Episode list

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Boston" - January 13, 2010

The "American Idol" machine comes to the Bean to kick off the ninth season. Thousands of people came to Gillette Stadium for their shot at "Idol" glory.

Janet is very excitable, likes to jump up and down in an unflattering belly shirt, and claims that she does really well on the "Idol" video game. Predictably, she is bad, singing an awful version of "Pocketful of Sunshine." (Do viewers really and truly never tire of this?) Four no's.

Maddy is number 9 of 12 kids, she has several siblings with Down's Syndrome. She sings "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen and it's pretty nice, good pitch, a little breathy, and sort of earnest. They all like her and think she's got heart and soul. Four yes's.

We get a bit of holding room hijinks from a happy dancing guy named Pat who likes to yell "holla." He is, of course, awful, singing "Womanizer." All no's and Randy tells him to stop singing forever.

We get a quick montage of three women who make it through.

Jennifer who jazzily scats her way through "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."

Deirdre who, I think, sings "Be With You" (by Mr. Big) in a sort of overheated way. And...

Jess who does a smoky version of "People Get Ready."

Amadeo is a big Italian family that we get to meet at a big pasta dinner. At the audition he tries to soak in the moment. He sings "Hoochie Coochie Man" with a lot of gusto. They like him, personally, and Simon wants to give someone like him a break. Four yes's.

Derek says he's a very spiritual guy who likes to go on meditative walks. He literally stops to smell the flowers outside Government Center. He does a weird, nasally, many voiced version of "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word." Simon says it was rubbish. Derek is sad that he won't be able to touch America.

We get a montage of sad, crying rejects.

Mere is another ball of energy, she likes anime and martial arts and is quirky and does a version of "Piece of My Heart" that is not good. Simon and Randy tell her she's not good. She gets upset and says singing is her life. Four no's.

Two boys get through in quick succession. They are:

Luke who impresses them with "Fall For You" and...

Benjamin who croons "All My Loving"

We meet angry Andrew who is mad about all the waiting. He finally gets in and he is bratty and obnoxious which is really too bad. His sulky weirdness tanks him since he actually does an oddly groovy, stylized version of "House of the Rising Sun" that is kind of swampy and theatrical. Kara says he shouldn't have such a bad attitude about waiting if he wants to be in show business in general and "Idol" in particular. She and Victoria Beckham are super annoyed by his arrogance and bad energy and think he doesn't have the goods to back it up. (Which is pretty funny.) Randy, Kara, and Victoria say no and Simon says he would've said yes.

We get a montage of people talking about formal training as a prelude to two people, Bill and Michael who can carry a tune but are way over the top.

This is a dream for Ashley who sings "If I Ain't Got You." She does a nice job. Kara loves her and thinks she's got commercial looks and voice and is her favorite today. Simon thinks she may have "it." Four yes's.

Tyler has titanium plates in his arms and curly hair and although he's a drummer he wants to be a frontman. He seems nice and sings "Let's Get it On" well enough to get the ladies very excited and four yes's. Plus, Victoria loved his clothes. Simon says he will remember this audition.

Ryan tells us 17 others got a yes as well.

Day Two

This hour we get a little Boston history and the inspirational stories and, of course, more deluded singers like....

Lisa who thinks she's a diva but who hits as many bad notes as good in her version of, oh no, "Vision of Love." She takes the abuse well. And...

Ryan whose "Ring of Fire" is not hot. And...a montage of people with tough accents and eccentricities.

Mike pilots the speed boat "Codzilla" in the Boston harbor. His version of "Yesterday" sounds fine, unremarkable, not bad at all but not amazing, but good enough to get him through with three yes's. (Randy is the one who said no saying he didn't think his voice was that great.)

Katie is from Connecticut and is really close to her grandmother, who has Alzheimer's disease. We see Katie care for her and sing to her. She sings "At Last" and is strong and confident. Four yes's. (She calls grandma and everyone has a nice cry.)

Joshua sings "Bless the Broken Road" in a sweet sort of nasally voice. Victoria thinks he has a nice little voice. Simon thinks he was forgettable. They taunt him while trying to make him more assertive. He gets four yes's just by being good-natured.

We get a montage of bad singers, bad songs, forgotten lyrics, etc But they all take it well. .

Justin is a cancer survivor. He sings "Feelin' Good" and they all like his voice, looks, and presence. Four yes's.

We get a montage of Victoria Beckham's generally nice and supportive demeanor.

Norberto sings "Every Time We Touch" but keeps forgetting the words. Victoria says she used to forget words too. Simon hated it and the fact that he sang it with a beard. He thought it was too weird.

Bosa is Nigerian-American and has seven siblings and seems very nice. He sings "You Look So Good in Love." It's fine. Simon says he was forgettable. Victoria disagrees and gets annoyed with Simon for him rolling his eyes. He gets three yes's. (Simon says no.) They tell him he has work to do.

The last contestant is Leah by her own description an overprotected, church-going gal from Long Island who has always expressed herself musically. She sings "Blue Skies" and she's got a strong voice, maybe a little overbearing and strident in places but also passages of nice tone and phrasing. Four yes's.

We get a montage of happy, joyful yes's. (Ryan says there were 31 overall).

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Atlanta" - Jan. 13, 2010

The auditions go south and we get friendly twangs, bad singers, cheerleaders and more on a night when Mary J. Blige is our guest judge.

Keia a former Miss Congeniality gets four yes's for what is normally an "Idol" no-no, singing a Celine Dion song, "My Heart Will Go On."

We get three quick looks at three girl singers who make their way through: Miriam, Noel, and Tisha.

Jermaine who takes care of his mom with spina bifida and sings in church gets through to Hollywood with a groovy take on Joan Osborne's "One of Us." Randy says it's the best vocal they've seen yet.

Christy is a TV show host. She sings "Love is a Battlefield." They don't love it. Four no's.

We get a montage of no's to Mary J. Blige's "I'm Goin' Down."

Vanessa is a bridge jumper, which we see her doing in her bikini with her friends. She's from a small town in Tennesee where we get to see her hang out with her mom and talk about being stuck. She sings "Wagon Wheel." She's very nervous. Simon's worried she's not prepared for Hollywood but she gets four yes's because they really like her and her country style.

Jesse from Alabama has had many close calls with death. He will not be having a close with Hollywood after he gets four no's for his versions of "The River" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes" by Garth Brooks which brings Mary J. to tears, of laughter, before he even starts. (He was not good but I think she was just giddy and punch drunk.)

Holly has a dress that looks like a guitar. Sigh. She sings "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man." She's not amazing but she's not horrible, but the outfit is just ridiculous. Mary doesn't get it but she gets three yes's.

We get a montage of bad singers.

Mallorie sings "Piece of My Heart" well enough to get four yes's.

We get a montage of yes's.

Antonio aka "Skii Bow Ski" is a flamboyant doofus. Who, in an exciting change of pace, can actually sing doign "Heard it Through the Grapevine." He overdoes the shtick in a big way though and totally turns off Simon. Randy tells him to lose all the nonsense. He gets three yes's.

Lauren and Carmen are BFF's so you know this will end badly. And it does when Lauren sings sweetly but softly and Carmen well and strongly. Simon thinks Carmen is a better singer but together they're a fun team. Randy, Mary, and Kara say yes to Carmen and no to Lauren. Simon says he would've said no to both of them.

Montage of bad singers. Simon steps out for a break, letting the other three field a few on their own.

Bryan is a cop. He sings "Superstar," "in the style of Ruben Studdard." He's got a nice tone and a bit of country soul to voice. He gets three yes's.

Lamar is a huge Mary J. fan. He says no matter what the judges say he will respect their opinion. Which, of course, menas that he freaks out and swears at them when they tell him he's not great. They actually try to give him some advice saying there's a voice in there somewhere but he has to do a lot of work. He keeps interrupting and trying to sing. Mary tells him to find some humility. He won't stop and security escorts him out and he swears at them and then says Mary can't sing a lick.

The last audition from Larry who sings his own original song "Pants on the Ground." It's ridiculous and he's clearly outside the age range but it's pretty funny. (He's 62).

25 folks overall got golden tickets.

"American Idol" - "Chicago" - Jan. 19, 2010

We're in the Windy City and as usual - you guessed it - there are some good singers, some bad ones, some good sports and some cursing jerks. Shania Twain is our guest judge.

First up is Katelyn whose mom wanted her to try out. We meet mom and hear all about her recent, shocking divorce and how it's ruined the family. They're hoping this will start a new chapter for the family. She sings "Syrup and Honey" by Duffy well enough to get four yes's.

A local tour guide talks a bit about Chicago.

Next is perky chubby girl Amy who has a crush on Ryan. For some reason she collapses before singing "Dr. Feelgood." She then pushes her boobs out. She's not a vocal trainwreck but they can't take her seriously. They say no.

We get a montage of people supporting their friends.

We then meet young Charity. She sings for the clients in her parents hair salon. She's 16 but seems even younger as she sings "Summertime." She gets four yes's.

We get a montage of awful singers and people dressed up in silly costumes.

We then get a montage of rejects leaving in tears and cursing at the cameras.

Angela is auditioning for the third time. When she made it to Hollywood week in season 7, her dad died. In season 8 Hollywood week she had to quit because of a court date due to a traffic violation. She sings "Just Fine" and they think it's more than that and gets four yes's.

We get a montage of 7 others who got golden tickets.

It's day two and we get more of the same.

First up is Curly who massacres "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush via Maxwell and is roundly rejected by a quartet of laughing judges. He leaves before they can even say no.

Alannah is no better even though they try to help her by telling her to sing in a lower key. She pretends that she doesn't understand what this means.

We get a black and white silent movie style montage of rejects.

Brian was in the army and says he entertained his fellow soldiers. He sings Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." He swears it was not a joke. He gets four no's.

Harold is tired of microwave dinners and thinks if he gets on "Idol" he will be able to eat steak. He gets four no's and tries to blame his allergies and breaks down crying.

Montage of bad singers.

John is a college student but he wants to express himself musically. He can sing. And Shania is apparently in love with him. Four yes's.

Paige has serious asthma problems and was near death at one point. She does an okay version of "A Change is Gonna Come." She gets three yes's. Simon says no.

We get a montage of dudes. Gary, Justin, and Marcus all get a golden ticket.

13 people in all got put through.

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Orlando" - Jan. 20, 2010

We are in the land of Mickey Mouse and bad singers. Tonight's guest judge is Kristin Chenoweth.

First up is flamboyant Theo who has a cape and feathers and, of course, a terrible voice as he wrecks Pat Benatar's "Heartbreaker." Loudly. They all shake hands though after the four no's.

We get a montage of rejects and people in costume. And also Kristin and Kara are all giggly and talking about girl power, which is annoying Simon.

More reject montages with Simon's criticisms.

And then there was Seth a father of two small children, one with autism. We see a bit of his home life and his son. He sings "Someone to Watch Over Me" nicely and with a sweet touch of melancholy. Four yes's.

Another montage of auditioners in the room, the hotel, out in the crowd. Then we get a montage of no's and tears and a few yes's.

Jermaine is back for a second chance, as he auditioned in season 7. He sings "Smile" really well. Simon thanks him very much indeed. Kristin loves him. Randy calls him his favorite from this whole audition season. Kara believed it. Simon thinks the chicks will like him. Four yes's.

The final contestant of day one is Shelby who has a slight paralysis on one side of her face since birth but she's setting aside her insecurity to go for it. She sings "Turn Me On" by Norah Jones. (Simon wishes her luck in a nice touch). She sounds pretty good, kinda twangy and country-ish. She forgets the words and accidentally swears, but sweetly. They think she has potential. Four yes's.

18 others made it from day one and we get a montage of some of them getting their tickets and celebrating.

Day Two brings more of the same except there is no guest judge since Kristin had to go back to New York. Kara gives the room a pep talk.

Jay is very excited and beatboxes his way through "Come Together." The beatboxing is impressive but he's not much of a singer. Simon says he is now soaking wet. Kara says it was yes since it was hilarious. Randy aks if he can actually sing, he says yes and busts into Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" with Kara and Randy beatboxing. Simon says no. Kara says yes. Randy, as always, caves, and says yes.

We get a montage of women dancing. And then a bunch of female singers Janell, Brittany, and Kasi who all get golden tickets.

Then we meet Cornelius who is also "dancer" who learned from his friends who are strippers. He sings "Proud Mary" - which he calls "Rollin'"- and does a crazy split and rips his pants wide open. He only sings a little bit but they all say yes because they thought he was funny.

Sisters Bernadette and Amanda run a hair salon. And as usual one of them is better than the other, Bernadette who sings "Hit the Road Jack" to her sister's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." But in this case not by much. But it doesn't matter they get three yes's, even though Simon would've said no to Amanda.

And then there's Jared who's talking about enthusiasm and passion in a very laconic, stoner voice. He then mangles "Amazing Grace." Three no's. He keeps trying to sing until security steps in and escorts him out. He is actually arrested outside. He says God will take him out of the cuffs.

The final contestant is Matt who got into some trouble, by robbing a bank with a BB gun, when he was 15. He was locked up for four years and is very remorseful. He wants to make his family proud. He sings "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne and has a similar smoky, raspy voice. Simon calls him brilliant. They like that he's authentic. They call him one of the best. Kara predicts he's going to go top 12. He gets three yes's.

In total 31 folks got golden tickets.

"American Idol" - "Auditions - Los Angeles" - Jan. 26, 2010

Folks are lined up at the Rose Bowl. We see Ryan on his radio show. He says 11,000 came out.

Ryan talks about Hollywood, the epicenter of entertainment.

Avril Lavigne is the first guest judge.

First up is Neil who claims he's a genius and is kind of nerdy. He's full of total confidence so, of course, he can't sing. He demonstrates this by singing a Meatloaf song sorta, forgetting the words right away and then starting up again. He's not the worst ever but nothing special. He's also very sweaty. Simon says he's not suited to the business. Neil says he's not going anywhere, but Hollywood. He's insistent and desperate. Outside his parents say he's good under pressure. Simon asks if he wants to walk out on his own or with an escort. Neil leaves on his own. Avril thinks it was awkward. He thinks Idol really missed out.

Jim is a worship pastor. We meet his wife and kids. He feels good and confident. He sings an original song called "Drive." It's country-ish. Simon likes his voice. Avril worries about him traveling on the road but likes his voice but still says no. So he gets three yes's. He's teary and happy.

We see a montage of terrible people.

Next is Damien who is a martial arts fanatic who demonstrates his skills. He makes sandwiches. He should stick to that given his workout of "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'." He hits a bad note and realizes. Simon says he should go. He does, upset with his choke.

We get a montage of cute little kids.

Mary has an 8-year-old daughter who loves Simon. She sings "Love is a Battlefield." She's fine. Simon likes her voice but not her look. Avril likes her raspy punk rock voice. Four yes's.

We get a montage of Glamberts. Then we meet one who actually shopped a demo to him. His name is A.J. and he does a crazy version of "Cult of Personality." He can probably carry a tune just fine but he's got all these word affectations that he's putting on his voice. Avril Lavigne can't stop laughing. Four no's.

Day Two, new judge Katy Perry.

First up is Austin who is flamboyant and brash. He sings Cheap Trick's "Surrender" very theatrically, with a British accent, and not much finesse. Four no's.

Then we get a montage of people responding poorly to rejection, lots of tears. Including someone who either is the crying girl from the Sanjaya season or looks just like her.

Next is daddy and neck-tatooed Andrew whose parents grew up in gangs but moved him out of that environment. We meet them, they're very proud of him. He sings Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning," he's pretty good, raspy. Simon likes him and thinks he's the only one who's been a genuinely good singer.

We meet Tasha who is a personal assistant by day and minister by night. She sings "Baby, Baby, Baby" by Joss Stone. She's also pretty good. Four yes's.

Then the unfortunate Jason who is very dramatic and creepy. He then gets creepier with the Divinyls "I Touch Myself." He's bad and he does bad dance movements and he goofs the words. He tries to hit on Simon, creepily. Four no's.

We get a montage of Kara and Katy disagreeing over several contestants.

The final contestant is Chris a former foster child. He walks the trains tracks and talks about wanting to be loved and feeling secure in music. He's fine, good pitch control. Kara and Katy fight over Kara saying he has a good "story" since Katy says this isn't a Lifetime movie. He gets four yes's. (The ones from Simon and Katy are "small y's". )

22 in all got golden tickets. We see a montage of yes's and celebrations.

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Dallas" - Jan. 27, 2010

We are in the Lone Star state and our guest judges are Neil Patrick Harris and Joe Jonas.

Ryan says 11,000 have shown up to audition.

NPH jokingly says he hopes to make people cry.

We get a montage of previous Texas hopefuls including Kelly Clarkson and a woman named Julie who auditioned the same year, tragically. She says she's taken acting classes since then. Vocal lessons would've been better as her take on "Black Velvet" is not much better than her "Lady Marmalade." NPH says it was not good. She keeps trying to sing until she's escorted out. Four no's. She keeps singing as she leaves, blaming her breath control.

We get a montage of yes's to happy women.

Then we meet a guy named Lloyd who likes to the robot. He has two daughters and shows pictures of them. We also see footage of his job and home. He sings "Overjoyed" and it's nice. They all like him and Simon calls him his favorite so far. Four yes's.

We get a montage of Simon and NPH disagreeing over several contestants.

Up next is Kimberly who sings an original song a snappy poppy-jazzy-r&b thing. She's a little shouty but has a good voice. Randy likes it. Simon doesn't think she's current. NPH disagrees and thought she was great. As does Kara. Three yes's.

We get a few snippets of the local Fox station media coverage who cover a guy named Dexter who is insanely confident in himself. He sings "If I Ever Fall in Love Again" in a way that makes you wonder why he was so confident. Simon promises his smile will take him far. Four no's.

We get the teary montage of no's.

Ryan interviews NPH who says he's surprised by the talent.

Erica is a grad student who wants to be an actor. She was on "Barney" as a child. She promises to take a different approach and walks in dressed in leather, wielding a whip. They make her sing the "Barney" "I love you, you love me" song. She sounds good. For real she sings "Free Your Mind" and cracks the whip for emphasis. Four yes's.

We get a montage of yes's.

The final contestant of day one is Dave who has had a tough life due to his diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome. He explains it as we see him rake and fish and mow the lawn. The only outward signs or throat clearing and a bit of head twitching. He says it doesn't affect him when he's singing. He sings "Bring it On Home to Me" and he sounds good. They like his voice. Simon thinks people are going to like him. Four yes's.

We get a montage of the 15 golden ticket winners celebrating.

Day 2

Guest judge Joe Jonas is excited to be coming to his hometown.

First up is Todrick who appeared with Fantasia in "Color Purple." He sings an original tune that incorporates all the judges and a little "Idol" history. It's actually kinda catchy and he has a good voice. Randy thinks he's one of the best. Joe thinks he has star power. Simon thinks he's nice and a good singer but not jumping out of his chair. Four yes's.

We get a montage of other yes's.

Megan has her little brother in tow, who is very excited for her. She sings "To Make You Me Feel My Love." She rushes a little and starts off quietly but busts out and has a nice vibe. Four yes's.

Vanessa is very chipper and colorfully dressed and has a cheerleader-esque personality. She sings "At Last" and has major pitch issues and moves around oddly. Even Joe Jonas can't stop himself from laughing. Simon says that was his nightmares look and sound like. Four no's. She's still chipper.

We get a montage of many seasons of auditions with trainwrecks in service of Ryan defending Simon's sometimes mean comments because his job is long and difficult.

The final constestant is 16-year-old Christian who had leukemia as a child. She went into remission at age 8. Her mother is very supportive. She sings "All I Could Do is Cry" and, for 16, she's very poised. She doesn't have the very best voice but generally she's good. They like her voice and her bravery. Four yes's.

Overall 31 folks got golden tickets.

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Denver" - Feb. 2, 2010

Ryan promises the altitude will be bring out the tempers, the terrible, and the talent. He reminds us that Daughtry auditioned in Denver in season 5. Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham is back as a guest judge.

Our first contestant Mark says he gets compared to Jack Black and he's a dad. There is a protracted bit about his upbringing. He sings "Tempted" with nice tone and energy. The judges are surprised that he wasn't goofy. He gets four yes's.

We get a montage of people looking nervous about auditioning and the odd ways in which they work out their nerves.

Mario has a nervous laugh that the judges mock. He sings "Jailhouse Rock." Not well enough. He gets four no's.

We get a montage of Denver beauty and angry rejected contestants swearing and flipping off the cameras.

One happy person was Kimberly and her five year old daughter. She sings "The Way I Am." Simon calls her lippy. She gets four yes's.

We get a montage of yes's. The judges were loving the talent.

Next up is Denell a karaoke hostess. She is also a single mom. She's very teary in the audition room talking about hard it is pursuing her dream of singing. She sings "I'm the Only One." She's appropriately raspy and powerful for the song. Simon likes her but worries she's almost broken. He thinks she came in just in time. Four yes's.

We get a "fashion" montage, i.e. people in silly outfits, and a few good ones.

Casey was in a major car accident and thought he would never play guitar again. He's got a country vibe as he sings "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room." Simon thinks it's a bad audition. Kara and Posh basically make him strip. Simon says it's embarrassing. Three yes's. Simon holds out.

Tori arrived with a whole group of young relatives. She's 16. She brings a little girl with her that brought pictures she drew of the judges. The judges are charmed. Posh likes her dress. She sings "Gravity." (Two John Mayers in a row!) She has a sweet voice with a touch of soul. Simon thought her voice was almost annoying. Posh likes her whole vibe. Three big yes's. Simon thinks they are mad and says no.

Austin is a football playing music composition major. He is very confident and excited. More John Mayer as he sings "Bigger Than My Body" with weird body movements. Posh and Kara think he's arrogant. He thinks he could be very marketable. Four no's.

Kenny announces that he's the best singer in the world. You know what that means. Cue a not even approaching acceptable rendition of "Be Without You." They all say no and Kenny can't believe it and starts in on "No More Drama." Four no's.

We get more shots of lovely Denver. And then a montage of bad singers and one scatter. And teary rejects.

Nikki came all the way from Florence, Italy to audition. She has an odd speaking voice so it will be interesting to hear her sing. She sings "Something Kinda Oooh." She has a very Euro-pop, girl group voice. But in tune. Four yes's.

Finally it's [bHayley] who has a dramatic back story as a preemie baby and her dad died when she was 10. She wants to be the first black, pop-country main singer. She sings "Last Name." Simon likes that she's different. She brings her sisters in who love Randy and Simon. Four yes's.

We get a montage of yes's and the final contestant Ty, "bikini boy," who sings "Achy Breaky Heart." They walk out on him.

26 folks got golden tickets.

"American Idol" - "Auditions: Clean Up" - Feb. 3, 2010

This is the show where we get some of the best auditions, some of the worst, a recap of funny stuff, and lots and lots of montages.

We get another look at Gen. Larry Platt and "Pants on the Ground" and the videos it inspired.

We get a montage of people being told that they made bad song choices.

Jessica who auditioned poorly in season 8 is back with a make-over and a plan to sing a song co-written by Simon called "Footprints in the Sand." She gets four yes's this time.

We get a montage of "attention seekers" including Amanda who does voices, including Britney Spears. Her own voice is fine and is told that she has a good voice but that doesn't connect with them because she's such an "actress." They relent and gets four yes's for her version of "Good Morning Heartache."

We get a montage of acrobats, belly dancers, and hula hoopers. Plus people who brought instruments even though they can't bring them into the audition room.

Lee and Crystal didn't need them though they got through with "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Piece of My Heart."

We get a montage of golden ticket fake-outs, including a vintage one from Daughtry.

We get a montage of people who have auditioned previously. One named Lacey made it to the top 50. But, as we see in flashback, she was cut. So she tries again with "Over the Rainbow" and gets put through again with four yes's.

Stephanie is on her 7th audition. It turns out that 7 is not her lucky number after all. Her rendition of "Fever" gets four no's. Posh, her idol, and Kara nicely give her a hug.

We get a montage of 16 year olds including Rachel, Thaddeus and Genesis who all impressed the judges.

We get a montage of the seven cities and different jobs that people hold including waiters and cops. Then a montage of "athletes."

First is Adrian who, although he is 6'8" is not a basketball player but a swimmer with lots of "big" nicknames. He calls himself a "manflower." Oy. He is, predictably, not so good singing "Can't Help Falling in Love" in a Bronski Beat-esque falsetto. He gets three no's.

Then there's Michael a ripped personal trainer who's wife is pregnant. He sings "Unchained Melody" and it's fine but not mind-blowing. He gets four yes's.

DiDi is auditioning in memory of her late best friend Rebecca. We get to see pictures of them. She sings "Hey Jude" and the judges, including Avril, dig it. She starts to cry when she's done. She gets four yes's, one of which is "very small" from Simon.

We get a montage of the ACTUAL show we are watching.

Aaron is a tough backstory contestant who was saved from foster care by his aunt and uncle. He seems really nice. He sings "The Climb." He's very heartfelt. Four yes's.

We get a montage of people's goals, to make people feel good, fame, etc. Kimberly claims she has a really good heart and will recycle and help children in Africa. She'll have to do those things as she does some other profession because she can't sing as evidenced by her version of "I Kissed a Girl." Three no's.

Next is Shaddail who loves her mom and her mom loves her and always dreamed she'd be a singer. The dream dies now, however, thanks to her painful rendition of "Fallin." Four no's.

We get a montage of crowds in different cities saying welcome.

Our final singer of the night is Hope who was very poor as a child and has indomitable spirit. She's very sweet but, in this audition anyway, she's not an amazing singer. She does "I Hope You Dance." Four yes's.

Ryan says 100,000 people auditioned overall and 181 got golden tickets to Hollywood.

"American Idol" - "Hollywood Round: Part 1" - Feb. 9, 2010

Finally, we are in Hollywood and Ellen is on board. 181 folks are competing for the top 24 slots.

We see folks arriving by bus, car, foot, etc. to the Kodak Theatre.

Day One

Ryan introduces Ellen and the kids cheer. She talks to them about knowing what it's like to stand onstage and feel like you have to please a room full of people.

The judges take their places and Ellen says to Simon, "so this it, I come on, you leave." He laughs.

The first round: sudden death when people can sing a cappella or with an instrument.

In the first group is Katie who had the Alzheimer's stricken grandma. She sings "For Once in My Life" a cappella really nicely and they compliment her. And then we remeet "Skiibowski" who sings "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." Ellen says he was frightening in his intensity. Everyone laughs. We don't hear the others. They do the line separation. Katie's in, Skiibowski's out. He wants to know why. Simon says he's just not a very good singer.

We get a montage of tense people and Simon giving scathing feeback. Ellen is also not being supernice but kinda funny.

We remeet Vanessa the country girl who had never taken a flight and Andrew whose family are former gangbangers. He does Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" with his acoustic, Jack Johnson-style. He's pretty great. Kara calls it genius and that Paula would love it.

We watch Vanessa make her journey from home to the very classy tune of the Shins' "New Slang." (Good one "Idol" producers). She's very nervous and sings "No Rain." It's a little weak due to her nerves. Ellen tells her to let go of that. We get a brief shout out to worship pastor Tasha. Line separation: Andrew's in, Vanessa is out. She tearfully apologizes to her mom via the camera.

We get a montage of teary rejects to Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most."

We get a montage of familiar faces from the auditions who have bad Hollywood days including pants-splitter Cornelius and Megan, she of the cute little brother. Also Amedeo, of the big Italian family, doesn't make it happen.

We meet Janell who does a nice raspy, country-tinged "American Boy" accompanying herself on guitar. Ellen thinks it was amazing. Simon agrees. She's through.

Others with instruments didn't fare so well, and we get a montage of them singing/playing badly.

Haeley the 16-year-old first female black country pop singer aspirant from the Denver auditions is nervous but does an interesting raspy take on "Change." Mary the rocker mom who brought her daughter to meet Simon sings Pink's "Sober" really well. (Doesn't hurt that Kara co-wrote that one). Ellen loves it. Line separation time: Haeley and Mary both make it.

Ellen does a jokey step forward-step back thing with a group of four who all go through. We get shots of the excited 46 who made it through the first day.

Day Two

Simon reminds them to not be nervous, boring, or forget their words.

Jay the beatboxer is back. Simon thinks it's ridiculous. Ellen jokes there's something wrong with his microphone.

Lily sings "Lullaby of Birdland" accompanying herself on guitar. It's very Corinne Bailey Rae, sweet and jazzy but with some power. Kara finds her refreshing and unique. She makes it through. Along with some dude named Sam.

Michael the personal trainer just got the news that his wife is going into labor but he's staying put. He accompanies himself singing "Waiting on the World to Change." Simon liked it. He goes through.

We remeet cancer survivor Justin from the Boston auditions and Tim from the Dallas auditions. Tim accompanies himself on David Cook's "Come Back to Me." He has a few pitch problems but recovers. Justin accompanies himself on piano on "Fly Me to the Moon," in a very croony, dramatic Buble-meets-Wainwright fashion. Randy thought it was interesting. Line separation: Tim makes it, Justin does not.

We say goodbye to a few familiar faces including the bubbly sisters and the girl with the whip.

Maddie the 16-year-old with the brothers with Downs' Syndrome sings "The Nearness of You." Simon calls it a bad song choice. Casey who doffed his shirt for Kara sings a funky, country-ish "I Don't Need No Doctor." Line separation: Casey makes it, Maddie doesn't.

The last line includes Didi the emotional waitress from L.A. who was singing to honor her friend. She sings a Kara song called "Terrified." She plays her guitar and it's a lovely vocal. Kara beams. Simon hates to admit it but he really liked the song. Simon likes the idea of someone like her, a waitress, coming on the show and doing well. And finally Crystal, a single mom. She goes to get a tattoo of her son as we hear her sing "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman." The crowd helps with back-ups, really sweetly. They also cheer when she hits a great note. And many stand up in the end. Simon thinks she's infectious and real. Line separation: Crystal and DiDi both make it.

95 total made it through.

Next up: Group day and reality show drama.

"American Idol" - "Hollywood Round: Part 2"- Feb. 10, 2010

It's Group Day.

Or more precisely it's picking your group night. The contestants mill around looking for simpatico singers.

We meet a few of the groups.

The Dreamers include Mary, Alex, Margo, Erin and Hope. The two girls who forced their way into the group, Erin and Hope, cause drama by showing up late to the first rehearsal. They then fight about who is in and who is out. The drama continues throughout the night. They finally get it together and start their choreography.

The Mighty Rangers consists of people who auditioned in Denver, Maddie, Danny, Mark, Tori and Kim. They're having a little trouble with choreography.

Phoenix includes Kat, Jermaine, Ben, Jeff, and Morea. Morea made it to Hollywood last year and was in a group with Danny Gokey so she's the annoying one who knows everything already. She takes them to the spot in a closet where her group rehearsed last year. Jermaine doesn't want to do harmonies and Moraiah says they have to do it.

Neapolitan is Page, Thaddeus, Jessica, and Liz. They are doing "Bad Romance."

Destiny's Wild is also doing the Gaga song and they keep being asked to move because they are too loud. This group includes Jareb, Todrick, Theri, and Siobhan. When they sidle up to Neapolitan there's some frustration.

At 2:30 a.m. Big Mike's group is done and he's in his room getting in touch with his wife who is in labor.

Others are still rehearsing like the Mighty Rangers. Half of the group thinks they're done, the other half thinks they're not ready.

The Dreamers are still fighting. Mary is being bossy even to vocal coach Michael Orland who is trying to help them.

Destiny's Wild is doing better with their vocal coach. Neapolitan is mad about having to wait for them.

Breakfast finds more people rehearsing and people seem confident after the long night.

But final rehearsals find people forgetting the words and getting last minute criticisms from the vocal coaches and each other.

Big Mike's wife is still in labor.

Destiny's Wild is getting a lot of attention and Mary is sad about the Dreamers' problems. One of which is that everything breaks down when one person forgets the words.

Just at they're called Big Mike gets the news that the baby's imminent. He's sad he isn't there but thinks God has got a plan. He coaches his wife through. It's a girl.

The first group is Faith an all girl trio with Charity, Michelle, and Ashley. They sing "Irreplaceable." They sound nice, light, girly and have good harmonies. They get a nice hand. They're all through.

Next up is Team Awesome with Big Mike. They sing "Get Ready." They're very charming and harmonious. Big Mike and Tim Urban are through. Big Mike shows his baby on his phone and he can't wait to meet her.

Next up is Neapolitan. They sing "Bad Romance" a cappella and Destiny's Wild thinks they stole this idea from them. Simon thinks they were good and worked hard. Ellen also thought it was great. One of the girls claims that no one else chose this song so they just took it. They're all through. Destiny's Wild is mad.

But they take the stage next and do a nice job, including an acrobatic flip from Todrick. They get a nice hand. Ellen thought it was really weird and Cirque du Soleil-esqe and surreal but they're all through.

The next four groups, who we didn't get introduced to by name, also all get through.

The Mighty Rangers are less lucky. Things start well for Tori and Maddie but Mark and Kim forget the words and the judges stop them. Those two make it through. Mark begs for another chance. Kara and Simon stop him. He leaves tearfully.

Phoenix is struggling with confidence and group member Kat quits unexpectedly. She claims she didn't want ot humiliate herself. Michael Orland tells them not to panic. They had no time to rehearse as four and the choreography and shaky energy prove it. They all sing well enough individually but Ben muffs a couple words and Morea forgets a bunch during her solo. Jermaine is showier but Jeff has a funky, bluesy shout going. Kara likens it more to "Survivor" than "Idol." Morea claims hardship. Simon says people leave in real life and that's not a struggle, that you have to adjust. Jermaine and Jeff are through. Morea and Ben are not.

We see several groups struggle through "Sweet Escape." One group includes Matt from Orlando, who had done time, and dramatic Amanda from Boston. Simon calls their group horrific and they're all cut.

We see a montage of folks who got cut.

A group called Middle C with Janell, another Jermaine, and Casey does a bang up job of "Closer." And the group Three Men and a Baby that includes Andrew, Katie, J.B., and an unnamed dude who must not make the final cut since they don't introduce him does nice work on "No One." All members of both groups go through.

Final group The Dreamers, the one with bossy Mary, is not happy. They sing "Dreams" and it's a hot mess, from Mary goofing the beginning, to Hope's very soft but sweet style not really meshing, to Margo's serious pitch troubles, to Alex forgetting the words. And the choreography is awful. We don't even hear Erin sing. Kara says it's like the dream died. Randy thought the backing vocals were painful. Mary, Hope, and Alex are through, Erin and Margo are not.

71 are headed to final callback including a montage of folks we met in auditions but whose groups we didn't see like Haeley and Tyler and Lloyd.

"American Idol" - "Hollywood Round: Part 3" - Feb. 16, 2010

It's the final time for the 71 contenders onstage before the final judgement. Over the course of the two hours we see some contestants full Hollywood week journey but mostly just their final performance with the "Idol" band.

Ryan talks about the journey to Hollywood and the struggle while you're there as we see a clip package of auditionees from stadium auditions to Hollywood group rounds.

He explains that the 71 contestants each took to the stage with a full band but got no feedback from the judges, they just have to wait.

We get a look at the four judges going through the Polaroids and giving yes's and no's.

The contestants are spilt into three different rooms. Each group has a few familiar faces and a bunch we haven't been introduced to.

We get to see most of the very strong, effortless audition of Angela Martin doing "American Boy." She feels good and emotional.

We get another look at Casey James, the guy who doffed his shirt at the judges auditions. He does "Bubbly," it sounds fine but kind of boring.

We also get a look at Jermaine Purifoy who's excited to be the only one singing "Brick House." He does a fine job with it.

Casey's in Room 1, Jermaine's in Room 2. Casey is not thrilled but Jermaine is excited.

After the break we get more shots of the judges looking at Polaroids and the contestants stressing out as we get a recap of comments both good and bad from the judges.

Jermaine Sellers did "Man in the Mirror" and he did it well but then he felt the need at the end to say something negative about the band. Not cool.

Siobhan Magnus sang "Living For the City" in an attempt to seem looser and more youthful. It seems the judges liked it.

Crystal Bowersox did "If It Makes You Happy" and accompanied herself on guitar and harmonica and acquitted herself nicely.

Alex Lambert struggled with charisma issues on his first day and then was stuck in the bossy Mary group but still made it through. He pulls out his ukulele for "I'm Yours." It's fine, kind of busker-ish, good busker-ish.

Then we get an "I'm Yours" medley.

"Big" Michael Lynche also did this one with the band, but he played acoustic guitar. He's definitely more charismatic. Todrick Hall threw some sweet falsetto sexiness on the Jason Mraz song.

We then get a montage of Thaddeus Johnson's very excited mother, cheering him on in the early rounds and comforting him while he's stressing out. He sang "Man in the Mirror" after a false start when the band thought he was someone else. He gives a very warm, spirited performance if a little slow. His mother cheers him loudly.

We get another shot of the stressing contestants in Room 1.

More shots of the judges and the Polaroids.

We then get a shot of the folks in Room 2 stressing out.

Charity Vance sang "Gravity" gently and nicely. We see Tasha Layton the worship pastor on Day 1 singing "The Scientist" in a very tender, acoustic arrangement. Both are very Lilith-y, in a nice way.

Bossy Mary Powers is sure she's in, very confident, she thinks the song is cake. She sang "Hot N Cold." It's fine, she sounds okay, tired.

Also in Room 2 is Lloyd Thomas who is teary, thinking about his wife and kids back home. He also sang "Man in the Mirror". I'm starting to think things don't look so good for Room 2. he sounds fine but a little sluggish and definitely tired. Simon likes him though.

Police officer Brian Walker got a finger-guns from Simon after his final audition, which they don't show us for some reason.

We see a few others in Room 2 including Tisha Holland, Jermaine Purifoy who we already saw, and Hope Johnson. We get a look at Hope's Hollywood Week montage. Ellen liked her Day 1. She sang "Home" for her final shot and, honestly, she's cute and unique but the performance itself is kinda pitchy and she's got some rough finger pointy moves. The fate of Room 2 is looking even more dire.

More Judges/Polaroids.

Now we get a gander at Room 3 and a bunch of people I feel like we haven't really seen much of.

There's Shelby Dressel who goofed her lyrics in her audition before the judges. In Hollywood, Ellen loved her voice. She continued to have lyric remembering problems during band rehearsal. She freaked out a little. during her final performance of "More Than a Feeling." She did a very serious, weird edit of the song and remembered the words but she looked really stressed and sounded a little shouty.

Aaron Kellly, however, didn't remember the words to "Angel" during his performance. He got back on track and hit some good notes but his nerves were definitely palpable.

Ashley Rodriguez, according to Ryan, ended on a high with her rendition of "Battlefield,' which does sound fine if a bit clenched but she looks great and has good presence.

We get a quick threefer of other, also decent if not mind-blowing contestants: Lee Dewyze who did "You Found Me," Joe Munoz who was fine on "Man in the Mirror" and Haeley Vaughn who also took a crack at "I'm Yours."

Janell Wheeler was having vocal troubles all week. She does "Love Story" and it starts rough and only get marginally better although she's very charming. Kara thinks it was the wrong song. Janell thinks she blew it, couldn't take the pressure.

Others in Room 3 are also doubting themselves.

More Judges and Polaroids as they separate those who are staying and those who are going.

We get a look at a few more Room 1 people, who uniformly sound good and include Andrew Garcia who the judges clearly love so this must be a good room.

Then a glimpse at Room 2 and Room 3, with good parts and bad parts.

Ellen lets Room 1 know that they're all through to the final round. No surprise here.

The other rooms hear the celebrating and stress some more. Simon tells Room 2 that they were all great, better than he thought they would be, but this is the end of the road for them.

Which means that the folks in Room 3 are also all through, and Randy and Kara tell them that with the requisite fake out. Celebrating, etc.

Now the 71 is 46 and the 46 that made it this far will get pared to 24 after the judges look over the audition tapes.

Ryan explains how it works: each contestant will walk to the stage where the judges will give them their final fate.

In: "Big" Mike Lynche (who must still be in, even though it was reported that he was out after his dad spilled the beans). (Simon says it was unanimous). Didi Benami Katelyn Epperly (after some extended faking out from Ellen) Casey James Aaron Kelly Lee Dewyze Todrick Hall

Out: Shelby (they encourage her to keep singing) Jessica (she's upset, and begs a little, it's rough, she believes she deserved to move on)

They will reveal the rest of the top 24 tomorrow night.

"American Idol" - "Hollywood Round: Part 4" - Feb. 17, 2010

We get a quick recap of last night and the seven contestants who have already secured a spot and a promise of the reveal of the final 17 in the top 24.

Which means we get a look at the Hollywood Week and final performances of the people facing final judgement.

We catch up with a nervous Janell Wheeler. Her last solo performance of "Love Story" was troublesome and she felt like she flubbed it. Ellen talks a little bit about the stress of the show but tells her she's still going through. She tells Ryan she's not worried about her job as a wine sales rep.

Next up is a recap for Tyler Grady. His final performance of "Home" seems fine but he jokes that he doesn't want to go home. He sits for final judgement and banters with Kara about loving '60s and '70s rock icons. He's through. Lacey Brown who made it final judgement last year, only to be sent home gets better news this year and she's through thanks to her final performance of "What a Wonderful World."

Also through are Ashley Rodgriguez, Alex Lambert, and Joe Munoz, who we get in quick succession without any recap.

Up next Crystal Bowersox. She's had a great week and she's through. She shows her son's picture to the judges.

More stress in the waiting room.

Katie Stevens who has been impressive all along, is through.

We get a quick succession of four nos.

It's also a no for a teary Angela Martin who has tried out three times and had an up and down Hollywood Week. This is especially tough news for her since she made it to Hollywood twice before but the first year she tried out, her dad died, the second year she had to bail because she had a traffic violation she couldn't pay for so she had to do six days in jail. Kara sits with her and encourages her to keep going and Randy agrees. Kara calls her one of the bravest people she's ever met. They all hug her. She promises not to give up.

It is a yes for jazzy Lilly Scott though. She's stoked to show America what she's got.

A quick montage reveals more good news for Paige Miles, (who I feel like we haven't met), Siobhan Magnus, Michelle Delamor, Jermaine Sellers, and John Park There are only two girls left, Tori Kelly and Haeley Vaughn, and one spot left. Haeley gets it.

Now there are two guys left, Andrew Garcia and Thaddeus Johnson, so you know how this went given how much they loved Andrew, who gets the nod. Thaddeus is sad. Simon tells him he didn't do anything wrong and tells him to keep his chin up. He doesn't understand this, understandably. Andrew is, understandably, excited.

We get a montage of celebratory moments.

Live shows start next week! First up will be the girls.

"American Idol" - Top 12 Female Semifinalists - Feb. 23, 2010

The competition is finally upon us. Ryan introduces us to the ladies who mug for the cameras. The men take their spot to the side of the stage.

Ryan explains "the math": For the next three weeks each group will take the stage separately and get voted on - dropping the bottom two guys and girls- until we have the top 12.

Ryan repeats a quote of Simon's saying this is the girls' year. He stands by that. Kara agrees with Ryan that America knows these folks better than they have in previous years. Randy counsels them to be great or mad at themselves and to wreck the stage with their vocals. Ellen tells them not to be mad at themselves and to be all that they can be.

The judges are seated left to right: Ellen, Randy, Kara, Simon. Ellen jokes that it's safer sitting down by Randy since Simon has a thing for her and that he has wandering hands. She rolls a "joke" clip of this from Hollywood to prove this.

The theme for the next three weeks is "Hits from the Billboard charts."

Contestant #1: Paige Miles, 24, a preschool teacher. She's living her dream. We see a clip of her final performance of "Living For the City."

Song: "Alright Now," Free

Performance: It's an uptempo rocker but she seems curiousy low energy after her sparkly package and I'm not sure if her rasp is how she sounds or if she's losing her voice or a little of both. It gets better as she progresses and hits a belt-ier part of her voice.

Simon: Thinks out of all the girls that she has the best voice but didn't like the wedding singer-type song choice. He thinks she also needs to have more self-belief.

Kara: Disagrees and thought that the song was actually great and that she killed the verses but the choruses were not strong.

Randy: He agrees partially with both of them but generally thinks she did a great job.

Ellen: Agrees and disagrees with all of them. Ellen figured she must've been nervous but that she pulled it off great.

Contestant #2:Ashley Rodriguez, 22, a student. We see a clip of Simon ribbing her at her auditions. She's very excited.

Song: "Happy," Leona Lewis

Performance: The song starts low but she's holding on to it. Her outfit is very shiny but the start of the song is kind of blah. She gains power as the chorus kicks in but she sounds like she's just riding the line of staying in key. It's fine but not mind-blowing.

Kara: Gives her credit for taking on a big song and having some good moments but says there were also no so good moments and she wants to see her doing something different.

Randy: Agrees she did a good job with it but thought it was not a great choice, especially from a comparison standpoint.

Ellen: Also thinks she should take a risk next time especially since she has so much going for herself.

Simon: Thinks it was clumsy and didn't like the arrangement and thinks she's going backwards. He thinks she might be in trouble. She gets a little teary-eyed and Ryan tries to build her back up.

Contestant #3:Janell Wheeler, 24, a wine sales rep. Simon didn't love her audition but warmed up to her in Hollywood. She wants to show America this is where she wants to be.

Song: "What About Love," Heart

Performance: I confess, I love this song but I'm not sure Janell's voice is big enough for it. There's not enough heft, there are some pitch issues, and it just never quite takes off. It's fine but not mind-blowing.

Randy: Thinks the song choice didn't work for her and it was hard to bring something original to it. He likes her voice though.

Ellen: Loves that song and thought she sang it well even if there were some off notes. She likes her.

Simon: Thinks she gave it 100 percent effort but only 65 percent came through. He did think there were moments where he did like her voice. Simon thinks she will survive.

Kara: Likes her too but thought the song was too big for her and didn't make it work for her as a singer.

Ryan asks for advice for the contestants on song choice. Randy says to pick something where you won't compare unfavorably with the original singer.

Contestant #4:Lilly Scott, 20, a busker who has lived out of her car. It means so much for her to be there.

Song: "Fixing a Hole," The Beatles

Performance: Armed with her acoustic guitar she does a slinky, slowed down, jazzed up version of the tune. She sounds good but there's something a little precious and coffeehouse-y about it. She certainly did her own thing though.

Ellen: Says that's what they're talking about, interesting song choice and unique vocals, she loved it.

Simon: Agrees and says it was the best so far because it sounded like a wise choice, one she made because she thought it expressed something about her not that it would showcase big vocals. He's still not feeling much star power from her yet.

Kara: Thinks she is believable and coming from the heart. Thinks busking really helped her with her comfort level and she thinks everyone will remember her.

Randy: He loves that she's more like a "real indie artist" and that she's not affected.

Contestant #5:Katelyn Epperly, 19, a student. Her first audition was her favorite thanks to a Shania compliment. She realizes that this is what she needs to be doing.

Song: "Oh, Darling," The Beatles

Performance: There's something cocktail lounge waitress-y about the feather (?) thing-y in her hair and her outfit but she sounds really great, giving a strong, assured, bluesy performance. My favorite so far from a pure vocal standpoint.

Simon: He thought it had parts that were messy and scream-y but he likes her and thought it was a good song choice. He thinks she needs work but he likes her a lot.

Kara: Thinks she knows her voice really well and thought she switched the song up well but doesn't care for the make-over and the thing in her hair, she likes her more natural.

Randy: Likes the new look but even better that she respects tone and melody he likes her whole vibe and can go places and do stuff.

Ellen: Couldn't tell if she was pushing too hard at first but it made her want to pay attention to her. She thinks she has an amazing voice.

Contestant #6:Haeley Vaughn, 16, high school student. She was well-liked all along the audition process. She got her nose pierced after she made it through. This was her...wait for it... dream come true.

Song: "I Want to Hold Your Hand," The Beatles

Performance: Armed with her electric guitar she slows down the Fab Four classic to more of an ambling Stax soul tempo. I like the vibe and she sounds good enough but falters when she starts she's pushing too hard in the chorus and getting a little strident in places. Very cute and different. Nice work.

Kara: Says from a technical standpoint there were some issues but loves that every time she takes the stage she's radiant.

Randy: He loves her unpredictability and her boldness but that the sound of her high notes are not totally pleasing so she should try to get it together a little better.

Ellen: Is impressed with her presence. Doesn't know technical things but she enjoyed it.

Simon: Thinks it was verging on terrible especially the smiley-ness which he thought hindered the vocals.

Ryan wonders if they're watching two different shows. Simon says it's called having an opinion. Ellen says if it was a mess it was a hot mess.

Contestant #7: Lacey Brown, 24, church events coordinator. She was the one who made it to final judgement last year but got cut. She is thrilled to be here.

Song: "Landslide," Fleetwood Mac

Performance: The start is a little mannered and shaky and there are definitely tempo and pitch issues. Her voice is sort of girly and slight. She has a nice warm energy and it seems like she's shooting for a country-ish vibe but it's just not super-distinctive.

Randy: He thought it was terrible, pitchy and didn't suit her voice.

Ellen: Thinks she's better than that.

Simon: Thought it was quite depressing and kind of indulgent and boring.

Kara: Says she usually hits the notes and tonight it felt more forced, she suggests the Sundays or Sixpence None the Richer as future choices if she gets through.

Ryan asks about the song choice. She says it speaks to her as a person and, politely, says in answer to a direct question says he disagrees with Simon that it was boring. (Except that it was boring.)

After the break Ryan chats with Michelle and Katie.

Contestant #8:Michelle Delamor, 22,corporate singer/sales clerk/children's choir coach. She loved having her family there while having her dream become a reality during the auditions.

Song: "Fallin'," Alicia Keys

Performance: Oh you know she's going to get whacked for doing such a big, already well-sung hit in the same arrangement. She sounds pretty good though and looks appropriately intense and there is an ease to it. You get the sense she's probably done this one a bunch during her corporate gigs. It's strong but not electrifying.

Ellen: Thought it was fantastic but felt it was safe just because it seemed easy for her. She knows she can do better.

Simon: Thinks she did very well and that it was very professional so it sounded close to the original. He didn't feel a wow moment but thinks she'll get through and that she looks fantastic.

Kara: She says if she's going for a diva spot it has to be technically immaculate and this wasn't but that it was good and she has a great look and can get where she needs to go.

Randy: Thinks she did a pretty good job and agrees that she has more in her and to jump out of her comfort zone.

Contestant #9: Didi Benami, 23, waitress. She thinks her defining moment was when she sang Kara's song "Terrified" in Hollywood. Her journey has already been very emotional and spiritual. She says she's going to try not to cry.

Song:"The Way I Am," Ingrid Michaelson

Performance: She's wearing a pretty busy, '60s lovechild multi-colored vest that looks like a caftan but the song is perfect for her, light, frothy, sassy. She doesn't change it up much but she sings it well. She also seems really happy and heartfelt and that comes through. A couple of bum notes at the end but overall nice if low-key.

Simon: Thinks she is a good singer. He thinks there are too many people trying to sound like Adele and Duffy. He thought the song was dreary. He's missing a spark.

Kara: She likes the song and that she made a few creative changes. Simon interrupts that it needs to be more memorable. She concedes it's a pitchy.

Randy: Agrees there's no star factor or outward oomph. Likes the song but thought it was too sleepy.

Ellen: Thinks if it was one song in a set for a show it would be fine but not the best choice for a first impression it was too low-key.

Contestant #10:Siobhan Magnus, 19, glass blowing apprentice. It's been a big culture shock for her. She's proudest of her final performance in Hollywood week of "Living For the City."

Song: "Wicked Game," Chris Isaak

Performance: The song is very low but, again, she's keeping ahold of it. It improves as it moves higher in her register, and she slays the head voice slide in the chorus. But it's yet another mellow performance without a lot of dramatic tension. Interesting song choice though.

Kara: Wouldn't have picked it but liked her on that song. She thinks she gets a little nasal at times but she likes that it feels real when she's singing.

Randy: Calls it a tough song and says she didn't get to her best stuff until the chorus and she should reach for bigger things like she did with the Stevie Wonder song.

Ellen: Loved it and forgot she was at a competition and was just being entertained.

Simon: Says she is a funny little thing. He likes the song but didn't like it as much as "Living for the City" which was more enthusiastic.

She picked it because it was haunting and it offered a chance to hit higher notes and show a softer side. Ryan likes her authenticity.

Contestant #11:Crystal Bowersox, 24, musician and mom. She was never much of an "Idol" fan and like Simon said she didn't think it was the thing for her. But the thing that changed her mind was her son since "mama needs a bigger paycheck."

Song: "Hand in My Pocket," Alanis Morrisette

Performance: She starts solo acoustic and sounds fine, fine, fine. She doesn't mix it up much but she doesn't sound exactly like Alanis, except when she plays her harmonica. She's not good enough at that to justify how long she does it when she could be singing but overall it was fine, also kind of low-key.

Randy: Loves her originality and honesty, even though he's not sure if it's the right song. It doesn't matter though because he likes her.

Ellen: She's a fan too and thinks we're lucky she decided to audition and she adds something fresh.

Simon: Thought it was fine but very much like the thousands of other subway buskers for whom he wouldn't stop in his tracks. He says to do something original. She talks back that they don't allow originals. He says he means take a song and do something original with it and recommends David Bowie. She concedes David Bowie would be cool.

Kara: Thinks she was good tonight but has greatness in her, an ability to take them on a journey. She says she thinks what Simon means is to not just be a coffeehouse performer but to fill the stage.

Contestant #12:Katie Stevens, 17, high school student. Her most memorable moment was the first audition. She misses her family but knows they'll be watching.

Song: "Feelin' Good," Nina Simone (Ryan credits Michael Buble, but come now.)

Performance: She's got a preternatural skill for sure both vocally and stage presence-wise. It's another slinky slow one but she kicks it up a bit. She hits a couple of rough patches with the notes and the shimmying at her age is a little discomfiting but she's spunky.

Ellen:Thought it was good but too serious and wants to see her be fresh and modern at 17.

Simon: Agrees and it felt like her mom and dad picked her song and dressed her and so it started to get annoying and pagaenty.

Kara: Says if she had killed the song they wouldn't be talking like this. She's surprised Katie was pitchy and wonders if she couldn't hear herself. But she says she has ridiculous chops at the end of the day.

Randy: He says that specifically she was pushing so hard that it was going sharp. But he says she reminds him of Jordin Sparks so she needs to "young it up."

"American Idol" - Top 12 Male Semifinalists - Feb. 24, 2010

Randy tells the boys to bring it, Kara tells them to manage their nerves, Ellen says it's totally different in the studio then on TV, that if you sound bad there it's worse at home, and Simon also tells them to manage their nerves and remember their words.

Contestant #1:Todrick Hall, 24, writer-actor-dancer. He thinks his defining moment was his original song at the audition.

Song: "Since U Been Gone," Kelly Clarkson

Performance: He slows it down and roughs it up a bit and brings some smooth soul to it. It's a better start than last night for sure. I don't love the arrangement but he moves well.

Ellen: Thinks he has great stage presence but didn't think the singing was the greatest on the chorus.

Randy: Thinks he's mad talented but didn't think taking the song and totally changing it was the best idea.

Kara: Agrees with Randy about the arrangement but thinks he's a great performer but liked that he took a risk.

Simon: Thinks he came over as a dancer trying to sing as opposed to a singer who can dance and that he murdered the song with the arrangement.

Todrick also wondered if he was going too far with what he says was his original spin and Kara applauds his creativity.



Contestant #2: Aaron Kelly, 16, high school student. He thinks his defining moment was his final performance where he forgot his lyrics but recovered.

Song: "Here Come Goodbye," Rascal Flatts

Performance:The song suits his voice well. There are a couple of tough notes but he's nicely poised.

Simon: Thought it was quite good for a first performance. He tells him to have more confidence and control.

Kara: He's Kara's favorite kind of contestant since he doesn't realize how good he is naturally. She likes the pop-country lane for him.

Randy: He was worried and says there were a couple of pitchy moments but he's a fan of his big voice.

Ellen: Says "ditto to all that" and thinks he's going to be here a longtime and likes how humble he is.



Contestant #3:Jermaine Sellers, 27, church singer. He revisits his problematic final performance of "Man in the Mirror."

Song: "Get Here," Oleta Adams

Performance: It's soft and tender and very close to the original, although he takes some workable detours with the melody. He seems likable but it gets rough in the high parts, but he commits to them, maybe too much, and shows a sense of dynamics.

Ellen: Is a huge fan and likes his look but felt like he was performing not feeling and that he was pushing too hard vocally.

Randy: Thought it was a weird choice and too old and wants him to go more current with Maxwell or Ne-Yo and to go more with the melody.

Kara: Thinks he wanted to show everyone what he can do but thinks the runs should be more meaningful.

Simon: Agrees with the too old criticism and thinks he was screaming in the middle. He thinks he blew his chance.

He talks about the hell of Hollywood and how he was made to look like a diva. He hugs Michael Orland, a coach and member of the band who Jermaine threw under the bus.



Contestant #4:Tim Urban, 20, he doesn't tell us what he does. He's the one who replaced Chris Golightly who was cut over contract reasons and we see him getting cut at final judgement and then producer Ken Warwick placing the fateful phone call.

Song: "Apologize," OneRepublic

Performance: He seems nervous and has trouble power-wise hitting the falsetto notes and a tangles a bit with the vocal rhythms. It's not a very memorable performance.

Simon: Congratulates him for coming back but thinks they made the right decision for not putting him through the first time because he thought the whole thing was weak and his voice is not good enough. If he makes it through it will be because people feel sorry for him and he's cute.

Kara: Says the music overpowered him and he was better with his acoustic guitar. She hopes he makes it through.

Randy: Thinks it was the wrong song and that he's better than that.

Ellen: Thinks it's smart to choose a popular song but he couldn't hit the notes but he is adorable and will get votes but he needs to step it up.

He agrees it was probably the wrong song and it was a last minute switch but he can bring something unique.



Contestant #5:Joe Munoz, 20, student. He recalls having trouble playing his guitar in Hollywood week but he got better.

Song: "You and I," Jason Mraz

Performance: Another light one. He sounds fine, strong in places, a bit shaky in others. It's nice enough, he's got good tone and a nice smile, but again not super-memorable.

Ellen Thought he was comfortable and it was good.

Randy: Didn't love the song choice but he worked it out.

Kara: She liked the song choice and thought he was the best, most consistent, so far.

Simon: He kind of agrees but thought it was safe and forgettable, he doesn't feel he showed star potential.



Contestant #6:Tyler Grady, 20, student. He's the designated "retro rocker." He felt a connection with Kara and Posh. He wants to earn his spot on the stage.

Song:"American Woman," Grand Funk Railroad

Performance: I don't like the spare blues open at all, don't mess with that riff, man. And there it is. The singing feels very shouty and karaoke to me.

Simon: Thinks it was memorably partly for the wrong reasons since it seems like he went to "pretend to be rock star school." He says he needs to pay more attention to the vocals.

Kara: She wants him to add something original to his '70s obsession.

Randy: Agrees it was style over substance and it's time to change the game.

Ellen: Thinks he's got the poses but lacks the charisma from the actual stars of the '70s.



Contestant #7:Lee DeWyze, 23, paint sales clerk. He was glad to be able to play his guitar in Hollywood.

Song: "Chasing Cars," Snow Patrol

Performance: Yikes, it's yet another slow sensitive one. The beginnng is kind of a yawn but he leans into the higher part. He leans a little too far though and hits some clunkers, especially on ends of phrases.

Ellen: Thought it was a good song choice and liked his tone but thought he got a bit shouty.

Randy: Didn't like the song for him, not rocking enough for him although he's a fan of his voice. He suggests something more like David Cook or Kings of Leon.

Kara: Also didn't like the song or the way he changed it. She suggests Bad Company.

Simon: Thought it was the best performance by far and that he's a naturally good singer. He says ignore Bad Company and do something unexpected instead.



Contestant #8:John Park, 21, student. His best moment was Shania Twain loving him. He says he would propose to her.

Song: "God Bless the Child," a standard sung by many

Performance: Oh it starts shaky, he seems nervous. I like his tone but unless you have crazy charisma it's hard to sell a song this slow. He definitely improves as it goes along and it ends really well.

Simon: Thinks you have to have an incredible voice to do that song and John doesn't in his opinion. He thought it was pointless and unemotional.

Kara: Agrees that there was no connection and it was kind of lounge-y and sleepy.

Randy: Thought the song choice was bad but that he definitely has a voice.

Ellen: Agrees it was a bad choice, especially for young girls. She thought he sounded great though and wants people to vote for him.

He says that song is really important to him because of his parents.



Contestant #9:Michael Lynche, 26, personal trainer. We get a recap of his baby drama during Hollywood.

Song: "This Love," Maroon 5

Performance: He's got his acoustic. It's nice to hear some rhythm finally and he sounds pretty good but there's not a lot of range to the song so there isn't much room to show off so consequently it's just good, not amazing. He's got great pitch though.

Ellen: Loves his radiant personality and his song choice.

Randy: Likes him and his persona but tells that he hurt him when he picked him up in Hollywood week.

Kara: Thinks it wasn't outrageously great but good and he needs to challenge himself.

Simon: He says it was a vague, jazzy version and he can't coast on his personality and he thinks he's better than that.



Contestant #10:Alex Lambert, 19, high school student. He thinks his defining moment was the bad group performance and bossy Mary.

Song: "Wonderful World," James Morrison

Performance: Oh my, the hair must get cut. He sings about not belonging and his nerves seem to be making the lyrics true. There are good parts and he's got an interesting raspy voice but it feels awkward and tentative.

Simon: Says it was the most uncomfortable performance of the night. He thinks he's got a good voice but he has to manage his nerves.

Kara: Wants to hug him. Compliments him that he sounds like James Morrison and says he's got great potential. Tells him to believe in himself.

Randy: Agrees that he has a great tone and he hopes he sticks around.

Ellen: Supports his mullet and agrees he has a great voice. She thinks he's not ripe enough yet.



Contestant #11:Casey James, 27, musician. He recalls his first audition where Kara made him take his shirt off.

Song:"Heaven," Bryan Adams

Performance:Armed with his acoustic he does a, you guessed it, a tender ballad. The song is of course guilty pleasure pop. He sounds good, both pitch and power-wise, but is oddly too smily for me. It's totally adequate and earnest but not particularly dynamic.

Kara: Jokes that she doesn't recognize him with his shirt on. She thought it was pitchy, maybe in places. They need to stop going down this road. Seriously she says he's not only eye candy but he's also ear candy but he's got heart and soul.

Randy: Likes him and the song choice and his voice.

Ellen: Thought he sounded great and is judge-proof.

Simon: Liked the song and thought it was sincere and likable but thinks it was his best performance to date.



Contestant #12:Andrew Garcia, 24, musician and stay-at-home dad. His defining moment was final judgement which was very emotional.

Song: "Sugar, We're Going Down," Fall Out Boy

Performance: He starts off acoustic and this song is perfect for his voice. He's pretty great. The song never really rocks out though which is a bummer and saps it of some of its potential drama.

Simon: Was looking forward to hearing him the most but was disappointed because it was too serious, indulgent, and not original enough like his "Straight Up" in Hollywood.

Kara: Thinks he took a risk but thought it was a strange rendition.

Randy: Also hated the arrangement but is a fan of his and "Straight Up."

Ellen: Is also a fan but liked when he opened up when he looked at his wife/girlfriend.

"American Idol" - Results Show - Feb. 25, 2010

Ryan says 24 million votes came in and tells us that Alison Iraheta and Kris Allen will be performing. Kris' performance will benefit Haiti.

Ryan says Simon's harshness was the "buzz of the nation." Simon thinks that's silly and doesn't feel like he was overly cruel, he was just trying to give advice.

Ellen says her first week held some surprises and she understands the nerves of the first timers.

Randy gets it too: the millions of viewers, the cameras, the judges.

Kara jokes that she and her husband are working out her crush on Casey. Her husband is in the audience.

Group Sing: "American Boy," Estelle. The ladies kick it off and then the boys chime in. Nothing has miraculously changed between seasons, goofy group singing is still cringe-worthy.

Ryan begins the elimination process. Siobhan, Haeley, Michelle, Katelyn, and Katie are safe. Janell is the first to be going home. She handles it well and then of course has to sing the song that got her eliminated.

Performance: "Scars," Alison Iraheta. Wow, her hair is really red now and her look is really glammy. It's a ballad but it's got nice lift to it and she sounds good. I was hoping she would rock out more.

Ryan finishes off the ladies. Paige, Lacey, Lilly, Crystal, and Didi are safe and Ashley is going home and she has to sing the now-unfortunate lyrics to "Happy" again.

Ryan shows us a clip of Tyler from rehearsal the day before in a bathrobe and boots.

Then it's results time. Mike, John, Aaron, Todrick, and Tim are safe and Joe is going home. Tim is flabbergasted.

Ryan announces that "Idol Gives Back" will happen on Apr. 21. He chats with Allen who recently visited the earthquake-ravaged nation and offers ways for viewers to donate.

Performance: "Let it Be," Kris Allen. He sings the Beatles ballad as video of his recent visit plays in the background.

We are back to finish off the men. Casey, Jermaine, Lee, Andrew, Alex are safe and Tyler is going home. He blames the judges for not giving enough constructive criticism.

We get video package on all four of their "journeys."

"American Idol" - Top Ten Female Semifinalists - March 3, 2010

Ryan asks Crystal how she's doing, she says she's a tough cookie and she's ready to compete.

Randy says the guys were hot last night and that the girls hopefully will be tonight. Ellen says song choice is everything. Kara and Simon banter uncomfortably. Simon says this week is more important than last.

Continued Theme: Billboard Hits

Contestant #1:Crystal Bowersox Her personal tidbit is that she has a twin brother, Carl, who is kind of a square. She carries a small purse with trinkets in it from various periods of her life. She hopes to prove that Simon would stop and hear her play in the subway.

Song:"Long as I Can See the Light," Credence Clearwater Revival

Performance:She starts slow with thick organ backing up her state gospel intentions. It's laid back but her vocals are heartfelt and strong.

Randy: He says truth is reality and she is truth and not trying to be anybody else. He thinks she's hot.

Ellen: She calls it pure, raw, natural talent with nothing forced. She asks her to please stay healthy.

Kara: Says she completely recovered from last week's version of "You Oughta Know" - it was actually "Hand in My Pocket," Ryan corrects this- and that this is more who she is, in the Americana lane. She thought she hit a new level.

Simon: Says he knows she was really ill and he loves that she didn't play the sympathy card but just came out and sang well. He says he "misunderestimated" her, the vocal was incredible and that this performance was like the moment they realized Kelly Clarkson was a serious artist.



Contestant #2:Haeley Vaughn In Ryan red room chat she says it's fun singing young songs and her choice tonight is personal for her. Her personal tidbit is she likes to make headbands and hair accessories. Michael Lynche models one. She tries to make a "mean face" but fails since she doesn't know how to not smile.

Song:"The Climb," Miley Cyrus

Performance:She starts a little shaky but it gets better as it goes along. She sounds mostly fine, hitting a few flat notes, but can't stop smiling.

Randy: Calls it excruciating, pitchy, and she had no connection to the song but knows she can sing.

Ellen: Tells her to not stop smiling but agrees she didn't feel her connecting with the song's powerful message.

Kara: She says she has an Alex Lambert-factor in that people are rooting for her. She thinks she's open and real and a good performer but she says she needs about a year of strengthening of her vocal cords but she does have talent.

Simon: Doesn't want to make it worse than it is but calls it a complete in utter mess. He says in theory it should've worked. He says ironic she sang about climbing but she fell off.



Contestant #3:Lacey BrownIn Ryan red room chat Lacey says the extra day worked out fine because it gave the girls a little more time and she felt bad for the boys. Her personal tidbit is that she really likes refurbishing antique furniture. Right before she sings she tells herself she was made to do this, which is something her mom tells her. She things nerves derailed her first performance.

Song:"Kiss Me," Sixpence None the Richer (which was Kara's suggestion)

Performance: She slows it down a bit but it's very similar to the original vocally. You can already hear Simon moaning about "copycat" performing. It's light and she's cute but there's not much to hold on to. In a karaoke bar? Excellent. Here, just fine.

Randy: Liked the choice and that it would've worked but he was looking for the words to flash across the screen karaoke-style and she didn't do anything special.

Ellen: She thought it was adorable and it was a good choice.

Kara: Says last week she felt like they were losing what was special about Lacey and this week the beginning of this song was good but she has to step it up vocally, but now they're back on the playing field.

Simon: Thinks it was marginally better but feels like she's taking part in a competition but not showcasing herself. She will do what's she told but not fight for originality.

She points out that she wanted to do that song before Kara suggested it.



Contestant #4:Katie Stevens In Ryan red room chat she says her high school friends are having viewing parties and are psyched she's on the show. She says she understood that she should be doing a more youthful song. Her personal tidbit is she can save "give me a kiss" in six languages. She's embarrassed for herself that she can do this. Her pre-show ritual is jumping up and down and screaming affirmations into the mirror.

Song:"Put Your Records On," Corinne Bailey Rae

Performance: She looks assured and she sounds strong even on the low bits. A nice, sweet performance that didn't bring much new spice to the song but pretty good vocally - except one glaring bum note - overall.

Randy: Says there were bright moments especially in her upper register. He wants her to tackle things more difficult melodically. He says it was really pitchy which I really didn't hear.

Ellen: Thinks she has a great voice and she still can't believe she's 17 and she wants to see her younger somehow. She says she doesn't want to hear something she'd hear in her dentist's office.

Kara: Agrees and is frustrated. She says she knows it's confusing that they tell her different things week to week and that the end was great and she should do more interesting stuff like she did there. She says sometimes songs that sound good on the radio don't have enough impact live. She's pulling for her.

Simon: Also frustrated in that she's not telling them what kind of artist she should be. But he thinks she'll stick around because people like her. He tells her to do research on better songs.

Kara advises her to find a song that relates to her life and Randy says an artist that's closer to her age.



Contestant #5:Didi Benami In Ryan red room chat she talks about rooting for the guys and feeling a little nervous about her song choice. Her personal tidbit is she was the school mascot in middle school. She was also a cheerleader. Before she hits the stage she prays and "meows" to open up her vocal cords. She didn't understand Simon's criticism of being "indulgent" so she looked it up. This week she's doing a soul thang to help bring up her "star meter."

Song: "Lean on Me," Bill Withers

Performance: On the stool she starts slow and low and as she hits the chorus she gets up, goes higher in her register, and gesticulates earnestly. It's a little sleepaway camp hippie-ish but fine and ends really nicely.

Randy: Thought a soul song was a bad choice since it shows imperfections instead of heightening what she does well.

Ellen: Loves her voice and her presence and Bill Withers but thought it was the wrong song.

Kara: Says it wasn't good. She wants her to be consistent and do a singer-songwriter version of the song instead of trying to switch it up. She's still a fan.

Simon: He says it was screechy and a bad choice. Again, he's frustrated that she blew this opportunity by doing something generic.

She's upset enough she can't speak.



Contestant #6:Michelle Delamor In Ryan red room chat he asks about the contradictory judge advice, she says she thinks the judges input is important and she wants to balance what they say with doing what she wants. Her personal tidbit is that she's a children's choir director. Before the show she prays, meditates, and visualizes good things. She wants to give Simon a "wow."

Song: "With Arms Wide Open," Creed

Performance: She starts high and seems to struggle a bit pitchwise. The whole thing feels a lot more precarious and whiny than last week.

Randy: Says there were a couple of pitch problems but he loves the outfit. Feels like a broken record: she didn't do enough with it, and it fell flat.

Ellen: Agrees she looks fabulous and thought she did do a lot with the song and for a few moments she forgot it was a rock song. She thought it almost worked.

Kara: Calls it her favorite performance ever from Michelle. It may not have been technically perfect but she took a risk and she has a good attitude and she did something different and she believed in what Michelle was saying.

Simon: He's with Kara. He thought the first half was stronger than the second. He admits they give contradictory advice but he likes that she took the notes and ran with them and got 80 percent of it right.



Contestant #7:Lilly Scott In Ryan red room chat he asks about her stage presence. She says she worked with the vocal coaches about opening her eyes and playing to the cameras. Her personal tidbit is she plays a lot of different instruments. She wants to be unpredictable. Before she goes on stage she uses throat spray.

Song: "A Change is Gonna Come," Sam Cooke

Performance: Another slow one and another person who isn't inherently soulful attempting a classic soul song. She's still keeping her eyes closed a lot. And the vocal is kind of hiccup-y and hitching in a song that should have nice long lines.

Randy: He calls it the season of the most unique contestants and he loved the performance, thought it was the best of the night.

Ellen: Says she's got the proverbial "it." Forgot she was at a singing competition, was just a fan.

Kara: Said she just had her first moment. She was riveted. She's so glad she's a mismatch for the competition and will inspire other offbeat people to do it.

Simon: Says she makes the point of using the show as a showcase. He thought it was good not amazing and oversung in places.



Contestant #8:Katelyn Epperly In Ryan red room chat she says it's been intense in the room listening to the other contestants' feedback. She's doing something intimate tonight. Her personal tidbit is she was studying to be a recording engineer and she'd like to open her own studio. Before the show she likes to goof off. She says she wasn't thinking Kara was a bitch last week when the judge told her she didn't like her makeover. She hopes to move people.

Song: "The Scientist," Coldplay

Performance: It's a piano ballad and she plays the piano herself. She sounds fine but the song starts out kind of snoozy. Her huge earrings are kind of distracting. Her pitch is great but it wasn't very exciting.

Randy: He really liked it but thought it was way slow. He thought it fell off pitch at the end.

Ellen: Liked that she was playing guitar, oops, she means piano. She thought it was too slow.

Kara: She understands what Randy and Ellen are saying but she loves her. She think she has an incredible instrument but is all over the place. Tells her she needs to figure out who she is real quick.

Simon: Wonders if she's heard the Natasha Bedingfield version. (She hasn't). He thought it was a smart choice but she seemed corny as a performer. He thought it was a million times better than last week and she's back in the hunt.



Contestant #9:Paige Miles In Ryan red room chat she says she feels awesome but she needs a drink of water. Her personal tidbit is she likes to color with crayons and markers, inside the lines. And that's her pre-show ritual. She had a lot of fun last week.

Song:"Walk Away," Kelly Clarkson (which, incidentally Kara co-wrote)

Performance: Yay, tempo! She switches up the vocal rhythms a bit. She sounds great but it would be nice if she moved a bit. She kills the bridge. You can see her confidence build as the song builds.

Randy: Asks if she knows who wrote the song, she does. He liked it, wasn't over the top in love with it because it had so many words. He wants to hear her hit big notes and long melodies.

Ellen: Totally disagrees, she loved it and everything that she did with it and that she had fun.

Kara: Can see her having a hit with that song. She understands the having fun thing but that the song was angry and she hoped she would've felt that a bit more. She liked it though.

Simon: He agrees with Randy and thinks that she's failed two weeks in a row to pick a good song and the songs are overtaking her. He's frustrated again and thought it was forgettable and thinks she needs to put her marker down.



Contestant #10:Siobhan Magnus In Ryan red room chat she says her focus is going to be on singing her heart out. Her personal tidbit is that she once had a mohawk. Her pre-show ritual includes lip-trills. She demonstrates. She agrees with Simon that she's unpredictable.

Song:"Think," Aretha Franklin

Performance: Tempo again, nice. She starts great, hits a rough spot, and reels it back in. She's got nice stage attitude. She tosses off a serious caterwaul that starts good and veers off a bit but is fun.

Randy: Loves that she's bold and fearless and he thought it was dope.

Ellen: Is all fired up and loves that she took on a big song.

Kara: She can't get over the note and was impressed.

Simon: Thinks she's strange but he means it as a compliment and he loved her video package. He thought parts of the song were terrible but the note was incredible. He calls her interesting and very talented.

"American Idol" - Top Ten Male Semifinalists - March 2, 2010

The men and the women have switched nights due to an unspecified medical problem for contestant Crystal Bowersox.

Randy doesn't think it will be a problem for the boys. Kara thinks the guys will better this week. Simon thinks the girls are ahead by a smidge.

Theme: Billboard Hits

Contestant #1:Michael Lynche His personal tidbit is that he's been a football player and a musical theatre geek. He benches 505. He thought his performance last week was good and fun.

Song: "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World," James Brown

Performance:A little more serious this week Big Mike works the JB track out just fine hitting a couple of high notes and a few runs.

Randy: Feels like the season is finally getting started and he gives him a standing O.

Ellen Likes his song choices and that they're all different. She thinks it's the way to start the night.

Kara: She says she didn't get him until tonight, he went from being a singer to a potentially great artist. He owned it.

Simon: Agrees that he went from a pussycat to a lion. He calls it exactly the right song and yet it didn't sound dated. Calls it his best peformance to date.

Mike's excited his wife is coming on Friday. He says the guys found out this morning they were on tonight.



Contestant #2:John Park In Ryan red room chat he says his former a cappella group Purple Haze at Northwestern has been very supportive. On viewing the tape back he thought he was trying too hard. This week he's focusing on honesty. His personal tidbit is that English is his second language, he grew up speaking Korean as a child. He agrees his song last week was a bad choice.

Song:"Gravity," John Mayer

Performance: He's also serious, but he was last week too. Seated on a stool it's a little somber but he sounds fine although there's at least one pitch issue in the middle. He's got a nice tone but the song doesn't have much range and it's not very dynamic.

Randy: He thought John Mayer was his vibe but he doesn't think John brought anything spicy to it and there were pitch issues.

Ellen: Thought it was a much better song choice and that he felt it more, he thinks he should try to feel it more.

Kara: Also thought it was better but she wants to see him take risks.

Simon: Thinks Purple Haze might get their singer back. He calls it a so-what performance and he also struggles with believability.

They all follow up basically saying he needs to be more dazzling and heartfelt.



Contestant #3: Casey James In Ryan red room chat Casey admits he never watched "Idol" before he was on the show. He picked a song that a lot of contestants previously have done. His personal tidbit is he hasn't had a TV most of his life. It forced him to do other stuff like learn guitar and renovating his own house. He won't share his pre-show ritual but if he makes it to the Top Ten he'll tell. (He unwisely says a lot of people are better in this competition than him.)

Song: "I Don't Want To Be," Gavin DeGraw

Performance: He opens with a hot guitar lick. He's got a nice ease to him. The vocals are fine but in Randy's previous words he's not doing anything too spicy with it and some of the low bits bottom out breath control-wise. It's nice to hear some groove though. It's a really good bar band performance.

Randy: Thinks he's channeling great guitar players with the playing. He didn't love the song choice but thought it was the right lane.

Ellen: Thinks you can't go wrong with the song and thought he sounded great. She says it's all there on paper but wants to see him perform more and be less stiff.

Kara:Thinks he took two steps backwards. Loved the guitar playing but this is a singing competition and she thought was great about him vocally went away.

Simon: He's kind of with Kara because last week he picked a great song but this week he seemed more like someone trying to be a rock star in a bar band. Thinks he didn't have enough grit, more like sand.

He feels comfortable playing but thinks they were probably right about the vocals.



Contestant #4:Alex Lambert In Ryan red room chat, Alex admits to having stage fright, especially without his guitar. He didn't throw up this week. His personal tidbit is that when he was in 6th grade he came up with his own language. He gives us a sample. He wants to love being onstage instead of being terrified.

Song:"Everybody Knows," John Legend

Performance: His playing is a bit stiff and he still seems nervous but his voice sounds good. He seems most nervous of the moving camera. He hits a sweet, slightly blue note at the end.

Randy: He thinks it's a big improvement and not as sound-alike. He really enjoyed it. He also has his own language apparently.

Ellen: Continues with the unripe banana metaphor agreeing it was much better this week. Thinks Sam Cooke is under that mullet.

Kara: She thinks everyone watching is rooting for him. She thinks he has a great, recordable tone. Is looking forward to his growth.

Simon: Says it was a million times better. He says the only time he should be nervous is when you're useless. His advice is to have a more killer instinct. He wishes he was choosing his songs to help him boost confidence.



Contestant #5:Todrick Hall In Ryan red room chat, Todrick says he took all the critiques into account this week by changing up the song but not too much. He first started dancing at 9 in "The Nutcracker." He believes anything is possible. Before every peformance he does push-ups. He wants to infuse dancing and singing, like say, Paula Abdul. (He might've picked a better dancer-singer, Beyonce anyone?)

Song: "What's Love Got to Do With It," Tina Turner

Performance: He slows it down a bit and takes the groove out. The vocals aren't amazing, there are a few fights to stay on pitch and he seems constrained, some of it feels good and some of it feels awkward. It ends nicely.

Randy: Loved the end falsetto run but still didn't like the wildly different arrangement, tells him to just sing a nice song and don't just change the beats and arrangements.

Ellen: Says don't just sing, but sing and move and go with his strengths. She doesn't think it was the right song. But she likes him.

Kara Agrees that when he started to move it got better but she wonders where the Todrick of his first audition went, where he seemed easy and sang a sweet simple melody instead of trying to do runs.

Simon: Tells him to move and not sing and call him theme-park-y and corny. He says he's getting it completely wrong.

Todrick tells Ryan he thought he was supposed to change stuff up but Simon and Randy say he's going too far.



Contestant #6: Jermaine Sellers His personal tidbit is he rocks a onesie. He steams his voice before the show. He says last week the judges were cutthroat. He says they're all artists but not Picassos yet. He wants to take the judges advice.

Song: "What's Goin' On," Marvin Gaye

Performance: He slows the opening way down and also takes the groove out of it. He's also rocking a plaid bow tie with a polka dot shirt. Yikes. The groove kicks in and he starts taking liberty with the melodies. The vocal is not impressive, not a disaster but not impressive, kind of lounge singer-esque.

Randy: Thought it was better than last week but says it was close but so far. Just not a great peformance.

Ellen: She loves his style but feels like he pushed too hard again. It didn't work for her. She's not even sure why. (She gets booed a bit)

Kara: Thinks he's doing too much vocally and showing off and it feels forced, give them one trick that means something.

Simon: Says they're frustrated and disappointed by him watering down the song and he plays around so much that it's hard to take him seriously.

He talks back and says that he wants them to come to church with him. Simon says he would but that wasn't church singing it was "cabaret." Tells him just voice and piano would've been great. Jermaine asks what to sing next week and Simon says he probably won't be there. Ellen suggest Frankie Beverly and Maze. (Isn't that what "X Factor" is about?)



Contestant #7:Andrew Garcia His personal tidbit is he's a breakdancer and has been since middle school. We see clips of him breaking it down. He uses those rhythms in his music.

Song: "You Give Me Something," James Morrison

Performance: Sans guitar, on the stool. He seems a bit serious too. There are a few pitch problems which seems new for him, he also seems pinched a bit in places. It's not amazing. Neck tat more distracting.

Randy: Also loves James Morrison but honestly he didn't get it and thought it was pitchy all over the place. He sees him doing more of a Jason Mraz thing not a soul singer thing.

Ellen: Agrees there were pitch problems but really liked it. Says he set the bar so high with Paula Abdul but is a big fan and may get his name tattooed on her neck.

Kara: Agrees it's been downhill since "Straight Up." Thinks he played it too safe and wants him to surprise them.

Simon: Frustrated again over song choice especially since there are billions of songs to sing. Thougt it was just okay and thinks Andrew is better than okay.



Contestant #8: Aaron Kelly His personal tidbit is he loves photography and the personal expression it offers him. His pictures are pretty great. He agrees with last week's criticism that he wasn't confident enough and the show is still becoming real to him.

Song:"My Girl," The Temptations

Performance: He definitely seems more confident. His breath seems a little shaky though.The last note is rough but mostly it was fine and sweet.

Randy: Loved the beginning, thought the end was strange but 200 percent better.

Ellen: Thought he was more confident and that he can sing but thought the song was forgettable.

Kara: Really liked it and him and that he's consistent.

Simon: He didn't like the song and thought it was all over the place and that he went backwards. He needs to work out what kind of artist he's going to be and that it was all too old-fashioned. Kara disagrees.



Contestant #9: Tim Urban His personal tidbit is that he has 9 siblings. He calls them his best friends. His pre-show ritual is taking a moment to pray. He agrees with Simon's pointed criticism.

Song: "C'mon and Get Higher," Matt Nathanson

Performance: With his guitar in hand he goes the sensitive singer-songwriter route. The middle of his register is so much stronger than the highs and lows. He seems nervous but fighting it pretty well. The whole thing is a major improvement but he hits and holds one great note. He's definitely going to make it another week.

Randy: He didn't get it and thought it was very karaoke and not special.

Ellen: Tells the crowd to keep the boo-ing going. She tells him to be an actor, like on "Glee." He says he has no charisma and stage presence.

Kara: Liked the song choice a lot more but thinks he didn't make it his own. She says he looks and plays the part but it's not all there yet. She thinks he has nice moments and could be there.

Simon: Disagrees and thought it was a marked improvement and that he took criticism well. He thought he was more relevant than a lot of other singers. He's impressed by his attitude and work ethic and the fact that he didn't whine.



Contestant #10:Lee DeWyze His personal tidbit is that high school was rough, he made bad choices that got him placed in an alternative school, but one teacher really helped him, her name is Amy. Admits he was pitchy last week but he thinks he can take the criticism and stay true to himself and make them happy.

Song:"Lips of an Angel," Hinder

Performance: Also ditched the guitar this week. He sounds pretty good but he's hitting some rough notes again. (I'd like to hear him sing a Counting Crows song). He also seems like he's pushing too hard in places again. Plus, he keeps pulling up his pans which is distracting.

Randy: Wonders if he was missing his guitar. Thought he was a little out of sorts and had pitch problems but is a huge fan.

Ellen: Agrees it was pitchy but thought there was a lot of passion and intensity and he was really in it and it was great.

Kara: Thought it was a big improvement but there were still pitch problems. She can hear him on the radio right now, it's very commercial. She says he needs to own his stance.

Simon: Tells him to raise his shoulders because vocally he is head and shoulders above everyone else. He calls him undoubtedly the best singer and he needs to have self-belief. He's waiting for him to totally connect and choose the right song and then he will be the one to beat.

Based on tonight and the judges comments I'm guessing John Park and Jermaine Sellers are headed home.

"American Idol" - Top 20 Results - March 4, 2010

Ryan says 27 million votes came in. Simon says he gave out some compliments last night that he no longer agreed with after watching the show back.

Group Sing: "I Gotta Feeling," The Black Eyed Peas

Elimination #1: John Park Which means Tim Urban, Casey James, Todrick Hall, and Michael Lynche are safe

Elimination #2: Jermaine Sellers Meaning Andrew Garcia, Alex Lambert, Lee Dwyze, Aaron Kelly are good for another week. (Jermaine says "in God there is no failure" and tells everyone to go get a onesie.)

Performance: Danny Gokey, "My Best Days are Ahead of Me." It's a peppy, pop country-ish jaunt. He said he went in a country direction because Randy Travis told him the fans would love him. It also turns out that the person who wrote his song also lost his wife.

Elimination #1: Michelle Delamor Meaning Paige Miles, Lilly Scott, Didi Benami, and Katie Stevens are still in the hunt.

Elimination #2: Haeley Vaughn Which means Siobhan Magnus, Katelyn Epperly, Lacey Brown, and Crystal Bowersox are safe. (Simon called it "very obvious" who would be going home.)

She agrees that she could use some more experience and she'll do her best from here on out.

We get to see videos of their journeys, including Shania flirting with John Park and Randy telling Jermaine was the best voice they'd seen yet at that point in the auditions.

"American Idol" - Top Eight Ladies Perform - March 9, 2010

After Ryan opens the show, Ellen is sitting on Simon's lap, nuzzling his ear. There is no explanation for this. Simon says the stakes are high.

Contestant #1: Katie Stevens

Song: "Breakaway," Kelly Clarkson

Performance: She sounds fine although the key feels low and her voice sounds oddly dry. She belts out the high part well. It's fine but just not connecting quite right.

Randy: Calls it karaoke and that it's hard to compete with such a stylized a singer as Clarkson. It didn't work for him.

Ellen: Likes that she took their notes and thought it was the right song. But then she says she didn't feel the words, she wasn't feeling the "breaking" away.

Kara: Says she has a great radio voice but what's going on this year is there are people who know themselves and those who don't and Katie is one that doesn't. She says she'll get where she needed and the singing needed to be perfect and it wasn't.

Simon: Says it must be confusing for her but she looks much better than she did and says she made it a bit gloomy and sucked the energy out of the end of it, gives her ten out of ten for trying.

She tells Ryan she did try to take the notes and she did feel the lyrics and was sorry that didn't come across and that is the kind of artist she wants to be.



Contestant #2: Siobhan Magnus In Ryan red room chat she says she picked her song because it's one of her dad's favorites that he used to sing to her. Apparently, he's very good also.

Song: "House of the Rising Sun," The Animals

Performance: She starts a cappella, and very slow. The guitar comes in behind her. And then the band follows. I don't love the song but she's singing it well.

Randy: He loves what she does and that she takes risks and doesn't listen to them.

Ellen: She says Siobhan is why she loves music, she says she made it current and she's spectacular.

Kara: Loved the a cappella vibe at the front. Loves that she's unique and different.

Simon: Thinks it's all a bit weird and if it was the first time he'd seen her he'd have doubts. He was under-impressed, there were no cool moments in it.



Contestant #3: Lacey Brown

Song: "The Story," Brandi Carlile

Performance: From maybe the fifth note it sounds like mimicry again. Good mimicry but not as strong as the original. It's fine, a little yawn-y.

Randy: Thought it was a little sleepy but thought it was her best performance in a long time.

Ellen: Agrees it was her best to date, thought it was a perfect song choice.

Kara: She says performances like this are what got her here. Thought it was a great choice and she's back on her path.

Simon: He didn't love, love the song but thought she sang it well. Thinks she's very good with cameras and image. He still hasn't heard the right song connection yet.

Contestant #4: Katelyn Epperly

Song: "I Feel the Earth Move," Carole King

Performance: Standing behind a keyboard she sounds good but very hotel lounge-y for me. Great pitch and energy. It just feels a little light given what we know she can do.

Randy: Didn't feel a connection between the song and her, it wasn't special. Sang it fine but it was kind of boring.

Ellen: Thought it wasn't the right song choice but thinks she has a great voice and look.

Kara: She didn't feel like she was competing, she felt she was just going through the motions.

Simon: Likes her hair but thought the song was like request night in a Friday night in a restaurant. Sung well but not competitively.



Contestant #5: Didi Benami

Song: "Rhiannon," Fleetwood Mac

Performance: She starts accompanied only by her acoustic. She switches up the rhythms a bit. Again it's sung fine, but it's kind of muted.

Randy: Says it was a whole lot better than last week. There was no wow moment but he wants to hear her again.

Ellen: She says yes, indeedy. Says after being torn apart last week she admires her fearlessness.

Kara: Says it's one of her favorite moments of the show so far this season. Doubted the song choice but she surprised them.

Simon: Agrees with Kara and that it was 10 shoulders above anything else tonight. He thinks the wow moment was the whole song and thought it was a great choice.



Contestant #6: Paige Miles

Song: "Smile," Charlie Chaplin

Performance: Weird choice. It's tender and slow and sounds like a jazz standard. She looks like she's going to cry not smile though. It gets stronger and louder but something about it feels more like a high school recital.

Randy: It's one of his favorite songs of all time and it didn't work for him and the bossa nova arrangement didn't work for him.

Ellen: Says it's supposed to be inspiring and uplifting and it was sad and heavy. She thinks it was the wrong song.

Kara: Says it was all wrong and this was not the night to do it. She asks if she knows it was wrong. She has trouble explaining and apologizes for it not working.

Simon: Calls it a horrible choice and the arrangement was awful and hotel lounge-y. He calls it such a shame because she has so much potential with her great voice and he's afraid this is the end of the road.



Contestant #7: Crystal Bowersox

Song: "Give Me One Reason," Tracy Chapman

Performance: Armed with her electric she does a pretty faithful version. The band kicks in and she lets if fly. It's nicely funky. She injects some nice life into it.

Randy: Says this is what this show is about, loved her, loved the song, calls it hot.

Ellen: Says she needs new adjectives and calls it the best performance of the night.

Kara: Says this is what they are talking about knowing who you are.

Simon: He says she's one million, billion percent going to be in the top 12. He thinks it's hers to lose.



Contestant #8: Lilly Scott

Song: "I Fall to Pieces," Patsy Cline

Performance: Rocking a mandolin she does a pretty straight up version of this country classic. She's a little shaky in places, not so much pitch wise but with breath support. Her crazy huge earrings are distracting though. It's a little cutesy.

Randy: Loved the mandolin and that song and that she's in the zone.

Ellen: Love her voice, originality, and style.

Kara: She says she made Patsy Cline current.

Simon: Thinks she's brave for choosing that song on a night like this and it was cute and quirky but it didn't have the wow factor.

"American Idol" - Top 8 Male Semifinalists - March 10, 2010

Ryan calls Kara Simon's binky. He doesn't understand what that means.

Contestant #1:Lee Dewyze

Song: "Fireflies," Owl City

Performance: I'm not sure this light pop song goes with his rock voice and intense face but then he smiles and it feels a little better. Weird.

Randy: Thinks it was a strange song choice and there were some pitch problems, but he thinks he made it work.

Ellen: She liked that made it rock a bit. She says friends of hers have crushes on him. And he's adorable.

Kara: She says he looked confident and that there's a star bubbling there. She thought he made it better by stripping away the production gloss. A solid job, not his best, but solid.

Simon: He says there's nothing to rave about, no moment, but he likes his progress. He thinks he's better than the version of the song that he just did.

He says he's absorbing the criticism and tried to do something a bit different with the song.

Contestant #2: Alex Lambert

Song: "Trouble," Ray LaMontagne

Performance: With his guitar he sings the slow folk/pop/blues hybrid well but a lot like the original. He seems more confident too, reveling in his voice a bit more.

Randy: Liked the song but wasn't wowed and thought it was too fast.

Ellen: She continues with the banana metaphor and says he's getting better and better. She loves his sweet, vulnerable, honesty.

Kara: Says the only thing standing in the way of his winning is himself. He sounds great but he's still stiff and not totally letting go, she would've liked to see it with just an acoustic.

Simon: He says he's got to get himself mentally somewhere else. He says he needs to imagine Randy in a bikini. In other words stop concentrating on the cameras but let go.



Contestant #3: Tim Urban

Song: "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen (Jeff Buckley's version)

Performance: He's also rocking an acoustic. Wow, that wasn't bad. Really. The bar was set low for sure but he did alright.

Randy: He mentions the history of the song on the show and says he made it work.

Ellen: Loved it so much she runs up to hug him.

Kara: She thought he might be going home and he thinks he might be in the top now because of his emotional connection.

Simon: Says he feels responsible for him doing well. Thought it was a very smart choice, not the best version he's heard but his strongest performance so far.

Ellen and Simon argue over whose responsible for the performance. Tim says it's all of their criticism that helped.



Contestant #4:Andrew Garcia In Ryan red room choice he asks him about "Straight Up." He says he's going back to his roots with this song.

Song: "Genie in a Bottle," Christina Aguilera

Performance: Also playing an acoustic guitar he does a similar thing to what he's done before, stripping the song down to its chords and melodies. He's got a few stray notes. It's fine and perks up a bit at the end but not thrilling.

Randy: Likes his Randy-style cardigan. Thinks it was a good idea but it didn't work for him it was pitchy and lacked range.

Ellen: Loved the song choice and thought it was smart. She liked the end but thought it was too late. She thinks people will love it.

Kara: She says he's in a tough position since he peaked early and he's been chasing it since but it just wasn't great.

Simon: He's with Kara, thought it was a little desperate like he overthought it. He thinks he may be going backwards a bit.

Ryan asks him about peaking, Andrew says it's fine and he shouts out to his fans.



Contestant #5: Casey James

Song: "You'll Think of Me," Keith Urban

Performance: Guess what he's playing? An acoustic guitar. The start is tender and sounds pretty good but it's a tough melody to grab a hold of as a listener. The chorus is one big hook though and he sounds great and smoky. He gets really into it, this one does legitimately feel connected, like he's channeling his nerves and rage into the song, but in a contained way.

Randy: Thinks it was a little bit of a safe choice and wants him to go for more of a harder rocking thing.

Ellen: Thought it was great and wonders if he's more comfortable sitting down and that feels like his vibe.

Kara: She's kind of back on the Casey train. She thought it was him doing what he does best, singing from his heart.

Simon: Says it was his second best performance and that it was sincere but they won't be raving about it in 24 hours time but he sounded great.



Contestant #6: Aaron Kelly

Song: "I'm Already There," Lonestar

Performance: He grabs the stool but has no guitar. The beginning is really shaky. The chorus gets better as he works the catch in his voice but there are some serious wavering ptich issues. He also seems to be going for "intense" in the cameras but it's not really matching up with the vocals.

Randy: Says he's coming on but the beginning was good but the chorus was better. He says job well done.

Ellen: She loves him and feels like his stage presence is real. She felt like it was too much song for him and it wasn't terrific.

Kara: She loves that he's in it but the lyrics didn't work for him given the subject matter of the song.

Simon: He thinks what Kara said is rubbish: it's a beautiful song, a great choice, and that he was clearly trying very hard. He says it wasn't a great vocal but a good choice. He tells Kara they're going to confuse people too much if they keep giving contradictory advice and telling them what not to do.



Contestant #7: Todrick Hall

Song: "Somebody to Love," Queen

Performance: He starts off in falsetto that is by turns good and bad. He drops to a lower register for the verses. Some of it is good but some it is very strained. He's trying to testify and show off his vocals but it's having the opposite effect. He's got great energy, some of it nervous though.

Randy: Says "Todrick is back!" He says he just proved he could really sing. Says it's one of the best vocals he's heard for the whole thing.

Ellen: Thought it was a brave choice, he made it gospel-y and he did a good job.

Kara: Says you can't listen to that and say that it wasn't great singing, but she thought it was a little overdramatic.

Simon: Says it was good in parts not the whole way through. He says it was "American Idol: The Broadway Musical." Glad he wasn't boring. He says it may have saved him.



Contestant #8: Michael Lynche

Song: "This Woman's Work," Kate Bush (Maxwell version)

Performance: His opening falsetto goes from gorgeous to a little cartoony. he drops down and oh boy is he feeling it, he overdoes th stage moves a bit, which makes him go off pitch in places but he ends strong. He's feeling good about it.

Randy: Says "really? really, really?" He wants to call Maxwell and tell him Big Mike is knocking on the door. Hot.

Ellen: Says the show just began. She says he's the one to beat now.

Kara: Is in tears and says it's relevant to his life right now, she says it was amazing.

Simon: He agrees with Ellen and says this is what the show needed. He says he 100 percent nailed it. Calls it the best of the live performances so far. Kara gives him a standing O.

"American Idol" - Top 12 Revealed - March 11, 2010

At the top of the show Ryan says we might be in for some surprises.

Ryan compliments Simon on his performance the night before. They put up an image of Randy's face over "bikini boy"s body from this season's audition in reference to Simon's instruction to Alex last night to picture Randy in a bikini as a way to manage his nerves.

Group Sing: "Haven't Met You Yet," Michael Buble. This one is actually pretty sweet and goofily charming, thanks mostly to the song.

Ryan reveals the first theme for next week's show will be the Rolling Stones.

It is now elimination time, the red couches of doom vs. the silver stools of splendor

Elimination #1: Katelyn Epperly is out. Which in this round means Didi, Siobhan, and Paige are in.

When it got down to the final two of Katelyn and Paige, Simon says Paige had more potential at the begining.

Katelyn says it was a great experience and she's learned a ton and she reprises "I Feel the Earth Move." It's a pretty good sing out. She holds it together and sounds good.

Elimination #2: Todrick is out which means Casey, Tim, and Lee are in.

He calls it an awesome experience and he feels like he's proved he's a singer as well as a dancer. He reprises "Somebody to Love."

Performance: "Tell Her About It,' Scott McIntyre and Matt Giraud They're at duelling pianos. They both sound good but what's this about? Is one of them recording this? Scott has a brand new album out called "Heartstrings." Matt has an EP coming out soon and apparently had a number one hit duet on the iTunes jazz charts with Anna Wilson.

Elimination #3: Ryan mixes it up doing girls and boys. Alex and Lilly are out which means Crystal, Michael, Lacey, Aaron, Andrew, and Katie are in.

Alex seems devastated and it's tough, he wishes he'd broken out of shell. Ellen says he's great and he just needs to believe in himself. They keep showing Siobhan who looks really sad also.

Lilly says a lot of great talent is going home tonight and she's not sure what America wants.

They both sing out, Lilly a little more confidently than Alex, but both do themselves proud.

The ousted four watch their "Idol" journeys.

So to recap...

The top 12:

Didi Benami

Siobhan Magnus

Paige Miles

Crystal Bowersox

Lacey Brown

Katie Stevens

Casey James

Tim Urban

Lee Dwyze

Michael Lynche

Aaron Kelly

Andrew Garcia

"American Idol" - Top 12 Perform - March 16, 2010

Ryan says this is when we begin the countdown to the season finale. We get a video package on the Stones.

Tonight we learn a little about the contestants' life back home.

Theme: The Rolling Stones

Contestant #1: Michael Lynche. His mom wrote plays and he was a ham. He was really into football and then his mom passed away and he became less interested in football and music saved him. We see him with his wife and his new little baby. She says he's a great guy and he thinks his mom would be proud of the man he's becoming.

Song: "Miss You"

Performance: He adds a little soul flavor to the tune and lots of falsetto yelps. The churning background actually sounds a little like "Higher Ground." He works the stage from side to side, snapping and pointing.

Randy: Thought he slayed it.

Ellen: Thought it was lovable and a great way to start the night.

Kara: Thought he had style, swagger, and attitude just like the Stones did.

Simon: Thinks he's got his confidence up but the performance, especially the dancing was kind of corny but he sang well. He thought it was verging at time on a little desperate.

Ryan comes down and get in Simon's face about constructive criticism. Simon says the middle part was the bit he didn't love.



Contestant #2:Didi Benami On stool chat we learn Didi's mom is too nervous to watch her daughter her perform. In the video we learn she moved to L.A. four years ago and is the middle child of three sisters. Her mom says she was a high needs baby who screamed real loud. Mom has come out to hang with Didi during the "Idol" experience.

Song: "Play With Fire"

Performance: She slows it down a bit and gets serious. She sounds good but looks a bit too serious. She goes for some big notes, that sound okay but a little bit strained.

Randy: Thinks for the first time in weeks he thinks she's on fire.

Ellen: Thinks she has an amazing voice and is proud she has found her way back.

Kara: Thinks when she pushes on her voice she loses her way a little bit but she liked her dark intensity.

Simon: Thinks everyone else is right and that she's beginning to show who she is as an artist. Liked the song and thought it was solid but not brilliant and she can do even better.

She went darker because everyone's seen the sweet, emotional side and she wanted to show a little bit of her claws.



Contestant #3: Casey James is from Texas and his parents divorced when he was young. His mom raised he and his brother alone. He had a bad reaction to the pertussis vaccine and had seizures but he did fine and hummed tunes in the crib even before he talked. He says his whole family plays and sings and he's probably the least gifted of them. He credits his family with where he's at in life.

Song: "It's All Over Now"

Performance: He countrifies it up a bit with his twang. He's also playing slide guitar. He sounds good, putting a little grit on his voice. It's jaunty.

Randy: Is excited because he's back to the Casey he loves.

Ellen: She says most women's heart will race just looking at him but for people like her...blondes, she thought it was fantastic.

Kara: Thinks he was a rock star tonight and liked that it showed the soul in his voice.

Simon: Thinks he looks great, sang well, and played well but it was more like an audition performance. Wants him to use the big stage more and "be a star."



Contestant #4: Lacey Brown is from Amarillo, TX. She comes from a really supportive family. We see home video of her as a child. Her parents have been pastors for many years and she has sung in the church. He says she's naturally shy. He thinks it's amazing that she's overcome her shyness to be on the "Idol" stage.

Song: "Ruby Tuesday"

Performance: Lacey uses a string quartet which sounds lovely. She looks very cute and sounds fine. Not super exciting but well-controlled.

Randy: Loved the string quartet and the arrangement. There were no wow moments but he was pleasantly surprised.

Ellen: Wonders why she stood during the slow part and when the song built she sat down. She thought it was a bit sleepy.

Kara: She says it was 50/50 for her. She likes her voice up front but thought there were some bad notes and she thinks that she can do better.

Simon: Says she performs like an actress and was very inside her head having thought out each moment of the performance in advance. He thought she sang fine though.



Contestant #5: Andrew Garcia tells us that his dad George was a musician and singer. Dad protests he was no professional. He was impressed when Andrew picked up the guitar and is sad he wasn't able to support his music aspirations financially he hopes he can take care of his family now. Dad is tearfully proud.

Song: "Gimme Shelter"

Performance: No guitar this week. Without it he seems physically a bit stiff with his arm movements. His voice sounds fine but a little light for this song.

Randy: Says he loves him but it was pitchy everywhere.

Ellen: Thought it was his best performance yet.

Kara: Thought there elements where they got the tone they like but thought he was disconnected from the lyrics.

Simon: Wondered what she wanted, him to come onstage in a tank? He thinks she's taking things too literally. Thinks he's somewhere in the middle. He thinks he gave it 100 percent but it didn't quite connect. He genuinely hopes he survives another week since he knows his been getting confusing advice.



Contestant #6: Katie Stevens. Her brothers and his friends and her family are waving Katie faces on sticks- Katie fans. She picked her song because the lyrics speak to her. She was familiar with some songs but not a big fan. She's from Connecticut and she loves it there. Her mom says she's a loving, happy kid. Katie says she was shy but her mom says she was a home. We see Katie at 8 singing at a wedding.

Song: "Wild Horses"

Performance: Bathed in white light on a stool she sings the song, if possible, even slower than it actually is. When she gets to the power part it sounds good and she's got some nice sustain. A few pitch problems and the tempo is deathly.

Randy: Says he knows they've been giving her misdirection but it's the kind of song if you sing it well it works. And he thinks she sang it well.

Ellen: Thought it started pitchy but thought it got amazing as she got into it.

Kara: Says it's never technically perfect and thought she made some nice variations on the melody but that she's heading in the right direction.

Simon: Says this is the only week she's chosen a really strong song. He thought she lost a bit of emotion in the second half but overall well done.



Contestant #7: Tim Urban is also from Texas and grew up in a family of 10 kids. We see them all playing football together. He played in high school but he gave up his pro dreams when he realized he would never get tall enough. His sisters used him as a doll. He picked up a guitar at 15. He's excited to be known as an individual outside his family.

Song: "Under My Thumb"

Performance: For some reason he gives it a Jack Johnson-ish reggae retrofit. Talk about being disconnected from the lyrics. Vocally it's not bad though. Goofily croony but pitch-wise not a nightmare.

Randy: Didn't get it and thought it was very bizarre and didn't serve him or the song well.

Ellen: Felt like she was at a resort sipping a pina colada. She thought he sounded great but didn't make sense on a night when he should've wowed.

Kara: She agrees but applauds him for doing something different with the song.

Simon: Also applauds the different strain but says it's kind of a boring song anyway but having said that, it didn't work and so he thinks it was a crazy decision.

He knew it would be risk but he had fun.



Contestant #8: Siobhan Magnus is from Cape Cod, MA, Barnstable specifically. Her family is huge and they are her support system. We see her big family. Her dad says they all do arts and crafts and play music. She and her dad play together, they use it as an outlet to let off steam. He's really proud of her.

Song: "Paint it Black"

Performance: Another use of the string quartet. She starts slow and low sitting on the staircase. She looks great although the goth prom thing is only working partially with the song. The song ramps up and she hits center stage. She sounds good but it feels pitched a bit too low. She counteracts that by screaming near the end and then ending up in her head voice.

Randy: Thinks she's bringing the drama and that it was hot.

Ellen: Loves the way she looks, sounds, and the way she did the song. She thinks she rises above.

Kara: Is having flashbacks of Adam Lambert and says it was the best interpretation of the night.

Simon: Totally agrees and that it was the stand out performance of the night. He sees her progression well. He thinks there are going to be a lot of people who love it and others who will hate it which is good, because it's not boring.



Contestant #9: Lee Dwyze is from Chicago. Six months ago he was working paycheck to paycheck at the paint store and he's loving this. When he was yougner he was embarrassed to sing in front of people. His parents remember him singing in the car as long as no one looked at him. They encouraged him.

Song: "Beast of Burden"

Performance: He's got his guitar and he's taking a murmury approach, sort of Dave Matthews-esque, kind of light and bouncy.

Randy: Thinks he's amazing singer and it came home for him and he thinks it was a cross between Rob Thomas and Dave Matthews.

Ellen: Thought it was great and he sounded great but she was expecting more from him of everyone. She says it almost didn't come together... like a hospital gown.

Kara: Thinks he's growing faster than anyone vocally and confidence-wise.

Simon: Really likes him and his story but he thinks his shine-free personality is holding him back. He had no wow moment and it's frustrating and he wants him to have more confident.

He agrees a bit that it's a safe song but he liked what he did.



Contestant #10: Paige Miles is from Naples, Florida. Her mom is amazing, they lost her dad shen she was four so her mom has gone it alone. She grew up singing in the church and everyone was blown away by her and people would come to church when they knew she was singing.

Song: "Honky Tonk Woman"

Performance: She changes the pronoun in the first line which is really irritating. She's into it though and sounds okay. She's look great though.

Randy: Was worried about the choice but thought she pulled it out. He wished she had more energy but he liked it.

Ellen: Loves that she used the stage and she has great star quality and no one would know she'd be struggling with her voice.

Kara: Is also impressed with her vocals given her apparent issues and is glad to see the young Paige, who knows how to work the stage is back.

Simon: Asks what was wrong - she has laryngitis- he says given that, she sounded great, but he thought it was old-fashioned and generic but is glad to hear her voice back.



Contestant #11: Aaron Kelly is from a one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania. He was adopted at 5. His mom is apparently a bad singer and she's blown away when she hears him. She's very proud.

Song: "Angie"

Performance: He also starts on the stairs, he messes up his vocal entrance a bit cue-wise, but he sounds pretty good. I think this was his best performance yet. Assured, tender, on pitch, nicely rendered.

Randy: Says he was born to sing, liked the tender moments, thought it was hot.

Ellen: Wonders if he's trying to copy her hairstyle. Loved the choice and next to Siobhan he also stood out.

Kara: Says she beat him up good last night and he showed her, especially with his connection.

Simon: He feared for him on Rolling Stones week but thought he chose the perfect song. He thought it was good that he sang the song to the limits of his voice instead of trying to overdo it.



Contestant #12: Crystal Bowersox is from rural Ohio. Her dad has been very supportive of her music, humping her equipment around to gigs. She started writing at 10 and it comes from her childhood and teenage experiences. Dad likes her songwirting and tears up takling about one she wrote about him that was loving. She knew she was born to do this as soon as she's touched a guitar.

Song: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

Performance: She gives it a pretty straight read, starting out tender working up to giving it a little soul grit and backbeat and ends quietly.

Randy: Doesn't think it was her best performance but loves her and thought she was good.

Ellen: Thinks it seems so effortless for her but what she's been missing is personality and she saw a bit of that tonight. Crystal says she was thinking too much. Ellen tells her not too think and have more fun.

Kara: Loves that she's comfortable and is easy to watch but agrees it wasn't her best and says sometimes her ease might come off to some like arrogance.

Simon: Asks what she means by overthinking. She says she wasn't in the right zone. He says he could feel that. He says she came out the clear favorite and tonight she was beaten by someone: Siobhan.

"American Idol" - Top 12 Results Show - March 17, 2010

The Irish lighting director does a quick greening of the stage.

Simon calls Ryan on his aggressive behavior last night. He asks if Ryan wants his job since it seemed like an audition. Ryan says he likes his job. Simon says it was uncomfortable. They shake hands.

Simon explains the "judges' save": they can save any contestant up until the top 5, but it has to be unanimous.

Performance: "Jumpin' Jack Flash," David Cook. This kind of energy would've been nice last night. In chatting with Ryan he's really excited about his new record. He will also be going on a trip to Africa with the U.N. for "Idol Gives Back."

Ford Commercial: The kids are playing paint ball as they ride around in Fords singing "Tick Tick Boom." They're all covered in green paint at the end. Casey missed the shoot because he had the flu. We get yet another Ford commercial as the contestants create their own graphics for a car.

Results: In the first round we learn Lee, Siobhan, Aaron, and Andrew are safe and Paige and Tim are in the bottom three.

Performance: "According to You," Orianthi, the late Michael Jackson's guitar player, who is now working a solo career.

Results: In the second round good news goes to Didi, Crystal, Katie, Michael, and Casey are safe so Lacey rounds out the bottom three.

Ellen says she doesn't know if any of these three are worth using the save on. Simon says one is worth it. Tim is sent back to safety. He looks stunned and hugs Paige.

Performance: "Blah, Blah, Blah," Ke$ha featuring 3OH!3. She has dancing TV sets, Auto-Tune, and silver eye make-up.

Singing For the Save: "The Story," Lacey Brown They confer and as could be predicted..

Going Home: Lacey Brown

"American Idol" - Top 11 Performance Show - March 23, 2010

Randy points out that tonight is a big one because only the Top Ten go on the tour. Ellen says people should vote. Kara says every song has a story and the performers have to tap into that. Simon agrees and apologizes for saying differently last week.

Theme: Billboard Number Ones. We get a video package on the Hot 100, the lists from which the contenders can take their number one songs.

Mentor: Miley Cyrus. We get a video package on Miley Cyrus who has sold over 15 million albums. She wants to make them feel comfortable. She's in the house. They talk about Randy's love of the word of "pitchy."

Contestant #1: Lee DeWyze

Song: "The Letter," The Box Tops (featuring the late great Alex Chilton) Miley thinks he has an amazing voice but lacks stage presence.

Performance: He goes kind of big band-y with it in a suit jacket with a horn section. He moves around a bit. His voice sounds really good. He's helped visually by having the horn section and back up singers on stage with him. He did well, but he looks happy it's over. He gets a great response.

Randy: Thinks he knocked it out of the box.

Ellen: Makes a tortured pen metaphor to say she thought he was good.

Kara: Says he's never sounded better or looked more comfortable. She wants him to believe he's good.

Simon: Is really surprised he chose that song because it wasn't a recording song and he calls it corny. He thought it sounded good but the song didn't define him as an artist today.



Contestant #2: Paige Miles In Ryan stool chat Paige shows off a ring she got from a fan in the audience. She's a little concerned about her high heels. She says the atmosphere has gotten more serious and quiet.

Song: "Against All Odds," Phil Collins. Miley thinks she's beautiful and says her voice is good but can be pitchy.

Performance: She starts out seated on the stairs singing softly. She sounds tentative and wavery. When she hits the middle, she hits the power part of her voice and it gets a little better, but she does have big pitch issues.

Randy: Says it was terrible. The pitch was bad but it didn't come together.

Ellen: Is glad she didn't fall down and thinks she look great and then turns over the music critique to Kara and Simon.

Kara: Thinks somewhere along the way she stopped competing and stopped listening to them. She says it was the worst vocal of Paige's and possibly of the season.

Simon: Asks what she thought. She admits she struggled with her pitch. He says she was like five people and none of them were good and he knew exactly when she knew it wasn't working. He thinks that song has killed her and it's too bad because he thought she was good.

She tells Ryan she is in it to win it and she's been struggling mightily with song choice.



Contestant#3: Tim Urban

Song: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," Queen She thinks Tim has gotten bad reviews for being boring but she doesn't think he is. She tells him to switch it up and do something different.

Performance: If there was ever a time to use a guitar this was it. His vocal is pretty good, a little rough on the low parts. He does a stage slide and jumps onto a satellite stage surrounded by cheering girls. He ends on a good note.

Randy: Wasn't wowed by the vocals and he thought the dopest thing he did was a stage slide. He seems almost angry.

Ellen: Felt like it was an audition for "High School Musical" and it was corny and pushed too hard. She says there will be a large group of people who will love it and she didn't get it.

Kara: Says Ellen hit it on the head, too Zac Efron and the stage moves were like he had already made it.

Simon: Doesn't think the sliding around was the problem because it distracted from the song which was good. He says it was pointless and silly and he can't believe it was a number one song. He says he has no chance of winning unless he takes some singing lessons and takes it more seriously.



Contestant#4: Aaron Kelly. In Ryan stool chat Aaron says he picked up laryngitis and tonsilitis. Ryan scribbles on a notepad "Are you ready?"

Song: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," Aerosmith. He has a little crush on Miley and sang "The Climb" during his first audition. She liked it. She makes a face while he sings because she didn't realize he was so good.

Performance: He's really coming into his own and does a nice job given that he's sick.

Randy: Says it wasn't perfect but he was much better than the two before him and he's a fan.

Ellen: Calls it a perfect song choice and could tell he was sick since he's normally pitch perfect. She sees his career already.

Kara: Agrees with Ellen on the song choice. She says maybe one week he's off but he's got good consistency.

Simon: Says it was very brave and calls him a "try-er" but says for his age he's making himself old-fashioned but there's zero chance he's going home.



Contestant #5: Crystal Bowersox

Song: "Me and Bobby McGee," Miley likes that she did something a little different and says she should try and push herself a little more. Crystal is nervous about the high notes but Miley thinks she can do it. She has Miley sign her guitar.

Performance: She starts solo acoustic. She looks beautiful with her hair up and in a long dress. The band kicks in and she ambles through it nicely. She pumps it up for the scatting close and hits some higher notes with grit and aplomb. The crowd loves it.

Randy: Says that's what is called being a star and she slayed it. He says he's so happy now.

Ellen: Says she heard it on the radio the other day and thought of her. Says she would like to see her be a little less stoic, especially in the face of the audience response. Crystal says she has big plans for next week.

Kara: Says she felt more from her tonight. Kara asks if she would ever put the guitar down. Crystal hints that's what her big plans are for next week.

Simon: Says not to change anything. Says she was as good as Pink covering that song. He says she's seen her progression and is glad that her only gimmick is a carpet.

Crystal and Ryan sit on the carpet to give out her numbers.



Contestant#6: Michael Lynche

Song: "When a Man Loves a Woman," Percy Sledge. Miley loves him and thinks it's impressive that he looked right in her eyes.

Performance: He does it as a piano ballad with strings, starting very tenderly. When the band kicks in he kicks it up a notch power-wise. He holds one big mighty note and ends on a sweet falsetto. It's a strong performance.

Randy: Doesn't think it was his best vocal but loves that he knows who he is and he sang the you-know-what out of the song.

Ellen: Thought it was a safe choice and he has a great voice and she loves him.

Kara: Technically she thought it was really good but boring and lounge-y at times and over-indulgent with too many riffs.

Simon: He agrees saying you want one scoop of ice cream and you got 11. He thinks it should've been simpler and agrees it was a bit lounge-y. He says he's got tons of charisma and a great voice and that people like him.



Contestant#7: Andrew Garcia

Song: "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," Marvin Gaye. He stumbled a bit on the lyrics in front of Miley. She tells him to put down the guitar and to work the stage and be less stiff. He's worried about it.

Performance: Even without the guitar he's a little stiff in terms of enunciation and stage movement. The vocal is okay but the stage moves are a bit rough.

Randy: Says it wasn't good and a bad song choice since it's not the kind of vocalist he is.

Ellen: Says she loves him and hopes his fans vote for him since it wasn't good enough to get new people on board.

Kara: Feels bad for him because he's chasing his first good moment and he seems confused and the moves didn't make sense.

Simon: Thinks they overrated that moment from the beginning and says Miley was right to tell him to lose the guitar but the arrangement was bad and he sucked the soul out of the song and ruined one of the great pop songs of all time. He says he doesn't know who he is as an artist.



Contestant#8: Katie Stevens

Song: "Big Girls Don't Cry," Fergie. She asks Miley about negativity. Miley tells her to remember who she is and to edge it up. Katie feels more confident now.

Performance: She handles the song well. She has a few pitch problems, a couple glaring, but she moves well and does seem more confident.

Randy: Doesn't know if it's her best performance with pitch issues but he liked that she listened to their comments and went younger both musically and image-wise.

Ellen: Thought it was her best performance yet.

Kara: Says this is the lane for her, pop with r&b leanings. She says she's still got mad pitch issues but this is where she belongs.

Simon: Thinks meeting Miley was really good for her, especially image-wise. He still thinks country might be her lane since they would be loyal to her but having said that it was a good performance.



Contestant#9: Casey James. In Ryan stool chat Casey says he's going to try to push himself more onstage.

Song: "The Power of Love," Huey Lewis. He tells Miley he's a big fan of her dad. She tells him to make eye contact with the audience.

Performance: He starts it with some nice quick riffs. he gives it a little southern blues bounce. He skips the bridge sadly but he does a solid job.

Randy: Says he's probably the best musician they've had on the show. Didn't love the song choice but thought he did well.

Ellen: Calls it the best vocal of the night.

Kara: She says he's on another level and ready to make an album, she tells him to stay in his zone.

Simon: Says it's not personal but he doesn't know what Kara's talking about because it was old-fashioned and that it was like listening to an '80s cover band and he didn't do anything interesting with it.



Contestant #10: Didi Benami

Song: "You're No Good," Linda Ronstadt. Miley likes her vibrato. Miley admits that she too gets nervous a little before going onstage. Miley tells her to go even better. Didi hopes to overcome her nerves.

Performance: She slows it down to start with acoustic guitar and bass and makes it a little torchy. She gets into the lyrics and gives disapproving faces to her invisible bad man. She looks great and sounds mostly good too.

Randy: Loved the idea of it and the outfit but that it was never quite on pitch.

Ellen: Is confused by the song choices tonight including this one.

Kara: Felt like she was playing a character and it left her confused.

Simon: Thought it was ironic that she was screeching "you're no good." She says it was like a bad part of the musical.

She says she wanted to do something different and have fun and she did.



Contestant #11: Siobhan Magnus

Song: "Superstition," Stevie Wonder. Miley is a big fan. She admits she's rocked out to Miley. Miley tells her to bring her swagger out even more. Siobhan thinks it's wicked cool that Miley thinks she has swagger.

Performance: She puts her own little sass on it and sounds great. She does a little scatting and screaming that veer off pitch but she's adorable.

Randy: Thinks she's fearless and thought she was great.

Ellen: Loves her.

Kara: Doesn't think it was her best performance but loves that she expresses herself and thinks her final notes are amazing.

Simon: Thinks viewers will be split, some will like it and others won't. He's not sure about the singing and then screaming and half-jokes maybe she should start with the screaming at the beginning next week and then go softer. He thinks she didn't hit the high notes near as well as she did previously. He tells the whole field to start pushing themselves because he wasn't very excited by tonight's show from a relevant recording artist standpoint.

"American Idol" - Top 11 Results Show - March 24, 2010

Group Sing: "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Wham! It is of course cute and perky although some of the lip-synching is tragic.

Ford Commercial: "Our Time Now." The gang gets a text message saying to meet at the fountain. They all drive there, throw colored balls in it and jump in.

Ryan chats with the contestants before the results. Apparently, last night Casey goofed up during rehearsal and he was freaked out. Siobhan's boss in the audience. He will not shave until she wins. Katie's dad doesn't like to watch the results because he doesn't like to see his kids sad. We see video of Mike carrying around his baby. His wife and baby live in a separate apartment from him during the competition.

Results #1: Tim and Paige are in the bottom three. Lee, Casey, and Siobhan are safe

Performance: "When I Look at You," Miley Cyrus. She sits at the piano and sings an ode to the person who inspires her. Ryan chats with her and she says she liked the contestants the previous night including Tim's knee slide. She thinks the tough love from the judges will help them.

After the break Ryan reminds us that "Idol Gives Back" is coming up April 21.

Results #2: Katie is in the bottom three so Andrew, Crystal, Michael, Didi, and Aaron are safe.

Bottom Three: Tim, Paige, and Katie

Katie is immediately sent back to safety.

Performance: "Make a Wave," Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas

Going Home: Paige Miles (Who Simon says won't be saved even before she sings.)

It seems there's a change-up with the sing out as Paige sings "All Right Now," and in such a way if she'd sung it last night she wouldn't be going home. Sad to see her go.

Next Week's Theme: R&B/Soul

Next Week's Mentor: Usher

"American Idol" - Top Ten Performance Show - March 30, 2010

Theme:R&B/Soul

Mentor: Usher. We get a video package on the five-time Grammy winner. He promises to be a tough and serious mentor. Live in the studio with Ryan he's says they're all incredible and hard workers and wanted to boost their confidence.

Contestant #1: Siobhan Magnus She's "wicked nervous" to be singing to Usher, who she's a big fan of. Usher thinks she's got the voice for the song and tries to tell her to not wear too busy an outfit so as not to distract from her singing. She admits that she can't wear just a dress and heels, she likes to do it up.

Song: "Through the Fire," Chaka Khan

Performance: It starts in a low register that she keeps control of. She gets a little pitchy and uncontrolled in the chorus. Her big notes are wobbly, her first real serious pitch problems, and she looks nervous.

Randy: Says it was a little all over the place for him, wasn't sure it was her best, but he likes her boots.

Ellen: Agrees that it was kind of rough.

Kara: Thinks she got a little nervous. Thought the screaming parts were there but the lower parts weren't. But overall she thinks she comes through every week so she's allowed a week off.

Simon: Says she sounded like she just ran a marathon and then tried to sing. He also thinks her look is all over the place. He says she's kidding yourself if she thought it was good. He says he's also getting bored of the screaming at the end.

Ryan asks her about it. She says she she knew it would be a challenge but she wanted to try and kill it. Simon calls it manslaughter. Ellen says she thought she was going to kill it and was surprised Siobhan thought it was a challenge. Kara says she thought Siobhan was scared. Randy tells her to trust herself.



Contestant #2:Casey James Usher thinks he's already a rock star and is impressed with how he plays off forgetting the lyrics which he hasn't fully learned yet. Casey is excited about the theme since it's in his rootsy wheelhouse. He says he's going to keep his eye on Casey.He gets a great response from the crowd.

Song:"Hold On, I'm Coming," Sam and Dave

Performance: The horns ring out and Casey peels off a sweet guitar riff. He's very smiley and confident and sounds good. It's energetic and rocking.

Randy: Calls it another hot night for him and thought he was a perfect choice that showed off his range.

Ellen: Says he's consistent and loved his vocals but felt it was a little generic. She calls it a safe zone for him.

Kara: Says he's only using part of his range and should show off more of it.

Simon: Calls it his strongest week so far. He likes that he didn't do a soundalike and that it sounded authentic.



Contestant #3: Michael Lynche Usher thinks chick dig a guy who can play guitar and sing. Usher wants to make sure that everyone feels his energy, even the person at the farthest corner of the room and on the other side of the camera. He stares at the camera to demonstrate.

Song: "Ready for Love," India.Arie

Performance: Seated on the platform behind the judges' table with his acoustic guitar he starts off tenderly, eyes closed. He does a nice job both vocally and performance-wise with what is essentially a hookless song.

Randy: Liked the very sensitive song and thinks he's in the zone. Says it wasn't exciting but it's good to pull it back now and again.

Ellen: Thinks it was beautiful and loved it.

Kara: She admits she'd never heard it before he chose it and she went to listen to the original and thought he did a tasteful, lovely, and emotional.

Simon: Says it's the first time since the live shows that he can take him seriously as an artist. He thought the song was a bit gloomy but he demonstrated between being original and a silly little karaoke singer and he believed it.



Contestant #4: Didi Benami He calls it an emotional song for an emotional young lady. She cries while singing for Usher. He says the audience applauds honesty but she needs to hear that emotion in the performance itself. If she does that, he thinks she'll soar.

Song: "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," Jimmy Ruffin

Performance: In a pretty gown she stands at the microphone and delivers the song fine, all that emotion isn't really evident though so it ends up being kind of boring and full of little pitch problems. She hits a couple of nice big notes though.

Randy: Loves the song but he thought the whole performance flat-lined.

Ellen: Says it was way dramatic and not her best but she loves her voice.

Kara: Agrees that it was overdone and is confused since she came to them as a singer-songwriter type and she's changed.

Simon: Says it was like swimming in jelly, tough to get through, over the top, old-fashioned and off-melody. Says she's completely and utterly lost their way. Sounded like a singer on one of those dancing show murdering a song.

She picked the song because it means a lot to her and it was a challenge to get through it. He keeps asking her questions about why she sang it. She refuses to say. Ryan seems to hint that it has something to do with the friend that passed away that she talked about during her audition.



Contestant #5: Tim Urban In stool chat, Ryan tells Tim that he's being called "Teflon Tim" in the press. Tim says he wasn't going to change his reaction since he had fun. During his package Usher says he didn't believe Tim when he first started singing. He asks Tim to sing to him as if he was in love with him, he says that was hard for him. Usher tells him to sing to an imaginary woman in front of him. Usher tells him to hold on to the moment and to make a connection with the person he's singing about through the camera.

Song: "Sweet Love," Anita Baker

Performance: Sitting on the steps he sings right to the camera. There's nothing terribly soulful about it per se but he's hitting most of the notes, some of them nicely. He's doing it in more of a lounge-y/crooner style. In his suit he's like an earnest young professional at the karaoke bar.

Randy: Says there were pluses and minuses saying it started out as a singing waiter vibe. The plus part was he sang mostly in tune but there was no vibe or swag on it. Tells him to put a little grease on it.

Ellen: Says she knows there's an "adorable" drinking game with him and her. She wondered why he chose that song since it was tough. She agrees it was mostly in tune but he walked like he was sneaking into a bedroom.

Kara: Says it was Broadway at times and Vegas at times and took the soul out of it and made it uncommercial. She wonders why he's laughing.

Simon: He says he's laughing because he knows it makes no difference what they say. He says it was like a mouse picking a fight with an elephant. He says it doesn't matter because the audience will send him through so good for him.



Contestant #6: Andrew Garcia Usher could tell he was nervous at first and tells him to take the song seriously and connect. He says he made him love the song even more.

Song: "Forever," Chris Brown

Performance: With his acoustic guitar Andrew is light and fluffy. He seems to relax as the song goes on. It's not exciting but it's pleasant.

Randy: Says Andrew is back, he likes the outfit, he liked how he made the song work for him, his best performance in a long time.

Ellen: Says he's finally back in a zone and she loves when he smiles.

Kara: Calls it one giant leap in the right direction.

Simon: Agrees that it was miles better than the last couple of weeks. He says as a person he comes over as very boring. He needs to start showing some personality.

Andrew's mom comes over and hugs Simon.



Contestant #7: Katie Stevens She actually met Usher at Epcot previously. He likes her energy and her voice but he wants to make sure she has a little pizazz and attitude and tells her to tell her story to one person in the audience. He thinks she'll score high if she can personalize her performance.

Song: "Chain of Fools," Aretha Franklin

Performance: She starts off with a little head nod. The vocal is mostly good but her movements are oddly mannered.

Randy: Says it was a little disconnected vocally but thought it was one of the best of the night. He tells her to own that she has a good set of pipes.

Ellen: Thought the vocals were great also but she wished the song had been a little more current.

Kara: Says she found where she belongs and calls it one of her best performances but agrees with Ellen on the young, commercial critique.

Simon: He says Randy comparing her to Christina Aguilera is crazy. Randy says she has potential. Simon says he thought it was pretty good but robotic and cold. Kara says her vocals are getting better. Simon disagrees with Kara that she's a soul/pop singer. Kara disagrees. Simon says she should take his advice.



Contestant #8: Lee DeWyze In stool chat Ryan asks how he's going to "create a moment." Lee says he will have that by showing what kind of artist he's going to be. In his Usher package he calls Lee's performance a special treat. He tells him he has an incredible voice but to own it. Lee admits that his own self-critique is holding him back.

Song: "Treat Her Like a Lady," The Cornelius Brothers

Performance: Rocking his acoustic guitar and a slight smile, he makes the song work, really giving it his all and staying in key. The crowd digs him.

Randy: Says it's unbelievable, the best he's heard him in weeks.

Ellen: Calls it his best performance so far.

Kara: Agrees saying it could be on his record and calls it amazing.

Simon: Has always believed in him and says this is the night his life may have changed forever.



Contestant #9: Crystal Bowersox Usher asks where her guitar is, she says she's changing it up. She won't share her secret. He tells her to play the piano and sing and that was her plan. She hasn't played in years. Usher thinks it's a perfect song for her but she needs to make the playing second nature.

Song: "Midnight to Train to Georgia," Gladys Knight and the Pips

Performance: At the piano she starts off softly with her own trio of Pip-ettes. She starts off slow but hits a hot note right before the chorus. She gets up and grabs the microphone and stands center stage. She sounds great and slides up to a sweet note. She smiles nicely and says "I love you" to someone just offstage as the lights go down.

Randy: Loves the outfit and thinks Gladys would say she did the song proud. He's working with Gladys now.

Ellen: Thinks she's never not good and calls it wonderful.

Kara: Is glad she took a risk and can't wait to see what she does next.

Simon: Thought the choice was sensational and thought the vocals at moments were incredible. He does critique the backing trio being onstage and her overthinking the piano. He tells her she needs to stay doing what's comfortable. She promises she wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with.



Contestant #10: Aaron Kelly Usher thinks it was incredible but he wants him to make the "I know, I know" segment more personal and theatrical. Usher gives him a line reading.

Song: "Ain't No Sunshine," Bill Withers

Performance: It's a bit wavery on the sustained notes on the low end at the beginning but he looks very assured. It has some real nice moments of unexpected notes.

Randy: Says it started rough but it worked itself but thinks he has more soul flavor so it was just alright.

Ellen: Thought it was a good song choice and a good job.

Kara: Liked it, wasn't in love with it and thinks he could've displayed a higher register and more energy.

Simon: Thought it was just okay and not as good as last week but there's no fear he's leaving the competition.

Bottom three prediction: Tim, Didi, Katie

"American Idol" - Top Ten Results - March 31, 2010

Performance: Ruben Studdard singing "Don't Make 'Em Like You No More" Looks like the "Velvet Teddy Bear" has lost a bit of his fur, slimming down quite a bit. The song is not much but he's still his charming old self. He reveals he's a vegan which is why he's lost so much weight. Ryan calls Big Mike over to compare the two side by side. Turns out Ruben and Clay Aiken are going on tour together.

Ford Commercial: "Kung Fu Fighting." The gang, in kung fu gear, fight one another near non-fighter Casey's Ford.

Results: Katie is in the bottom three so Lee, Casey, Aaron, and Siobhan are safe.

Ryan chats with Justin Bieber in the crowd and says the Lennon/McCartney songbook will be next week's theme.

Performance: "OMG," Usher featuring Will.I.Am. The song is mediocre but it's a typically athletic and fun Usher performance, although, ironically, his vocals are kind of shaky.

Results #2: Didi and Tim are in the bottom three so Michael, Casey, Crystal and Andrew are safe.

Bottom Three: To recap: Tim, Didi, Katie

Katie is immediately sent to safety. (Just like she was last week).

Performance: Diddy, two singers, and a whole truckload of dry ice and dancers perform "Hello, Good Morning"

Singing for Survival: Didi, doing her praised rendition of "Rhiannon"

Going Home: Didi, no save for her.

"American Idol" - Top Nine Performance Show - April 6, 2010

Theme: Lennon/McCartney Songbook We get a video package on the legendary men. Sir Paul McCartney pops up to say hello and wish the contestants good luck.

Randy predicts big highs and lows. Ellen is a fan. Kara says the songs are as relevant today as ever. Simon says sometimes it's good to change up classics and sometimes not.

Ryan tells us that the contestants will be describing each other tonight.

Contestant #1: Aaron Kelly The contestants describe him as Yoda and use lots of Yoda-speak to do so.

Song: "The Long and Winding Road"

Performance: Aaron goes for a straight up reading and sounds pleasant and assured. He's not setting any fires but he acquits himself well.

Randy: He liked his tone but didn't care for the sleepy arrangement and wanted him to change it up.

Ellen: Thinks he's fantastic and it was a big song to take on and it felt like a long and winding song.

Kara: Says when it comes together for him, it works, but for what he was trying to do he had to be great and it wasn't there yet. She'd like to see him do something more uptempo.

Simon: Asks why he picked the song and arrangement. Aaron says it parallels his "Idol" journey and he didn't want to mess with the Beatles arrangement. Simon says it was very old-fashioned and boring. Simon gets some big boos. He tells him to take some risks.



Contestant #2: Katie Stevens In stool chat Ryan says Katie's getting a lot of prom offers. She says she'll go with whoever's voted for her most. In her video, everyone likes Katie, she's energetic. She likes to do the "Single Ladies" dance.

Song: "Let it Be"

Performance: Katie takes the same mostly straight up road, changing a few notes here and there like Aaron did. She's dressed really cute but is, obviously, very solemn in her performance. She sounds nice in her upper register.

Randy: Says it's her best performance ever and reaffirms that she has hot vocals.

Ellen: Says it was a perfect example of changing it just enough to make it your own without disrespecting the song.

Kara: Says she's blossoming both vocally and in her attitude, she likes her confidence given that she's been in the bottom three for two weeks in a row.

Simon: Agrees that tonight she got it right and it's because she's leaning in the country direction that he's been saying. Randy and Kara completely disagree and they're right.



Contestant #3: Andrew Garcia The contestants describe him as crazy and funny. They think it's weird that Simon says he has no personality since they think he's full of it.

Song: "Can't Buy Me Love"

Performance: Standing on the platform behind the judges he does it with a slightly rockier vibe with swing undertones. He sounds good and it's fine.

Randy: Thinks it was a solid performance and an interesting arrangement.

Ellen: Thought it was a perfect song choice and a lot of fun.

Kara: Wants to love it but didn't see anything new this week and wants to see more, she liked the breakdown though.

Simon: He does the wedding comparison. He thinks the band overpowered the arrangement and made it corny and irrelevant.



Contestant #4: Michael Lynche The other contestants describe him as a loud snorer and hilarious and a big teddy bear.

Song: "Eleanor Rigby"

Performance: He starts it out slow singing in a falsetto, it feels very Luther Vandross. He does a little too much hand-fluttering but it's a groovy arrangement and a strong vocal.

Randy: He's loving that Michael's reached a point that he's got license to do whatever he wants to do, he thinks he could record that one. He didn't think it all worked but loved the performance.

Ellen: Thinks he can do anything and he can handle all his sides equally well. She loved it.

Kara: She thought it was fire and the vocals were amazing and that it was really dramatic. She agrees he may have done some crazy stuff but he was committed to it and he made it relevant to today.

Simon: He didn't love it as much but felt like it was something you'd hear in a musical. He disagrees that he made it contemporary. He thought it was too over-the-top.

Randy brings it back to "Glee." Kara and Simon bicker a bit.



Contestant #5: Crystal Bowersox The contestants describe her as "Mama Sox," funny, goofy, a beautiful mom to her kid and the other contestants. She says her only strategy has been to stay true to herself.

Song: "Come Together"

Performance: She makes it a little funkier and inexplicably has someone playing a didgeridoo. She seems distracted by her guitar a bit but she sounds typically good.

Randy: Calls it another solid performance, not her best but that it got hot at the end. He didn't get the didgeridoo.

Ellen: Loved the didgeridoo. She says her only problem is finding a new way to tell her how great she is. She thinks she made it current and could hear it on her album.

Kara: Calls it one of her favorite performances. She liked that it had a slinky, Bonnie Raitt feel and she liked that she was more accessible, not so serious as she usually is.

Simon: He thinks that's a song he could picture hearing on the radio. He thought the didgeridoo was quirky but contemporary. They bring the player out and chat with him a bit.



Contestant #6: Tim Urban The contestants admire him for his easy smile. Crystal calls him good looking.

Song: "All My Loving"

Performance: He starts off slowly in an almost Ricky Nelson place strumming an electric guitar. The song picks up and jaunts along. In fully kicks in on the chorus and stays true to the arrangement essentially from there. He switches up a few notes and sounds just fine. It's cute. Very teen heartthrobby.

Randy: Thought it was a much better performance than the last couple of weeks and the Beatle haircut.

Ellen: Thinks it was perfect choice and his second-best performance after "Hallelujah."

Kara: Likes that he took some of their criticisms and worked them in and tells him he did a good job and he can smile.

Simon: Thinks he did really well without gimmicks and he liked the arrangement. And he likes that he takes the criticism like a man. He says he's proud of the way he's handled himself.

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel of "Bones" are in the audience.

Contestant #7: Casey James The other contestants poke fun at him for being like a soap opera star and his big laugh.

Song: "Jealous Guy" (Lennon Solo)

Performance: He starts solo acoustic, soft and contemplative. A cello joins in. He gives it a bluesy-Southern tinge that really works. He also seems really into it. Really nice stuff. Quiet but captivating.

Randy: Loved that he switched to acoustic and the sensitive vibe and he loved that he set himself apart. He really felt it.

Ellen: Agrees that it felt like it was about somebody specific and thinks it was his best performance to date. She felt it emotionally and calls it beautiful.

Kara: Liked that he showed a vulnerability to himself and a tastefulness to his playing. Liked that she pushed himself and that he could do it even more.

Simon: Thinks it was the best performance of the night so far and it's showing a huge growth from last week. He's very impressed with him tonight.



Contestant #8: Siobhan Magnus The rest of the gang describes her as amazing, weird, interesting, unique, and true to herself.

Song: "Across the Universe"

Performance: Seated on a stool she starts it as a tender piano ballad. She sounds strong vocally, well-controlled but it's kind of snoozy, with a lullaby feel. She hits one high note sweetly and lightly, a nice change.

Randy: Calls her wild and unpredictable and although it was a bit sleepy he liked the tender side but she showed nice control.

Ellen: Supports those who march to the beat of their own drum and calls her talented and special and thought it was beautiful.

Kara: From a purely singing perspective she says she hit the notes and thought it was maybe too polite for her to process. She does feel like she connected with it personally though and thought that was good.

Simon: Asks where she connected with it personally and she gets teary talking about her sisters. Thought she came back much stronger this week. The heckler gets a shout out from Simon and comes onstage and gets to hug Siobhan.



Contestant #9: Lee DeWyze The other contenders call him a worrywart, even when the judges say he's great. Lee and Andrew are having a bromance.

Song: "Hey Jude"

Performance: Accompanying himself on acoustic for the open he sounds pretty good, if pushing it a little hard. The band comes in and it plods along. He gets right to the "na-na-na-na's" and a bagpiper emerges. It is odd but his outro ad-libs actually sound pretty great.

Randy: Tells him not to be nervous and it was another hot one and tells him to believe.

Ellen: Likes that he was more confident and that he was smiling more. Loved it.

Kara: Some there were some good moments and some off moments but likes his tone.

Simon: Thinks the bagpipe player was a bad idea. He thought he was doing great and then the bagpipe player seemed to wander in from somewhere else.

Lee wanted the bagpipe player because "why not?"

"American Idol" - Top Nine Results - April 7, 2010

Ryan says there are shocking results coming tonight.

Group Sing: A lip-synch of a Lennon/McCartney Medley including "Here, There and Everywhere," "Got To Get You Into My Life," "Fool On The Hill," "All You Need is Love," "She Loves You," and

Ford Commercial: "Will it Go Round in Circles," Billy Preston. It's a kaleidoscope theme.

Results #1: It's top nine week so that means it's time for the three mini-dramas. The first finds Katie, Siobhan, and Crystal taking center stage only to be told they're all safe.

Performance: Jason DeRulo, "Whatcha Say" and "In My Head" His elaborate song-and-dance gets kudos from mentor Kara and and impressed Simon.

Ryan tells us Adam Lambert will be next week's mentor but says of the theme only that it's "very special."

Performance: David Archuleta, "Imagine" He sounds great but does the weird abridged version that omits the "no religion too" verse.

Results #2: Now it's two groups time with the six guys. In one group Lee, Casey, and Tim and the other Mike, Aaron and Andrew. The former group is safe, the latter group is the bottom three.

Bottom Three: Aaron, Andrew, and Michael. Ryan sends Aaron immediately to safety.

Performance: Rihanna, "Rock Star 101"

Ryan says Andrew to safety.

Singing for Survival: Michael reprises his version of "This Woman's Work"

Going Home:Nobody, the judges exercise their save option and Big Mike gets to sing another week.

"American Idol" - Top Nine Performance - Take Two - April 13, 2010

Theme: Elvis Presley. The gang took a field trip to see the Presley Cirque du Soleil show and hung out with...

Mentor: Adam Lambert. He says his mission is to be completely honest but constructive. He tells Ryan that his main advice was to up the energy. He compliments them all vocally.

In the audience: The cast of "Glee"

Contestant #1: Crystal Bowersox

Song:"Saved." Adam loves her voice and it's authenticity. He counsels her to rock an electric guitar.

Performance: She takes his advice and gives maybe her liveliest performance to date. Maybe not a showstopper vocally but a lot of fun and well done.

Randy: He loved it, thought it was dope, calls her the second coming of Bonnie Raitt.

Ellen: Calls it fantastic.

Kara: Another solid performance, loves the uptempo and the switch-up with the arrangement tempo-wise.

Simon: Calls it a lyric he can relate to and he loves that she didn't choose an obvious song and put her own slant on it and didn't fall into the karaoke trap.



Contestant #2: Andrew Garcia In Ryan stool chat Andrew says Mike's "sing for your life" performance encouraged him. In his package Adam tells Andrew that he was bored by his performance. Adam tells him to step it up.

Song: "Hound Dog"

Performance: He gives it a sort of swinging Latin vibe but keeps it pretty midtempo. He takes a walk with the microphone to the platform behind the judges. It's okay but there's not much nuance to it.

Randy: Says it was bad karaoke, he didn't like it at all.

Ellen: Wishes he had put more swagger into it but thought that he pulled it off.

Kara: Says he needed to own it and he didn't and she used his microphone as a crutch. She wanted more swagger as well.

Simon: Thought it was lazy and unpredictable, and thought it was the worst performance in a musical and all of coolness has been sucked out.



Contestant #3: Tim Urban Adam thinks Tim did a lovely job in his rehearsal and played guitar well. He advises him to take the end up into his falsetto for some vulnerability.

Song: "I Can't Help Falling in Love"

Performance: Seated on a platform behind the judges, Tim accompanies himself on acoustic on a very simple and, honestly nice, performance. There are a couple of little rough notes but really, probably his best, most straightforward performance yet.

Randy: He liked it.

Ellen: Really enjoyed it and thought it was beautiful.

Kara: Her favorite Tim performance ever: authentic, current, and meaningful.

Simon: Tells him he has managed to go from zero to hero in two weeks. Congratulates him on his growth.



Contestant #4: Lee Dewyze Thinks Lee is great but says there's nothing go on with his face and tells him to smile and be playful and to "perform" reminding him he's not in the guitar studio.

Song: "A Little Less Conversation"

Performance: Playing his acoustic guitar Lee starts at eleven vocally and doesn't have really have anywhere to go. He sounds really strong but there's not a ton of shifting dynamics.

Randy: Thinks Lee is in the zone, calls it great and amazing.

Ellen: Thinks he made it current and likes that he's engaging more with the audience.

Kara: Is impressed that he "went for it" vocally but she wished that he had been less serious and more playful.

Simon: Simon asks what she means by playful. She says looser. He says it was on the money full stop.



Contestant #5: Aaron Kelly Adam says he had underestimated Aaron and says he really likes his voice. He counsels him to be more energetic and to use his growl a bit more. Adam thinks Aaron doesn't believe in himself more. Aaron admits that he thinks the song might be wrong "in every possible way."

Song: "Blue Suede Shoes"

Performance: He seems nervous but sounds fine. It is sort of high school talent show-esque. He breaks it down at the end and gets a little bluesy and it sounds better and feels stronger.

Randy: Thought it started weird but loved the bluesy half-time part.

Ellen: Thought it was a big song to take on and thinks he didn't get all the way there but he did a good job.

Kara: Says he's out of his comfort zone and she liked it and made him seem younger.

Simon: Completely disagrees and says it seemed old-fashioned and telepathically agrees with my high school talent show vibe.



Contestant #6: Siobhan Magnus In Ryan stool chat she confesses she wrote a sixth grade report on Elvis. In her video package Adam compliments her pipes but says her first pass is too sleepy and to add some tempo and fire to her next try. She calls it an honor to be compared to him. He respects that she likes to be different.

Song: "Suspicious Minds"

Performance: She starts off gentle and sweet and oddly affected, but strong vocally. At the end she breaks it down and starts going for a few of those big notes. Some work better than others. It's an odd performance. Most of the vocal is fine but it's oddly earnest and disjointed. She absolutely nails the last few notes though.

Randy: Thinks the girl can sing but liked the second half of the song better than the first.

Ellen: Says she looks fabulous and she agrees the second half was better.

Kara: Goes further saying Siobhan has two voices and that she's confused and she likes the second voice better also. She wasn't crazy about it.

Simon: Says it was like she was put into a time machine and that she was a completely different person. He thought the first part was terrible and some of the big notes were not accurate. He says she was erratic and screechy, not one of her best performances.

Siobhan responds that even she can't always pinpoint who she is all the time and she's taken pride in the fact that she's not one kind of singer.

Ryan makes a Dunkelman joke!

Contestant #7: Michael Lynche Siobhan recommended his song. Adam thinks he should pick it up a little and bring the actor out. Michael is resistant to that since Simon commented negatively on that. Adam thinks he deserves to get right down to the end.

Song: "In the Ghetto"

Performance: He goes the straightforward, simple route as well accompanying himself on acoustic with a little assist from the pianist. A little quiet but nicely done.

Randy: Calls it a little sleepy but hot vocally.

Ellen: She says she's glad they saved him.

Kara: Calls it a beautiful song and sung well.

Simon: Calls it a million billion percent better than last week and one of his favorite performances.



Contestant #8: Katie Stevens Katie told Adam she wanted to channel her frustration into her song. So he advises her to go with that. She says she's got the pipes and the look now she has to make us believe it.

Song: "Baby What Do You Want Me To Do"

Performance: She's doing the unfortunate neck snap thing again. She sounds okay, but there are more than a couple tough spots which is contradicting her confident attitude.

Randy: Said it was nice vocally and entertaining.

Ellen: Liked it and calls it horny because of the horn section.

Kara: Says she showed them.

Simon: Calls it loud and annoying. Didn't like the song.



Contestant #9: Casey James Adam tells him to build more of an arc into the song and give it more of a climax.

Song: "Lawdy Miss Clawdy"

Performance: He starts out acoustic and then the band kicks in with a little funk. It's a more typical Casey bar band blues performance but he sounds great and is engaging.

Randy: Thinks he's in the zone, another solid performance.

Ellen: Wasn't as exciting as he's been and says he's still great.

Kara: Says he's capable of brilliance and wants to see that next week.

Simon: Calls it a wasted opportunity given that it was Elvis week and the song was forgettable but that the vocal was good.

"American Idol" - Two Contestants Eliminated - April 14, 2010

Ryan says 34 million votes came in last night.

Next week's theme is "Inspirational Songs" and Alicia Keys will be the mentor to celebrate "Idol Gives Back."

Group Sing: Elvis Medley including "Hunk 'o Burnin' Love," "Teddy Bear," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Return to Sender"

Ford Commercial:"Light and Day/Reach For the Sun" The gang magically grows tree out of disintegrated hybrid cars.

Results #1:Andrew is eliminated so Casey and Aaron are safe.

Andrew sings out with "You Give Me Something." He does a nice job.

We get a video package of a trip Kara and Elliott Yamin took to Angola for "Idol Gives Back."

Performance: Brooke White & Justin Gaston perform "If I Can Dream." Brooke looks good. (Anyone remember him from "Nashville Star"?)

Results #2: Ryan has the final six come center stage. Crystal, Siobhan, and Lee are safe

Performance: Adam Lambert performs "Whataya Want From Me" in a cloud of smoke and green laser lights.

Results #3: Tim, Mike, and Katie stand center stage. Ryan sends Tim back to safety. He says one person is going home and the other wasn't even in the bottom three. Mike is safe. Katie is going home.

Going Home: Andrew and Katie

"American Idol" - Top Seven Performance Show - April 20, 2010

Theme: Inspirational Songs

Mentor: Alicia Keys

In the audience: Paige Miles, Lacey Brown, and Didi Benami; Capt. "Sully" Sullenberg

We get a video package on Keys' career and philanthropic efforts.

Contestant #1: Casey James

Song: "Don't Stop," Fleetwood Mac. Keys encourages him to "connect" and boost his personality with it since it's so popular.

Performance: He decides that personality means smiling alot. He sounds fine, spirited, gritty, and pulls off a little fiery solo but it doesn't take this overplayed song to a new place.

Randy: Calls it good but not his best, he wants him to step out of his comfort zone.

Ellen: Compliments his guitar playing but doesn't think he was great.

Kara: Wants to see what makes him different.

Simon: Can't believe he chose that song for inspirational week and thought there was no originality to it.



Contestant #2: Lee Dewyze

Song: "The Boxer," Simon and Garfunkel. In stool chat with Ryan he says nice stuff about ousted buddy Andrew Garcia. He picked his song because it inspired him as a young man to play guitar. Keys has him speak the words and convinces him that he is like the fighter in the song.

Performance: Equipped with his acoustic guitar he slows it down and monkeys with the beginning of the song melody-wise. A piano and a string section chime in. He's voice is pretty passionate but the arrangement is a snooze.

Randy: Thinks it's very nice and he's going to have a big career.

Ellen: Loved the choice and seeing his soul and depth.

Kara: Calls this his "moment" and says he was clearly connected and it took him to another level.

Simon: He calls it the best of the night because it was sincere, emotional, and inspirational. Thinks he makes it current. Calls it brilliant.



Contestant #3: Tim Urban

Song: "Better Days," Goo Goo Dolls. She wants him to let people feel inspired by the lyrics and thinks it feels really good.

Performance: The beginning is a little breathy and weakly supported. He is also armed with his acoustic and a string section. This is his worst performance pitch-wise in awhile, he seems to be missing every third note just a shade. It gets a little better as it progresses but it's not very dynamic.

Randy: Thought it was just okay/good karaoke.

Ellen: Says he's like the soup of the day and today she didn't like the soup.

Kara: Thinks he's found his lane and at times sounds commercial but this wasn't the best

Simon: Says if it was the first time they might've been impressed but that this may have been a step too high and a little bit of a letdown.



Contestant #4: Aaron Kelly

Song: "I Believe I Can Fly," R. Kelly (no relation). Keys says he has a challenge on his hands since the song can seem like overkill. She says it needs to feel deep and passionate and pure.

Performance: Aaron also enjoys the help of the string section. He sounds fine, a few pitch and breath issues, but he's not flying.

Randy: Says he picked a giant song and the arrangement was funny but he has pure vocal talent and did a good job.

Ellen: She thinks he's on his way with his big voice.

Kara: She says it was like taking off, rough at the beginning but he got aloft by the end.

Simon: Says they need to judge it in two parts: they like him and he tried hard but in the real world it wouldn't be good for the radio.



Contestant #5: Siobhan Magnus

Song: "When You Believe," Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Alicia tells her to milk her high money note. She says she's very impressed with her voice.

Performance: Her hair and outfit are a little distracting but her vocals sound good, if a little fragile in the low spots. She hits the modulation nicely and never overdoes it with the screaming, keeping the high notes tender and understated.

Randy: Says she picked the toughest song of the night and says it was just okay for him.

Ellen: Says it was more confirmation of why she was here.

Kara: Says it may have been very well sung technically but her problem with it was that it's not a musical and it was very dramatic and says listening to her responses week to week she's starting to feel like she'd rather hang out with her than buy her record because she still doesn't know who she is.

Simon: Agrees with Randy saying it was the wrong song and that the arrangement was very old-fashioned, too much happened too quickly, and her outfit was distracting. He says the whole thing was a bit odd.

Seacrest asks her if she knew it was tough. She says she was just happy to have a chance to sing a song that inspires her and she knows no one compares to Mariah and Whitney.



Contestant #6: Michael Lynche

Song: "Hero," Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott. Tells Ryan that he thinks the song speaks to all of us. Alicia likes that he's going out of his comfort zone but she wants him to take people on a ride.

Performance: Armed with his acoustic guitar, he starts off solo and tender. The band and strings jump in for the anthemic chorus. Another song without a lot of melodic range. Michael works it but the song feels like it's running along one very small incline not an anthemic upshot.

Randy: Was worried about a band song on a solo singer but thinks he worked it out.

Ellen: Thought he did a great job.

Kara: Says it wasn't her favorite performance, he didn't cut through, and it was all over the place.

Simon: Thinks he sang it really well but was bothered that the song was from the "Spider-Man" soundtrack and says it didn't quite jell for him.



Contestant #7: Crystal Bowersox

Song: "People Get Ready," Jimmy Cliff. Crystal says she picked the song because she's very grateful for everything in her life right now. Keys to tell her to focus on the emotion and she thinks people are going to love the performance.

Performance: With no instrument she starts a cappella. The band comes in and it's very understated arrangement which she ratchets up with her vocals and her emotions.

Randy: Says that is how you do it and gives her a standing O.

Ellen: Says she's never looked more beautiful and loves her evolution.

Kara: Thanks her for taking a risk and says she just schooled all the contestants.

Simon: Says, that was inspirational and is happy to see her emotional since she had seemed closed off. Says it was in a completely different class from everything else.

She was emotional because her dad was in the crowd for the first time.

"American Idol" - "Idol Gives Back/Top Seven Results" - April 21, 2010

The show kicks off with a taped message from the President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle thanking "Idol" and its viewers for raising money for charity.

Ryan introduces the judges and thanks the sponsors. He says hello to Queen Latifah who is anchoring the show taking place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Group Sing: The entire top 12, all in white, reassembles for "Keeping the Dream Alive."

Video Package: Jennifer Garner travels to a poverty-stricken area of the Appalachian mountains in Kentucky for "Save the Children." She visits a family of six who live in an unheated two room trailer.

Joining Ryan onstage is Victoria Beckham and two young kids Brianna and Roy. She talks about the area she visited in Kentucky also and the kids who benefit from "Save the Children." The kids talk about how the program has helped improve their lives.

We get a taped message from Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger.

Jonah Hill and Russell Brand come to do a bit about celebrities being recruited for a phone bank, but none of them came.

Performance: The Black Eyed Peas perform "Rock That Body"

In the Civic Auditorium audience: Common; Todd Bridges;

Video Package: Ryan goes to Kenya to highlight malaria issues, where we learn the story of one expectant mother who was brought to a hospital too late to be saved.

Results #1: George Lopez comes in to "host" the results. He does some jokes. He has all the contestants stand up and then tells them to sit and relax because it's time to judge the judges. He "roasts" the judges. He tells Randy to stop calling people pitchy and to formulate his own thoughts but says he's safe because he's the only "brother" on the show. He goofs on Kara's expectations but says she's safe because she was good on his show. He goofs on Ellen being so nice and says she's safe. He goofs on Simon calling things rubbish and wearing tight T-shirts. He says America has voted to send him back to England but thanks to the volcanic ash he's safe after all

Ford Commercial: "We've Got a Big Mess on Our Hands." The gang is working a street and they get those "Matrix"-y stop time effects.

Real Results #1: He brings Crystal and Casey center stage. Crystal is safe and Casey is in the bottom three. Next up is Aaron and Lee. Lee is safe and Aaron is in the bottom three.

Performance: "I Put a Spell on You," Jeff Beck and Joss Stone, backed by the Jubilation Gospel Choir

Video Package: David Duchovny, Demi Lovato, Joe Jonas, Chris Rock, Jane Lynch ("Sue Sylvester" from "Glee"), Josh Groban, and Justin Bieber talk about the last thing their mother gave them as an intro to video of Kara talking about children orphaned by mothers dying during childbirth.

We get a taped message of thanks from Ban-Ki Moon, the Secretary-General of the U.N.

Live, in person Morgan Freeman, who gets a lot of applause, talks about growing up in Mississippi and getting a great education. His wish is for that to happen for other kids. This intros a...

Video Package: With Randy talking about the rough ride that poverty-stricken kids have in Mississippi and how Save the Children is helping. Morgan came down to help out and spread the word about literacy. They visit a family and school who really need help alongside the Surgeon General.

Performance: This week's mentor Alicia Keys performs "Unthinkable" and "Empire State of Mind Pt. 2"

Back to Jonah and Russell and their lack of celebrity friends. Now they've got impersonators answering the phones. They actually do have Slash and Tatiana Del Toro and Octomom. Jim Carrey shows up, sees the motley crew and runs away.

Performance: "Change," Carrie Underwood. She tells Latifah that she will be donating 36 cents from each ticket on the fall leg of her tour to Save the Children. (The song references how 36 cents can change the world)

Video Package: Ellen and David Arquette visit a community center in Monrovia that works with Feeding America. They met a family who have benefited from the food bank.

Video Package: Ryan sits down with Bill and Melinda Gates to talk about their foundation and global health care

Wanda Sykes shows up and does some shtick about being a big fan and the silly sing out/video journey of the eliminated contestants.

Results #2:Siobhan, Mike, and Tim come center stage. Tim is in the bottom three, the other two are safe.

Bottom Three: Tim, Aaron, and Casey

Video Package: David Cook appears live in person to intro his package about his trip to Ethiopia for the U.N. Foundation which tries to help women succeed and avoid a life in the sex trade or domestic servitude.

Video Package Annie Lennox presents the story of a fragile young African girl with full-blown AIDS.

Latifah tells us that scheduled performer Annie is stranded in London because of the volcanic ash but we get an update on the same little girl who Annie visits after her drug therapy. She looks amazing and healthy. We then get Annie singing on video.

Performance: "Stairway to Heaven," Mary J. Blige and her all-star band featuring Orianthi, Steve Vai, Randy Jackson, Travis Barker, and Ron Fair. (Apparently, it was recorded as a bonus track for MJB's latest album "Stronger With Each Tear").

Video Package: Simon travels to Douglas, Arizona for the Children's Health Fund. He tells us about pediatrician Dr. John who is able to help patients in part thanks to previous "Idol Gives Back" fundraising.

Simon tells Ryan live onstage that since the show started they've raised $15 million.

Latifah asks Sir Elton John about his longstanding philanthropic contributions to the issue of HIV/AIDS. (He established a foundation in 1992). He urges people to get tested and to help others.

Performance: "Your Song," Sir Elton John

Ryan tells us that next week's theme will be Shania Twain songs and she will be the mentor.

Casey and Aaron are safe.

Going Home: Tim Urban

Ryan starts off the night reporting that last week's Idol Gives Back raised over $45 million dollars. (To celebrate, he appears to have worn an extra-shiny suit.)

Tonight is the music of Shania Twain, who is of course, in the audience. We re-meet Shania with a look back through her 15 year career as the biggest crossover country-pop artist. Her third album "Come on Over," with 34 million copies, is the best selling album ever by a woman in any genre.

We revisit her guest judging in Chicago and see some mentoring clips. Ryan pulls her out of the audience and says she thought it might be hard for the guys to sing a girl's songs, but they did great.

Roll mentoring. She starts with Lee, who she saw in Chicago. He's singing "You're Still the One." She advises him to lose the guitar, but he takes the stage with it.

Randy Jackson calls it one of his favorite songs of all time and says Lee found it a way to make it his own half-way through. Ellen thinks every song sounds like his own and he "couldn't look cuter." Kara thinks his voice makes every song sound relevant. Simon calls it "the perfect song" from Shania but says he was making weird faces. The music cuts Simon off and he barks at Kara for interrupting him. Same old shtick.

Ryan mentions the American Idols Live tour will go on sale May 14.

We see Mike sing "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing." She advises him to try to feel it. He sings the heart broken ballad.

Randy thinks the balladeer suits him. Ellen compares him to Luther Vandross and felt his emotions. Kara commends him for seeming connected to the songs when he sings and says he changed the song just enough. Simon seconds the Luther comparison, but calls the performance "wet." The other judges ask what the heck he means. "It was a little bit girly for you," he says.

Shania says he got her choked up and calls for make-up.

Casey James is up next and sits down with Ryan. Ryan reminds him of Simon calling him "lazy" and Casey promises to switch it up.

In the mentoring, Shania thinks he's lacking inner confidence. He's singing "Don't." He says he's more excited about this performance than any. "It's a 'singing song', I don't think I've sang yet."

He performs with his guitar (and his lustrous hair).

Randy calls it one of his best performances. Ellen thought it really suited him and was his best. Kara commends him for being vulnerable and raw. Simon thinks last week was a good wake-up call for Casey and this was his best performance so far and suggests he give Shania a kiss. (They hug.)

Crystal sits down with Ryan. She mentions Shania's constant glow and calls her "super sweet."

Crystal's singing "No One Needs to Know." Shania suggests she sing a big happier. Crystal says it's a song for her boyfriend. "He'll man up one of these days," she giggles. (The song is about a woman singing to her boyfriend to hurry up and propose.)

She performs with the band and the audience claps along.

Randy liked the acoustic version and commends her for doing a country version of Shania's country song. Ellen says again there's nothing she can't do, but it wasn't her favorite ("but that's like saying what's your favorite color of the rainbow?") Kara echoes their comments and Crystal notes that it just wasn't as big a performance and bigger isn't always better. Simon stops chuckling long enough to call it "limp" and compares it to a coffee shop band performance. He says it lacked conviction and calls it forgettable, but says he still likes her.

As for the lack of conviction: they zoom in on Crystal's boyfriend in the audience.

On to Aaron, who's singing "You Got Away." Shania thinks he sounds preoccupied and tells him to sing with conviction.

He performs.

Randy says he was in his wheelhouse and Ellen says this is going to be a tough elimination week. Kara totally agrees and says he really felt it (and changed a line from "when we make love," which is good since he says he was singing to his mom). Simon, on the other hand, thinks he struggled the last two weeks but tonight he was like a different artist.

Siobhan is last and is singing "Any Man of Mine." Shania urges her to put some attitude into the lyrics.

She sings.

Randy loved it. Ellen gets pun-y saying: "Way to pull the Shania Twain into the station." Simon liked it, but didn't love the screaming at the end.

Then it's recap time and Ryan tells us tomorrow Shakira will drop by. The end.

Ryan welcomes us, saying 33 million votes were cast last night. Shakira, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum will be performing.

First up, Rascal Flatts, singing "Unstoppable."

Ryan mentions it's the band's third time on the show and teases us for Shakira.

Then it's time for the Ford music video, called "Idol Vampire." We see behind the scenes, where five are made up and Mike prepares to get eaten. With pale skin and weird contacts, they stalk Mike in his Mustang at night. He fends them off with a pizza with extra garlic, clever boy, as they sing "Believe."

Ryan tells us about the weekend trip to the studio for "Shrek Forever After," in which he has a part. They practice voicing his scene. Mike does Scottish Shrek sounding more like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Siobhan sounds like Yoda. Then they get to see the movie with Ryan, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas and 250 screaming fans.

Mike is sure to say Ryan's three lines were the highlight of the movie. Back in the theater, Antonio Banderas and Cameron Diaz are there to talk up the movie, which they swear is the final Shrek.

Then it's finally time for some news. There will be three groups of two on the stage. Ryan recaps Siobhan's comments, which were generally positive. She says singing in front of Shania was intimidating but an honor. Ryan sends her to the far side of the stage.

Then Aaron, who was called "believable" and "sincere." He's sent to the middle of the stage.

Big Mike was lauded for putting his mark on the song, but Simon called it a little "wet" and girly. Ryan asks Simon to explain. "Imagine you singing," Simon tells Ryan. (It doesn't sound like a compliment.) He stays next to Ryan.

Lee says he connected with "You're Still the One I Want." Ryan sends him to stand with Siobhan.

Casey sang "Don't," and the judges thought it was his best performance to date. Kara says she's a big believer in him, and not just because he's good looking. He's sent to stand with Mike.

Which leaves Crystal, who got her her first not-rave reviews. Ellen doesn't think it'll hurt her, "America's not that fickle." She tells Crystal she doesn't think she's in trouble. She goes to stand with Aaron.

Then it's time for musical spotlights. Ryan moves Siobhan to stand with Casey and Mike. They are the bottom three.

Aaron, Lee and Crystal are safe.

Hugs are exchanged.

Ryan tells us Harry Connick Jr. will be mentoring next week with the songs of Frank Sinatra.

Ryan welcomes Carrie Underwood to introduce the band she's touring with, Sons of Sylvia performing "Love Left to Lose."

Then it's Lady Antebellum with their triple platinum hit "Need You Now."

After the break, it's time for Shakira with Rascal Flatts singing "Gypsy." (She starts with harmonica and of course shakes her hips a little.)

Ryan asks Shakira what advice she has for the contestants. She says she's quoting Roosevelt and says "Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground." (Ryan helps her out, pointing out it's actually Casey Kasem.)

Mike tells Ryan that tonight's "there's no shame" in the bottom three because everyone did well last night. Ryan gives his usual pause and announces that Mike is safe.

Which leaves Casey and Siobhan. The person going home is... Siobhan.

Ryan says she has "an independent spirit, laser focus and an incredible work ethic." The other contestants stand and clap for her. Ryan asks her what impact being on the show has had. "I did my best and I hope I showed them (her sisters) we're capable of anything." We see her trip, including glass blowing and Alicia Keyes saying she's impressed with her voice. She says good bye and performs "Think."

"American Idol" - Top Five Performance Show - May 4, 2010

Theme:Frank Sinatra

Mentor:Harry Connick, Jr. We get video packages on both Frank and Harry and the art of interpretation. Harry is not only serving as mentor but he's also writing the arrangements and playing live with the band behind them.

In the audience: Anthony Hopkins; Rob Reiner; Nancy and Tina Sinatra (who give Simon, a big Sinatra fan, one of their dad's handkerchiefs);

Contestant #1: Aaron Kelly Harry jokes with him and and Aaron sits at the piano and Harry works with him on specific notes and harmonic chords. Harry likes him.

Song: "Fly Me to the Moon"

Performance: He starts slow with just piano and voice. It's a little shaky in spots. The tempo picks up, he looks a little lost or disconnected. The arrangement swings but he doesn't. He hits some good notes, some bad ones, and some just adequate ones.

Randy: Was worried about him and thinks he did a really good job.

Ellen: Ellen agrees calling it beautiful.

Kara: Thought it was good but not as strong as last week. Wants him to have more charisma.

Simon: Says Frank was the king of cool and he calls Aaron a mouse. It didn't have enough conviction for him. Gives him credit for effort though.



Contestant #2: Casey James In Ryan stool chat Harry jokes with Casey and tells him not to screw it up. Casey jokes that a friend of his who doesn't watch TV called him last week and asked if he was interesting in playing a gig for 50 bucks and a free meal. Casey said he was a little busy.

Casey's a big HC,Jr. fan. They joked alot during rehearsal. Harry sometimes it's not about the lyrics but the groove and that's what Casey's going for and he's pulling for him.

Song: "Blue Skies"

Performance: With his hair pulled back the song starts off in a slow, bluesy Ray Charles place. It moves up to an ambling pace and Casey is sharp a lot. This may be his most shaky performance pitch-wise of the whole show. The performance has very little arc or range to it.The crowd seems to love it though.

Randy: Says it was his worst performance and pitchy.

Ellen: Says it felt very stiff and not cool or easy.

Kara: Criticizes his out of control vibrato and said he had no control.

Simon: Says he wasn't fantastic and came over a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Harry says he killed it in rehearsal.



Contestant #3: Crystal Bowersox Says she picked the song for personal reasons which she doesn't share with Harry but he likes that it's personal. He says there's nothing he needs to tell her. He wants to figure out what it means to her.

Song: "Summer Wind"

Performance: With her hair done up and wearing a slinky gown she looks great. She eases into a softer, jazzy place nicely. It's a little wedding singer-esque but she sounds good, especially one beauty note. It was a bit uncomfy but she made it work for her.

Randy: Isn't sure she did anything different with it and it was okay but a little sleepy for him.

Ellen: At first she was nervous that she was swallowing her words but she thought it got better and wished it had been a little snappier but thought it was impressive.

Kara: It was out of her element but she liked it and she liked her phrasing.

Simon: Loved the song but thought it was a bad choice. Thought the first half was too jazzy but the second half was better. He thinks she's now had two just okay weeks and next week she needs to nail it.

She comes back that she doesn't feel that she needs to hit big notes just because she's on "American Idol" and that it's a sweet love song.



Contestant #4: Michael Lynche In Ryan stool chat he talks about singing with a 12-piece band so it helped this week. Harry tells him to think about his girl when he's singing

Song: "The Way You Look Tonight"

Performance: Like everybody else he starts out slow, this time just with the strings. The band kicks in and he's got the cool down and he's hitting his notes too. So far it's the best performance of the night in terms of effortlessness.

Randy: Is psyched and says this is what he's talking about.

Ellen: Says he has the most comfort onstage and it really showed and thought it was smooth and charismatic.

Kara: Loved that he took us on a journey but kept himself in the song.

Simon: Says he knows it's been a lot of pressure and that he brought the show back on track and he liked how everything and everybody on stage worked together.



Contestant #: Lee Dewyze Harry likes him a lot and says his wife thinks he's cute. He thinks he looks like a younger version of himself. Lee likes Harry too, he thinks he's funny. Harry tells him to give a "half hour" to certain words to make the audience know the lyrics and that he knows and has lived him.

Song: "That's Life"

Performance: Harry gets down on organ while Lee lays it down on a stool. He's got some good notes but he's still got a bit of fear in his eyes, he's not owning the swagger. It gets better as it goes along. Harry gives him a congratulatory hug at the end.

Randy: Loved that he stayed himself and loved the performance.

Ellen: She says if this was the last night of performances he would've won the whole thing.

Kara: Asks him if he thinks he can win. He says yes. She tells him to really believe it because that's the confidence he needs.

Simon: Says Harry managed to bring out his personality and confidence, he liked that he gave 110 percent and says it was by far the best performance.

"American Idol" - Top Five Results - May 5, 2010

Group Sing: Frank Sinatra medley including "The Lady is a Tramp," "A Very Good Year," "I've Got the World on a String"

Ryan announces next week's theme will be "Songs of the Cinema" and the mentor will be Jamie Foxx.

Ford Commercial{/b] "1, 2, 3, 4," Plain White T's It's an outdoor cafe scene where Crystal thinks Lee is flirting with her but really it's the car.

Video Package: We get a look behind the scenes on performance day, from breakfast to dress rehearsal.

Results #1: Lee is safe

Performance: "Alejandro," Lady Gaga She starts with a little of "Bad Romance" before launching into the newer tune. There are lots of dancers, dry ice, dramatic violins, a lacy peekaboo outfit and thumpy dance beats.

Video Package: We get outtakes of the kids working with Harry. I am a huge fan of him calling the judges out on using the non-word pitchy.

Performance: "And I Love Her," Harry Connick, Jr. (covering the Beatles and showing how it should be done)

Performance: A Harry Connick, Jr. medley by the Top Five on which Harry accompanies them.

Harry tells the story about meeting Frank Sinatra for the first time at Frank's 75th birthday party.

Results #2: Crystal and Casey are in one group, Big Mike and Aaron in another. Ryan tries to get Lee to choose which group is safe and which group the bottom two. Crystal and Casey are safe.

Bottom Two: Michael and Aaron

Going Home: Aaron

"American Idol" - Top Four Performance - May 11, 2010

Theme: Songs from the movies

Mentor: Jamie Foxx

In the audience: Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel;

Video Package: A look at Jamie Foxx. He's in the audience with shirts that say "contestant" and "artist" and says he told them he challenged them to rise above and he'd award the proper shirt.

Contestant #1: Lee Dewyze He gets in his face like he did with Danny Gokey and tells him to take it from inside to outside. Jamie gives him an artist shirt.

Song: "Kiss From a Rose," Seal ("Batman")

Performance: There are some pitch problems, some presence issues, and a strong karaoke vibe but it's fine in general.

Randy: He thinks it was just okay, he did nothing with it and it's pitchy in spot. He calls it a bad choice.

Ellen: Agrees he could've done more but says he's so good.

Kara: Says he had a great week last week and that the song was too wide in range and he was buried by the arrangement.

Simon: Agrees with Randy that he didn't choose a brilliant song and that it was verging on karaoke. He says it's "contestant" t-shirt for sure.





Contestant #2: Michael Lynche In Ryan stool chat he asks about the pressure. Michael says you have the pressure of your family and city wanting you get into the top 3 so you can bring it home. That was also his personal goal. In his video package Jamie detects some self-esteem issues. They dance and shadowbox. He tries to give him a contestant shirt but Michael says he's coming back for the artist shirt.

Song: "Will You Be There," Michael Jackson ("Free Willy")

Performance: He starts low and it's a shade shaky but he quickly gets up into a higher register. A quintet of backing vocalists serve as a choir. It's fine, heartfelt, but not particularly interesting.

Randy: He didn't love it and wished he'd chosen an R&B song and said it was just alright.

Ellen: Says the choir was helpful and powerful and says it was weird that his goal is to be top 3. She thinks it was a little predictable.

Kara: Says she thought about previous performances that gave her goosebumps and she says he played it safe.

Simon: Asks what "Free Willy" is about and when he learns he's still confused. He thinks he should've chosen a better song. He says at least he gave a good effort and he kind of felt that he meant it.

Duet #1: Crystal and Lee "Falling Slowly," Glenn Hansard and Marketa Irglova (aka Swell Season) ("Once") Wow, really, really nice. Committed, in tune, passionate. This will put them both in good stead for next week.

Randy: That's what he's talking about.

Ellen: Thought it was great.

Kara: One of her favorite moments of the entire season.

Simon: Calls it fantastic

Crystal says Lee is her "musical" crush.



Contestant #3: Casey James Jamie tells him to seduce him, or eventually look past him and get into the moment. Jamie gives him an artist shirt.

Song: "Mrs. Robinson," Simon and Garfunkel ("The Graduate")

Performance: Armed with a uke and seated in the audience Casey ambles through the song quietly but amiably. It's a nice vocal if not a scintillating performance.

Randy: Asks why he chose the song. Casey says a lot of things and Randy points to cougar Kara. Thought he sounded cool and if not had him jumping out of his seat.

Ellen: Likes that he came back and did something different with the song and wished he'd gone further with the changes.

Kara: Says for her this is him fighting to stay in the competition and she really thought it was a good choice.

Simon: Didn't think it had the substance required on this important night, he thought it was a little bit lazy and that he could've made more of an impact.



Contestant #4: Crystal Bowersox In Ryan stool chat he asks about the choice. She says the mood is low and it's a funny film and a good song. She was a little starstruck with Jamie. He tells her to not be shy and to raise her eyes and make it a testimony. He gives her an artist shirt.

Song: "I'm Alright," Kenny Loggins ("Caddyshack")

Performance: She bends the song a bit and makes it a bit swampier and bluesier. It's funky and light with a bit of bite.

Randy: Loves that she tries to switch it up and fit her even if it wasn't his favorite performance.

Ellen: Says that performance got "crystallized" and that she took the song and made it better.

Kara: Agrees that she made it better and is an artist.

Simon: He says after that performance she's back in the game.

Duet #2: Michael and Casey "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman," Bryan Adams ("Don Juan DeMarco") Both armed with guitars they do a nice job on a song that is pure schmaltz. They do nice harmonies and Casey plays some nice dusty licks. This song is going to save one of their bacons and I'm guessing it's Casey.

Randy: Loved it.

Ellen: Says as a matter of fact she has loved a woman.

Kara: Says the duets were incredible and better than all of the solo performances.

Simon: He says they should give Jamie's artist t-shirts to the duets because that was really well-done.

"American Idol" - Top Four Results - May 12, 2010

Ryan says 37 million votes came in, a high for the season.

In the audience: Police drummer Stewart Copeland

Performance: "Bittersweet," Fantasia. She talks about her new album and her now nine-year-old daughter with Ryan.

Ford Commercial: "Put the Message in the Box," World Party. The gang drives the car around the world like the song says.

Video Package: Previous hometown visits for peeps like Carrie, Taylor, Elliott, Bo, Kris, Archie, and Jordin etc.

Ryan introduces the families and friends of the contestants who are sitting on the couches. Ryan declares he will announce the results in random order

Results #1: Casey is safe.

Performance: "September," Daughtry. Daughtry talks about how amazing it is to play in arenas and how he doesn't take fans for granted. Daughtry's advice is to "stay hungry" and to not compromise.

Results #2: Lee is safe.

Two left standing: Crystal and Big Mike

Performance: "Superman Tonight," Bon Jovi. Ryan asks about their longevity. They chalk it up to hard work, good luck, and good fans.

Going Home: Big Mike

"American Idol" - Top Three Performance - May 18, 2010

The final three get two songs tonight, one of their own choosing and one chosen by a judge.

Everybody also goes home for a visit.

In the audience: Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford of new Fox series "The Good Guys"; And what really looks like Candice Bergen

Contestant #1: Casey James Says he picked his song because it's similar to the type of things he writes so it will be representative of who might be as an artist.

Song #1: "Okay It's Alright With Me," Eric Hutchinson

Performance: It's jaunty, he's smiling, rocking his acoustic guitar. He sounds fine but the song feels a little lightweight.

Randy He says that the song was just alright with him and says it was too safe and easy.

Ellen Felt the same way and that he didn't bring it and blow them away.

Kara Says it was a poor choice since most people probably didn't know it.

Simon He compares it to salad at dinner, that it will leave people hoping that something more substantial is to come. He calls it a dud song choice but agrees with the others that he sounded good.



Contestant #2: Crystal Bowersox She chose her song because she loves it and it's about love and passion.

Song #1: "Come to My Window," Melissa Etheridge.

Performance: She's rocking a harmonica as well as her acoustic. She starts off with a bit of harp and then eases into the song. She sounds okay, again not a spectacular performance and it seems like the harmonica is impeding her access to the microphone. It actually feels a little shaky on a couple of the high notes. She ends with a little fillip on the harp.

Randy He didn't love the arrangement which he said was fighting her a bit but he did like the vocal.

Ellen Agrees it was a good choice and thinks Melissa would be very proud of her.

Kara Agrees it was a good choice but that the arrangement did confuse her a bit and thought she got lost a bit and tone-wise it wasn't ideal.

Simon Agrees with everything everyone else says but says he respects that she hasn't compromised who she is as an artist.

She tells Ryan she felt delighted and is glad to sing one of her favorite songs and that she has friends and family in the house and that everyone is healthy.



Contestant #3: Lee Dewyze In stool chat he talks about how amazing it was being home and trying to bring the energy of that back to the stage. He chose his song because the lyrics speak to him personally.

Song #1: "Simple Man," Lynyrd Skynyrd

Performance: He's also rocking an acoustic and starts out with just guitar and voice. The band kicks in. He sounds pretty good but it's another low-key number. There are a few rough notes but it's competent enough. Just not exciting.

Randy Loves the song choice and thinks he sounded amazing and felt like he seemed like he could win.

Ellen Says that's what they're talking about it and that he clearly is taking things seriously now. She compares him to a lamb transforming to a gazelle.

Kara She says he showed them everything that he's got and what the others should be doing. She calls round one for him.

Simon Says that was absolutely on the money. He says he not only won the first round he crushed the other two in round one.

Video Package: Casey's hometown visit to Texas. He learns his song will be "Daughters" by John Mayer during his rally outside the phone store. Kara and Randy thinks it's a viable song for him and he needs to be vulnerable.

Casey

Song #2: "Daughters," John Mayer

Performance: He's going for vulnerable but the song doesn't have much edge or dynamism or melodic arc. It's super boring, no matter who's singing it. He sounds nice though and he peels off an elegant little electric guitar solo.

Randy He likes this choice much better and hopes he continues in this direction.

Ellen Thought it was beautiful and will garner a lot of votes.

Kara Thinks it showed the more artistic side of him and was a good choice and he did a good job.

Simon Thinks it was much, much better but that it was a lazy arrangement which ends on a limp guitar solo and he blames Randy and Kara for not infusing it with more vocal fire. Kara gets snippy. Simon says it had no wow factor. Kara says it wasn't written that way.

Video Package: We see Crystal at her homecoming in Ohio and she gets the text for her song choice, "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney. Ellen picked it because she loves the song and she loves Crystal and she hopes she will show some range and tear the song apart.

Crystal

Song #2: "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney

Performance: She starts sitting on the stairs. She does a very faithful version but rasps it up in the bridge. It sounds solid but it's not setting fires.

Randy Says it's a great song, she sang great, and she's now in it to win it.

Ellen Says she couldn't have asked for more.

Kara Says she didn't change it up much but showed new parts to her voice and loved that she eschewed a guitar.

Simon Was initially surprised by the song choice but says now he gets it and she proved that she's got soul and next week she'll be thanking Ellen for putting her in the finals.

Video Package: We watch Lee head home to Illinois and get his song choice from Simon as he's landing in Chicago: "Hallelujah," by Leonard Cohen. Simon says he picked it because he thinks this will give Lee a big moment to show his potential.

Lee

Song #2: "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen

Performance: Superior song, superior performance. More dynamic from gentle to growling, better pitch, more conviction. Plus he gets a choir of back-up singers and that never hurts. This will put him in the finals. Say goodnight Casey. Simon looks very pleased. He gets a big ovation.

Randy Says he's been waiting all season to see who's going to throw down the gauntlet and Lee did and he gives some credit to Simon.

Lee takes a moment to thank Simon.

Ellen Says it was just stunning.

Kara Says he is what this show is about, someone who takes a journey and he calls him the heart of the show and says he owned the entire night.

Simon Says he's very, very proud of him and that he proved that he's a fantastic singer, a great person, and he really hopes he makes it to next week.

"American Idol" - Top Three Results - May 19, 2010

Ryan says 47 million votes came in.

He sits around and raps with the contestants about how they're feeling, the competition thus far, their "real lives," how much work the show is, and the judges comments. "Not every single comment was usable," quips Casey.

Ford Commercial: "Wild One (Real Wild Child)," the gang graffittis a wall and comes to life as animated artwork.

Video Package: Casey's return to Texas. We get the requisite screaming girls, Fox affiliate visit, family reunion, and rally. It's at a stadium with thousands of people. He also visits the hospital where he was cared for after his accident and thanks them. His mini-concert also has thousands in attendance.

Performance: Travis Garland, a former boy band-er that Perez Hilton is pimping. Hilton says he's better than Justin Timberlake. He is wrong. Garland sings his single "Believe." There's a "Stomp"-style percussion choir and a cadre of back up dancers.

Video Package: Crystal heads home to Ohio. Fox affiliate, fans, family reunion, autographs, a parade with thousands of fans, a gift of the key to the city of Toledo from the mayor, a declaration of Crystal Bowersox Day. Her mini-concert is dubbed "Bowerstock." She is touched they used her own song "Holy Toledo" as part of the package.

Video Package: Lee is off to Chicago for the same routine including a visit to his elementary school complete with cute screaming kids. He gets to throw the first pitch at a Cubs game. He goes to his paint store and visits old friends. He's sweetly overwhelmed. His mini-concert may win the attendance award, the benefit of living in a large urban area.

Performance: Justin Bieber sings his songs "You Smile" and "Baby."

Going Home: Casey James

"American Idol" - Top Two Performance - May 25, 2010

We have moved to the Nokia Theatre for part one of the finale.

Crystal gets confused by walking down the aisle but she and Lee make it to the stage.

Crystal won the coin toss and elected to go second.

Video Package: We get a montage of Lee growing up and he and his parents reminiscing.



Lee Performance #1

Song: "The Boxer," Simon & Garfunkel

Performance: This is a much more nuanced and assured performance but the dynamics are a little extreme from the beginnings and endings of phrases.

Randy: Says it's a great way to start it off. Thought it sounded nice but that he needs more energy.

Ellen: Says he was better that time and she's proud of him.

Kara: Agrees with Randy about energy but liked the personal quality.

Simon: Says this is the big one but he's expecting more passion, a kiss on the lips not on the cheek.

Video Package: We get Crystal's montage and reminiscences from her and her dad.



Crystal Performance #1

Song: "Me and Bobby McGee," Janis Joplin

Performance: She slows it down a bit and seems a bit tentative until it speeds up and she hits her zone. There a couple of rough notes but she's feeling it so it works.

Randy: Thought it started slow but by the end it got to the Crystal we know and love.

Ellen: Thinks she's really compelling and fills the room.

Kara: Loved it the first time and loved it tonight.

Simon: This brought him back to the time that they fell in love with her and now they have a competition.



Lee Performance #2 Executive Producer's Choice

Song: "Everybody Hurts," R.E.M.

Performance: This does not pick things up. It is slow, oddly tuned, and has some pitch issues. A choir does not solve this problem, especially when they raise their arms.

Randy: Thinks it was definitely better passion-wise even though it was pitchy at first.

Ellen: Agreed that he went off a few times and she didn't care about that but worried that he pulled back at the most exciting moments.

Kara:Thinks it's great that he's a storyteller but admits it wasn't a perfect vocal.

Simon: Thinks it was a brilliant choice but he did go off pitch a bit. He says he knows he's nervous but for the last performance he wants a 10 out of 10.



Crystal Performance #2 Executive producer's choice.

Song: "Black Velvet," Alannah Myles

Performance: Eek, this song. She looks nervous walking down the stairs. She has no guitar and she's trying to give it her all, but the band is really loud and she's shouting over them.

Randy: This is what he's talking about.

Ellen: Thinks it was fantastic and gives her a standing ovation.

Kara: Thinks she went for it.

Simon: Had a problem because he's heard that song so often but he thinks she took the song and she nailed it.



Lee Performance #3 First single if he wins.

Song: "Beautiful Day," U2

Performance: With a string section onstage and working without his guitar, it's a kind of a slacker version of the song. He brings nothing to it but nerves and relief.

Randy: He feels that he's not a mover and it started rough but by the middle it was good.

Ellen: Asks how he feels. He feels good. Says watching him go through the process and grow and taking in the audience's energy made her proud.

Kara: Thinks he had some good moments and some not so good one. But says he's grown the most and deserves to be here.

Simon: Felt the effort but says in his final judgement on the show for him he says this is what the show is about, helping amateurs catch a break and he likes Lee and wishes him well.

Lee gives thanks for the show and says he will be doing this for the rest of his life no matter what.



Crystal Performance #3 First single if she wins

Song: "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)," Patty Griffin

Performance: Great song that has been covered by a lot of people, a real southern gospel flavor. It's nicely stripped back with a restrained choir and a lot of passion. This is her comfort zone.

Randy: Says this is what this show is about, calls it an amazing moment by an amazing singer.

Ellen: Is thrilled with how unique she is and thinks she's so good.

Kara: Calls it an important song and is glad that her walls came down emotionally in a way she's never seen before. Calls it amazing.

She takes a moment to say thanks to Simon and wishes him well.

Simon: Thought it was by far the best performance and the song of the night. His final critique: "That was outstanding."

Her final word is that her ride has been great and she's grateful to her family and her song.

Ryan also gives thanks to Simon and promises a few surprises tomorrow night.

Original "Pop Idol" winner Will Young performs this year's exit song "Leave Right Now" live over a montage of this season's highlights.

"American Idol" - Finale - May 26, 2010

Ryan announces that there was a less than two percent difference in votes between Crystal and Lee.

Group Sing The top twelve sings "School's Out" by Alice Cooper with Alice Cooper and Orianthi.

Performance Kris Allen sings "The Truth"

Video Package The first tribute to Simon.

Performance Siobhan Magnus and Aaron Kelly sing "How Deep is Your Love" by the Bee Gees and then the Bee Gees show up.

Performance Michael Lynche and Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers sing that band's "Taking it to the Streets"

Performance Dane Cook needles Simon in a song seemingly called "Simon Said," saying he has the honesty of Abe Lincoln and the charm of the man who shot him. A bunch of the people who took Simon's abuse including Bernardo and Tatianna come onstage and commandeer the microphone.

Performance The top six ladies- Crystal, Paige, Didi, Siobhan, Lacey, and Katie- sing "Beautiful" and "Fighter"- by Christina Aguilera, who joins them onstage for the finale of "Fighter" and then sings her own new song..

Performance "You Lost Me," Christina Aguilera

Ricky Gervais checks in via satellite to congratulate Simon on his success and poke fun at him.

Performance"I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"/"Maneater." The top six men- Lee, Casey, Andrew, Michael, Aaron, and Tim- tackle the Hall and Oates medley.

Performance Then the men themselves, Daryl Hall and John Oates pop up to sing "You Make My Dreams" with the top six joining them at the end.

We head back to Toledo where Crystal's fans have gathered to wave signs and scream.

Performance Crystal performs "Ironic" by Alanis Morrissette and is then joined by the Canadian songbird herself for a run through some of "You Oughta Know."

Performance Idol champ Carrie Underwood returns to sing her new single "Undo It."

Video Package Kris Allen presents Lee and Crystal with their custom decorated Fords.

Ford Commercial "My Wish," Crystal and Lee sing the uplifting tune over a montage of this season's Ford commercials with their fellow contestants.

Performance "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," Casey James. And then, ailing rocker and "Celebrity Apprentice" winner Bret Michaels comes out to sing with him.

Ryan announces that in addition to the already announced audition cities the show will also taking the contest online in conjunction with Myspace..

Performance Lee performs a medley of hits by Chicago with Chicago in honor of their shared hometown including "Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?," "If You Leave Me Now," and "25 or 6 to 4."

We check in with Lee's screaming and sign-waving fans in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.

Video Package We get a montage of clips in tribute to Simon Cowell the flirt.

Performance "Pants on the Ground," Gen. Larry Platt and he's got some moves. William Hung shows up to help out as do a cadre of pants-dropping dancers.

Video Package We get Paula Abdul reminiscing about her years working on "Idol" with Simon.

Performance Paula emerges and shares a little mutual admiration with the judges and Ryan. She jokes that she and Simon had a baby. She needles him and pays tribute to him.

Video Package A montage of clips of Simon throughout the years set to Frank Sinatra's "My Way." He gives thanks and says he's going to miss us.

Performance All of the previous winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks, Kris Allen to sing "Together We Are One." A whole host of previous contestants contestants to join the choir. Notably absent is David Cook.

Ryan calls Simon up onstage. He gives a short speech giving heartfelt thanks.

Performance The top 12 sing "Again" with Janet Jackson. She then sings her new ballad "Nothing (Trust in Me)." Then we get classic JJ with "Nasty" complete with a cadre of dancers. (None of whom is Paula Abdul, sadly).

Video Package We get a montage of Lee and Crystal's "Idol" journeys.

Performance Crystal and Lee sing Joe Cocker's version of "With a Little Help From My Friends." And then, yup, there's Joe Cocker.

Winner Lee Dewyze