American Idol

It’s time to move one step closer to the crown. Tonight’s episode separates the semi-finalists from the finalists. Four more are going to be picked off, locking in the Top 12 contestants to fight for the American Idol Season 7 title.

7:02 p.m.

Last year’s runner-up Blake Lewis is taking the stage to perform a track from his debut, Audio Daydream. It’s nice to see the show bring back performers from past seasons, but I think it would be really great if they brought back some older alums. Who doesn’t want to see the return of Ricky Smith (Hercules, Hercules)? Or Amy Adams.

7:09 p.m.

David Cook was the first to make it into the Season 7 Top 12. After a couple of only decent weeks, the singer easily was one of the best two or three performers this week. I may even say he put himself in a great position to make the Top 5.

As Ryan Seacrest walks around 12 stools reserved for the final 12, the Top 16 contestants gather on couches across the stage to see if they make it past this very important cut. After some annoying banter among the judges, it’s time for a recap of the guys’ performances — certainly the stronger of the sexes this week.

The lights are dimmed. David Cook is first up. And, as expected, he’s the first to make the Top 12. Next up, another David … as in David Archuleta. Again, no surprise he’s in the Top 12.

Now, it’s time for Jason Castro. Another standout in the competition, it’s also not surprising he, too, is headed to the finals.

7:21 p.m.

After the commercial break, it’s time for the girls to feel the pressure. The recap is just a sad reminder last night’s episode wasn’t the best showing from this talented pool of singers. At the same time, we can’t forget how much Brooke White shined. She’s been improving week after week, but will she make it?

Here we go. Brooke, in fact, is the first one to stand. And she’s the first one to … make the Top 12. Again, no big surprise here. I’m actually quite happy she was the first to get through, proving she has something to offer.

Kady Malloy was the first Top 16 contestant eliminated from the show, leaving her just short of making the Season 7 Top 12.

Next up, one of my early favorites, Syesha Mercado. Also safe. Now, it’s time for Kady Malloy, who had a rough night last night. As a result, she’s the first one ot leave tonight.

So, what went wrong? She just never hit her stride beyond Hollywood Week. Obviously, she has some incredible talent — if for no other reason that her amazing Britney Spears impressions. But I think this girl could be a great recording artist. It just didn’t come together during the crucial last few weeks.

7:34 p.m.

Now, it’s back to the results. David Hernandez is the next to hear the news. And it’s good news for him, as he joins the other guys as a Top 12 finalist.

Luke Menard was the first guy eliminated from the Top 16.

David Johns, the resident Australian, is up next. He, too, is safe. Luke Menard, however, is not as lucky. He joins Kady Malloy as one of the four contestants to leave the show just shy of the finals.

7:42 p.m.

It’s back to the girls. There are just four spots left for them. Will one go to Ramiele Malubay? Of course it will. This wasn’t much of a surprise, really. In fact, there’s been no surprise thus far tonight.

Carly Smithson, an early favorite of fans, also gets the go-ahead to compete as a Top 12 finalist. And, much to my annoyance, Amanda Overmyer gets a chance to keep on keeping on.

It’s down to Kristy Lee Cook and Asia’h Epperson. One will stay. The other will go. But a commercial stands between them and the results …

7:49 p.m.
We’re back, and it’s about to be a difficult time for either Kristy Lee or Asia’h. Randy thinks it will be Kristy Lee. Simon thinks it will be Asia’h. So, who gets the boot?

Tonight will be the last night Asia’h Epperson performs on the Idol stage. She had an incredible journey from the moment she sang How Do I Live at her audition, just a couple of days after her dad died. It was one of the most touching stories of the season, but apparently America is heartless! Do I think Kristy Lee should have gone home? Maybe. I definitely think Asia’h should have been around for a couple more weeks, at least.

Now, it’s down to Danny Noriega and Chikezie Eze. One will stay, one will go. Danny has tears in his eyes, sad to see some of his newfound friends leave the competition. America voted … and, again, made the WRONG decision. Chikezie is through, and Danny — clearly the most entertaining contestant of the show — gets the boot.

Danny Noriega was the last Top 16 contestant to be eliminated just short of next week’s beginning of the finals.

I’m not saying Danny was the strongest guy in the competition, but he is a fun person to watch. So, what went wrong? I hate to say maybe America had a problem with his flamboyant attitude, but maybe that was exactly what happened. Or maybe it was just the fact he hasn’t lived up to his potential in the last few weeks … much like Kady Malloy. Or, it could be a number of other factors. You just never know.

One thing that’s for sure — Danny Noriega will be able to use this small amount of fame to make a career of entertaining.

These are just my thoughts, though. What about you? Who should have gone? Who should have stayed? Which singer do you think will be the first to go from the Top 12?

American Idol, Danny Noriega, Kady Malloy, Blake Lewis, Luke Menard, Asia’h Epperson

The guys went last night. Now it’s time for the girls to sing their favorite songs from the 1980s and try for their chance in the Top 12. This is it.

7:01 p.m.

Asia’h Epperson

Let’s get to it. First up tonight is Asia’h Epperson. She has shown some big promise, and she certainly has one of the most heartbreaking stories coming into the show. So, was it a good choice to pick I Want To Dance With Somebody? Whitney Houston always is a tough choice, but Asia’h handled it. Was it the best? Of course not. Was it better than most of the other girls would have done? Of course.

“It was a tall order for you to take on …” Randy said. “But, you know what? … That was hot.”

“You nailed it,” Paula said. “You really nailed it.”

“I’m not quite so enthusiastic,” Simon said. “At best, it was second-rate Whitney Houston.”

7:09 p.m.

Kady Malloy

“I really thought I was going home, because Alaina was so great,” Kady Malloy said after last week’s close call. This week, she performs Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever. It certainly is a much better performance than she’s given in the last couple of weeks. Is it enough to save her? I’m not sure. I don’t think she’s all that memorable … just average, really.

“You hit the big notes really well,” Randy said. “Some of the smaller notes, you didn’t support them.”

“I think, to date, this was, for me, your best performance,” Paula said.

“Kady, I think it was definitely better than last week,” Simon said. “I’m still having issues with your massive lack of personality.”

Amanda Overmyer

Now it’s Amanda Overmyer’s turn. She’s lucky to still be in the competition, but this should be a good week for her. There are plenty of good chick-rock songs from the 1980s. What she chooses, though, is I Hate Myself for Loving You. At best, this is a C-grade karaoke song. It’s not something you try to sing on Idol. Truly, it’s time for Amanda to go bye-bye.

“That’s the kind of songs you should be singing,” Randy said.

“You found your niche,” Paula said.

“Amanda, if I’m being honest, I thought it was fantastic,” Simon said. “I thought you absolutely nailed that song.”

For the first time, I actually disagree with all of the judges. I don’t know what it is, but I’m really not seeing the potential here. What am I missing here?

7:24 p.m.

Carly Smithson

After, yet, another plug for the iTunes downloads, it’s Carly Smithson’s turn. I’m thrilled she chose I Drove All Night, which is a great Cyndi Lauper/Roy Orbison/Celine Dion tune. It’s been done and redone by some great performers. I have to say, though, Carly isn’t having her best night with this song. The ending, without question, was the highlight of the performance. She’ll be OK, though.

“Yo, Carly, you keep smashing it every week,” Randy said. “Dude, another great performance.”

“So, dude. Dude, let me tell you something,” Paula said. “You are like a dependable dog.”

“Carly, once again, I don’t think you chose the right song,” Simon said. “I know that as the Celine Dion version of that song.”

Kristy Lee Cook

Next, it’s Kristy Lee Cook, who needs a solid performance this week. Otherwise, she could be in a bit of trouble. Her song of choice — Journey’s Faithfully. This was a solid song choice, I think, but I’m just not sure she is holding up to what was expected from her in the earliest weeks of the season. If she survives tonight — and I’m not certain she will — the big guns are going to have to come out.

“This is cool, man,” Randy said.

“That could be a hit for you in country music,” Paula said.

“I think it was good that we heard a country influence,” Simon said. “Having said that, I still think your problem is that you’re forgettable.” Simon, I agree.

7:36 p.m.

Ramiele Malubay

She definitely shouldn’t have a problem cracking the Top 12, but Ramiele Malubay still has something to prove. Sure she’s one of the best female singers in the contest, yet she has to step it up a bit if she wants to have a realistic shot of winning Season 7.

First off, I have to say this was a song I hoped someone would sing. So, choosing Against All Odds already helps Ramiele win some votes in my book. Even though the timing felt a little off in a couple of places, I think she handled the song with professionalism and charisma. I think it’s safe to say I could listen to that recording on repeat for at least an hour or so.

“Another big song, big vocals,” Randy said. “I thought it was a pretty good vocal, but find that confidence again.”

“You have such a beautiful face,” Paula said. “There’s such an innocent, pure voice that comes out.”

“Because you’re so little and cute, it was quite good,” Simon said. “I thought it was quite old-fashioned. I didn’t hear the big money note … and I’m not jumping out of my chair on that. Sorry.”

7:46 p.m.

Brooke White

Next up is Brooke White. Last week, she had an impressive performance that really helped her stand out in the crowd. Tonight, she takes a seat on the edge of the seat to try and impress America with her version of Love is a Battlefield. A great song, it’s a tall order to fill, as they say. Brooke is doing a phenomenal job this season improving week over week. This week is no different. Her voice is unique, which is crucial seven seasons into the series. I think she’s one of the best tonight, but I don’t know what the judges will say … I’ve been a little off base from them tonight.

“I really liked it,” Randy said. “I don’t know if you brought anything new to the song …”

“I thought it was a very wise choice that you did that,” Paula said.

“I thought it worked, purely because it didn’t have the band with you,” Simon said. “Two weeks running, you’ve done a great performance.”

7:55 p.m.

Syesha Mercado

Closing tonight’s show is Syesha Mercado. One of the definite strongest female contenders, Syesha has a chance to pull ahead of the female competition with tonight’s performance. Her choice? Saving All My Love for You by Whitney Houston. Again, with the Whitney. It’s not a good idea. Still, Syesha pulled together a sweet, tender performance. She should have no problems sailing through to the finals. But it wasn’t up to her full potential, in my opinion.

“Good, good,” Randy said.

“A bit predictable, but good,” Simon said.

WHO GETS MY VOTES: Brooke White, without question. Aside from her, the girls weren’t that impressive. Following so many incredible performances last night, they just didn’t stand up to the guys this week.

WHO SHOULD GO: Kady Malloy and Kristy Lee Cook are the most forgettable contestants of the night. But I still think Amanda Overmyer should be gone. The rock chick thing isn’t working for me. It’s a bit tired.  The judges, however, loved her.

Tune in tomorrow to see who goes home. Plus, a performance from Season 6 runner-up, Blake Lewis. This is the first in what’s sure to be many guest appearances this season.

American Idol, Asia’h Epperson, Ramiele Malubay, Amanda Overmyer, Carly Smithson, Kady Malloy, Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook, Brooke White, Blake Lewis

Will David Hernandez be safe from eliminations tonight on American Idol? If Simon Cowell’s prediction is accurate, the answer is “yes.”

“David, it wasn’t as good as last week,” Simon said after David performed It’s All Coming Back to Me Now on last night’s show. “But you’ve 100 percent secured a place in the finals.”

That wasn’t necessarily as clear earlier this week, when rumors about David’s past as a male stripper started to surface. The Associated Press on Tuesday reported a story that talked to an anonymous source with the show, confirming the details of his past wouldn’t get him kicked off the show.

The native of Glendale, Ariz. (also home to the wholesome Season 6 Idol, Jordin Sparks) once worked at Dick’s Cabaret in Phoenix, where he danced for the mostly male clients, according to the club’s manager, Gordy Bryan, who was quoted in the AP story.

While I think Idol is right in its choice to not eliminate contestants for this type of past “experience,” the show did remove finalist Frenchie Davis after it was revealed she appeared on an adult-themed Web site. Last year, however, finalist Antonella Barba remained in the competition after slightly naughty photos of her were splashed across the old World Wide Web.

According to the Dick’s Cabaret manager, it appears David worked at the club — but never sang there — until a couple of months after his first Idol audition in San Diego. The funniest part of this entire story, as the AP points out, is that David’s official Idol bio says he would most like to have the ability to dance if he couldn’t sing … “Dancing! I’m horrible at that,” David responded.

Now that’s brilliant.

Of course, whether the news will have played any part in David’s fate in the competition is yet to be seen. That may come Thursday, after the nationwide vote from last night’s performances.

American Idol, David Hernandez

We’re getting closer and closer to the Top 12 — when the action really heats up and contestants stand a chance for being remembered beyond the May finale. Tonight, the Top 8 guys perform for your votes. (What? You haven’t been voting? That’s why the wrong girls got the boot last week. Now, get with the program!)

7 p.m.

Luke Menard

Moving into a new decade, tonight the Top 8 guys take on songs from the 1980s. First up, it’s Luke Menard singing a little Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. I have to say this may not have been the best choice for Luke. It was a pretty lame performance, actually. Not memorable at all. Still, even without seeing any other performance, I think Luke will sail into the Top 6 (aka the finals).

“A little bit corny for me, but it was alright,” Randy said.

“I was kind of surprised you picked that song,” Paula said. Then she rambled on and on. And Simon was annoyed.

“Luke, I’ll make this very quick,” Simon said. “I didn’t like it. I thought it was weak. It was a little girly.” Simon even said he didn’t even think Luke would survive this week.

7:09 p.m.

David Archuleta

David Archuleta, America’s early favorite is up now. Apparently, he’s thirsty and he has to pee. This according to Ryan Seacrest, who’s been saying some wacky things this season. What hasn’t been wacky is David’s incredible performance, and tonight he adds his keyboard skills for the Phil Collins hit Another Day in Paradise.

I have to say there’s no question this kid is going to do well as a musician. I’m not sure I’m buying the whole “Gosh, I’m good?” shock factor. It’s a little too Melinda Doolittle for me. But, still, you can’t argue the kid has talent.

“It’s like watching one of your concerts, man,” Randy said.

“David, it wasn’t as good as last week,” Simon said. “… You’re becoming … it’s all getting a little too gloomy. There’s no question you’re going to make it to the finals next week; you’ll probably be in the final two.”

Wow, that’s some big stuff for Simon to say this early in the competition. Of course, it’s not really shocking at all. I think little David (there still are three of them in this competition) may be the earliest standout possible winner of any season.

7:18 p.m.

Danny Noriega

Danny Noriega needs to have a better week this week than he’s had the past two, so can he do it with Tainted Love? As a whole, it was a better performance than we’ve seen in recent weeks. I’m sure Simon’s going to say something about the signature head bopping. The biggest problem with Danny this week is that he seems to be breathing in all the wrong spots. It’s kind of distracting. But I think he’s incredibly entertaining.

“Danny, you can do this,” Randy said. “C’mon, man.”

“I love that you’re, you’re like this bright light in the competition,” Paula said. “… You’re real. You’re the real deal.”

“I thought it was horrible, the whole thing,” Simon said. “Absolutely useless. … I hated the arrangement. I hated the performance. I hated the vocals.”

I’ve been meaning to say this for a while now, but does anyone else think Danny is a little bit like William Sledd?

David Hernandez

David Hernandez has made plenty of headlines this week for his alleged past as a gay stripper. But, after singing It’s All Coming Back to Me Now, he may be making headlines for another reason — being one of the most improved singers week to week. This performance, while not perfect, certainly could be one of his most remembered. I think it’s enough to keep him in the competition. The judges?

“You got that big old voice,” Randy said. “Good song choice for you, man.”

“You’re finding your niche,” Paula said. “I think you have some of the best vocals in this whole group, here.”

“David, it wasn’t as good as last week,” Simon said. “But you’ve 100 percent secured a place in the finals.”

7:31 p.m.

Michael Johns

Michael Johns is going up next. The resident Aussie is taking on Don’t You (Forget About Me). While I think Michael’s one of the best male vocalists in the competition — at least one of the most experienced — I thought the arrangement of this song was a little slow. I’m just not all that impressed, but he’ll certainly be safe on into the finals.

“Good song choice,” Randy said. “I loved it, dude.”

“I’m so glad you are the type of artist who is defining who you are,” Paula said. “… You have this presence that’s different and unique.”

“Huge talent, but you haven’t connected with the right song,” Simon said. “I really, really like you.”

7:40 p.m.

David Cook

After some technical problems with his guitar, it’s David Cook’s turn. Until this week, I wasn’t completely sold on David’s talent. This week, with his version of Hello, I think he proved he’s a force in the competition that could be worth watching. His ability to play the guitar, mixed with some sweet, sincere vocals, I think it works.

“I think that could be a single and be a hit,” Randy said.

“That was fabulous,” Paula said. “It would be a hit today, and it should be a hit today.”

“David, that was a very brave thing to do, and I loved it,” Simon said. Right on, Simon. Right on.

Jason Castro

Next up, Jason Castro. When he talks, it’s awkward. When he sings, it’s pretty incredible. So, how does Jason handle Hallelujah? First, I have to say it was an incredible song choice for him. It totally fits his mood and personality. The performance, not surprisingly, is incredible. If Jason would release a CD today, I would buy it the day it came out. (Luckily, I can buy his stuff on iTunes … how much could they actually plug that connection?)

“You did a pretty good job of it,” Randy said. “I give you props for it. And I give you props for coming out without the guitar.”

“You made it sound so effortless,” Paula said.

“I thought it was absolutely brilliant what you just did,” Simon said. “Arguably one of my favorite performances of the whole night. … You are getting better and better and better. I’m very happy.”

7:52 p.m.

Chikezie Eze
The last contestant of the night is Chikezie Eze. While Whitney Houston’s version of All the Man That I Need may have been more popular, Chikezie took on All the Woman That I Need. Even though it’s one of Chikezie’s best showings, I still think it was rough. Really rough. I promise I don’t have anything against him personally, but it’s time for him to go.

“You did a good job of it,” Randy said, commenting on the tough song choice.

“Your personality, I was waiting for this upbeat thing,” Paula said. “But your vocals sound really good tonight.”

“That was a Whitney song, right?” Paula said. “… Then I don’t think that worked at all.”

WHO GETS MY VOTE: There’s no question that person is David Cook. He was incredible. I have to admit Jason Castro continued to impress me, and David Archuleta always does well. But it’s David Cook who’s number I’ll be dialing …

WHO SHOULD GO: I worry about the always entertaining Danny Noriega, but I think the two who really should go are Luke Menard (I know I said he would be safe earlier, but I changed my mind) and Chikezie Eze. Based on song choice, alone, these two should be in major danger.

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

There already have been many tearful goodbyes on American Idol’s seventh installment. And there certainly are going to be more to come thanks, in part, to Ruben Studdard.

The Season 2 title holder was tapped to record his version of Celebrate Me Home, a song first recorded in 1977 by Kenny Loggins. The song will be this season farewell song, to be played as the contestants are picked off one by one.

Earlier this year, Ruben was dropped by his label, J Records. The Alabama native — 205! — still is connected with 19 Entertainment, which produces Idol. That certainly played in Ruben’s favor when the show’s producers decided this year to have a song recorded specifically as the “goodbye anthem.”

As with all songs performed by the Top 24, Celebrate Me Home will be available to download on iTunes as soon as the first Top 12 finalist gets the boot. That could be the type of re-exposure Ruben needs to boost his career.

Last season’s farewell song was Chris Daughtry’s Home, and I think we all know how well that did. The previous year it was Daniel Powter’s Bad Day, which also tore up the charts. Idol certainly had at least some part of that success.

During Hollywood Week this year, a special goodbye song, Ferras’ Hollywood’s Not America, was used throughout the two-day announcement episodes. That small amount of exposure already has paid off for the up-and-coming singer. Let’s just hope Ruben’s recording is as catchy as that song. Because I thought that could have served as the goodbye song all year. Where’s the money in that, though?

American Idol, Ruben Studdard, Ferras, Chris Daughtry, Daniel Powter

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

David Hernandez is the latest American Idol finalist to have rumors circulating about him.

There have been rumors running wild about American Idol Top 20 finalist David Hernandez and his alleged time as a gay stripper. It comes with the spotlight that your past will be scrutinized, and David’s time in the spotlight just got a bit more interesting.

In case you haven’t heard, rumors have circulated that David stripped at Dick’s Cabaret before Idol. The singer also worked at the no-longer-in-business Burn, a gay bar in Phoenix. That part of the rumor appears to be a bit more true, as photos have circulated that show David among a group of other guys wearing T-shirts with the bar’s name across the front.

Obviously, people care about this type of news. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be growing legs as more and more sources report the news and update with photographic evidence. But will it matter in the competition? Does being a gay stripper ruin your chances (or maybe improve?) of winning the show? Or does this mean this year’s champion really could the first openly gay winner?

American Idol, David Hernandez

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

Last night, some of the guys redeemed themselves from the first week of live performances. But, a week after the girls showed up with some commendable efforts, will tunes from the 1970s sit well with them? It’s time to find out.

7:01 p.m.

Carly Smithson

First up, Carly Smithson. While she owns a tattoo shop, this Irish girl also works around the corner in an Irish bar. Go figure. Tonight, Carly sings Heart’s Crazy On You. It’s definitely a song and style that fits her voice. In fact, she sounds a little more hardcore with this tune than she has in past performances. It’s all about being a rocker, showing the diversity. She’s doing her thing.

“It’s great to see that you are healthy,” Paula said, referring to a strain of sickness that hurt some of the girls last week.

“I thought it was a much better performance than last week,” Simon said. “I still don’t think, yet, you’ve chosen or connected with the right song yet. … I don’t think any of these girls can touch you vocally.”

7:12 p.m.

Syesha Mercado

Syesha Mercado says people would be surprised to know she’s done a lot of commercials as an actress in her native Florida. Then she did something pretty incredible; she cried like a baby. I love it. Then, she did something even more incredible; she sang Me and Mr. Jones. This, people, is why Syesha was a favorite of mine since the beginning. She’s got an amazing look and personality and … wait for it … her voice is really soothing. And impressive.

“I don’t think this was a great song for you for me,” Randy said.

“I thought it was a bit indulgent,” Simon said. “The song, obviously, wasn’t written for a girl, so it probably was a silly thing to do.”

Brooke White

Up next is Brooke White, who says people may be surprised to know she’s a beauty school dropout. In fact, she says the reason she quit was because she discovered music while studying hairstyling. Tonight she brings a guitar to the stage to show her talent behind the microphone. Singing Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain, Brooke certainly is a fantastic performer. I’m not sure she’s good enough to win, though. There’s just a little something missing.

“It was a great song choice for you,” Randy said. “… I don’t know if you brought anything to it.”

“Your voice, I liked what you did to it,” Paula said.

“Brooke, I absolutely loved it,” Simon said.

7:27 p.m.

Ramiele Malubay

The tiny Ramiele Malubay is up next. She’s cute and perky, so how could you not like this girl? Plus, she has a pretty impressive vocal talent to back up that spunk. Don’t Leave Me This Way was a little more upbeat than what I expected Ramiele to choose for 70s week. The beginning of the song, which has a slower tempo, certainly was great. The more upbeat parts were where her voice seemed to slip a little bit out of key. It was just average for me.

“Ramiele, you also are one to beat here,” Paula said. “… It just was a song you powered through. I feel like you didn’t get to perform your magic.”

“Astonishingly, I agree with Paula,” Simon said. “The trouble with that song is I’ve heard it too many times at ghastly weddings. … This was one of those performances I’m not going to remember. … I think you’re one of the top three singers in the competition.”

7:37 p.m.

Kristy Lee Cook

She’s a self-proclaimed tomboy. She sold her horse for her chance to win Idol. Now Kristy Lee Cook is singing You’re No Good in hopes of proving she is good. There really is no questioning she is good, but is KLC the best? No. After tonight, I give her a shot at the Top 12, but certainly not the Top 5.

“You’re back, you’re back, you’re back,” Paula said. “And it was a good song choice for you.”

“I couldn’t even remember what you sang last week,” Simon said. “… My only worry with you at the moment is, I don’t know how to label you at the moment.”

7:47 p.m.

Amanda Overmyer

Amanda Overmyer is not only a nurse and biker chick. She’s also a bookworm. Wow, these revealing “secrets” sure are telling us a lot about the contestants. Holy Cruella DeVille! I think Amanda is singing, but I can’t get past that scary hair. And those pants. Oh. My. Gawd. (You know I’m serious, because I wrote “gawd.”)

Um, it turns out she’s singing, er, screaming Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas. I’m not sure what to say about the performance, really. It’s classic Amanda, maybe, but there’s just too much … I’m not kidding, I can’t listen to what she’s singing.
“You got some moves,” Paula said. “Don’t be all shy. … You’ve got to do what feels right. … This was not the right song for you.”

“I thought, actually, in your film, you came over very natural, very cool,” Simon said, before also pointing out the terrible hair. Cue camera panning the outfit and White Rain-induced hairstyle.

7:57 p.m.

Alaina Whitaker

Alaina Whitaker hates when her food touches each other on the plate. It’s a strange “thing you didn’t know about me,” but at least it’s not “I like books.” Hopelessly Devoted to You is such an Idol song, but it’s not really working out as well for Alaina as I would have imagined. I definitely would say she’s one of the better singers in the competition, but this performance just was a little whiny for me.

“I like that song,” Randy said. “I don’t think that was the right song for you, either.”

“I think you did a real good job, Alaina,” Paula said.

“Alaina, I like you,” Simon said. “My problem is it’s almost as if your grandmother prepared you for this audition. Everything about you, it’s very old-fashioned.”

8:06 p.m.

Alexandrea Lushington

Ryan Seacrest may never be able to say her name without stumbling, but Alexandrea Lushington is probably going to be in the competition for a good while. So, he’ll probably get some practice in before the end of the season. If You Leave Me Now is a surprising song choice from Alexandrea, but I think it was a wise choice. She certainly put her stamp on the performance, though it seemed, at times, she was ahead (or maybe behind) the band. I don’t know what it was.

“Here’s the problem for me,” Randy said. “It was just too safe for you.”

“I was a big, big fan of yours in the early stages of the competition,” Simon said. “But I think you’re struggling. … (That song) is absolutely stuck in its time.”

Kady Malloy

She’s your favorite Britney Spears impersonator this season. She’s Kady Malloy, the one with the jokes. And it turns out she’s an opera singer, too. Straying from opera, tonight Kady sings Magic Man. I’m not sure what it is about this performance, but it certainly is not the best song choice. The girls seem to be struggling in that area tonight, and I think Kady may be the biggest victim thus far. This just isn’t a song you can showcase your vocal range, and that’s apparent here.

“It just never found a pitch from you coming down the stairs,” Randy said. “You never settled on to the note.”

“When you powered, you sounded great, I think,” Paula said. “On the low notes, you lost a little bit.”

“Kady, I think I’m struggling as much as you’re struggling here,” Simon said. “Everything you do on film is impressive. Then you come out here …”

8:21 p.m.

Asia’h Epperson

Did they save the best for last? I’m sure Asia’h Epperson hopes that’s the case. This former cheerleader expects to put a little spirit in her performance tonight. That performance is All By Myself, which Asia’h struggled with a couple of times throughout the song. Still, she looks incredible tonight — and that really does matter. Plus, the song is a power ballad, and that always helps when the going gets tough. Did she nail it? Probably not. But it was one of the better performances tonight.

“I got to tell you what, the highest degree of difficulty, you did a really good job,” Randy said.

“It was great,” Paula said. “You had problems in the low parts, but the ending, that’s what counts on this song.”

“It is one of the diva songs of all time, and you have got to be one heck of a singer to pull that off,” Simon said. “And, unfortunately, you’re not. … The song was too big for you.”

WHO GETS MY VOTE: Tonight’s a tough one, really. I’m going to say Syesha Mercado deserves a few votes — and not just because she’s one of my favorites. The tough part, really, is none of these performances compared to what David Archuleta brought last night with his rendition of Imagine.

WHO SHOULD GO HOME: There’s no question Kady Malloy is in a bit of hot water this week. Things just aren’t coming together for her at this point in the competition. And, if style gets put into the picture at all, consider Amanda Overmyer as good as gone.

American Idol, Amanda Overmyer, Alaina Whitaker, Alexandrea Lushington, Brooke White, Kady Malloy, Carly Smithson, Syesha Mercado, Ramiele Malubay, Asia’h Epperson, Kristy Lee Cook

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

If you haven’t seen the video of Season 7 American Idol finalist David Archuleta singing to Season 1 contestants, you’ll definitely want to check this out.

The 11-year-old David goes a little Jennifer Hudson (pre Jennifer Hudson) on Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini and the whole bunch. It appears they all seem a little blown away by the little guy’s immense talent — check out Kelly’s response at the end of the impromptu performance.

Archuleta certainly is going to be leading the pack for much of this season (if not taking it all the way to the finale), so get used to hearing the buzz about him.

American Idol, David Archuleta, Kelly Clarkson

This year’s American Idol winner and runner-up will get a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.

Aside from the usual recording contract, this year’s American Idol winner — and the runner-up, too — will get a Ford Escape Hybrid SUV.

It’s not unusual for the promoting sponsor to give contestants the cars — they made the biggest deal about it with Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee — but the idea of making them a “green” vehicle is very, well, 2008 of them. You go, Ford!

Now, if we could just avoid the cheese-tastic Ford commercials featuring all of the remaining contestants in an array of wacky outfits dancing around the Escape, this really could be the best season yet. Of course, we already know there will be tons of terrible group numbers filling up the otherwise dead air.

American Idol, Ford Escape

Asia’h Epperson was called one of the best performers of the first week of competition by the most critical judge on the show, Simon Cowell. Will iTunes determine her ranking in the competition?

It’s the first year American Idol has partnered with iTunes to offer digital downloads of all performances from the Top 24 contestants. So, aside from being another huge revenue stream for the Fox hit, will it also give America a good idea of who the obvious favorites are each week?

Chances are, the answer will be “yes.” Because iTunes posts a Top 100 most popular downloads list, the idea Idol finalists will appear on that list throughout the season clearly seems possible. And, obviously, the most-downloaded singers would lead you to believe they are the contestants getting the most votes.

I can’t say with any amount of certainty that iTunes downloads have any legitimate correlation to America’s voting patterns, but there likely is some type of connection in terms of judging popularity. Currently, just a day after the first 24 performances were released, none of the finalists have made the top 100 downloads list.

However, Jordin Sparks comes in with two spots — No. 10 for her duet with Chris Brown, No Air, and No. 27 for Tattoo. Carrie Underwood is in the No. 32 spot with All-American Girl, and she’s at No. 74 with Before He Cheats. And Chris Daughtry is holding up the end of the list, at No. 100, with Home, not to mention his No. 40 spot for Feels Like Tonight and No. 80 with Over You.

American Idol, Jordin Sparks, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, iTunes

You voted. And now it’s time for American Idol to send four of its Top 24 contestants home.

I suspect Chikezie and Colton Berry may be in trouble as far as the guys. And the girls? I’m saying it could be a tough night for Joanne Borgella and Amy Davis. But you never know; there definitely are a few others in the danger zone. So let’s get down to it.

7:01 p.m.

The cheesy videos and terrible group performances already are beginning. I seriously don’t know why this has to be part of the show. It’s so annoying. I really can’t deal with it. At all.

7:12 p.m.

After a look back at Tuesday’s show, Ryan Seacrest will start getting down to business.

Garrett Haley performs at Tuesday’s show. He was the first contestant eliminated from the Top 24 after his performance of Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.

With all the guys dressed in black suits, they sit in anticipation. First up to talk with Ryan is Garrett Haley, who immediately gets told he’s the first to go. It’s no surprise, really. In fact, the only big surprise is that there was a quick elimination without the dramatic commercial break.

7:24 p.m.

We’re back. And it’s time to send home one of the girls. But first, the recap. So, who will it be?

Kristy Lee Cook is the first up to talk with Ryan. So, will she be going? Of course not. That would be too obvious. The person leaving first, is Amy Davis. It was pretty obvious after last night’s show Amy would be one of the girls to go home. Nobody really had a chance to get to know her during the earlier episodes, and that certainly hurt her chances.

Amy Davis performs on Wednesday night’s show. Davis was the first female contestant to get voted from the Top 24.

The one thing I’ve always hated about this show — aside from the terrible group performances — is the fact contestants have to sing the song that got them voted off the show. Poor, Amy. It wasn’t good the first time. And this time, it’s even more dreadful. Ugh.

7:35 p.m.

After judging all the competition on the show, Paula Abdul finally is put in the spotlight. But, she can’t make her Idol debut on stage as a live performer. Oh, no. Instead, Abdul’s video featured on Randy Jackson’s new CD is being shown to give everyone a break from the eliminations. Because, let’s face it, they have been so exhausting.

What are your thoughts on this video and song? For me, I think it’s a pretty decent tune. The first time I heard it, I was surprised Abdul still had the pop vocals (give or take some editing) that made her a star back in the day. This certainly is a good jam to make its way through dance clubs across the country. Maybe Paula actually will perform the tune live later in the season … I would love to see Simon judge that performance!

“It’s surreal. It’s exciting,” Paula said of her comeback.

“She represents every color in the universe,” Simon said, referring to a comment made Tuesday night by the panel’s female judge.

Now, back to the eliminations. Joanne Borgella and Amanda Overmyer are brought to the middle of the stage. Here’s where the “after-the-break” suspense kicks in …

7:44 p.m.

And we’re back. Joann, as I predicted, is the next to go. I hate that she’s gone in the first week, because I really liked what Joanne brought to the competition. Her plus-size model backstory was a good one, plus she really has great vocals — we’ve heard them.

So, what’s next?

“I’m going to keep on singing, because I love singing,” Joanne said.

Joanne Borgella performs on Wednesday night’s show. The plus-size model was one of four contestants eliminated in the first week of live competition.

During Joanne’s farewell performance, many of the other contestants already were crying. Have the finalists already started to bond over their shared experience? It would appear so. Or maybe they, like me, really saw some big potential in Joanne. The tough part is one bad showing, especially this early in the competition, really can be the end of your time on Idol.

7:53 p.m.

Colton Berry was the final contestant eliminated from this week’s competition.

Chikezie and Colton Berry are asked to join Ryan at the middle of the stage. It looks like my expectations for tonight’s eliminations are going to be as accurate as possible. They both could go, and it would be OK. But it’s Colton’s night to leave the competition.

The teenager is one of the first to leave the competition after being the last contestant to join the Top 24 during Hollywood Week.

PARTING THOUGHTS: One of the interesting parts of tonight’s eliminations is the fact these four contestants got probably the least amount of exposure prior to this week’s episodes. It also is interesting to see that both Colton and Joanne were the final guy and girl picked to join the Top 24.

American Idol, Colton Berry, Joanne Borgella, Garrett Haley, Amy Davis, Paula Abdul

If you liked Jason Casto’s performance this week on American Idol — and how could you not? — you probably would be interested to know he already has been in a video on MTV. And a reality show.

In case you haven’t heard, Castro could be seen hanging out with Cheyenne Kimball during her time in the MTV spotlight a few years ago. The young singer had her own reality show, Cheyenne, and it helped produce her first big hit, Hanging On. The video for the single (check it out above) features a cameo with Castro, who appears as a love interest of Cheyenne a little more than halfway through the video — dreadlocks and all.

Still, I think Castro, a Dallas-based drummer, is making plenty of good music on his own these days. Hopefully he’ll be able to cash in on his own reality show and make this season of Idol the one where he’s the star.

American Idol, Jason Castro, Cheyenne Kimball