cheek".

Sanjaya has slicked-down hair -- and peach fuzz on his lip!!! My sister comments that he's wearing John Travolta's suit from Saturday Night Fever.

Oh, gawd -- Sanjaya is dancing with Paula!!!

Randy: "...i can't even comment on the vocals anymore...but you've turned into a great entertainer..."
Paula: "...you're a great entertainer..."
Simon: "...let's try a different tactic this week...'INCREDIBLE!!!'..."

Sanjaya sasses Simon. That may have been Simon's smartest move of the season -- a little reverse psychology on the Fanjayas...

8:49 PM: Next up is Haley Scarnato. Haley is performing "Ain't Misbehavin'".

Haley threw on her dress at the last minute and nearly missed. Wow, that's a lot of skin. If she could really sing, she'd be dynamite!



Haley's vocal is o-kay, but it's not special at all. There's no personality to this performance.

That's Haley's biggest problem -- there's nothing special about her. She's attractive, and she can sing okay, but that's it. She has no stage presence or personality in her performances.

The judges are literally speechless.

Randy: "...Paula, what do you think?"
Paula: "...did i mention that green is a good color for you?"
Simon: "...well, that's rude..."
Randy: "...well, she wants to know what you think..."
Simon: "...nice legs..."

As Ryan was giving out the number, Simon called him back. Simon wanted to add that there was nothing "special" about the performance, and that it was "pageanty". Simon is absolutely right.

Haley is cruising on her revealing outfits at this point. She knows what she is doing, but it will only get her so far.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Sanjaya's fans and Haley's fans are the complete opposite. It wouldn't surprise me if they went out in consecutive weeks -- the defeated contestant's fans working to eliminate the other in the next week.

Of course, this would also make sense as they are the two worst remaining contestants in the competition.

8:57 PM: Last up tonite is LaKisha Jones. LaKisha is performing "Stormy Weather".

Of course, it's the "other" best performance of the nite.

I was IM'ing with my sister during the judges' comments -- and remember I don't have TiVo or anything, so I lost those comments. I caught the gist that they were good comments.

UPDATED: My sister rewinded her TiVo and helped me out with the judges' comments on KiKi...

Randy: "...pitchy at the start...saved it all for the middle and end...da bomb!"
Paula: "...you look gorgeous...just proves that we all love Tony Bennett...we all do..."
Simon: "...back on form...sassy, GREAT performance..."

9:00 PM: Okay, time for House...WAIT -- American Idol is STILL ON???

American Idol is running over tonite -- and unlike last week, this was apparently not "planned". We'll have more to say about this on Wednesday or Thursday, fashizzle...

9:02 [!] PM: Seacrest...OUT! [actually, he doesn't say that anymore...don't know why -- Ed.] I'll be back in a few hours with the DialIdol numbers.

UPDATED WEDNESDAY AM: After talking with my sister, I learned that the "polls" are open much later than I thought. I fell asleep waiting for "the magic hour", so I'm a little late with this update. Sorry about that.

Anyway, the DialIdol numbers are now "final", and here's what they predict: 1) Melinda Doolittle; 2) Phil Stacey; 3) Sanjaya Malakar; 4) Chris Richardson; 5) Blake Lewis; 6) Jordin Sparks; 7) Gina Glocksen; 8) Lakisha Jones; 9) Haley Scarnato.

According to DialIdol, only Melinda is "safe".

This is completely ridiculous. My own bottom 3 from last nite was: 7) Phil; 8) Haley; 9) Sanjaya. That the "land line" voters may have put KiKi in the bottom 2 opens my eyes to how stupid some a lot of people are.

Haley is very much in danger of going home tonite, but if KiKi leaves before Sanjaya, I'll definitely have to rethink my interest in this thing.

Tune in tonite, and let's hope the farce I fear does not materialize...