For Certain Reasons

Yes, I watch American Idol. And yes, I have opinions.

Elimination Recap:

Lacey Brown deserved to go, though there are worse contestants left. I actually think that if someone less boring was writing her songs, she may have a future as an independent artist.

The Judges:

Randy Jackson - He actually had a moment of clarity when he immediately recognized how boring Tim Urban's performance was.

Kara Dioguardi - There were moments when I didn't know what show she was watching. And get the damn out of Simon's face already. (Anybody have Paula's number?)

Simon Cowell - Reclaimed his spot as the voice of reason, particularly in his spot-on criticisms of Lee Dewyze and Casey James.

Ellen Degeneres - I still think that she has interesting things to say, but she dropped the ball big time on Casey James.


The Contestants, Worst to Best:

Tim Urban - I f**king hate this kid.

Paige Miles - To my Urban-hating dismay, I think she will be the one to go, and I can't say she doesn't deserve it. That was like one of the train-wreck performances from the opening shows.

Andrew Garcia - Wow. He literally reached the end of his talent rope, tried to tie a knot to hang on, and instead tied a noose. I can't remember ever seeing someone so completely extinguish their supply of performance ability.

Katie Stevens - She just can't find the right song, and it leaves her looking extremely amateurish.

Ted Douchenozzle - Only a mostly terrible night of performances saved his from being the worst. Completely boring, and I don't know what Randy, Ellen, and Kara were thinking. Hopefully they were embarassed watching it back. (Side Note - How about Ricky Minor hogging the stage with his crazy guitar dancing?0

Lee Dewyze - Bad, Bad, Bad. He looked really uncomfortable, and that arrangement was ridiculously awful.

Aaron Kelly - I keep wondering if his voice will change, because it's pretty good right now, and I think he will be a great country star making the kind of music that I will never, EVER want to hear. Sincere and likeable, if a little too awkward.

Didi Benami - My wife loves her, I kind of like her, and I think the judges are routinely a little too harsh on her. Her performance was a little too dramatic last night, bordering on weird but not fully crossing into it. Like I concluded last week - if you have to answer back to the judges criticism, you have already lost. No winner of American Idol has ever talked their way into it.

Mike Lynche - Finally got a sweet spot toward the end of the show. He's really given some great performances, but I agree with *shudder* Kara that it was a bit loungey, and I just don't see him closing the gap with the top 2.

Siobhan Magnus - While I don't find Celine Dion's voice to be aesthetically pleasing, I have to appreciate her raw ability - and that's pretty much how I feel about Siobhan Magnus. The difference between her speaking/resting personality and her performance personality is just mind-boggling. She definitely is a vampire. Definitely.

Crystal Bowersox - Perfect. I was a little taken aback when Simon mentioned that it was the Pink version, but she took a legendary singer in Janice and a very good singer in Pink and overshadowed them both. That's just silly.

Overall Impression

A very boring and talent-lacking night, save the top two performers. Maybe the top 5 separated a little more from the bottom 6.