OK, let me just start by saying: Having the show open and having someone else say "THIS is American Idol", someone other than Ryan Seacrest? BAD IDEA! Don't you be messing with that tried and true part of your formula, AI. I am fascinated by how important Ryan makes that statement sound every single week, and so are lots of other people. And, ignorant question here...isn't that guy they had an announcer for wrestling? Not boxing? And if so, am I the only one who thinks it's weird to have a wrestling announcer when the theme (the stupid stupid theme) was boxing?

First DWtS, now AI...what happened to these promising season? What a terrible week on AI. Seriously, could they have picked lamer songs? The judges, the contestants, the producers. Lame. And I did the math, by the way: This is the semi-finals, but they kept them to a minute thirty. So in an hour show, 14 minutes is singing. We know 20 minutes is commercials. That means 25 minutes is pure crap. Grumble, grumble. Again. Well, i guess I'm obligated to soldier on despite my personal resentment, so here goes:

New Wave, Reggae, Doo Wop, Soul, Folk...I heard about everything except rock and roll, how about you? Sigh. This is the American idol season that simply should have been better. Early promise has fizzled into mind-numbing same-ness. I am disappointed in you, my little Idol children. Last night each contestant performed two songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of 500 most influential songs. So, can I start off by saying I am shocked that "Hungry Like the Wolf" is even ON that list? Sigh, again.

An no one cared, not even the chair. I'll admit it, I didn't have high hopes for Neil Diamond night. He of the bombastic ballads and cheesy uptempos. Not that I can't think of Neil Diamond songs I like, I can, but I was pretty convinced none of the Top 5 would actually choose those songs. (Note to David Cook: Why you wouldn't sing the Chris Isaak version of Solitary Man, I have no idea.)

Bias check: Yup, I'm one of those effete musical theatre snobs who idolizes Sondheim and loathes Andrew Lloyd Webber. I lived in NYC in the late 80s and was pursing that starving artist dream, mostly focused on Broadway musical theatre glory. Sad to say there was very little Broadway glory to be found in those days, and I really lay much of the decline of innovative and original Broadway work at the feet of god old ALW. It was he and his producing partner who introduced the concept of the "blockbuster" to Broadway, and figured if they gave people some kind of spectacle, be it falling chandeliers, helicopters landing on stage, women belting it out at impossible registers and the like, they wouldn't notice the derivative music and florid lyrics. Sadly, he was right about that.

And much as you'd expect, ballads ensue. I have no problem, per se, with Mariah Carey. I even likes me some...that's some...of her ouevre. And I can respect her success, and the fact that she was actually writing or co-writing much of her material dating back to her teenage debut. And if Mariah really worked with each idol to find their own melodic takes on her material, than more power to her.

Can I just point out that this is a really dark and morose group, if we judge by which songs they think are "inspirational." I knew I liked them for a reason. OK, I'm all for charitable programs, obviously (have you donated to our BlogHers Act/Global Giving program yet, have you?) but why should they necessarily be accompanied by treacly music? Seriously, a night of "songs of inspiration" was not filling me with joyful anticipation. Does that make me a bad person?

And I'll be damned if they don't do a fine job! I'm not a country music fan, per se, but there are certain artists who capture my affections in that world...usually the quirky ones like Lyle Lovett, KD Lang, and yes, Dolly Parton. So while I didn't think she was a particularly inspiring or even minimally helpful "mentor" to the contestants, I enjoyed hearing her music. And since prep for BlogHer Business has had me lagging on the reality talent show recaps the last week or so, I wanted to jump right on this. Let's begin. 1. Brooke White sang Jolene

Last week was a very strong week for American Idol. The Top 12 tackled Lennon & McCartney, and even the lesser performances mostly showed talent and spark. The response was, apparently, so positive, that the producers decided to go back to the L&M, or more accurately Beatles, well and have another week dedicated to their music. Big mistake. They should have left well enough alone after last week's Lennon & McCartney fest

A lot of hits and a few big misses Every week Ryan Seacrest earns his money in one moment: When he says "This is American Idol" at the top of the show. He has said that several times a week for 7 seasons now and manages to make it sound just as significant and earth-shattering each and every time. Now, that's acting. Last night they unveiled a new set that includes putting the band way up in the rafters far far away from the singers...which I think is pretty lame. Other than that it just seems a bit bigger and with more fancy lights.

I admit it I'm a child of the 80s musically speaking. That's when I started seriously buying and collecting music, and musically it was a very rich time. You wouldn't know it from the song choices of the American Idol Top 16, as they each struggle to make the right song choice to make it to the Top 12. Apparently these youngsters look back at the 80s and find mostly treacly ballads and novelty songs. Sigh.

So I was traveling this week and couldn't watch AI until last night, long after the actual results wee already public. But I swear to you on all that is cheesy and reality TV holy, I watched the episodes in order and made my predictions before watching the results show. I can tell you this: I guessed the men exactly right. I was completely wrong on the women. And here we go: The Top 10 Guys Sing the 70s 1. Michael J. kicks it off with Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac