We're halfway through the finals on American Idol, and yet I feel as though we've been watching these "singers" for months. Oh, wait. We have been. (It's amazing how much they can stretch out these seasons!)

On our first Kristy Lee–free (thank goodness!) night, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was the mentor, and his songs were the theme.

The top six contestants with Andrew Lloyd Webber

Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Kicking it off in the opening time slot was Syesha Mercado, and she looked absolutely stunning.

Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/FOX

She sang "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" from Starlight Express. All three judges sang her praises, and I wholeheartedly agreed with them. For the first time all season, I felt like she showed personality in her performance. According to Paula Abdul, theater is Syesha's "thing," and it definitely showed. Simon Cowell even called it "sexy!" (Look closely at 4:08 to see Allison Janney in the audience!) … continue reading

Tonight is the second annual Idol Gives Back special on American Idol, and it promises to be a celebrity-studded event. Due to the success of last year's event, it is going to be longer, it has brought in even bigger performers and more corporate sponsors. Idol producers have set a goal of $100 million in donations and pledges — $25 million more than last year's total.

But I'm getting ahead of myself, because there were performances last night, to the tune of “inspirational songs.” And I have to admit that for the first time all season, I don't have any major complaints!

Photo credit: Michael Becker/FOX

Syesha Mercado got things started for the ladies by singing former Idol winner Fantasia Barrino's first single, “I Believe.” Randy may have thought she got in over her head on the performance, but I begrudgingly agree with Paula Abdul's grammatically correct yet awkward statement, “I just think hands down this is one of your most shining nights.” … continue reading

It's been a long time coming, but Dolly Parton finally stepped into the American Idol arena last night as a mentor. Though I was a little uncertain about how well the contestants would handle her collection of music, I was excited for a never-before-done theme. Dolly was fun and bubbly and encouraging and absolutely everything an Idol mentor should be.

One of my favorites, Brooke White (along with a bluegrass band), opened the show with “Jolene” and failed to impress the judges. I admit I wasn't completely blown away either, but I thought it was a solid performance. She's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Ramiele Malubay sang “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind,” and for the first time in several weeks, I feel like she chose the right song and sang it well. Simon Cowell, however, didn't like it and called her performance “forgettable.” (Is anyone surprised? He uses this insult every week.)

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After last week’s poor choice of theme on American Idol, I remember thinking to myself, “Self, it can only get better from here.” I was incredibly mistaken. It appears as though every theme will eventually repeat itself later in the season under the guise of a different name: “Songs from the Lennon/McCartney Songbook” became “Beatles Night,” and now “'80s Night” has morphed into “Songs from the Year You Were Born.” Oh, boy. (I can only count down the days until Dolly Parton is the mentor!)

Ramiele Malubay kicked things off with a performance of Heart’s “Alone,” prompting the inevitable comparison to Carrie Underwood’s performance of the same back in Season 4. Who sang it better? You decide.

Ramiele Malubay:

Carrie Underwood: … continue reading

The American Idol producers thought last week’s show went so well, they might as well do an “encore night” of Beatles songs. I guarantee you they regret their decision today. Last night, most of the contestants chose to pass on some of the more well-known Beatles songs, and very few performances stuck out. Luckily, for Kristy Lee Cook though, no one was completely dreadful this week, either. Amanda Overmyer finally got a chance to open the show last night, and I thought she looked great. Thank goodness they stopped overdoing it with her style.

As far as her sound, well, it was the same-old, same-old, and I think her time might be running out unless she can show us something new next week.

Kristy Lee Cook was as boring as usual. She is so out of her league in this competition, it’s ridiculous. Sadly, my favorite lady, Brooke White, was also fairly bland. She sang “Here Comes the Sun,” and when I say that’s what she sang, I’m being literal. Those were virtually the only lyrics she used in the entire performance. It was repetitive and awkward. She was totally out of her element, and I was totally disappointed. I’m just going to forget about that performance and focus back on “Let It Be” and “Love Is a Battlefield.”

The one bright spot on the night was our favorite Irish lady, Carly Smithson. She definitely loses points in my book, though, for her odd (and unnecessary) use of symbolism while explaining to Simon why she chose, out of the entire Beatles’ collection, to sing about a blackbird. … continue reading

It's St. Patrick's Day! I'm never quite sure what to make of this particular holiday, since it immediately brings to mind losers wearing green hats and guzzling green beer — or worse, parades that won't let the gays in. But in an attempt to accentuate the positive, here are seven (that's lucky!) delightful Irish people and things:

1. Carly Smithson

I'm still not entirely sure she can live up to all the hype, but American Idol contestant Smithson was great last week. I hope she'll continue to rock out, though I really don't think the Ann Wilson comparisons are right. There can be only one Ann Wilson. But kudos to Smithson for bringing Heart to the masses.

2. Roisin Connor (Siobhan McCarthy)

If you stopped watching Bad Girls after Helen and Nikki left the show, tune back in to see Roisin and Cassie, another star-crossed couple. Sometimes they wear very nice soooots.

3. Emma Donoghue … continue reading

Last night on American Idol, the new set was unveiled to mark the beginning of this year’s finals. Ryan Seacrest made a big to-do about it, and the cameras swooped around the stage to show off all the changes. I, for one, didn’t see that much difference, but I do like that the band is now on a balcony above the stage. That was cool.

When they finally got to the singing part of the show (remember that?), they revealed that the tunes for the evening would be those of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Apparently, the Idol producers decided it was a good idea to butcher songs by the greatest songwriters of all time, rather than the usual mediocre ones. I love the Beatles, and I figured out early that the performances would take on one of two forms: phenomenal or disastrous. Those are the only options for songs of this caliber.

Boy, was I dead on. I am sorry to report that on the aforementioned scale, the ladies were more frequently found on the “disastrous” end of things. Particularly Kristy Lee Cook, singing “8 Days a Week.” I believe this may have been one of the worst performances on Idol, ever (and I’m a country music fan!). Check out the fiasco performance for yourself.

Yuck. On the other hand, two of my favorite contenders were absolutely fantastic. Carly Smithson, everyone’s favorite Irish “amateur,” sang “Come Together.” In her pre-performance interview, Carly revealed that the song was very familiar to her; she sings it almost every time she performs. … continue reading

Now that the weeks-long exercise in public humiliation — aka the audition phase — is over, I can finally watch American Idol. Last night, the Hollywood round began, which means tonight we'll meet the 12 women and 12 men who will vie for the ultimate title.

I already have a favorite: Amanda Overmyer, the goth nurse from Indiana. The Janis Joplin comparison is probably going to get old, but she really does have that groove. The minute Amanda started singing last night, my girlfriend laughed and said, "You're such a sucker for a gravelly voice." I am, I am! Plus, Amanda reminds me of Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde.

Here she is with that whiskey-soaked voice of hers:

Meanwhile, I'm not quite sure what I think of Carly Smithson yet. She's the one who has already had a record deal, which still makes me go hmm. But she did belt the hell out of that great Heart song "Alone" last night (after a slow start), and I can't help but dig her tattoos. … continue reading

Today on the Chicago Tribune blog The Watcher, TV critic Maureen Ryan exposes an American Idol contestant who has already made an album. Carly Smithson, highlighted on last night's episode of Idol, released a major-label album in 2001 under her maiden name, Carly Hennessy. She got through to the Hollywood round on Idol in 2005, but had visa issues (she's Irish) and had to leave the show.

Apparently her MCA-backed album failed to launch her career: It sold only 378 copies in its first week. So she's still trying to get that big break.

Is this a cover-up on the producers' part, or no big deal? Says Ryan,

True, the singing contest is inevitably going to feature people who have had professional careers and recording contracts. But there’s a difference between someone who’s been a backup singer or had a few self-released or indie albums and someone who’s had major backing from one of the biggest record labels in the world.

Isn’t this competition about discovering fresh new talents? Smithson was hardly undiscovered. Fine. Just tell people that.

I guess that's just it; it depends on what the competition is about and how you define fresh. Yeah, she made a record, but not many people heard it — it's like that tree falling in the forest. Only more tuneful. How "undiscovered" can you be, anyway, in the MySpace age? … continue reading