American Idol, Season 9: Top 12 Reveal

I was a bit surprised by the results. I was glad Todrick is out. Although Alex did nothing for me, I wanted to send Andrew home.

Hugs and best to our very own deer-in-the-headlights, Alex Lambert!

Without Andrew we could once and for all move beyond “Straight up.” I guess America wants to rub him after all.

I thought Lilly was a shoe-in based on total performances but last night I thought she chose a dud song. I’m stunned Katie hung on but she is 16 and might appeal to young voters. I thought Katelyn was doing better than Paige as well.

Fairly controversial to admit fandom for, I was glad to see Aaron and Tim made it. I’m realistic, though, I know they’re canon fodder and expect both will vanish in the next month.

Mike is clearly the top guy with maybe Lee as the dark horse. Crystal, if she stays healthy, and Siobahn will battle it out for the top girl spot.

Crystal didn’t look well tonight and wasn’t particularly celebratory when she was safe.

Top 12: Didi Benami, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Katie Stevens, Casey James, Tim Urban, Lee Dewyze, Michael Lynche, Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia.

Idol 8 Wild Card Results

(Ricky Braddy, robbed by American Idol)

Listen to Ricky perform Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" (mp3)

This season really irritates me. Despite more unflawed vocals, Ricky Braddy was not picked by the judges for the Finals over some pathetic contestants. The show changed it up and put four in, not three, but of the three I predicted on Wednesday/Thursday's blog, all three were chosen: Anoop, Matt Giraud, Megan Corkrey. Jasmine Murray also advanced and that was no surprise either.

If he's so good, why not Ricky?

He's very good but they don't see him as commercial or fitting their desired demographic (numbers are down this season). As for Ricky, I don't know a thing about him but wish him well. My interest in the show is at new lows and I don't much care how it plays out.

Idol 8 Wild Cards

(Clockwise from Top Left: Megan, Jasmine, Ricky, Anoop)

Best - Great voice and control, good stage presence.

• Ricky Braddy

Next best - Decent voices; lousy songs or weird stage presence.

• Von Smith - Jesse McCartney looks with a far better range, people make fun of his wide open mouth singing, comes across as phony like a theme park attraction singer rather than recording artist.
• Anoop Desai - bad song, "drunken fratboy" vibe
• Tatiana Del Toro - sung the song ok but bizarre persona
• Jasmine Murray - pretty, ok voice, lousy song choice

Meh - No thanks.

• Jesse Langseth - mediocre voice, bad hair, weird outfit and presence
• Megan Corkrey - nice, quirky look and vibe, not a great voice
• Matt Giraud - weak voice, bad song, too much the Timberlake imitator, way over sold

That said I suspect these to go through to the Top 12: Giraud, Anoop and Megan.

I’m not really liking this season. Kristen McNamara was just great and deserved a WC slot but her song choice (Gimme One Reason - Tracy Chapman) and “sound” was probably panned as too “old skool.”

While I see potential in Kris Allen, I really don’t see anyone clearly relevant to the current market besides Lil Rounds.

Idol Top 4 Results

It's about time Castro left the show after he seemed so disinterested while performing on stage. He still has a very good recording voice and I like the singer-songwriter vibe. He just looks very weird.

Syesha may just be the contestant to make the most appearances in the bottom two/three and survive. She's earned it though, improving week upon week.

I'm going to speculate Simon will pick the song for David Cook and Randy the song for Syesha. We'll know soon enough. Archuleta had a pleasantly surprising good week in the Top 4 although I'm not a fan of Elvis' "Love Me Tender." It was the studio recording released on iTunes rather than the more up-beat "Stand By Me." I still think David Cook will squeak out the win in two weeks.

Clay Aiken released his fourth studio album of new material on Tuesday. None of the songs really grab me. It's mostly slow-mid tempo stuff about overcoming adversity and so forth.

Progress?

Congratulations to Van Hansis for his Daytime Emmy nomination. He plays Luke Snyder, a gay college student on "As The World Turns."

---

My credit card expired last month and I've been looking for the replacement. I thought maybe I'd accidentally thrown it out because of the mall ads, grocery ads, services ads, and political junk mail. Since it's May Day, I called dreading having to learn a new card number only to find out the card was mailed within this week. It's still in transit. Nice of them to tell customers there'd been a delay!

To add to my freak-out level, there was a letter stating I was two months delinquent on my health coverage payments and as of today I'd be cancelled. I looked at my checkbook and saw the checks registered so I called. The automated service was reassuring, telling me I was paid up until May but to make sure I talked to a live person. She confirmed that indeed, my coverage was not at risk and my next payment was due by May 10th.

I haven't slept in 22 hrs. I've been busy or distracted. I made a batch of cookies last night and ate them all. This is why I don't make them often. I binged much like when I have ice cream. It's something I need to work on and puzzle out the causes.

Idol is terminally boring this year. I expect David Cook to win with probably the other David as runner up. I skipped GRΣΣK this week since it's become so repetitious with the "love triangle" story.

Idol Top 8 (Added Results)

OK:
Jason Castro — Somewhere Over The Rainbow
David Archuleta — Angels
Syesha Mercado — I Believe

Fair:
Carly Smithson — The Show Must Go On
David Cook — Innocent
Kristy Lee Cook — Anyway
Michael Johns — Dream On

Awful:
Brooke White — You’ve Got a Friend

---

UPDATE: Aussie Michael Johns was eliminated this week. Syesha and Carly rounded out the bottom three. Syesha and Kristy Lee Cook really need to go home. I'm not surprised Michael Johns got cut. As a rocker-type he's been overshadowed by David Cook primarily because of song choice and Cooks shameless cribbing over other's arrangements. The finally three will probably be Castro and the Davids.

April First

"GRΣΣK" was better this week. They held a flapper/speak-easy party. It was amusing but I did end up flipping over to "House" where an ill couple ended up being half-siblings.

It's Idol Top 9 tonight featuring Dolly Parton. I'll try to contain my horror until I see who is destroying what song this week.

Happy Birthday to Apple, Inc. Do you miss the gay apple?

GREEK & Idol Top 10

The Top 10 was another disappointment. David Cook once again stood on the shoulders of others. This week Idol admitted he was singing a Chris Cornell rendition of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and while he did sing fine, I'd like to see him do something that is original (since that's the praise he gets) rather than copycat another's alternative arrangement. Cook is leading at this point and would at least have some commercial appeal.

David Archuleta was dull; his vocal was not clear and strong. Simon was right it was as if he was singing at a theme park. And, seriously David, you need to get beyond the "social consciousness" cliche of a 17 yr old. I don't think he'd make a good commercial recording artist. He might be a fine Christian contemporary artist, however.

Carly Smithson did OK with a passable copy of "Total Eclipse of the Heart." Jason Castro was ok, but lifeless. He needs to mix it up. The rest seemed a mess vocally. Seriously, this is a dreadfully dull season of Idol.

GRΣΣK did not get started on a great foot mostly because they have added a severely annoying "national chapter" girl to put one of the sororities (ZBZ) back on the straight and narrow. I'm a bit bored with the Cappie-Casey-Rebecca-Evan thing.

Misc. Items

"Morristown teenager Josiah Leming (Youtube) -- forever known as the kid living out of his car on "American Idol" season 7 -- has signed with Warner Bros. records" according to a blog on Knoxnews.com

Don't dunk and drive.

Dolly Parton will be a guest on "American Idol" April 1-2.

Another study, this time saying circumcised men no less likely to get sex diseases.

The Top 11 Results

Amanda is out. Not surprised, but I'm disappointed because she could work the stage and was entertaining to watch. The show will only get harder to watch. The other of the bottom two was the forgettable Kristy Lee Cook, the ex-RCA recording artist Carly Smithson rounded out the bottom three. Only the top 10 tour.

Announced "mentors" include Dolly, Mariah, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Neil Diamond. The Top 10 Idols will perform songs from the year they were born and Season 2 alum, Kimberley Locke, will return to perform on the results show.

Listening to the studio-recording clips on iTunes, Michael Johns and Jason Castro (could win it all) sounded best. David Archuleta sounds alright but the a lot of his charm is sucked out by production, much as happened with Clay Aiken. Clay was far better live on Idol than on his albums.

---

Sean Astin played a preacher on the original "Law & Order" tonight. I suspect the episode might upset some people since he was cast as a radical "warrior" for Christ in the mold of extremist mullahs. I find it boorish and contrived. On the upside, Carolyn McCormick was back as Dr. Olivet.

---

"GRΣΣK" returns soon. The second half "Kyle XY" (Season 2) has ended with Amanda missing, kidnapped either by Latnock organization or Taylor, Jessie XX's "father."

Idol Top 11. The Beatles, Part 2.

David Archuleta returned to form tonight with “The Long and Winding Road.” Sadly he was the only real highlight tonight. When I first saw the performance online I did tingle a bit. I'm very happy he's back and the song was spot on for his style.

Amanda Overmyer rocked “Back in the U.S.S.R.” but it just didn't seem authentic this week. It was a bizarre song choice anyway with many of the contestants, and millions of voters, not able to even remember the U.S.S.R. Since I do, it all seemed even weirder. I generally like her but this wasn't her best.

Kristy Lee Cook attempted “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” a song I don't really know. It was worse than bad because it was unmemorable and I suspect she's headed for the bottom three on Wednesday.

Former frontman Michael Johns did ok on “A Day in the Life” but the song is too long to be trimmed to about 90 seconds. He may have pandered a bit after the judges critique saying he chose the song as it was his dead friend's favorite. He's fine on stage but there's just a bit of passion, of authenticity, missing. He might be in danger because he's not really standing out compared to David Cook who some might put in the same rock-style voice category.

Brooke White warbled “Here Comes the Sun” and was boring but at least I remembered her. The dress was a very sunny yellow. She could be in danger.

David Cook acknowledged copying a rock group's rendition of “Day Tripper.” He needs to be careful. He's been borrowing arrangements a lot, some acknowledged and some alleged. I'm tired of seeing him with his guitar.

Carly Smithson chirped “Blackbird” and I found it boring. She looks bizarre with the eye makeup. I'm just not impressed with her and to say she's like the broken winged bird with struggles to break into the industry after millions were spent on her by RCA is ridiculous. She generally leaves me cold.

Syesha Mercado did better than last week with a version of “Yesterday.” I don't know, however, that it was good. I think she was trying to hard after almost being cut last week.

Chikezie attempted to play harmonica on “I’ve Just Seen a Face” and switched from a by-the-numbers R&B opening to a country thing mid-song. It was just all very, very weird. I hope he's gone soon but suspect he won't. I just don't get him at all.

Ramiele Malubay did not have a fantastic vocal with “I Should Have Known Better” but the beginning and end were fine and, unlike more than half the contestants, she looks like she knows how to perform on stage. I'm concerned she might be cut but I'd like to see her hang around a bit.

Jason Castro did a fair version of “Michelle” and at least put down the guitar this week. Still, it wasn't great and I think he looks quite goofy. He's definitely safe, however.

I watched season 6's performance shows again last night and there really is a difference. There might be more technicians this season but there's a bit of fun and performance that's missing which over-all makes the show boring.

Idol Top 11, Like Top 12

I missed out that Idol is doing a SECOND week of Beatles songs. One was bad enough, thank you!

Idol Top 12 Results

The first two announced on the bubble tonight were not a surprise to me. Syesha Mercado and Kristy Lee Cook were pretty awful last night. David Hernandez joined them in the bottom with the lowest vote totals.

The first eliminated from the Top 12 was David Hernandez! I didn't see that coming. I'll be interested in what people consider his downfall. There are many possibilities from the gay stripper past to coming across like a smark-alec having taken a class on the Beatles' music.

E-Online reports fan-favorite David Archuleta might have a "stage dad" and be the cause for David's rattled nerves on Tuesday's show.

Youtube has a clip of Josiah Leming singing the full version of Mika's "Grace Kelly"

Top 12 Idol Thoughts

It was Beatles night on Idol. I expected a mess and they delivered.

David Archuleta fumbled the lyric of "We Can Work It Out" but was ultimately uninspiring. He had the "pimp" spot, the final slot before the show wraps for the night. It was definitely not his best. He was apparently trying to do the Stevie Wonder cover version and by now Idol contestants should know to avoid his songs. They also turn out badly. He was frank with his lack of comfort and unfamiliarity with the Beatles.

David Cook was one of the top performers of the night with a convincing rock version of "Eleanor Rigby."

David Hernandez, the gay stripper, has usually been among the best but he was way over the top tonight by trying to go 50's rock-and-roll, saying the guitar in "I Saw Her Standing There" was inspired by Chuck Berry.

Brooke White played piano and worked through a passable version of "Let It Be."

Carly Smithson got effusive praise from the judges but I thought she yelled "Come Together" more than sang.

Ramiele Malubay underplayed "In My Life" too much and is probably in danger of elimination.

Jason Castro did his usual guitar strumming on "If I Fell," but it didn't work. He was working too hard to selling the emotions for the song. Still it was one of the better performances tonight.

Michael Johns, the Aussie, was alright on "Across the Universe" but a bit forgettable.

Amanda Overmyer, seemingly no ones favorite, was in top form with "You Can't Do That."

Kristy Lee Cook tortured "8 Days a Week" in a country arrangement and mirror mosaic dress.

Syesha Mercado, the first on state tonight, was awful on "Got To Get You Into My Life" and my pick to be in the bottom Wednesday.

Chikezie was a bit weird in his outfit but he sold the song "She's A Woman." Unfortunately I can't tell what he is as an artist.

I cast no votes. I'm not particularly wed to any of the singers this season.

---

I got free movie passes good through the end of June. Maybe something will be available between now and then that I'd like to see.

It Ain't Over (but Jordin Wins)

Ok, I got that out of the way. Jordin Sparks will be declared the sixth American Idol at the end of tonight's two hour finale. She's 17, in case you haven't heard. We heard it at least three times last night.

I voted up until 1am. No, really. I voted in a finale for the first time, I think, since season 2. In my heart and head I knew it was futile. Jordin's 17 after all.

That feeling was only reinforced with the shameless pimping. Is that you, Randy Jackson?

I'm sure Jordin's tearful ending on her last performance helped make up for the shrieking, clunker notes, her mannequin-like delivery and even flat vocals. Certain judges' comments told me they were ignorant, deaf or liars.

Moving on, Blake slipped up a bit on the very first performance, "You Give Love A Bad Name," when he was carrying the mic stand but in other more subtle ways it was an even better performance than a few weeks back. His vocal on Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved" was near perfect. In fact, I told the kitty if he didn't like it Randy was an anatomical orifice. He managed to have kind words for Blake.

The song-writing contest winner, "This Is My Now" was HORRENDOUS. That said, I liked that Blake made it more intimate and personal instead of the bombast of 17 year old Jordin's effort. Jordin's ridiculously over-sung version is just what was intended, however, and so the song put Blake at surely unfair, and perhaps calculated, disadvantage.

The results don't matter, tonight Blake's my "American Idol." Melinda should've been on that stage instead of Jordin. This just in: Jordin is 17!

I'm irritated at the sound problems early in the show. That's what dress rehearsals are for. Besides someone forgetting to turn Paula's mic on at one point, the overall audio didn't sound as good as at the Idol stage. Maybe it was the mics, maybe it was echo of the theater coming across or something else. The finale takes place at the 3,000+ seat Kodak Theater and not on the Idol sound stage.

I'm not proficient in the art and just don't know precisely how to describe it. It was almost as if I was hearing too much of the room and I didn't sense the warmth more usual in the voices.

The first time I got a vote through, I was excited there was a recording of Blake thanking us for our votes. I can't remember if they've done that in the past. I remember the reality show "Fame," hosted by Joey Fatone, had contestants provide a recorded message. As an aside, Joey came in second to Apolo Anton Ohno on "Dancing With The Stars." Apolo gets a mirror-ball trophy.

Back to Blake. He's got nothing to regret after Wednesday's results.

Dial-Idol and ZabaSearch predict the Jordin (17!) win. Yawn. "American Idol" is not really a "singing competition" although Simon claims it is. It's ultimately a piece of theater.

Odd Stories, Finales, and Idol Pre-Game

Monday night was "Heroes" finale. It was good. I wasn't blown away (Oh! A shameless pun!) but it was good. They took a few too many liberties with who lives and who (maybe?) dies and the group confrontation with Sylar was very pedestrian. Still, it was worth a look and set up a very entertaining premise for next year.

I stayed around and watched the season finale of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" which had everyone except the intolerable D'Onofrio appearing. It focused primarily on Logan. This was the best finale I've seen this year. Unexpectedly the franchise finally referenced the passing of Jerry Orbach who played Logan's ex-partner "Lenny Briscoe." It was touching, not remotely out of place and just the perfect tribute.

The local news was depressing. A 15 yr old girl gets to bury her last brother. Her oldest brother died two-and-a-half years ago. He was beaten to death in the street at the age of 20. There was never a conviction. Her 18 yr old brother was just stabbed to death in the street after a party.

Beyonce may be headed to Broadway. I want to claw my eyes out. She may be taking the role of Maggie-the-Cat in Tennessee William's "Cat on the Hot Tin Roof." It's my favorite modern play. If you care, Shakespeare's "Hamlet" is my other favorite play.

The finale of "Dancing With The Stars" is on Tuesday as well. Joey Fatone was in second place on the leader board behind Olympian Anton Ono. Lance Bass and Joey will not be doing the "Odd Couple" comedy series remake after all. Sure, he's made some appearances, but I'm not sure any of Lance's projects have come to fruition since 2000.

DNA shows one child, two dads match. They're identical twin brothers who both had sex with the child's baby mamma. The one she named on the birth certificate sued to avoid child support. The courts have decided he's on the hook anyway, essentially trusting the mother's testimony that she can narrow down the moment of conception. Truthfully, I agree with Dr. Bob Gaensslen a forensic scientist quoted in the article. He said both men played so they should both pay. Since neither can prove the other is the uncle in true fact, it should be a 50/50 split. They're a pair of morons and she's no saint.

---

Tonight is the Idol final performances. Both are singing a song from the song-writing competition but also get to choose two others.

Blake has picked "You Give Love A Bad Name" which was exactly the right choice for him. I know some fans wanted "Time of the Season" instead but his Bon Jovi week performance was the one that rose above the pack and was a water cooler moment. He held nothing back. His new song is "She Will Be Loved" from Maroon 5, probably a good choice for him.

Jordin will torment me with "Broken Wing"--a song beaten to beath. As her final "new" songs Jordin picked "Fighter" by Aguilera. It's a song I don't know that well. Yet.

I've been listening to different studio recordings of Idol contestants and Jordin's vocals are just boring. There's no emotional content. Her age may be the cause but I can't let her off since knowing she's got touring and other experiences. Besides, season 3 finalist Diana DeGarmo was 16. I really like Lakisha's tone and Melinda is fabulous in the studio. Either of those ladies should be in Jordin's place.



I still suspect Jordin will win the title. TV Guide's cover has her in the middle done up in a very Diana Ross look flanked by Melinda who looks about to be nudged off the cover and Blake, unnecessarily partially covered by the magazine's logo, looking like the conniving manager. Notice the "Crazy! Sexy! Cool!" caption? Well, inside its Blake who gets the "Sexy" label, while Melinda is still "Cool."

Sunday Sundries

It looks like Nick Carter has at long last found true love.



OK, OK. He's actually doing some "Save the dolphins" thing.

Simon Cowell describes Blake as a "brilliant entertainer" and has no prediction for the win this week on Idol. Weeks ago I described Blake as an "entertainer" so I'm a bit hyped to see Simon use the same term.

Blake won the coin toss but let Jordin choose whether to open or close. She chose to close on the finale so Blake will be signing first. A gentlemanly thing to do, sure, but possibly bad strategy if you want to win.

Duckie is being grumpy. That is not allowed! Kitty thinks he put me on block. It makes me wonder whether my trip to Oz will be full of personal drama or a chance to unwind and enjoy myself. I'm hoping for the later.

I still want to pick up some ice cream for the Idol finale viewing. I was sick today. I'm OK now, just hungry.

Lots of items have flowed through my mind lately. Imaginings of the future, really. Dating, not dating, lines of work, lines of education, places or ways of living. The nature of life and death. I don't see how I can be blamed for being depressed around Mother's day. She's barely been in the ground a year. I'm not in denial, more still shocked. When it comes to mind, I feel as though I'm on my first gasp after some terrible thing. I know from experience it takes years to get used to a parent's death, even one expected. Mother's was not.

There's been a lot of death on the outskirts in the past week or so too. Friends on-line with severely ill parents or grandparents or relatives passing. I had bad news about an acquaintance's cancer. Live is ugly. And stressful.

I'm tired--no, I'm very tired some days. These past few years have been a wringer making me even less interested in putting myself out there for a wife or boyfriend or even just someone to hang out with. Social interaction, relaxation, takes work for me. Somehow I feel guilty if I'm not doing something useful or productive and that keeps me from being more free with my time and energy. If you need help with something I'm happy to oblige and feel useful doing so. I'd like to work that in somewhere rather than just take a menial make-work job. Such a job would not pre-occupy my mind enough. I would simply be depressed and feel 'dead-ended.' I can't help the depressed part. It is what it is. "Be yourself," they say. As if!

I have tentatively concluded it was a (financial) mistake to live here, close to the house. I had hoped I'd have more interaction with the very last of my family but it hasn't worked that way. It isn't that I haven't tried. My interest in the kid's baseball, projects at the house and just taking my nephew to see Spider-Man had been shot down. It is what it is. I need to mull this over further. I have some ideas how to improve this.

I'm not interested in hook ups. The idea of someone touching me, at least as the aggressor or dominant character, makes my skin crawl. I'm more in need of simple affection. I could hire a lap dancer or stripper but I imagine it and can't sense any fulfillment for me. I have never been to a strip joint, a club, or a bar for that matter. I'd not go alone. It's a bit like traveling. Why go alone unless you know someone there already?

I happened to be reminded of a statement from Steve Jobs years ago about the journey being the reward. I like journeys more than destinations. I sense a path to happiness in there somewhere. It's something for me to meditate upon further. My ex-girlfriend once accused me of writing to avoid having children as my legacy. It's a thought I hadn't mulled in a lifetime. Perhaps she was only half-crazy after all?

My point in all this is I'm not getting younger. The directions I take will basically layout whatever time left of this life I've got. I'm not saying it'll be rigid and immutable but it will set a tone going forward. Essentially I put my own life on hold over the past... well, ten, maybe fifteen years. That means I have lots of pent up notions, random interests, unsatisfied wild impulses. They need sorting.

Speaking of sorting, I've been ruminating about whether to travel out of state in the next month or so. It's isn't the travel but who to contact, if anyone, while I'm there. I'd call it travel on personal business. There's still more information to gather but I want to go before July. It would only be a couple of days.

The Axes Fall

There was a surprise elimination last night on reality tv. I'm talking about Tabitha (along with Tyson) on "Shear Genius." The team elimination challenge was wedding party hair.

Tyson had won last week's elimination challenge and when he was instructed to assign teams for the short-cut challenge this week he (wisely) chose my girl Tabitha. They won that easily and got to pick their wedding party for the elimination challenge.

It was Tyson's work that really sunk them but add in their long-going rivalry and I think the judges felt they had to ditch them. More than half the judges looked horrified when Tabitha openly spoke ill of Tyson. To her credit, Tabitha took it in stride. She was satisfied because she knew Tyson was going home too.

Next week there's a one hour cast reunion after what I assume is the finale. One thing that held true was whoever wins the prior elimination challenge and gets their work on the "wall of fame" gets axed next. Tyson won last week and was out this week.

I thought the team thing was a complete co-opt.

OK, moving on. Melinda is out on Idol. I know the judges pretended that Melinda will have a successful career but I'm not so sure. A voice isn't enough. Personality plays a huge part. Even after all these weeks Melinda still exudes a shy lack of self-confidence when her performance ends. Reminds me of the SIL telling me I had no personality.

"Veronica Mars" comes to an end. "One Tree Hill" will fast forward four years when it returns in the spring.

Idol and Things

"Roxanne," "This Love" and "When I Get You Alone" were Blake's songs tonight. It's an uphill battle for him to be in the final two. The show judges want Jordin and Melinda. Comments online about Blake's performances have been generally positive.

We found out on Jay Leno last night that Melinda didn't audition to compete. She and her friends auditioned because they thought it was required to see the "funny people." Will she be the accidental Idol?

Jordin admitted to getting no where when she auditioned in L.A., eventually trying again in her state and being sent for another audition in Seattle. She's 17.

Rumors are running strong that "Veronica Mars" will not be back in the fall. I've put a crash cart on standby for Duckie. I really, really want ice cream. There are lame MacBook updates. I'm not in the market right now.

Melinda's songs were "I Believe in You and Me," "Nutbush City Limits," "I’m a Woman." Nutbush is a Tina Turner song and probably selected after some thought there was a bit of Tina in Melinda's Bon Jovi week "Have A Nice Day" performance.

"Wishing On A Star," "She Works Hard for the Money," "I Who Have Nothing" were Jordin's (17!) songs.

I changed the litter box. Kitty seems unmoved. By the clean litter box anyway. I can hear her. She's eating. I'm missing the large, black trash bags I use to line the litter box. I have more but can't find them. I stole one from the garage. My armpits itch. I hate deodorants!

Congrats to Apollo Anton Ono, Ms Ali and Joey Fatone making the finals on "Dancing With The Stars." Apollo, who I have expected to win it all, was almost eliminated tonight but Ian was sent packing instead. Voters got this elimination right.

I Knew It!

I predicted Paula would be the one picking Blake's song.

Simon chose "I Believe in You and Me" for Melinda, Randy picked "Wishing on a Star" for Jordin and just as the rumors had said, Blake's singing "Roxanne" thanks to Paula.

Kitty is vomiting. :(

I think she has an official vomit spot: outside my bedroom door. This is the third time she's picked that spot.

"Roxanne" makes me want to vomit too. Blake needs to find someone to do a proper a capella national anthem arrangement for him. His rendition at the Seattle Mariners' game was just OK. I have a tiny hobby litmus test for singers. How do you sing the "Star-Spangled Banner." I didn't like Clay's version. I really *loved* Anthony Fedorov's though.