Hot pants goes home

OK... time for the results. After the highest vote of the season - over 35 million votes...

Haley Scarnato goes home, hopefully taking her hot pants with her.

J.Lo's still got it

Well, that joy didn't last long. Right after the commercial break, Ryan sends Chris back to safety. It's either Haley or Phil tonight.

But, first, it's time for Jennifer Lopez. And she's singing, "Que Hiciste," off her new Spanish album, "Como Ama Una Mujer." What a great song - started out all slow and I was fully expecting to be bored for the duration of the song, but bam! she threw a beat into it and the song got interesting. It's always great when you don't expect very much and someone just wows you. I have never purchased any Jennifer Lopez music, but the Spanish album may be worth the money - who knows? Fantastic performance - best one so far this season.

Bottom three

Finally, down to the results. Ryan says he's going to ask the three people in bottom three to head to the center of the stage.

Phil Stacey is.... in the bottom three.
LaKisha Jones is.... safe.
Jordin Sparks is.... safe.
Melinda Doolittle is.... safe.
Haley Scarnato is.... in the bottom three. (and wearing more clothes than normal)
Blake Lewis.... safe.
Sanjaya Malakar is.... safe

and finally, Chris Richardson is in the bottom three.

Not in the mood for filler tonight

The Ford commercial this week is way better than the previous ones have been. First off, it's a great song - "Happy Together" by the Turtles. And the concept is cute - I like all the morphing.

So Ryan talks about the big charity thing again and says that Fox's parent company has pledged $5 million. Not bad at all. Then he shows more video of their trip to Africa - some girl drew a picture of Simon with boobs - hilarious.

Ugh... I wondered what they would have tonight to fill an entire hour - apparently a lot of nonsense. They spent like 5 minutes with Ryan ad Simon going back and forth about whether Simon would get up in sing if the show raised a certain amount of money. Can I nap please? I just want to know who's going home so I can go back to work, put it on our Flash! page and head home.

Oh no... now they're playing some gag video of Tony Bennett trying out for the show. It would be funny if I wasn't feeling kind of crappy tonight and wanting the show to hurry up and end.

Akon's back

The group song is back and this week they sing Enrique Iglesias' "Bailamos." They seemed really uncertain in the beginning - voices didn't mesh at all until the chorus - that's when it started to come together. It's not a great song, and is it me, but did a few of the contestants forget the words? How funny that they had Sanjaya do the sexy whisper part of the song.

So they're doing a new thing this week - Ryan is going out and talking to random people on the street to hear what people are talking about... (Uh, duh... I'm sure it's sanjaya.) Well, overall people thought Jennifer Lopez did a good job as a mentor, which she did. Some guy mentioned the "girl in the skimpy outfit" (funny how people don't remember her name now that she's chosen to hide behind the safety of her long legs) and there was a mom with her little girl who said they really liked Sanjaya. And then everyone else chimed in about Sanjaya - people like his moustache (I didn't notice he had one), they liked how he sang in Spanish. And then there was some great comment about everybody. It was cute.

Interesting... Akon is back this week, this time without Gwen Stefani, and he performs "Don't Matter." It's really a song to listen to in the car. Watching it was boring and he was pretty out of tune in some parts of it. I'm still glad he got to come out of Gwen's shadow, though.

Unpredictable predicting

You'd think after failing week in and week out, at some point your fearless prognosticators would be daunted and we'd give up trying to predict which hapless contestant America will dump from American Idol.

Ha!

Little do you realize how committed we are to our predicting duties.

Especially when the winner gets a cheesecake (right, Jonathan?!)

Eileen Fredes (6 for 16)
-Chris

Anne Machalinski (5 for 16)
-Phil

Jonathan McCarthy (4 for 12)
-LaKisha

Jamshid Mousavinezhad (5 for 16)
-Phil

As always, stay tuned for live blogging and the comedic excellence of Eileen tonight.

Sanjaya continues to shock and surprise

Can we say brown-noser? Blake Lewis decides to sing "I Need to Know," not by Marc Anthony, but by Jennifer Lopez's husband.

During practice, Jennifer Lopez tells Blake that he shouldn't worry about having a big voice like Marc Anthony, he should just focus on feeling the words of the song. She says he wants him to get into the passion of the song. I wonder if he'll beatbox.

The thing I hate most about Blake is that no matter how much I want to hate him, I can't. I just love him - he's so entertaining. He seems a little uncomfortable with the Latin dance moves, but he's trying, so I give him credit and I have to say, I'd much rather watch him sing this song than Marc Anthony.

Randy tells him is the best song choice of the night and a hot performance. Paula says it was a smart performance - that it captured the essence of who he is. Simon says it was the best song choice of the night and the best performance so far.


What is left to say about Sanjaya Malakar? He chooses "Besame Mucho" and I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! Is he singing it in Spanish? If he sings it in Spanish, in its original version, I may get on the phones myself tonight to vote for him!!!

Jennifer Lopez says he impressed her - she told him not to rush through the song. She even goes so far as to say that Simon might be impressed. I'm so excited!!!! I can't believe he's really going to sing it in Spanish.

I love it... his voice is getting better, his confidence is growing and you know, I still don't think he should win, but at least I feel like he doens't deserve to go yet. I'm impressed tonight - I wonder what the judges will say.

Randy tells him that it was really good, with the tone of shock in his voice. Paula tells him it was very, very nice. Simon says he couldn't understand a word of it - duh. Then he tells him that he sang like a 14-year-old, and says, "I'm gonna hate myself for this... it wasn't horrible." YEAH!!! Finally!!!!

I felt no heat from Haley, but maybe a little from Phil

Haley Scarnato is going to sing "Turn the Beat Around" and I almost want to plug my ears for the next four or five minutes. I can hear the crashing, see the wreckage already.

Jennifer Lopez says it's a hard song to sing because it's all about rhythm. And so they bring Blake in to beatbox so that Haley could hear a steady beat. Jennifer says the song is almost like rap, it's a song you have to throw at people and that's what Haley is going to have to do to win this week.

Ah, skimpy outfit number four - another set of hot pants. She looks cute, but will it be enough to cover up her singing? Who knows? The way America has been voting this season, it may very well be.

To be honest, the singing is pretty good - but it reminds me a lot of the hundreds of weddings I've gone to and I'm thinking someone will point that out.

Randy says it was karaoke - he says he could have been at any bar, anywhere. Paula says Haley had fun up there. WOW!!!!! I cannot believe Simon just called her out. He tells her, "I think you have a very good tactic at the moment, Haley. Wear the least amount of clothes as possible." He tells her that she can't do well in the competition based on her voice because there are much better singers. So all she can do is have fun. Ouch...

Phil Stacey is going to sing "Maria, Maria" by Santana (Why does it seem that Santana and Gloria Estefan are the only Latinos Americans know? What a shame, really - this country is missing out on such amazing music). I'm afraid for Phil tonight, because I think he needs to really knock it out of the park and while I happen to LOVE this song, I'm just not sure it suits his voice. But he has surprised me before, so who knows?

I think it's great how honest he is about being distracted by Jennifer Lopez sitting next to him listening to him sing. I imagine it must be quite a dream for lots of guys out there. Once he gets it together, though, Jennifer says he gave her goosebumps, so I'm hoping he can pull it off tonight.

You know, Phil is growing on me. Maybe it's just how much I love this song, or it could be how great he looks tonight - great hat, great look all around, but maybe, just maybe, it's how much I love his voice. I mean, he can really sing and I think he's the best so far tonight. His voice cracks a couple of times, but for me, it just adds character. I think it was awesome!!

Randy tells him it was boring, says he still has a great upper range, but that it just didn't come together. Paula said it was a really good vocal, with the exception of the crack at the end. Simon tells him he's a nice guy and that he chose a good song but that there was no originality in the performance, that it was lifeless and flat.

Jordin Sparks looks beautiful, but I so wish she would bring back her curls. I also wish she had chosen anyone but Gloria Estefan to sing. I mean, why not have Gloria Estefan or Carlos Santana mentor this week? I feel like with the exception of one song, that's all we've heard. I thought there would be more variety, which is why I said I wouldn't even attempt to look for the singers to the songs - little did I know it would prove to be so simple this week.

So, she chooses "The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and Jennifer Lopez says Jordin's voice reminded her of Michael Jackson. She even tells Jordin to move like Michael Jackson, to just sway to the rhythm, that she doesn't need to do anything else.

As usual, I love Jordin, but I do feel like she's a little simple tonight. I feel like she could have done so much more with the song.

Randy tells her that she had the "yo factor" on blast. He says it was hot. Paula says that she's so authentic and adorable. Simon tells her it was OK, nothing stunning, that there're been no progression.

How much is Chris paying the judges?

LaKisha Jones just doesn't excite me anymore. While Melinda may get annoying with her shy act, LaKisha has very quietly shown her ego by ignoring not one, but two of the guest mentors' suggestions, to her detriment, I think. While her voice is amazing, I feel like it just doesn't make up for her lack of personality and her unwillingness to learn from people, who frankly, know better than she does.

And oh Lord, she's going to sing Miami Sound Machine's "Conga." My first reaction is to think that it's going to be horrible because it's nothing like what she's used to singing. But you know what? It was only a couple of weeks ago that I commented on how much I wished she would try something new and different. So, I'm hoping this risk pays off for her. I'm thinking it may be too fast to really showcase her voice, but who knows?

Jennifer Lopez says she's an amazing singer, and that really just needed help with movement. She told her that she didn't have to do too much, she just needed to ride the rhythm, that it should all feel natural.

It starts off rough - like I mentioned before, the chorus is too fast for her and it comes off choppy and hard to understand. The verses are better, but I just don't think this was the best choice for her. I can't say it's bad, because, really, how can LaKisha be bad? But I can say that it was boring... and that's almost worse - I never believed anyone could make "Conga" boring - it's one of the greatest songs ever - makes me want to get up and dance every time I hear it - except this time...

I'm beginning to wonder if Randy can read my mind, because every week, almost without fail, he says almost completely the opposite of what I'm thinking. He tells her that he loved it because it looked like she was having fun out there, that she made the song her own, and that it was hot!!! Paula tells her she looks lovely - I can agree to that - she does look quite nice - but says she didn't feel it as much as Randy did. She thought it was very safe and that it's time now to bring out the very best. Simon asks LaKisha if she agrees with Paula and I have to say, I'm glad LaKisha got to defend herself a little bit - she was right on, too. She says she tried to go out of her comfort zone with the song and that she tried to move around the stage a bit, which she normally doesn't do. It just didn't work for her, I don't think. But anyway, Simon says he agrees with Paula. He says "Conga" is one of those songs that is a performance song and that she may have been having fun, but he's not sure how much fun the viewers were having, and that's the problem.


So, Ryan announces that Rascal Flatts will be joining the big charity event, as will Annie Lennox, Il Divo, Earth, Wind and Fire, Josh Groban and as he announced last week, Kelly Clarkson. It's going to be a great show, looks like. Thank God for TiVo.

Oh, how I pray for the day that I don't have to type the following words... Chris Richardson. But since I still have to, let's see how little I can get away with writing about him. He's singing Santana's "Smooth," and Jennifer Lopez doesn't like it - she doesn't say it outright, but she corrects him a few times on pronunciation (Thanks for that - we Latinos would have corrected him in our living rooms, just as she said we would) and thinks the key he's singing is too low. He takes it up a step and Jennifer says it will hopefully help him.

Why do some people get to have these performers with them on stage and others don't? Someone else did it this season, and I can't remember who it was, but it seems to be an unfair advantage, simply because it's a better presentation. In fact, was it Chris that did it once before??? I just can't remember.

Yuck - starts out way too low and kind of pitchy and oh no... did he actually mispronounce muñequita after being corrected? I have to rewind... OK - I misheard - he said it right. But the rest of this performance is just wrong, just like every other week. I would take a moment now to beg Randy to listen closely so he can hear how bad it is, but I already know it's hopeless - Randy loves him.

I knew it... hopeless. Randy tells him he likes it, that he did a really good job, that he liked all the runs, that it was very cool. Paula says it was a hot performance. Simon offers me a sliver a hope when he tells him that it wasn't the best vocal, but then yanks it away when he tells him that he liked it better than both Melinda and LaKisha because it felt more contemporary.

A chink in Melinda's armor

So, it's Latin week, and I'm wondering if they're going to really try to get into the Latin sound, really sing some real Latin music, or if it's going to be a disappointment for Latino population. Having Jennifer Lopez as the resident Latina is not a great sign, but I'll try to keep an open mind. I don't want to bash her too bad - I loved the remix of "Waiting for Tonight" and while I don't think she has real singing talent, she has made some entertaining music. However, in my mind, she is first, an incredible dancer, second, a passable actress, and in a distant third, a marketable singer. So, it seems odd to me that she would be viewed as a mentor of any kind to people looking to showcase their musical talents. But like I said, open mind...

Melinda Doolittle goes first and chooses to sing "Sway." Just as an aside, I usually try to include the original singer of the song, or the writer or composer or whatever - I'm not always on the money, but I make the attempt. Tonight, I'm not even going to try - only because I'm guessing that these songs have been recorded in both English and Spanish and I don't want to have to debate about what the original version is.

Anyway, moving on, Jennifer Lopez says that she saw Melinda get sexy and sultry for a second while singing her song and tells Melinda to work it, to go onstage with the idea that she is the sexiest, sultriest singer out there. And of course, Melinda gets all shy about it. Ugh... I wish she'd get over it already. She says that this will be her biggest challenge because she says she is so not sexy.

Well, her hair is not going to help her this week in being sexy - it makes her look much older than she is. And the pearls... while they may add class, they certainly don't add sex appeal. As for her singing, of course, it's great. She tries to dance a little and get a little sexy with it and it's not bad - I thought maybe she'd look awkward, but she's pulling this off pretty well, I think.

Of course the Spanish version of this song - I believe it's called "Quien Sera" - is much better, but if it has to be in English, who better to sing it than Melinda?

Randy tells her it was another solid performance, not her best, but solid. Paula tells her it was very smooth and sultry. Simon says, "Well, it had to happen, Melinda. I didn't like it." he says the song is all about personality and that she appeared much older than she is and that is very cabaret. He tells her that someone as good as her, at this stage of the competition needs to go out every week and put on a "wow factor" performance and that this wasn't it - that it was lazy and wooden and that he thinks she's better than that.

Melinda's response, for the record, is awesome. Ryan asks her if she was worried about what Simon might say and she says no. She says, "I'm happy because I think he really wanted to say something bad and I'm glad he got the chance." Hilarious.

'Idol' tracks on demand

Ronnie Gill looks at the new phenomenon of setting iPods to 'Idol':

Is there a recent 'American Idol' performance that you can't live without?You can now build your own digital library of your 'Idol' favorites by downloading full studio MP3 versions of songs by the 12 Season 6 finalists for 99 cents each at http://downloads.americanidol.com/.

Read the full article here, including a poll asking which performance by the finalists you'd like to see made into a full-length studio recording. Blake Lewis' rendition of 'Somewhere Only We Know' strike your fancy? Or would you rather buyMelinda Doolittle's version of 'My Funny Valentine?' Link and vote.

Giving Idol new life

FOX needs to fix Idol.

There’s no point waiting until the overall ratings start to decline—it’ll be too late by then. Most Idol fans agree that this year’s lineup is decidedly blah; we’ll keep watching next year out of loyalty and habit, but Idol is in danger of starting that downward slide.

So what can FOX do without destroying the show, as usually happens when TV executives start to meddle? Some suggestions:

-Find younger finalists. Everyone who’s left is too old and set in their ways, except for Sanjaya and Jordin. Sure, have a couple of ‘older pros’ around like Melinda and LaKisha to mix it up. But the show badly needs more youthful, even nervous energy.

-Bring back celebrity judging. In past years the celebrity-of-the-week wouldn’t just mentor, but would also sit in and judge (often hilariously) during the finals. A new voice every week would shake Paula/Randy/Simon out of their nice/schitzo/mean pattern.

-Stop singing old songs. What’s with all the stuff from the 60s? And then the judges complain the contestants aren’t youthful enough?! Cut the deals that will let the contestants sing more of what they actually listen to. And who knows, maybe even introduce America to some overlooked songs.

-Change up the venue. Put them in a nightclub one week, a beachside stage the next—it’ll help them match their performances to the themes, and will make each week’s show seem less same-old.

-Replace Ryan. I go back-and-forth on him; he actually does a hard job well, balancing a lot of demands and keeping things running. But I think he’s outgrown the host’s role, and is too much of a force unto himself. Replacing him is the quickest way to keep the show fresh… just don’t ask David Letterman.

-Go behind-the-scenes. A Real World-style peek at what everyone’s doing when they’re not on stage would be fun, and might help us care more about some of the contestants who are a bit charisma-challenged.

I’m picturing Sanjaya and Jordin trading hair care tips, Chris and Blake engaged in vicious wrestling matches, LaKisha and Phil talking about Don Imus…..

Is 'Idol' on its way out?

Newsday's Verne Gay looks at the 'American Idol' numbers (yes, they're down) and then hypothesizes the reasons.

A few of his thoughts:

1. Daylight saving time. "Idol" producers toss this reason out blithely and glibly as Culprit No. 1 for the decline. But not so fast, lads. Without question, DST (which began a full month earlier this year, on March 11) did have a negative impact on the show because it's still somewhat light out across the country at 8 p.m. But consider that "Idol's" Tuesday slide began nearly a month earlier, just after Valentine's Day.

2. Spring break. Duh! Millions of kids were on spring break last week, and they were thinking a lot more about beer and bikinis instead of Sanjaya's next hair statement. But weren't millions on spring break last year at that time, too?

3. DVRs. Per Fox's own numbers, TiVo-ing of "Idol" is up sharply this season versus last and, when those figures are factored in, overall viewership is flat. Nevertheless, this is a troublesome sign, too, because it means viewers aren't eager to watch their favorite show live, but can wait to catch up.

To read the full article (and thoughts 4-6 on why the numbers are down), click here. Do you have any thoughts of your own?

Review: Taylor Hicks at North Fork Theatre

Anyone make the show this weekend?

The silver-haired crooner played to Long Island's masses on Saturday night at the North Fork Theatre. J. Edward Keyes provided Newsday with a review of the show, excerpt below:

That's where those fans come in. Their fevered weekly voting ensured Hicks' "Idol" victory, which in turn scored him a major-label record contract and enough clout to headline his own national tour, which is how he ended up on stage at a sold-out North Fork Theatre.

Hicks' acolytes take their adoration seriously: Christening themselves The Soul Patrol, they turn up in articles about Hicks as often as he does (See? There they go again). They express their devotion on Internet message boards and voice sharp concerns when Hicks appears on stage with notorious scoundrels like Snoop Dogg. And can you blame them? In a way, they had as much to do with Hicks' stardom as he did.

Fortunately for them, Hicks understands what it's like to be a fan.

To read the full review, go here. If you went to the show, we'd love to hear what you thought. Comment away.

Whose time is up? YOU tell us.

Another Monday, another 'Idol' poll.

From the last poll (results at right), Melinda Doolittle is the clear favorite to win with almost 50% of the vote.

This week we ask: Who will get kicked off of 'Idol' next?

Will Sanjaya prevail? Will Blake beatbox his way through another week? Vote and then tell us what you think.

Our official votes on Wednesday afternoon.