American Idol - Michael Jackson Week

The beginning starts off a little awkward with the camera being unable to zoom and adjust the focus on Ryan. Nonetheless, the silhouetted contestants wait nervously.

The never-used Fox voiceover man introduces the judges and Ryan. The judges walk to their seats, while Ryan walks down stairs. It's a little jarring actually. I'm so used to hearing him on Hole in the Wall and The Moment of Truth.

This year's stage looks quite different with the huge screen in the back. Where is the band? Upstairs. Very awkward. Ryan blames Simon for the new entrance.

Ryan asks if the judges have any advice. Randy's advice is to bring it hard every week. Kara is going to be tough on the contestants. Paula's performance tip: Don't be afraid of the stage. Simon suggests that the contestants can't forget words and suggests not being swallowed by the stage (basically what Paula said). Lil opens and it seems like the last (pimp) spot is going to Alexis.

Simon's curveball is that this week is a double elimination. He hopes that the singers will perform better with the new pressure. Tonight's theme: Michael Jackson. They show videos of Michael Jackson pre-2000. None of the new Michael Jackson.

Lil Rounds – "The Way You Make Me Feel" - She was proud of Memphis because of the barbeque. Jesse, her husband, explains that a tornado destroyed their house. She doesn't want to drop her dream. As she starts on the stairs, her pitch seems weird. I guess the male to female in the song isn't well adjusted. She tries a few unnecessary runs and weird Michael-esque "ow" noises. It really doesn't seem like any Michael Jackson song would fit, for many of the contestants. She hits a good high note, but she keeps doing these odd feet kicks. Randy loved how Season 8 kicked it off and loved the original spin she made. Kara thought it was perfect that Lil went first, the rest of the contestants need to step it up. She wants to hear Lil on the radio. Paula loves the soft clothing/makeup combo; she calls Lil a force to be reckoned with. Simon thought it was good, but a lazy song choice. He hates what Lil is wearing.

Scott Macintyre – "Keep the Faith" - He has been blind almost since birth. His parents quickly played music to compensate. His sister is also visually impaired. We also learn that the family sings together, stays together. He's on the piano and he definitely is more confident there. The singing wavers a little bit, but I've gotten used to it by this point. His falsetto is like a cat screech. It's kind of like a bad version of Ben Folds. The audience gives him a standing ovation. Kara is surprised how quickly he learned how to play with the piano. She liked the song choice, since it was a positive message. He's true to himself. Paula thinks that playing the piano was magical. Simon hated the song, because no one knew it. Simon likes everything else, except for the song. Randy thought the performance was safe. (Simon chimes in and calls it old-fashioned).

Danny Gokey – "PYT" - He had a lot of music in his family when he was young. The family was a little too creepily happy singing about having school and playing music. He slows down the song in the beginning and uses a lot of falsetto. He then channels Michael MacDonald. He then does some really silly dancing and running dances. He gets pitchy when he gets excited. He yells most of the song and his last key was flat. Paula loves that he's distinguishable and thinks he's on the way to the finals. Simon thought the vocals were brilliant and refers to Michael MacDonald as well, the dancing was hideous. Randy liked the fact that Danny went up-tempo; he liked the "passionate" dancing. Kara likes the joy in the performance.

Michael Sarver – "You Are Not Alone" - Michael goes back to Texas and feels out of place with the other oil riggers. His daughter is excited to see him. He grew up without a father and he has become a better person with his experiences. I can't help buy dislike the annunciation that he makes, like he was using too much teeth. He definitely shows some strength in the song and I believe that it connects. He hits a great glory note in the end. Simon thought he made up the lack of vocal ability with passion and heart. Randy liked the return to the R&B style. Kara found out that he could sing after hearing the song. Paula appreciates his likability, connect-ability, the song choice, and how he colored the song.

Jasmine Murray – "I'll Be There" - Jasmine talks about the glam squad. A stylist helps with wardrobe, hair and makeup. They go to the clip where she explains being the baby of the family. They are all close, even though their ages are spaced from each other. Her mom is with her because she is a minor. She goes with the ballad again and sings more of the Mariah version than Michael's. Her voice seems solid, but she hit's a few flat notes when she ends or begins phrases. Her run is decent, but she has no growl. She ends strongly with a good run and some falsetto. Randy points out that he helped record the Mariah version, she merged both versions and did a good job. Kara is always surprised by Jasmine's performances. She suggests going half a key down, but the stage presence was there. Paula loved the composure and poise. She pointed out that there were a few points where she was flat. (Ouch, Paula telling the truth?) Simon thought it was a good attempt, the big notes were a little meh, and she's a little robotic (ala Diana Degarmo).

Kris Allen – "Remember the Time" - His family was very musical as well. He definitely misses his wife. The two hope that something will happen with this "career choice." It's a little weird with the background music and the guitar. The vocals waver, but aren't that bad. He has this tendency to sing and move his jaw to the side. He gets a little yelpy in the time and fails a vocal run. He also depends a lot on the backup singers. Kara points out that the girls love him (jealous wife much?). She appreciates the use of the guitar. There were notes that were off though. She likes that he's helped the contestants practice their songs. Paula thinks that Kris knows the Michael Jackson catalog better than any contestant. She basically calls him "adorkable." He's like a cuter version of Hal Sparks. Simon thought it was interesting, because the guitar doesn't fit with the song. He suggests hiding the wife. Randy thought it was an interesting song choice.

Allison Iraheta – "Give into Me" - There is video of her father taping a young performance of her with his arms so shaky that the video looked like an earthquake. Allison performed at a furniture store and she performs again there to the delight of the owners. Her parents were quite supportive. She rocks an '80s-style and it fits well with her. I like the gruff nature of her singing and it's vocally all there. She does seem flat at points and her vocal runs are poor. Paula loves that she's 16 and great. She loves the rock star mentality. Simon thought it was a good performance and he likes that she knows what she wants to sing. Randy knows that she got it. He thinks that she's the one to watch. Kara likes how distinguishable she is.

Anoop Desai – "Beat It" - He is still floored by being part of the top 13. In his video, his parents think he's a spoiled child. He points out that his parents taught him about Indian culture. His parents think he's living the American dream. There's something that I don't like about the performance, if it's the tempo, the drunk cameramen, or the Matrix-video in the background. There also seems to be dust following him. There's something vocally off about the whole song. He tries to do a few vocal riffs and they don't fit. Simon makes Paula go first. Paula didn't think the song was the right choice. She thought it sounded Karaoke. Simon goes further and calls it horrible. He calls it lightweight and stupid. Randy thought it was the wrong choice. Kara's biggest gripe was the lack of vocal variation; she felt disconnect. Simon admits regretting the choice of the top 13.

Jorge Nunez – "Never Gonna Say Goodbye" - In Puerto Rico Jorge explains the loud, large family. After losing his grandfather, the family came together again when Jorge made it on. As he sings he still has the weird stare. I think it's the droopy eyelid. The pronunciation doesn't seem like a problem. His biggest problem is that his mic is too close to his mouth. His vocal runs are decent, he just uses a lot of them. Randy thought that the song wasn't the right choice and there were a few vocal problems. Kara didn't feel the emotional connection. Paula didn't think that the song fit him. Jorge admits that he had no choice. Simon thought it was corny and out of his depth. He couldn't wait for it to end.

Megan Joy Corkery – "Rockin' Robin" - Megan explains that her family pushed her to try out. She hasn't actually been on a stage on this show. She had dreams of being in the spotlight. She tried out for musicals and solos and never got anything. She focused on a family, but she ended up getting a divorce. She found meaning after having her son. I'm floored that someone even attempted "Rockin' Robin." Her jazz sound continues and the growl is also there. She has vocal chops, but this song really didn't show anything until the glory note (and the bird caw-ing). Kara likes the signature Megan; it wasn't vocally overwhelming. Paula likes the quirky/unique voice. She thought there was a disconnect. Simon thought it was a stupid song choice, the dancing and vocals were clumsy. Randy didn't like the song choice either.

Adam Lambert – "Black and White" – He has always been in California and understands that it's a struggle getting into the music industry. In Hollywood (the place but not the round), he gained a thicker skin. He works his falsetto and it is basically on Michael's key. He still gets '80s rock-star, but that's his trademark. He still does that weird falsetto-yelp, but again, it fits with the song. We'll wait for the day when he can't pick a song like that. After long applause, Paula thinks that she loved how comfortable and strong he is on the stage. He knows who he is. Both Paula and Adam are in tears. She thinks he'll be in the finals. Simon thought it was in a different league than everyone else. Randy thinks that he could make an album right now and it would be a hit. Kara thinks that he could hit notes that no one could sing. She thinks that Michael Jackson would be proud.

Matt Giruad – "Human Nature" - He explains in his video that the family took a lot of trips and played a lot of ping pong with his father. He wouldn't change anything. He definitely benefits from being with the piano. He wavers a little bit, but I do think that it was the right song choice. His falsetto is interesting, but I think he did too much of it. Randy thought that it had a little bit of pitch problems, but was good. Kara hopes to see him many weeks. Paula agrees and is blown away. Simon thought it was good, solid performance.

Alexis Grace – "Dirty Diana" - Alexis grew up in Memphis and the blues was part of her life. She cries thinking about her daughter (and makes her daughter say "Seacrest Out"). I always think that she wants to sing huskier and bigger than she can actually sing. She has a little bit of breathing/word problems in the beginning, but it is quickly dismissed when the chorus kicks in. She hits some flat keys before the second chorus, but I think everyone else listening is emotionally connected. After an audience standing ovation, Kara thinks that she's naughty. Paula wants her to make sure that she shouldn't over-sing. Simon points out the over-singing. Randy liked the attitude. She gets the odd number that ends in 36. (If you didn't read the news, 13 and 00 are both adult numbers.)

If Anoop isn't in the bottom three, I will be shocked. Possibly throw Jasmine and Michael down there. I could see little girls turned off by the fact that Kris has a wife.

Tomorrow: A weird judge/change of rules. I have a feeling it will be similar to America's Best Dance Crew, where the judges choose who from the bottom goes home.