American Idol: Down to 11 - Results Show 3/12/08

As the show began, Ryan emerged from the center of the sun - or it may have been the aggressive spot light behind the new retracting doors on the new new new set. Paula is looking very shiny in her silvery jacket, Simon looks peeved at Ryan already (make it stop, make it stop, make it stop), and you have to love a shamelessly self-promoting man in an elephant costume. Heck, if I could pull it off like Jim Carey, I might hang out in a Horton costume. It's kind of cute. Alas, I don't think I have the height to pull such a thing off. Jim Carey either is an avid American Idol fan, or he's never ever watched the show. I can't tell which. I don't think he's a man who goes half way.

Looks like next week is another week of the Lennon/McCartney songbook . . . maybe some people will pick better songs. Here's for hoping. I actually am not upset about the repeat of theme, there are so many incredible songs to choose from. I wonder what the theme would have been. Ryan claims that it was changed due to overwhelming viewer response. Interesting. If viewers nationwide wrote in and called and begged Simon and Ryan to lose the bickering, would that make a difference? One can only hope. Fire up the phones, America. Make it happen.

The group sing. Michael Johns got the job as obligatory back-up to ladies in the beginning, and he did a pretty good job, though it wasn't always clear if the arrangement called for him to fade out, or if that was his mistake. I'm hoping for the former, though that's odd. The microphone levels sound way off. Jason Castro did an unnecessary run up the stairs. Because they have stairs on the new set. Have to use them. Who's going to rappel off the orchestra balcony? That's what I'm waiting for. It would liven up the group number quite a lot. The Top 12 must not be able to dance, because they did a lot of creative freezes - or tableaus if you will. I think the choreographers were on something when they worked on this number. David Cook sounded great, I can forget that he's Captain Comb Over when he's wearing a hat, and it's a nice thing to forget.

The recap showcased the fighting between Ryan and Simon, which was more annoying than ever. I'm glad that they didn't gloss over David A. forgetting his lyrics, because that was so pathetic. Let's see how the results shake down.

The first group of four was Carly, Michael, Jason, and Syesha, with Syesha going to the bottom 3. Not surprised. She's gorgeous, but her singing is boring and predictable. Syesha was asked to sing her song one more time, and it was as boring as the first time. She ended it with a completely superfluous high note, after the music had stopped. Awkward.

Another wonderful Idol tradition, the Ford commercial spots! I'll say it, it's fun to see the contestants acting a little and all dressed up. I kind of liked Andrea's hair in the commercial. It was all parted to the side and almost of pretty. Not really a song that showed off any vocal skill other than chanting, but the acting was cute.

So the Idol contestants got to go to the Horton Hears a Who premiere. I believe Jason Castro when he says he loves Horton. He seems like he might be a Dr. Seuss fan. I would like to see him trying to read Fox in Socks. That's a toughie. I get hung up on the fleas in trees with a freezey breeze . . .

Chikezie, Amanda, David Cook, and Kristy Lee Cook are the next group of four to stand. Amanda's hair looks awful tonight, with the black all ratted up in back over the blonde on the sides, and it looks kind of like a badger has taken up residence. It was kind of amusing when Kristy just asked for her microphone in a resigned manner. She's got a good attitude about being (deservingly) in the bottom 3 tonight.

Hey look, it's a mustachioed Sanjaya in the audience. He must be jealous of how craptastic Kristy's version of Eight Days a Week is, he's clapping along like he's at a square dance.

Looks like we're in for a performance by Katherine McPhee. Idol takes care of their own. She was dropped from her record label, so maybe she's trying to get some exposure and get herself picked up by someone else, and Idol decided to give her the chance. I'll decide after I see it if I think she deserves a second chance.

The Viewer call in was really kind of weird. Can you say padding??? In case you can't hear what the people are saying, their questions are printed up on the big screen. Everyone's pretending it's not there, and act surprised when the viewers ask their questions. So weird. Let's not go back there.

And now it's time for Katherine. She's wearing the dress that came with Paula's jacket. I think they're all just having fun with the lights and the shimmery fabric. Maybe Paula, Katherine, and Kristy Lee Cook (from last night's outfit) all went shopping together at the Metallics R' Us. Katherine kind of stunk up the stage. The arrangement was weird. I think the best she ever was was when she sang Black Horse and a Cherry Tree, and it's all gone downhill from there. She's gorgeous, she has a nice voice, but she's just kind of boring. Oh, and look, David Foster is helping Kat out and making a new album with her. How nice. I just think... eh, nothing to write home about. If she's making an album with David Foster, and it's all like that, I'll pass, thanks.

The final group of four is David Archuleta, Brooke, David Hernandez, and Ramiele. David Hernandez is no Tiffany, and he's sent to bottom 3. I'm happy that Ramiele is safe, I want her to pick it up next week and show us that she's young. At least Paula was enjoying David H's repeat performance. Someone had to.

The first one safe from the bottom 3 is Syesha. I guess she deserves it, after hearing the three of them sing again tonight. She'd better do something to make herself memorable for next week. Stripper Boy is done, and Kristy will return next week to countrify another song from the Lennon/McCartney song book. David H. is going back to his . . . pizza parlor. That's right, because he worked at a pizza parlor before he came onto American Idol. And now I can blessedly stop making that joke.

And the moment we've all been waiting for, it's the premiere of the new Ruben Studdard Boot Off Song. What every one needs to hear at a horrible moment in their life, when all their dreams have been crushed by the American voting public, it's some depressing gospel. Way to go, Ruben. Somehow I don't see that song being as big as Bad Day. A terrible song, but more appropriate, in my opinion.