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 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 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 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 Read more

Y'all, what are we going to talk about now? Sanjaya — he of the ponyhawk, the creepy smile and the possible deal with the devil — ended his "American Idol" reign of terror on Wednesday after giving one of the only truly boring performances of his "Idol" career. No, I'm not kidding. That sound you heard was America gasping, then cheering. His tears at the end were oddly reassuring; I think he 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 Read more

You'll never hear me say this again, but I actually wish "American Idol" had been a little longer last night. Gwen Stefani dropped by to get the crew to sing songs by No Doubt and artists who had inspired her, and she seemed like a great guest coach. Unfortunately, since they were powering to get through 10 performances (plus banter) in 67 minutes, we didn't get to hear much of Gwen working with Read more

It's Gwen Stefani night on "American Idol" — but that doesn't mean we'll be suffering through renditions of "Hollaback Girl" and "Underneath It All" (though the idea of Sanjaya singing "Underneath It All" makes me giggle). Word is that the 10 remaining contestants will be performing songs by artists who have inspired Stefani. Some have speculated that the theme will bring lots of ska and new Read more

When I heard Diana Ross would be a guest coach on "American Idol," I figured her turn would come much later in the season. No way they'd unleash her on a full dozen fragile "Idol" hopefuls, right? Wrong. The diva to end all divas coached the contestants this week, and tonight, we'll get to hear two hours worth of the results. Now, I admit I'm honestly curious to hear Ross's advice for LaKisha, Read more

Is there any chance there will be a male "American Idol" winner this year? (OK, besides maybe Blake?) The girls are just a thousand times more exciting to watch than the guys, and even though not every performance was a winner on Wednesday, at least they were lively. I think tonight's elimination might have an unpleasant surprise, though — Antonella doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and that Read more