Idol Insider: Week Three

Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Michael Sarver, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen, Scott MacIntyre, Lil Rounds, Jorge Nunez, Megan Joy, Jasmine Murray, and Matt Giraud…oh, and Anoop Desai. There you have it folks, America Idol’s very first Top 13.

Tonight is a big night, so I hope you all have recovered from last week’s three-night event. But, last week’s extra time was worth the effort and Idol Insider was there for every brilliant minute. Tuesday night started off with a bang, as over-the-top, Von Smith, tried to win America’s heart with his performance, but his luck turned sour when Cowell (Simon, that is) called him out for being reminiscent of Clay Aiken. To most of the population, this was recognized as a deserving diss to Von’s ego. Don’t even get me started on the Clay-Mates and their big pile of B.S. – they probably voted for Von all night! Luckily they’re efforts went unnoticed. But in all honesty, group three was probably the hardest for me to pick. Well, I should start by saying that Lil and Scott were the obvious shoe-ins, but it was spot number three that had me so conflicted. Were the Vote for the Worsters going to come out victorious and put the horribly untalented Alex Wagner-Trugman into the finals? P.S. It’s American Idol, lose one of the last names! Or was America going to be touched by Jorge’s untouching cry fest? Or would they side with one of the girls, who all gave similar performances and left me feeling confused as to who was who? I was kinda rooting for Carrie, er uh, Kendall Beard, only to give the country folk someone to vote for this season.

But in the blink of an eye, Lil, Scott and Jorge were cast in the top 12. No time for celebration or reflection, though, because the Wild Card cast was announced. And as predicted, Tatiana had made her triumphant return to prime time. By the end of Wednesday’s show I was already anticipating the intensity of Thursday’s results. So many choices, not enough spots. Had this been a regular, and predictable, season I would’ve said that since 6 guys had already joined the top of the crop and only 3 girls – the producers, by way of forcing the judges, would choose 3 girls to even it out. But, they fooled us once again and put 2 girls and then TWO guys into the top 12, making it the first ever top 13! As I predicted, Jasmine Sullivan and Megan Joy were the newest members of the female persuasion in the top 12, but in the surprising twist both Matt Giraud AND Anoop Desai were put through. All deserving members of the group, minus Megan’s unfortunate take on The Twist.

And tonight, the stakes are raised as the Top 13 battle it out in the unsettling themed show, as contestants take on the songs of Michael Jackson. That’s right, these Idol-wannabes are taking on the King of Pop. I can predict who, out of the group, will take this and run with it – straight to the finale. But I am left puzzled as to how some of them will make it work. I mean, we’ve already seen Kris Allen’s take on a MJ classic and it wasn’t overly impressive, so it will be interesting to see his second go around at it. But I am not overly-optimistic and I don’t expect to see the next Prince of Pop in the making. I also don’t expect to see Scott MacIntyre impress us with his take on the moon walk, but it is American Idol, so I guess anything is possible. Although Michael Jackson may seem like a hard night for the contestants, it’s the rumors ahead that have this Idol Insider slamming on the breaks begging for a recount. Grand Ole Opry Night?! Are they serious, I mean didn’t we see enough in Season 6 when Lakisha Jones tried to sing Jesus Take the Wheel. No, for those of you that missed it, it wasn’t good. And without any country singers in this year’s bunch, I am betting that this is the least favored episode this season.

In other Idol-related news, Carrie Underwood has recorded the, increasingly popular, send-off song for this season’s losers to cry through as they watch the “touching” tribute clip that Idol producers slammed together as their final farewell. The song, Home Sweet Home (yes, the Motley Crue hit), will be this year’s “Bad Day”. Meaning we’ll hear it over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over…you get the point. Anyway, it’s available for download on iTunes today, so if you want to hear the song in its entirety, rather than the same 30 seconds the show will feature, go get it.

And finally, I urge all of you faithful Idolers out there to rush out to pick up the highly anticipated fourth album from our very first American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, out today. The reviews are in, and they are good. As only a true Idol Insider would, I got an exclusive advanced release of the album a few weeks ago and haven’t been able to stop playing it on repeat since. With songs reminiscent of her “Since U Been Gone” days met with a new female altered OneRepublic/The Fray sound, Kelly’s fourth effort proves to be, All I Ever Wanted. Seriously people, go get it!

Now, I must get back to my real job/preparing for tonight’s train wreck, uh I mean, episode. So in the words of Motley Crue by way of Carrie Underwood, “I’m on my way, I’m on my way, Home Sweet Home”.

Ciao!