Idol's suspense takes a back seat

The usual Wednesday night suspense of who leaves and who stays on American Idol took a back seat. Instead, the two-hour Idol Gives Back focused on children in need: Those displaced by Katrina in Louisiana, orphaned by AIDS in Africa or simply living in the poverty of Appalachia.

Along the way, after all the fundraising, Ryan Seacrest pulled all the strings, announcing four contestants, including Jacksonville's Phil Stacey, were safe. Then he brought up Chris Richardson and Jordin Sparks before declaring Richardson safe. What? Sparks, who has looked like she might win this thing, is going home?

Nope: It was just a trick. No one would go home on this charity night. But the votes will be kept and two sent home next week.

So: Was it a charitable move during a charitable event, or really, really misleading, sucking people into two hours for results that never came? We'll go with the latter.

Money: It's hard to be cynical about an effort to raise millions for children, but the show was really slow going.

Still: If you weren't moved by seeing how so many kids have to live ...

Musical highlight: You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban and the African Children's Choir doing.

Odd pairing: Kelly Clarkson, the first Idol winner, with guitar hero Jeff Beck.

Lowlight: All the celebs mugging to Staying Alive. I guess it's a way to get their faces out there.

The duet: Word had already gotten out about the much-guessed-about pairing: Celine Dion and the late Elvis Presley, together with the magic of technology. It was well done and didn't sound as bad as it might have.

Roger Bull/The Times-Union

Do over.

In case you missed Wednesday's Idol shocker, here's a brief timeline:

8:00 p.m. Host Ryan Seacrest flubs opening lines and asks for a do over.
8:30 p.m. Melinda is safe.
8:45 p.m. Blake is safe.
9:08 p.m. Phil is safe.
9:32 p.m. Lakisha is safe.
9:35 p.m. Elvis returns to the building to sing a duet with Celine Dion.
9:55 p.m. Chris is safe.
9:56 p.m. Jordin is safe.
9:57 p.m. Viewers realize they've been duped by Idol and Fox.

Do over. That's what at least one of the Final Six — Lakisha, Blake, or Phil — gets this week.

Do over. Viewers want the results show that many tuned in for.

But when Seacrest announced from the stage Tuesday night that Wednesday's show would feature "one of the biggest shocks we've ever had on American Idol," we should have guessed something was up.

Actually, EW.com's Michael Slezak did. He predicted that it would be hard to boot a contestant from the Idol Gives Back charity event and that all would be granted immunity.

And Seacrest did announce that this week's vote totals will be added to next week's and that TWO contestants' quest to become Idol would end.

Being charitable, we'll give Fox some credit. But why not stretch out the Idol finale for another day by staging the charitable event then? (May is Sweeps Month after all.) With Sanjaya gone, ratings are sure to dip. And last night's shocker has the potential to alienate longtime fans, too. I guess what I'm saying is that a little honesty goes a long way.

So judging Wednesday's show as a telethon (for a cause we can all get behind) here's a few highlights:
• Looking Good: The Final Six dressed all in white.
• Moving moment: Josh Groban performing his inspirational You Raise Me Up with an African children's chorus, featuring several smiling faces minus a few baby teeth.
• Wow: Elvis on stage. I'm not sure how they did it, but it was pretty amazing. (So much so, that I can't even tell you what he and Celine were singing.) Download and see for yourself at iTunes today.
• Wow, pt. II: Former Idol Carrie Underwood's performance of I'll Stand By You at an African village.

And a few misses:

• Inappropriate: On a night when Randy AND Simon wore jackets, Paula showed more cleavage than Haley showed leg three weeks ago.
• Speaking of the three judges, 60 Minutes correspondents they're not.
• Il Divo? I'm not sure I get these guys.
• 2007 is not 1985: Quincy Jones' Idol Gives Back African aid anthem Time to Care is no We Are the World.
• Huh? Ben Stiller's "I'll sing til you pay up" bit. He's funny. That wasn't.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Results show? Or telethon?

I used to be a big fan of ABC’s The Bachelor (or The Bachelorette, depending on the season). My friends and I would have Bachelor parties every week. (Stay with me, this story kind of has a point.) Then one season of The Bachelorette (the one with Jen) ended without the bachelorette actually choosing anyone. She made it down to the final two, kind of picked one guy, then told him they’d be better suited as friends. After devoting so much time to this show, my friends and I felt cheated. I swore I’d never watch the show again, and I haven’t.

Tonight, I have to admit, I once again feel a little betrayed by reality television. I’m all about charity and good deeds. And I think it’s admirable that the people at Idol decided to use the show’s popularity to bring awareness (oh yeah, and money) to a good cause. But I also feel as though viewers were tricked into watching a two-hour telethon.

Whatever you want to call Wednesday’s Idol, it was not a results show. There were no results. There were, however, some good (and some disappointing) performances from various celebs. And there was a lot of money raised to help fight poverty. (I believe Seacrest said something around $30 million.)

Still, I appreciate honesty. All I’m saying is that it would have been nice to have a little heads-up from our friends at Fox.

When I read Michael Slezak’s immunity prediction (on ew.com), I swore I’d never vote again if that turned out to be the case. I do, however, feel a little better knowing the votes will still go toward next week’s performance. So maybe I’ll be able to justify going back on my word (just this once).

But I still won’t watch The Bachelor.

Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

Meet and greet (and cheer!)

Philnatics unite: Word in blogland and beyond has Phriends of Phil meeting tonight at Players Grille on Hendricks/San Jose Blvd. to cheer on their favorite contestant and watch the results show. A reminder: The two-hour Idol Gives Back show starts at 8 on Fox.

Immunity for all? Entertainment Weekly's Michael Slezak writes the following after last night's show:

"... perhaps the ''Idol Gives Back'' theme will extend to the competition itself, with the benevolent Fox overseers granting immunity to the entire sextet? Could that be the big shock Ryan referred to at the end of the episode?"

Read the entire column at EW.com.


Vote for the best ... and worst: Jacksonville.com wants to know which of the Top 6 you think performed the best Tuesday night and which contestant will be sent packing tonight. Vote here.

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

Phil, Philnatics and Philanthropists pay it phorward

We must confess, we miss Sanjaya. Tuesday's Idol Gives Back (formerly known as American Idol) held no promise of surprise.

With the show's weakest voice (and strongest personality) finishing up his media parade following last week's elimination, we were left without any sense of drama, especially given the fact that the show was recorded earlier in the day. We're down to the top six (seis, en espanol), and solid performances, while appreciated, aren't necessarily entertaining.

But we're here to "give back," so let's get on with it.

Chris: If we could change the world, we'd start with Chris' singing style. And no, nasally isn't a style, no matter what Chris says. With his take on an Eric Clapton classic, Chris seemed to be playing a little game called "How many notes can I hit in one word?" And even though the judges seemed to approve of the game, we don't.

Melinda: There will come a day, mark our words, when this "pro" makes it way beyond the Idol stage. We are loving the new Melinda. She's sexy, confident and consistently "dope" (that's the word from Randy, and we're assuming that's a good thing).

Blake: Imagine this guy winning it all. Or imagine him exiting the Idol stage this week. Either could happen, especially after the judges' luke-warm reviews of one of John Lennon's best-known songs.

Lakisha: We (I) believe she's hitting her stride again after faltering the past two weeks. We also believe she should stop choosing songs by former Idol winners. (Last week it was Carrie Underwood; this week, Fantasia.) The judges echoed our thoughts.

Phil: The change in Phil has done him good. Phor the second week in a row, the judges unanimously applauded his performance. Paula even said the Garth Brooks' song was Phil's best yet. And while Simon advised him to stick with the country sound, he said he really likes Phil and he could "actually do well in this competition."

Jordin: You'll never walk alone off the Idol stage anytime soon. It wasn't the "show stopper" Ryan Seacrest promised, but for a 17-year-old, the Rodgers & Hammerstein number was pretty darn good. (By the way, did you know she was 17? Because Randy seems to think it's important to point that out EVERY SINGLE WEEK.)

Our bottom three: Chris, Chris and Chris.

One more thing: Voting time was extended two hours this week to benefit the charitable causes. That means two more hours to vote for Phil (1-866-436-5705 and 1-866-436-5711). Check back tomorrow to see how much these bloggers contributed to the cause.

Gary T. Mills and Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

It's become an obsession

Last night I had a dream about American Idol. I wish I were joking, but apparently I've become so obsessed with reality television that it's crept into my subconscious.

Actually though, my dreams have been known to predict the future (last February I dreamed the Chicago Bears would make it to the Super Bowl). And if that's the case, it's good news for Phil Stacey. My subconscious is telling me he'll be in the bottom three Wednesday but will continue to the next round (Lakisha and Chris will also be in the bottom according to whatever powers I'm absorbing).

I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

SIGN OF THE TIMES, PT. II

Jacksonville.com's Tracy Collins alerted us to this billboard, located on Roosevelt Blvd. on the city's west side.

Collins, the site's Community Content Editor, reports that Philnatics will gather at Players Grille, located on Hendricks Ave., Wednesday night to watch the American Idol results show (8-10 p.m., Fox).

For more information on this event and other stories and multimedia content, visit jacksonville.com (Keyword: Philmania).

Who are you voting for?

Are you a Philnatic? Or do you prefer Chris’ nasally sound? Either way, we want to hear from you.

Cllick on the comments link below and make your pick known.

And don’t forget to keep up with all things American Idol online at jaxidol. blogspot.com

'Something to talk about other than hair?’

At the end of last week’s results show, Idol-phenom-turned-former contestant Sanjaya (yes, for his remaining 15 minutes, he can drop his surname Malakar) threw in a dig aimed at the judges and Idol Nation. He tried a follicular tweak of Bonnie Raitt’s lyrics during his farewell (at least for now) Idol performance. But other than his hair, he gave us little else to ponder week to week.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

FREE ADVICE

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

They’ve got spirit, yes they do

The folks at Dick’s Wings on San Juan Avenue are rootin’ and tootin’ for local guy Phil Stacey. They even have a window to prove it.

Photo by Bob Mack/The Times-Union

SPICING UP THE RESULTS SHOW

Idol promises a (two-hour) star-studded results show Wednesday as part of its “Idol Gives Back” special. Celine Dion, Pink, Michael Buble, Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson are among the guests scheduled to perform (we’re hoping this means no movie promos or random interviews).

Last week Ryan Seacrest also promised a duet from two surprise guests. We’re hoping the payoff will be bigger than J.Lo and her hubby. Here are our top choices:

• Whitney and Bobby

• Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks

• Madonna and Britney

• Michael Jackson and Sanjaya

Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

Guess who got a new fan base?

Now that Sanjaya Malakar is headed to the D list, Votefortheworst.com has replaced him with Phil Stacey.

Reign of Error comes to an end

The Sanjaya Malakar era is over. Malakar’s inexplicable run on American Idol ended Wednesday when he was voted off the show. Phil Stacey, the NAS-Jacksonville based sailor, survived to make the final six.

Explained: Simon Cowell didn’t waste any time before explaining that he was rolling his eyes at Chris Richardson’s nasal explanation Tuesday, not the mention of the Virginia Tech murders.

Stretched thin: Did the producers really think Ryan Seacrest’s man on the street interviews worked well enough last week to do it again?

Apropos: During the group sing on I’m Alright, Stacey sang the line: “Give the kids a kiss for me and say hello to the family.”

Moving head: In just her little bit of that song, Jordin Sparks really did sound like she’ll win this thing.

Two groups: Sparks, Stacey and Richardson on one side, Sanjaya Malakar, Blake Lewis and LaKisha Jones on the other. (Switch Lewis and Richardson, and it’d be right.)

Cheap trick: Asking Melinda Doolittle to pick which group was which. She sat down and refused – probably all scripted.

Almost gone: It was just a few weeks ago that Jones was one of the favorites, but she dropped to the bottom group with Malakar and Lewis.

Safe: It was only the second time in the last six weeks that Stacey was not in the bottom group.

Roger Bull/The Times-Union

The results we've been waiting for

Here at A.I. STIR, we watch the whole results show, so you don't have to.

So count yourself lucky.

We know Lakisha does. And Idol Nation should, too.

But the one person who didn't need any luck Wednesday night was hometown favorite Phil Stacey, who gave his best "Idol" performance to date Tuesday night, on Country Night.

For Philnatics, 9:33 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 is a watershed moment of Season 6. Let's break it down:

9:32
Back from commercial break, host Ryan Seacrest finally gets to the good stuff: The results. The Top 7, he announces, will be split into two groups: The Bottom 3 and "Safe" group.

First up: Sanjaya. He goes to one side of the stage.

9:33
Next: Phil. He goes to the other side of the stage. (The True Believers now know that Phil is safe.)

Next: Jordin. She joins Phil. (Skeptics now join the True Believers.)

Next: Lakisha. She joins Sanjaya. (After her disappointing performances last night and last week, the Skeptics start nodding their heads in agreement.)

Next: Blake. To the crowd AND judges' dismay, he joins Sanjaya and Lakisha. (The Skeptics stop nodding and start shaking.)

Then: Chris. He joins Phil and Jordin. (The Skeptics freeze.)

Finally: Melinda. The Almighty freezes in place, too, when Seacrest asks her to pick the group of three she believes is safe and join them. She resists the request and stages a sit-in.

9:36
Seacrest gives in and asks her to join Phil, Jordin and Chris in the "Safe" group. (The True Believers smile is self righteousness; and the Skeptics, joined by newcomers the Doubters, relax and rejoice.)

So what about the other 56 minutes of the show? Save for the first 4 and the last 5, you didn't miss anything. Here goes:

9:01
Seacrest and Idol producers take 3 minutes to extricate judge Simon Scowl from a day-long PR flap after Fox's cameras catch Simon rolling his eyes Tuesday night after Virginia native Chris Richardson offers an (untimely) show of support for his home state following the tragic events at Virginia Tech. Turns out Simon didn't hear Chris because he and Paula were having what turned out to be an on-camera discussion about Chris' singing style and his remarks to Simon following Timberfake's (credit: Sean Daly of the St. Pete Times) performance. Idol even showed viewers that alternate footage with audio to prove that Simon Scowl isn't as bad as some would have it out to be.

And finally, to the real drama Wednesday night:
9:55
Blake is declared safe. (Simon starts to breath again.)

9:56
With only Sanjaya and a worried Lakisha left on stage, Seacrest announces that "America voted" (38 million of them) and that they didn't vote for Sanjaya. Cue up Daughtry, cause Sanjaya's "Going Home."

And just to remind America of what it (rightly) did, Sanjaya takes the stage and butchers — again — Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About."

Except this time he shows that he really is just an innocent babe in the Big Bad Woods by adding his own lyrics: "Let's give them something to talk about ... other than hair."

For someone who advanced week after week due in part to his hair ... well, let's just take the high road and say "Congratulations, Phil."

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

You gave us something to talk about

Once again Idol Nation was forced to sit through an hour-long results show. Let me tell you, I’m still recovering from all the excitement. There were the interviews with random people (one of whom evidently had access to a television but not a razor), the big “Shrek” promo and performances from Martina McBride and Fergie (I only wish they would have done a duet). Talk about entertainment.

Eventually though, it was time to get down to business…and Idol fans said goodbye to this season’s most controversial — not to mention entertaining — contestant (I don’t even have you use his name yet you know who I’m talking about). I have to admit, I’m a little sad to see Sanjaya go. Forget all that “he’s ruining the integrity of the show” stuff, you're going to miss him, and you know it. But hey, at least we got to see the clip of that crying girl again.

And I'll just let my partner in crime (Gary) discuss Sanjaya's latest rendition of "Something to Talk About."

So Sanjaya’s departure means…yes, Jacksonville’s Phil Stacey will be back again next week. And he wasn’t even in the bottom three (bonus!). So Philnatics can relax until Tuesday. (Don’t you think we should have a Phil parade?)

Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

The truth comes out

With only seven of them left, there was nowhere for weak Idol contestants to hide Tuesday night. That’s true every season, but this time the crucible revealed a couple surprises: LaKisha Jones doesn’t have it and local contestant Phil Stacey will likely be around for another week. He was comfortable with country and was one of the best of the night. Jones missed high notes and seemed complacent. Sanjaya Malakar may have looked – and sounded – like Capt. Jack Sparrow’s love child, but he has a better chance of surviving the final six weeks than she does.

What they said about Stacey: Guest mentor Martina McBride started the gushing with "I love his tone. Since the beginning, I’ve loved his voice." Randy told him he could have a career in country music, and Simon said, "It’s only taken 10 weeks….We actually saw some personality."

Hail to the Chief: Stacey hit all the right notes with the voters again. He sang to his wife. He high-fived half the crowd. And he worked the Heartland by saying he chose "Where the Blacktop Ends" because it "reminds me of growing up in a place like Kansas."

Is there a right way? This may be persnickety, but Ryan’s introduction mentioning the Virginia Tech shootings felt a little awkward coming right before "This is American Idol." But that was nothing compared to Chris Richardson bringing it up at the tail end of Simon’s unfavorable critique.

The way Barry Bonds drops his bat: Jordin Sparks knew she got all of it as she finished "Broken Wing." Equal parts acting and story-telling, with a perfect finishing high note, it was masterful.

Cowellism of the night: "As bad as anything we’ve seen in the beginning of American Idol." Simon’s shot at Malakar covers a lot of badness. Remember the woman in the Big Bird feathers?
At times like these, I like to quote Vader: "The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master." The Sith lord could have been talking about Melinda Doolittle’s performance Tuesday night. For the first time all season, she didn’t just look like a backup singer trying to be a lead singer. She acted if she was in charge, she worked the stage, she made us believe "Trouble is a Woman." And she would never cut Ben Kenobi in two. So she’s got that going for her.

A touch of ghostly gray: Did you see the fiddle player? He was a Dead ringer for ….um….Jerry Garcia. I’m so ashamed.

Most likely to go home: Jones. The three remaining women are diva-heavy, Doolittle and Sparks have "finalist" tattooed on their heads, and Jones gagged this week. Maybe America will send Malak….And then I woke up.

What about our Independence Day? See you tonight at 9. Yes, it’s an hour long again. I hope Martina can drag out those notes for a while, or else we might have to watch Ryan interview tourists again.
John Timpe/The Times-Union

Finally Phil!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, maybe we're a little biased. Yes, we've heaped praise when others have dissed.

But even if you're not a Philnatic, there's no doubt Phil Stacey can sing — and sing well. Paula said so. And Randy, too. And — hold on to your cowboy hats — Simon agreed.

For the first time in this American Idol competition, Phil Stacey received high praise from all three judges.

And for the the first time, Phil looked completely comfortable on stage. His vocals were top notch, his interaction with the audience was authentic, and even his cowboy kick at the end was spot on.

As Simon put it: "We actually saw some personality."

But he then pointed out: "I don't know if it's going to be enough to save you Phil ..." (Ryan, echoing our thoughts, responded, "Thanks for the buzzkill, Simon.)

We weren't so sure either, especially since Phil was first up on Tuesday's show. But after listening to the Top 7 (the Top Siete for our Spanish-speaking fans), we'd easily place Phil in the Top 3 of Tuesday's performances, behind perennial No. 1 Melinda and Jordin Sparks.

Speaking of the rest, here's a quick rundown:

Jordin: Wow! At just 17, she sang guest mentor Martina McBride's "Broken Wing" with all the emotion of a woman.

Sanjaya: Even Sanjaya left little to say with Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About." We were hoping for "Achy Breaky Heart" — and a mullet. Simon — who gave Sanjaya props last week — summed it up best: "Utterly horrendous."

Lakisha: She had some guts singing former Idol Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel," but the judges were right...wrong song. Sorry Lakisha, you're just not Carrie.

Chris: We have nothing good to say about his performance (and neither did the judges).

Melinda: Is there any song she can't sell? Even though Martina didn't know "Trouble is a Woman" before Melinda sang it, she (along with the rest of Idol Nation) knows it now. Trouble is any woman — or man — who goes up against Melinda in the finals. Plus she looked like an Idol tonight.

Blake: What were the judges thinking? For one of his weakest performances in weeks (Tim McGraw's "When the Stars go Blue), even Simon refused to honestly critique possibly one of the most marketable contestants.

Gary T. Mills and Erin Patterson/The Times-Union

Judging that 'Idol’ image

The theme is country, the mentor is Martina McBride and Phil Stacey is in the final seven tonight on American Idol. He’s been cutting it close each week, always in the group with the lowest votes. But each week he has survived, despite more than a bit of criticism from Idol watchers about his appearance.

Times-Union reporter Roger Bull asked a couple of local experts to critique the Stacey look.

THE LOOK
“You know he’s dressed by stylists,” said Bruce Musser, owner of the Hair Peace salon on Lomax Street. “That’s not necessarily how he decided to look, but how they decided he should look. But it is interesting how they look, and how they’re dressed has been a bigger issue this year than in the past.”

“As far as his look, it’s modern and trendy,” Musser said, “but it’s also very safe. Like they went into Justin Timberlake’s closet. That’s pretty much the look.

“But I don’t get the hat thing. He’s got a great smile, great cheekbones. The fact that he has a bald head could be accentuated. He does have a really good smile; it’s a very strong feature for him.”

THE SUGGESTION
“He could be more distinguished in a George Clooney way. He could be the one who’s more dressed up. A little more Oceans 11, a little more modern day Rat Pack. That wouldn’t look right on Blake Lewis, but it’d be great on Phil Stacey.”

THE LOOK
“His overall style is good,” said Ronny King, stylist at Cecil Vignutti Studio for Hair on May Street. “His clothes are nice. He wears good clothes. But I think he’s over-made-up, too much makeup on his head. When you’re wearing stage makeup and you’re bald, it can look extreme.”

THE SUGGESTION
“He kind of looks like Dr. Evil just a little bit. He needs to grow his hair just a little to soften it up, then the lights wouldn’t be so harsh. He’s just so clean cut. A little stubble would make him more rough around the edges; a little would soften it. It’d make him look more approachable. A little more masculine but not so harsh. Even if he is balding, just a little bit of hair would work out well for him. And he’s very pale. Maybe if he had a little sun, that would help.

Antonella leaves, and Haley's legs arrive

Simon Cowell loves to reiterate that American Idol is a singing contest. Riiiight. That’s why Sanjaya Malakar is still around, and why Haley Scarnato survived about a month longer than she should have until last week’s exit. While reviewing Haley’s performance photos during the past eight weeks, we made an interesting observation about the timing of her decision to show some leg (OK, a LOT of leg!). After sex kitten Antonella Barba was booted from the show, Haley (sex kitten first runner-up) assumed the role . . . and took her hemline to new heights.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Splitting hairs: Bald isn't all bad on 'Idol'

A little bit of scruff on Phil's head and face does more than give him a whole new vibe. Combined with that wailing rocker pose, it brings to mind a certain contestant from last season, and that ain't all bad. Chris Daughtry (pictured at right) also dealt with follicle challenges and got bounced at the No. 4 spot (Phil would be doing good to get that far). But since then, Daughtry's gone on to the spot that matters - No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last month, with a platinum debut that's sold 2 million-plus copies - way more than the Idol contestants who finished ahead of him.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

EW plays a game of 'Where's Phil?'

Even though Haley was the one voted off Idol last week, our Phil was the one who nearly got booted off the cover of Entertainment Weekly this week. For subscribers, the address label all but obscured Phil's picture (that's supposed to be him in the lower right corner). We can see more of Phil on the cover of the newsstand issue, where the UPC code only covers the bottom half of Phil's picture.

The silver lining? The Idol story inside EW leads off with 10-year-old Maya Rosenberg, a superfan of Phil's. She loves his baby, part of the family angle Idol has played up when it comes to Phil (and he insists in the story that he's not trolling for votes when he talks about his wife and kids). Don't read too much further, though, if you're a Philnatic. Simon jabs at Phil and the other contestants by saying, "We're doing as well as we are doing with not a great cast."

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Ocho minus Uno

Announcer: "Haley Scarnato, you've just lost American Idol, what are you going to do now?"

Scarnato: "I'm going to Disneyland."

That's a scenario we can definitely picture. In fact, we've been saying it for weeks.

Haley — and most likely our Phil Stacey — isn't going to make it to the Idol finals. (But that doesn't mean that we're going to stop rooting for the hometown guy, especially when Sanjaya remains in the mix.) One place, however, we can see Haley cashing in on her Idol fame is The Happiest Place on Earth.

Why there, she'd be idolized by millions of young girls (and their fathers) from all corners of the world. Face it, she's got the look (wholesome AND leggy) and the voice (she made it to the Top Ocho after all) and the personality (perky!) to give Minnie some competition.

But back to Wednesday night's show. In case you missed the first 30 minutes of the hourlong snoozer, here's a brief summary:


(OK, nothing.)

(But Phil Stacey did shine on the opening number, Bailamos, though.)

Following the 9:30 commercial break, Phil assumed his customary spot at centerstage as one of the Bottom Three.

Lakisha Jones must have heard some of the Internet buzz Wednesday that she faced possible elimination, for she looked worried when Ryan Seacrest asked her to stand up to face the music. No fear, though, she was safe.

As predicted, Haley joined the always positive Phil. And finally Chris Richardson, trying to keep his chin up, strode to centerstage amid a chorus of boos from the studio audience at Idol voters who failed to vote for one of the judges' newfound favorites. (Especially Paula. Then again she's always on her feet for Chris and Blake.) But his stay was only as long as the 3+ minute commercial break.

Phil. Haley.

Phil? Haley?

Yes, the only drama of the night (notice we're not even mentioning the guest mentor's performance) came 56 minutes into the show when Phil was declared safe. (Whew!)

And one minute later, more than 25 million viewers reached for the remote as Haley summoned the strength to Turn the Beat Upside Down — again. (Now if only she'd worn those short shorts again ... )

Then again, maybe she sensed another opportunity just around the corner.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Deep Thoughts

Phil stays. Haley leaves. And after Wednesday's (HOUR-LONG!?) "Idol" episode, I have some questions...

Why does Paula spread her fingers when she claps?

Did Jenny From The Block even understand what she was singing?

(Speaking of J-Lo) Was that a robe she was wearing?

Is anyone else going to have nightmares from that Ford music video?

Forget KFC, will someone please pay Sanjaya to shave?

Why do I watch "American Idol"?

SAD REALITY ON LATIN NIGHT

The recent weeks of the Great Sanjaya Debacle have made some of us wonder for a nanosecond if the "American Idol" voting wouldn’t be better off in the judges’ hands. We found the smelling salts Tuesday night. All three judges were lovey-dovey with Sanjaya Malakar and brutalized local contestant Phil Stacey. For those who didn’t see the show, let me put it this way: If the performances were slides from "An Inconvenient Truth," Stacey would be the 1960s glacier and Malakar would be the ice cube that’s left in 2020.

What they said about Stacey: He sang "Maria Maria" with some bad notes but had enough tenor strength and heart to give guest mentor Jennifer Lopez goosebumps in practice ("You can’t buy that," she said). Randy called it boring, Paula said it was "a real good vocal" but not enough, and Simon cried, "No originality."

What Stacey said about Simon: "My daughter just got a stuffed animal, a cow, and she calls it Simon Cow." A sweet shout-out for his daughter or Stacey’s sneaky dart for the poor critique? You decide.

Mr. Slick helps Miss Congeniality: The Reality TV universe got a jolt as one contestant helped another -- with no ulterior motive. Blake Lewis did an impromptu beatbox so Haley Scarnato could find the rhythm during practice. Those weenies over on "Survivor: Waponi Woo" felt a sudden pang of guilt … and then got back to the back-stabbing.

Cowellism of the night: "The first two singers, it was all a bit hotel cabaret." Simon’s double tap was aimed at front-runner Melinda Doolittle and diva LaKisha Jones. It was that strange Tuesday night.

At least they got one right: Lewis deserved his atta-boys for his spot-on pitch even as the backup singers messed up, his emotive notes and his song choice with "Need to Know." He also smartly went with some echo effect on the mic and was the only one to get the Latino dance steps right. Every week, he proves that he deserves a shot at the final, especially with his music biz savvy.

Where’s that number for Wapner? The judges harped on the fact that contestants chose fun songs but not "singer" songs. Um, it was Simon and Co. who chose the Latin theme.

Yo quiero authenticity: I’m no Bonne Bell, but didn’t Scarnato go a little thick with the Havana brown spray-on tan and Evita false eyelashes? They were about as natural as JLo‘s Spanish on her new album.

The Miracle Worker: Admit it, when you saw JLo working with Jones, you were thinking this is the dance floor equivalent of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller.

Most likely to go home: Stacey or Scarnato. And America loves tight shorts.

Latin night, sans salsa

Down to the Top Ocho, we expected a spicier, saucier night of music and performances.

Instead, save for Phil and Blake, mostly what the Ocho gave us was day-old Taco Bell. Even Sanjaya's hair was bland.

Here's our breakdown of Tuesday's performances:

Melinda: Even though she admitted she wasn't sexy in the pre-performance clip with guest mentor Jennifer Lopez, we give her props for trying — and succeeding. She stepped out of her comfort zone in dress, but stayed safe with song choice (Sway)and vocal performance. We wanted to HEAR a different Melinda, but instead settled for SEEING a different Melinda.

Lakisha: In this case we wanted to SEE a little less Lakisha, but as usual, she was playing up the cleavage card. (Funny how Simon and Idolnation talk up Haley's legs, but few — if any — mention Lakisha's upper half.) Her rendition of Conga was more a lower-body — rather than vocal — workout.

Chris: Unlike Paula and Randy, we take issue with Chris's performance tonight. For once, pick the note and hit it, will ya?

Haley: Only her legs can save her now.

Phil: Local sailor Phil was the first — and maybe only one — to really put his voice to the test tonight. Sure it cracked at the end, but overall a solid performance that doesn't get the props it deserves from Randy, Paula and Simon. Again this week, Phil makes a play to get votes after Simon has the last say when Phil mentions his daughter.

Jordin: Top female performance (Gloria Estefan's Rhythm is Gonna Get You) tonight in a night filled with solid — but not outstanding — performances from the women.

Blake: Shake and Blake! Beat-boxing Blake gets the award for best audience sign of the night, if not the best overall performance (Marc Anthony's I Need to Know). Good vocals, good moves. We have to admit you're definitely growing on us.

Sanjaya: It didn't entirely suck. (And Simon agrees.)

One other note: Is it just us, or is Ryan Seacrest getting shorter every week?

Erin Patterson and Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Waiting for tonight

OK, admit it. We are.

We're anxiously awaiting tonight's Idol (8 p.m., Fox), when the Elite 8 — including local guy Phil Stacey — take to the stage for Latin music night.

And did we mention Jennifer Lopez?

She's been mentoring Stacey, Sanjaya and the others for what could be a make-it-or-break-it week in the quest to become American Idol.

No brainer: Does anyone doubt that Sanjaya will be shaking his bon bon to a Ricky Martin number? (Remember William Hung and his Idol audition with She Bangs?)

So how about Phil and frontrunners Melinda and Lakisha? What do you think they'll sing? Let us know by clicking the comments link below.

Meanwhile, in today's Times-Union, writer Roger Bull looks at what other critics around the country are saying about Phil and his Idol experience.

And the Minneapolis Star Tribune's Randy A. Salas picks his Top 4 and Bottom 4 of the final 8 contestants and gives his pros and cons for each in this piece.

Watch tonight. Vent tomorrow: Idol blogger John Timpe will post his roundup of tonight's performances later this evening. (You'll find them on A-2 of tomorrow's Times-Union as well.)

Join the discussion: We want to hear what you think about Phil, Sanjaya and all things Idol.

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union

Sligh thoughts

Chris Sligh, booted last week, is blogging, and he's not shy about critiquing what the judges have done to Phil and Gina.

Phil stays

Phil is in the final eight, Gina is gone.

For the third time in four weeks, Phil Stacey had to stand on the stage as one of the three lowest vote getters on American Idol. But, once again, the NAS Jacksonville sailor survived. Gina Glocksen was sent home instead.

Breakdown: When the nine finalists were separated into three groups, it was clear which group was which. Melinda Doolitte, Jordin Sparks and LaKisha Jones were the top vote getters and sat down. Blake Lewis, Chris Richardson and the much-maligned Sanjaya Malakar were told next: They were safe.

That left Haley Scarnato, Glocksen and Stacey to remain on the stage as the bottom three, through the endless commercials. But Stacey was the first of the three to be told he, too, was safe.

Special guest: Michael Buble filled in for Tony Bennett, who had a cold, his spokesman said.

Very special guest: Kermit the Frog showed up in the Idol contestants’ Ford commercial. It's still cool to be green.

Good luck: There was no way that Randy Jackson or Paula Abdul would commit to saying whether the voters were right in making Scarnato and Glocksen the bottom two. They weren't about to answer. Simon Cowell, of course, wasn't afraid. The voters were right, he said.

Breakdown II: It's always been a bit odd how well each week's loser seems to take the news that he or she is going home. You kind of wondered if they had advance warning. But Glocksen was hit hard with the news.

NIGHT AND DAY, PT. II

What a difference a day makes.

When the voting ended 24 hours ago, we thought the sun had set on Phil Stacey's aspirations on becoming the next American Idol.

As predicted, Phil was in the bottom three in voting, along with leggy Haley Scarnato and rocker Gina Glocksen. He's been there before, and like last time, he was allowed to sit back down with the "safe" contestants rather than stare into the camera, silently bargaining with a higher power to give him one more week to prove his mettle.

In a surprise to most on stage and in the audience, however, it was Gina who awkwardly had to face America and sing Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" with tears streaming down her face. Could Fox have scripted it any better?

Haley's legs — complimented by judge Simon Cowell on Tuesday — have indeed given her legs in this competition. But how far will they carry her?

That, in part, depends on Phil. He's got less than a week to pick the right song and perfect it to win over leftover voters of Chris Sligh and now Gina. Something tells me those jilted voters could easily become Philnatics.

Next week could be interesting, as the contest moves from the classics with Tony Bennett to Latino week with J.Lo. Haley's legs again will be a threat, but can they salsa or tango?

Six days. Seven nights. The clock's ticking Phil. Your 15 minutes just got a little longer.

Also Wednesday night: With Bennett on the DL (it is the first week of MLB after all), Canadian crooner Michael Buble took the stage with his rendition of "Call Me Irresponsible". (And surprise, he's dropping a new CD next month).

Gary Mills/The Times-Union

'Idol' reflections

Washington Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes, unlike "Idol" judge Simon Cowell last night, isn't short on words when it comes to describing the phenomenon known as Sanjaya Malakar.

Following last week's results show de Moraes offered this observation:
"Sanjaya ... with enough age and pampering, could hit Michael Jackson Crazy in no time. He already speaks softly and carries a big shtick."

And today, she has this to say in her column:
"Sanjaya, if you've missed the show to date, is the Heather Mills of 'American Idol.' Instead of dancing without a leg, he's singing without a vocal cord. A talent amputee."

And on Phil Stacey's performance last night?
From her washingtonpost.com blog:
"Phil Stacey sucked the life out of 'Night and Day.' The best Simon could do with that was 'it had all the joy of somebody singing in a funeral parlor.' Simon was completely shot down by Phil, who responded that he'd sung the love ballad to his wife in the audience. (Which, by the way, will totally keep Phil out of the bottom three this week.)"

Wait, there's more! Check out Entertainment Weekly’s web site. The video commentary, photo galleries and episode blogs (TV Watch) could keep any "Idol" lover busy for hours.

Here’s what EW’s Michael Slezak had to say about Tuesday’s performances:

"Blake has yet to deliver a jaw-droppingly good, rewind-the-DVR vocal — and after seven weeks of live performances, I'm starting to wonder if he's capable of one."

"A memo to Haley Scarnato: You are not the only woman in the competition who's capable of taking the 'girls' out for a walk with a plunging neckline. You do, however, appear to be the only one who's running the risk of an FCC violation if your hemline goes any higher than tonight's gam-tastic green sequin number."

"Was I the only one who kept imagining Phil standing outside a stranger's bedroom window with a flashlight shining up his face as he delivered a particularly moribund 'Night and Day'? I mean, I know the song is all about longing and torment, but there's a difference between bringing the heartache and making me want to take out a restraining order."

"If Idol is a horse race, then Sanjaya Malakar is the colt who loses his jockey coming out of the gate. Sure, he's loping around the oval — out of control, occasionally messing up his competitors' game plans — but technically speaking, without a rider, he can't be declared the winner, he can't pick up a paycheck, and none of the folks who bet on him can cash a ticket."

Idol tidbits from Huff

The New York Daily News' Richard Huff had exec producer Ken Warwick saying the following in a story today:

Idol can trace every vote.

Don't expect Sanjaya Malakar to make the final.

Simon Cowell can't quit, even if Sanjaya wins.

Cowell has been too hard on Haley Scarnato.

A long night for Philnatics

The performances were as bland as a heart patient’s diet Tuesday night on "American Idol," and the guys were especially unsalted. The theme was American classics, which left beatboxer Blake Lewis sounding staid and had Chris Richardson doing Hank Williams Sr. doing "Don’t Get Around Much Anymore." It gets worse. Sanjaya Malakar was his usual self, rancid but Kewpie Doll cute, so he’ll be around next week. Which means the guy who wasn’t quite the worst but isn’t Sanjaya and therefore smells like toast is … local Idol Phil Stacey.

Tell me what you really think: Stacey was flat and lifeless in places on "Night and Day," but finished passably. The Lestat makeup didn’t help, and the judges were determined to drive a stake into him. Randy said Stacey didn’t connect with the audience, Paula said he needed "warmth in the lyrics" and Simon …

Cowellism of the night: "It had all the joy of someone singing in a funeral parlor." That may be the one that sends Stacey home.

Not all bad for Stacey: Guest mentor Tony Bennett said, "He’s one of the better singers I’ve heard, not just today, but for a long time." That was nice.

ZZ Top was all over this: The week’s theme was tailor-made for Haley Scarnato. (Legs.) Her voice has limited range and can’t handle run-filled R&B (legs) but she was able to do a passable job on the straight-forward "Ain’t Misbehavin.’ " (Legs.) Still, something distracted the judges so much that they didn’t even bother to do a critique.

The good stuff: LaKisha Jones wrapped things up with a spirited, smoldering take on "Stormy Weather," and as the judges said, it was nice to have her return to form. One of those spots in the final is hers to lose. The other one is definitely Melinda Doolittle’s, and Bennett practically invited her to tour with him, calling her the "best singer all day."

Heavy metal: Gina Glocksen won the award for best performance of "Smile" involving a tongue stud.

Oh, that LaKisha’s performance was the only echo from the past: Paula figured out where Simon and Randy hid her wacky Coke and resumed the nutty cheerleader bit. She actually called one contestant a "magnet of joy."

The Wrath of Khan rule: You know how the Star Trek movies alternate between bad and good? If not, think of it in Jordin Sparks terms. Last week she ran into V’ger. That would be the first Star Trek flick. Not good. This week, Nurse Hathaway hair aside, she did a fine job on "On a Clear Day." Consider her last, big note the Genesis torpedo. That’s good.
John Timpe/The Times-Union

NIGHT AND DAY

If you didn't see Phil Stacey Tuesday night on American Idol you may have just one more chance to see him: Wednesday night's results show. (9 p.m., Fox)

Next to Sanjaya — who let's face it isn't going home anytime soon if Idol-sabateurs have their way — Phil gave one of the weakest performances of the night.

And Idol editors may have sunk Phil's ship when they chose one of his worst moments of Tuesday's performance to include in the "highlight" recap at the end of the show, just before phone lines opened up to voters. (Perhaps those voters will remember Tony Bennett heaping praise on Phil prior to his lackluster showing.)

Phil's rendition of Frank Sinatra's Night and Day ranged from a shaky start to a strong finish, typical of his tenure on the show.

But based on this week's performances alone, we'd rank Sanjaya, Haley and Phil in the bottom three. And we know what happens to nice guys when they go up against Sanjaya's hair and Haley's legs. (Remember Chris Sligh?)

Haley's bare legs will beat Phil's bare cranium any day.

Clearly this wasn't a good week for Phil, but we all know he's one of the better vocalists of the remaining nine. Let's hope Idol voters give him another chance.

So you tell us, is Phil going home Wednesday night? And is anyone else afraid that Lakisha is going to fall out of her dress?

Erin Patterson & Gary Mills/ The Times-Union

Cheating on themes?

In case you missed it last week, the Star Tribune's Randy A. Salas had a great story on how some contestants get to stretch the theme for the week.

We're Still Watching You, Phil

Jacksonville sailor Phil Stacey continues his Idol quest tonight as the Top 9 contestants work with legendary vocalist Tony Bennett. Will tonight be the night when Idol voters finally decide that enough is enough for Sanjaya Malakar? Or will his hair style overshadow the fact that he can't sing? Tune in at 8 to see. Then come back later to read John Timpe's take on tonight's Idol escapades and share your thoughts.

Meanwhile, the Times-Union's Roger Bull offers this update in today's editions:

It’s been a roller coaster ride on American Idol so far for Phil Stacey.

Last Tuesday, he sang Every Breath You Take by The Police.

“I actually thought it was very good,” said judge Simon Cowell, who has been stingy with praise for Stacey, and USA Today called it the best of the night. But for the second time in three weeks, Stacey, who’s stationed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, had to stand out on the stage as one of three with the lowest vote totals on the Fox series.

In the end, the ax fell on Chris Sligh, the curly-haired comedian who looked like one of the early favorites. Sanjaya Malakar, who’s routinely blasted as the worst of the contestants, keeps getting votes, apparently due in part to the effort led by votefortheworst.com and talk radio host Howard Stern.

“It’s so great,” Stern said on his radio show. “The No. 1 show in television, and it’s getting ruined.” And Cowell has said he’d quit the show if Malakar wins.

As Sligh was saying goodbye at the end of Wednesday’s show, the cameras caught him yelling “You owe me $50.” It turns out that he and Stacey had a bet. Sligh was sure he’d be the one sent home, and he bet Stacey $50. Stacey paid up, Sligh said.

At 8 tonight, Tony Bennett coaches the final nine.

A few other Idol notes:

• People magazine profiled each of the remaining contestants and featured photos of them when they were younger. Back in second grade, Stacey had hair, but he was missing his front teeth.

• Although the American Idol producers have been very tight with access to the contestants or others connected with the show, last week they offered interviews with the hair and wardrobe stylists. With Stacey, the only question is whether or not to wear a hat.

“He’s got no hair, so embrace it,” stylist Miles Sigginse told the Detroit Free Press. “I’m a big fan of embracing your traits. Enjoy what you are and enjoy the moment.”

• Neither Regency Church of God, where Stacey is a member, or First Coast Christian Center, where he is music minister, are holding official viewing parties on Idol nights. At The Zone, the enlisted club at NAS , no televisions are tuned to American Idol, spokeswoman Miriam Gallet said. Instead, there’s trivia on Tuesday nights, and Wednesday is karaoke.