American Idol 9 Top 11 Theme: Teen Idol Week

AINow.org just tweeted that the Top 11 Idols will be performing songs from Teen Idols. Not really sure what this means? But iTunes is expected to help out by posting a list of songs that will expand on the theme. Kind of
a stupid idea in my opinion... and someone PLEASE tell Katie Stevens to back away from the Frankie Avalon tunes!

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Lacey Brown is Booted from Idol

The Judges' Save is being reinstuted for Season 9. The judging panel will have the option of saving one contestant through week 5. As with Season 8, the save can only be used once during the entire season. The one minor change in the save process is that the contestant is able to select a song to "sing for their lives" rather than performing the song that got them into the position of needing to be saved. A kindness to be sure.

Lacey Brown was the first of the top 12 to be eliminated. Not a big surprise as Lacey tended to be pitchy and was not consistent throughout the live shows. Simon's most recent feedback said that she seemed to approach each song as if she were an actress, perhaps suggesting that she should consider musical comedy. Lacey's roomie, Paige Miles, and Tim urban joined Lacey to make up the bottom 3 before the final elimination.

Tim's survival generated the biggest surprise, as he probably deserved the boot more than either of the two ladies. Just goes to show how helpful the tweenager vote is for the cuter male contestants on the 'Idol' stage.

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Did the 'Idol' Top 12 Kill It? Or Manage to Kill the Rolling Stones?

I'll admit it: I was afraid. The thought of this year's Idols making music from the hits of the Rolling Stones was the furthest thing from a match made in heaven that I have imagined in some time. For me, the season has become about Crystal Bowersox... and the rest. Although I still am holding out hope that Didi will rise to the occasion, and of course there is Casey James :) So who were you loving last night? And who are you hoping will get the boot tonight?

Several of the remaining finalists managed to botch their assigned songs quite handily. Katie Stevens managed to turn the tale of romantic longing told in "Wild Horses" into a pitchy plea for votes (or something). Andrew Garcia missed thje boat on the fierce anti-war anthem. And Tim Urban... (sigh)... well... let's just say sexual domination reggae style just didn't work for me.

In fairness to the contestants, three-chord songs that require a limited vocal range don't have a chance at sounding good performed by anyone except the iconic "Stones." And Crystal Bowersox did manage to do a stellar job, while a few fellow contestants managed to do themselves proud. So the evening was not a total loss. But close. If I was Keith Richards, I would be rolling... somewhere... that's for sure.

Here's my thoughts on grading the contestants that performed last night.

Excellent: Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox

Good: Siobhan Magnus, Lee Dewyze, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Casey James

Satisfactory (I guess): Paige Miles, Katie Stevens, Tim Urban

Disappointing: Lacey Brown, Andrew Garcia

It will be interesting to see if I am on track for this week's voting results... or if my Idol radar is still way off base!

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Katelyn Epperly, Todrick Hall, Alex Lambert and Lilly Scott ELIMINATED!

WOW! I don't know about all of you, but the elimination down to the top 12 was totally BIZARRE! Lilly Scott being eliminated from her pimp spot is definitely a first! And Alex Lambert definitely deserved to stay rather than Tim Urban. Katie Stevens has not had a good night since the live shows started! And let's not even get into her pageant-like demeanor. I thought for sure that the girls leaving would be either Katie, Paige Miles or Lacey Brown. Katelyn Epperly definitely deserved a slot over all three of them! Andrew Garcia also needs to count himself lucky and step up his game. The only one I seem to have had right is Todrick Hall. Can't say that I will miss his overdone arrangements and poor performances.

American Idol 9 Top 8 Boys Review

Now for the boys turn... The boys are quite a bit tougher for me to do than the girls because none of them stand out for me the way the girls do.

1. Casey James got a tough go from the judges last week, but was viewed very favorably by the audience in spite of the judges' critique. He is a shue-in for the top 12... but could really use a break out performance to separate from the pack.
2. Michael "Big Mike" Lynche is a loveable teddy bear who will likely get through to the top 12 just on likeability alone.
3. Lee Dewyze is loved more by the judges than the voting public and could really use some popular appeal. I think he has done enough to safely get into the top 12 though. – The judges love him, but I’m not sure the rest of America appreciates his awkward and somewhat pitchy performances.
4. Aaron Kelly is in a similar position to Katie Stevens - not quite ready for the big time. He is splitting the tween vote with Tim Urban and Alex Lambert too. Of the 3, I think he is safest, but he needs a stellar performance to safely separate himself from the other 2 tween heart throbs.
5. Alex Lambert does not seem sure of himself and quite a nervous wreck during each performance. But last week I think we saw the beginnings of "what could be" if he can ever get over his nerves. I think if he can squeak through the next few weeks, we may seem someone special in the making.
6. Andrew Garcia is still surviving on his Hollywood week performance and desperately needs to get back on track to stay in the game.
7. Tim Urban NEEDS a great performance tonight to have a shot at advancing. But the tweenagers might be able to save him, particularly if the judges come out for him tonight. I think that Tim needs to go at this point.
8. Todrick Hall has repeatedly made the same mistake of rearranging songs until they are not recognizable and then performing them badly. He needs a miracle to stay on the show at this point.

American Idol 9 Top 8 Girls Review

My “wish-list” for after tonight’s American Idol 9 Top 8 Performance episode. I think Paige and Katie will be going home this week based on tonight's performances. With all of the girl singer-songwriters, Paige really had a chance to break from the pack tonight as the lone R&B singer, but picked the totally wrong song to do that with. There's still a chance Lacey could go home if this week's performance was not enough to win her some votes.

1. Crystal Bowersox: Still the front-runner not only for the girls, but for the entire group by a mile. As Simon says, it is Crystal's to lose at this point. She's in her own league.
2. Didi Benami: Just when we thought former front-runner Didi was not able to compete, she pulled it out with her performance of "Rianna" by Fleetwood Mac. Definitely her best live performance. The judges loved it. Hopefully not too little too late?
3. Siobhan Magnus: Siobhan wowed the judges last week with her power-note at the end of “Think,” but under impressed this week with her rendition of "House of the Rising Sun." While likable and quirky, Simon called this week's performance "weird" and Kara finally pulled out the "not sure who you are as an artist" jab.
4. Lilly Scott: While the judges adores Lilly's confidence and indie style, she is a bit aloof and has the potential to have problems connecting with the audience. Simon cited her lack of wow factor this week.
5. Katelyn Epperly: Impressed with her version of Coldplay’s “The Scientist” last week, the judges were not impressed with her Carole King performance this week. She's one to watch, but is not consistent. They did like the hair though.
6. Lacey Brown: I was pretty surprised when Lacey made it through last week. Until tonight she has not been able to get a handle on her nerves. She pulled it out tonight. Again, hopefully not too little too
late.
7. Katie Stevens: An early front-runner with great vocal chops, it has been apparent throughout the live competition that Katie does not yet know how to use her voice and has not yet settled on a style. She's also pretty stiff on stage. Entirely possible she could be going home this week.
8. Paige Miles: With very little on-screen exposure prior to the semi-finals, Paige has been having big problems with song selection. Tonight was no different with her selection of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile." Very pitchy and dull performance. Simon outed her as facing the end of the road.

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Iran Gets a Little Help from North Korea

On Saturday, state media reported that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the official version of the Sept. 11 attacks a "big lie" used by the U.S. as an excuse for the war on terror while addressing the Intelligence Ministry staff. "September 11 was a big lie and a pretext for the war on terror and a prelude to invading Afghanistan," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by state TV. He called the attacks a "complicated intelligence scenario and act." He has also questioned the resulting death toll of around 3,000, claiming the Americans never published the victims' names when the names of 2,750 victims killed in New York are routinely read aloud during annual memorial ceremonies.

The official Korean Central News Agency, KCNA of North Korea, then announced on Sunday that it would no longer move forward with nuclear disarmament in response to a planned U.S.-South Korean joint military exercise. "The maneuvers clearly indicate once again that the U.S. and the South Korean authorities are the harassers of peace and warmongers keen to bring a war to this land," the statement said. North Korea also announced it would no longer abide by the armistice that brought a truce to the Korean War, saying that South Korea violated the agreement by participating in the military cooperation with the United States. "The process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula will naturally come to a standstill and (North Korea) will bolster its nuclear deterrent for self-defense," the statement said.

Even more frightening, Iran is said to have been constructing a new rocket launch facility that could later accommodate an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a nuclear warhead with help from North Korea. The launcher was detected by commercial remote-sensing satellites in the Semnan province east of Teheran and is said to be halfway to completion. Both the platforms, and the new Simorgh space-launch vehicle that can transform into an intercontinental ballistic missile with the capability of containing a nuclear warhead, are said to resemble equipment and platforms at North Korea's new launch pad at Tongchang. It seems that despite the United States attempting to garner support for further sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, Teheran appears determined to continue developing its missile and rocket capabilities in the foreseeable future, and has found an ally to help them do it.

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Will Oscar finally crack its glass ceiling?

Yep, it's that time of year again: time to see who'll top the worst-dressed list, who'll deliver the sappiest acceptance speech, and just how many trophies The Hurt Locker will take home. But, there's a big difference between who'll win and who should. While there is a 3-way heat for Best Picture between The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds and Avatar, and it is widely thought that Inglorious Basterds "should" win, it is also a well known fact that Avatar's mastermind James Cameron, and Inglourious Basterds' writer/director, Quentin Tarantino, and distributor Harvey Weinstein are all hated by hordes of Academy voters... leaving The Hurt Locker to walk away with the grand prize.

The directors of all 3 films are also nominated for the Best Director trophy... Kathryn Bigelow, the director of The Hurt Locker, is only the fourth woman in the history of the Motion Picture Academy, as well as the second American woman to be honored with this distinction. Should she win the award, Bigelow would be the first woman to actually receive this honor. Will Oscar allow another crack in the glass ceiling tonight?

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Did America get it right this week on 'Idol?'

Even with getting rehearsal time cut short, four of the top 10 guys (Michael Lynche, Lee DeWyze, Andrew Garcia and Casey James) proved to me that they are ready for the finals.

Some of the ladies of "American Idol", singing a day late this week, were definitely worth the wait on Wednesday night's show, with performances by Crystal Bowersox, Lilly Scott, Siobhan Magnus and Katelyn Epperly that clearly overshadowed anything that any of the guys brought to the table. But the question remains, should the show's producers have shortchanged the guys' rehearsal time by a day because of Bowersox's illness? Something that had never been done before in the history of Idol?

Thursday night we then learned that John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Michelle Delamor and Haeley Vaughn have crooned their last notes on "American Idol." No surprises really.

Soooo... Do you think the voters got it right this time around?

Watch the live blog next Tuesday when the girls take the Idol stage... probably... ;) I am still holding out hope that Didi Benami can pull it together before it's too late. She was easily my favorite to take the title this year, but just has not had the caliber of performances in the live shows that I saw in her during
Hollywood week.

And don't forget that Scott MacIntyre will return on March 11 to sing his new song “Heartstrings.” He will also be joined by fellow Season 8 finalist, Matt Giraud, for a duet of Billy Joel’s “Tell Her About It”,
the one that was originally to air during the season 8 finale.

Speaking of Season 8... Nick Mitchell, aka "Norman Gentle", remember him? Nick is slated to appear as an emcee for a four-month Vegas Idol Review. Two Idol winners and some additional finalists will be
featured. More on that later. Nick is also working on a satirical single called “Brit Slap” written by some folks who have worked with Billy Joel and Paul McCartney. Watch for it!

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American Idol Top 20... Who's Going Home?

So who gets the boot tonight? This week is pretty easy to pick... For the guys, I am guessing it will be either Todrick Hall, Jermaine Sellers or John Park. None of them have been able to break out in a significant or positive way.

For the girls it is a bit tougher... I am thinking either Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown, Paige Miles or Michelle Delamor. Unfortunately, Didi Benami could be in trouble too, but I think she will probably stick around for another week or two. Hopefully she can get her act back together quickly as she seemed to be one of the real frontrunners before the live shows started, and was my personal favorite after Hollywood Week.

In addition to the voting results, keep an eye out for Danny Gokey performing his new single on Idol tonight. Scott MacIntyre also returns to the ‘Idol’ stage on March 11 to perform “Heartstrings” from his album of the same name, which is being released that same day.

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