I haven't seen any comments on this latest season yet so I thought I'd throw one into the musical mix. We are at the Top 12 now (so the cattle calls are over and it's time to get down to business). For me, I'm really liking three of them: Mandisa (can you spell d-i-v-a? --- and what a talent, too), Chris (the master of song choice and makes it look painless) and Elliott (great vocals, but he needs to get off the Stevie Wonder kick). I like Taylor, too, but I [personally] find his stage prescence awkward. That Kevin is still "in" and Gedeon isn't seems a gross injustice, but there will be more of those, I'm guessing. Anybody watching? Is Cowell meaner this year? Am I the only one who thinks Paula acts, half the time, as if she's been drinking lately? Just curious...

Yes, Gats, Paula has been acting very strangely more often than not this season. I used to like her, but anymore her comments are so predictable and "canned" sounding. She never has a critical word to say to anyone.
I love Chris and Ace. Some of the girls have potential, too, but I think the real test is going to come now that the song choice will be limited to a certain category, etc. Several of the contestants are very good, but always sing the same type of song. I don't know how they'll hold up if asked to sing a show tune, etc.
I love Simon. Yes, he's a little brash sometimes, but if I were on the show, I'd rather have someone be totally honest with me than dance around it trying not to hurt my feelings.

Yes, I agree, Paula has been acting really weird lately. Weirder than ever...

I too like Chris and Mandisa. I also like Elliot, Kellie and Katherine. Bucky is funny. So is Paris. The fact that Kevin made it to the top 12 isn't that strange. There's a contestant like that every year. Last year it was Scott Savol, the year before it was John Stevens. Kevin looks like a good kid but I think he should be the first one to leave this week.

Oh, you're right...both of you. I nearly choked last year when Savol stuck around and Constantine got booted out. And the "theme" show issue could trip up the best of them. Last year I was worried about Bo doing a "Barry Manilow" night or something equally ill-fitting - somehow he managed to pull it off, though (well, not Manilow but something similiar). I don't like those theme shows much. If you ask me (which you didn't ) expecting an R&B singer to sing country is basically crazy, etc. I mean, really! Does Loretta Lynn ever sing Courtney Love tunes?

Me and my big mouth . I comment that Elliott needs to get off Stevie Wonder and guess who the first 'Theme Night' is about? And, of all times, Elliott doesn't do such a great job! I think the surprise Tuesday night was that goofy Bucky! I really like the guy (not so much as a singer but just as a regular "dude" sort) but I couldn't picture him doing Stevie. He did pretty well, all things considered...which is not to say that he's likely to try R&B again, ever, in his life...

I had an unusual reaction to the theme night. Listening to many of the singers, I realized for the first time what a really great singer Stevie Wonder is...
Also brought home what an orchestrated spectacle the whole thing is. I mean, Kevin being in the same competition as Paris? Not in any sane world. It's all there just to keep us watching.

Note to future American Idol participants: It is perfectly fine to sing funny - notably falsettos that rarely, if ever, hit the right notes. It is equally all right to change your hairstyle and look like Phyllis Diller on a Fang-ish day. Yes, you may pose, flirt and make goo-goo eyes at the camera at will. And, above all else, be and (worse) act like a teenager who couldn't warble their way out of gym class if you want the voters to cozy up to you. But remember this: never, never, ever in a million years never flub the lyrics to your tune. America has no business with such infractions. Yikes!

Well, I wasn't crazy about Melissa, but was shocked at the other 2 contestants who were in the bottom three (and at some of the others who weren't!)

I agree wholeheartedly. Lisa has been my choice to win, right from the beginning. I can't believe she was in the bottom three, while some others with no stage presence and very little talent, in my opinion, were still in.
Oh, what the heck - others such as Katherine, and Kevin.

What? Katharine, you don't like her? She's definitely one of my favorites.

I was okay with Melissa leaving. She wasn't the best. But I really want Bucky to leave. I get that he's "different" and all, but it seems like he's really holding back his voice. And I love the grainy voice, but his is way to grainy.

Katherine is one of my favorites, too. I figured if a girl was voted off, it would be Melissa. And forgetting the words is just inexcusable with the competition so tight. Kevin and Bucky have GOT to go. They're just way out of their league. Like I said before, though, I was very surprised that Lisa and Ace were in the bottom three.

Oh, I knew that others wouldn't agree with me, but I can't stand her. To be honest, it's not so much her singing - I suppose she sings OK, though not the type of voice and certainly not the style I prefer. Much too mannered and oh-so-soulful for my taste - I've never liked Streisand either.
She just rubs me the wrong way, in all ways. Sitting there smirking on Wed night "I knew I'd be safe..." Nope, not my kinda gal. Now Kellie didn't do too well on Tuesday either, Lord knows, but she was just so charming, the way she hitched her dress up, that you couldn't help liking her. Maybe I just don't like people who seem too sure of themselves.

Hey! Guess what? America (et al) got the bottom 2 right tonight! They got the bottom one VERY right...

Call me a meanie but, I can't help it, Manilow looked so much more like a competitor up there than an "icon". Just my opinion, of course. I was never a big fan of his, though .

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't see it - my husband came home last night!
Who's gone?

Bucky, Kevin & Lisa were the bottom three. Kevin went home [yay!].

Wow, I can't believe Kevin went home! I thought he was going to be there week after week like other past seasons contestants who should have gone sooner. He was the weakest one in the top 12.

Yay indeed.

I know that Kevin wouldn't have gotten far, but I really wanted Bucky to go. I just, for some reason, can't stand his voice...

I adore Bucky. He's real.

Kellie can't sing. She needs to go. I don't care how cute she is. THat is the ONLY reason she has made it this far.

Taylor is fantastic. He is an entertainer.

Chris is just freakin awesome!!! I'm calling him as the winner.

My top 4 choices: Chris, Mandisa, Taylor, Paris

They all have a great stage presence, they don't just get up and sing, they perform and entertain.

I LOVE American idol. Chris is also my choice for the winner. I personally vote for who I'd like to buy a CD of down the line.

I agree with SilverMoonSong's top four, and I'm adding that Ace will be Fifth. Kevin had to go. (Ack-hem: "Starry, starry niiiiightttttt...." yuck.) Bucky needs to tame his hair. Simon is on key this year.
I think Paula has added something to her fizzy water...

Oh man, this past WEdnesday, I swear Paula was on something.. illegal. I would love for Chris to win, but I'm not sure he will. With all the little girls voting, they're not going to vote for Chris, they're going to vote for their idol.

Chris is in the news today. He has been accused by several Idol fans, of stealing his version of Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line" from a 2001 version by the band Live. The judges thought that it was his own version.

I read about that, Lemmy. The thing I read also said that Chris's version was notably better, too. It makes me think two things, you know? 1. --- The "judges" didn't realize the side versions of a Mr. Cash song? Well, as they say, nobody can know everything - but that doesn't make Chris some plagiarist! Especially in a show themed by blatant copying to begin with! And 2. --- the stuffing is just going to get kicked out of Chris as this thing goes forward (the competition, I mean). He's really just too good overall, so they'll be picking on him just to 'balance' things. Blah to that. I was reading in a similiar article some cracks about Mandisa's weight, too. God forbid we can just call a good singer a good singer and leave it at that.

Oh, and SM...I, too, like Bucky. I think he's a solid singer and a genuine guy. I just think he's in the wrong contest. I look at it this way: these folks are, for whatever reason(s), in a rare and coveted position. The truth is that there are literally thousands of struggling singers out there who are just as talented (likely more) as any Idol finalist is. I don't, personally, think they should be given this opportunity based on peculiar cuteness (Kevin), bedroom eyes (that exasperating Ace), some sort of Dolly Parton-from-Hell schtick (that Pickler girl) or, unfortunately, a down-home good nature (our Bucky). The show is all about almost circus-like entertainment but the chance given the participants is real. Especially after last year, when I STILL staunchly say that the best person didn't win and lost only because of some "Miss Photogenic" factor, it aggravates me that the media is already focusing on the dark skinned girl's waistline or the rocker's bald head with just an aside mentioning that these two are actually, visiby and audibly awesome singers.

Thanks for bringing that up, Lemmy. I read that article and didn't know what to really make of it. I might add, too, I read another article about my personal favorite this year Elliott (only because Chris and Mandisa surely don't need my help...they're stars already). All it talked about was his crooked teeth!? God. If Roy Orbison was up there would he be relegated only to the label of "blind singer" with a strong vocal range? And, as for that possibility, Roy was never blind to begin with!

I think Bucky would fair well on that show "Nashville Star". Not that he's not doing well now, but it would be more his element.
I agree with gatsby on the whole infringement issue-- everything is copied on this show as it is. They aren't allowed to sing original work, just variations in key and such. I think Chris is the only one who also plays an instrument.
Does anyone know if any of the other contestants can play guitar or anything? I'm just curious.