So, I left my computer at the office last night. While it messed up the American Idol blogging, I realized it is probably something I should do more often. Kinda relaxing and liberating when you can’t get online even if you wanted to…

But, I watched Idol, sans the laptop, and I was impressed. The night was a good one. I missed Amanda – a vote off I didn’t see coming at all. But, letting the contestants pick their own genre limited only by the year of their birth produced some great song choices by some great contestants. It also proved that there are some who have done all they can do and it is time for them to go.

Ramiele Malubay - Sang “Alone” and all I could think of was Carrie Underwood. This girl has peaked should be close to done.

Syesha Mercado - I am still not a fan…there is just something about her. But, I would be lying if I didn’t say she did a great job this evening. Not getting voted off just yet. But when it happens – and it will happen – I won’t be disappointed.

Jason Castro – Um…no. It is Sting. Give me a break. Unless you are just that good – pick something else. He can go and his pretty eyes too.

Kristie Lee Cook – Great song choice. Who is gonna bash “Proud to be an American?” Nobody, that’s who. But, she demonstrated she is average at best. I could find a girl in any town across this country to do the exact same thing she did for the opening of any varsity high school sports season.

David Archuleta – I am so done with this kid. I tried really hard to like him, I really did. But, one more “my small, humble voice can save the world song” and I am going to throw up on my keyboard. He was born in 1990 and the best he could do was pick some obscure song that “has a message?” Give me a break and somebody get this kid a clue.

Michael Johns - Queen – brilliant! I loved this performance! Strong, exciting and wonderful. He can pull off a fantastic Freddie Mercury. That is darn near the definition of talent.Brooke White – She looked great and sounded good – even with the slip at the beginning. Great song choice but she should have stayed committed to her change in the arrangement.

Carly Smithson - Hmmm…the jury is out. I love “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” It is one of my favorite songs. And she did nail all the things about the song I love. In my opinion, it is the epitome of raw, feminine passion. But, there’s just something about her…next…

Chikezie – He’ll be back next week and I hope he goes back to that bluesy funk thing he does. His sultry soul crooner thing just doesn’t do it for me.

David Cook – By far and away one of the best Idol performances ever! I had to rewind it and watch it again. I am a fan and he almost stole Michael Johns’ vote.

Tonight…hmmm…I would say Kristie but she has an entire genre all to herself…so…nah…I’ll stick with Kristie.

Last week, David Hernandez got the boot. Neither Savannah Red nor myself called that one. Eric wimped out and wouldn’t pick Maybe he’ll change his mind this week and play along. Maybe you will too.

Amanda Overmyer – First up is one of my favorites. The thing I like about her is that she knows just who she is. She looks like she has been doing this forever. Tonight is no exception.

• Randy – bit pitchy, but good
• Paula – timing a bit off, but she is wonderful
• Simon – predictable, same thing week after week

Kristie Lee Cook – Trying to bounce back from what most saw as a disastrous week…I dunno. I liked last week. I am not crazy about tonight. She seems to be a bit off.

• Randy – needed more emotion
• Paula – a little safe
• Simon – not a good performer but better this week

David Archuleta – Tonight he is concentrating on the positives…hope he does better this week than last week. Maybe he will remember most of the lyrics. What a phenom voice this kid has. I wish I liked him more. There is just something about him. He’s good…maybe I’ll reconsider it in about 5 years.

• Randy – brought the hotness
• Paula – most exciting because of the purity
• Simon – amazing

Michael Johns - My favorite. Here’s hoping. And there he goes. This guy just gets it. This is the reason he is my favorite.

• Randy – not his best.
• Paula – better in dress rehearsal
• Simon – a mess

*Guess it goes without saying that I totally disagree

Brooke White – One of my top three. Her voice is way better than her dance moves. She seems so awkward moving around. I don’t care – she sounds great!

• Randy – awkward
• Paula – Can’t help but smile when I hear you sing
• Simon – terrible

David Cook – One of those truly talented guys. What is that other mic for? He is doing a great job. That’s what it’s for! Very cool! My favorite performance of the night so far.

• Randy – solid look for David Cook
• Paula – ready to go sell records
• Simon – don’t think it’s at good as you thought it was (maybe he is talking to me?)

Carly Smithson - Her top is horrid. But she sounds really good. She is really subtle. I am waiting for it to get big. I am sure it is coming soon. There it was a bit. I am thinking the judges will love it. I am kinda neutral

• Randy – another great performance
• Paula – amazing tone
• Simon – didn’t like the song choice at all (I would have to agree)

Jason Castro – Ugh! Unless something amazing happens in the next 30 sec…what was he thinking? Awful. First performance I hated.

• Randy – I don’t know
• Paula – disconnected when away from the guitar
• Simon – lucky it’s TV and not radio

Syesha Mercado - I am just not a fan…she sounds really good. I have just never connected to her. Not a person I enjoy watching. I am sure I am in the minority.

• Randy – very, very, very good
• Paula – beautiful
• Simon – probably her best performance so far

Chikezie – I am warming up to him a bit. Don’t know how I feel about this performance. I’ll sit the fence. It was a bit much. Maybe a little touch of “trying to hard”

• Randy – Strange
• Paula – Showing his depth
• Simon – harmonica was atrocious

Ramiele Malubay - Not sure what she was thinking when she was getting dressed. And I am not sure about the song. Her vocals are usually great. If ever there was a time Simon should use the word “karaoke”, it’s now.

• Randy – wasn’t jumping up and down, but it was alright
• Paula – better than last week
• Simon – sounded very amateurish

So…who’s going home…hmmm…I think Savannah Red may have just been a week early. My money is on Kristie Lee Cook.

So, Jim Carey is in the audience has showed up as a cracked out version of “Horton Hears a Who.” Interesting.

I do love Idol…but I think they really drag these result shows out. But, I will watch every minute of it anyway.

• Carly is…safe
• Michael is…safe
• Jason is….safe
• Syesha is…in the bottom three
• Chikezie is…safe (miss another for me)
• David Cook is…safe
• Kristie is…in the bottom three (Savannah Red may be right)

This call in thing is kinda stupid…not really feeling it…

Katharine McPhee…didn’t like on when she was on Idol (better than Chris Daughtry my foot) and I still think she is incredibly typical and overrated…next…

Jim Carey is a weirdo…

• David Archuleta is…safe
• Brooke is…safe
• Ramiele is…safe
• David Hernandez is…in the bottom three (he is my pick to go home!)

David Hernandez is GOING HOME!

Savannah Red – 0
Beautiful Chaos – 0

We will try again next week…care to join us?

I LOVE American Idol. I don’t care about “guilty pleasure,” reality bites, brain numbing traits of TV. I have been wanting to blog it as a regular thing for a while. But, until now, it was just on too often, there were too many people and basically filled with disposable material. Don’t even tell me that American Idol is all disposable – your comment will be deleted

I *heart* American Idol. And it is on right now.

Not crazy about the Beatles (which is the theme for tonight) but, I am betting it will be great.

Syesha Mercado – I have never been real crazy about her. Voice is great, no doubt, but incredibly typical. So far tonight is no exception. I am predicting Simon will hate it -no matter how cute she is. She should be on a cruise ship.

• Randy – alright
• Paula – looks great
• Simon – thought she was better than last week (miss one for me) but she looked nervous

Chikezie – He keeps getting better every week. I wasn’t sure about him in the beginning. But it is performances like this one and the one last week are making me reconsider. The next American Idol? Probably not – but I am glad he is still here. This is a great performance.

• Randy – He smashed it
• Paula – Really liked it
• Simon – Agrees with the other two

*Ryan is a big goof ball

Ramiele Malubay – I liked her from the beginning. Cute little girl with a big, talented filled voice. Wow! Those are some great shoes! So far, it has been real low key…waiting…waiting…never happened. Dern. It was okay…but I am left wanting…but I appreciate the shoes.

• Randy – feels just like me
• Paula – pretty safe
• Simon – bored to tears

Jason Castro – Great eyes, great hair and he is another getting better every week. I thought he was phenomenal last week and now we will see. The guitar is back. He is so interesting. His voice is different. Could go either way, but I liked it.

• Randy – liked it, didn’t love it
• Paula – disagrees with Randy because she can feel Jason’s heart *enter soft music*
• Simon – A little student in the bedroom at midnight

*As heard on a Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader commercial – “You look more confused than a cow on astro-turf.”

Carly Smithson – Always liked her. Voice is awesome although she always has to make these weird faces when she grabs those big notes. No worries – the neato tats will make up for that. Holy cow! She is rocking this song! I think she has been signing in a mirror – the facial expressions are toned down.

• Randy – Steller
• Paula – felt like she was watching a star
• Simon – right song – reminds him of the transformation of Kelly Clarkson

David Cook – The rocker minus the guitar. He usually sounds really good and very interesting. Tonight I think he picked the wrong song. Ended pretty strong, but he should of picked something else.

• Randy – did good once he hit the chorus
• Paula – thinks he is fantastic
• Simon – though it was brilliant – thinks he could win based on talent

Brooke White - One of my favorites. I would by an album from her. Her voice is so engaging. She’s playing the piano and sounding real good. Little typical…she turned it up a bit at the end. I liked it. She has so much emotion in her sound.

• Randy – loves her conviction
• Paula – This is her niche
• Simon – One of the best performances of the night

David Hernandez – I dunno – he has a great voice…but I can’t get past the eyebrow thing he does. He looks like he used to be stripper or something. He doesn’t sound very good at all tonight. Not impressed.

• Randy – too over done
• Paula – agrees with Randy
• Simon – corny verging on desperate

Amanda Overmyer – One of my top three. I think she is great! I am sitting here during the commercial hoping great things for her. Woo Hoo! This is why I love her! I am so waiting for her to do a Tina Turner song. Favorite of the night!

• Randy – rocked it out
• Paula – she is a star up there
• Simon – didn’t think it was as good as last week. But she is a breath of fresh air

Michael Johns – another one of my top three and my favorite guy. Brilliant…there is nothing else to say about what he just did up there…except maybe brilliant.

• Randy – thought he could have changed it up a bit
• Paula – disagrees and used my word “brilliant” – twice
• Simon – agrees with Randy

Kristy Lee Cook - Maybe the country girl of the competition if she would just embrace it. Sounds like she might. Wow! I am not a big fan but this is fun. Complete with fiddles and all. This suits her and I hope she sticks with it. This is just what she needs to do.

• Randy – liked the idea – vocally he thought it was a half-halfer
• Paula – OMG! She didn’t like it. I don’t know that I have ever heard that out of her
• Simon – Thought it was hideous – I have to disagree.

David Archuleta - What a talented kid. I hope he does well. Ooops – a bit of forgotten lyrics there…that hurts…especially since the whole thing sounds a bit corny anyway. He’s trying to redeem himself…ummm…nah. Not tonight. Maybe next week.

• Randy – not on point
• Paula – not his best week
• Simon – it was a mess

My guess…Chikezie, although he had a great night, will get the last performance call tomorrow.

What’s your guess?