Idol - so duets better this week (or the next day because based on what the "in house mentor" said it sounded like they were filmed back to back, whcih makes sense....

anyway they sounded better than last week. But the solos this week were worse than last week. I forgot how much I like David Cook's voice. The only person I didn't think should go through was Manny, I wasn't feeling his performance with Jordin Sparks. I think I would have put Amelia through instead.

I also kind of liked Harry Connick Jr talking back about Constantine saying My Funny Valentine needed ..whatever he said it needed..because it doesn't.

Oh! I did not hate Kellie Pickler. She looked younger (to me) now than when she was on the show... when she was on she had the weird look of someone who is young but manages to look like someone older trying to look young (if that makes sense)... and I liked her performances and the way she was with the contestants.

Face Off: "If I go home today, at least I made an awesome duck" is one of my favorite things I have heard a contestant say. Also, Mckenzie's dress o etc reveal stage - so gorgeous! I still don't have a favorite. Weird.

I watched the first episode of Project Runway Allstars, and, as I suspected, I still hate Dimitri. I will not be watching further episodes.

PR: AS I'm mostly watching for Kini. He was so good on his season, just didn't have as amazing a final collection as whatshisname (I remember his collection, but not his name. Sean? Fringe guy. You know) so I really want him to do well.

Sad for Fade to go home and for both of the losers from last week to still be safe.

So finally they get rid of the filler! I don't know how long the show is going to be tomorrow but they raced through the contestants tonight I wish it were a bit longer to get some more critiques from the judges.

AI: I was not pleased with the "fast pass" to the Top 10 from the judges. The whole point of this show is for people to get the chance to vote for their favorites. Disagreeing with that popularity contest is as American as, well, American Idol. Boo. That said, I was pleased with three of the four that the judges chose. La'Porsha, Dalton and Trent should definitely all be in the Top 10. And even Olivia, although she's not my cup of tea, was not a terrible choice, although I'd have switched her out for Mackenzie.

Of the Idol aspirants who had to perform, I really only enjoyed Avalon and Mackenzie. I'd be perfectly happy just adding the two of them and skipping directly to a top 6. I really like Jenn, but she misses way too many of her notes for me to continue to write it off as just "quirkiness" or "nerves". Nonetheless, she'd be next on my list to round out a top 10 if we simply must have top 10. So that's 7. And then it gets real dicey. I still like Lee, but he was terrible last night and he's way too young to be on the show yet, so that's a no. I'd say the same about Jeneve, except for the part about actually liking her. She seems very sweet but she also seems like someone who can't sing all that well. Manny is boring and not a star although his vocal on Higher Ground wasn't offensive, so there's that, I guess. Sonika is like musical wallpaper she's so bland. If she gets on the show, she'd just be playing for the Pia Toscano Memorial Belter Gone Too Soon for Being Boring spot. I suppose every season needs that, though. Thomas, Gianna, and Tristan are all actively bad, so those are definite nos.

My enthusiastically in the Top 10:
La'Porsha
Trent
Dalton
Mackenzie
Avalon

My "I'm rooting for you so do better than you have done" in the top 10:
Jenn

My "I guess" in the top 10:
Olivia
Sonika

My "We still need two more and you are less bad than others" top 10:
Lee
Manny

So, yeah. Those are my picks for AI Top 10.

I thought Gianna did better last night but tonight she was back to her lackluster performance.

I was "eh" about Sonika until tonight I thought she did really well.

Also wondered if Harry Connick Jr was going to say something about the runs La'Porsha did, I think it could have been better if she had cut out a couple but she slayed.

Avalon was frustrating because it felt forced and like she wasn't sure what she was doing. Dalton was -- I like the song and he made it more interesting but he could do so much better.

Lee is getting the voters who go for the cute adorable young guy. But he seems like the youngest there, even though he's not.

Kelly - she was scattered but that song...even if I wasn't emotional I would be crying. It looked like Keith Urban was trying not to bawl during the song.

I guess 2 are getting eliminated (I missed part of it due to channel switching) but if I were going to guess I'd say maybe Avalon is in trouble (which I don't think she should be but she did have an off night) and I would like Lee Jean to go jsut because I don't think he's strong enough but I think he'll get the votes. I'm going to say Trent might be in trouble or Mackenzie (and he shouldn't he's better than Lee but I'm thinking about the demographics that vote a lot).

So I thought all the under 17s except Olivia were horrible last night. Tristan, well, the less said the better. Bless her heart. Lee made a terrible song choice and then he sang it terribly. Gianna chose a song that was clearly too mature for her and then she only hit about half of the notes in the song and sang it like one of those animatronic robots on It's a Small World. In my perfect world, I'd want all of them to go home next week, but only two people are going home anyway, so there goes that dream. I think at least one of those three will get the boot while the other two stay. If I had to bet money on it, I'd guess the stayers would be Lee, because of the cute boy factor (but he is in way over his head), and Tristan because she has the country vote cornered, she has the weepy back story, and they've been pushing her like crazy.

My top two by far were La'Porsha and Sonika. I loved what La'Porsha did to Diamonds. I think she sounded like what Rihanna thinks she sounds like when she sings! It was a perfect Idol performance for me. I just hope it didn't come too early for her such that it's all kinda downhill for her from here, because that could wind up sending her home before her time. I was shocked by how good Sonika was on Bring Me to Life. She should do more in that Evanescence/Paramore lane. It really suits her.

Next down for me but all still good last night were Dalton, Mackenzie and Olivia. I hate that Delilah song and I think the re-imagining was the least successful that Dalton has done, but Dalton is always good. Mackenzie was bound for a let down after being so spectacular with his original, but he did a good job with the Ed Sheeran song. He is gonna need to shake it up soon, though. And Olivia did a lovely job with a gloopy Katy Perry song, but she just does nothing for me.

After that litlle cluster, I've got Avalon, whom I still adore, but that was not a good song choice for her at all. And then there's Trent, who wasn't bad, I suppose, but I barely remember his performance at all and that is not a good thing when you got the pimp slot.

Anyway, I predict Gianna going home from the terrible teen trio and maybe Avalon in a shock boot, which will make me very sad. I'd prefer for both Gianna and Tristan to go, though. We'll see. It's been a long time since I could predict this show at all.

And to sum up, Kelly Clarkson!

PR:AS - I love that they didn't break down the winning team and give one person the win. Should've sent both of the losing team home, too.

I was surprised by the bottom three a little but. Most of the performances were great.

My mind went weird and everytime they said Grammys I heard Oscars adn that threw me off for a long time. OH! Grammys! Duh!

La'Porsha is owning those songs. Dalton should have done something different he was too safe. Lee Jean needs to go home. Olivia Rocks should have stayed (although I don't think anyone can pick Trouble and then throw the high notes in like that). Sonika needed to look at Olivia's performance for pointers on what to do. Trent looked amazing! and so much better when not pulling faces and that was just, his voice was great. Avalon's wheelhouse is an interesting one and I like it.

Was also wondering if Olivia could have tackled Kate Bush but I don't think Kate Bush is Idol material.