Looking for a star

American Idol starts its top twelve reminding us, again, of how many stars it's discovered. We'll be here for the next 3 months, Ryan reminds us--this time, with a bigger band, as well as the usual crazed audience.

One by one they come out--Blake seems to get the most applause, but who knows. Ryan asks Randy how he thinks the guys will respond to the challenge of the girls, both he and Paula think the guys will step it up. Simon reminds us this stage changes everyone.

It's Diana Ross night; am sure the guys are thrilled. Interestingly, Billboard nominated her for female entertainer of the century, with her 80 top 10 hits. She seems like a good person, saying talking to the contestants tapped into her parental side.

Brandon Rogers gets the tough first spot. She says she likes him, doing You Can't Hurry Love. Weird, they carp on them for not acting their age, and then this. He's in a shimmery white to gray shirt, dress pants. Good song choice, he's happy out there and the audience is into it. He loses steam about halfway through, his voice cracks and he's flat. Does some nice dance moves, and oooh--forgets the words. Kindof finishes rough; the songs are longer in the finals, big adjustment in combination with the nerves. Randy mentions that, Brandon's got a grim look of death on his face. Paula's encouraging; Simon says it was a complete letdown as the audience boos him, everything predictable, dancing horrible, forgot the words, came over as a background singer for a background singer, no star quality, no originality. Ouch! He handles it pretty well, big smile talking to Ryan.

Melinda Doolittle next; I'm certain that Ryan talking to them right beforehand makes for worse performances. She's in a gray dress; apparently they're letting people ask the contestants questions. It's like Miss America; she nails her question, what's the hardest part, by citing the high heels--Ryan asks Simon for a comment, Simon says you should know, Ryan says stay out of my closet, Simon says come out. It's pretty funny.

Melinda clicked with Diana, singing Home; Ross says she got goosebumps listening to her. Not a great song choice--the song itself is only okay, but it does let her show off her rang. She's totally at ease out there, she definitely marches to her own drummer but is comfortable with that. It's a good performance, but I'm unmoved. She's not going to win AI like this; big finish, though. She needs to grow into being a star, right now still acts like she doesn't belong. Big ovation from the audience, Randy says a strong performance but not my favorite from you. Paula is in tears, really liked it. Simon is cracking up, asks Melinda why she's crying, she says never heard anything like that, from an audience. He says you made a boring song fantastic, you remind me of a young Gladys Knight, very good. They're totally having mike and timing problems tonight.

Chris Sligh, who Diana says seemed very nervous, he says he doesn't have a nervous bone in his body. Does Endless Love--whooo, good choice. She says he needs to find the hook in the song; doesn't really say anything positive about him. In sportcoat, t-shirt, jeans, no glasses. He's definitely got a good voice, swells out on the song--I like it. He seems sincere, powerful. And not arrogant. Wow, he can really sing, a bit flat but really gives it his all; not sure if audience connects with him. Randy says odd rendition, didn't like it, thought it was a mess. Paula says essentially you butchered it, don't try so hard to be ultra-hip and cool, just let your voice sing. Simon says you murdered it, turned a beautiful song into a total drone--a few light boos, as Simon notes. And keep your glasses on, stay yourself.

Boy-girl-boy-girl, so Gina Glockson next. Who apparently was starstruck to meet Ross, of course she immediately tells Diana a story about herself. Lovechild, work on pronunciation Ross says. Good tip; I like the song too. She struts out, in velvet top and jeans; plays to the cameras. She has a good voice, but the audience doesn't seem to be into it; and I don't know, she's not quite convincing singing the song. Maybe her voice is too thin or something; it just seems to go on forever. Randy is cracking up, pitchy, no excitement, not that great. Paula says you're better than you did, were shouting. Simon says you can't say much, it was just okay, forgettable.

Sanjaya Malakar next, I think he could hit it out of the park tonight, or just go down in flames. Or do okay. Curious to see if Ryan's bullying side comes out. Diana says to me, he's love--you care about him, gives him a hug. He appreciates her; doing Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Tells him to get into it, move around; she says there's something in his spirit that's the winning ingredient--it's not her hair. Yeah, Diana! In sweater--voice is a bit weak. Everything is a bit too little, for the stage. Big smile, looks good, but the performance is just horrible--and he starts rushing through parts. Some weird dance moves--but you know, it's not a total mess. He loosens up a bit, at least pushes out the last note. Not much applause from the crowd at all.

Randy is like that was horrible, thank god for the background singers; but the hair is rocking, Hair Idol you got it. Paula says you're so sweet and you smile; you sang on pitch, but you have to grab the audience. You gotta explode with your vocals. Simon says Diana is gonna freak when she hears, Sanjaya looks pained, audience starts booing Simon; you're very brave, Simon says. He hits back a bit at Simon when Ryan gives him a chance; it's all awkward--my favorite part is Ryan asks him if he feels like he should be here next week, he says--yeah! See, that's important; he hasn't given up on himself, he's young and to many things he's probably like Whatever, dude. In what's maybe a bad sign, I get in 5 votes for him during the break, with nary a busy signal.

Haley Scarnato, in an odd belted blue dress; where's the craziest place you've ever sang, she says here, everyone's very nervous backstage. I really think she should be first to go; doing Missing You. Diana says her voice is too much inside, needs to project; she says she's singing it to her fiance. Sitting down, from the beginning I don't like it--no voice, boring, swallows her words, plus the mike is right in front of her mouth. Misses some words; it's so random the way she moves around, like she's on drugs. Gosh, I really dislike her. At the end, it's like she just gives up, looks defeated. Randy says you tried, forgot the words, pitchy. Paula says you look lovely, Haley looks like she wants to die, you can't forget the words, pitch was bad. Simon says it wasn't that bad, Haley starts to cry, good presence up there. Not sure what game he's playing; gosh, she's a mess, starts crying; Simon says good stage presence, which is insane, total giberish. She's totally crying, says it means so much to get something good from Simon. Paula says keep singing even if you screw up--this is just ridiculous.

Five more votes for Sanjaya; back with Ryan sitting in the audience and talking to his grandmother, next to his mother. Phil Stacey, Love and Affection, she likes him. She advises him to look at the audience, they're just real people; good advice. In black top and jeans, very bald-looking. Ugh, off-key from the start, and unbelievable cheesy. It's like AI is showing the worst and the best, it's really been disappointing so far. He's wailing, and is flat. Good confidence though, and big voice. Just looks so Martian-like. What an odd performance, and totally unenjoyable. Randy says amidst the shrieking that vocals were good--oh, really?! Paula says bad song choice, bad performance, but good vocals. Simon says it was okay, good song choice but don't shout on the big notes; just average. I mean, I don't even like most of these guys this year--there's nothing good about their personality.

Seven votes for Sanjaya this time; LaKisha Jones, who bonds with Ross, doing God Bless the Child. They have a very professional discussion about how she can perform it, Ross says she's totally looking forward to hearing it. Out in a flowing white gown; I sense something good. First note is inaudible, but man, she is in total control, and such a big voice, plays with the song--and man, just belts it out, gestures are controlled and purposeful, there's a sense of urgency to it, you wanna listen. The first performance I've really like tonight. Probably the perfect song choice too; wonder if with the whole Jennifer Hudson thing people will actually vote for someone like LaKisha this year; odd, cuts off the ending. Audience really likes it; Randy is like wow, perfect song, great outfit, unbelievable vocal, didn't overdo it, that was sensational. Paula says beautiful, and your heart comes through, that's most important (she's right). Simon says you've got it, you and Melinda are in a different league, very controlled performance and didn't look intimidated, outstanding. I mean, if someone like LaKisha keeps performing like this and people vote for her, this show will be worth watching.

Blake Lewis, talks about what he listens to in response to a question, Michael Jackson and Prince his faves ever. Show him working on You Keep Me Hanging On; the audience is whooping in response to him singing on the tape. Hmm, I really like him after seeing that segment. Does some interesting dance moves; hey, this is not bad, in a gray suit with sneaks. Big voice, but also smooth; a lot of frenetic motion and dancing, pretty interesting; I do like the original version a lot better, though, it's a great song, this is just dressing it up in fancy packaging. Voice starts to fail a bit, little flat, but overall quite good and fun to watch, although a bit too much at times. Audience really likes it. Randy says it was okay, sometimes let the classics be the classics, don't need to Blake-a-lize everything, put more straight vocals in it; Paula says it was pretty good. Simon didn't like it at all, to big boos, but if you heard that on the radio you wouldn't like it.

Back with everyone messing around at the judges telecast; Stephanie Edwards, Love Hangover, says she loves Diana. You know, it'd be better if they ran little clips of Diana singing each song. I think one problem with tonight is her versions of these great songs are all stuck in our head, and impossible to match. Advises Edwards to sex it up. In weird paisley printed dress; but sultry voice, and very deliberate performance. Hmm, I like it; a bit off-key on the held note, but voice swells well. Ugh, again, off-key; hmm... it's like a LaKisha wanna-be, without all the talent. Starting to not care, like something you'd hear on muzak. Randy says forgetting some of the words not good, wanted more up-tempo; Paula asks how come you didn't go up-tempo, she says it was too long to do, Paula responds well, that's what arranging's for, strive for better. Simon says you sang the intro rather than the song; totally outsung by LaKisha and Melinda, this should've been a great night for you, chose the wrong song, gotta be more memorable.

Chris Richardson, doing The Boss. She says don't be nervous, I'm not any different than you except I'm older. He comes across well in the interview, nervous and sincere. She says make sure you work the audience; she's a total pro, very sharp and like Simon right on. In white dorky sportcoat, jeans, comes out all awkwardly--my gosh, what happened to this guy, it's like he's become a comic or something. I mean, it's laughable to me, the way he looks and acts; and his voice cracks, is pitchy. Loosens up, runs into the audience; maybe he's so confident he's cool coming out as a dork? It's more fun, but god, his voice is horrible, it keeps cracking and fading, and he never looks in one place, is like constantly moving like he's got ADD. Randy says not my favorite, overdid; half good, half bad; Paula says best of the guys blending old and new. Simon says vocals were dreadful--if you heard it on the radio, you'd switch channels, it was terrible. Ha, Sanjaya not looking so bad now, is he....

Close with Jordin Sparks, my favorite female and who knows, maybe soon fave overall. If We Hold On Together--my gosh, what a perfect pick. Diana loves her, but you have to make sure you tell the audience the story. She has star-quality, Ross says; glitter, shine in her eyes, the inner light comes across. Yup. In purple dress; very deliberate start, she has a gorgeous voice. And is very sincere singing into the camera. I predict Simon is gonna say you've vaulted yourself into the top tier. Her voice breaks a bit, but it's in line with the song. Audience is totally listening; wow, what a way to end the show. She has astonishing stage presence; this is definitely the best thing I've seen on the show in a while, I'd watch it again. My gosh, a star is born. Randy says you've made it a three-girl race tonight. Paula loves her, sang your heart out. Simon says a bit gooey, but a very good vocal, you've put yourself in the running for the top three.

Yeah, the second half saved the night. Sanjaya, Jordin, LaKisha, Blake, Melinda--all reason to keep watching. Everyone else can be cut today as far as I'm concerned.

DialIdol shows Sanjaya in the top three, Jordin right behind--whoo-hoo. Apparently Howard Stern has gotten behind the mock-vote for Sanjaya movement; which is fine, keeps him on the show.

Jordin Sparks
LaKisha Jones
Blake Lewis
Melinda Doolittle
Chris Sligh
Gina Glockson
Stephanie Edwards
Sanjaya Malakar
Chris Richardson
Brandon Rogers
Phil Stacey
Haley Scarnato