First up, I loved the group number this week.  Some weeks I can take it or leave it, but this week I really liked it.  Great assortment of songs and a great arrangement as well.

I am shocked by the bottom 3.  Shocked!!!  I am not an Adam Lambert fan, nor have I been from the beginning.  If this was Broadway Idol, he’d be the guy to beat.  No denying his talent.  I just don’t know about him as a Pop Star.  Anywho, despite the fact that I’m not a fan, America and the judges have loved this guy from day 1.  To see him in the bottom 3 blows my mind.  I think I feel out of my chair at the same time Kara’s mouth fell open!  Not surprised to see Matt in the bottom 3.  A little surprised to see Kris there though.

PS: I have a crush on Kara DioGuardi!

Natalie Cole was awesome!  What a great song, what a great performance.  All recorded music should have a big band backing it up!

OK, I love Matt Giraud.  I’ve been a big fan of his all along.  I would hate to see him go tonight, but I can’t help but think tonight might be his night.

Soul Patrol! Soul Patrol! Soul Patrol!  I’m a big Taylor Hicks fan.  I picked him to win Idol.  I was doing morning radio at the time and on my radio show I picked him to win during his initial audition.  It’s good to see him back.  He was awesome tonight.

Kris is safe. Hokey Dina… could it possibly be the end of the road for Adam Lambert?  I might have to do a happy dance, while at the same time being shocked and stunned into silence!

So Matty G is done.  The first guy in the history of Idol to get saved, and now Top 5 is the end of the road.  I’m sorry to see him go, but he is not done!  No question we’ll be hearing from Matty G again.  If he comes out with an album, I’ll be throwing that bad boy on my iPod!

Interesting choice for the mentor tonight.  I think that Michael Buble would’ve been the perfect choice for a mentor.  So I was a little surprised to see Jamie Fox come out.  We’ll see how it goes.

Kris Allen kicks it off tonight and he offered the following wisdom, “We can only do what we know how to do.”  Quite profound Kris.  I love “The Way You Look Tonight”  It’s an awesome song.  I think he can do it and do it well.  After all, he can only do what he knows how to do.  Jamie Fox had some high praise for him that’s for sure.  OK, you know what… as usual, Kris was awesome!  He nailed it.  Great job.  Great way to start off the show.  VERDICT: He has at least 2 more weeks I think.

Great quote of the night… “You’re like taking a well trained spaniel for a walk.” Simon Cowell. Wow… I thought only Paula was capable of a critique like that.  What does that even mean anyway?

Allison is 17 now.  Guess what… she’s still amazing for her age.  I’m really glad that she is still here.  She deserves to be here.  I can’t get over how great her voice is.  She really does have the Kelly Clarkson thing going on.  She has such incredible vocal control too.  Wow.  Dang.  I just can’t get over how much talent this girl has.  OK.  She killed that song tonight.  Holy crap.  I don’t know what else to say.  Holy crap.  Randy said it best… “that was the bomb!”  I agree! VERDICT: She is phenomenal!

Another great quote, “Can I say something to Simon?  I love you, but you are CRAZY!”

Matt Giraud doing My Funny Valentine.  I’m looking forward to this.  I think this week is a make or break week for Matty, whom is one of my favorites!  He could really shine this week if he does it right.  Mat really does have great range, and he does well when he sings falsetto.  He has a good voice, he has good control.  He has definitely struggled in the past though, with numerous visits to the bottom.  It’s so hard at this point when there are only 5 left.  I don’t know that he set himself up like he needed to.  VERDICT: Not sure how to call this one.

Commercials ruin American Idol.  Here is what I think… Ford should just own the whole show and run it commercial free.  In return, we can just suffer through another Ford music video each week.

Danny Gokey goes in the #4 slot tonight.  This could be a good week for him too.  It seems like it would fit in his style.  Any performance that starts with a good horn solo is already starting on the right foot.  Nothing beats a fat horn section.  Man I love the feel of Big Band.  All music should sound like that.  Danny is just a solid, pure vocalist.  I really think he could sing the Yellow Pages and I’d buy the album!  I liked the bluesy feel too.  It worked.  I can actually seeing him doing an album filled with songs like that.  I’d buy it!  VERDICT: Still my pick to win.

Adam Lambert closes out the show again tonight.  Is it just me or does he close it out a lot?  Maybe I’m just imaging it.  I don’t know.  For the record, the Michael Buble version of this song is one of my favorites of this great standard!  I’m so afraid right now.  OK, so… I didn’t like it at all.  No big surprise.  I don’t like Adam Lambert.  I just don’t get him.  He can sing, I suppose, but I just don’t get him and I certainly wouldn’t buy his record.  He just makes things rock and scream-sings.  Whatever, America seems to love him so good for America.  Maybe that’s my problem.  I’m Canadian so I can’t understand.  VERDICT: Yeah, yeah… he’ll be back.

Quote of the night… “If scream-singing was a genre, Adam Lambert would be the poster child.” Marc Scott

Now that we are down to the final 5, it’s getting very hard to call.  I’m thinking it might be Matty going home but it could also be Allison.  Not necessarily because she should, but just because America doesn’t seem to vote for her like she deserves.  Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.

First off, I love Disco.  It’s one of my favorite genres of music to listen to and I have a lot of it on my iPod.  It’s fun music.  So I was really looking forward to Disco week.  Then last night happened, and of the 7, there may have been 1 or 2 performances that even had a feeling of Disco.  That was a bit of a letdown for me.  Tonight was an even greater letdown.  The Disco medley with Disco stars from days gone by was a spectacular flop.

We all know the Idols lip sync during their group performances, well maybe they should’ve done that with the Disco stars too.  Then it might have been a little less painful.

Paula is a little loopy, we can’t argue that.  However, she is still a cutie and I have definitely had a crush on her since my youth.  Have I said that before?  I think in every Idol blog I’ve ever written.  Sorry. ;)

No big surprise that Lil got sent home.  In fact, the bigger surprise for me is that it didn’t happen sooner.  She has been out of the game for a while now in my opinion.  I’m sure her kids will be glad to have mommy back home again, and that is a good thing.

I am shocked by the bottom 2.  Anoop Dawg I get.  But Allison, I don’t.  She is so good.  I guess it’s getting to that point where good singers are going to be in danger, but I really didn’t think Allison would be one of them.

I wonder if Archie had a cold tonight?  He was sounding a little congested tonight.  Maybe he’s just hitting puberty and his voice is dropping or something.  He can still hit the high notes though.  I’m still kind of surprised that he didn’t win the whole thing last year.  He really is just the nicest guy ever isn’t he?!

End of the road for Anoop Dawg.  I can’t say I’m surprised.  I really liked that guy.  He was fun, and he could most definitely sing!  I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear from him again somewhere down the road.

It’s Disco week and personally, I’m excited about that.  It just so happens that I’m all about the Disco!

Lil Rounds kicks off the show tonight on what, I suspect, will be her final week on Idol.  She’s doing “I’m Every Woman” by Chaka Khan.  She isn’t doing it well.  Of course, this should come as no surprise considering she isn’t actually a very good singer… a fact I’ve been trying to convince the judges of from the beginning!!! VERDICT: Simon (and Marc) says “she’s done!”

We’re back to all 4 judges critiquing again.  How much you wanna bet we run over again and somebody gets missed by America?  Check the settings on your PVR!  I’ll be OK as long as I don’t miss Fringe!

Kris is busting out the guitar again this week.  Curious to see how that is going to play out.  ”She works hard for the money?”  Really?  OK, so that’s an odd choice.  You know what, I’m digging this stripped back arrangement.  It’s actually pretty unique.  This guy knows his zone and he is smart enough to find a way, regardless of the genre, to sing in it!  VERDICT: Solid performance.

Paula is so out there sometimes.  ”Are you saying he buys ladies underwear?”  Simon trying to make sense of Paula’s critique.  If she isn’t back next year, I suspect it is moments like these that will be the reason why!

As if I needed another reason to be a fan of Danny Gokey, he comes out with “September” by Earth Wind & Fire… that just happens to be one of my all time favorite songs!  I have versions on my iPod by Earth Wind & Fire, Kirk Franklin and Sisqo and Vitamin C.  One thing I will say, Danny can’t dance.  I mean, I can’t dance, so I probably should judge.  But dang… the boy can’t dance.  Regardless, he is a lot of fun to watch.  Vocally, he is the guy to beat. VERDICT: See you in the top 5!

“I thought asking Danny to sing Disco is like asking Simon to wear plaid.” Kara

Allison doing Hot Stuff.  Her outfit looks like it must have been really hard to get into.  I bet it’ll be hard to get out of after the fact too.  No surprise that Allison took her Disco track and made it a Rock track.  She knows her zone and she makes her songs go there.  I still can’t believe this girl is only 16 years old.  She is phenomenal!  VERDICT: She should be safe.

I get the idea of the competitors taking the songs and making them there own.  But still, I can’t help but think that there should still be some resemblance of the original genre!

Adam didn’t impress me tonight.  He did something he’s done twice before.  He came out in a suit and sang a song slow.  It’s original to the song, but not original to Adam.  I mean, the guy can sing I suppose, and he’ll be the finals whether I like it or not.  I’m just having a hard time understanding the fuss.  VERDICT: He’ll be back.

I love Paula Abdul, I really do.  I’ve had a crush on her since my youth, but I can’t help but wonder… do you think she gets teary because of the performance or because she knows how ridiculous she sounds?

Did the judges waste the save?  Matt Giraud is doing the Bee Gees and if anybody was singing for their life, it’s this guy.  I really love Matt.  I really want him to stay.  So I’m hoping he nails it tonight and thus far, I’d say he is nailing it!  That was a pretty hot rendition of “Staying Alive.”  He took a Disco song, and gave it a modern Disco feel.  Give the guy props for that. VERDICT: I’m crossing my fingers.

“Matt, you pick songs like I bowl. Sometimes I throw gutter balls and sometimes I throw strikes. Tonight you threw a strike.” Paula Abdul.

I, like Simon Cowell, am the last guy to give fashion advice, but Anoop Dawg… what in the world were you wearing?  It was odd to say the least.  Wasn’t it last week he busted out the green and white striped shirt?  Who dresses this guy anyway?  OK, onto the performance… boring.  That was not good, and that has helped me pick my two to go home. VERDICT: I think Anoop may be done.

I have every confidence that Lil is finally done.  The judges want her to be done, and she needs to be done.  As for the other person going home, I think it might be Anoop.

Wow… congrats Idol.  You proved me wrong and you finished on time!  Good job.  Time for Fringe.  Curious to see the results tomorrow night.

I’m really glad that America has finally figured out that Allison Irraheta is one of the best this competition has to offer.  After a couple of weeks in the bottom 3 in the early rounds, she’s been safe ever since… and so she should be!

I am really glad the judges chose to save Matt. REALLY GLAD!  He should not have been the one going home tonight.  That title should’ve gone to Lil.  It should’ve gone to her this week, and probably last week too!  When Matt is on, he is one of the best.  The audience was screaming to save him too.  Maybe they should have voted for him last night and it would’ve never came to this point!

The pressure is on BIG time next week though.  Because the save has been played, 2 people get sent home next week.  I hope it’s not Matt.  That would probably tick the judges off.  It would be like wasting their save.  Even before performances though, I suspect one of them will be Lil, and the other could possibly be Anoop.

I’m looking forward to Disco week.  I LOVE Disco!

Songs from cinema and Quentin Tarantino as the mentor… hmmm, I don’t have any of his CD’s in my music library.

Allison is first up tonight and doing Aerosmith.  This seems like a perfect song for her, but so far, I am not overly impressed.  I would’ve expected her to crush this song.  She did it awesome, but not quite what I thought she would’ve done with her.  Simon is heaping praise on her though.  It’s about stinking time!  I’ve been saying it from the beginning when everybody else was dropping her in the bottom 3!  VERDICT: Like Simon said… the girls only hope on Idol!

Anoop Dawg is in the house tonight.  Dang!  He just nailed Everything I Do from Robin Hood.  Holy crap.  That was phenomenal!  Seriously, he killed that song!  He has been hanging around the bottom 3 for a few weeks, but for a guy that is potentially singing for his life, America… pay attention.  Anoop Dawg crushed it tonight!  VERDICT: Possibly his best performance!

I still haven’t figured out Adam.  I really haven’t.  God bless America.  They’re all over him.  But I don’t necessarily get it.  So an electronica version of Born To Be Wild?  Well, that’s odd.  OK.  I didn’t like it.  I really didn’t.  But, what do I know.  When it comes to Adam, I know nothing.  I love Paula’s critique tonight.  Is she getting this stuff from fortune cookies hidden under the table?  VERDICT: He’s safe.

Matt is still one of my favorites.  I’ve loved this guy all along.  However, his performance tonight was not among his best.  He is like a yo-yo.  One week the judges love him, and then next week, they don’t.  This week was weak and I fear he didn’t do himself any favors tonight.  VERDICT: I suspect he’ll find himself in the bottom this week.

I don’t know how I feel about judges working in teams.  In one sense it’s nice because it speeds the show up.  That said though, I want to hear Simon’s digs on every song, and I love hearing Paula’s incoherent slurs!

I love Danny.  I want Danny to win.  I’ve predicted Danny to win since the audition shows.  However, Danny is being overshadowed at this point I think.  Adam is stealing some of the spotlight with his unique performances.  Danny gets on stage and sings, and vocally, he kills.  But he doesn’t have the same kind of performance value.  He needs to maybe step that up a bit.  VERDICT: He’ll still win the show.

Kris Allen is definitely a dark horse in this competition.  I’ve been watching him since Hollywood week, but this guy really does seem to get better and better each week.  Last week, I think it was, he definitely had a bit of a hiccup in the process, but this week he is back again.  VERDICT: He should be safe, but I’m not sure.

We’re closing out the show with Lil tonight.  Lil needs to be thanking her lucky stars that she is still even here.  Personally, I would have voted her off the show along time ago!  The judges really pushed her in the beginning rounds, but I think they’re finally getting a clue now.  I will say this, Lil should have came out tonight and sang for her life, and I think she did.  This week was definitely one of her stronger performances. VERDICT: I think she bought herself another week on Idol with that performance.

OK, so, this is a tough call tonight.  It’s going to be the end of the road for somebody tomorrow.  But who will it be? For the first time in the competition, I’m not entirely sure who I’d pick to go home.  Based strictly on performances from tonight, as much as I hate to say it, this could be the end of the road for Matt.  But I really hope not!

1) Hour long results are too long and pointless.  I know, I say this every week… but, it’s still true every week!

2) If Joaquin Phoenix hit the stage to perform with Flo Rida, and then fell off the stage, and then pummeled a fan… that would’ve been epic!  Take notes Idol producers… try this for the next Hip Hop performance!

3) Kellie Pickler is entirely adorable, but her performance was awful.

4) 9:21 before the first result tonight.  That’s a little better.  I believe it was 9:35 last week!  Still, utterly ridiculous!

5) I was close on the bottom 3.  2 out of 3.  It’s about time Lil found herself there.  America is seeing the light.  Kind of surprised to see Anoop there though.

6) So it comes down to Anoop and Scott.  I think it’s safe to say Scott is done.

7) No surprise Scott is done.  He’s had a great run.

Theme night tonight… a song from the year you were born.

Baby pictures of the judges.  OK, fun for TV I suppose.

Kicking things off with the oldest contestant… “The Gokey”.  Is this his new nickname?  I don’t like it.  I think we can do better than that.  Lets put our collective brains together and see what we can come up with.  Oh.. Mickey Gilley, nice.  OK, so, not my favorite performance from Danny, but he is still an amazing singer and can really take any song and make it great.  I concur with Randy… you made me love it even though I didn’t love the arrangement. VERDICT: See you next week.

I love Paula.  I really do.  But sometimes, I just have no clue what she is trying to say.  They should script her, either that or put sub-titles on the screen.

I have really enjoyed watching Kris Allen grow throughout this competition.  He’s been good from the get go, but he’s definitely starting to draw the focus of the spotlight.  I’m not so sure about his song choice though.  It definitely wouldn’t have been something I would’ve chosen for him.  He should’ve done “Power Of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News! ;-)  Yeah, not my favorite Kris Allen performance at all. VERDICT: Should still be safe.

Lil is up next and I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not a big fan of her.  I just don’t get the judges fascination with her.  I don’t think she is nearly as good as they want us to believe she is.  She certainly isn’t winning me over with this performance of What’s Love Got To Do With It.  From time to time she hits a big note, but the rest of the time, she is weak and off key, in my non-expert opinion.  VERDICT: I’d put her in the bottom 3.

Quote of the night… “… but I make more sense Paula.” Simon Cowell

Anoop Dawg is wearing a green striped shirt.  It’s a little odd.  Was that supposed to be an apology?  It didn’t quite feel like one.  Anoop is really good when he strips songs down and sings.  He really is.  Trouble is, that seems to be the only time he is really good.  When he tries to pick it up and rock it out more, his vocals slide.  However, for tonight, he was great.  Really great.  VERDICT: Well done.  He’s safe.

Awww… look at Scott.  Such a cute baby. :p  Paula should be thrilled.  No piano tonight!  I didn’t know he played he the guitar.  Look at this guy.  No denying his talent that’s for sure!  I wonder if he has trouble hearing the music in his in ear monitor?  It might explain some of his singing struggles.  Not sure.  Anywho, America loves this guy, and why not.  He is most definitely a likable guy.  Not a strong performance tonight though.  Not at all. VERDICT: Possibly in the bottom 3.

I am such a big fan of Allison Iraheta.  She has an awesome voice. Her outfit isn’t quite as odd tonight. I do NOT understand why America doesn’t vote for this girl.  She is 16 years old and can out-sing half the contestants that are left on the show.  She blows Lil, the only other female, out of the water!  She is amazing.  Randy and I are on the same page tonight… “she sang her face off and so can you.” (comparing Allison to Kelly Clarkson) VERDICT: America… VOTE FOR HER TONIGHT!

Matt is one of my favorites, and has been from the beginning.  I still listen to his performance of “Georgia On My Mind” from Hollywood Week all the time.  No piano for Giraud tonight.  I get nervous when people sing Stevie.  Stevie is just so good.  It’s dangerous territory.  I think he is doing a great job of it tonight though.  Matt needs to be here for the long run! Judges worshipping him tonight.  VERDICT: He needs to be safe!  He HAS to be safe!

Seems Idol is running late tonight. 9:01 and still no Lambert.  Fox better not cut off Fringe!  I’ve been waiting patiently for that show to return.  I don’t get this guy.  I really don’t.  Give him a Broadway contract and let him take the theatre world by storm… but the next American Idol?  I don’t get it.  VERDICT: No doubt he is safe.

So, predictions for the bottom 3 based on performance… Scott, Lil and Kris.  If it were up to me… Lil goes home.  Scott might not be too far behind.  Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.

I understand that each of us have things about ourselves we’d love to improve.  I mean, I’ve often joked that when you look at me in profile I resemble a monkey.  Most recently, noticing the signs and symptoms of a metabolism shift, likely a product my age, I’ve had to step up my workouts to maintain some semblance of a respectable figure.

Those things are natural thoughts and feelings for each of us.  That doesn’t mean that we’re all going to go Michael Jackson and make ourselves unrecognizable with plastic surgery.

When did Photoshop takeover the world?  I guess that is what I really want to know.  Why do we insist on what really amounts to an alternate reality?  You can’t look at a picture in a magazine in today’s society without questioning if it’s fake.  Everything is too perfect.  Too polished.  Too smooth. 

Why?  Why are we so uncomfortable with ourselves?  Where does this quest for perfection come from?  What’s it’s root?  What’s wrong with a blemish?  Zits are a part of growing up.  We all had them!  Why are we afraid of them?  Freckles are not the end of the world, they’re part of your uniqueness as an individual.  A mole adds character, just ask Marilyn Monroe or Cindy Crawford!

Individual.  That really says it all when you think about it.  You are you.  I am me.  There is no other you.  There is no other me.  So why do we obsess about looking the same?  Why do we starve ourselves to look like that model?  Why do we have surgery to resemble that celebrity?  Why can’t we buy a pair of pants until we know if they’ll be accepted by our friends or if they’re endorsed by somebody famous?

I read an article about Kelly Clarkson last night on my show that got me thinking about this.  In the article she is discussing her new CD cover and she offers this quote…

“It’s very colorful and they have definitely Photoshopped the crap out of me, but I don’t care!  Ha ha!  Whoever she is, she looks great!”

So this is what it’s come to?  We are so obsessed with the idea of perfection, or at least one persons perception of perfection, that we are willing to sacrifice they very essence of ourselves… our uniqueness?

Kelly Clarkson is a beautiful young lady.  She doesn’t need help.  She doesn’t need Photoshop.  She doesn’t need a graphic designer or magazine editor to make her better.  She is already the best version of herself because she is as God made her.

I like to dabble in photography just for fun.  I am far from a photographer, but I do enjoy heading out with my camera and capturing images that appeal to me.  The interesting thing about a hobby such as photography is the appeal.

I can snap “the perfect picture” of a flower and be so proud of it.  I’ll take it home, put it on my computer, pass it around to some friends, and feel such pride for this one of a kind photograph.  But then something interesting happens.

While a friend is looking through an album of my photography an entirely different image speaks to them.  An image that I may have thought was OK completely draws them in and captivates them.

We are all familiar with the cliche that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.  The thing is, it’s so true.  You can’t argue with the logic.  What one finds beautiful could be entirely different than what another does.  That is what makes protecting our identity and uniqueness even more important!

I am not Brad Pitt.  I accepted this little fact a long time ago.  But you know what?  That’s ok, because, I am me!  I have a lot to offer this world that has little to do with my looks.  The good news is, you do too!  That is why the most important thing you can do daily to combat the overwhelming messages of culture and society is this… look at yourself!  I’m not talking about your reflection though!  When you look at yourself, look deeper, until you really see yourself!