Taking a quick glance at the poll, the four people that you say will be leaving this week are:

1. Sanjaya Malakar – 55 votes
2. Antonella Barba – 48 votes
3. Haley Scarnato – 21 votes
4. Jared Cotter – 8 votes

We’ll see how it goes, that may be a pretty good guess on those going home. I think Jared my slide by in front of Phil or Sundance though.

• Blake Lewis and LaKisha Jones - SAFE!
• Chris Sligh – SAFE!
• Jordin Sparks – SAFE!
• Phil Stacey - SAFE!
• Jared Cotter – VOTED OFF! (The poll has its first winner!)
• Melinda Doolittle and Brandon Rogers – SAFE!
• Gina Glocksen and Chris Richardson – SAFE!

Time to spotlight Carrie Underwood and her journey through the nights of American Idol, selling 5-time platinum albums and winning lots of Grammy’s as well. Good performance, she’s a great country singer and will have a long career in music.

• Antonella Barba – VOTED OFF! (The poll’s second winner!)
• Stephanie Edwards – SAFE!
• Haley Scarnato – SAFE! (SHOCKER!!)
• Sabrina Sloan – VOTED OFF! (BIG MISTAKE!)

I’m happy for Haley, I think she’s got an audience and isn’t that bad, but she’s not better than Sabrina. Not sure what the final result totals for votes were, but I’ve got to imagine it was a close one.

Next it’s going to be between Sundance and Sanjaya. I sure hope America doesn’t get another one wrong and vote Sundance off and move Sanjaya through to the Final 12. I have a feeling if Sundance makes it to the Final 12, it will be the push that he needs to really start rocking out to what his real style of music and he starts to shine.

Tonight is the 200th Episode of the show. They announce American Idol’s Idol Gives Back. It’s interesting to see that Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell go on a trip to visit Africa to what appears to be a children’s school. This American Idol charitable organization is going to send people all over the country as well. Efforts to help improve the lives of people that are still trying to work out of Hurricane Katrina in Lousianna and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We’ll look at this some more and get more details with another post later. This is a great effort that American Idol is taking on and I really appreciate and admire them for it.

• Sanjaya Malakar – SAFE!
• Sundance Head – VOTED OFF!

I think this is another mistake, but we’ll see. I think he just had too many performances that were just so-so and not enough for people to remember. He didn’t get back into his southern rock kind of style that he really needed to capitalize on to go further in the competition! Simon had a great comment when Ryan asked him what happened, Simon said “the volume was turned down!”

I think Jared, Sabrina and Sundance should have all made it. We’ll see. I’m sure there are plenty of people hoping for some kind of Wild Card option to get one of these four back into the competition.

Post from: Idol Stalker

Jared Cotter
Before the break we hear that some Stevie Wonder is coming out with Jared Cotter’s performance tonight. Jared played Division II college basketball. When he realized he wasn’t going to make it in the NBA, he gave it up and began pursuing music. He’s got some weird facial expressions when he sings, kind of reminds me of how it looks like Michael Bolton is going to give himself an aneurysm.

• Randy: solid performance, was worried about doing Stevie, but it was good
• Paula: thinks he needs to work on coloring up the way he sings, feels like he shouts the entire song through sometimes
• Simon: actually agrees with Paula, but it wasn’t very original. Not hearing the “wow factor” tonight.

— Commercial Break —

Brandon Rogers
Is a classical piano player and has been playing since he was 9years old starting out playing by ear and then learned how to read music. He’s singing “Celebrate”. I just don’t think he belongs in the group much longer. I haven’t really seen the potential peaking through for Brandon. I’ve seen it with Sundance, and that’s why I’m putting him ahead of Sanjaya.

• Randy: good song choice, gave him a little rock edge, solid performance
• Paula: thinks it was phenomenal, proving why he belongs on the stage
• Simon: doesn’t think he’s represented himself well. He believes he’s one of the best singers in the competition, but the song may not do him any favors this week.

Phil Stacey
He actually does have hair, or did, but shaved it off in college and ended up liking the look and has stayed with it. Phil is singing a LeAnn Rimes and I don’t think it’s good at all. He goes from some really odd low-powered  notes to screaming some notes. This may SERIOUSLY damage his chances for going much further in this competition.

• Randy: high notes are great, but the lower register was off. It was alright.
• Paula: didn’t like the low-end either, but his big notes came out. Odd choice of song, not his best performance
• Simon: didn’t get it at all, odd hats, the whole “thing” just appeared odd and a strange choice of song

— Commercial Break —

Chris Sligh
Had actually shaved his head and looked like Phil Stacey at one point, then let his hair grow out to see the other end of the spectrum and his coiffure is all natural. He’s really rocking out on this song “We All Wanna Be Loved”. His stage presence is flowing well with his vocals and showing off his range, really great little falsetto highlights. Nails the end with a big note finale.

• Randy: not his favorite song choice, but he gets the vocal prize tonight from all the guys so far
• Paula: not her favorite performance either, he’s gotta keep rising above. Stretch and take more risks
• Simon: beginning of song was good but then shouted in the middle. Not one of his strongest.

And that will do it for this week’s performances of the guys. Blake is safe, Sanjaya improved a bit in my opinion, but the judges didn’t like it. Sundance may be at risk along with Phil Stacey this week. It will be interesting to see how the vote totals come across from the phone lines.

Post from: Idol Stalker

Phil Stacey: 29 from Jacksonville, FL
Phil Stacey sings “I Ain’t Missing You At All” by John Waite. I still think this guy is one of the top voices in the contest, still not sure about how far he’ll go, but I’d say he’s got at least 2 or 3 weeks left. He’s really doing a great performance of this song. He’s definitely got it together tonight, but he wasn’t too bad last week in my opinion.

• Randy – that was hot, showing everyond his power
• Paula – likes his tone and says she can hear him right now on the radio
• Simon – very popular, but completely “unoriginal” voice. He’s really looking for something unique, not a “very good karoake singer”

— Commercial Break — 

Interviewing in the “red” room, Sundance says his friends told him to be less “crappy”. I agree, he really needs to turn it on and show us what he did in the original auditions.

Jared Cotter: 25 from Long Island, NY
Singing a little Marvin Gaye and coming out strong with “Let’s Get It On”. I can’t hear this song without immediately thinking of an episode of “The King of Queens”. If you watch it, you’ll know what I mean. Jared’s taking a step up this week. It’s good to see the guys starting off stronger than last week. Not sure if Simon’s going to like it though, and he said to be a littler riskier from last week. He’s doing a good job though.

• Randy – little pitchy, but liked the face move
• Paula – good looking guy, Paula is losing it, too much innuendo
• Simon – appreciates the attempt, but reminded him of the “Love Boat”, as a cabaret singer (Jared follows it up with “That would have been a great love boat man”)

A.J. Tabaldo: 22 from Santa Maria, CA
Dedicating his song to his mom and dad and singing Michael Buble’s version of “Feeling Good”. I like Buble, and A.J. isn’t doing too badly of a version, but is cracking on a few areas moving across his range. We’ll see

• Randy - so much better than last week, proves he’s got skills
• Paula – real, real, real, real good voice. Like’s seeing the change
• Simon – actually “nearly, very good”. Tuning problems. Made himself different and stand-out with some personality

— Commercial Break —

Sanjaya Malakar: 17 from Seattle, WA
He’s dedicating his performance to his grandfather who died when he was five and wears his wedding ring on stage. Singing “Steppin’ Out” with a little jazz, swing kick. Not sure he’s doing enough. Still can’t believe he was won of the top guys in votes last week. Not sure what he’s going on. He’s not bad, just not in the same league with the majority of the other guys in the group this year. Strong voice, but Simon will say he’s “forgettable”.

• Randy – nice kid, really weird, bad high school talent show. Really didn’t work for him.
• Paula – sang on pitch, sounded good, old soul, but needs to pick songs that celebrate his youth
• Simon – some ghastly lunch where the parents asked the children to sing. Very weak. A little weird and absolutely no impact.  

He picked the song to dedicate it to his grandfather, just may not have been the best decision.

— Commercial Break —

Chris Sligh: 28 from Greenville, SC
Dedicates it to his wife who has supported him through all the times he’s wanted to give-up and quit. Singing “Trouble”, and I’m not sure who sings it (Lindsey Buckingham, remade by Coldplay?). He’s doing a great job. I just love his personality and attitude. We’ll see what the judges say though.

• Randy – even better than last week, big voice, he’s got skills, good song choice
• Paula – watch your pitch, getting ahead of the music
• Simon – tonight he was a “very good singer” which is why they put him through

Ryan reminded me that Taylor Hicks did that song last season. Definitely a song that would fit Taylor’s Soul Patrol style.

Post from: Idol Stalker

Up first is Blake Lewis, the beat-boxer, I like him I just want to hear more of his voice. He says he’s going to highlight his voice and only break-out the beat boxing “here and there”. He’s definitely doing that. His tone is so great on this song, which I’m not sure about the title of right now. Not a single sound effect out of his mouth at all except for his clean and smooth voice.

Randy said he “dug” it. Paula said his vocals were dead on. Simon didn’t think it was the “best” vocal but that the difference was he was the first person that sounded like he was in 2007. I believe he’s right. Simon agrees that he was 100% right coming out without the beat boxing. Simon says best performance tonight.

Sanjaya Malakar will be up first after the break.

— Commercial Break —

Sanjaya talks about his sister and says she’s absolutely supportive and that she picked out the song he’s singing.

Singing a crooner song, Steve Wonder I believe, which I think fits his vocal style, tone and personality very well. Nothing special in general.

Randy says it was a horrible song choice for him. I think he did very well with it. As you can tell from my previous comments I usually get pretty close to what the judges think. Not this time. Paula thinks he was hesitant. Simon said it was the most dreary performance all night. With the judges stating all of this it’s killing his chance for coming back. I don’t think it was that bad. We’ll see.

— Commercial Break —

Five hours of American Idol this week. With the two night male and female first nights along with the 1-hour results show.

Up next is Chris Sligh. I love this guy. His personality is just great! Excellent sense of humor and HEY he can sing too! Doing a great job I think. Lots of energy in the chorus of his song, but balances it out in the verses with strong and accurate vocals. He’s really working the audience as well. I’m curious as to what the judges will think about the performance.

Randy says voice was on point and he’s a “Chris fan”. Paula believes the song choice was great and that he was ahead of the chorus. I didn’t catch it though. Simon likes him with a fantastic personality, but felt he was at some weird student gig. Chris responds and takes a shot at Simon which was pretty funny.

— Commercial Break —

Jared Cotter, we find out he was a waiter, but got fired for trying out for American Idol. Jared is another one of the contestants that has snuck up on me in the competition. He’s got a solid voice and comfortable stage presence as well. He singing a Brian McKnight song “Back at One”. His voice seems to quiver a little bit at the ends of the phrases and hits a little pitchy areas as well.

Randy says it was pretty good, but didn’t like the ending. Paula likes him singing the more up-tempo songs. Simon agrees with Paula but the performance sounded a bit nasal but un-adventureous.

A J Tabaldo is up next. He’s tried out for American Idol five times to get to this point so it’s been a long hard road for him to get here. Let’s hope he can capitalize on it now that he’s here.

AJ picks up the pace a little bit with “All My Love” or “1,000 Kisses”. Nothing spectacular for me.

Randy said it looked like he was having a blast. Vocally it was good. Didn’t bring anything new. Paula agrees that AJ can definitely sing. He needs to go for it more. Simon says it was good, but nothing great or terrible. Simon classifies it as a “theme park” performance. Simon ended with saying that maybe AJ was better than he originally thought.

My pick for winning it all will wrap up the men’s night, it’s Phil Stacey after the break.

— Commercial Break —

Phil Stacey, the man that reminds of Harry Connick, Jr. a little bit. Nice and strong vocally. He missed the birth of his daughter. The Harry Connick Jr reference was definitely because of the “When A Man Loves a Woman” performance for Hollywood week. He’s starting off very non-stellar though. It’s picking up a little bit, but I’m not sure “How Could I Ask For More” is the best song choice for him. The chorus he’s really rockin’ it out now, but not sure if the judges will like it or not. The high note he just hit reminded me of Clay Aiken’s voice power.

Randy said the song was a little rough. Randy said it was the best vocal of the night. In tune, rich, full. Paula said when he went into the chorus it really opened up. Simon said it was okay, but not the “best” vocal and said it was just “okay”.

Ryan said Phil is going with the Britney Spears haircut which was perfect.

Here’s my predictions for the two going home this week:

• Rudy Cardenas
• Sanjaya Malakar

We’ll see you tomorrow night for the ladies and again on Thursday night for the results show.

Post from: Idol Stalker