Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox (3)The American Idol Top 5 won’t exactly do it their way tonight when they take on the Frank Sinatra songbook. That’s because guest mentor Harry Connick Jr. will be handling musical arrangements himself. (Check out my dream set list for tonight’s show, along with the full list of 50 pre-approved Sinatra tracks, here.) But before the episode runs over by four minutes and cuts into Glee, I’m going to rank the Top 5 based on their standing in the competition after 10 weeks of live performances. (Nope, this week I didn’t do anything beastly and offer up the No. 3 slot to a band of jilted former semifinalists.) Won’t you do your civic duty by voting for your favorite in our Power List poll? (Related: Watch Idolatry exit videos with Andrew Garcia, Katie Stevens, and Tim Urban; and for more Idol coverage, follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak.)
5. Aaron Kelly (Last week No. 6): Last week’s countrified theme was in his “wheelhouse,” as Randy noted, but this week’s Sinatra bender could prove to be his Waterloo, especially if he returns to pre-Shania lethargy (i.e. “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “The Long and Winding Road”).
4. Michael ‘Big Mike’ Lynche (Last week No. 7): You’d think a guy who needed the Judges’ Save to avoid a ninth-place exit would be reaching the end of the plank, but a big band-y song list should play to his hammy crooner strengths, and he’s finally starting to dial back on the overconfident stage antics; note, last week, he did not lift guest mentor Shania Twain! Progress?
3. Casey James (Last week No. 5): His “Don’t” was the best vocal of Shania Twain Week — and proved he’s the most likely candidate to thwart the long-anticipated Crystal-Lee finale — but he landed in the bottom two anyhow. Needs to prove he can build week-to-week momentum if he wants to get back in the voting public’s good graces. It’s now or never, dude!
2. Lee DeWyze (Last week No. 2): His “Still the One” showed a new level of vulnerability that fit nicely with a strong season-long body of work, but it’s still hard to fathom why his serious pitch problems went entirely overlooked by the judges. As a contestant whose weak spot is staying in tune on extended notes, he’ll need to scale Mt. Sinatra before he can dream of taking a confetti shower at the Nokia.
1. Crystal Bowersox (Last week No. 1): Oh how dull to have the same contestant at No. 1 week after bloomin’ week! But even though “No One Needs to Know” was one of Crystal’s least-evocative (and worst-judged) performances, it’s hard to argue against the dreadlocked earth goddess who’s been a study in professionalism and pitch perfection all season. Still looks like the season 9 crown is hers — unless one of her four male competitors wants to step up and try to snatch it — or unless she keeps giving lip to the judges over their mild critiques!
First one to vote! Suck on that, nobody!
Suck a penis dennang!
This language is extremely inappropriate. Let’s try and act civil.
What happened to this week’s Idolatry, Slezak???????
seriously! I know this season is so dull, there’s not much to discuss, but I NEED MY IDOLATRY.
How come there’s “none of the above”?
Critical grammar errors suck when you’re snarking, don’t they?
Not as much as anonymity because you lack balls.
This language is extremely inappropriate. Let’s try and act civil.
Love this show
joethedirt, stop saying that. There is no such thing as “try and act civil.” A person may try TO act civil though; using “and” makes no sense.
There is a “none of the above.” It’s just known as “don’t vote”.
Nancy hope: Grab your remote and tune to NCIS. Why waste your energy here?
What’s NCIS?
Are you Casey James’ sister? Because he said they didn’t have TV at home. Just askin’.
NCIS is a TV show on CBS that comes on at the same time as American Idol. It’s very popular among the over 60 age group. It’s the same episode every week but the people who watch it can’t tell the difference.
I watch the results for DWTS on Tuesday nights. I used to love Idol, but this season… It’s like Simon hand picked a bunch of duds so that this last season of Idol sucks so bad that we will all welcome X Factor with open arms. Is that a little too much conspiracy??
Nancy–get real
Okay, here’s real – they all suck making the only valid choice “none of the above.” Want more real? AI is crashing and will be nothing but a memory in two years tops. Final real – the remaining five contestants won’t even be a memory.
If that’s the way you feel, Nancy, what ya doing here girl? There’s better ways to spend your time if you no longer have an oar in the water.
Where the heck is my latest Idolatry?
IDOLATRY! IDOLATRY! IDOLATRY! Seriously, where is it?
Slezak stated last week that there would be no Idolatry this past weekend. I know, I miss it too.
Sad! That’s the only thing making this season bearable.
Right there with ya, man. (Re: latest Idolatry)
It’s not happening this week. I think they’re as apathetic about this season as the rest of us are.
I’m not watching anymore. It’s so predictable; all I have to do is read the recaps.
I have started watching the last three minutes. It’s just not any fun for me anymore.
Exactly, Nancy! I was looking for the “Adam Lambert” button, and then realized my coffee cup was empty. And yet, I am still sleepy, probably from comptemplating these snoozy finalists. Yawn. When does XFiles start? XFactor, Simon’s new show… whatever. Yawn.
Where is last weeks idolatry???? I look forward to it every week and am suffering withdrawals.
Mike, your power list may not reflect a slight momentum shift with wee Aaron Kelly. I think his ho-hum performances are but-a-memory now. I could easily see him in that magical #3 spot. And I’ve got a feeling Lee & Casey won’t shine like Jealous Guy / Little Less Conversation this week.
Sux but I agree. People are really voting for Aaron Kelly. I would have liked to see him out in 8th place–I really do not enjoy his performances at all. But, inexplicably, he’s surging.
I think he picked up some Tim voters. There’s a number of folks that were voted off, starting way back in Hollywood week, who would have been better suited to being here now than Aaron. I think it’s a shame he didn’t wait a year or two to compete – he might have been more prepared by then – but I just don’t feel he’s ready right now.
I think I’d place A. Kelly above Big Mike (who I have to FF through)
I don’t like Aaron, but I’d listen to him on repete for a year straight if I never had to lay eyes on ML ever again
Also suffering Idolatry withdrawl. C’mon Mike!
No come on everybody. Mikey warned us last week that they were taking a week off from Idolatry. And he’s been tweeting to comfort us too. They deserve a break.
We deserve Baldwin. Bring in Baldwin [with child and all].
Yeah! I miss Kristen too! I want to see her baby do Idolatry as well.
They do deserve a break. But I also deserve Idolatry (entitle me!). Damn you, Kobayasi Maru!
YES! I miss Kristen’s unique brand of snark so much. It would’ve salved the pain of this dreary season at least a little more (though Slezak, Jess and the rest have been doing a good job too). This season is so meh. I loved Siobhan tons at the beginning after “Paint It Black,” but got so bored w/ this season I didn’t even care by the time she was booted. Bring on X-Factor already~~
No Idolarty the week I actually really wanted to see it – the Siobahn injustices continue. Siobhan was spectacular on both Ellen and Letterman. American Idol is now officially dead to me.
Siobhan is my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song:
I thought her song would last forever: I was wrong.
…with thanks to W.H. Auden
Here’s to a wonderful post-Idol career!
Untwist those knickers! Siobhan will be one-on-one on Idolatry this week.
I’m pretty sure they’ll cover Soibhan’s ouster in the next Idolatry, bubba.
Siobhan was spectacular on Letterman?? are you serious..did you see the look on the bands faces after her earth shattering shriek,this girl is headed to the Yoko Ono school of screech..she ws god awful..screeching is not singing,I used to like her at one point but now,a million wild screams later I can’t even remember when that was
“Yoko Ono school of screach” BEST comment ever on Siobhan’s singing!!! Even when she wasn’t screeching the super nasally singing was as bad as the screeching. If she can reel it in a little bit I might be able to hear her singing in a Disney movie or something.
i like crystal the best. or lee. it is hard to sing like frank sinatra.
@ bubba: Dude, you’ve watched Four Weddings and a Funeral waaaay too many times.
I COULD’NT AGREE MORE. SIOBHAN’S TIME ON STAGE IS WHAT KEPT THE SHOW FLL OF ANTICIPATION. I HAVE ALL HER PERFORMANCES ON T-B SO I WON’T NEED TO WATCH THIS BORING GROUP.
siobhan sucks so bad. screaming isnt singing. please she is dull
I think Adam’s gonna win over Kris. Oh shoot. Note 2 myself: don’t watch reruns of last year after this years show. I really don’t give a flying twinky who’s gonna win. To be fair, Chrystel sucks the least. But they all suck big time. Let’s put another season eight episode on the tube. Aaaah thanks, that’s so much better. Get rid of ‘em all, and stop this show. It’s like watching the last season of Heroes. Way beyobd any help.
I think Adam’s gonna win over Kris. Oh shoot. Note 2 myself: don’t watch reruns of last year after this years show. I really don’t give a flying twinky who’s gonna win. To be fair, Chrystel sucks the least. But they all suck big time. Let’s put another season eight episode on the tube. Aaaah thanks, that’s so much better. Get rid of ‘em all, and stop this show. It’s like watching the last season of Heroes. Way beyond any help.
Pitch perfection? Selective memory loss? Crystal is deserving, but she is far from perfect. I loathe hyperbole.
agreed. slezak hypes crystal way too much and if the ratings are based on the week’s performance, she should NOT be first. one of the reasons i don’t like crystal as much as others is because of slezak’s nonstop praise for her which is not always deserving
Agreed.
Lee is my favorite!
Kind of excited for this week’s show. Rat Pack/big band/50′s/sinatra–whatever you call it–it’s always the strongest week on Am. Idol. I bet everyone is good tonight. Except Aaron who twangs up everything–stop voting for him, people. Parents–take the cellphones away from your tweens.
You’re kidding, right? Considering Siobhan said in an interview that they’re not allowed to use instruments this week, Aaron is poised to perform the best.
I have this weird feeling that the Sinatra theme will finally expose the elephant in the room that is Lee’s horrific live singing. Will the judges be able to keep a straight face when they read their script, er, give their totally accurate and entirely unrehearsed critiques?
Or his vocals become more powerful, not having to lean on that guitar.
Um, no. This will not happen. Unless if by “stronger” you mean “more shouty and off-pitch”.
Opps! I mean, if by “powerful”…. whatever, same diff, he still sounds like he’s straining on the toilet.
OvenMitt, go play in rush hour traffic.
You know I loved your post, then I saw the name and it all made sense….<3
I loved this comment, then I saw the name, and it all made sense…<3
Hehe.;)
@OvenMitt Joke’s on you Lee won the night.
Oh, and forgot to add this: the long-anticipated Crystal-Lee finale. LOL Long-anticipated by whom? Too funny!
Not by me, i anticipated a Chrystal Turban finale.I Still think Tim is gonna make it big time in a sitcom like HIMYM
Tim on HIMYM? – Please, please NNOOOOOO!!!!
What acting or comedy talent did you see?? Maybe, he’d be awesomely lame on a Monkees remake or something Osmond-y. LMAO, Burn…
Underwear ads? Sure!
kimberly you need a lesson in anger management or increase the dose of your menopausal meds.