Oh, and I'm going to guess Megan for saying statement #4 above.

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Well, yeah, she could. Geez, Choco, aren't you thinking?! All she would need to do is throw in a breathy and melodic "Billie Jean" at the end of it!

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Don't forget a few Whoo Hoo's and Hee Hee's as well

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Huh.. didn't the judges criticize someone (Stephen?) for singing a Michael Jackson song, saying most people can never do it as well... then they decide to have a Michael Jackson night??

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Yes they did guitargoddess and I think it may have been Paula. How dumb was that now they are having a MJ night?


I think it's going to be tough for the girls unless they stick to the ballads. I could see Alexis doing "Aint No Sunshine" and she could put her own style to that one.

I can see Adam doing "Bad" or "Smooth Criminal", I think he would have the moves too..

It will be interesting to see what Anoop Dawg does, he might do an up tempo song and bust out a few moves as well. We shall see..

Wow. Guess they decided to start out immediately culling the herd. I'm generally with the judges on this one, it's rare I hear someone do Michael Jackson and actually think there was a point to attempting it. David Cook using Chris Cornell's cover of Billie Jean being the notable exception. Hopefully we will spared any further renditions of Man in the Mirror.

And Tatiana did miss out. She probably could've done a particularly creepy version of Ben. Rats scurrying around and all.

I think that's the key, to do it differently in a way that sets you apart from the original, but not so "different" that it's horrible. That's why the David Cook/Chris Cornell cover of Billie Jean doesn't suck.

I could see Adam doing Thriller. It could be a good amount of theatrical for him.

Good call on Thriller. That could be entertaining. All though cutting that song down to their 1 minute or so would be tough.

That's very true.. he could probably do one verse and chorus, but that does cut down on the available time and space for theatrics.

Oh . I guess I should say who said what quote up there now, since we'll have the actual show to discuss after tonight.

Singer 1 - Adam
Singer 2 - Alexis
Singer 3 - Danny
Singer 4 - Scott

May we all enjoy Michael Jackson night, yes? I suggest that the first contestant who grabs their crotch while attempting to moonwalk get voted off on the spot. Whaddya think?

Well it's not quite over yet, but I want to comment now:

I love love love love Adam! I was kind of surprised at his song choice, but I think if he'd done anything 'bigger' the judges would have criticized him like they did Anoop. And I actually kinda liked Anoop's performance.

I quite liked Allison too, even though I doubt Michael Jackson music is her forte.

And it seriously pains me having to listen to Paula muddle through her incoherent comments

Ooh and I forgot Danny! Agreed 100% with Simon, I was thinking it before he said it - great vocals, horrible dancing.

And I quite liked Kris Allen. Might have to have his children if Adam turns me down

So off you go to two of them tomorrow tonight. So is this big "twist" thing a sing off among the bottom vote getters? If so, they will do something silly like saving Jasmine even though she is average at best. And, to me, so is Scott. I can't see him being a pop star no matter how hard I try. Then again there are very few of those among the previous winners, so guess it really isn't the object of the show. If a song is going to be repeated I would rather it be the ones performed by the top vote getters, not the ones which threaten extinction.

There were more good vocals than I expected out of Michael Jackson night. But I don't know why the show would pick the performer and then in critiques call some of the original songs "untouchable". Silly.

Outside of Adam no one seems that remarkable to me. They critique some singers for sounding old fashioned and then rave about Lil being a good old fashioned singer. I dunno. Many good vocals but not too many really outstanding ones, for me. But I do think Michael Jackson songs is a tough measuring stick so hopefully things get better.

I, too, thought it was odd to have a Michael Jackson night when it's been said many times over many seasons that contestants shouldn't attempt songs by such iconic performers as MJ and Whitney Houston. The only AI singer I've ever seen almost blow MJ himself out of the water was that guy Mario, who dropped out of Season 4 because he thought he'd been "discovered" and was never heard from again.

That said, Adam blew me away tonight. I haven't particularly been a huge Adam fan -- his hairstyle drives me bat-freakin' crazy -- but I've come to realize that this guy takes every song he sings and makes it completely his own. During Hollywood week, when he said he was going to sing "Believe" by Cher, I fell off the couch and hit my head on the dog. But he totally pulled it off! Now that they told Adam to stop making those horrible dramatic-anguish faces, I'm liking him lots better!

I'm still a Danny fan, but tonight wasn't a good theme to showcase him, for sure. I was concerned when they said he'd chosen "PYT", but I think he did a great job under the (MJ) circumstances.

Other faves for me tonight were Lil, Allison, and Alexis. Lil should have shone a lot brighter on Michael Jackson night. I think she picked the wrong song. Alexis is talented but tonight she was a bit over the top, and pretty soon she's gonna have to show me she can do something else.

Anyone have any speculation on what the big "change" is going to be?

The shocker last night, for me, was (of all people) Michael Sarver ! Good grief, who slipped the Motown into his beaten-to-death *white workin' boy* back story? Granted, there was nothing exactly *poppin'* in his spin on "You Are Not Alone", but his voice was spot on! Truly, folks ... I was expecting so much less from him after past showings. Will last night be enough to save him, though? Hard to say ...

I did an even more nerdy thing last night, by the way : I rated /ranked them as they went. Taking into consideration VERY little (I worked very hard to look at EACH of them as the same Joe Average 25-year old showing up for the first time ~ no sob stories, no pimping screen time, no Hollywood week, no nothing except what they brought to the stage last night). Doing that was v-e-r-y tough, too ... and I KNOW "America" wasn't watching that way (nor will vote that way) but my results came out all *surprising-ish*. I didn't like Adam nearly as much as you all have so far - and, my God, the Judges went nuts for him, too. Was Paula literally hyper-ventilating ? But he still came in fourth best on my list -- and he'll be around for weeks no matter what he does, anyway. Him and Danny and Lil and Scott and Alexis and even Anoop pretty much can't miss the Top 10, I'd think. The bottom two on my [ahem] "Hot 13" from Tuesday night were Jasmine and Kris, with Anoop #11. Mostly it was crappy song choices and bringing no personalized 'zing' to their shows. I'll be wondering for weeks what the heck Kris was doing with an acustic guitar on THAT song (but I'll buy that it was little more than a prop that made him hit his elusive comfort zone). I didn't care for Lil, either (as I duck quickly). And, even though he sang in his usual semi-angelic way and is a personal favorite? I felt a big notable ZERO electricity watching Jorge last night. I'm sadly nervous that he's in trouble tonight ... but he flatly didn't impress, somehow, last night - even though he sang just fine, in my opinion. Most of everybody else? It really doesn't matter, does it? The ones getting positive bells and whistles BEFORE they Michael Jackson-ed us senseless will carry the same noisemakers through tonight - a vote AGAINST Lil Rounds is, for example, just a downright hateful and unpopular and "how dare you?" thing to even consider for a fleeting instant, and we've been assured of it again and again. And again. Allison came in second on my list. Matt third. Sarver fifth. Then Scott, Megan (whose song and sudden "stylin'" were just weird, in my estimation ~ but palatable) and Alexis. Remember I said that I "blanked" everything heretofore on these singers and looked at them as if they were there for the very first time? This likely explains why I [without hesitation, no less] put Danny in as 'Best Of The Night'. He "owned" PYT in a Danny sort of way - just like Adam "owned" Black & White. Danny just didn't scream so much, so I liked that better . I'll remain uncomfortable with Gokey as a person from now until Christmas (and I say so grudgingly - it's not fair that I feel that way but I can't help it!). But without all the other *stuff* that swirls in regards to him, the bottom line truth shone through nicely last night: the man can sing. And, despite all the raging discomfort(s) that catch in my throat re: him, in the end his vocals should be all that matter. And he has them, indeed.

Just my rambling thoughts this fine morning . Whew, too! No moonwalking or crotch grabbing Tuesday night, either. Oh [*unnecessary footnote alert*] ... I gave Anoop an extra point, too - since I fashioned (in my cynical little brain) that he was singing "Beat It" directly to Kara, and I enjoyed the sentiment bunches. That woman grates me worse each time she opens her mouth - and this is only "officially" the first week out . Michael Slezak over on EW has taken to likening her to a wind-up monkey banging cymbals . I don't always agree with the acerbic Mr. S. - but when it comes to DioGuardi? All I can think to say is that one annoying monkey isn't enough monkeys when it comes to fair representation of her ....

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So off you go to two of them tomorrow tonight. So is this big "twist" thing a sing off among the bottom vote getters?

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I think you might be right about that one Tredici, Gats will not be amused. If that is true, they might as well just pick the winner now as it will be tainted to the judges view anyway.

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And I did like Alexis' take on "Dirty Diana", but she did that silly sing-squat move that looks like the singer has to pee and it hurts.

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Ysmay, I think you should get the funniest quote of the night, you had me laughing with that one.

I loved Allison again tonight, go you rocker chick!! I think she has a voice that stands out from the crowd and she reminds me of a younger version of Pink.

Love him or hate him, Adam is an entertainer and he well and truly did that tonight. I loved him. Sorry to break the news Guitargoddess but I don't think you, I, (or any female) will be having his babies.. if you get what I mean. Lovely, humble guy, in my opinion.

Danny was good tonight, I liked the way he got into the song and had the audience involved (not the dancing though). It was much better with a positive back story instead of what we have been fed the last few weeks. What I don't like is his cockiness, he's just too darn sure of himself. Sorry.

Lil didn't do much for me tonight either. Scott was boring.. Anoop,what happened there? That was awful. Megan, Arrrgh, sorry Gats, she is a stunning girl but that song and the dance moves?


One more thing, Paula was so incoherent tonight I actually felt like finishing her sentences for her. I still prefer her to (monkey clanging cymbals) Kara.

I think I've said way too much tonight, better shut up now.

I repeat, I still only like Simon.
Yes Adam is simply great.
I only really sort of liked Allison and Alexis, and maybe Danny a little. Ho hum the rest.

My top 3 - Adam, Allison and Danny.

My bottom 3 - Jasmine, Michael and Kris.

Anoop and Jorge are just barely above the bottom 3. I expected more from them.

I'm still not a fan of Lil. She's only done one performance the entire season so far that I've enjoyed. I don't even remember now what it was.

I also can't wait for Megan to go. I don't like her voice at all.

Gats, that is such an insult to monkeys, wind-up or otherwise, the world over to be compared to Kara! Next Judge comment from me and on to the singers. What the heck was Paula on last night? Again the glazed eyes, rambling comments, and garbled speech - that's just not cutting it again with me and she makes herself appear so unprofessional.
I'll try to be succint here. I agreed wholeheartedly with Simon, Scott made a horrible song choice, will not get by on 'hopeful songs', and even with the piano, I think he did himself in. I will join the unpopular here and say that Lil was good, but not as great as she could have been, sorry. I don't like "PYT", but have to say Danny did a good job with it and it also surprises me that I say that. The 'cheesy and not compatible with the song' grin that Michael Salver had throughout his performance made me not care for him as far as stage presence. Too me he looked extremely uncomfortable. I agree with you, Gats, about the guitar and Chris and I thought he was mediocre at best. Jasmine cannot be denied as having a set of pipes for her age, but she pushed just a little too much and needs to be her age. Allison on the other hand may be just 16, but she knows what her strength is and ran with it. Alexis was pretty good too and Megan, well, I caught myself wondering again about that 'thing' she does, but she was all right. I say that even though I detest "Rockin Robin" as a song. Matt did a good job, but I was cringing for poor Jorge! I thought Anoop blew it with "Beat It". That was about the only true MJ song there that everyone knows, it was brave of him to even do it, so I have to give him credit for that part of it. What can you say about Adam, really? He took off with "Black and White" and it was his with no need to imitate.

I don't even know who I would pick to go through, short of Adam, and I think the judges will have a say as far as mixing things up tonight with who stays and who goes.

Overall, choosing MJ's songs was almost unfair in that it was not a good genre or choice to throw any of them into in my opinion. It was a trainwreck waiting to happen and I think there was a definite reason for that choice. I just don't quite know what the reason was/is...

Well Choco - I'm truly hoping we don't have a "sing-off" but since the same company also produces So You Think You Can Dance and that is a concept for that show it makes me wonder. Of course, if you are in the bottom on that program and have to "dance for your life" you also get to do something completely original, not re-hash whatever got you into the soup to begin with.

And by the way two more alumnus of So You Think have shown up on Dancing With the Stars. Demitri and Chelsea Hightower. It's not as popular as Stars but the dancing is tons better and more innovative.

But I digress, the thing with Paula is sometimes with three of them they struggled to have a revelent comment and now with four it's becoming a little hokey. Not to mention that glitter eyeshadow was a distraction in itself. Since the judges seldom disagree (if they did so with valid points it would be a more interesting process) do you really need 4 people telling you that you're great, or 4 people telling you that you stunk up the stage? It takes so long it's getting a bit dreary even when the feedback is positive. My theory on Paula is the two hour shows are too long because by then the effects of the prescription painkillers are all too noticeable.

Paula always seems drunk/stoned to me, but last night was worse than usual!

Did I miss it, or was there truly not a single reference to Danny's dead wife last night? Woo-hoo! Maybe we can concentrate on singing talent for a change!

Hey guitargoddess! Don't give up on having Adam's babies! Clay Aiken is a proud papa now, you know!

Adam was great. I had picked Alexis Grace early on but didn't care too much about her last night. I stll hope she makes it through so I can see more of her.

I was thinking the twist was going to be something like the phone-in votes would only count to determine the bottom three, and then from those three the judges would choose who goes home. A sing-off didn't occur to me, but you never know. Maybe they need a way to fill up the hour long result show

Well, not only an anti-climatic twist but we've only had two people go and I'm already tired of the dramatic Seacrest question, Is so and so going to be saved?

Come on. They aren't going to use the only save option on week one of the competition. And the names they used amused me. Clay Aiken? When were going to save him? For a second finale? Jennifer Hudson? Simon never liked her, always commented on her weight and wouldn't have kept her if given an opportunity. She simply proved everyone wrong and now they don't want to admit it. I might buy Daughtry, but that was the only name in their example.

Without putting much thought into it we could probably easily guess who are the candidates this season worthy of a save. My guess? They will use it for Lil.

MORE meds for Paula??? Is that possible?

I, too, am already tired of the saved question. And it's probably gonna be weeks before they even think of using it. Can't we just ignore it until then and then give them their dramatic moment when they announce they are saving someone?

Wonder why they suddenly came up with that this year? There hasn't been a truly shocking eviction since Chris Daughtry's season.

At least I was satisfied tonight with who went home. Although, it was ridiculous to have Lil and Jorge stand up together. Hmmm...which one is going to have to go stand next to Anoop? I'm sure no one had a clue as to which it would be!

I can't be bothered with the suspence parts. Sheesh just tell me already who is going. Not even half way through the show I thought to pop in here and read who had left but none of you had said it!! So I had to sit through it all.

Anyway - am not really so into anyone that I'd care if they were knocked out. Except for Adam but with any luck I won't have to worry about that yet.

I'm am slowly getting over Danny and joining Gats.

I smell a huge whiff of "I am an American Idol judge, hear me roar" smugness in the LA air - and it's stinkin' all the way over here into Ohio . Now, really? Are they saying that Jennifer's or Chris's exceptional careers would have happened better had they been given the badge of winning their season? And I'm remembering, now --- Tredici's quite right. At the time, it seemed to me that Simon couldn't get rid of (and insulted every chance he got, too) Jennifer Hudson fast enough. And did Daughtry LOSE anything? OK ... so America "got it wrong" and he got voted out too soon ~ but America certainly jumped up and owned that *oops* in a hurry, buying gadzillions of his CDs just to balance out the matter. And it sounds to me like somebody in that panel of four (who marched out, incidentally, like Gods descending Mount Olympus to the veritable background music of "Chariots of Fire" on Tuesday ~ which I found downright odd and egotistical beyond description ) is hoping that some happy singer somewhere down the road falls all over Randy or Simon -- or, God Forbid, Kara -- thanking them for "saving me back on American Idol" when said singer is picking up an armload of Grammy awards in 2014.

And isn't it "wasted glory" anyway? I know Americans. We can become a peevish bunch in seconds flat. Ameica decides that, say, Danny Gokey needs to go home at some point? Be it a blunder or a downright CHOICE? And Paula and crew summarily "save" him, throw the vote out and "give America another chance to get it right"? Oh, snort snort snort! It will take three websites and mass clicking the very next day to start a campaign to do what? MAKE SURE that "whoever" got saved gets voted off for sure and with no hesitation whatsoever next week. With a true vengeance they'll do it, too.

Simon, Randy, Kara and Paula now know what's best for a vast audience, eh? Better than said audience does (even if it is only once, potentially, per season)? Bah. Paula can't even pick a proper hat and Simon's shirts suck weekly. Starting there, giving them veto power of any distinction seems ridiculous. And non-essential. And *yes*, by God! Smug.

I'm with ysmay - recording the show on DVR and watching it later is the ONLY way I can sanely do it. I can listen to as little of Seacrest as possible, and focus on the performances and the judges' opinions. Even more advantageous for the results show - takes about 10 minutes to watch the parts that are important while leaving out all the drama!
I did agree with the choices last night. Did anyone else notice that the two voted off did a markedly better job on their songs than they did on Tuesday night? Too little, too late...
I really like Danny, and some of the others are starting to appeal to me, too. I'm not as fascinated with Adam as the majority are. To me, 80% of his performance is screaming. He definitely has the confidence and showmanship, but I'm not sure about the actual talent. (just my opinion)