Eight for six

The show to determine the six American Idol guy finalists kicks off--first thing I notice is Sanjaya's radically--different hairstyle. This show is doing weird things to me.... Ryan teases an important announcement on Tuesday--I'm assuming it's the song-writing competition.

Happy-go-lucky-Blake does some weird improv comedy thing in his tell us something about you we don't know, as a redneck; out in weird orange t-shirt with a skull on it and stripey tan pants. Does some contemporary song I don't know, All Mixed Up; like a pro, lots of his vocal tricks in there, but a curious lack of energy in the room if you ask me. Didn't enjoy it personally, not melodic. Randy likes it, even though he also didn't know the song; Paula echoes, says she was still interested. Simon says he didn't understand a single word, but at least you stand out and are current. He tells Ryan 311 is his favorite band of all time.

Ryan asks Sundance about his tears last week, he claims it was all Chris Richardson's doing. Then he nails Sanjaya with the are you surprised to be here question, he says well, not now. He claims to be able to hula; it's really unattractive, actually--but again, nice guy, learned it while living in Hawaii. Big smile, green jacket, jeans; nice song, starts a bit weak, but stronger as it goes. Still a bit tentative, but his best effort; Waiting on the World to Change. I'm enjoying this, especially as it goes on and he loosens up a bit--a bit off-key, but a good pick. Randy says it started bad, but was better than last week; but you still aren't any good, especially when compared with the beginning; Paula doesn't know what to say, except, keep trying, move out of your comfort zone and raise your game. Simon says not as bad as last week, it's just all a bit weird--you're obviously popular, but it's a singing competition so it's not good enough to have hair. Watching this on tape, I just tried to vote for him (first time I've voted all year), but the line's busy--so that's a good sign.

Sundance, who says in real life he's actually thin, just wears a fat suit on tv. Okay... there go all his fat supporters. In white shirt, jeans; does a good song for his voice, driving and gravely; gosh, it looks like he's wearing eyeliner or something, weird. Not melodic so I don't really like it, but not horrible but nothing like last week; couldn't really understand what he was saying. Randy says there were some problems, but overall not bad. Paula likes his groove; Simon says he didn't like it as much as last week, lost your charm; a generic bar singer, like you were shouting the whole time.

I mean, it's continuously busy for Sanjaya; it's funny that there's such a gap between what the adults and the kids respond to. Travis Tritt is in the crowd, just hanging out; Ryan lets him plug his album, twits Randy a bit.

Chris Richardson, continuing the odd weight theme, says he's lost 40 pounds. Great! Sitting down, jeans and gray shirt; off-key immediately, doing Tonight I Wanna Cry. Not sure why he's doing this--no energy, I think he's really going to be in danger after this performance; he's totally off-key and it's a dull, immediately forgettable performance. Randy likes it, says you're switching it up every week, threw in your own thing; Paula like his intonation, loves his pick; Simon's like it was good, not the best vocal, cutesy--bit nasally and we still haven't heard what you're capable of, bit timid and safe. Ryan asks him how he lost the weight; Simon very oddly interjects, says leave the poor boy alone, careful, stick to the singing; uh, he brought it up himself. One of the few times I think Simon strikes an off note.

Okay, so we have a theme tonight--I keep trying to vote for Sanjaya, and the line keeps being busy. Maybe they should've given him two lines for the semis. Jared up, Ryan mocks his hand/face thing. Played college basketball. Comes out, says let's have some fun, in an argyle sweater, jeans. Feels forced, even if he has a nice smile; doing If You Really Love me; in an un-Stevie manner--it's somehow too much for me, his expressions are all exaggerated, feels over-rehearsed. Randy likes it; Paula says you need to work on coloring up the way you sing, instead of just always shouting--ouch, this is unPaula like and is gonna hurt him. Simon says, amazingly, he knows what Paula's trying to say; not very original, gets lost in the mix; disappointed overall, no wow factor. Jared says fair enough; well, I'm nominating him to go. They all say, when asked, that so far he deserves to be in top 12; he's very adult, if I'm here I'll pull it up next week. Come on Jared, display some real emotion--don't be so polite!

Sanjaya is still continuously busy; Phil kisses up to the judges, in a very funny manner. He's laid back, I like him; the judges aren't even listening, chatting among themselves. Brandon up first; turns out he's a classical piano player. Hmm, interesting; in white shirt, jeans; whoah, comes out smoking. I Just Wanna Celebrate, some crazy dance moves... but again, a weird lack of giving it his all, no sense that he's just going for it. They're all like that, except Sanjaya; it's like they're all pretty happy to be there, know they're famous already, it's all cool, dog. No sense of I'll die if I have to go home. Randy says good choice, but you messed up at the end, okay; Paula continues to champion him, says it was phenomenal. Simon says you're one of the better singers but haven't done well in this competition, have a horrible feeling that song may give you a problem, nervous for you; should learn from the girls, pick more memorable songs. It's all a crapshoot, he tells Ryan; asked how bad he wants it, he says more than you know to Ryan in a stagey voice--well, why don't we know?!

Phil, who says he hasn't always been bald and gives us a history of his hair... my gosh, why are they all talking about their appearances?! Are they really so uninteresting? Ugh, weird hat and brown jacket; odd song, I Need You by LeeAnn Rimes--so weird, plus he misses notes, this is not a good night for the guys. Totally off-key; it's embarassing that one of these guys are gonna make the finals. Randy says high notes good, low parts are bad, and pitchy; Paula is like we're uncomfortable for you, not a great performance; Simon says he doesn't get the look or the song, what's up with that, makes a comment about his big eyes; overall a very bad night for the guys. Ryan grills him about the song choice, he says it's obviously not the right one based on the judges panning him. More weird comments from Ryan, Simon.

Man, this is ridiculous, still can't vote for Sanjaya. Oh well. Chris Sligh finishes out the night--if he's as smart as he thinks, he'll knock one out of the park and become a top fave heading into the finals. Man, more hair stories... who cares! In black, jeans. Strong start--Wanna Be Loved; but I don't know, just don't care; nice tone and all that, but I simply am not listening. There's something very wrong with the guys this year--I wonder how much of it is there not being a natural locker room feeling for them, it seems as if they haven't bonded the way the women seem to have; they're not bringing out the best in each other, building off each other or pumping each other up. Randy says the best vocal of a poor night; Paula says not her favorite performance, stretch a little more. Ha, Sanjaya not looking so bad now is he. Simon says start was good, shouted in middle, struggled; have a lot of potential.

Tells Ryan it's one of his favorite songs, unknown but the sentiments are good--sheesh, does anyone really listen to and process the words?! I mean, my gosh, how dumb are contestants that they're picking songs that they can send a message with? The only one who I think did that successfully was Sanjaya, his song emphasized he and most of the voters are of a different generation than all the adults.

Bye to Brandon and Jared, I guess. Who knows; who really cares, it's been a very disappointing night--I want Sanjaya, Blake, Sundance and I guess Chris Sligh to move on, couldn't care less about all the rest.

Fittingly, Sanjaya's line is, as always, busy.

Sanjaya Malakar
Blake Lewis
Sundance Head
Chris Sligh
Chris Richardson
Brandon Rogers
Jared Cotter
Phil Stacey