The TOP 12…..3/6/08

Elimination round-from 16 down to 12

OMG the guest star is BLAKE LEWIS? THIS is the BEST they can scare up?!?? Thought he was worse than last year, certainly much more full of himself, still wearing his grandpa pants and doing his silly skippy sideways slidey dance moves…..yeccch

Paula’s song is now the #1 download on i-tunes????? My take on that whole matter is that it HAS to be repeat downloads-someone does it once and cannot BELIEVE it is supposed to sound like that, so they try again and assume it was another dud…and so on, and so on, and so on. Paula was at her worst this evening, really rambling and bickering with the others, interesting how they edit the re-runs of the judges feedback to make her sound coherent and like a real judge.

No big surprises to me…I called all of them. Kady Malloy-wow, gotta wonder if she deliberately sang especially horribly on her way out. Also, I had not noticed the incredible Kellie Pickler "shoes" on this girl before tonight. Maybe if she’d shown them off more she’d have lasted longer. So long, Barbie Kady.

St Luke, again, no surprise. Managed to get a standing O from Paula and also the famed "clap like a seal" move she’s so fond of. She seemed devastated to see him go. Wonder if he’d been her potential "crush" for the season……but just Go- GO, Luke. Good luck. Modeling might work out better for you. Are there male spokes-models??

Asia’h Epperson-WOO HOOO America saw through her…..go home. NOW.

Danny Noriega-certainly deserved the boot this week. Point of interest…Ramiele’s gut-wrenching tears about him leaving… why the hysterics? Did she think he was her soul mate or something? Sweetie, his internet rant #2 was focused on his being GAY, so I don’t think he had the same intentions you must have had. I felt worse for Ramiele than Danny.

And now, we are down to the TOP 12. I don’t get what the big deal is about being in the top 12. Only the top 10 go on tour-11 and 12 get diddly, just like 13-24…..unless something has changed…..oh well.

TOP 12-MORE IMPORTANTLY, DOWN TO 2 NIGHTS PER WEEK!!! 3/11/08

SIMON!!!! In a white shirt with buttons and not a black T-shirt!!! WOW-this is the fist time in 7 seasons (except for the finale) that he’s changed his look!!

The top 12 was standing on the new stage and all I could see was Cruella/Amanda standing there in her black and white striped pants…..she looked EXACTLY like Beetlejuice to me. What a mental image to kick off the evening.

Syesha Mercado-again, this girl can’t win, she does not have enough on the ball and she’s not that great a performer. I guess all she’s got going for her is that she’s one of the 2 females of color still in the game. She’s still a Barbie.

Chikezie!!! HOLY CRAP what a huge improvement. This was the first time he showed us anything that would justify his position in the top 12. Great performance-just great. Ryan was so weird about it that it got embarrassing.

Ramiele Malubay-still in desperate need of a stylist. She’s so tiny that her belt was wider than her entire head. Pretty voice, pretty girl, boring. Better step it up or she’ll be leaving soon. I think she’s safe this week.

Jason Castro-Dreads is safe this week, but not nearly as good as last week. Needs to stop hiding behind the guitar-it’s getting old. Paula was creepy "feeling his heart and emotional connection" (And it was just as creepy when she said the same thing to Brooke later in the show)

Carly Smithson-fabulous performance and the crowd and judges loved her. I expect to see her really move ahead of the pack in the next few weeks. She’ll be in the finale.

David Cook-strange rock version of Eleanor Rigby, which somehow worked. Still a weird guy, still has horrible hair. Simon said that if this show were based on talent and not popularity, you would win the show. Not sure I agree with that, but I do agree he’s short in the charisma dept, although not as bad a performer as I once thought. Skinny weeble will be safe.

Brooke White-ok, being likeable is her strong suit and her innocence is quite a novelty for Simon to have to deal with. She’s ok-I don’t see her winning-not quite sure all the love from Simon is warranted. Seems more like a nanny to me than a real star---but we’ll see

David Hernandez-yikes-if’ he’d been this bad last week with all the bad press and stripper stories, he’d be gone. I think he’ll squeak by this week but only because someone else was SO much worse.

Amanda/Cruella/Beetlejuice-seems much more toned down and reasonable this week. Hated the song, hated her performance, but at least she was able to give a half smile and not look so drugged and out of it. I don’t get a big thrill out of her-not sure why the judges keep insisting she is "needed" and a "breath of fresh air" I’m ok with her leaving any time at all. I think she’s safe this week, but not for long.

Michael Johns-another one-not sure what all the hype is about. He’s consistently good-not consistently incredible. Likeable enough, good-looking-but nothing about him has blown me out of my recliner chair yet. Safe-no doubt-this week.

Kristy Lee Cook-OMG OMG OMG WHAT was this dimbulb thinking!?!?? Wandered onto the stage with her ripped jeans and glittery top, assumed the weird stance (like she’s about to mount a bull for a ride) and did some baffling country/disco version of 8 Days a Week. Simon told her she sounded like Dolly Parton on helium and I thought that was flattering compared to what I’d have said. Weird and scary performance and she just got her free ticket home. I’m 100% sure she’ll be leaving us tonight and will be riding her bull off into the sunset while the banjos play. This sort of incident just emphasizes how country music can go horribly wrong…..ear-bleedingly, marrying your brother who is also your step-uncle, and dancing with the sheep BAAAAD. I assume we’ll be in for an encore performance so stop by Kmart for earplugs on your way home this evening.

David Archuleta-stunk. But I believe this will work in his favor. He has a strong fan base already, and now he has the "mean old Simon" sympathy vote. Folks will not be assuming everyone else voted for him so he’ll get votes just to keep him in the competition. I think he’s safe and we can expect him in the finale as well if he takes an occasional risk and makes a few mistakes along the way.

Bottom 3-Kristy Lee Cook, David Hernandez, and Ramiele …but I’m confident that Kristy Lee will be outta here tonight.