American Idol‘s ninth season was supposed to be all about the ladies. Or at least that’s what early interviews from the show’s judges — and early impressions from the audition rounds and Hollywood Week — led us to believe. But now we’re down to the top 9, and only three ladies remain: Crystal Bow!Er!Sox!, Siobhan Magnus, and two-time bottom-three finisher Katie Stevens. So what exactly went wrong? My cohost Annie Barrett and I tackle this tough question, and also engage in a spirited discussion about which contestants seem destined to wind up as theme-park employees (not that that’s a bad way to make a living, mind you). We also examine the season 9 trajectories of Lee Dewyze and Casey James, and dish how the judges still can’t bring themselves to utter the name of the show’s season 8 champ. (Memo to Simon: Kris finished first, Adam finished second, and guess what? They’re both still winners. Or perhaps you’re still smarting that you wagered two-thirds of your chips on Lil and Danny? Uh-huh, I went there!)
Anyway, check out our latest episode embedded below, then head down to the comments to share your own thoughts. If you have any trouble viewing videos in PopWatch or if you’re on an iPhone/iPad, head over to the Idolatry hub to watch Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. And to get all my Idol news and updates, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak! (Related: All new Q&A with season 9 semifinalist Alex Lambert; ‘American Idol’ recap: All the Sinking Ladies)
Even with my love for Lee and Crystal, I think I may just have to divorce Idol this season. With Katie, Aaron and Tim there…Bahh.
Totally for a Crystal Bowersox / Tim Urban Final 2.
Tim Urban/ Katie Stevens FINALEEEEEEEEE. For my amusement
i miss kristen baldwin. annie is boring and reminds me of jersey girls at the mall.
Bowwowsox looks like she’s could croak at any minute. Too hard to look at. She’ll just end up playing for those lesbian types of concerts – she won’t sell any albums.
I really want Tim Urban to WIN!!!!!!!!!! He’s hot!!
Tim Urban is SO SO SO HORRIBLE! What is America thinking?!?! He should never have made it this far!!!
hey normarae you idiot…go check out the comments under crytals videos on youtube..people are lining up to buy her CD’s as soon as she records them and she already has more than a cd’s worth of great..and I mean great,original songs to record..
Siobhan is the best. Katie is my second favorite. Siobhan brings so many special emotions. Katie has a beautiful strong singing voice that is similar to Martina Mcbrides singing voice. Siobhan has great confidence and Katie is a wonderful example of working hard, growing, and getting more fun and charming. Vote for Siobhan and Katie!!! I hope that they will both be in the top five so that they will get the awesome star celebrity careers that they both deserve!!!
Lollercopter, shame shame shame. Tim Urban needs to go open for a tiny little bar band in North Dakota.
I’m insulted–I’m from North Dakota and the bar bands we have up here happen to have vocalists 100 times better than Tim Urban.
TIMMMMM URBANNNNNN!! TOP 2.
dont even worry. tim urban’s is gonna be the 9th american idol. don’t even bother.
@normarae – If those those performers at those lesbian-type concerts didn’t sell albums, there wouldn’t be lesbian-type concerts (whatever the hell it is you’re referring to in the first place)
I love me some CrystalLeeCaseySiobhan final four! I want duets off all possible combinations! I want this so bad! Btw why was my beloved Didi voted off?! I admit I adore Tim but in a non-singing competition kind of way!
Is it bad that after you mentioned those four names I was left wondering, “who else is there left?” They keep sending home the people who actually made an impact on my (Lilly, Andrew, Lacey, Didi). I just don’t care that much for most of the remaining contestants yet – and they haven’t given me much reason to. I can’t believe Didi was sent home so early (along with Crystal, she’s the performer I look forward to the most).
Ugh, I was so looking forward to a Crystal, Siobhan, Lee, Didi final four. Casey just bores me. I think I might just start watching the good people online until the final 3.
I completely agree!
ftw. skip the commercials, boring contestants, seacrest, and horrific group performances.
@amelia: Didi was too inconsistent, and unlike Lilly and Crystal, she kept selling out artistically. Her insecurity was quite obvious week to week. She had an interesting voice though.
im pulling for an all rocker final 3
alt-rocker (lee) vs. country rocker (casey) vs. blues rocker (crystal).
If Lee is an Alt-rocker, I’m Kurt Cobain. Lee is a fratboy-rocker. There is nothing alternative about him.
Amelia, they haven’t sent home Andrew yet. He’s just stopped making any sort of impact.
Well, I don’t love Crystal or Lee enough to watch. I deleted Idol from my DVR schedule for the first time since season 1!! And yeah, I was sad about it. But it’s better than being angry the entire time watching these mediocre singers and judges.
You are right on. A show like this with it’s absurd voting system and judges is bound to fall apart eventually.
This season is terrible. Nothing seems to work. You know they (including all of the peeps behind the scenes) are seriously missing Adam Lambert right now and realizing what he brought to the show. They are salivating thinking that “only if” he was on this year to save the show. It’s going to be an ugly demise.
to say i dont miss adam lambert and his fanatics would be the biggest understatement possible
SILENCE OF THE LAMBERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes it’s terrible, and I don’t think it’s just that they miss Adam Lambert — they miss having ANY good musicians up there on stage. This season has become a caricature of what it once was. It’s like they said, “Pick one of every type — white alt rock guy, 16 year old, black girl, quirky white girl, blonde ditzy white girl..”
But they didn’t pick GOOOOD singers! I truly think this show started with good intentions to find the best voices in America. Come on — Kelly, Justin, Tamyra, Clay, Ruben… these are SINGERS.
I could not agree more.
Idol will not make it another season!
And It Should Not!
News to SaraS, Adam Lambert is in the league of Kelly and way above Justin and Tamyra, Clay and Ruben. NOW that is a singer.
there is such depression every wk not see/hearing Adam Kris Matt Allison. Still missing them 2 much!!!
Where’s Adam Lambert!!!!!
WHERE DID MY LILLY SCOTT GO??????
i couldn’t agree more – idolatry once again was far better than the actual performance show. Please don’t get me started on how Ryan had so much filler to kill 2 hours.
agree completely that the show this year sucks except for the 5 minutes each night that crystal is performing..she is not only miles ahead of every single season 9 contestant..but she has also been miles better than every results show performer so far..not even close..and that includes ruben,davind cook,usher,and P diddy..when she goes,and she probably will before the final..this show is OVER!!!
@bobsaccamanna – you got a crush on her, doncha?
you are totally wrong about David Cook. the others I agree with, but David is a great singer, songwriter, and performer. Cristal will get there eventually.
I’m 57 years old,I’m too old to have a crush on her,I just happen to love the fact that an artist like crystal,who is clearly talented,now has a chance that she other wise might never have had..to show everyone just how talented she is..so if I do have a crush,it’s a crush with her music,go check out some of her original songs on youtube like Holy Toldeo or Sandman..
I already divorced the show after Katelynn and Lily were sent packing
and yet…here you are! Cool!
Siobhan is the best. Katie is my second favorite. Siobhan brings so many special emotions. Katie has a beautiful strong singing voice that is similar to Martina Mcbrides singing voice. Siobhan has great confidence and Katie is a wonderful example of working hard, growing, and getting more fun and charming. Vote for Siobhan and Katie!!! I hope that they will both be in the top five so that they will get the awesome star celebrity careers that they both deserve.
These are the only two contestants I have voted for so far this season…..
IMO, Katie should go for bubblegum pop as Randy told her, she fits the part, she’s young and marketable. And when she’ll get older, she could try.
I’m rooting for Siobhan FTW! Keep up weirdo!
oopsie… “she could try COUNTRY if she still want to”
I thought I was the only one feeling that way…glad to see I got a partner in this boring race of clueless wild horses, archuletta wannabees, and urban misconfigurations…smdh! Now I don’t feel so alone…(ugh!) lol! lmbo!
Please have Annie co-host every week!
She’s hilarious!
AGREED
BAR-ARE-ETT
I laugh every Idolatry but I laughed so hard at this one! The whole theme park thing, hilarious! Idolatry needs a real half-hour show on actual television….please…
Yes it does. Start a campaign.
Sometimes you just have to pee.
Hahahaha!
I love the Usher-Asleep caption you put on the Tim Urban clip during their mentoring session–it was so funny, it definitely describes Tim’s bland, yet awful singing style. I hope he’s eliminated early!
They need to sign up with one of the cable networks like TV Guide, E! or HLN to do a 30-minute type post-Idol review of the Tuesday performances. Maybe a 7- to 8-show installment the same way they do with the celebrity helmed reality shows on VH-1 and E!.
Yes. Please!
Yes she was hilarious! “Have you tried country?” “Have you tried theme parks?” Fantastic.
Michael, Annie, AND Kristen (or evil KWG) should have an Idol show. Absolutely. Idolatry is the main reason I watch AI at all.
that’s some nice work there Annie. (but I still miss kristen baldwin)
Yeah, where are the baby pictures???
I think Annie is the only person who could honestly sub for Kristen
Great installment – and LOVE that you guys took on the whole “have you tried country” dirge. ‘Bout time!
not nearly as funny as Kristen. we need her back
lol as usual I agree with everything.
Good stuff Mike.
Lee FTW.
On another note it’s startling how old fashioned everyone but Lee and Andrew are on this show. They are the only ones doing anything current. Go Lee!
That doesn’t mean they’re good.
aaaaaaand circle gets the square
Another great thing about Lee, he never makes sweet love to the camera, which is a nice absence of cheese. Perhaps it’s insecurity, but I hope he never gets the confidence to stare longingly into the camera.
I know, I love Lee and I wish that he would stare directly into the camera for once
ok, teens may not know Chaka Kahn’s version, but everyone knows Kanye West’s remake of Through the Fire. Siobhan just stunk last week.
Also, I do not believe Idol is suited for non-powerhouse female voices.
oops, I meant through the wire
Unfortunately you may be right about the non-powerhouse females(good bye Lilly, Lacey, and Didi!) The boys always seem to scrape through, though, don’t they? I hope they appreciate that a proportion of their votes each week are the ‘but he’s adorable!’ votes. They can’t do anything about it, it’s just the frustrating reality.
In fairness to Siobhan, she took a high risk and got burned for it, but it was cool to try. Even Chaka Khan has had trouble doing it live.
What makes Magnus interesting (among other things) is that she is never playing it safe, but pushing her limits to grow her unpolished talent. I haven’t seen that from the other contestants except Lee.
Excuses excuses! Lee is so much better than Siobhan you just have to accept that. Lee has overtaken Siobhan get over it. Don’t suck up to us Lee fans, our boy is on his way to the finale!
yeah lee was really great this week,he actually sang on key for the first time this year…with this bunch that qualifies for greatness,but in the real world of music,he sucks
But, Siobhan cannot afford to take risks – and she cannot afford to keep disregarding good advice ( like when Simon tells her to stop with the screamy act). And what makes you, bobsaccamanna, think you know anything about the “world of real music?” Please. Get over yourself and stop posting this silly snobbery unless you are like, John Lennon re-incarnate.
AliFran..I have forgotten more about music than you will ever know in your lifetime,it has nothing to do with snobbery,it has to do with knowing what is good music and what isn’t..I can go into any club here in connecticut and find someone who can sing better than Lee,and do it with some kind of stage presence and personality,so until you have seen as many concerts as I have,and actually tried to make it from a local scene to a national scene in the music business..keep you mindless silly little posts to yourself and your little teeny bopper friends
bobsaccamanna, whether or not you are correct is irrelevant because you’re a douche.
Oh wow…look who is talking about mindless, silly posts? Do you honestly think that going to a zillion concerts makes you an expert to tell the rest of us what good music is? Why don’t you spend your Tuesday nights in one of your high brow little Connecticut clubs and listen to your REAL music instead of worrying about what America thinks of these contestants? My teenage years are long gone, and I’ve lived long enough to know a real jerk when I see/hear one – and based on other comments about your posting, I am not the only one.
yes actually I do think it qualifies me to tell you what good music sounds like..you obviously wouldn’t know it if it smacked you between the ears..and jim..how long did it take you to come up with that well thought out witty response”I’m a douche”…wow..very profound..now let me see you go back in your trailer and come up with another response to this post..should take you another whole day I imagine..
and AliFran..go do a little research about clubs in connecticut and the type of music that is played there before you make such a fool of yourself..do a little research into Toads Place..and see the amount of great artists that have played in a tiny club that fits maybe 300 people tops..until you have sat up that close to artists like dylan and springsteen,and counting crowes and U2..your opinion no matter what your age means absolutely nothing to me
get a clue B…S…nobody cares what you listen to, where you go, or what you think. You are a mean spirited old f-art.
LOL I’m actually a really nice guy,old maybe,but not mean spirited at all..you would probably like me if you met me..seriously..my main fault is that I’m opinionated about music..I probably should just keep my mouth shut..so I will,but I will just say that 4 years from now crystal will be one of the most popular artists that Idol has ever produced..if I’m wrong I’ll come her and apologize..if I’m right,take back the old fart comment
You know what? I’m going to take it back right now because I believe you and I agree with you about Crystal.(not David Cook) – but, certainly Crystal.
I knew we could come to an agreement AliFran because you seem to like music as much as I do..and I will admit that there were times during season 7 when David Cook absolutely blew me away..I thought he was fantastic..especially his version of Eleanor Rigby which was so much better tham big mikes..
and now we have to hope that somehow crystal or siobhan don’t get voted off early because they wasted the save last night on that pompous ass big mike
Yes! This is something else we totally agree upon!
Aaron Kelly is Great
STFU You’re an idiot.
I don’t think he is great, but he does have a nice voice. I actually like him better than Casey or Andrew. I think he needs to grow and
work on his craft and stage presence.
Great stuff, Michael and Annie. Save the glassblower, save the world.
I want kristen Baldwen on the next shoe !! she’s amazing
Put the Go in Gokey
Hooray, Idolatry is early!
BOW! ER! SOX!
BOW! ER! SOX!
BOW! ER! SOX!
Still totally cute.
PS. Great Idolatry!
Bow-er-sox!!! The hat was totally cute! Bow-er-sox!!
YAWN
Kara is messing with my Bow-er-sox’s head! Shame on you Kara you should be voted off! BOW-ER-SOX
awesome-sox
BOR-ING-SUX BOR-ING-SUX
Jealous. Bow!er!sox!
BOW-ER-SOX!!
WOW, WHAT AN ORIGINAL AND INTERESTING COMMENT! DID YOU THINK OF IT YOURSELF OR DID YOU GET THE IDEA FROM ONE OF THE OTHER 500 TIMES SOMEONE ELSE POSTED IT?
Go away, D-Con.
Im doing the Bowersox dance! Don’t care if she wins or not, I’m just in here for the music! I’ll enjoy my Bowersox until she gets voted off the show. Then I’ll buy my Bowersox album and dance some more!
Hey James why don’t you go away, I’m sure I’m not the only one who is tired of seeing people post nothing but Bow-er-sox over and over again, it’s pretty lame if you ask me. If you like Crystal at least come up with an interesting comment about her instead of just typing her name in a chant like manner repeatedly. Try to have a little imagination.
I was so mad when the judges didn’t acknowledge Kris Allen for “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Next to “Heartless,” that was one of his best performances. Thank you Slezak for mentioning that!
Maybe their minds are so much into this season that they didn’t remember Kris Allen’s performance of last year of the same Bill Withers song. When you’ve got the cameras and 10,000 different things swinging at you left and right, they don’t always have the time to look back at past performances.
Ooh… when Ryan first said Aaron was covering “Ain’t No Sunshine” (one of my all-time fav songs), I was like “No, he didn’t just go there. And then when Simon said other people had covered this song better, I had to yell at the tv: “Yeah, like KRIS ALLEN? Remember him? The guy who won last year?” I too am glad I’m not the only one who was thinking that … or possibly yelling it at an inanimate object.
AHHHHHHHHHH the jealous. I notice that Adam Lambert has been mentioned many times but no Kris Allen. So sad………NOT!
When Andrew did Straight Up just how Kris did Heartless and She Works Hard for the Money last year, Kari compared him to Adam instead of Kris….It is obvious that 19 is still banking on Adam over Kris. They booked Adam on a blitz of promotional tour in pretty much every wealthy country in Europe and Asia while Kris is visiting and bringing awareness to a couple impoverish nations. And yet Adam’s album sales hasn’t picked up the way a lot of people were expecting from the start.
Jealous much?…NOT!
Tim as Aladdin at Disney World FTW!
More like Prince Charming in the parade. Didi as The Little Mermaid?
Tim Urban as Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid.
To Virgin Carey: Close, but no cigar. Ariel deserves soooo much better than Teflon Tim.
I think Tim is too popular now for a theme park gig. Seriously, Tim should be on the Disney Channel in a non-singing role, of course!
You hate on Casey, but yet again, he has YET to have a tragically bad performance. AND, he gets ZERO credit for singing songs we haven’t heard 5,000 times on Idol…. all things you constantly gripe on other contestants for doing!
But he sounds like a freaking cover band every week now! He sings the dullest songs — he should play the Blues Brothers at Universal Studios! No originality, nothing great in the vocals, no purpose. He had one good week in the semifinals and has been boring ever since. Tim, Paige, Didi, and the redhead are more interesting than he is.
However, he is an adequate performer, and the people who’ve been eliminated so far generally were the most uncomfortable-looking on stage (before you question it, Aaron, Tim, Andrew, Lee, and Katie have all improved, at least in the last week or two).
Agree to disagree. I think he lacks stage presence, but his voice is phenomenal, and he never has the pitch problems that Lee or Siobhan have. It’s his lackluster stage presence that turns people off, not his voice or performance.
Didi and Paige both have the personalities of a sea sponge, so IDK what you mean by that, and Tim… well…I’m pretty certain Tim is a robot or an alien sent to earth to ruin American Idol
I agree with the second part of what you said though. I think this season has mostly been dictated by “mediocre performers who pull out one good performance at exactly the right time”. Like, if Andrew hadn’t been good this week, he woulda been gonezo.
Agree about Andrew…though he hasn’t been in the bottom 3 yet…like Siobhan, so it’s too soon to tell (though look at
I just don’t see where you’re hearing “phenomenal” from Casey. Are you hearing what the rest of us are hearing? At least at times Lee has a gruff to his voice. Casey had one good week. He should go back to singing soft rock because he’s not vocally aggressive enough for the harder stuff, and not strong enough a vocalist for pure ballads. Kara was right about the lack of range.
Casay is a marginally better singer than Constantine M. (remember) and he plays a mean guitar. Hair is a tie. So i would say top 5.
Zach, maybe our TVs are turned to different frequencies? To each his opinion I guess. Although I did agree with Kara about Casey’s “rage” problems. He does tend to stick to one particular type of vocal, but I think he has the capacity to change things up and still have it sound great. I think Casey James could have some tricks up his sleeve.
I agree that Lee has a better and more interesting voice, too. He’s one of my choices for top 2, but I fear his early elimination
And Didi hadn’t had a bottom 3 performance before being eliminated, despite mediocre performances, so who knows what coulda happened to Andrew or Siobhan.
Tim does not ruin American idol. he is hilarious when he bombs or when he is giving the death stare to the camera or when he is giving Kara a little FU in her face.
don’t take the show too seriously. it’s more bearable that way. let’s hope that there are many trainwrecks to come, from Tim or anyone else
I want casey to sing “I’m No Angel” by Greg Allman even tho it might be too predictable.
YUM! Sign me up for that.
Me too!
you know tim(justkidding), lee and crystal have yet to give a bad performance either (even though casey is da bomb) and lee has yet to sing a song on idol that someone else has sung.
the problem is that he has yet to have an amazingly good performance either..plus he looks so stiff like he actually has two guitars,the one he is playing,and another one up his butt
Seriously, why did Aaron sing Ain’t No Sunshine and why wouldn’t you compare it to last year’s winner? So bush league on the part of the judges.
I am taking my kids to Atlantis next week- can’t wait to see Kris Allen. Simon can’t stand it that Kris had his first single go platinum.