WHAT?!?!?!

So here we are... time for results.


Ryan says he can send one of them back to safety and the audience immediately yells out "Gina!!" and I have to admit, I was thinking the same thing. I was shocked to hear Ryan say Phil was safe. But that's what happened. Even Gina looked a little taken aback.

And I don't even know what to say about the news Ryan throws at us next. Haley is safe too. It's Gina who goes home. And while I can't boycott the rest of this season, I really don't know if I'll be watching next time - the voting this season is insane... you know what? Before I get myself fired for typing what I really think of tonight's results, I think I'll just call it a night - until next week...

Bennett's out sick, but wow, what a substitute!!!

So, it's true after all. Tony Bennett is sick today and won't be singing after all. Instead, they get Michael Buble to sing, which is still pretty good, I guess. He sings "Call Me Irresponsible" and it's fantastic. I feel like if I close my eyes, I could pretend that I'm in the 1940s sitting in a dark club somewhere, listening to a crooner like Frank Sinatra or something like that. He's got a very old-fashioned sound that I love. Not everything has to be modern and updated - at least not in my book.

This is one of the reasons why I love this show so much. I'm not really on top of who's who in music nowadays - I've got my CDs in the car and that's about as far as I go, unless I hear a good song on the radio. But this show introduces people, like myself, to music and artists that we may never know otherwise. Now, I don't completely live under a rock - I knew who Michael Buble was, I just wasn't really familiar with his music. But, his performance tonight will have me checking out his stuff, for sure.

***Update*** I came home last night and listened to some of Buble's music and fell in love. However, hearing how great he can be, I now realize that all of you are correct - his performance last night was not great. I hope he returns at some point to redeem himself.

An expected bottom three

So Ryan is switching it up again this week. He's got the contestants split up into three groups of three, one group being the bottom three. no big surprise here - the first flash is of Phil Stacey, Haley Scarnato and Gina Glocksen in a group. It has to be them. Who else could it be, I mean, really?

I wonder if the guys in Sanjaya's group are worried - I mean, I'm sure they all think he's bad. Do you think being stuck in his group makes them scared? I think I'd be nervous because even though America has supported Sanjaya so far, there going to be that one week where the support runs out.

So, Ryan leaves the guys hanging and moves to Gina, Phil and Haley, who is wearing one of the shortest skirts I'v ever seen. She looks beautiful, but I'm still unsure about why she feels she needs to sex it up for the viewers.

So I can only assume that Jordin, Melinda and LaKisha's nerves dissipated once they saw they were grouped together. Clearly, they're going nowhere. And Ryan tells them they're safe. OK - all is as it should be so far.

So, looks like the suspense ends here - Ryan tell Chris, Blake and Sanjaya that they are safe, revealing what I think we all already knew - Haley, Phil and Gina are in the bottom three.

Surprise cameo in the Ford ad

I had heard rumors earlier today that Tony Bennett was sick and would not be performing live - I guess that turned out to be a hoax because Ryan says he'll be there.

After seeing the recap from last night, I'm more convinced than ever that it has to be either Phil or Haley going home tonight. Haley sang better than Phil, so I'd say it will be him, but I'm so annoyed by Haley's new sexpot image that I think it should be her. Anyone else leaving tonight would be ridiculous and would definitely have me questioning whether I'll be watching next season.

Finally, a Ford commercial worth watching. Set to Bob Marley's "One Love," the ad was cute in concept, great in song choice and actually had me entertained for its duration. And how cute - they got Kermit the Frog to guest-star. I really don't think these spots help sell Ford vehicles to anyone, but still, they help pass the time, I guess.

Just like clockwork...

Here are our picks of who is out tonight:

Eileen Fredes (6 for 15)
-Haley

Anne Machalinski (5 for 15)
-Haley

Jonathan McCarthy (4 for 11)
-Haley

Jamshid Mousavinezhad (5 for 15)
-Haley

Not so exciting when all of us vote for the same person, but it is what it is.

Stay tuned for live blogging tonight.

'Idol' still on soul patrol

Are you a fan of Taylor Hicks? If so, lucky you! Last seasons gray-haired winner will perform at Westbury's North Fork Theatre on Saturday. Can't make this show? You're in luck! He's back at the Beacon Theatre on April 20. Want even more Hicks? He has a book coming out!

Here's a taste of the article in Thursday's Newsday by Daniel Bubbeo:

Despite having to endure Cowell's zingers, Hicks still has nothing but gratitude for the show. "Learning how to perform under pressure like that every week really helped me to become a better performer," he said.

Hicks also doesn't seem fazed that his self-named disc, which debuted at No. 2 in December on the album charts, was nowhere to be found on Billboard's Top 100 this week, while fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry's album, which spent several weeks at No. 1, is still in the No. 4 spot after 18 weeks. "I think the record-buying public and the TV audience might be a little different," he says. "My job isn't to compare numbers. My job is to go out and play the best music to my fans."

For the full article, go here.

Haley's sinking fast

Haley Scarnato chooses to sing "Ain't Misbehavin'," from the musical of the same name. She tried making the song kind of cute by adding a couple of "and you"s that didn't belong there, but Tony Bennett called her on it and told her that the song is about one love and that her add doesn't make sense, that it destroys the story of the song. He says that she should just sing to that one person and if she does that, it'll be a better performance. Note how he doesn't say it'll be a good performance.

Oh Haley... another week, another skimpy outfit. It's a cute dress and she looks great in it, but I hate that she's relying on her sex appeal instead of her voice. I don't get what she's doing with her leg - she keeps kicking it up Betty Boop-like. I don't know - I feel like she's becoming a caricature of herself - it's really a shame.

I mean, I don't want to be too mean - I liked her performance. I think she sounded great, but I wish she could have more faith in her talent - I'm not a fan of her new sexed-up image. Because look what happens - I'm guilty of it myself - people end up talking about her outfit, her moves, her overall "sexy" act, and where's the conversation about her voice? Nowhere, and that's why I hate her new strategy - I hope she quits it.

And what a huge slap in the face by the judges... Randy says he thought this style of music would suit her, but doesn't really give an opinion - he just passes the buck to Paula, who tells her green is a great color for her and then passes the buck to Simon, who says they're being rude and that they should say what they think of her performance. Paula responds by saying, "She wants to know what you think," to which Simon simply says, "I think you've got great legs." After some prodding from Ryan, Simon adds that it was a bit pageant-y.

LaKisha Jones closes the show with "Stormy Weather," first sung by Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club in Harlem (according to Wikipedia - not sure how reliable they are), and also sung by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Tony Bennett, of course, thinks she's great. He tells her to sing the song as it was written, to end with the big note, not to add the little tag at then. I wonder if she'll listen.

She sounds great, but it's really not my favorite performance - I can't tell if it's just the song though. And once again, LaKisha ignores the advice of the guest mentor. You know, I have to say, I hate that she does that - these guests are just trying to help them sound their best and I find her stubbornness a bit arrogant. And in this case, Tony Bennett was right - the ending would have been better with the big note - the little thing at the end sounded a little out of tune to me and it just didn't add anything to the performance.

Randy loved it, tells her it was a little pitchy in the beginning but that she saved it all for the middle and the end... he tells it was the bomb. Paula says she looks gorgeous. Simon says it was a sassy, great performance.


I'm kind of torn about who I think should go tomorrow - it's either Phil Stacey or Haley Scarnato - I'll give my final pick tomorrow.

Finally, Sanjaya earns his votes

Did Tony Bennett actually tell Sanjaya Malakar that he was a big fan of his? Did that actually just happen? Did he really say those words... out loud? Wait... I have to replay that...

Unbelievable, but that's exactly what just happened. He then goes on to say that Sanjaya shows up and comes up with something every week and that it makes him interesting. He says that Sanjaya has a sense of humor, that he sings well and that what he likes about him is that he dares to be different.

Just for the record... Sanjaya's goal of the evening - to show America that he actually can sing. I mean, it's been almost three months - shouldn't we have already seen that you can sing???

Whoa, whoa, whoa... what's happening here? First off, the hair is ridiculous - tame, but still not OK. But more importantly... is Sanjaya singing.... well??? Look at him go - he's dancing with Paula and everything!!!

Finally. That's all I can really say about it. Finally, he's back to being that adorable kid in the auditions who outsang his sister, who won us over with his big smile and humility. He's still not the best singer, by any stretch, but at least tonight, it was passable, it was entertaining, it was really the best he's done so far. My love for Sanjaya has been renewed - at least for tonight. At least tomorrow, when America keeps him safe another week, he'll know he earned it.

Oh, I completely forgot to mention that he sang "Cheek to Cheek," originally performed by Fred Astaire. Gosh - what a great job he did tonight - I'm kind of stunned, really.

Randy still seems to not like his voice - tells him he's not even going to comment on the vocals, but mentions that he's become quite the entertainer. Paula agrees and says that he's charming - she mentions that the vocals were off a little, but that she loves his suit and thanks him for the dance. Simon, again, is terribly mean, and says, "Let's try a different tactic this week...uh, incredible!!" I'll admit to finding it a bit amusing, but Sanjaya's comeback was hilarious and it's too bad it was lost in the music and applause - he says to Simon, "Thank you - welcome to the universe of Sanjaya!" - a throwback to last week when Simon told him that he's in his own universe and if people like him, then good luck.

Gina smiles through the pain

Jordin Sparks seemed to impress Tony Bennett - he says that she's terrific, that she sang very much in tune, which he says is rare these days, and says that she was smart about how she improvised, how she changed a note here and there, that is was right on.

She sings "On A Clear Day," which has been sung by Barbra Streisand and of course, the ultimate crooner, Frank Sinatra.

Now, I love Jordin - I actually kind of hope she wins, but for the first time since the very first couple of weeks, I feel like you could really hear her nervousness. Her breaths were really audible and I don't know if she did it on purpose, but it was kind of distracting. Other than that, I think her voice was great. I'm not in love with the song, but she did a fantastic job with it.

Randy says it was the bomb. Paula says she's a magnet of joy and that she exudes it onstage. Simon says she sang it very well, but that she didn't make the song young and current. He says it was very old-fashioned and traditional.


Gina Glocksen is next and she sings "Smile," which was written by Charlie Chaplin. Tony Bennet says the song gives you hope in your darkest moment - that it's simple and its great. He tells Gina it was beautiful. And then he gets emotional in his interview - he says that when he sings it, he thinks of 9/11 and the soldiers in Iraq, praying that they come home.

I think Gina should avoid taking style tips from Sanjaya - her hair looks awful - I had the poof at the back of her head and I hate that it's an all-pink poof. It just looks ridiculous and is half of her hair in cornrows? It's just a mishmash of styles and it doesn't fit with the week's theme, nor her song choice.

But enough of that because aside from horrible hair, Gina is kicking some patooty. I feel like she's really hitting her stride - her voice is sounding better every week. She's picking songs that suit her voice and she's finding ways of being versatile while still staying true to who she is. Gina is another favorite of mine and I hope the judges love her as much as I do.

Randy tells her it was a nice, controlled performance. Paula says it was flawless, understated and sentimental. Simon says he can't rave about the vocal because two girls came on before her and completely outsang her. You could see how his comments upset her, but I think she kind of expected it because she responded by saying, "That's why it's a competition - you have so many different kind of vocals." But still, I think this was an example of Simon being mean just to be mean.

Melinda's got rhythm

Melinda Doolittle chooses "I Got Rhythm," originally sung by Ethel Merman and Tony Bennett says she's got a real chance in the business, that she's a real good singer. He tells her that she's been the best singer all day and she does her little surprise face, although I think she's been working on it, because she recovers quickly and just thanks him for the compliment. She starts crying in her interview and says how great it feel to have someone of Bennett's caliber believe in her. I hope she gets off this no confidence thing soon.

Wow - first off... hate her dress, but her hair looks terrific. More importantly, I love her voice and its versatility. She's got such a huge voice, but I love that she started the song off soft, breathy and sultry. And even in the chorus, she could have blown everyone away with the strength of her voice, but she kept it controlled and light until the very end where she just let loose and let the power of her voice take over. It was a great build-up - really spectacular - one of my favorite performances from her.

Randy says he loves that she comes out every week and gives everyone a lesson in singing - that she interprets the lyrics and sings with the feeling that the lyrics portray... that this is how you do it right here. Paula says she was flawless and Simon tells her he thought the first part of the song was a bit cabaret but that he loved the last part of the song was great and fun. He then tells her he doesn't think they're ever going to be able to criticize her and then says, "This is a problem."

Oh no... it's Chris Richardson. I wish so much I could skip over him, not have to write about him at all. Then maybe he would go away.

He chooses Duke Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and has to keep looking at the lyrics as he sings for Tony Bennett - that humiliation is almost as bad as Sanjaya screwing up the No Doubt lyrics in front of Gwen Stefani last week. At least he didn't flub the lines, but Tony Bennett still tells him he needs to really memorize the song. The only other thing he says about him is that he'll have fun with the song. I mean, this is now like the third week where the guest mentor hasn't had much to say about him. That should says something to America - STOP VOTING FOR HIM!!!!

Oh good God... what is up with the silhouette entrance? I just can't stand it anymore. And the suspenders and the hat and the vest? It's all just too much - I mean a hat would have been a nice touch, as the suspenders and vest would have, but all together? It's just overkill.

And let's not forget his voice - he key he chose is too low for his vocal range, so when he gets to the low notes, his voice loses its strength and you can barely hear him. The higher notes are really good, though, so I think Randy will love him again, as he has every week, and Chris will probably be safe one more week because as of right now, as much as I hate him, he did pretty well, definitely better than Phil Stacey.

Randy tells him he thinks it was one of his best performances of the whole season (I'm just not even shocked anymore - Randy has some crazy bias toward this kid and I just don't know why). He tells him it was hot and young and hip. Paula says he didn't compromise himself and some other nonsense that made no sense. Simon says it was very good, very believable and that he made it hip and that he's one of the strongest tonight.

Blake keeps it simple

It's Tony Bennett week...how funny that they showed him singing the song Sanjaya slaughtered a few weeks ago.

Blake Lewis goes first tonight - he chooses "Mack the Knife," which has been sung by Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra. Tony Bennett seems a bit bothered by the fact that Blake is putting a beat to the song. He thinks Blake needs to get to the meaning of the song. He tells Blake that the song is pre-rap, and that he needs to keep that in mind as he sings it. He thinks Blake needs to slow down the tempo a little bit and I'm glad he said something to him. Not that there's anything wrong with updating a song, or adding your own flavor to it, but sometimes, I feel like Blake does anything he can to avoid just singing a song the way it was written, the way it was meant to be sung. I hope he takes Bennett's advice and keeps it simple.

I love Blake when he just sings and I'm so glad he decided to do that tonight. Adding the modern dance moves was enough to update the song. His voice had a little crack toward the end, but it wasn't terrible. I didn't like the scat thing at the end, but other than that, I thought it was great.

Randy tells him it was very good, but that there were a couple of pitch problems. Paula tells him he's hip and that it was a great way to start the show. Simon said he liked the song choice and that he sang it well - he gave him a 7 out of 10, and gave the band an 8 out of 10 and tells him that the band played a big part in his performance. It's kind of a back-handed compliment - tells him he's good but only because the band was good.

So it looks like their charity special is getting bigger and bigger every week. Ryan announces that Keira Knightley has signed on, along with Hugh Grant, Helena Bonham Carter, Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Rowan Atkinson, better known as Mr. Bean, and Harry Potter himself (Daniel Radcliffe). Apparently, it's gotten so big that they're splitting up the event between two venues. They'll also be broadcasting from the Walt Disney Concert Hall, where Kelly Clarkson will be performing live. I'm kind of bummed I'll be missing it. I will be on vacation that week, celebrating my 30th birthday (ugh), but no worries, there will be no interruption in our blog.

Now, back to the show... Phil Stacey is up next. He says he's been looking forward to this week more than any other because Tony Bennett is his hero. Interesting how Tony Bennett tries to slow Blake down but wants to speed Phil up - he tells Phil he should put a beat behind his song. But how cool for Phil - Bennett says that Phil is one of the better singers and not just among the contestants, but for a long time, that he's a really good singer.

Phil sings "Night and Day," written by Cole Porter and performed by stars like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. It starts a little shaky, and a bit boring, I have to admit. I kind of wish he had added that beat Bennett suggested. I mean, maybe he did, but you can't really tell - it's still really slow. And his voice sounds different - it has a different tone to it tonight - it's richer, bigger. Not really sure how to describe it and truth be told, I'm not sure it works for him. Let's see what the judges think.

Randy says it was an interesting choice, but that he didn't really feel a connection or passion. He says it was disconnected. Paula says he's reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra, but says that she wants his personality to come through in more than just the chorus. Simon says it had all the joy of someone singing in a funeral parlor. He says it was completely and utterly gloomy and dark - that there was no life in the performance.

Some more 'Idol' predictions

Haven't gotten enough of our thoughts on which 'Idol' hopeful will get booted each week? Today, I offer two new opinions. They call themselves 'Idol' psychics in Newsday. Whether or not Daniel Bubbeo and Ronnie Gill are on the mark with their predictions is to be seen.

Read their picks for who's most likely to say good-bye this week, then tune in to 'Idol' to check their 'psychic powers.'

Daniel Bubbeo's vote:
Lowest number of votes: Phil Stacey. Phil gave his best performance taking on The Police last week and he still landed in the bottom three, which only shows how weak his fan base is. And with every breath he takes, Phil shows how forgettable he is. We'll be watching him go home tomorrow night.

Second lowest: Haley Scarnato. Haley's version of "True Colors" last
week was truly colorless. She may be beautiful like a rainbow, but her vocals
have been anything but a pot of gold.

Third lowest: Sanjaya Malakar. If only his performances were as
versatile as his hairstyles. After his hum-drum along the mohawk performance of
"Bathwater" last week, Sanjaya's undeserved staying power may finally be going
down the drain.

Intriguing? Click here to read Ronnie Gill's picks as well. And expect the blogging crew to hit you with ours tomorrow. Now that's something to look forward to.

Fighting Idol fatigue

So, let's talk about something other than Sanjaya's hair, and whether he ‘deserves’ to still be on the show.

(I'd say as long as Chris Richardson and Haley Scarnato are still around, Sanjaya's not the one we should be ripping for lack of vocal talent).

How about Melinda—she's great, right? Blake—can't wait to see him do the mellow beatbox thing again this week. LaKisha—boy, she sure belts it out. Phil—can he look any more ET-ish? Gina—rock on, girl.

See what the problem is? Other than the two 17-year-olds, Sanjaya and Jordin, this really is an uninteresting remaining group of American Idol contestants.

After three months of exposure, there’s not much, if anything, to say about them. Even for us professional bloggers.

For the most part, they're all polished and can sing fairly-to-really well. But honestly, nobody tunes in to AI to hear great singing.

It's all about the story; the personalities; the hint of controversy. Maybe because the contestants skew older this year and are all playing it safe, there's just nothing about these people that's sucking me in.

Except Sanjaya, and his continuing struggle to overcome his nerves. Not to mention the snide remarks coming from the likes of the odious Howard Stern (who's just trying to ride TV's biggest hit back into the spotlight).

I also keep watching to see Jordin, and how she'll deploy her undeniably huge talent (and goofy wit) this week. Everyone else is the same every week.

Because of its poor 'casting', if you will, American Idol is in danger of hitting its Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire moment, where people talk about it more than they actually watch it.

As our TV critic Verne Gay points out, sagging ratings among the fickle 18-49 group may have Idol's producers feeling like they've got to step up the song-and-dance to keep our interest.

And as we all know from the dating world, sometimes the harder you try, the more of a turn-off it becomes.

I'm hanging in there, for now. Am curious to see the likes of J.Lo, Jon Bon Jovi and Bono on the show in the next few weeks.

And, I'm telling you—Sanjaya can sing. If he ever gets over his nerves and starts picking better songs, we'll all have something real to buzz over.