American Idol: Fab Four Falters

The good news is that America chose the right final four. The bad news is that they didn't deliver. Last night should have been the equivalent of an NBA playoff atmosphere for the Idols, but instead it felt like we were back in week two, struggling with easy songs and trying to find our groove. These last few weeks should be crackling with excitement and should most definitely feature at least a few moments where our hearts stop. Unfortunately, the Idols couldn't live up to the hype.

This year has been called (in numerous forums) the worst season of American Idol, which seems a paradox, seeing as it features, arguably, one of its most talented singers ever. That singer is Melinda Doolittle, whose technically perfect performances have been consistent throughout the competition. This week, however, we got a glimpse of why Melinda's not a shoo-in for the win - because although her performances never miss a note, sometimes they miss the point (as in, the point of this song is to be sexy or fun or flirty). This was true of both her numbers ("How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "Love You Inside Out") last night, and I wouldn't be surprised if everyone's pick to win it ended up in the bottom two or even being (gasp!) eliminated this evening.

Another head very firmly on the chopping block is LaKisha, who was impressively growly (but not so melodic) on the Disco classic, "Stayin' Alive," and whose voice broke on her last note of "Run to Me." LaKisha would be my pick to go home this week, based on cumulative comparison with the other contestants over the competition. If I were a betting woman, I'd put money on her elimination.

Also in the disappointing category for last night is the resident beat boxer, Blake Lewis, who took his "mix-it-up" formula a notch too high. Throughout the competition, Blake has been a strategic planner at least - when everyone expected him to beat box in the beginning, he broke out with Keane's soulful "Somewhere Only We Know." Last week, when we'd forgotten that he could beat box at all, he took apart Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" and made it into a turntable special. Last night, he was disappointingly unstrategic with identical, and somewhat boring, beat-boxed performances of "This is Where I Came In" and "You Should be Dancin'."

Last up of the night (does it seem to anyone else Jordin is always the closer?) was Barry Gibb's favorite girl ever, Jordin Sparks. Barry was so enamored of her, in fact, he said she was going to be one of the all-time greatest female performing artists. Big praise! Did Jordy live up to it? Sort of. She came out swinging with an excellent version of "To Love Somebody" which all the judges (and of course Barry Gibb) fawned praise over. But then she finished the evening off with another ballad, "A Woman in Love," which she sang somewhat drearily. Somewhere off in BeeGee land, Barry swoons. But America yawns.