Idol Chatter: The next American Idol is...

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

If case you haven't already heard, our man David Cook was crowned "American Idol" last night. And we are just too excited for words. Finally, the American public has chosen someone who isn't just a good singer, but the complete package. We were astounded by the record number of votes cast, 97.5 million, and even more astounded that Cook took the honors by a huge 12 million votes! We thought it would be so much closer than that. David Archuletta has a huge following, but apparently David Cook's is bigger!

The winning moment was really something, that, and the fact that Simon apologized for being a jerk, made for a great ending of the season. When David Cook won, the look on Simon's face was priceless. We loved it!

In the same way we are excited about Cook's win, we’re also a bit down about it, too. We’re just afraid that he will fall to the same fate as several of the previous Idol winners. With the exceptions of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, the other winners have not had success in the mainstream music arena. Jordin Sparks has begun to gain in popularity a bit, but we are sure it isn't as quickly as the Idol producers would have liked. And let’s not forget that the whole American Idol buzz has really died down over the past couple of years. We just hope that the producers let David show how creative and talented he is on his record. If they can do that, then he will be a success. If they force him into the cookie cutter mold that they have tried with the other Idols, he won’t do so well we fear, that is until his contract is up with them, and he can get signed to someone who will let him be himself.

Other than our number one man from the beginning winning, the show was a bit of a drag. One Republic was good, as well as Carrie Underwood, and the montages were funny, especially the Guitar Hero commercial with David Cook...Hello! But the whole "Idol Cast" dressing alike and singing reminded us of a really bad Brady Bunch parody! If you are thinking about buying tickets to the upcoming tour, add about 10 more songs and dances just like what you saw last night and that is what you will get for your money. We’ll have to pass, thank you very much. We don't really understand why George Michael was chosen to be kind of a finale before the big announcement. We have never understood how the higher ups at Idol choose their guests, but he did do a good job. It was a moving performance.

So now we end another season of American Idol. Lets hope that David Cook will do us proud. Enjoy David's commercial for Guitar Hero and his winning moment from last night. Thanks to all of you who took time to read our blog and comment this season. Maybe we’ll be back next year.

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Idol Chatter: David vs. David

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O’Neil

Last night was the final night of competition on American Idol. And we just want to say “What the heck are the judges thinking?”

Honestly, David Archuletta could burp the alphabet and the judges would drool all over him! It is like they have a “love jones” for Archie. Yes he is an excellent singer, but David Cook was so awesome last night! We don’t think there was much of a competition. He was EVERYTHING that we would look for in an “American Idol.” Vocally he was up to par. He was original, upbeat, and not to mention, he is so easy on the eyes. He could take all three songs that he sang last night and make a top-selling album. We totally disagree with Simon about his last song being the “wrong” song for the night. Cook sang “The World I Know” by Collective Soul and it rocked! He showed that he didn’t want to sing the same old thing time and time again. He is comfortable with stepping out and showing how he has evolved throughout all of this. Yes, he may have gotten more screaming from the mob in the audience had he sang “Billie Jean,” but you cannot say that his rendition of this song was not 100% up there with today’s hit makers.

We would like to add that we think that Simon wasn’t completely honest in his opinions that he gave Cook. We honestly think that Simon was saying what the audience and the producers wanted him to say. There is obviously some kind of weird thing going on with Archuletta and the Idol producers, and we think that Simon was harder on Cook for that reason. Did you see the wink he gave Cook at the end? Simon Cowell knows that while Archuletta may be better vocally, overall David Cook is the total package and will be the hit maker out of the two.

Yes, we are partial to Cook, if you haven’t noticed. We feverishly dialed his digits last night in the hours following Idol. We must avoid another Taylor or Jordin mess. We must have an idol that is worthy. Not a flash in the pan.

Now, we feel we should talk about Archuletta for a minute. Yes, he is a good singer, but were we the only ones who felt a little uncomfortable with the pedestal he was put on by the judges and the screaming mob of 12-year-olds in the audience? That and the fact that once again all three of his songs sounded the same just really annoyed us. It sounded like one long song. Yes, we were inspired, but what we really wanted was some excitement. David Archuletta is a great singer, but could you really see him as an Idol?

Tonight, part of us really want David Cook to win because he is the total package, but then the other part knows he will have more of a chance to be himself if he isn’t chained to the Idol producers. David Archuletta will probably take home the honors and if he does, then he will be the perfect modeling clay for the producers. We aren’t sure how his dad will do with anyone other than himself in control of his son’s career. But if the producers are smart, they will somehow fix the show and crown Cook the winner. He is that type that may just renew the waning interest in Idol.

Who do you think should be the next American Idol? Tonight we will finally find out.

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Idol Chatter: It's a guys’ finale

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Last night we were finally right: Syesha's days on American Idol came to an end. This was not surprising, and it actually isn't sad either. This girl has a huge career ahead of her, probably on Broadway. She has a great voice, cute personality, and she is beautiful. She will not be in the unemployment line anytime soon.

We aren't surprise that David A. and David C. are in the finale. We actually had that scenario pegged for the last two months. Some small part of us hoped that David Archuletta would be sent home, but it just wasn't so.

Next week is the finale. It will be anyone's game. David Archuletta has the popular vote, while David Cook has the talent vote. Either way it won't be the last anyone will hear from either of them. Seeing Fantasia perform last night just goes to show you how anyone can make it. Yes, she is an excellent singer, but what the heck has happened to her? Her entire performance from her singing, to her hair, to her outfit, to her dancing, made us want to turn the channel, fast.

One week left folks, then American Idol will be done for yet another season. Meanwhile, enjoy this clip from season one when Kelly Clarkson sang " A Moment Like This."

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Idol Chatter: That was a semi-final?

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O’Neil

Last night on American Idol, the contestants each performed three songs. One that was picked by the judges, one that was picked by the producers, and one they chose themselves. Being that it is the week before the season finale, we thought it would be a really great night. Though it wasn’t all bad, it was one of the more boring and lackluster evenings we have seen lately.

All three contestants did OK, but that is it; they were just ok. David Cook delivered, as always, but it would have been awesome to see him perform like he did when he sang “Billy Jean” or “Be My Baby.” He seemed a little off of his game, almost like he was having voice problems.

David Archuletta was so-so. We seriously did not need to hear him singing “My boo…” Plus, we don’t get Randy’s reactions to him. Is his wacky stage dad paying him off or what? The kid could hum, clog, and play the spoons and Randy would think he was “da bomb.” The problem is David A. seems like a nice kid, but we fear that his dad will be the ruination of him. Just look at other “child” celebrities whose parents pushed and pushed and pushed. We would hate to see David shave his head, get into drugs and drinking, and run around town without his underwear.

Syesha was also another let down of the evening. She could have done so much more, but she didn’t. The “Fever” thing was kind of weird too. This isn’t stripper Idol. Sorry Syesha, you could have really shined with your vocals and it didn’t happen.

Although the songs selections were not entirely up to the contestants, it just could have been better. Sorry folks, but the show did not deliver the semi-final magic that it should have.

Tonight we think that Syesha will be the one sent home. David Cook just has it all and David Archuletta has his dad and every girl under 15, but of course you never really know with this show. Enjoy one of David Cook's performances from last night. He might not have blown us away, but he is still a great artist!

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Idol Chatter: Jason Castro says goodbye man

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Well, last night we finally were able to say good-bye to Jason Castro. And while we have been giving him a rough time the last couple weeks, it has been good to see someone on the show with such a care-free attitude about the whole thing.

He even seemed like he wanted to go home. Did he feel like he was out of his element, was it not what he thought it would be, or did he really not care one way or another? We may never know the answer to this. But we wonder how Jason will feel when he goes on the Idol tour, and he has to do a whole show full of those corny montages and dances, like the one last night.

Did anyone else notice how David Cook, Syesha, and Jason looked like they would rather be buried in a hole then doing the cheesy dance? David Archuletta on the other hand was in show tune heaven. He actually looked like he was on top of the world doing his song and dance to "Reeling in the Years." It was one of those moments that we were reminded how ludicrous this show can be.

We give props to our man Bo Bice, who has been MIA for a while now. It was good to have him back on the stage swinging his long-rocker locks. And we can't fail to mention how hot Adam Levine from Maroon 5 is and how we would love to be his guitar. YUM!

The end of this chaos called American Idol is near. We will be back next week.

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Idol Chatter: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Well how should we even begin to talk about American Idol last night? Should we start with the Good? The Bad? Or the Ugly? Let’s just be done with it and get the bad and ugly out of the way.

Unfortunately for Jason Castro, bad and ugly represents everything about his performances on Tuesday night. To all you Jason lovers out there who put him up on a pedestal, to be frank, he fell off…hard. It’s time for Jason to leave the competition.

The theme for the night was songs from the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. OK theme, right? We thought so. The are a ton of songs that Jason could have chosen, to show us that he wants to be here. But no, true to form, he took the stage and sang Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff.” Ten seconds into the song we wanted someone to shoot us. And believe us when we say that we were not the only ones that felt this way! The performance was disjointed and scattered. Definitely not final-four material. To be blunt, it stunk. The judges were stunned and rightly chastised Jason for the performance. We thought Simon was going to throw his notebook at him. It just wasn’t good, regardless of how much you like Bob Marley.

His second choice was Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” We were equally disgusted with the second selection. Jason chose two songs that were sung by singers who have a very distinct voice and style, and he just didn’t pull it off. And we can’t end our critique of Jason without pointing out that this isn’t the first audition, this is the final four, and to FORGET the lyrics of a song just shows how obvious it is that Jason doesn't have what it takes. There are several people who would love to be in his position right now, and all he can think about is Bob Marley! It’s time for dreadlock boy to go.

Now finally, let’s talk about the GOOD.

David Cook started with “Hungry Like The Wolf” by Duran Duran. Oh David, we totally agree with Paula, it made us hungry for more! While it wasn’t a “totally blow us away” performance, it was good and showed how versatile he really is. His second choice was “Baba O’Reilly” by The Who. Another solid performance by David Cook. This guy is the total package! He has talent, charisma, looks, excellent vocals etc.

Syesha Mercado delivered two of the greatest performances of her time on Idol. She took on Tina Turner’s "Proud Mary.” We were a little nervous for her on this one, and we thought her dancing was a bit corny, but she totally pulled it off. Her version of “A Change Is Gonna Come,” by Sam Cook, was inspiring. Not to mention the fact that she is absolutely beautiful! Syesha showed us that she WANTS this. You go Girl!

The show ended on a good note with David Archuleta. Archie’s first choice was “Stand by Me,” by Ben E King. Nice David, maybe a little safe for this point in the competition, but nice all the same. He delivered on Elvis’ “Love Me Tender.” We liked how he slowed the song down and didn’t try to sound like Elvis. And while we might not care too much for him, he does have some of the best vocals of the competition. It was a nice way to end the show, and we think that he is a good contemporary artist. It’s a shame that this is American Idol and not America’s Greatest Contemporary Artist. Just kidding.

Tonight Jason should go, it is only fair, but if he does stay another week, let’s hope he does better.

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Idol Chatter: Say good-Bye Brooke, Say Good-Bye

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Last night, it was Brooke’s turn to say good-bye. And while we really like Brooke and think she seems to be a sweet, wholesome, girl, it was her time to go. Actually, she probably should have left us days ago, but she hung on one more week.

Brooke is a very talented musician, but her style just isn't mainstream music. And there is also that small fact that she just can't handle the pressure, and cracks at every corner. We are sad to see that her time is up, but there can only be one Idol, and it just wasn't Brooke White. Let's hope Brooke stays Brooke and that she can find some niche in the music business that will give her success.

Next week the top four compete. In our opinion, it is going to come down to David C. and David A., but it is a toss-up over which one will actually take the prize. Who do you think the next American Idol will be?

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Idol Chatter: Neil Diamond night sparkles

Alright! Finally a night we can get into. We LOVE Neil Diamond! For the most part, the contestants did not disappoint. The hour was fast paced and full of actual singing. What a concept.

Jason Castro was up first. Jason was pretty decent with his first song choice “Forever in Blue Jeans.” But, his second choice, “September Morn,” fell flat. Jason seemed uncomfortable in his second song. We know that Neil Diamond may not be the best genre to showcase what his voice is capable of, but it really showed his weaknesses. As Randy has said time and time again, if you can sing, you can sing anything. Jason seems to be playing it safe every week and has fallen into the trap of always sounding the same. But, who knows, his fans may save him again.

Next up was David Cook. David’s first song was “I’m Alive”. He sang it well. When it came time for his second selection, we were waiting to be wowed, and he did not disappoint. We absolutely loved “All I Really Need Is You.” Great selection and fantastic performance! Of course everyone knows that we love David Cook, but this time, we really think he showed star quality.

Brooke White made us cringe with “I’m a Believer.” She looked completely out of sorts and her face looked like she was in actual pain. Watching her performance was painful for us, as well. Sorry Brooke, but your time may be up. All you can hope for is that your fans tuned in late and only saw your second performance. That may save you.

David Archuleta is beginning to be very predictable. Both of his performances sounded the same. He could have taken some risks with his song choices. The songs were sung just like the originals. Don’t worry David; you are the safest contestant on the show. You will be around next week.

Syesha Mercado surprised us last night. Her first choice, “Hello Again” was great. We love that side of her. But she chose to rock out to close the show with “Thank the Lord for the Nighttime,” fantastic song selection. We hope that Syesha is around next week.

Who knows what awaits us tonight in the results show. As we all know, you can’t predict Idol…..

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Idol Chatter: G’bye Carly, Irish eyes everywhere are cryin'

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

OK, we will admit, there are times when we are wrong. And yesterday was one of those times.

We thought for sure that Jason Castro or Brooke White would be saying good-bye, but we were wrong, REALLY wrong. We, in no way thought that Carly Smithson would be sent home yet. We thought she would make it to the final four. This goes to show that you cannot predict American Idol. Some say it is rigged, while others think that it was OK for her to get the boot, since she has had a prior recording career.

Regardless, it just amazes us that Carly was dismissed before Jason Castro. We, at one point, really liked Jason. But his attitude over the last few weeks has been going down hill. He was downright rude last night.

We don't expect everyone to be enamored by Andrew Lloyd Webber, but the guy is a musical genius, and Jason was so rude to him that it just really peeved us. He acted like he could have cared less to even be there! If you want to be a professional, act like one. Maybe Jason thinks he is too cool to be coached by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Can you say man diva?

Hence Carly is gone, and we believe that Syesha is a dark horse in this. We were wowed by her performance again last night.

Two last tidbits that have been bothering us. Could Brooke bite her lips anymore? Give it a rest Brooke. We have had it with the poor-me routine. Get a grip. Then, Brooke stated to Ryan last night and the night before that she had not messed up before. This is a little weird, considering that we could have sworn she had…. remember when she flubbed the beginning of "Every Breath You Take?" Take a look at the clip and tell us what you think? Or should we just not go there?

Next week it is down to the final five. The season finale is right around the corner!

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Idol Chatter: Idol takes on Broadway

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Last night on American Idol, the top six contestants were given the difficult task of singing an Andrew Lloyd Webber Broadway hit. And while we knew some would fail and others would excel, it was still painful to watch. Syesha did OK with her song “One Rock and Roll Too Many” from Starlight Express. She has a good voice, and the Broadway circuit is right up her alley.

Jason Castro sang “Memories” and well, lets just say we don't want to ever remember his version. It was painful, and may have sunk his Idol ship.

Brooke was another painful singer of the evening. She took on “You Must Love Me” from Evita. She messed up the song and practically cried throughout the rest of it. We like Brooke, but man she needs to get a grip! We’re afraid that she is going to crack under the Idol pressure. Her time is up!

David Archuletta made us want to gag when all the 12-year-olds came rushing on stage to "hug" him. Can you say OVER KILL? David chose “Think of Me,” from Phantom of the Opera. Bethany has seen Phantom on Broadway. So, we were very nervous. It was a strange choice for David because in the musical, a female sings the song. But, surprisingly, he pulled it off. Broadway-style music is definitely his bread and butter. And as long as anyone under 15 can call in, he has no worries.

Our favorites of the night were Carly and her version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Man that girl has got some pipes on her. And David Cook's version of "Music of the Night" was to die for. The beginning was a bit off for us, but once he got into it, we were hooked. Wait, we have always been hooked. This man can do no wrong.

Tonight Brooke and Jason are vulnerable. And frankly it is about time for them to go anyway.

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Idol Chatter: Good-bye Kristy Lee

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Finally, we got the chance to send Kristy Lee on her merry way. We were kind of worried there for a minute that Brooke might have been sent packing before her young roommate, but alas the voting public finally got one right.

Now please understand; it isn't that we didn't think Kristy was a bad singer. Granted, she was not as good as some of the other contestants, but she was decent vocally, and she wasn't hurting in the looks department. It was more her attitude that we couldn't tolerate. She just rubbed us the wrong way. She could never take constructive criticism, and she always had a smart remark for Simon. Regardless, her days in the running to be the next American Idol are finished. Now, hopefully, she can get her horse back and quit complaining.

Props to Elliot Yamin for performing such a nice song, especially since his mother passed away just a few days ago.

We will be back next week for more Idol Chatter.

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Idol Chatter: Can David Cook do any wrong?

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

When we heard that the Idols would be singing selections from the songbook of Mariah Carey, we were nervous. We thought that this was unfair to the ladies. We were right. The night totally favored the guys. The girls could do nothing but sound like karaoke.

The night started off with David Archuleta. While you all know that David Archuleta is not our favorite Idol contestant, he did perform as well as he could. Although, we have a growing concern that David is sounding more and more like an adult contemporary artist. Tread these waters carefully, David, you need to show that you can be a main pop sensation. Even if he wins American Idol, which we doubt, he will not have a long-standing pop career if he sings like that. Remember Taylor Hicks?



Carly, you finally wore some sleeves! We think the judges were hard on Carly. She performed well. We do agree with the judges on one point though. She doesn’t seem very confident. Go for it Carly! She has the chops to deliver, if she would let herself go. Out of all the girls, she is the only one that we think could do justice to a Mariah Carey song, and while she did OK, she could have done better. She looked good last night too!

Kristy Lee and Syesha both delivered mediocre performances, which in a way is not their fault. Singing a Mariah song is not easy. Mariah is a pop icon that is still churning out number one hits. It’s hard for the ladies not to be judged harshly against the original. We still feel like Kristy has a bad attitude, which is what brings her down in our eyes.

Now, on to Brooke. Poor Brooke. Sometimes we feel like yelling to her "Get a grip!" She lets herself get caught up in these way-too emotional songs. She did her best, but Brooke is vulnerable tonight.

As for the big finish with Jason and David Cook, let us preface this by saying that everyone knows how much we love David Cook. But, he went beyond our expectations. Way beyond! We love him! After his performance he was very emotional. His family was in the audience, including his brother who is suffering from cancer, and the judges lavished David with praise. What a great moment for him. Out of all the contestants, he is by far the most talented and ready to put out a record. Lets hope that he can stay around.

Jason Castro had a hard task ahead of him when he followed David Cook and closed the show. Jason did an OK job. He made the song his own, and that is a plus for us. But we think Jason is starting to sound the same on every song. Watch that Jason.

We think the ladies are all vulnerable. But after last week, we obviously can't predict anything. So, we will all have to wait until tonight and find out who will be sent home. It better not be David Cook!

Enjoy this encore performance of "Always Be My Baby."

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Idol Chatter: Michael Johns’ shocking exit

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O’Neil

“No air” indeed, just a bitter cough.

Last night on the final night of Idol Gives Back, former Idol winner Jordin Sparks and pop sensation Chris Brown sang their hit “No Air.” And while it was an excellent performance, we are still struggling to breath.

Our problems have nothing to do with the couple’s outstanding performance. By now you have probably all heard that our boy, Michael Johns, was eliminated. If you hadn’t, well yes, he was sent home BEFORE Kristy Lee Cook, Syesha Mercado, and Jason Castro. Please bear with us folks as we swim through the thick pool of bitterness that has overcome us this Friday and try to write something decent for you to read and ponder.

Funny though, we feel like we’ve been here before. Oh wait, we have. We remember the same anguish and heartache we felt when we had to bid farewell to Chris Daughtry two years ago. While we knew with Michael, as we did with Chris, that they probably would not make it to the finale, we thought for sure that talent would prevail and they would make it to the top four. But no, Michael would succumb to the same fate that Chris did. Obviously, the people that are voting aren’t voting for the total package.

Was it the fact that he was older than the average voter? Was it the fact, that “Dream On” wasn’t his best song choice, or was it the fact that last year they chose not to send someone home the week of Idol Gives Back and his fans didn’t call in? We may never know. But shame on you Idol producers and Ryan Seacrest for not being honest last year. That may have been what contributed to Michael’s good-bye this season.

What we do know is that now David Cook’s days are probably numbered, as well, and that David Archuletta will probably win the whole thing. For some reason the long-standing-theme of American Idol is to try and crown someone who, though they are talented, they aren’t always what is in the mainstream Pop arena right now, i.e. Reubin, Fantasia, and Taylor Hicks. It seems like the pattern of Idol winners goes the way of someone who can sing life anthems and contemporary songs, which makes us in a way relieved that Michael was sent home. Now, he can go get a record contract and sell millions of CDs, just like Chris Daughtry did.

Next week it is anyone’s game, or is it?

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American Idol: Inspiration in small doses

Hey Idol fans, Tuesday night was supposed to be a night full of inspirational songs, but we are sorry to report that some of the performances left us a bit deflated. We were all pumped up for an hour of over-the-top performances that would uplift us, but only a few Idols delivered.

The show began with our hottie Michael Johns. We were a little nervous about his song selection, not his best choice. But he did well enough to stay in another week.

Syesha did not listen to our previous advice. She chose “I Believe,” which Fantasia sang when she claimed the Idol prize. Come on Syesha. Do not pick songs that whenever we listen to them, we can only hear the original. While she sang it well, technically, we could only hear Fantasia. Sorry.

That brings us to Jason Castro. What can we say about Jason? While we know that he has a lot of appeal with the ladies, he is beginning to bore us. He needs to perform without the guitar and take a risk with his song choice. We could do without the dreads as well.

Then you have Kristy Lee Cook. We were a little nervous when she took on Martina McBride. We love Martina! But, Kristy held her own. It was not her best performance, but it was good enough to keep her in for another week, maybe.

David Archuleta impressed us somewhat with his song, “Angels.” Nice choice for David. He did a pretty good job. It seems like inspirational songs are right up his alley! He will be around next week for sure.

David Cook on the other hand did not impress with his song selection. Although he sang well, the song was obscure and a little weird for us. Sorry, this was not David’s best night. We hope that his fan base was motivated to pick up the phone last night, or he could end up in the bottom three. Shocking for us to say this, we know, however at this stage of the game, you have to deliver and get the phones to phone in.

That leaves us with the two most disappointing performances of the night. Carly and Brooke. Now, we are big fans of Carly and Brooke, but sorry again girls, not a good night. Brooke seemed like she was on the verge of tears throughout her entire song. She needs to learn how to keep her emotions from overcoming her during a song. Then Carly caught a glimpse of Simon’s face in the audience and totally fell apart during her song. Aside from the fact that Carly did not make the best choice of song, she did not sing it well. It was too big for her. Brooke may need a friend to cry on or the show just might go on without Carly.

We’ll see if someone leaves us this week. Who knows what surprises await us tonight? Enjoy Idol Gives Back!

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Idol Chatter: Say Good-Bye Ramiele

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Last night we bid adieu to Ramiele Maluby. We knew that she would be getting axed soon. We were hoping that Kristy would go first, but that is OK.

It was kind of weird because Ramiele was sobbing hysterically, and it seemed as though she didn't realize that she wasn't going to win the whole she-bang. The judges have been telling her for weeks now that she hasn't been doing well. You would think it would have sunk in by now. Of course, it could have just been emotions, since it seemed to be an emotional night for all. We were kind of surprised to see Brooke in the bottom three though. We knew she would be there eventually, but it just seemed to soon to see her there.

Dolly did a good job singing about Jesus and gravity, though it makes us sick at how skinny she is. But considering her age, she looked good.

Next week it’s "Idol Gives Back" week. We are excited to see some of the performers that are scheduled to attend: Maroon 5, Heart, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtrey, just to name a few. It’s a good cause and the show will probably be ten times better this year.

We aren't sure if someone will be voted off. Last year they tricked us in thinking that Jordin was going home, but they ended up not voting anyone off, so who knows what they will do this year? Let's say a prayer, though, that there won't be any corny white suit ensembles, please!

We will have a recap next week of the big show.

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Idol Chatter: Dolly comes to town!

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O’Neil

This week Dolly Parton was the guest mentor for the contestants, and like most people, we love Dolly. Who wouldn’t? Even if you don’t like her singing, her style of music or her “look,” she is just such a nice lady it’s hard not to like her. Anyway, the contestants were thrilled to have her help them out this week, and all in all, it wasn’t a bad night. Of course, with us there are always a few exceptions.

Ramiele did better than the previous weeks, and there is no doubt that she can sing. But she seems to lack the confidence that one needs for this kind of thing. It’s time for Ramiele to go home. And Syesha, haven’t you learned one of the cardinal rules about Idol? Absolutely no Mariah or Whitney. The only person who can do “I Will Always Love You” better than Whitney Houston is Dolly Parton. Syesha did herself no favors last night, and we might be telling her adios tonight.

Sore spots for the evening were David Archuletta and Kristy Lee Cook. Of course, they are always a sore spot for us. But last night, it was like someone kept on pushing that sore. Kristy’s performance was OK, but that is it, just OK. While she is pretty, really pretty, she is dull, and her performance was very karaoke.

David’s performance did not deserve the rave reviews it got from the judges. Is his dad paying them or what? We just cannot see him as an “American Idol.” Can you say “Lounge Singer?” Come on girls, quit squealing and send him home so he can make it to the prom!

Jason Castro was better. We actually liked his song, but he has got to loose the dreads. They are just not cutting it. (Get it?) Plus, he just looks like he has been smoking something before his performance. Maybe it relaxes him, who knows. We would like to see what he can do next week, but he may also be a vulnerable one tonight.

Brooke and Carly were once again standouts for the ladies. There is no doubting these gals have talent. Both did good jobs, though sometimes it is hard to watch Brooke’s mouth when she sings. But we can deal with that. Props to Carly for not loosing it when Simon dissed her outfit. It wasn’t that bad, and the poor thing, she looked as though she was going to cry. We love you Simon, but you are not one to be giving out fashion advice. Leave that to Paula.

David Cook, once again, gave a totally outstanding performance. We are digging the new haircut. He is just so darn cute, and we believe he is going to take it all this year. He could make a record today and have it hit the top 10! We would like to say that we hope he is feeling better. Apparently, he had some issues and had to go to the hospital after the show. Our thoughts are with you, David.

But our favorite performance of the night goes to Michael Johns. Whoa! Just dump a bucket of ice water on every hot-blooded female around the country. That performance was HOT!!!!! It is our clip of the week. Enjoy ladies. Be envious men.

Tonight, as previous shows have done, a lady will probably hit the road. Kristy, Syesha, and Ramiele are all vulnerable, but as we have always said, you never know. We will be back tomorrow with the results.

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Idol Chatter: Good-bye Chikezie

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Well, we knew Chikezie wouldn't last much longer. And while it was sad to see him go and he kind of got robbed of at least being in the top eight, he did have a good run. We think that there are only positive things in his future. He is such a nice guy. Good Luck Chikezie! OK, moving on.

Do you think Brooke White is getting tired of seeing her flub over and over again? At least she is graceful about the whole thing. And are we the only women out there that think David Cook is totally hot? Who cares if he is a man-diva!

We are wondering if Simon has caught on to all the gossip about David Archuletta's dad being a bulldog stage dad. The comment about him picking that song out himself seemed to hit home, and we agree. Why would a 17 year old pick "You’re the Voice?” He was born in 1990, so he had numerous song choices, though we can't see him singing "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe or "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol, so maybe he chose just about as good as he could have.

One last thought before we sign off for the week. We just can't seem to understand why people are keeping Kristy Lee Cook and Ramiele around. We haven't picked on Ramiele too much, but she just seems to have this doom-of-gloom cloud hanging over her head. Come on, show some excitement for once! It has gotta be that crummy site that wants you to vote for the worst contestant that is keeping Kristy on the show. Maybe next week, we can kiss her good-bye.

Until next week...

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Idol Chatter: Best Performance Ever!

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Last night, the contestants on American Idol sang songs from the year they were born and made us feel a bit old, too.

While Kristy and David Archuletta made us feel like we were on an easy listening show and Chikezie, Jason Castro, and Ramiele failed to impress, there were a few notable performances.

Carly impressed us with her version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." And we felt that the judges were a bit harsh with her.

Michael Johns was awesome again with Queen's "We are the Champion," and Brooke White's version of "Every Breath you Take" showed us once again that even though she might have stumbled in the beginning, she has wonderful talent.

But we cannot end here. No. Last night, David Cook performed "Billie Jean," and it was the best performance we have seen out of him yet. If this is him now, we can only imagine what this guy will do once the show is finished.

Enjoy the clip and we will be back tomorrow with the results!

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Idol chatter: Beatles, round two..HELP!

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Once again we were tormented by yet another Beatles week. Why? What is the point? Last week was not a great week for anyone, the viewers included, so why subject everyone to another week of it? We are asking - no begging - please move on from the Beatles!

With that being said, this week’s performances were terrible. By terrible, we mean gut-wrenching, dry-heaving, eye-pulling-out, terrible. The show wasn't worth watching. The best performers were far and few between.

David Cook, did an OK job. We would like to see him without his rocker-diva-like style for a change, though. We know, he is a rocker dude, you can't change that, and we love him for that; it would just be nice to see something different once in awhile. Reports all over the Internet say he has become worse than J. Lo before her twins were born. When he starts demanding only red M&M's, then we’ll really be worried. Please David, don't get too cocky right away.

Carly wasn't as bad as Simon made her out to be. She can sing. We think Beatles’ night and her weird outfit just got the best of her. It was really shocking to see her in the bottom three. We just wonder: was she really in the bottom, or was it a ratings/shock thing by the Idol producers?

David Archuletta wasn't even that bad. And you know that most of the contestants had to be pretty mediocre for us to say that. Our problem is, he can only sing ballads. We don't think he has the personality or voice for mainstream music. Plus as we have said it before, we "hear" his dad is a beast of a stage dad. That only spells disaster.

The bottom three this week were Carly, Amanda Overmyer, and Kristy Lee Cook. We were sure that America would finally send Kristy home. While we know we’ve been hard on her, and we will admit, she has an OK voice, she simply cannot keep the beat and does not perform well. When Ryan said "Kristy, the fans want you to stay," we screamed, "No we don't! Your the only person who likes her Ryan!" Regardless of that fit, Amanda was the next contestant voted off Idol.

Over the past few months, Amanda has fallen short of the expectations we had of her in the beginning, and we knew that she probably wouldn't make it into the top eight. But to send her home before Kristy? What is going on with that?

We would just like to say this to all the lucky people who actually go out and see the Idol tour. Let us know how Kristy does during those shows, since you will have to suffer through her, even after the show is finished.

Let's hope that next week the Top 10 will get their games back and that Kristy will get voted out. See you then.

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Idol Chatter: David Hernandez is done

by Becky Tennant and Bethany O'Neil

Speechless. Well, not really.

Each year, we, like many, hold out the hope that a new year will bring back the original American Idol: A show that wasn't just a popularity contest, but a singing contest as well. Unfortunately, the 2008 season doesn't seem to be panning out any different than the last couple years.

We understand that David Hernandez wouldn't have been crowned "American Idol," but in no way shape or form should he have been the one to go last night. We don't think his "OK" performance was as bad as some of the others. Did his scandalous past do him in? We doubt it. The show is a popularity contest, and shame on us for thinking that it would be any different this year.

Kristy Lee Cook had one of the worst Top 12 performances ever on American Idol. She just plain sucked. Now don't be offended by this, because deep down we all know it is true. She even knew how bad she did. And it wasn't just this week either. For the past couple weeks, she has flopped. Unless she can really up her level this week and keep the people who did vote for her calling in repeatedly, then she "should" be the one to go next.

Amanda Overmyer should have been in the bottom three this week, too. We just don't get her. She did have a strong resemblance to Michael Keaton in Beetlejuice, though. Maybe that's why she stayed on.

Syesha and Ramiele both are very talented ladies, BUT unless they can stand out, their stay will be a short one, also.

We would like to see Michael Johns do another fine performance, comparable to his "Light My Fire” one from a few weeks ago. We know he has it in him to blow us away again.

Brooke White was excellent. Her rendition of "Let it Be" with the piano accompaniment was one of the best performances, and we think that she could potentially take it all, if she can keep up the good work and keep her fan support.

David Cook rocked on as usual. Though we hear he is becoming quite the diva on the Idol set. Hmmm, we hope that isn't true. Divas never do well with us.

One more note. Is it just us, or is anyone else out there tired of hearing how wonderful David Archuletta is? He obviously is not the singer everyone thought, and he is not mature enough to handle all of the fame and fortune that "could" come if the teeny boppers keep on calling in and he is crowned "Idol superstar." Some could wonder, does he really want to be a superstar, or does his dad want to be a stage dad to a superstar?

Next week will be a dull week without hunky David Hernandez there to watch. Hopefully, Kristy's "fans" will realize that she just can't cut it and will send her home. And lets pray that we don't have to sit through another Katherine McPhee performance again. All we can say about that is "no wonder her record label dropped her."

Sorry about all the bitterness folks. We will get over it shortly. Enjoy Brooke's performance of "Let it Be."

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