If this were So You Think You Can Dance, the bottom three would be: Didi Benami, Andrew Garcia, and Katie Stevens. My guess for the ONE leaving tonight: Andrew Garcia because I don’t think he has the fan base of the other two. Katie still has the Miley Cyrus-esque appeal to the teenie boppers and will be there for a while no matter what she does.

Here’s another esteemed colleague of the house of Democrats:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Haeley Vaughn, Alex Lambert, Jermaine Sellers, Katelyn Epperly, John Park, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, and Andrew Garcia.

Michelle Delamor getting booted was the biggest surprise since “stroke face” girl didn’t make it to the Top 24. It would have been nice for her to stick around long enough for me to learn her name, because she was a natural. That surprise homecoming leaves an extra contestant in my list who will for sure make the Top 12 tonight. It’s a crap shoot among those girls, and here’s why.

Katelyn is a mess on stage, but she’s got the cute factor that tends to keep contestants around. Katie has no clue what she’s doing as an artist, let alone life, so she continually goes for the wrong songs… she should have waited 3 years to grow up. The younger Aaron Kelly is more mature than her, and that’s going to be the difference there. Didi is terrific, as far as I’m concerned, but I’m not sure she has the fanbase to continue.

Then there’s the awful, embarrassing performance that Paige Miles had. Oh. My. Goodness. I was dumbstruck that she chose that song and arranged it with the specific intent to put the audience to sleep.

I’d also like to add that the Top 4 girls are Crystal Bowersox, Lilly Scott, Lacey Brown, and Siobhan Magnus. I’ll be sad when any of those four have to go home. For the guys, I’m only rooting for Big Mike and Lee Dewyze, though Tim Urban finally rocked last night. Perhaps too little too late.

The men, yeah, my picks stand. They just weren’t good, and Todrick Hall may have thrown himself into that mix with such a… strange performance. Alex! Your mullet worked this week. Too bad you’re not cool. Nice radio voice, though.

Katie Stevens – “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson
Siobhan Magnus – “House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals
Lacey Brown – “The Story” by Brandi Carlile
Katelyn Epperly – “I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King
Didi Benami – “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac
Paige Miles – “Smile” by Nat King Cole/Tony Bennett
Crystal Bowersox – “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman
Lilly Scott – “I Fall To Pieces” by Patsy Cline

Lee Dewyze – “Fireflies” by Owl City
Alex Lambert – “Trouble” by Ray LaMontagne
Tim Urban – “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
Andrew Garcia – “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera
Casey James – “You’ll Think of Me” by Keith Urban
Aaron Kelly – “I’m Already There” by Westlife
Todrick Hall – “Somebody To Love” by Queen
Michael Lynche – “This Woman’s Work” by Maxwell

Click here to view the embedded video.

Watch the kid at the beginning. He walks right up to one of the parade members and is greeted warmly, thus making him think that this behavior is appropriate. It is NOT appropriate for any child to walk into a parade route. EVER. It’s dangerous and someone, heaven forbid it be his parents, should have stopped that immediately as if he was running into the street. Hey, that sort of looks like a street, doesn’t it? Dad, maybe you should shut up and stop filming the parade and reign your son in before he gets himself killed now or later in a real street.

So, Darth Maul approaches. What does the kid do? He runs straight at him with his arms up in what could easily be perceived as an attack on Darth Maul. The actor was simply protecting himself. He doesn’t know the kid’s mentally handicapped. That push off to the side (where he belongs) was very appropriate of someone being potentially attacked.

Maybe you should hang a sign around your kid’s neck that says,

“My kid’s got issues related to autism. He won’t attack (even though it looks like he might). Please discipline him calmly and gently in my absence from his development.” – His dad

If the Florida Attorney General ever sees this case, he needs to throw it out and fine the parent for lack of parenting. Hopefully, since this video has been around since last June, it’s already run its course.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Michael Lynche – “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown
John Park – “Gravity” by John Mayer
Casey James – “I Don’t Want To Be” by Gavin DeGraw
Alex Lambert – “Everybody Knows” by John Legend
Todrick Hall – “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner
Jermaine Sellers – “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
Andrew Garcia – “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison
Aaron Kelly – “My Girl” by The Temptations
Tim Urban – “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson
Lee Dewyze – “Lips Of An Angel” by Hinder

Crystal Bowersox – “As Long As I Can See the Light” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Haeley Vaughn – “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus
Lacey Brown – “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer
Katie Stevens – “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae
Didi Benami – “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
Michelle Delamor – “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed
Lilly Scott – “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke
Katelyn Epperly – “The Scientist” by Coldplay
Paige Miles – “Walk Away” by Kelly Clarkson
Siobhan Magnus – “Think” by Aretha Franklin

Those in danger of going home each and every week until the Top 12 (in some sort of most to least order) are:

Haeley Vaughn, Alex Lambert, Jermaine Sellers, Katelyn Epperly, John Park, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, and Andrew Garcia.

I had a really hard time picking that last guy slot, because there is such a drop off in talent or enough guys who haven’t figured out the game yet. That includes Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly.

Haeley HAS to go tonight. She’s quickly becoming this year’s Sanjaya. Also leaving are Katelyn Epperly, Jermaine Sellers, and Alex Lambert. Jermaine, lots of people know Jesus, but He’s not going to keep you on Idol with that singing and ‘tude.

Chug! Chug! Chug!

How much do you have to drink in order for your annual physical to declare a physician recommended “moderation of alcohol intake?” I’m guessing it’s significant unless he’s got some sort of genetic kidney or liver issue that pre-disposes him to issues with small amounts of alcohol that would be generally consistent with “social drinking.” Short of being an alcoholic or a medical freak, I can’t imagine why the doctors suggested putting down that drink. Source: The Guardian

On to the bigger issue

Do we want a president who is even moderately intoxicated? Personally, I think that would explain a lot about his decisions and spending sprees of the last year, but that’s not even where I’m going here. So, the next 9/11 hits us because he’s asleep at the wheel of national security and dismantling the fabric of our being bit by bit. Do we want a “leader” who has just pounded back 14 beers or 3 screwdrivers?

I think not.

Hardly a week goes by without news of some politician at the state or national level who has just been caught spending taxpayer money. This bad behavior goes on on both sides of the isle, too, as they reported that Pelosi spent $101k for “in-flight services” including booze and flights for friends and family during the past year.

This is nothing short of theft of taxpayer funds. It’s criminal. Business can’t purchase personal items and count them as expenses. Non-profit organizations can’t, either. Those people go to jail, as should these criminals. Just because they were elected to office by the people does not give them a blank check for carte blanche spending – in fact, it’s just the opposite. They should be held to higher standards of responsibility and face sterner punishments for breaking the trust of the people.

We the people need to start tossing our elected officials out on the street until we the people are represented by honest people of high moral standards.

• Whatever you do, don’t sing a slow song. You want the crowd on their feet and raising the energy level.
• If your name isn’t Celine or Leona, don’t sing one of their songs. You just can’t compete. Period. Celine is Celine because she can hit those notes with a full-on blast of pure musical wonder.
• Avoid the top singer-songs that people identify with because of the artist who made it popular. Stick to a selection of band songs where it’s the music more than the vocal to avoid comparisons with the original artist. Again, you can’t compete. Caveat: see below…
• Unless you change the music in a “relevant” way. It must show that you can sing, compose, and be original in a way that doesn’t draw comparisons with the original artist. This can backfire if everyone likes the original more.
• If possible (able to be pulled off without gender-bending), choose a song performed by the opposite sex. It’s quite simply one of the easiest ways to avoid comparisons to the artist, but don’t be creepy about it. This could also backfire, so be brilliant.

Let’s go over the songs from the week:

Girls Songs

Paige Miles – “All Right Now” by Free
Ashley Rodriguez – “Happy” by Leona Lewis
Janell Wheeler – “What About Love” by Heart
Lilly Scott – “Fixing A Hole” by The Beatles
Katelyn Epperly – “Oh Darling” by The Beatles
Haeley Vaughn – “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles
Lacey Brown – “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
Michelle Delamor – “Fallin’” by Alicia Keys
Didi Benami – “The Way I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson
Siobhan Magnus – “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak
Crystal Bowersox – “Hand In My Pocket” by Alanis Morrisette
Katie Stevens – “Feeling Good” by Michael Bublé

Guys Songs

Todrick Hall – “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
Aaron Kelly – “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts
Jermaine Sellers – “Get Here” by Oleta Adams
Tim Urban – “Apologize” by OneRepublic
Joe Muñoz – “You And I Both” by Jason Mraz
Tyler Grady – “American Woman” by The Guess Who/Lenny Kravitz
Lee Dewyze – “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
John Park – “God Bless The Child” by Billie Holiday
Michael Lynche – “This Love” by Maroon 5
Alex Lambert – “Wonderful World” by James Morrison
Casey James – “Heaven” by Bryan Adams
Andrew Garcia – “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy

My Opinions/Picks

Oh, my! Some of these girls need to go home. Now! Haeley Vaughn, I’m talking to you! That rendition and performance were painful. Just watch/listen to it to get on my bus. “Happy” by Ashley Rodriguez was a typical dud when attempting a Leona Lewis song (see my rules above).

From the guys, there were definitely two stand-out sit-downs who need to go home: Jermaine Sellers and John Park. They both broke the slow song rule and bored me to death. Unless they have some fan base for looks or personality, they’re goners.

There were some people who already seemed natural on stage, and I can’t wait to see how they improve over the season. Paige Miles, Lilly Scott, Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, and Katie Stevens all rocked out. I have to disagree with all four judges’ opinions of Todrick Hall, because I thought he was pretty darn good, especially for the first number of the night. Tim Urban, Joe Muñoz, Casey James, and Aaron Kelly were all on top of their game and made good choices.

Two fashion tips: Alex Lambert, lose the mullet; Katelyn Epperly, don’t do 80’s hooker again.