UPDATE: Just an FYI for anyone who might visit Joe’s Place Blog for American Idol news … I was attacked via her ads and malware this morning with a serious Trojan virus that started to auto download and install software. I won’t be going back there for news on Idol because of that.

I can’t even finish watching the disaster that is Lil Rounds tonight. It is by far the worst performance of her so far in the competition. If her fan base does not call en mass – she will be going home. I loved the concept of switching The Rose over into a Gospel song … but Lil had pitch problems throughout the song and it just did not work. I can hear her arguing with Simon in the background … I’m sure he had something not so nice to say.

My order of personal preference tonight is as follows:

#1 – Kris – I don’t think I’ve ever heard that song before and I really enjoyed it.
#2 – Danny – he touched that soft spot in my heart once again.
#3 – Adam – what can I say that hasn’t alredy been said. He’s a brilliant performer and I ejoyed watching him tonight. There was just something a little … off .. about the song though. I can’t put my finger on it.
#4 – Allison – though it did sound as if she’s battling some sort of throat issues.
#5 – Matt – I thought he did rather well – though he did have some pitch issues
#6 – Anoop – forgettable performance – especially having gone before Adam. I think the show producers have doomed Anoop this week.
#7 – Lil – well … see my notes above.

I think Lil should go home .. but I think Anoop will be the victim this week. I feel bad for him because he’s good. Any other season of Idol and he’d be a top contender. It just so happens this season has some amazing talent.

FYI – for AI fans – Joe’s Place Blog is down and out for a few days. Apparently her web host couldn’t handle the traffic! But she should be up and running again in time for next week’s show.

Kris blew me away tonight – he was AMAZING!   One of my favorite songs .. and he made it so relevant and current – I know it will be making into my Playlist this week.

Adam – what a surprise.  I don’t think anyone expected him to pick Play That Funky Music.  It was a bit cheesy and over the top – but I don’t think it will hurt him one bit.

Danny – I don’t know how many times I played that same song over and over again the past few years.  The emotion behind his performance was touching.  HOWEVER .. I think Danny has to watch out for Kric sneaking in from the back of the pack.

Allison did look a bit like Pebbles Flintstone tonight – I totally thought she was going to sing Cindy Lauper when I first saw her outfit.  She did well on the No Doubt song .. but not her best.

Matt and Anoop – total disappointments for me this week.  I really didn’t like their performances – but I adore them both and don’t thing either deserves to be in the bottom three.

Lil – was just OK.  Why did she not do a song from the R&B genre?  I don’t get her song selection and I think she’s in trouble this week.

Scott – while it was his best performance to date  – it just wasn’t up to the same caliber as all the other performers.  I’m happy we finally got to see a good performance from him … I just think it’s too late in the game and he won’t ever be able to grow the way Kris has.

Megan – please America – please.  Send Megan home.  Why did she not pick a song in the style she wants to join?  Adel?  Amy Winehouse?  Let us see that she can thrive in the style she has chosen.  No – she flubbed up a Bob Marley song – and it was HORRID!

Matt, Scott and Megan bottom three this week.

Tonight’s theme = Country Music. And I think this was the first AI Season where the contestants as a majority twisted the song choice to fit their own style. It was rather refreshing to hear.

That being said – and knowing Country week is always difficult for the contestants – I found something wrong with everyone’s performance this week .. except .. Adam. Don’t die of shock – I actually really enjoyed his performance.

OK – hear me out before you disagree. I’ve noticed a trend that last year – the whole “Bollyood” genre is becoming more prevalent in American music and dance. The kids are eating it up – and I don’t blame them. It’s a fun genre – its fun to watch – and I’m sure it would be fun to dance as well.

Adam was spot on in selecting this version to perform this week. he’s trying to establish himself as that alternative rocker who is going to surprise you every week. The Asian influence is totally relevant to what the kids today are listening to. It was a brilliant choice – and her performed it brilliantly. My only fear is – the TWEENS and the older ladies won’t get it. And they won’t vote for him. However – Adam has the support of the Musical Theater crowd – and a huge online following so I’m not that concerned.

Getting lost in the shuffle tonight – and at risk of going home are Lil Rounds, Scott and Megan. I’m placing them as my bottom three. I really and truly think Lil is at the greatest risk of having the fewest votes this week – talk about your shockers! But … she’ll be saved by the new Judges rule. They won’t let her go home this early.

Megan’s saving grace will be how much the judges mentioned her illness. It was evident to me she was sick when she wasn’t hitting the notes – I’m not sure someone who hasn’t performed would notice. The judges did her a HUGE favor of only mentioning the illness and not critiquing her performance. Because it sucked – illness or not – it was bad. She should go home next.

Scott will be saved because of his disability. I’m not saying that to be cruel – it’s the truth. People want to see him do well so they’ll vote for him. His performance this week was much better than last week – and I think he’ll continue to grow as an artist if given a chance. I’m keeping my fingers crossed he makes it to the Top 10 … because I think he’s the one who will benefit from the coaching the most.

Other top performers tonight – Matt, Anoop and Alison. Matt killed the last note – in a bad way – but that was the only thing I saw wrong with his performance. Alison was just amazing – and Anoop surprised me. {he’s a handsome kid!}

I enjoyed Kris and Alexis – but I’m not jumping up and down over their performances. Michael Sarver – just taking up space – they need a country sound on the tour. He could go home next week and I wouldn’t notice.

Now Danny … you guys know that I adore Danny. He wasn’t at his best tonight … but I totally understand why he selected that song. My relationship with God isn’t the best … we’ll call it a hate-hate thing going on between us. But after the hubby passed away “Jesus Take The Wheel” became a relevant song in my life. And not really in a spiritual way where I thought God would control my life .. but in a way that I knew my life was on a total crash course and I had to rely of Fate to get through that time.

Danny’s a Christian – and the whole religion battle going on over AI right now could have played in to his song choice this week. It ran through my mind when I heard he was going to sing this one. BUT .. I think it held a more personal reason for him. He did start off a bi shaky .. but the end was amazing!

I’m going to go broke this year downloading performances off of iTunes.

Bottom three: Lil, Scott, Megan. Lil fewest votes – but saved by the judges.

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Megan totally SUCKED in her performance and they STILL put her through to the Top 13?  WHAT!?

If you were going for a well rounded group – why not put through Jesse – who actually have some talent?!  Or perhaps even Ricky Braddy – who out sung both girls who made it through by leaps and bounds.

I guess Simon said it best “We have to cast the show – so it’s not just about the best singing voice.  We have to base it on personality as well.”

There you have it – straight from Cowell’s mouth.  American Idol is no longer just about being a good singer.  Write down this moment in history – as we look back and ask why AI isn’t focused on finding America’s Best Talent.  It’s now a personality competition.

I keep hearing about a “Twist” to the AI season this year {Please Login or Register to see the link.} – and that all of the contestants will be living in the same house. Could the reason why they’ve cast personality rather than talent this year be because we’ll get to see some REALITY aspect to the show? Sort of the same way RockStar Supernova and INXS was filmed. Let’s hope it doesn’t detract from the actual competition.

ETA this morning:
What I find so unusual about last night – when Megan was singing Paula and Simon were whispering to one another.  I think at that point they had already picked who would make it through – and this sing off was just a formality.  Paula and Simon were whispering because Megan was THAT bad.  Come on .. she was just utterly HORRID as Simon would say.  Were Paula and Simon whispering to determine exactly what they might say about her performance?

To me the judges bold faced lied to America about why these kids were chosen during their critiques.  The only honesty we saw was when Simon said at the end of the performances that they were casting for personality.

Biggest Loser Producers were caught in a lie this past week – and were forced by the fans to make an apology.  I knew about the lie and told a someone close to the show about it in January – so I’m surprised it didn’t reach the Execs before the lie made it on air.  The fans were outraged – and NBC was left scrambling to deal with it.

I have always felt that AI was more scripted that real – that certain contetants were groomed to win the show.  That others were dropped early for the “shock” factor.  But I always respected what Simon had to say.  This Season I don’t think I’ll be able to believe one word – as he’ll be too busy making sure the chosen contestants will stay on the show for the drama of it all.

I’m suffering from serious writers block this week – and have not felt much like writing anything.  So I’m sorry I have not made my usual American Idol post this week.  I’ve got a theory going though.  I think that the Idol Producers this year are looking for different sort of idol this year.  Someone who might be considered a minority of sorts – one who is “non-standard” or “ethnic.”

Here’s the proof:

Those who break away from the standard Idol formula:

• Danny = correction – Danny is NOT Hispanic/Latin.  Oopsie!   Still – not your usual Idol hunky guy.
• Scott = Blind
• Jorge = Puerto Rican/Latin
• Alison = Latin
• Adam = openly Gay
• Alexis – tiny petite blonde – non bombshell
• Michael Sarver = giant country singer
• Jesse = red headed rock singer {never had a red head ont he show before!}
• Anoop = South Asian
• Tatiana = Latin/Puerto Rican DRAMA queen

Those who closer match the standard idol formula :

• Ricky = standard issue Idol material – but with a religious twist
• Matt = standard issue Idol material – but a smokey blues voice
• Kris Allen = standard issue Idol material – but way shy
• Lil Rounds = standard issue Idol material – the whole package
• Megan = standard issue Idol material – but with that throw back sound
• Jasmine = standard issue Idol material – the easy to vote off kind
• Von = standard issue Idol Material – might be gay – throwback singer

So even though Lil Rounds might seem like a shoe-in for the Title of American Idol right now … will the show Producers twist things up a bit so that she’s voted out in the dreaded “shocker” spot of Daughtrey and Doolittle fame?

It’s somthing I’ve been thinking about since Hollyweird weeks.  There was a definite increase in ethnicity represented inthe auditions this year – and I have to wonder if the Idol Producers have finally come to their senses in that it doesn’t matter what a performer looks like – as long as they have talent!  America has become a true melting pot – with the minority groups outnumbering caucasians.  So really … there is no majority in the country any longer.  It’s about time we showed that wonderful diversity on the show.