The Top 10 is ehh plus news other than Idol

Let me begin with some other topics. First of all I am totally embarrassed to say this but I have been watching The Bachelor "London Calling." I have not watched this show in many years and always thought the guys and girls were losers so who cared if they fell in love for a few months? But this season caught me by surprise. First of all, the Bachelor is cool - British guy, kind of funny and pretty straightforward. For instance he told one girl that he didn't want to hear her whine about competing for his affections because the show is a competition. Plus the girls are hilarious fools - there were 3 so far who tried to sing to win him over (TERRIBLE). Maybe I have time on my hands, but it feels refreshing.

Oh and Top Chef is back and it is great -- I love that you can see the recipes online!

Okay then, now onto Idol - I am keeping it simple because it was a pretty basic episode.

Ramiele -- "Alone" Why does she think she can sing this song? I was watching at my sister's and let me say that in hi-definition, she is even smaller than I thought. But not less annoying. I love Simon's backhanded compliment that it was better than before but so what? BUH BYE

Jason Castro -- "Fragile" I thought he finally did a real song that he could sing (reminiscent of the Hallelujah moment) But still, I do agree with Simon that he is too laid back -- I know that is hi personality, but at some point it won't be enough. VOTE (once)

Syesha -- "If I Were Your Woman" Did anyone know that song? OK DOG

By the way, what was with Paula's gloves?

Chikezie -- Okay, I like his parents and his backstory but once again, what was that song? I mean he could have done a James Ingram song like "Just Once" and it would have been a throwback but cool! OK DOG

Brooke White -- "Every Breath You Take" The crowd I watched with was torn on this one. I liked it -- I just like her voice and the acoustic quality. I didn't think it was her best because she has done better, but even if the judges didn't like the end of the arrangement, doesn't she get any credit for doing the arrangement that way at all? And, she's gorgeous but looks 30, not 24. VOTE

Oh and by the way, the mosh pit was out of control on this one. Ryan should hold a sign that tells them which direction to sway in.

Michael Johns -- "We are the Champions" Queen is good for him and this will definitely keep him in the competition. Definitely liked the end more than the rock beginning but he did what works for him which was great. VOTE

Carly -- "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Look I sing this song at karaoke so I know it isn't too hard and I agree that there was something too tense going on with her tonight (was she nervous that middle America would see her tattoo face husband and vote her off?) By the way, if she does get voted off because of her tattoo face husband, that is a shame. She seemed to be forcing the notes out and she can sing much higher than this. Weird week for her but she must stay. VOTE (3x to fight the anti-tattoo terrorists)

David A -- NO, NO, NO I COMPLETELY agreed with Simon that this weird song should have been sung with animated animals in the background. Look, I am older than everyone on the show so I know the music from the year's they were picking and there are much better choices! David can sing anything -- why that? VOTE (only once dog)

Kristy Lee Cook -- "God Bless the USA" This girl is smart. The "country" girl chose a patriotic, god naming anthem. So smart. This is one of the easiest songs in the world to sing and she did just that -- she sang okay in a straightforward way. I can sing a lot better than her, but her smart move may keep her. BUH BYE

David Cook -- "Billie Jean" I couldn't understand Ryan -- whose version of Billie Jean is that? No matter what, great for him to pick it. So what if he didn't arrange it himself -- he took a song that he knew the audience would know and made them think he did it in an original way. But look bottom line, I like his voice, a lot. He has some serious looks issues (did you see his bald baby head?) but I really like his voice. VOTE

So, David Cook and Michael Johns took top honors, Brooke and Carly were strong thought not their best and I would still like to see David A and Jason Castro. Bottom three? Ramiele, Kristy (but she will stay in) and Chikezie. Maybe Ramiele will finally go???

are you kidding me? RESULTS SPOILER

Who would put Carly in the bottom 3? People are crazy. Listen, I know there are only 75 people on this blog and my point is not to start a whole phenomenon, but if any of you watch the show and have ATT, please just vote by text -- it is so easy. So please vote. I already know who gets voted off this week, but I didn't know the bottom three and to see that Carly is one of them is shocking. Simon should be ashamed, because obviously stupid voters listen to him and didn't vote for Carly because of his comments but he was wrong...

Kristy is in the bottom three as she should be.

Let's talk about Kellie Pickler... I was never a fan on Idol. She got further then she should have. But she was smart -- she went country - and most of you wouldn't know this, but that red High Heels song came out in country 9 months ago and I thought it was cheesy but she showed she could sing live if she got to do her own thing. Then she came out with I Wonder (which she performed last season with the weird short hair and big boobs) and it became a country sensation because the video was actually very sincere. So she is a pretty big country deal -- I don't think it will last past this album, but she was smart and stuck to her genre. If only these Idols could have expressed their genre. Instead they had to do 60's, 70's, 80's and then Beatles TWICE and have yet to show their own selves if they had some choice at all. But then they (CARLY) get shunned for being "indulgent" as Simon said to Carly, for picking songs like Blackbird which I think is one of the best songs that a girl could have picked from the all male theme of the Beatles...

So Amanda leaves which is fine in general, but not in the order -- Kristy adn Ramiele should have left before her. But she made the mistake of acting like she would be okay no matter what happened (look I don't believe that losers should pout like Ramiele but act like you want to win). Ugggh to think Kristy and Ramjaya are going on tour.

So in the end Amanda is gone - wrong order but are you voting? If anyone has an opinion, remember that this show more than any other reality show actually does depend on your votes so please, keep your favorites in because I really want my favorites to make it to the end and if you don't vote for the best, they will leave and I will be very angry!!! Come on people,

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

Idol Top 11 - Beatles, again

Okay, here we go. I was a little worried about a Beatles re-do -- not as much excitement, chance for those who really shined to only have downhill to go. Luckily, the really loud mosh pit was super excited although I wasn't sure why they were screaming so much (Ed, were you down there?) Let's move on to the performances...

Amanda Overmyer -- "Back in the USSR" I didn't really need to write the title because this was the same song she has done every week with different words. I'm glad that she will be happy to just sell out a little club back home because I'm pretty sure she won't do more than that. At least she looked normal tonight. OK DOG

Kristy Lee Cook -- "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" Oh she tried but oh she was so bad - really pitchy and just lame. Nice last two notes. BUH BYE


David Archuleta -- "The Long and Winding Road" First some notes on David -- why does he lick his lips and inhale through his nose but exhale through his mouth? But he is so cute and his excitement seems genuine. I thought the song got a little show tuney in the middle, but when he bent his knees and dug into the high notes he won me over. I love how Simon clapped for him. Really cute but most importantly, amazing voice. VOTE (and he was my runner up favorite)

By the way, LOVED the blatant iPHONE ad and Coca Cola cheers by the judges. Look, they have a price to pay and they know it.

Michael Johns -- "A Day in the Life" Okay, I feel bad for him and his friend who died who loved this song, but I don't know if he made the right choice. I wish he wouldn't bounce around so much and I thought it was a weird end. I really like his voice, but he needs to find his song. I can't believe he didn't bother to tell Paula that he wasn't wearing ear monitors and let her go on and on that that was why it was difficult for him - sketchy. But then he looked like he was going to cry when he spoke about his friend so I felt bad for yelling at him. OK DOG (but I will vote to keep him)

Brooke White -- "Here Comes the Sun" I actually liked the way she sang this but I really wish I had kept my eyes closed. The weird dancing was bad, really weird and slithery and weird and uncomfortable. I am glad she is gracious about criticism but she needs to talk a little bit less. Shhh, Brooke, shhh. VOTE

So note to that - they are totally letting the contestants talk more -- have they been told to talk more or if it just a coincidence?

David Cooke -- "Daytripper" Look as a Bon Jovi fan, I never really have a problem with the voice box or whatever Simon called it (I call it the Richie Sambora thing). David Cook is solid - his voice is great, he knows who he is and he is great to listen to. I understand that it can get hard to keep beating yourself, but he is good! VOTE

By the way, I must say that in my head so far in the show I kept saying, whoever does Blackbird will be my favorite - why wasn't anyone picking it? And then there came Carly, I should have guessed it.

Carly Smithson -- "Blackbird" I loved it. For me it was a very different version because I am obsessed with the Sarah McLachlan but I liked her slight rock dark edge to it and I am just blown away by her voice and what she does with it. I normally agree with Simon on these things, but I did not understand what he said AT ALL. Simon was wrong. There I said it. VOTE (and my favorite for the night)

By the way, isn't it too early in the competition to ask for their favorite Idol moment? I mean they haven't even met the mentors. And I thought they were going to announce the mentors, but they haven't right?

Jason Castro -- "Michelle" Cheesy. Yes he is cute and he can do cheesy somehow, but no, he needs to work on a song and sing it. I really like him, but he needs to take it a little more seriously. OK DOG

Syesha -- "Yesterday" She looked totally different -- really pretty and nice. She did what she needed to do to stay another week. i didn't love it, but she showed she can sing. Trying too hard? OK DOG

Chikezie -- "I've Just Seen a Face" I actually really liked the slow part of the song. He added that R&B attitude and made it more fresh. Then he tried his trick from last week again which I didn't think worked this time. He didn't need to do that part again but he still did really good. And you know I don't mind a little twang. VOTE

Ramiele -- "I Should Have Known Better" Oh come on, please do not vote for her. I can't vote for someone who wears a hat like that and wears so much lip gloss. BUH BYE

So overall, Carly and David Archuleta and David Cook took the night, but Brooke and Chikezie were strong and Jason and Michael Johns should stay. Syesha did well so I say BUH BYE to Ramiele (but the Ramjaya contingency will keep her in) or Kristy Lee Cook. We'll see tomorrow...

Remember everyone, don't be ashamed of your obsessions...

Reaction - Spoiler alert!

Okay my fellow Idol watchers - I hear your call. You are baffled by tonight's elimination and I understand your pain. First to the bottom three -- I am pained to see that Ramjaya (Ramiele who is probably best friends with last year's most hated Idol Sanjaya and probably cried like that little girl when he was eliminated) was not in the bottom three. But, I totally agreed that Kristy Lee Cook and Syesha should have been there. I admit to having muted or forwarded parts of both of their re-do's. Both were terrible song choices and arrangements. And yes, David was cheesy, but should he have been the one to go? Not yet I say. Here is my theory -- votes were cast for the best of the bunch and then sympathy votes were split between Kristy, aww Simon but you told her to do country but you didn't tell her to suck at it and Syesha because she went first and there are a lot of Earth Wind and Fire lovers?!? and Ramjaya because she pouted a lot and poor David was left with nothing.

Here is the good news, however, NONE of these people can last for long and so whether the stripper returns to his pole now or in a few weeks, he would have been eliminated anyway. The order doesn't really matter as long as the worst don't win.

Two old Idol's returned tonight -- Kat McPhee who has lost her record deal but is still being managed by Idol creators 19 and Ruben Studdard (via going home song) who has also been dropped by his record label but is still being managed by 19. Note to 19 - you can't make them popular -- MOVE ON. Kat sang a terrible rendition of a Beatles song (here is my advice, stay home with your new husband) and I don't think I will be able to bear Ruben's closing song every week. Carrie has a great song on her album they could have used -- stick with the Idol's everyone loves!

And to all those who are shocked by tonight -- did you vote???????????

THE TOP 12 - Beatles week

Okay people let me start by saying that this is the best season so far. I had no problem with all those that we had to say BUH BYE to to get to the Top 12. The Beatles week could have been a disaster with contestants who only did the usual songs but instead there were risks and powerhouses and most of all, good, good music. Just a reminder on my system of VOTE, OK DOG and BUH BYE -- pretty self explanatory.

By the way, the new high tech set is cool, but the mosh pit worries me - seriously worries me.

Syesha -- "Gotta Get You Into My Life" I have never heard that song and I really didn't understand why Simon liked it? She sings fine but forgettable could have been the word. I guess OK DOG, but BUH BYE soon...

And by the way, I liked Ryan's suit and he did too.

Chikezie -- "She's A Woman" Didn't know this song either but he brought down the house - original, loved the bluegrass and he showed some serious PERSONALITY! Fantastic VOTE!

By the way again, Ryan did not need to wipe off Chikezie's sweat onto his nice suit - or run around the new stage - we get it, it is a new stage that the contestants can run around (every other stage was like that too).

Ramiele -- "In My Life" It is back to pouring soy sauce my dear because you were BORING. Wah, Wah, stop pouting because she will be joining all the friends (like Danny Noriega) that she was crying for last week. BUH BYE

Ummm by the way, an example of the mosh pit being a bad idea was the waving arms of the crowd who were basically waving louder than Ramiele was singing.

Jason Castro -- "If I Fell" Sweet, effortless, real, cute and I love his shoulder shrug when he doesn't hit the note but he needs to sing something really well or he might be in trouble with all of these wailers. VOTE

Carly -- "Come Together" Woo hoo! Loose, Cool, Professional and she finally had the moment that Simon has been talking about. Loved the Kelly Clarkson reference and Simon's wink when she said she was worried about Simon. He has a good wink. VOTE (multiple times dog!!) Is her tattoo of Amy Winehouse?

David Cook -- "Eleanor Rigby" Another great choice from this professional. Even the up-turned collar didn't bother me. He can really rock and was it the incredible backlighting or has he grown more hair on his head? Maybe his fantastic voice helped his hair look fuller. Was Simon hinting that David is talented but not popular? That better not be the case. VOTE again and again!

Another mosh pit note - they can't clap on the beat.

Brooke White -- "Let It Be" Once again could have been run over by this song, but she is GENUINE and believable as Simon said and has a great pure voice. I loved that she was crying about how awesome this experience is. VOTE for sure!

David Hernandez -- "I Saw Her Standing There" Exactly what could have gone wrong with this theme. Predictable song choice turned into a cheesy Idol run around the stage performance BUH BYE

Amanda Overmyer -- I don't know the song and I don't get it -- at all and I would like to see her hair be all one color, stat! BUH BYE

Michael Johns -- "Across the Universe" I liked the Eddie Vedder quality of his voice but he really needs to find a song to connect to like Bohemian Rhapsody. And, umm, he has a sweaty face, yuck. Still, VOTE and I'm glad Simon is sticking by him

Note to director, good for you -- you can do aerial shots in your new set! Now stop it.

Kristy Lee Cook -- "8 Days a Week" which lasted about 8 days too long. This was terrible and she did the wide eyed thing and she couldn't keep up with the violins and please explain why she did this terrible, terrible thing to country music. BUH BYE

Note to Ryan, I like your suit, but please stop trying to get a rise out of Simon and create controversy about his criticism. Simon usually can't hear what you are saying anyway.

David Archuleta -- "We Can Work It Out" ahh but he couldn't. He is really cute but he needs to be careful. I really respected that Simon was straight with him. The song was just not his style. VOTE because he needs to stay.

Bottom line, Carly and David ruled and Ramiele is BUH BYE!!!!!!!!

Does anyone watch The New Adventures of Old Christine? It is hilarious. Really. Well I have to get back to my DVR which is still chock full of shows from when I was gone but I can admit that because as I say,

don't be ashamed of your obsessions...