You take the good, you take the bad

Because it’s "Idol Gives Back" week, I’ll start by being charitable. Local contestant Phil Stacey sailed through "The Change" by Garth Brooks. Stacey connected with the audience better than ever, and was on pitch throughout. Also, the scenes showing Simon frustrated with poverty in Africa were moving. And it’s mighty kind of Uncle Murdoch to part with $5 million to fight hunger.

OK, feel-good time’s over. The show started with a claim that it was live, yet fans emailed and/or blogged beforehand with claims that the show had been taped, claims backed up with correct information about song choices, wardrobe and judges’ comments.

Then things took on the tinge of a Nigerian election. Ryan ended the show by saying voting lines would be open for "at least four hours." What kind of confidence does "Idol" inspire in voters by allowing some unknown suit to decide when to cut off the votes?

Nice silver fillings: And if you had any question that "Idol" would love a certain contestant to win, all you had to do was watch what happened with Jordin Sparks. Before she sang a note, Ryan said her song was going to be a "showstopper." She started weak and righted things with a great, mouth-wide-open finish on "You’ll Never Walk Alone." Randy called it one of the best "Idol" vocals ever, and Simon said she’d "have a hit record with that." I say, call for a special congressional investigation.

What the judges said about Stacey: Randy -- "Another strong performance," Paula -- "This was your best," and Simon -- "I really like you…it was a good choice of song…[stick with a] country tone, which suits your voice…. You actually could do very well on this show."

The family guy, again: Stacey answered a viewer’s question by saying what he missed most were his two little daughters, who went to Oklahoma to stay with their grandparents while he plays out the string in L.A. Awwww. I hear more busy signals.

Still don’t believe me? Compare Sparks’ job with Melinda Doolittle’s take on "There Will Come a Day" by Faith Hill. While the song’s not taxing when it comes to range, Doolittle did well from start to finish. The judges gave her honey but not the high fructose corn syrup they sent Sparks’ way.

Cowellism of the night: "The competition starts properly tonight." It didn’t have that zing but it did have that ring of truth. Simon said it after Chris Richardson opened the show with a strong vocal on Eric Clapton’s "Change the World" and no one did much worse the rest of the night. It’s getting tougher to figure out who’s ….

Most likely to go: Despite the fact that he sang the melody -- exactly what the judges and mentors have preached all season – Blake Lewis’ take on "Imagine" didn’t get many kudos. LaKisha Jones sang a former Idol champ’s song for the second straight week, which was audacious for the bodacious gal but didn’t help her with a tenacious spot.
John Timpe/The Times-Union