American Idol

Katharine McPhee has signed a two-year contract to be the face of Neutrogena.

It’s been a big year for Katharine McPhee. And now she’s washing her face of it all, so to speak.

McPhee has been named the newest face of Neutrogena. She follows a list of celebrities, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jennifer Garner, who have promoted the brand in the past. The American Idol Season 5 runner-up signed a two-year contract to promote the product.

This has been a big year for McPhee, who married longtime boyfriend Nick Cokas in February.

American Idol, Katharine McPhee, Neutrogena

The Top 12 contestants on Season 7 of American Idol arrive Saturday at the premiere of Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who.

David Archuleta had a rough night. Brooke White was on top of her game. But the vote was in America’s hands, so who will be the first of the Top 12 finalists to leave American Idol Season 7? After 29 million-plus votes, we’re about to find out … at the end of the hour, I’m sure.

8 p.m.

Jim Carrey, voiceover star of the upcoming Dr. Suess’ Horton Hears a Who, opens the show with a painfully obvious — and pointed out by Ryan Seacrest — promo for the FOX-produced film. This is one of the most annoying parts of the … oh, wait, a group performance with terrible choreography and a montage of Lennon-McCartney songs. Gross.

You would think having a choreographer like Paula Abdul sitting at the judges table would be enough to get more than a little hip swivel out of these contestants. But apparently that’s not the case.

8:08 p.m.

After the first of what’s sure to be many commercial breaks tonight, we’re back and welcomed with a recap of last night’s performances. In case you missed it, many of the contestants did quite well. A few — Michael Johns and Kristy Lee Cook, among them — struggled a bit.

Now, the results:

Carly Smithson, Michael Johns, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado are asked to stand. Carly, obviously, is safe. Michael Johns, who definitely didn’t have the strongest performance this week, also is safe. Jason, the guy who consistently is getting better (though last night wasn’t as great as last week), is safe. And, Syesha? The show-opening contestant last night … well, she’s the first contestant in the bottom three.

Before any more announcements, Syesha has a chance to sing at least one more time. There’s no question it wasn’t her strongest week, but she is one of the most interesting female contestants. What are you thinking, America? Give Syesha some love. Still, I don’t think she’ll be the one going home tonight.

8:21 p.m.

We’re back. Oh, and remember how I said there’s not much more annoying than group performances? I almost forgot about those ridiculous Ford commercials. So painful.

Now, more results. Chikezie Eze, Amanda Overmyer, Kristy Lee Cook and David Cook are asked to stand. Chikezie is safe. Amanda, after a somewhat screamy week, also is safe. David, who has been improving week after week since the beginning of the show, also will be returning next week. Kristy Lee Cook, who certainly should be going home this week, joins Syesha. Now we have to hear that terrible version of Eight Days a Week once again.

This is the perfect example of why contestants should get to perform the song of their choice — not the one America didn’t like — for what potentially could be their last performance on the show. The sad part about Kristy Lee Cook is that she certainly was a frontrunner in the earliest parts of the season. Had she been able to make the right song choices, she certainly would have been around longer … and maybe she will be. But I’m not so sure she can survive this catastrophe.

8:33 p.m.

After another break, American Idol is doing something kind of cool. They’re taking calls from fans across the country. The questions, of course, are kind of boring. Wait, someone just asked why Ryan and Simon don’t duke it out on stage. Brilliant. (Bloody brilliant, the Brits would say.)

Now, a guaranteed decent performance … from Katharine McPhee, an Idol alum with a killer voice.

8:46 p.m.

The last four contestants take the center of the stage. Three will be safe. One will be in the bottom three. First up, David Archuleta. After a weak night, he’s safe.

Next up, Brooke White. She had an incredible night last night, and she, too, is safe.

David Hernandez and Ramiele Malubay are left … and, rounding out the bottom three is David Hernandez. While he didn’t have the best performance last night, I do think he may have lost some of America’s support due to the news of his being a gay stripper before Idol.

After David’s possible final performance, Ryan promises to send someone to safety … but not until after the break.

8:55 p.m.

Before we find out who’s going to go, Ryan wants the judges to make a decision. “It’s probably the right bottom three,” Randy said.

“The whole country’s talking,” Paula said. “You guys are superior this season.”

“I think America got this absolutely spot on,” Simon said.

The first person sent to safety is going to be … Syesha. This definitely is no surprise.

And … the first to go … is David Hernandez.

David Hernandez was the first Top 12 finalist on American Idol to get voted from Season 7.

I have to say America did not get this right. At all. Kristy should have been gone. And David certainly deserved another chance. I’m not 100 percent sure what happened here, but I have a gut feeling it’s David’s past that got him voted from the show at this point.

Kristy Lee was a complete disaster. I guess it could have been worse … But I’m not really happy to see David go just yet. Did he deserve to be in the bottom two? Probably. Should he be gone? I think you get my thoughts at this point.

What about you? Do you think America got it right?

American Idol, David Hernandez, Brooke White, Jason Castro, Amanda Overmyer, David Cook, Ramiele Malubay, Michael Johns, Katharine McPhee, David Archuleta, Kristy Lee Cook, Chikezie Eze, Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson

Nick Cokas and Season 5 American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee were married on Saturday.

Katharine McPhee is now Katharine Cokas. The Season 5 American Idol runner-up married her fiancee, Nick Cokas, on Saturday in Beverly Hills.

McPhee and Cokas were surrounded by 300-plus guests, according to reports, including some former Idol contestants. Reports indicate the bride wore a strapless ivory Manuel Mota gown and diamond and platinum Neil Lane jewelry for the ceremony, which took place at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church.

Among the guests in attendance were Season 5 finalists Kellie Pickler and Mandisa.

McPhee and Cokas, who were engaged last year, met in 2005 when working together on the production of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. McPhee’s debut CD was released in January 2007, but the singer recently left her label, RCA.

American Idol, Katharine McPhee, Nick Cokas, Kellie Pickler, Mandisat

These days, it seems there are few American Idol alums able to stay connected with their labels. After the recent news of Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard getting dropped by their label, Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee now has parted ways with RCA.

McPhee, who finished second to Hicks, only recorded one disc — last year’s self-titled effort — with the label. The CD debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts, thanks to its only major single, Over It.

The singer, who performed the National Anthem at this year’s Orange Bowl between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Kansas Jayhawks, was engaged last year to longtime boyfriend Nick Cokas.

American Idol, Katharine McPhee

Katharine McPhee, Season 5 runner-up, has been credited for the success of KT Tunstall’s hit Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.

Not everyone loves the machine that is American Idol. KT Tunstall, for starters.

The Scottish singer recently said she’s not a fan of the show and, therefore, she’s not thrilled with the fact Black Horse and the Cherry Tree was used on Idol, which she calls “a money-making puppet show.”

If you recall, Season 5 runner-up Katharine McPhee made a big splash when she performed the new song on the show. It was considered one of McPhee’s best performances of the season. But Tunstall doesn’t seem to care.

“There’s no control given to the people,” she said. “They are nationally humiliated for being themselves. Horrible.”

Truthfully, Tunstall may want to reconsider her stance on Idol. Without it, she may not have become so popular in the U.S. It was McPhee’s performance of Black Horse that many credit for making it a hit. The Idol finalist even performed the song on the Season 5 finale, which she lost to Taylor Hicks.

According to Wikipedia, after McPhee’s performance, the song jumped from No. 79 to No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song then became Tunstall’s first — and only to date — top 20 song on the charts.

On iTunes, singer Katie O’Tool offers a version of Black Horse and the Cherry Tree on her Tribute to Katharine McPhee. That’s right, Katharine McPhee. Not KT Tunstall. On the other hand, YouTube renditions of the song have Tunstall getting much higher numbers than videos featuring McPhee’s version.

The top McPhee video has just more than 33,500 views. Tunstall’s top video has more than 662,000 views.

American Idol, KT Tunstall, Katharine McPhee, Taylor Hicks