Melinda Doolittle

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores. So I take a spin through each week's music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. Here are today's selections:

Music for the TV: When I think of The Fray I can't help but associate them with the golden era of Grey's Anatomy. So maybe that's why, despite receiving mixed reviews, I'm keeping an open mind about their newest CD following the breakout success of that Grey's song "How to Save a Life." Nothing too different going on here, but "You Found Me" is emotional and "Never Say Never" is a pretty track.

Idol success: Remember when Melinda Doolittle was on American Idol and every single time she sang the judges were all, "You are perfect"? I'm pretty sure they said that every single time. Anyway, now her first album is out and critics think she's pretty great too. Check out some of her soulful tracks including "Fundamental Things" and "Wonderful".

One more up next, so read more

• Cinematical gives a rundown of the top seven Asian-American actors ready to break out, according to them.
• According to the MTV Movies Blog, Kevin Smith wishes to make a Jay and Silent Bob animated film.
• Head on over to Moviehole if you want some juicy plot details about the X-Files sequel.
• Vulture has "obituaries" for the fallen heroes from last night's Heroes.
• You Ain't No Picasso whips up a playlist for No Country for Old Men.
• Popwatch is wondering: Whatever happened to Melinda Doolittle?
• TV Filter suggests a remedy for writers' strike blues: watching the independent pilot Apartment 413. Hey, it's got puppets.

In the end, being consistently good wasn't enough to get Melinda Doolittle into the "American Idol" finals. The most experienced contestant of the season was booted before the final two, making way for a Blake vs. Jordin finale next week.

I'm torn about Melinda's elimination. On the one hand, I saw it coming — and on the other hand, I was hoping that all of you were right and she'd be around another week. There are a slew of "Melinda was robbed!" stories being written right now, and I see the point there; I think she's the most talented, and certainly the most professional and polished, "Idol" contestant this year and, based purely on singing, she's the best the show has ever had. And yet, the buzz on her was always that she was boring, or old, or just lacking whatever star power she'd need to really be the "Idol" winner, and I don't think voters just care about singing — they want a great entertainer. As I said yesterday, though, I don't think Melinda needs the "Idol" title at all; she's going to get a record deal and put out some amazing music, and she might be better off without producers trying to shove her into a pop/rock box.

A few more thoughts about the results show, including the hometown visits, so read more

I think Tuesday's "American Idol" performance show might have been the one I've been waiting for all season — and it couldn't have come at a better time. Singing three songs apiece, each of the final three turned in at least one pretty good performance, making tonight's elimination tough to predict. Will America vote on personality, putting Jordin and Blake in the finals? Or will they go by talent, setting up Jordin and Melinda for the head-to-head finale?

Tuesday's show also gave us some glimpses into the contestants' offstage personalities (finally!), with Jordin freaking out over getting a star on her local mall's version of the walk of fame — the only star, so far as I could tell — and Melinda wiping away tears when her town named a street after her. While I usually dread the results show, I'm actually looking forward to seeing the rest of the hometown visit footage tonight.

But at the end of the night, someone will have to leave. Don't forget to vote on who you think is going home, and to read my take on the performances, read more

In the end, the first person Simon predicted to win "American Idol" this season didn't end up making the final three. Early favorite LaKisha Jones got voted off this week after a few so-so performances. I don't think LaKisha ever quite matched the intensity of her performance in the first week, and a lack of versatility and an unwillingness to listen to the guest mentors might have hurt her in the end. She does have a powerful voice, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if she goes on to have a decent recording career. Plus, LaKisha, look on the bright side: You got to kiss Simon Cowell. OK, maybe that's not such a bright side.

But LaKisha's ouster might be second only to another big announcement: The "Idol" producers will be spinning off the show into a nationwide search for a band, which will follow the "Idol" format of televised auditions, live performances and phone-in votes. The show — currently called "The Search for the Next Great American Band," how inventive — is expected to debut in September. The producers will be the same, but Seacrest and the judges won't be making the trip over, so we can look forward to a whole new group of crazies. I've got to say, I'm not sure about this trend of shows launching spinoffs on the heels of their weakest seasons (you hear me, "Grey's Anatomy"?). What do you think? Meanwhile, to hear some of my other thoughts on Wednesday's results show, read more

How many times have I said this "American Idol" season that things will get better once it really starts to matter? Because wow, was I wrong. It's down to the final four, and yet I'm still waiting for even one of these contestants to deliver a performance that really wows me. Is it sad that my most memorable moment of the season so far is still the Blake/Chris R/Chris S/some other dude boy band from Hollywood Week?

This week, we got eight uninspiring Bee Gees songs, coached by Barry Gibb, who looked every bit the aging hippie. The two most remarkable parts of the evening: 1) Seacrest gave us our first "Seacrest out!" of the season, and 2) I found myself agreeing with Paula on a number of occasions. Don't forget to vote on which contestant is going home, and to read my take, read more

With no rockers left in this year's "American Idol" crew, I expected Bon Jovi night to be a bust — especially once I learned that everyone had to pick Bon Jovi songs, many of which have been ruined forever for me by too many nights of awful karaoke. Surprisingly, though, I thought this was one of the better all-around performance nights on "Idol" this season, even if the rocking was mostly mild. I don't forsee any of these kids having a sparkling alt-rock career, but it was fun to watch them try.

Two quick "Idol Gives Back" notes: The event has now raised $70 million, and George and Laura Bush popped in via pre-taped message to thank everyone for their generosity.

Now, onto the RAWK! Don't forget to cast your vote for which two singers are going home, and to hear my take on the night, read more

Tuesday's "American Idol" was one of the most earnest hours of television I've ever seen. From Seacrest's intonation — "This Is 'Idol Gives Back.'" — to the videos from Africa to the "songs of inspiration" theme, "Idol" went to great lengths to prove that "Idol Gives Back" is Very Important. How important? For what might be the first time, the performance show was taped in advance so producers could spend more time on Wednesday's benefit.

Really, though, it's tough to be snarky about "Idol Gives Back." I appreciate that "Idol" picked a charity that will help both in the U.S. and abroad, in inner cities and rural areas. And hey, maybe this will encourage people to seek out other organizations that could use their time or money.

But because I can't be nice for this whole recap (unlike the judges, who were unusually sweet on Tuesday), I've got to harp on a couple of things:

• In one of the taped segments, Simon visited a food bank and discovered that — shock! — there are poor people in America! And there are kind-hearted volunteers who help feed them! Either he exaggerated his surprise, or he needs to get out more.
• News Corp. is donating 10 cents per vote for the first 50 million votes. Now, $5 million is nothing to sneeze at, but I just wonder how that $5 million compares to their revenues from just one episode of "Idol."

Onto the performances. Don't forget to tell me who you think should go home, and you can get my take on the matter if you read more

Country night is typically one of my least-favorite "American Idol" theme nights. It's not that I don't like country music — I just don't like bad country music, and amateur singers butchering the songs by attempting maximum twang certainly qualifies as bad country.

At the same time, it's always been a little awesome to watch, just because the potential for disaster is so high. So I couldn't help but be disappointed by Tuesday night's mostly boring performances. Nobody came out in a 10-gallon hat. Nobody tried Shania Twain. And the singers who wouldn't be good at singing country got around the rule by singing the least-country arrangements they could find.

Martina McBride — who amazed me with her ability to look both 25 and 55 over the course of that opening montage — proved herself an intelligent mentor, but the show itself was a little odd, with several awkward mentions of the tragedy at Virgina Tech. I suppose if there's any time for overwrought emotions, it's country night, though. And reality TV must soldier on. Don't forget to vote on the singer you think is heading home, and to see what I thought of the performances, read more