American Idol

Kristy Lee Cook, now a Top 10 finalist on American Idol, once was signed to a contract with Britney Spears’ production company.

Britney Spears, fresh off of a great performance on How I Met Your Mother, seems to be making the rounds with all of the finalists this season on American Idol.

Spears, who became a pop superstar after her time as a Mouseketeer, was the one to sign Top 10 finalist Kristy Lee Cook to a recording contract when the Idol contestant was 17. Cook was the first artist signed to Britney’s production company. And Britney even promised to help Cook out by appearing in her debut video.

But, in 2003, Cook asked to be released from her contract to work toward other musical interests. Of course, those interests didn’t really amount to much … until now.

Earlier this season, it was announced Top 24 Idol finalist Robbie Carrico, who allegedly dated Miss Spears for a short period of time in the late 1990s. And, while Britney really didn’t have anything to do with her, contestant Kady Malloy did her best work behind the scenes with spot-on Britney impersonations.

I guess it’s only a matter of time before we find out Jason Castro’s dreads actually are made with the hair Britney shaved from her head last year … or maybe not.

American Idol, Britney Spears, Kady Malloy, Robbie Carrico, Kristy Lee Cook

This week the Top 20 American Idol contestants were faced with the hottest tunes from the 1970s — a decade when they weren’t even alive. So, after a week of Amanda Overmyer looking like a skunk and David Archuleta blowing away his competition, who’s going home?

Jason Yeager never really had a strong performance this season, even during the weeks leading up to the live competition.

First to go tonight is Jason Yeager. The Texan, who is used to singing for his supper (or while other people have their supper), definitely was an obvious choice for elimination. He never really stood out in the crowd, and this week just wasn’t enough. So far, things are going the way you’d expect.

Alexandrea Lushington was eliminated far too soon in this year’s competition. She had an original sound — and a personality — which is what many contestants seem to be lacking.

The first girl to go home is Alexandrea Lushington. This, unlike Jason, is a complete disappointment. This girl had some true, raw talent. Tonight was far too soon for Alexandrea to leave this competition. Who in the world is voting for Amanda Overmyer? This mistake is about as big as Ruben Studdard beating Clay Aiken for the Season 2 title.

Even in her goodbye performance, Alexandrea shows she has an interesting voice? So, why is she going home? It certainly is the age-old mistake of wrong song at this point in the competition. Nobody is too emotionally tied to any of these contestants, so one little slip up can really ruin their chances.

From the sidelines, it appears as though the one contestant people really are favoring this season — David Archuleta — is quite upset. In fact, he was the first to give Alexandrea a hug after she finished her performance.

Alaina Whitaker, the teenager from Oklahoma, broke down in tears after her somewhat shocking boot from the Season 7 Top 20.

Kady Malloy and Alaina Whitaker are in the bottom two, and either could go. It’s obvious Kady is in more danger, but American disagrees. In another slightly shocking moment early in Season 7, the Carrie Underwood-esque contestant of the year says goodbye.

“I can’t sing,” Alaina said, as she started to cry. This may be the most emotional breakdown of any season.

But Alaina did sing, after Ryan Seacrest gave her a choice on whether or not to take the microphone. “It’s going to sound horrible,” she said. The other female finalists rallied behind her, and she performed Hopelessly Devoted to You one last time.

On March 11, this season’s Top 12 will perform from the Lennon/McCarthy songbook on a new stage with a new set. It’s something that also will be celebrated with the Idol winner mentioned above, Ruben Studdard, who apparently has recorded a special “goodbye” song for the season.

And, after raising $76 million last year, Idol Gives Back also will return this season. Will it be as celebrity-driven as last season? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Now, back to the eliminations. There’s one guy left to go, and we’ll find out who it is … after the break.

With just six minutes left in the episode, Ryan mentioned Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and past Idol folks like Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood will be among those involved in this year’s Idol Gives Back. I guess that gives us the answer to that question.

Robbie Carrico was the eighth contestant eliminated from the Top 24 this season on American Idol.

Robbie Carrico and Luke Menard are in the bottom two, and one must go. That person is Robbie Carrico. Now I guess we’ll never see him tear that wig from his head as he performs later this season.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We’re down to the Top 16 now, and tonight’s episode had a couple of expected departures from the guys. But the girls? I think it’s safe to say Kady Malloy and Amanda Overmyer had to have entered tonight with some fear in their hearts about going home. Somehow, the shocking results kept them both safe. Not good, America. Not good.

American Idol, Robbie Carrico, Jason Yeager, Alaina Whitaker, Alexandrea Lushington, Idol Gives Back

Robbie Carrico is rumored to be wearing someone else’s hair on his head.

Sure it hasn’t been put up in seven pony tails to form the now well-known Ponyhawk American Idol alum Sanjaya Malakar helped make famous last season. But rumor has it Robbie Carrico is pulling a bit of a Dolly Parton and wearing hair that’s not really his.

According to a report on TMZ.com, the wannabe rocker contestant is wearing wigs on the show. While I have to say the long-haired look seems to be a natural for Robbie, it’s a little outdated as far as the rocker look is concerned. And having killer style is just as important as having killer vocals in this competition.

Don’t agree? Well, what do people talk about most aside from the singing? It’s things like the Ponyhawk. Or the fact Simon Cowell never wears anything but black or grey T-shirts. That’s probably the fashion choice most talked about on the show. In fact, I can’t remember the last episode where it didn’t come up in conversation. Reminding Simon he never wears anything stylish has become the obvious comeback when the judge says anything about what people are wearing.

But, as far as Robbie’s hair is concerned, maybe he’ll yank that wig off during an upcoming performance. Now that could be a great moment in Idol history. (Except I don’t really think Robbie is going to be around all that much longer, so he might want to get to it if he’s planning a big stunt.)

American Idol, Robbie Carrico

We’re down to the Top 20 — 10 guys and 10 girls — and American Idol is starting to get really interesting. Or, at the very least, entertaining. Tonight, it’s the Top 10 guys singing classics from the 1970s.

7:02 p.m.

Michael Johns performs during the first week of live competition.

Michael Johns is first to take the stage. His musical ammunition tonight is Go Your Own Way. The Aussie certainly maintains his professional approach. While I think he’s a good entertainer, it’s become clear to me Michael isn’t the best male singer in this competition — though I suspect he’s one of the three Simon Cowell says are quite talented this season.

“I was waiting for you to let go,” Randy Jackson said.

“Michael, it was OK,” Simon said. “It was, by far, your weakest performance so far … It was a very weak choice of song for you.”

7:10 p.m.

Jason Castro has stood out from the crowd thus far in the competition by playing his guitar. This week, though, it wasn’t as strong of a performance as what he brought to the table last week.

Jason Castro, after a stunning first week performance, is back on the stage. The performer says he has struggled with the interview portion of being an Idol contestant. But he’s back on stage with his guitar, which certainly could be a secret weapon this season. This week, he chose I Just Want to be Your Everything. Tonight’s showing is not nearly as good as last week, but Jason clearly is focused on showing he is a real musician. That’s what this show needs, though the guitar also may be the thing Jason is hiding behind. Eventually, it will be interesting to see if he can perform without the guitar?

“With the guitar, it’s all cool,” Randy said. “… The vocals weren’t that great.”

“I thought the song was horrible,” Simon said. “… It didn’t go together this week. … This week, it was all out of sorts.”

Luke Menard performs during the first week of live competition.

Luke Menard reveals he’s part of a touring a cappella group, which he credits to being a strong force in preparing him for the Idol stage. Tonight, he is backed with a band for his rendition of Killer Queen. It’s better than last week, but still Luke isn’t stepping up as much as he could … should he be able to stay in the competition.

“I think this was really a great week for you, Luke,” Paula said.

“I think it was a mistake,” Simon said. “You are always going to be judged with the original. … The singer of that song had originality and charisma. You didn’t.”

Ryan just referenced Luke as “Dawson’s Creek,” which is kind of funny. Truth be told, Luke does look like James Van Der Beek, the star of the WB hit series.

7:24 p.m.

Now it’s Robbie Carrico’s turn. It turns out this ex of Britney Spears likes drag racing. And tonight the guy who’s a little bit Bo Bice and a little bit Bucky Covington (picture it), he’s singing to prove he really is a serious rocker. Hot Blooded is the song he chooses to prove his point to Simon. I have to say, it didn’t do much for his case. Sorry, Robbie fans, I’m just not impressed.

“I thought you did a pretty good job with it,” Randy said. “I was just waiting to be wowed.”

“Robbie, I think it some ways you played it a little bit safe this week,” Paula said.

“You don’t have to get so defensive about it,” Simon said. “Actually, I thought the vocal was OK tonight.”

7:34 p.m.

Danny Noriega

He had a rough first week, but Danny Noriega is back with hopes to redeem himself. If truth be told, I hope he can redeem himself (even in that terrible 1970s sweater). The song choice this week, Superstar, certainly was a lot better than trying to recreate Elvis. I think it may be enough to put Danny back in the competition, though he’s coming from a really rough week. Still, I know Danny could do much better.

“Danny, you’ve got amazing vocal skill,” Paula said. “You really do. … Just perform. You’ve got the ability; you’ve got the talent.”

“It wasn’t a fantastic vocal,” Simon said. “… You were overconcentrating on it. … You look terrific on camera, by the way.”

7:43 p.m.

David Hernandez

David Hernandez is up. The former gymnast has turned his focus to singing. A surprising song choice, David chose Papa Was a Rolling Stone for 70s week. I’m not sure this is the kind of music that really can make him stand out, though he certainly has a strong voice. I think David is better suited performing more modern music — or even original things meant only for him. He certainly ended on a strong note, though.

“Now this is the David Hernandez that we fell in love with,” Randy said. “… That’s how to put it down.”

“Your voice is so pure, it pierces right through the heart,” Paula said. “… There were some notes there that were amazing.”

“This may surprise you, but, in my opinion, that was the best vocal of the night so far,” Simon said. “… I like the fact that when you are given some criticism … you treat it as a challenge.”

It’s clear we’re at that point in the season where commercials fill the space between the lack of enough content to fill a 90-minute episode. I guess I shouldn’t complain about commercials after each performance, based on the alternative — terrible group songs. (Have I mentioned this too much?)

7:53 p.m.

Jason Yeager

Jason Yeager is a self-taught instrumental musician. He taught himself a few instruments, though he hasn’t really showcased too much of that talent this far in the competition. “I really want to find a killer song that I will be able to play guitar on,” he says.

This week, Jason chose Long Train Runnin’. So far, he hasn’t really stood out in the crowd. Tonight is no exception, either. It seems a few seasons from now (should Idol continue …) Jason Yeager likely won’t be a name we all remember. The one thing that is certain, though, is Jason certainly is in danger of being sent home this Thursday. But maybe I’m wrong.

“It was a very pitchy and just kind of karaoke for me,” Randy said.

“I’m having a tough time figuring out how to … it’s a song that doesn’t have many notes in it to show your vocal range,” Paula said.

“It was like you were drunk at a party,” Simon said. “You’re just a quite good singer who can’t perform very well.”

8:04 p.m.

After wearing this tangerine-colored suit last week, Chikezie toned down his fashion for this week’s show.

Chikezie Eze should have been sent home last week, if you ask me. But he’s here for one more week, at least. So, let’s buckle up and make the most of it.

I Believe is the song Chikezie hopes will keep him singing this season, and he even added a little tough by throwing his own name into the lyrics. While the performance certainly was not as great as last week, I still can’t get past that. And I’m just not sure Chikezie is all that talented. Maybe I’m missing something.

“Chikezie is back,” Randy said. “… That was hot, baby.”

“Very clever to pick a song and a story and point to this one (Simon) and say, ‘You better remember my name,’” Paula said.

“You look better. You sounded better,” Simon said. “… It was a million times better than last week.”

David Cook

Now it’s David Cook’s turn, who’s apparently a “geek” for words. He does crossword puzzles and, tonight, he breaks out the guitar.

Playing the rock guy behind a guitar certainly is helpful to David’s success. All Right Now is a much better song choice for someone in this genre. I think David could really start picking up momentum as the Chris Daughtry of the season. For me, I’m starting to get what the fuss is all about with David.

“To me, you’re our real rocker from the boys this year,” Randy said. “… I really kind of believed you right there.”

“David, you are the real deal,” Paula said. “You got it. You got it, you got it.”

“It was solid,” Simon said. “… I don’t think that film helped you. It was boring, and that’s partly your problem. Because you don’t have a lot of charisma.”

8:20 p.m.

David Archuleta is, without question, the leader in this season’s competition. This kid can wail.

He arguably was the best performer last week — among all Top 24 contestants, even. So, can David Archuleta maintain his rumored lead in the competition? We’ll see. First, David mentions his chance encounter with the Season 1 contestants. See the video of David’s impromptu performance.

Tonight, David chose Imagine by John Lennon. Not only is it a popular song, but it’s one that’s tough to recreate. David, however, nailed it. This kid really has it going on.

“Dawg, that’s one of the best vocals I’ve ever heard on the show,” Randy said. “… That was brilliant.”

“David, you are ridiculous,” Paula said before making some crazy comments about wanting to “squeeze his head off” and “dangle it from her rearview mirror.” What? Oh, Paula.

“Very, very risky to do a John Lennon song … but it worked,” Simon said. “Right now, you’re the one to beat.”

WHO GETS MY VOTE: David Archuleta. And he should get your vote, too. This kid is one of the best singers ever to grace the Idol stage. As much as I think his entire “Oh, golly, gosh, gee” attitude is a big act, it doesn’t matter. The kid has a voice. And singing John Lennon? Incredible. I’m also going to toss a few votes to Danny Noriega, who showed the biggest improvement from last week.

WHO SHOULD GO HOME: There’s no doubt Jason Yeager is in trouble. He seems like a nice guy, but he’s so forgettable. Chikezie may have saved himself for another week, though I want to send him home based on last week’s effort.

American Idol, David Archuleta, Chikezie Eze, David Cook, Luke Menard, David Hernandez, Jason Castro, Danny Noriega, Jason Yeager, Michael Johns, Robbie Carrico

Is this year’s talent the best yet? We’re about to find out as the Top 12 guys compete live for the first time this season on American Idol.

7:01 p.m.
The Top 12 girls are waiting in the wings, and Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell are ready to give their critics. It’s only a matter of time before Paula yells “touchdown” or Simon says someone sounds like a karaoke singer. It’s almost all too predictable. But I love it.

“I’m looking for personality, originality and, obviously, you’ve gotta sing well,” Simon says. Obviously.

Tonight, the contestants will sing songs from the 1960s. These themes certainly are what can make — or break — any contestant.

7:09 p.m.

David Hernandez is the first up this week. The 24-year-old is from Glendale, Ariz., home of last year’s Idol winner, Jordin Sparks. Could lightning strike twice in the same city? We’ll see.

He certainly has a voice unlike anyone who’s been in the competition before. This early in the competition, though, it’s tough to see David as a leader of the pack. He is the first we’re seeing live, after all. The plus side is that David seems to have control over his voice; whether he’s singing high or low, he has it in control.

“You’ve got brilliant vocals to rely on,” Paula says. “… Really cool. Really cool. Good job.”

Chikezie Eze during his Season 7 audition. The jeans and T-shirt look certainly was a lot better than a tangerine-colored suit.

Chikezie, formerly known as Chikezie Eze, is next up. The 22-year-old college student from California made it to Hollywood Week last year, but he didn’t give up. And it worked out for Season 7.

When it comes to cheesy suits, Chikezie already is on top of his game. Didn’t the stylists explain looks are important in this competition? Tangerine suits aren’t the way to go, either. But on to the vocals. I have to say Chikezie has a good voice, but his song tonight doesn’t make him stand out way above the competition … at least not in my books.

“It was pretty good, man,” Randy says. “… You can definitely sing.”

“I absolutely hated the whole performance, and I’ll tell you why,” Simon said. “The suit is hideous. …” (See, I’m already aligned with Simon.)

7:25 p.m.

David Cook is up. One of this year’s rockers, David is a Missouri resident and bartender hoping to make a difference in the competition. Already, he’s a favorite among many fans — and the judges.

Tonight, David performs Happy Together by the Turtles. This well-known tune certainly was not what I would have expected from the resident rocker. But what would Chris Daughtry sound like singing this song? Maybe not so unlike David. I’m not sure what to think at this point, honestly. I guess it was OK.

“I thought it was good,” Simon said. “I thought you shouted the song a little …”

So far, there haven’t been too many truly negative comments. Maybe the judges are giving contestants a little time to settle into a live audience.

7:34 p.m.

Jason Yeager during his original audition.

Jason Yeager, another contestant we haven’t gotten to learn much about, is up next. The 28-year-old is a singing server, and he took his son to the audition to experience the dream.

Jason’s song choice tonight is Moon River, a classic that’s tough to perform as a little-known musician, especially on a show such as Idol. There’s no doubt he has a voice, but the next Idol? I’m not sure it’s there. At least not at this point. He did have a strong closing, though.

Let’s see what the judges have to say.

“… It’s a tough song to sing, probably tougher than you probably thought,” Randy said. “… You had a couple of problems with that song pitch-wise.”

7:46 p.m.

Robbie Carrico, the guy who once dated Britney Spears, has gone from boy bander to rocker. Tonight, Robbie even mentioned touring with Britney, something that makes him stand out (good or bad) from many others in the competition. He certainly has some professional credit — and he’s not alone — coming into the competition.

His rendition of One is different than any other version I have heard of the song, and it doesn’t really make the bandana-wearing Carrico seem all that rocker-esque. Right now, I can’t really take this guy seriously.

“I think you picked the perfect song for you,” Paula said. “… The vocals, they weren’t over the took, they were right in the pocket where they should be.”

Simon, in his own way, said the performance was the best thus far. He also doubted the rocker vibe Carrico puts off. And I agree.

David Archuleta, a singer who allegedly had a recording contract before making the Idol finals, has certainly been a favorite. The teenager chose Shop Around for his first live song on the show, and it certainly was a good choice. Of course, his young, innocent sound would work on just about any hit from the 1960s. Could David be the next Idol winner? Well, he certainly has the teenage girl and grandma votes cornered.

“You were just born with this gift,” Randy said. “… This dude is just ready to go.”

“When you got it, you got it,” Simon said. “… That was, by a comfortable mile, the best performance of the night so far.”

Without doubt, the judges are right. David is a little giggly and, dare I say, a little unbelievable as the “shy” kid. I’m not sure he’s completely full of himself, but I could see it coming soon. The “Oh, gosh” factor only goes so far with me. Sorry.

8 p.m.

Danny Noriega also was a Hollywood Week finalist during Season 6, but he was cut on the first day. So, could Season 7 be the one for this teen? Starting with Jailhouse Rock during 1960s week may not have been the best choice. The tempo of the song was a little too speedy for my taste, which makes me a little sad. I have to admit Danny is one of my favorites — because he’s young, has potential and isn’t completely full of himself. At least he doesn’t appear to be at this point.

“You know how to have a good time,” Randy said. “… It was an interesting song choice for me for you.”

“Danny, I thought the performance was verging on grotesque,” Simon said. “… The whole performance was hideous.”

I’m not sure I completely agree with Simon, but I do see his point of view. Tonight certainly didn’t showcase Danny’s best vocals; it did, however, get the judges in their first real fight of the night. Oh, it’s going to be good.

8:12 p.m.

Luke Menard at his initial Season 7 audition.

Luke Menard is one of the oldest contestants this season. The 29-year-old auditioned in Season 6 (this seems to be the story of the season) when he went to Memphis and didn’t do so well. This year, in Omaha, he got the golden ticket.

“This opportunity, it’s the chance of a lifetime,” Luke said. “… I came here to become the next American Idol.”

Tonight, his attempt to gain America’s votes came through a performance of Everybody’s Talkin’. It’s, perhaps, a lesser-known song, which could help out. Luke has a soft, simple voice. And good, strong looks to back up his character. But the performance tonight was not a good start for this Idol hopeful.

“In a nutshell, whether you were pitchy or not, it was forgettable,” Simon said. “… Nobody’s going to remember you.”

Next up, Colton Berry. Another competitor who hasn’t seen much air time thus far, Colton may be seen as the guy who stole the spots of a few other favorite contestants this season. So, will the 18-year-old stand out at this point?

Singing Elvis’ Suspicious Minds wearing crazy, bright blue pants (seriously, wardrobe matters, people) is not a great place to start in this competition. And the strange facial expressions? I have to say, at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if Colton is one of the first to go. But that’s just me.

“It was nice to see a different side of you,” Paula said.

“It was OK; it wasn’t quite as bad as the other Elvis song,” Simon said. “… You have no relevance in today’s charts, in the music industry.”

“That was very karaoke,” Simon added. Ahh, I thought we were going to miss out on that tonight.

8:28 p.m.

Garrett Haley, another teenager in the competition, auditioned for Idol when he and his family was in San Diego on vacation. It seems to be working out for the 17-year-old from Ohio.

Even though he hasn’t been given too much camera time this season, I think Garrett has one of the better voices tonight. He chose a song that allowed him to sing — not just perform — and that’s especially important this early in the show. The Carpenters song Breaking Up Is Hard to Do certainly helped his case, too. Was he the best? Not necessarily. Should he be safe for another week? Absolutely.

“I love the song, but the thing that struck me with this performance here was you didn’t do anything with it,” Randy said. “… You’ve got to bring something new and interesting to it.”

“It was boring, your voice sounded a bit whiny, you looked a bit terrified …” Simon said.

Seriously, I didn’t think it was that bad.

8:39 p.m.

Jason Castro at his Dallas audition.

Jason Castro is taking advantage of this year’s addition of using instruments on stage. The 20-year-old says he only sang a handful of times in public before, well, tonight. So, what will this memorable performance entail?

Jason chose What a Day for a Daydream, and his voice certainly is matched well with the lyrics. Plus, playing a guitar, that definitely sets him apart from his competition. Even though I didn’t know much about this guy before, tonight he really put himself in a place to be one of my favorites this season.

“For me, you did blow me away,” Paula said. “… You picked a song that was absolutely perfect for you.”

“Jason, I thought that was in the top 2 performances of the night,” Simon said. “You, like David, have just got it.”

8:48 p.m.

The last performer of the night is Michael Johns, 29. The Australian still has his native accent, and he certainly seemed to be one of the strongest guys in the competition coming into tonight.

Light My Fire by The Doors is his song of choice. There’s no doubt Michael has the experience; he looks and acts like a seasoned performer on the stage. This easily looks like it could have been his sixth or seventh week in the competition. Personally, I didn’t love it. But it was a great performance.

“You just throw all caution to the wind,” Randy said. “You’re always you. … You were the bomb tonight, baby. That was hot.”

“I would say, Michael, you are the most consistent contestant we’ve had,” Simon said.

WHO GETS MY VOTE: Tonight, I have to give it up for Jason Castro. It’s tough to pick just one, but that’s who can count on getting phone votes from me. Playing the guitar and making the song his own, as Paula would say, made him tonight’s definite standout. (I also may make a few calls for Danny Noriega, who made a bad song choice tonight. He definitely needs to be remembered for his earlier work.)

WHO SHOULD GO: Without question, I think Chikezie Eze and Colton Berry are at major risk for being the two guys eliminated this week. I also think Luke Menard could be in some trouble because of the criticism given to him by the judges.

American Idol, Michael Johns, Danny Noriega, Colton Berry, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Robbie Carrico, David Cook, Luke Menard, Garrett Haley, Chikezie Eze, Jason Yeager, David Hernandez

Robbie Carrico

Robbie Carrico, a Top 24 finalist on American Idol, has a past that includes a little time spent dating Britney Spears. That’s right, the Britney Spears.

Carrico has been said to have been a member of a boy band in his former days. The 26-year-old from Melbourne, Fla., was a member of Boys United With Girls. Back in 1999, the group toured in Europe with Spears. It was during that time Carrico and Spears were said to have spent a couple of months dating.

Maybe now that Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline and back out of the picture, Carrico and Spears will reunite. Of course, that may not be a good career move for either of them at this point.

American Idol, Robbie Carrico, Britney Spears

The end is nearing. It’s almost time for the good part of American Idol to begin. But first, another stop on the audition trail — this time in Miami.

7 p.m.
There are more than 10,000 hopefuls lined up waiting to get their shot in front of the judges. It’s possible the Season 7 winner could be waiting in the sea of people. Will it be Shannon McGough? Her parents own a meat market, and she’s won several regional Idol competitions.

In front of the judges, she sings a Janis Joplin number. And by sing, I mean scream. And whine. And make really bizarre sounds. How in the world did she ever win anything other than maybe a meat-cutting competition? We’re off to a terrible start.

Robbie Carrico

Robbie Carrico is a former boy bander. Of course, he looks more Nickelback than N’Sync these days. His voice? It’s pretty good, actually. It looks like there could be another resident rocker — maybe this season’s Bo Bice.

With the support of Randy, Paula and Simon, it’s off to Hollywood for Robbie. And, if you want a spoiler, check this out.

7:13 p.m.
As far as the guys are concerned, after Robbie, it’s a string of nothing but “no, no, no.”

Will Ghaleb Emachah turn things around? I don’t think this Venezuelan has what it takes to be the American Idol. In fact, I don’t think he could even be positively entertaining if I were drunk — the state of mind Simon said it would take to enjoy Ghaleb.

Somehow, though, Randy is giving him a “yes.” It’s “no” from Simon … and Paula … of course she sends him through to Hollywood. It’s just the accent that’s holding him back, they say. Um, I guess I’ll have to agree to disagree.

Corliss Smith

Next up is the boy-crazy duo of Corliss Smith and Brittany Wescott.

Corliss chooses a jazz number, which she sings to Randy. It’s really entertaining, actually. She’s got a big, strong voice. She has something a little different to offer than the pop or country standards we’ve been hearing

Brittany has a decent voice, too. She sings to Simon, but I don’t think it’s as good as what Corliss brings to the table. Still, these two have some charm and talent that’s above what many other contestants bring into the room.

Simon gives them both a thumbs up. It’s two “yes” votes from Paula, and an additional pair of “yes” votes from Randy. So, you’ll be seeing these ladies in Hollywood.

7:26 p.m.
Suzanne Toon, a 21-year-old single mother, hopes to bring singing back into her life. After a three-year break, she stands in front of Randy, Paula and Simon putting her heart into what she hopes will turn things around for her daughter. She certainly has a strong voice, but I don’t think she stands out enough in this crowd.

Ramiele Malubay

Ramiele Malubay, on the other hand, does have what it takes. Her rendition of Natural Woman is not only one-of-a-kind, but it is shocking that such a big voice is coming from a small girl. Simon says, “no,” but Randy and Paula send her through. I hate to say it (OK, not really), but I think Simon may be wrong.

Syesha Mercado

7:37 p.m.
It’s day 2 in Miami, and there are plenty of people ready to get things going. First up is Syesha Mercado. Her father struggled with drug abuse, a story not so unfamiliar to many other contestants from this show.

Her song choice is another Aretha Franklin tune. And much like Ramiele, Syesha has a set of pipes that are worth hearing. In fact, she’s a bit more promising.

“I think she’s one of the best we’ve seen in Florida,” Randy said. And I agree. Fortunately, so did Simon and Paula … so … we’ll be seeing her again.

Natashia Blach also will be getting more TV time. It’s on to Hollywood for Natashia, too. And deservedly so.

Ilsy Lorena Pinot

Ilsy Lorena Pinot gets similar treatment after singing a Rhianna hit. It was an interesting song choice, which was probably what helped her out. It looks like this year, once again, will feature a great batch of female singers. As far as the males, Omaha produced the best thus far — at least from what we’ve seen up to this point.

7:45 p.m.
Follow up all those phenomenal female singers with several male singers who would get kicked out of a drunken night of open-mic karaoke. It’s not good. At all. Seriously, dawg.

“I’m tempted to say come back in a dress,” Simon said to one contestant. (I guess you can forget about what I was saying earlier today.)

After all that, top 20 finalist from American Juniors Julie Dubela enters the room hoping for another chance on reality TV with Ryan Seacrest. Her version of Me and Bobby McGee just doesn’t cut it. It’s a little too cheesy and over the top. And her outfit? Do I really need to start talking about clothes, already?

It’s “no” to Julie. But Simon does suggest she has a possible chance for a strong acting career. And the flashback footage to American Juniors actually is quite good. What happened to her 12-year-old voice? She certainly has, er, had vocal talent at some point.

7:56 p.m.
With only one contestant left, it’s clearly obvious Miami will end on a low note. Comedian Brandon Black hoped his singing would impress the judges more than his jokes. Of course, his singing was a complete joke, too. His white suit and the entire gig is just ridiculous. But he got some TV time, which clearly was what he wanted. So, good for you, Brandon. Mission accomplished. I guess.

Even though Brandon didn’t make it, there were 17 golden tickets to Hollywood handed out at the Florida auditions.

BEST OF THE NIGHT: There were several good contestants tonight, especially considering the string of female powerhouses — Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado and Ilsy Lorena Pinot — and judging by speculation of the Top 24, we’ll be seeing at least a couple of these ladies through several more weeks. And that’s a good thing. So, who’s my favorite from tonight? That has to be Syesha, a Nadia Turner (and I’m not just talking the hair) type contestant. She certainly should do well.

American Idol, Syesha Mercado, Ramiele Malubay, Ilsy Lorena Pinot, Robbie Carrico, Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell