American Idol - Week Eleven – Season Finale 5/19/09

The finale is finally here dear readers.

It has been one roller coaster season, don't you think? And as much as the judges touted us last year with the phrase "the most talented group in Top 12 history", I think this season proved they had no clue what they were talking about. Looking at the Top 13 this season, in the beginning, you really could not tell who would go on to the finale (with a couple of exceptions). It was that close and it was anyone's game. Out of all of them in the beginning, I could have seen Adam in the finale, but Kris? No freakin' way. He seemed to be one of those contestants the producers let in to fill the gaps. But week after week, Kris proved he was no space filler. He has been consistently just as original as Adam, and the only edge I will give Adam is his personality.



After last night's performances, I have to admit, I have no idea who to pick as the winner. They both had ups and downs last night, and though I think the producers were a bit biased towards Adam (Come on! "No Boundaries" was tailor made for Adam, and played to his strengths, not Kris'. It was obvious there was no way Kris could hit the kind of notes that song called for. A bit unfair if you ask me.), I don't think it made much difference to the audience in the end. I checked several sites this morning that had "fan polls" on who's taking the Idol crown tonight. I can truthfully say they were split down the middle, with some polls having Adam win, and some Kris. ALL polls, however, had a very small percentage of difference in the votes. This really is going to be a very close finish, reminiscent of the Ruben/Clay finale in season two.

Last night, Clive Davis' song choice was replaced by Simon Fuller's(creator/producer of American Idol) song choice. I'm not sure why this had to change, but I would assume it's because of all the other changes that happened with Idol this season. I thought he chose good songs for the contestants, though I think one did better than the other in performing it. They kept the "Contestant's Choice", and both contestants picked smart performances from the season. Finally, I'm not sure why they got rid of the "Song Writing" contest they had last year. I thought that was a great idea, because not only did it give the contestants a choice of what their winning song would be, but it also gave them more control; they could pick a song that suited their style/voice. Hence why I think the producers were dirty handed in going back to the one song sung by both contestants idea. I don't think it mattered in the end. A bad song is a bad song, and I really didn't like the song for either of them. (Sorry Kara, this isn't an award winning song)

I've talked waaay too much already, when I know what you guys really want is for me to get to the meat of the blog; the review itself. Don't you guys want to prolong this blog? Remember, after this final blog, the very one you're reading, you may not be able to read my wise words until next January! (it's like waiting for the next season of Lost to start!)

Okay, fine.
And now, for the last time, we get to the reviews. We begin with a man who brought glam rock back, namely:

1. ADAM LAMBERT –
CONTESTANT’S CHOICE - sung "Mad World" –You have to give Adam props; this was one of his best performances this season, and he picked the perfect song to sing in the finale. I found this haunting, and if it's possible, I found it to be a better performance than his original. Simon was right, when he called it bit too theatrical, but I may need to disagree. Adam IS theatrical, therefore it was exactly what I expected. It shows me the kind of show Adam would put on in a concert. His voice was controlled and on pitch. He did no unnecessary screeching, so the song left me eerily wanting more. I think the theatrics outweighed the actual singing however. He sung it well, but I think the whole production is what was concentrated on. Randy called it right when he called it "Twilight". He was right, because the way that Adam was dressed, plus the fog machine, him descending from the stairs...it was very vampiric and gothic. All in all, I enjoyed Adam's performance very much, though I attribute it more because of the show than the vocals.

SIMON FULLER’S CHOICE - sung "Change Is Gonna Come" – With this song, Adam not only took full creative control, but he made it sound like a new song. This is one of my favorite R&B songs, and the original Sam Cooke version is gold. Adam made this song new again, without making it sound over done. This song has been done to death on Idol auditions, but for once, it did not make me feel like fast-forwarding. His voice was so pitch perfect, even a few high notes finally sounded like actual notes and not screeches. This song proved to me what an extraordinary artist Adam can be, and showed his range. This guy could do glam rock, classic rock, and soul all in the same show! What I really enjoyed is the heartfelt way he sang the lyrics, because not only did he restrain the theatrics, he made you believe in the song. Well done, Adam.

WINNING SONG - sung "No Boundaries" – Can I just say again, at first impression, I don't like this song. I think the song is corny, and not quite as good as David Cook's winning song, "Time of my Life". But here's my problem with it; Adam sung it perfectly. I mean, it was as if the song was written for him. And that, my readers, is my problem with it. I believe it was. Did you hear some of the notes that Adam hit during his performance? There is no way Kris could even come close to hitting those notes. So I will not take away from Adam's performance, because if I'm going to be honest (as Simon says), then this was a brilliant performance by Adam. I can hear it on the radio now. So there is literally nothing bad I can say about Adam's performance of this song. My only gripe is that Kris should have been given a different "winning song", more suited to his strengths. They did that last year, and I thought it was a great move. Why go back to this format?

Overall, I would say Adam won two out of the three performances, which would give him the edge on winning the season. I think Adam has the charisma and showmanship to be a star, and all three performances proved that he deserved to be in the finale. Consistently, though, if we're talking season wide, he and Kris are even.

2. KRIS ALLEN –
CONTESTANT’S CHOICE - sung "Ain't No Sunshine" – Wow. All I can say is wow. This was, by far, Kris' best performance the whole season. He made a perfect choice, because this was incredible enough the first time around. Last night, he outdid himself. Each lyric was sung with such passion and sincerity, it made even the straightest man swoon. Kara was right when she said that Kris has a way of connecting to the audience that is so compelling, he not only draws you in, but makes you think he's singing only to you. It was subtle and graceful; a perfect performance for the type of artist Kris is (and will be). Simon was right on the money when he said first round goes to Kris. While Adam's performance was good, it relied too heavy on the theatrics, while Kris' performance relied only on his piano and voice. In the end, it made for a better performance over all.

SIMON FULLER’S CHOICE - sung "What's Going On?" – Great song choice, and great rendition. I've heard this song done many times over the years, and beside the original, my favorite rendition has to be Cyndi Lauper's version this song. (who, coincidentally, is one of the guest performers tonight in the results finale...yay!...but I digress). Kris' version was indeed different, and the way he sung it made you believe the lyrics. It's hard for an artist to make an old song relevant, but Kris accomplished this perfectly. The way he inflected the lyrics made the song connect to the audience and made it relevant in today's modern turmoils. I like the fact that Kris completely broke the song down, and simplified it to a degree that it felt intimate. However, that being said, I still need to give the edge in this round to Adam. While Kris did give a splendid performance, Adam simply out sang him on his song. Maybe it was the song choice, but this round goes to Adam, not Kris.

WINNING SONG - sung "No Boundaries" – I don't know what else I can say about this song that I haven't already said. I hate it right now, but maybe I will grow to like after a few listens. One thing is for sure, Kris did a very poor job with this. It was so obvious this song was so out of his realm and genre. I am crying foul, because this was a song that could not have been more tailor made for Adam. Kris needed a completely different type of song, and I find it a bit unfair he was forced to sing the same song. Even if Kris wins, I just cannot see how his version of this song could possibly have a chance on the airwaves. It will be on the air the equivalent of the time Taylor Hick's winning song was on the radio; ZERO air time. Does anyone even remember what Taylor's (the Idol winner everyone wants to forget) winning song was called? No one? That's my point. Unmemorable. (It was called "Do I make you proud?", by the way). The notes were set way to high for Kris to reach, so he was at a disadvantage from the get go. Luckily, the judges didn't concentrate on the bad performance in their comments afterwards, but chose to sing Kris' praises for the entire season. And that should be what both he AND Adam should be judged on, and not one bad performance. Based on the season, and not this performance, Kris has a very good chance at taking the crown.

In summing up Kris' performances, I would say over all, Adam took two out of the three rounds, but with extreme bias from the producers. But I can already tell that Kris would make the type of album I would buy. I love the whole acoustic rock vibe he has. Adam's glam rock vibe is cool, and probably would be more mainstream, but that's not to say Kris wouldn't do well either. There is enough of an audience for both.

The Winner Is...: I will say now, ever since I started doing this review blog, it's the first time I'm stumped. Apparently so are the fans, because as I mentioned in the beginning, most polls I've seen have one or the other winning by a very very small margin. I can't call a winner, but if I need to go with a PERSONAL choice, I would want Kris to win. And that's not to say that Adam is bad. In fact I think Adam's career would benefit from not winning. (see Daughtry)


Tonight, I'm more excited for the finale, not only because my favorite artist of all time is going to perform (Cyndi Lauper!), but we have many other guest performers as well, one of which is Jason Mraz. (I'm calling it now; I predict a duet with Kris).

What did you guys think of the entire season? Are you satisfied with the final two? What did you think of last night's performances? Do you hate the winning song as much as I do? Remember, this is your FINAL time to comment! No more blogs until January! This very blog you're reading is like MY Season Finale!! No blogs until January! Perhaps if I get enough readers to urge me to write about a different show you can have more of me?

Alas, my friends, it's been a great journey this season.
Thanks as always to all my readers, for joining me week to week. I welcome and thank my new readers too!
So until we hear Ryan say “THIS…is American Idol!” next January, I bid you all farewell!

American Idol: Week Ten; The Top 3 Compete

I have no idea what the judges were drinking or smoking last night, but I have never seen them this riled up. Between Simon and Paula wrestling off screen, to Randy and Kara arguing with Simon, it became a circus. I will say this much though; I think some of last night's performances were some of the best I've seen in Idol in a long time.

Last night was the traditional "judge's choice" and "contestant's choice" night that happens every season. Now usually, from past seasons, we remember one judge picking a song for one of the final three. But because of the addition of a 4th judge this season, it threw off the dynamic. Poor Randy had to "share" his choice with Kara, though one must wonder the way she complained about how it wasn't original, if she really had any say in the song choice at all.

The final three contestants went to their hometowns this past weekend, of which I'm sure we'll see at tomorrow night's results show. I'm satisfied that all three deserve to be where they are, despite the departure of Allison last week. Yes, I know a lot of you thought Allison deserved to be in the Top Three, and maybe she did, but at the same time, I think Kris deserves to be here just as much. The only one that deserved to go home last week was the worst one of the evening; Danny. But alas, the fans voted and so we are set with Kris, Adam and Danny this week.

Much like last week's review, this review will seem rather short, but if none of you realized it, next week is the season finale. What does that mean? That means that this week and next is the only time left you have to tell me what else I should blog about. If I don't get enough responses, then I drop back into obscurity until either Project Runway starts up again or next January when American Idol premieres. Get me your comments, or risk not reading me for a while people!!

Okay enough "idol" chit chat....time to get to the performances. We begin with someone I respect as a singer, but lacks a certain star quality, namely:

Danny Gokey -
1) JUDGE'S SONG CHOICE - "Dance Little Sister" - Okay I will say off the bat, that I didn't know this song. I know who Terrence Trent D'Arby is, but I was unfamiliar with this song. Come to think of it, it figures Paula is the one who chose this for him. As Simon said, the artist choice was right, but the song choice was wrong. I didn't think Danny sung it badly. I thought everything was on pitch, and he hit some pretty decent high notes. But I also thought he was shouting parts of the song, which took away from his over all performance. Like the judges pointed out, his awkward dancing was also a bit out of sorts, and made for a peculiar performance. I remember reading a commenter on Facebook, indicating that Danny reminded them of Idol's unwanted step child, Taylor Hicks. I don't know, but I got the impression Danny was trying too hard, despite the judges praising his performance. Compared to the way the other two contestants performed their judges choice, this was my least favorite.

2) CONTESTANT'S SONG CHOICE - "You Are So Beautiful" - To borrow a phrase from Randy, "You proved you can really sing!" Though I thought Danny's choice was predictable and boring, I must give the guy props for singing it spot on pitch, emotion and passion. I've actually never seen Danny put so much emotion into a song that didn't feel fake. I sort of like the way he changed the melody, and it worked with his smooth, scratchy voice perfectly. Of the contestant's choices, I also think this one was my least favorite, but not necessarily because it was bad. It's only because the other contestant choices were performed so much better, it sort of puts him in last place. Alas, much as I hope that Kris makes it into the finale (though I don't think he would win), I think Danny has too much of a fan base for him to make it through to next week. Yes, last week was a surprise with Kris advancing, but I have a serious doubt that will happen this week. (though part of me hopes it does, with Danny being eliminated) In closing, expect to see Danny next week in the finale. Prediction: ADVANCES TO FINALE

Kris Allen -
1) JUDGE'S CHOICE - "Apologize" - I will give Randy and Kara credit, they did pick a great song for Kris. I love this song, so I was prepared to hear what Kris' take on this song was. But I didn't get it, which not only surprised me, but left me a little disappointed. I've made no secret that I am rooting for Kris, but I must review fairly, this was not the best performance Kris could have had with this song. First off, he went off key a couple of times, and secondly, it was unoriginal. The latter half of that sentence is what bothers me most, because like Adam, I come to expect Kris to deliver fresh new takes on songs that I've heard before. Why he chose to play the song pretty much as standard as the original is beyond me. The parts that were good, were very good, as Kris proved his vocals are just as strong as the other two competitors. However, I will agree with Kara on her comments, saying she was expecting more. And so was I. Thankfully, Kris redeemed himself on his second song, re imagining a song I thought I would never hear acoustically.

2) CONTESTANT'S CHOICE - "Heartless" - When I heard he was doing this Kayne West song, I pretty much told myself "that's it, he's going home. A Kayne West song is going to send him packing". But not only was I surprised with Kris' performance, it pretty much blew me away. I have never a song completely turned on its ear and redone the way Kris redid this. Take a minute out, and go to iTunes, and sample the original West song. It will give you a great basis to judge how truly gifted Kris is for turning this song into an acoustic masterpiece. As Kara pointed out, this original take has proven what type of artist Kris can and probably will be. Whereas with his first performance, you can picture Kris with his bags leaving, this performance actually makes you pause and think "you know, I think he has a chance here". I, for one truly hope so. I will agree, Kris does not have Adam's showmanship or charisma, but he does have the talent. This whole season, Kris has done just as many original takes on songs as Adam has. Am I hoping for a miracle, and Kris is sent to the finale instead of Danny? Oh yes. Is that going to happen? I sincerely doubt it, though I keep my fingers crossed for a possible switch like last week. Prediction: GOING HOME

Adam Lambert -
1) JUDGE'S CHOICE - "One" - See, this is why Simon and I are of like minds. (except for the fact he wears much tighter fitted t-shirts than I do) This was an absolutely perfect song choice for Adam, because not only does it highlight his vocal range and ability, but t gives Adam a chance to do what he does very well; make it his own. Though I thought he came very close to the "screeching" once again, he pulled himself back enough for it to come off perfectly this time. Finally, for me at least, those high notes he tends to want to showcase every week worked. Not only did he give this U2 classic justice, but he made me like the song again. (Come on, after countless plays on the radio over the years, I was so over this song) I think Simon has a great feel for what a contestant's strengths are, as is proven every year when he chooses a song for a contestant. I don't think I've ever disagreed with choices he's made for contestants in the past, so no reason to start now.

2) CONTESTANT'S CHOICE - "Crying" - Predictable, but perfect. It's weird to describe it that way, I know. Truth be told, I was not surprised when Adam said he was doing an Aerosmith song, hence why I pretty much could have predicted what song he was going to sing. And since Allison already did an amazing version of "Don't Wanna Miss A Thing", Adam was left with this Aerosmith classic. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. I don't think this was one of Adam's best performances, but that doesn't take away from how good it was. This performance, for me, showcased Adam's charisma and "rock persona". People got to see what a showman Adam is, which thankfully, because of his stage experience, makes him look like a seasoned professional. And I will say this final thing about Adam; I have never see a contestant as humble as he is, except for maybe Kris. The way he acknowledged Kris and Danny's performances was classy. This performance blew both of Danny's performances, and Kris' first performance out of the water, so hands down, just like the judges pointed out, for Adam not to be in the finale next week would be a tragedy. Prediction: ADVANCES TO FINALE

And the second to last week of Idol comes to an end!

What did you all think of the judges' choices? How about the contestants' choices? Did the judges or the contestants choose poorly? What would you have picked for them to sing? Am I on the nose with my review, or am I crazy? Comment away below! (remember this is one of your last chances to sound off and be heard! I should see multiple comments below!)

For this week, we don't have a bottom two or three. So I'm pretty much choosing which of the final three are going home:

My pick to go home tonight: Regrettably, and though I pains me to say it, I think Kris Allen has rode this train as far as it will take him. I, for one, like his vocals, and just might give his album a chance once it comes out. (oh come on, you know he's going to give it a shot!) That being said, I obviously predict Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert in the finale next week. (Though if a big shocker happens tonight, and Danny gets sent home instead of Kris, stick your head out your window at that moment; you just may hear me cheering from my sofa.)

If you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let's chat it up! (remember one more week until this blog ends! If you still want me to write, let me know what to write about! )

Don't forget to take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I'm out for now!

American Idol: Week Nine; The Top 4 Compete

I will say this much about last night's American Idol; I never, in a million years, thought Slash was as eloquent as he was.

If you haven't guessed it, it was rock week, and the guest mentor was none other than former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. I think American Idol would have been the last place I would ever see someone like Slash on, but he really was a pleasant surprise. And I will say this for the contestants; they stuck to real rock. I'm talking about rock such as Led Zeppelin, Janice Joplin, Aerosmith and the Beatles. This was a great foray into a genre that is often not used to its full potential on Idol.

I was a little disappointed in my favorite's song choice tonight, but I will admit this; much as I love Kris, Adam showed not only is this his niche, but he was by far the absolute best performer last night. Hey I have to fair right? The screeching that I often complain about that Adam is notorious for worked perfectly for the song he chose. (but more on that later)

A new highlight to the Top four performances is duets. Yes, that's right, the top four are also doing a duet with a partner, in addition to the song they chose to sing for their individual performances. Danny was teamed up with Kris, and Allison teamed with Adam. I have to say, I really enjoyed this new dynamic to the show, because it shows a versatility to the contestants. It gives them an opportunity to work out how to mesh their own personal sound to a partner. I think both duets sounded pretty good, but of the two Adam and Allison had the better performance.

If it seems my reviews are getting shorter and shorter, it's because obviously the contestants are dwindling. I urge you all again, if you want me to review another show once Idol wraps, now is the time to speak up! You have choice, such as So You Think You Can Dance, the next season of Dancing With The Stars, (though I'm not sure when the next one begins since the current one is about to wrap up in the next two weeks.)...or any of the Bravo reality contests. (Shear Genius, Top Design, Top Chef, etc) Let me hear you in the comments what you want to read from me next!

So it's time to break down our final four. For obvious reasons, instead of a Bottom Three, I'll be choosing a bottom two, since I'm pretty sure that's the way Ryan will break it down. Who will we see in next week's semi-final round?!
I think one of the obvious choices we will see next week is:

1) Adam Lambert – sung "Whole Lotta Love” – By far, in my opinion, this was the best performance I have ever seen by Adam. Many people have criticized me for saying that Adam screeches parts of his songs (he does, and I'm right. Remember the name of this blog? Besides you love my honesty. I'm like Simon, except I wear looser t-shirts.). But I have to say upfront, he finally picked a song where it fit perfectly. The original Led Zeppelin song was a classic staple that I've heard many times, and Adam turned into something new, without negating the classic riffs and music the song is famous for. It's a testament to Adam's strength as a performer that this turned out to be as good as it was. One of the judges commented on how this song could have gone terribly wrong, since it is one of those "untouchable" songs, but Adam proved that he is a true rocker. Kara was right when she mentioned that Adam could sing classic, glam rock, any rock and he could make it work. Much as I've been picky with Adam, I will give the man his props; that performance was flawless, and I truly could not find a thing wrong with it. If song choice is everything, as we get told time and time again on Idol, then Adam truly made one of the best choices for his career. Everyone will remember this performance the most out of all the performances last night, so I will stand and give Adam the standing "O" he deserves. Prediction: SAFE

2) Allison Iraheta - sung "Cry Baby” - I am LOVING Allison's new hairstyle. What is with Idol's stylists? She had to use Adam's personal hairstylist to perfect a rock look? Her hair looked hot, and her performance, despite the judges not being 100% happy with it, gave her mostly positive reviews. The problem with the song she chose is it's very repetitive. (one of the judges pointed this out too). It didn't show Allison's range and the great melodies her voice is capable of. Even though Allison pointed out it's been done a million times on Idol, I still think a better choice for her to sing would have been "Piece of my Heart", also by Janice Joplin. Allison's voice suits Janice's song perfectly, however, Allison made the wrong choice when it came down to choosing which Joplin song she was going to take on. I'm a little worried for Allison, because although her performance and duet were very good, when compared to what Adam accomplished, it sort of fails. But I look at it this way; this girl has a ton of talent, and though a bad song choice may or may not send her home tonight, it won't diminish how far this 17 year old has come. She will have a career regardless, but for now, based on the judges' comments and her overall performance, I think Allison is one of the contestants who should be worried tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

DUET - Danny Gokey & Kris Allen - sung "Renegade" - Oh my God, they BOTH looked so out of place and out of their element during this performance. That's not to say it wasn't a good performance, I'm just saying they looked uncomfortable singing it. If I had to pick who sounded better, (and as much as it pains me to admit it), it has to be Danny. His voice suited the rock edginess of the song better then my boo Kris. It almost seemed to me like Kris spent most of his time trying to catch up to a speeding rhythm. All in all though, not a bad performance, but it didn't blow me away.

3) Kris Allen – sung "Come Together” – Ugh, Kris, you made it so hard to root for you last night. This song smelled like "bad song choice" from the moment you said you were singing it. The only good version of this song I've heard (besides the original), is the version sung by Joe Cocker on the Across the Universe soundtrack. (check it out if you haven't...good movie...remade Beatles music....but I digress). It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I was hoping maybe it wouldn't happen to Kris. Kris finally made a bad song choice, and though I didn't think it was horrible, or a train wreck, it just did not fit him at all. I felt he had no connection to the song, and there was none of the that emotion-infused enunciation that I come to expect from him. But that was to be expected, because as a couple of the judges pointed out, this is not his niche at all. Kris did the best with the genre he was given, so I don't completely think it was a disaster. I think most of the time during his performance, the band was overpowering his voice. With all the somewhat negative critiques that he was given, I don't expect Kris to be safe this week. I do NOT think he should go home, because, as Simon puts it, "If I'm going to be honest", Danny's performance was worse. I hope Kris is safe, but for now he is definitely in danger tonight. Prediction: IN THE BOTTOM

4) Danny Gokey - sung "Dream On” - Okay, maybe I'm in the minority here. (I usually am, even though I'm right), but this had to be the worst performance from Danny I have ever seen. On top of that, Simon has the nerve to tell him despite that being a "horrendous" performance, he thinks he will be around next week?! Sigh. I hate it when Simon is right. Much as I want to say that Danny should be voted off tonight based on this performance, I know he won't be. Danny is just too popular at this point, so it will be very hard for him to be kicked off. ( I can dream can't I?) I thought Danny handled the beginning of the song pretty good. He played with the melodies a little, but it worked. Once he started to get to the screaming in the song, it was all over. There is such a thing as "a singing scream" and a "Halloween scream". Steven Tyler (Aerosmith front man, and original artist of this song) can "sing a scream", as is proven when you hear the original song. Danny's version? It sounded like he was being tortured to death. It all went very wrong once the screaming started, and the song went from being a decent cover to train wreck. It's killing me to say this, and who knows, maybe by some stroke of luck, Danny will be in the bottom for the first time this season...but for now, I have a gut feeling we'll be seeing him again next week. Prediction: SAFE

DUET - Adam Lambert & Allison Iraheta - sung "Slow Ride" - Now this is a proper duet! I don't know if it was the fact that both Adam and Allison are "rock" oriented, or they had a better song choice, but this worked extremely well. Both of them sounded amazing on this duet, and they both played off each other perfectly. If you closed your eyes, you could swear you were hearing two seasoned artists singing together. If I had to pick a better performer out of the two, I would say Adam got the edge. But then again, I'm beginning to see Adam's place in the finale, and depending on who he's up against, it may be an easy win.

And so we close one more week of Idol, my loyal readers.

What did all of you think? Do you like the new "duets" feature with the Top Four? Was I being too harsh with Danny? Was he not as bad as I thought? Call me out if I'm wrong people! I want to hear from you!

Like last week, my predictions this week only get a bottom two:

IN THE BOTTOM: Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta.

My pick to go home tonight: God, really don't want to choose him, but I think Kris' choice last night has cost him. And though I choose Kris Allen to go home, he could easily be replaced by Allison Iraheta. The only thing that could possibly save her is that duet with Adam. (which was fabulous)

Remember, if you disagree, or even agree with me, let me know in the comments! Let’s chat it up! (and don't forget to suggest what you might want me to blog after Idol comes to an end! Come on ,people! I know you're out there! )

Don't forget to take the poll below! Until next week, faithful readers, I’m out for now!