GOOD PERFORMANCES BY GUYS LIKELY MEANS ONE WILL WALK

The good news is that the guys were much better this week. The bad news is that this means a singer who was good Tuesday night is probably going home. Why? The youth and Southern voting blocs won't allow their singers to go home, even if they were bad (i.e. the youth vote will save a subpar Sanjaya Malakar this week). Ask Jennifer Hudson how this works. She was good enough for an Oscar win Sunday for her acting and singing talent. But America didn't see fit to keep her around for the Season 3 finale; the youth bloc was too busy boosting Diana DeGarmo that year. And where is she today?

-- The golden boy: Local guy Phil Stacey should be safe, though. He did a nice job with his tone on Missing You in the tough leadoff spot. And as Simon told Stacey, "You will be back here next week, trust me." Stacey cited 9/11 as his reason for enlisting. The music minister also dedicated Tuesday's song to his Navy Band Southeast mates. God and country? Someone's building a nice bloc of his own.

-- Cowellism of the night: "I will bow to the god of Paula Abdul. I won't have an opinion." Simon popped off after disagreeing with Paula and Randy over Blake Lewis. Lewis squeezed beat box, falsetto, ska and a little break dancing into Virtual Insanity. Simon was wound too tight, which may explain ...

-- Simon says be nasty: When Brandon Rogers defended his so-so Time After Time as a heartfelt dedication to his grandma, Simon ripped into him, saying, "And I like puppies." On a spit, I'll bet.

-- Predictions: DialIdol.com said Nicholas Pedro and Rogers were most in danger as of 11 p.m. They were both better than Malakar.

Another crucial week for Jacksonville contestant on Fox's 'American Idol'

Phil Stacey likes his job in the Navy just fine. Not to mention his position as music minister in a Jacksonville church. But now that he's made it through another week of American Idol, he has a few decisions to make. After all, the show has launched a musical career or two the past few years.
"I was planning a Navy career, but I'm a very confused young man about direction," he said by phone from Los Angeles. "I always wanted to pursue a recording career, too."

Stacey, 29, is part of the final 20 on American Idol, the country's most-watched show.

At 8 tonight, the 10 remaining men will sing, followed by telephone voting. Wednesday, the 10 women sing, followed by voting. Thursday, the two men and two women with the lowest votes will be announced and sent home.

Stacey joined the Navy in 2003 and came to Jacksonville Naval Air Station the next year to be the lead singer in Pride, a Navy rock band.

"I'm very contented in the Navy," he said. "I love my job. What's better than doing a lot of rock shows for kids?"

Then there's the ministry. After all, Stacey's father is a Church of God minister in Hendersonville, Tenn. His wife's father is the pastor at Evangelistic Center Church in Shawnee, Okla. And Stacey is minister of music at Jacksonville's First Coast Christian Center.

"I could be a career music minister, too," he said. "But there are aspects of my life - my family, my country, my faith - that I would like to share on a larger scale than I can with the Navy. If this goes where I can actually do that, I think that'd be a very positive thing."

Roger Bull/The Times-Union

4 SINGERS FALL, SIMON GETS APOLOGY AND SHOW STARTS $10,000 CONTEST

The first results show of Season 6 reminded us that American Idol is on the same network with 24 for a reason. Both shows specialize in torture. But Jack Bauer's never stooped to telling someone they're going home for butchering a song and then -- in my wife's words -- telling them, "You did such a horrible job the first time, let's just sing it again." All 90 seconds of it.

-- Say goodbye to: Amy Krebs, Nicole Tranquillo, Rudy Cardenas and Paul Kim.

-- Pucker up: Chris Sligh said he was afraid people thought he was really taking a shot at Simon on Tuesday night and insisted, "America, I love Simon." I'll bet you do.

-- Now it's cool: Remember when Kelly Clarkson wouldn't thank Idol for launching her toward a Grammy? Evidently the show is no longer a threat to credibility. Planned guests include Diana Ross, Jon Bon Jovi, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani and Martina McBride.

-- Trouble in paradise? When Tranquillo went to sing her finale, LaKisha Jones tried to lead the girls out on the stage for support. They didn't go.

-- Predictable: DialIdol.com called it on three of the four who were bounced. Tranquillo was the surprise, especially considering that Alaina Alexander got a score of 0.

-- Dead presidents: The folks who put on Idol also line their litter box with big bills. As if it needed more fans, the show began giving away $10,000 a week in a text messaging contest.

LAKISHA JONES' SHOWSTOPPER PUTS HER IN A CLASS ALL BY HERSELF

The women made up for the men's lackluster start to the Round of 24 by uncorking some showstoppers Wednesday night. LaKisha Jones flew out of the gate with the kind of performance contestants usually save until the final 12, displaying great range and power on And I'm Telling You. Melinda Doolittle, Gina Glocksen and Savannah's Stephanie Edwards weren't far behind. They should be very safe tonight, when two guys and two gals get bounced, and Fantasia stops by.

-- Cowellism of the night: "I am very tempted to say to 23 people, 'Book your plane tickets home.' " Simon was right. Jones was in a different class. But he got a little loose with the hyperbole; the last word won't come until May. I think someone has been drinking from Paula Abdul's Coke cup.

-- Yeah, but she has a nice personality: In Idol land, words of consolation are just a little different. When you can't sing, the judges tell you, "The good news is you're attractive." That's what Cowell told Antonella Barber, and Alaina Alexander heard some of the same thing when she wavered on Brass in Pocket.

-- The Antonella Stink, Part II: Barber's ability to plague those nearby may have finally infected the host organism as she flogged the classic gem that is Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing.

-- Remember that look in Jack Nicholson's eyes in The Shining? Cowell will when he watches the tape from the show. Someone among Leslie Hunt's family and friends in the audience was ready to disembowel him for rightly saying Hunt couldn't mop Aretha Franklin's sweat.

-- Most likely to go home: DialIdol.com, a site that monitors telephone voting, said Alexander and Amy Krebs were hurtin' as of 11:30 p.m. The final tally on the guys showed Paul Kim and Nicholas Pedro in the most danger.

TOP 24 HEADING FOR BOTTOM WITH PERFORMANCES THAT GO FLAT

That giant hissing sound you heard Tuesday night? It was American Idol -- and most of the singers -- going flat as the guys kicked off the first round of the Top 24. Most of the dudes couldn't find the pitch with sonar and a songbook. Good thing that local guy Phil Stacey, Chris Sligh and Blake Lewis made the night bearable.

-- Good news for Stacey: Stacey started rough on his performance of Edwin McCain's I Could Not Ask for More but righted the ship as his wife, Kendra, looked on. Randy said Phil won "best vocal prize of the night," and Simon seemed inclined to agree.

-- Greatest accidental song choice ever: Sundance Head went with Nights in White Satin. It was sleepy. And the voters need to tell him nigh-nigh. Please.

-- Cowellism of the night: The portly Sligh took a shot at some of Simon's past work by saying he wasn't about to do songs from Il Divo or the Teletubbies. Simon replied: "Chris, you could always do the latter."

-- Best Napoleon Dynamite moment: The best part of Nick Pedro's night was the christening of his campaign: "Vote for Pedro." And he'll make all your wildest dreams come true, as long as they don't involve winning Idol.

-- Most likely to go home: DialIdol.com, a site that monitors telephone voting, says Rudy Cardenas and Paul Kim are most in danger; I'd add Head and Sanjaya Malakar.

JUSTICE PREVAILS, A LITTLE BIT, WHEN LOCAL GUY MAKES FINAL 24

So, we finally got a local guy in the top 24. Phil Stacey's pass was well-deserved for his smooth take on Bryan Adams' Have You Ever Loved a Woman. At least there was some justice Wednesday night. But Sundance Head? Are you kidding me? Dude forgets words, goes flat, and still gets through at Tommy Daniels' expense. And Leslie Hunt? Oy. The good news is that starting next week, you get to vote.

-- Post-victory interview: Stacey told WAWS TV-30's Leslie Coursey his Navy bandmates razzed him by saying they can't believe he made it this far. Stacey added, "I'm definitely ready for the money. That'd be sweet."

-- The Antonella Stink: Tuesday, Antonella Barba got through when the rest of her trio, friend Amanda Coluccio and phenom Baylie Brown, augered in. Wednesday, Barba forgot her words. But when it came down to her and Marisa Rhodes, guess who got through? Don't be surprised to see other singers treat Barba like the Avian flu. I'm just sayin'.

-- Most likely to make the final 12: Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Chris Sligh and Stacey were excellent. What do I know, though? I went 4-for-7 on my picks to make the final 24.

JACKSONVILLE CONTESTANT MAKES FINAL 56, BUT CAN HE KEEP IT UP?

Will he or won't he? Is Jacksonville resident Phil Stacey going to make it into the final 24? We saw him make the cut into the final 56 on the Hollywood Week opener Tuesday night. Previews for tonight's show made it look like that was Phil in the green cap, wincing or sighing with relief during the cut to 24. One potential clue: His MySpace page says he and his Navy band will be touring extensively over the next couple of months. Could be an old post or ...

-- That other sort-of local guy? No word on Jason Aldino.

-- Remember that pained look on Chris Daughtry's face? If not, Baylie Brown can tell you about it. She forgot the words to "This Old Heart of Mine" and found out a good voice isn't enough. Yes, that was Simon playing with his lower lip, waving bye-bye to millions of record sales to 'tweens.

-- Alexis Carrington Award: Brown tripped in front of the bus, but Amanda Coluccio gave her a good push anyway. Coluccio refused to help Brown rehearse, got caught lying, then said she got through "because God likes good people." Um, Coluccio didn't make it to the final 40.

-- Greatest group sing ever.: Blake Lewis' beat box skills guaranteed his foursome would get through ... and proved you really can make a boy band overnight.

PERFORMERS TRIED TO OUTDO THEMSELVES IN TRYOUT WRAP-UP

As tough as things are in the newspaper industry, events like Wednesday night's Idol audition wrap-up remind me that at least I'm getting a check for this. You, on the other hand, got nothing for having to listen to that Air Supply classic Making Love Out of Nothing at All and enduring the slo-mo return of Big Bird. See you when the soap opera of Hollywood Week starts Tuesday.

-- Sulu just doesn't get any respect: Paul Kim said he was out to undo the damage done by William She Bangs Hung, and that talented Asians don't get any show biz opportunities. Kim got his with a gold ticket-winning performance of If I Ever Fall in Love.

-- Cowellism of the night: "Not just blind but deaf, as well." Simon ripped on Edward Sanchez, who declared his love for Paula before warbling Donna.

-- Cowellism by osmosis: "All we need is one big butt and one big [kissing sound]." Paula ripped on Gina Glocksen, who declared her love for Simon before singing a note.

-- Most likely to make the final 24: Car hops, unite! Ebony Jointer stunned everyone by nailing I Believe in You and Me while on roller skates. Co-conspirator Ashley Cleland was good, too, on Sarah McLachlan's Angel.

THESE AUDITIONS HAD THINGS JUST THE WAY SIMON LIKES THEM

Some auditions, a young hottie walks in the room, and you just know Simon is thinking, "Please God, let her have a decent voice." His prayers were answered twice in San Antonio. Baylie Brown looks like Denise Richards and displayed Carrie Underwood talent on Stronger. Haley Scarnato has the Eva Mendes vibe and did a passable I Can't Make You Love Me. Watch for more on tonight's audition wrap-up show.

-- Cowellism of the night: "The worst news is she's a music teacher."

Simon's shot at a heartbroken Sandie Chavez was almost as sad as the locked door trick played over and over again.

-- Rebel hell: Bryan Kyrish said he once won a mock "Idol" contest ... and proceeded to darken Billy Idol's Rebel Yell (as if that's possible). I didn't know they held Idol contests on the River Styx.

-- Most likely to make final 24: Oh, who are we kidding? Brown will make the final 12.

-- Never too many Cookes: Dallas' Akron Watson made me feel Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come, and Jimmy "Little Ruben" McNeal stuck the landing on Cooke's Cupid

AUDITIONS FULL OF DESPERATION

Give me the South. The auditions Wednesday were filled with desperation, begging, a willingness to do anything (it was L.A., after all). It made me miss Birmingham's politeness Tuesday. What's worse, the powers that be allowed Martik "The Panther" Manoukian to kick the night off with his preening. I smell another K-Fed. Auditions wrap up in the San Antonio next week.

-- Most likely to make the final 24: Brandon Rogers, who sang Always on My Mind. Duh. He's a professional back-up singer who toured with Christina Aguilera.

-- Cowellism of the night: "You sounded like Cher after she'd been to the dentist."

-- Put down the crack pipe: The judges bounced two good singers Tuesday, but Wednesday, Simon drooled over Alaina Alexander's lackluster Feelin' Good. One day, we'll find that the real powers behind the show are Voldemort, Lord Vader and Col. Saito.

-- Admit it, you cried: Seeing Sherman Pope, 64, sing You Belong to Me in memory of his recently departed sweetie.

-- Local angle: WAWS TV-30 reported after the show that Douglas Anderson School of the Arts grad Jason Andino got through to Hollywood. A fan recap on the official Idol site said he was the gondolier seen singing Stand By Me in the auditions last year but didn't make that cut.