Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Randy Jackson
Network: Fox, airs Wednesdays and Thursdays
Original Telecast: April 13, 2011

After what I believe (and many others) was a shocking elimination of Pia Toscano last week on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL, what is going to happen this week?

I don’t know if I would say the competition is up for grabs at this point given Casey Abrams almost got the boot and Pia got the ax as well, but it definitely opens up a can of possibilities. Perhaps the biggest question is, will another female be eliminated from the competition this week?

When we began this crazy train, there were seven females and six males in the competition. Now, there are two females and still six males. What does that tell you? America hates chicks? Or that a certain segment of the voting bloc, read tweens, has a whole lot to do with who goes home and who stays. Obviously with some exceptions, but you gotta think the tweens are voting for the good looking guys that they want to see tour with Justin Bieber.

This is why Paul McDonald and Stefano Langone are still around and Pia is gone. There’s no way in hell that she should be gone and those two boring ass performers are still here.

Anyway, let’s get to it this week where the theme was songs from the movies.

Paul McDonald – Hahaha, could this guy be more of a fool? What the hell did I just see up there? Was he really just walking around playing a tambourine singing “Old Time Rock n Roll” by Bob Segar? At least go all the way and come out in your underwear or try to be cool like the song was in RISKY BUSINESS. Instead, we get this goof who came out in that outfit and for whatever reason continues to make it through despite being ridiculous. Yeah he can sing, but he’s terrible. Grade: D+

Lauren Alaina – I think that Lauren is gonna be safe this week regardless of what she does because I have a feeling those that were voting for Pia will probably migrate over to her. Considering she was safe last week, with those additional votes she should be OK, but, again, you never know. She sure pandered to the tween voting bloc this week, however, by singing Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” She isn’t as strong or solid a singer as Pia, but she’s got stage presence and she delivers and that may be an area that Pia was not nearly as strong in. Grade: B

Stefano Langone – I’ve decided to just take a nap during Stefano’s performances because I know what I am going to get. Some ballad where he shows off his stupid fake face at the end in an effort to pander to tweens and housewives to show how cute he is. Instead, I’m just gonna nap and someone can wake me up when he’s done. Can we finally get the hook for this guy so we don’t have to hear any more crap like “End of the Road” (from BOOMERANG) by Boyz II Men again? Grade: C

Scotty McCreery – I’ve said it all season on IDOL that when it comes to Scotty, it is more about the song choice than it is the performance itself. Choosing George Strait’s “I Cross My Heart” (from PURE COUNTRY) was another winner because it plays right into the people that have been voting for him from the start – the fans of country music that enjoy seeing the live-action Alfred E. Newman belt it out. At 17, you’d think he’d be far more immature and waiver from time to time, but he keeps on keeping on and is solid every week. I don’t see him going anywhere anytime soon. Grade: B

Casey Abrams – Seriously, no one wants to hear about your restaurant experience. Like I want to hear about how you got a dish named after you while I sit here in my boring ass life. I want to hear about how you went to a place, had to pay for food and then they got pissed because you left a sh** tip. That would make me more connected. Anyway, if you have read my reviews of IDOL before, you know I’m a big fan of Casey. I think he has done some really cool stuff and taken chances with his songs. I’m not sure that “Nature Boy” by Nat King Cole is one of them. I liked it personally because it was different, it was cool and he seemed to have fun with his stand-up bass. I don’t think it is the type of song that the public is gonna get down with. I could be totally wrong. He got a standing ovation from the people in the IDOL audience. Like I said, I liked it a lot, but I just get fearful when people take such a chance that they risk alienating themselves from the core of America that watch this show. Is he in danger? After last week, I’d say no one is safe. Grade: B+

Haley Reinhart – Haley is not only a hottie, but has been red hot of late with two great performances on the show. Doing “Call Me” by Blondie (from AMERICAN GIGOLO) should have kept it going, but it wasn’t as good as the previous two. And the judges agreed by saying she needed to keep it at the level of where she was before. Again, sometimes it is more about song choices than it is about the actual performance. This did nothing to show off her trademark growls and deep register. That said, I think she’s garnered enough of the populous to keep her around one more week. Grade: C+

Jacob Lusk – Is it me or is Jacob just getting a wee bit predictable and boring? It seems like week after week we hear him conquer some song similar to Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water” (from THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS). The same type of song that is slow, not a ballad but slow and monotonous and ends with him being able to use his great control over his voice. There isn’t anything wrong with the way he sings. He’s a great singer. He’s just a little boring and a little predictable as evident that I’ve seen him do this same shtick about 5 weeks in a row. I like Jacob, he’s a solid singer and that thing he can do with his voice is uncanny, I just want him to be more entertaining. I think that’s why he was in the bottom last week. Grade: C+

James Durbin – I like that both Casey and James both basically told the producers to go f*** themselves (well not in so many words) and decided to do the song they wanted and were willing to go down in flames as a result. As Randy said earlier, that does show that they have a firm grasp of how they are as performers and are willing to take chances in order to show that to the audience. “Heavy Metal” (from the film HEAVY METAL) by Sammy Hagar (another first for IDOL) isn’t the most well known song from the Red Rocker but enough people know the film and the legacy behind it (at least a few generations). The performance itself was what you’d expect, a rocking tune that allowed James to showcase his awesome screaming prowess that resonates Adam Lambert while giving a great performance where you felt as if you wanted to get in the mosh pit. Well played, James, well played indeed. Grade: B+

So who will be in the bottom? As I said earlier, who the hell knows after last week. Regardless, I think that Jacob Lusk, Stefano Langone and Paul McDonald will be in the bottom and finally one dude will be sent packing. I think it will be Stefano (of course, I have said that for two straight weeks and he’s survived).

Check out photos of the performances below.

UPDATE: CLICK HERE to find out who of the Final 8 got voted off

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CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 9 PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 10 + ONE PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and  review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 11 PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 12 PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 13 PERFORM

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