Gina gets the Boot, Sanjaya is feeling "Fantastic"

Although I'm not. I'm glad that Gina, the one soul rocker this season made it this far. Sanjaya seems to have ruined Idol this year for several contestants, and that run seems to continue. Brandon and Stephanie are living in the Idol Oblivion of not having the chance to be on tour, which is very unfortunate since I feel they were both better than Mr. Hairstyle.
Next week, some latin flair on Idol with Jennifer Lopez, we'll have a preview Monday.

Tony Bennett, Boobs and Not a Hooters in Sight!

First off, kudos to Sanjaya for not going for the KFC bowl for the rest of his life. He actually sounded okay tonight, but I may have had something in my ears. Overall, the evening was solid from beginning to end. Lakisha is becoming a little 'old' to me. I know she has this big, booming voice, but part of me doesn't like her that much anymore.
Onto who did well, Blake started off the night well, Melinda knocked another one out of the park, and even Mr, Malakar showed off some personality and had a dance with Paula, which will most likely keep him safe again this week. Who's headed home...the bottom three...Haley, Phil, and Chris Richardson this week are at risk.
Don't forget the podcasts, I'll let you know who is going home this week and you may be surprised.

Standards with Tony Bennett: Top 9

Time to start another evening of Sanjaya's hair...if he has a 'bowl' style, KFC will give him free KFC Bowls for a year...(read that on Ken Tucker's site from USA Today). Solid piece on Tony Bennett...Blake up first....
Blake, "Mack the Knife", solid performance from Blake, nice to see two slow to medium tempo tunes in a row from him, he's gettin into it, like the dance moves, nice on the close...Judges: Randy, very good way to start, perfect song for him, Paula, personified pizzaz, a hipcat, just cool, Simon, good choice of song, give him 7/10, band 8/10. Nice start to the evening from Blake.
Phil and Melinda next....
Phil, "Night and Day", another slowdown, which is good. seemed a little sluggish at the start, liked what he did with singing the song title, showing off some range toward the end. Nice job. Judges: Randy, interesting choice, sang it good, didn't feel any passion, Paula, reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra, have more joy, Simon, had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor, completely and utterly gloomy and slightly dark.
Melinda, "I've Got Rhythm", slow and sultry from Mel, very comfortable on the stage, she's on all her notes, like the band tonight with her too, and back to the slow for the close, she's brought it home tonight, outta the park for Melinda. Judges: Randy, gives everyone a lesson in singing, this is how you do it right here, Paula, like a master class, Simon, thought the second half was fun, doesn't think they'll ever be able to criticize her.
Chris Richardson and Jordin up next.
Chris, "Mr. Saturday Night", good stage presence, good start to the song, he's singing with some emotion tonight, good close. Judges: Randy, came out with a vengence, very cool and young and hip, Paula, made it hip and cool, Simon, made it hip and worked out out very well, one of the strongest tonight.
Jordin, "On a Clear Day", she's on pitch, nice beginning, she's singing from the heart, like she's giving advice to a friend who is down. She seems very comfortable on stage, great note on the close. Wow! Look out for Jordin...Judges: Randy, we got some heat up here, that was the bomb again, Paula, you are this magnet of joy and you exude it on stage, I'm just so freakin' proud, I don't know what to say, Simon, thinks she sang it very well, but was very traditional and old fashioned. Jordin is one to watch in this competition, I've said that before and I'm sure I'll say it again. Gina and Sanjaya up next. I mentioned in the podcast about the 'rockers' this week on the show, what will Gina do?
Gina, "Smile", I like what she did with her hair tonight, she was singing with some emotion, but didn't get into it till about 3/4 of the way through. Not a bad song for her. Judges: Randy, that was a very nice controlled performance, Paula, a flawless performance, sentimental, Simon, had two other females tonight with better vocals.
Sanjaya, "Heaven", well, it's Sanjaya, he's very smiley tonight, ooh and he dances with Paula, well he's the one who's had the most fun tonight so far, he managed to pull off a rather solid vocal too! Judges: Randy, can't even comment on the vocals, turned into a great entertainer, Paula, I get why people love you, your charming, Simon, uh, lets try a different tactic this week, incredible.
Haley coming up next, which means Lakisha closes the show again this season and has a chance to top Melinda this week.
Haley, "Savin' My Love for You", liked the off stage start, shows she's comfortable, she's having some fun with the performance and is hitting her notes, another great female vocal tonight! Judges: Randy, fits her vibe, Paula, did I tell you green is a good color?, Simon, I think you've got great legs, a good style of music. Not a bad performance from Haley, if it was earlier in the night, I think the judges would have been more enthusiastic. Lakisha to close the show next.
Lakisha, "Stormy Weather", nice sultry start for Lakisha, great vocals. Judges: Randy, love this, saved it all for the middle and the end, Paula, sound beautiful, Simon, that was a sassy great performance.
Back with the recap in a few, a good night overall for everyone!

Sanjaya Safe and a Sligh Goodbye

I don't know what it is with this guy. He's like one of those clown punching balloons, he just keeps coming back...again not in the bottom three. However Chris Sligh did deserve to be in the bottom three, and headed home tonight.
Gwen Stefani did an awesome performance of "The Sweet Escape", although I don't think Akon added much to the performance, aside from yelling at the crowd.
Next week should be great. A night of Classic Standards with Tony Bennett. Check out the podcast on Paula Abdul from last week if you haven't had the chance, you'll get a laugh from her 'Bedroom Choreography", and what she thinks of Simon's outfits.
A new podcast is up about the ramifications of Chris leaving, plus THE American Standard
next week!

Enjoy the rest of the week, and we'll have a podcast preview of Tony Bennett Monday...

Gwen Stefani Night: Lots of Colors, Stilettos and a Tragic Episode with a Dunk in Bathwater

Gwen Stefani night on Idol and a lot of great tunes tonight. The Police, The Cure, and some No Doubt for flavor. Sanjaya was in need of some Bathwater for his hair tonight, and Haley looked great in that black dress, but vocally didn't hit the mark. Lakisha is back, but Melinda is still at the top of her game. Blake was smooth with the Cure but Chris Sligh needed to take a breath before performing tonight. He didn't sound good at all, and missed his mark tonight. Bottom three this week. Haley, Chris Sligh, and Sanjaya. Who's headed home, check out the podcast early tomorrow.

Gwen Stefani Top 10(5-1)

Phil, "Every Breath You Take", not a bad rendition, again the echoes are driving me nuts. Solid vocal tonight, definitely no LeAnne Rimes this week, liked the close. Judges: Randy, solid performance, didn't push it, Paula, good choice, real good performance, Simon, thought that was very good, great choice of song. Melinda up next. Gwen said she would say good luck, but she didn't think Melinda needed it that much...What a compliment!
Melinda, "Heaven Knows", great start, the dress fits the song, solid vocal, amazing stage presence, knockout! Judges: Randy, sing with feeling, you are living the words, the bomb again, Paula, you have charisma from the word go, it's fun, and you do it, Simon, vocally outstanding, hate the outfit....thank you Simon...Blake and Jordin next, which means that Chris Richardson closes the show....
Blake, "Love Song", not bad, he's staying within the dynamic of the song. Good performance from him. Judges: Randy, wasn't jumping up and down but I liked it, Paula, taking risks, being original, Simon, strongest guy in the competitions. Jordin up next
Jordin, "Hey Baby", not a bad start, good stage presence, it appears to be boot night on Idol, took her about 3/4 of the song to show some vocal range with the song. Judges: Randy, was a very risky thing to do, that was brilliant. Paula, your adorable, Simon, most improved contestant the last few weeks, more confident...Chris Richardson to close the show with more No Doubt...
Chris Richardson, "Don't Speak", start was good, his vocal is okay, the band rendition was different, liked the R&B feel. Judges: Randy, liked it, Paula, Chris good, Simon, better choice of song, not crazy about the vocal, struggled in the middle.
Back with the recap of the night in a few....solid night of performances tonight....

Gwen Stefani: Top 10(10-6)

Gwen Stefani tonight, here we go..Lakisha up first with some Donna Summer, "Last Dance", well she has the voice, a good start for the night. I even like the dress, it matches the song. It seems like a safe week for Lakisha, a great vocal for a great song, but no notes that are blowing me away. She played it safe. Judges: Randy, did that like a diva, Paula, did Donna Summer proud, Simon, love the boots, now she's thirty years younger this week, nice to see her doing an uptempo song, great vocal. The "Rockers", Chris Sligh and Gina up next.
Chris Sligh with some Police, "Every Little Thing She Does", rough start for Chris, made it sound okay though, not sure I love the 'mic echo' on him. Seemed a tad karoke to me and his vocal was not on tonight. Judges: Randy, couldn't get into tempo, Paula, staying in the pocket becomes an eyesore, didn't feel the bit, Simon, I thought it was a mess, it was all over the place, didn't feel right. Hopefully for Chris there will be a WORSE performance tonight from another contestant. Gina up next.
Gina, "I'll Stand By You", good start for her, she looks great, nice job slowing it down this week, she's singing with some emotion tonight too, unlike last week when she was screaming with emotion. Nice close. Judges: Randy, one of her best performances ever, Paula, improving each week, great song choice, best performance so far, Simon, wasn't one of her best performances, was her BEST performance. It's all about knowing who you are, and the right song choice. Chalk and cheese....at any rate...up next, Sanjaya.
Sanjaya is nervous in front of Gwen, singing some "Bathwater", Sanjaya, hey man, the VO5 people will be thrilled, liked the hair! Vocal start was a little rough, he then started bobbing his head and the vocal got better(I think)...I don't get it. Judges: Randy, hairdo is interesting, you can sing you just need to put it out there, Paula, didn't do it, Simon, I presume there was no mirror in your dressing room tonight, doesn't matter what we say anymore, your in your own universe and if people like you, good luck. Haley up next.
Haley, "True Colors", good start, any girl looks good in a black dress, sounds much sweeter this week, she has incredible stage presence this week, more than last week. Nice little ride at the end vocally..Wow...Judges: Randy, was alright for him. Paula, one of those songs, requires nothing but singing the melody, didn't stay younger, Simon, it was sweet but forgettable, nothing to remember, too safe. Phil and Melinda next...