LIVE IDOL! Will Archuleta Sing "Memory"?

Tonight's American Idol is all about celeb mentor Andrew Lloyd Webber, the British composer responsible for such theatrical cheese plates as Cats, Evita and Phantom of the Opera. Oy, was this a brutally bad idea. I can't wait to see Jason Castro bust out the ukelele and warble Don't Cry for Me Argentina.

Actually, I can wait. Tonight I'm covering Springsteen. Next Tuesday, Sheryl Crow. The Tuesday after that, Radiohead. It's the concert season, so I'm swamped. However, the Pop Life Idol Chat & Opium Den will be OPEN normal hours, thanks to a host of celebrity snarkers these next few Tuesdays.

TONIGHT'S SPECIAL GUEST? None other than my work wife, Janet Keeler, who's been watching Idol ever since the first "pitchy." The newspaper's travel & food editor, Janet is also one of our great pop-culture wits, so you're in for a treat. The show starts 8 p.m.

Comments

[Marissa]

It's become abundantly clear that American Idol goes on about 5 weeks too long. For others it shouldn't even exist. For me? Well, I've got nothing better to do on a Tuesday night.
Y'all have a good time.

[jane]

Les spoilers...

Syesha/"One Rock & Roll Too Many" from Starlight Express (if she wears roller skates for this, I'll pick up the phone and dial. Just because.)

David Cook/"Music of the Night" from Phantom of the Opera

Carly Smithson/"Jesus Christ Superstar" from yes, Jesus Christ Superstar

Brooke White/"You Must Love Me" from the film adaptation of "Evita"

Jason Castro/"Memory" from Cats

David Archuleta/"Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera

[Jeff in Cuba]

Am I going to be the only Y-chromosome on the blog tonight?

[Marissa]

Jeff, it appears you'll have to really pull more than your weight tonight. You have to supply enough snark for Sparky and Sean. Are you up to the task?

[Jeff in Cuba]

It's always daunting to see "weight" & "Sean" in the same sentence, but I'll do my best.

[Marissa]

I'm a little surprised Jason isn't taking on "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph. It's up his alley.

[Marissa]

Question: Why would Syesha ask if she can be animated? Isn't part of singing being a performer? Uh,HELLOOOOOO

[Marissa]

I didn't watch Jason, but I had David Soul flashbacks.

[giant head]

Don't worry, Marissa... you didn't miss a thing with Jason. HO HUM. I'm watching with some TIVO delay.

Does Paula seem extra chatty and slurry? Or is it just more annoying tonight mixed with broadway?

[Marissa]

Ooooh, Brooke's breakdown is just around the corner. She flubbed and stopped the song AGAIN!!

[Marissa]

I wonder if they tell Simon to let Paula ramble to fill more time. Egads.

[Marissa]

Dont' cry for Brooke American Idol... she'll find a cozy seat on the stoolies...

[giant head]

AAUUGGHH!!!! I just caught up to Brooke's re-start!! HA HA HA HA!!!

You only get one chance to screw up like that and still be liked. She cashed that chip in several weeks ago...

[Marissa]

But did you notice she said she's never done that? Uh, rewind, my dear. Maybe she didn't forget the lyrics, but she sure as hell stopped and restarted.

[Marissa]

I'm feelin' pretty damned pitiful right now. Thanks, Giant Head, for being around. :::echoechoecho:::

[Jeff in Cuba]

OK, I'm back.

I'll post the long version of my snake-bit evening in a moment...

[Jeff in Cuba]

So at 7:58, we lose power to the the northwest portion of the base, including the satellite feed.

No satellite means no TV, and no Internet. For anyone.

Of course, the phones still work, and mine starts ringing.

We got the power back up about 10 minutes ago, and my life is once again my own.

So what did I miss?

[giant head]

I'm kinda slow on the take with the show. I'm just now up to Carly. I can't stand listening to Randy or Paula, so I end up pausing and FF a lot.

I FFed through most of Archuletta. blech. I love Phantom, so that was nightmare... I still couldn't tell whether or not he had his eyes open.

[Marissa]

Jeff, how'd ya like Brooke's stutter start?

[Jeff in Cuba]

I gotta give DC props for working outside his comfort zone, but Josh Groban doesn't need to lose any sleep.

[Marissa]

oh crap. I wrote that before I read your synopsis.

[Marissa]

I think he coulda rocked out a song, but clearly he *wanted* to prove he was more than a Chad Kroeger knockoff.

[Marissa]

Syesha (I can't believe I'm typing this) was my favorite of the night. She played it up as the song required.

[giant head]

I was totally expecting David Cook to rock out "Music of the Night." Guess he couldn't find a rock version on the internet?

[Jeff in Cuba]

Based on the recaps alone, I'm going to put Syesha, Jason and Brooke on the stools.

Does that sound about right?

[Marissa]

Jeez, I hope Sarah Brightman doesn't perform tomorrow night.

[Ian from Down Under]

Do I sense from a million miles away and pre - viewing of the show, that nobody on here wouold be upset if they called the whole show off and played the S.I.T.E. interview with Deborah Gibson for the remaining 5 weeks?

[Marissa]

If you go by fan base and stoolie history, probably, Jeff.

[giant head]

I stink at picking out the bottom three, but I'm guessing Brooke will do plenty of pouting and crying tomorrow night.

She'll go out KLC style... announcing her own departure before Seacrest does.

[Jeff in Cuba]

And I can't believe I'm going to say this:

I like what Syesha's done with her hair.

If you need me I'll be in the backyard watching Judy Garland videos in a pink tent.

[Marissa]

Uh, no Ian.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Ian,

I think the Dueling Davids finale will be worth watching, but watching the other chumps fall off week by week will be about as exciting as watching the random Red Shirt get vaporized on old Star trek reruns.

[Jeff in Cuba]

But, much like old Star Trek reruns, I'll still watch.

[Kate]

I want to wrap David Cook up and bring him home for my very own! Sometime syou forget a dude with an electric guitar can actually sing!

[Ian from Down Under]

Darn, I was hoping to see Sean and Steve's interview (or should that be Sean's interview and Steve's passenger impersonation)on cable TV in Australia.

[Kate]

(Yes, I've been here all along but in my own little tivo time warp. sorry. I have more margarita mix if y'all want to share--)

I think they'll just do a bottom two tomorrow, and that it will be Dreads and Tearful Blue Eyes, and Blue Eyes will go.

Syeeesha gets a pass, good hair and decent performance save her again.

[Marissa]

I listened to the DG podcast again today. To be fair and honest, Ms. Gibson (rightfully so) owned the interview. Sean and Steve were the cherry and whipped cream.

[Ian from Down Under]

The word cherry in the same sentence as Sean and Steve conjures up all sorts of lewd thoughts. ewwwwww.

[Jeff in Cuba]

So here's an interesting little factoid:

When we lose our cable feed, we can pick up a weak Cuban TV signal. So while you were all watching AI, I was watching a snowy broadcast of the Cuba-Venezuela basketball game.

From what I've read, I may have got the better part of the bargain.

[Ian from Down Under]

i meant to add whipped cream to that last comment as well. Bad thoughts Ian - stop it

[Marissa]

Ian, that's how I send out subliminal messages to S & S. They ignore them, but you can't blame a girl for trying.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Normally I'd check out the stuff I missed when the Armed Forces Network re-airs it tomorrow night, but tomorrow night is [shameless proud parent plug ahead]...

...the Straight A Honor Role cruise around the bay, which we will attend with our daughter Daisy, one of only two fifth graders to make the grade.

How cool is that?

[Marissa]

THAT is awesome, Jeff! Congratulations to Daisy in Cuba. That surely beats anything I've heard today. Thanks for sharing such fantastic news. Really. Best news today.

[Marissa]

Hey! Quantum Leap is on some weird channel called ION.

[Ian from Down Under]

Hey Riss,
I was thinking the other day that we should organise a Stuck in the 80's weekend for next year. It could be a wild weekend of 80's movies, music, fashion and wild drinking. Just like we all did in the 80's. And maybe Steve and Sean could organise a few 80's big names as guests. Especially Huey Lewis, then we could all bag the crap out of him for such a shite interview. It would be a real hoot.

[Marissa]

Ha! If I'm recreating high school I'll need a Mr. Misty (icey, slushy) from the Dairy Queen ... topped off with Bacardi.
I'm game for such a party.

[Ian from Down Under]

Well done Daisy in Cuba. The in Cuba family must be chuffed.

[Ian from Down Under]

Could you imagine the Podcast from that party. One straight hour of slurred unintelligible ranting, singing and bawdy jokes and reminiscing. Or am I confusing it with what goes on in an ordinary podcast. I think we should badger S & S to get it organised.

[Marissa]

Ian, I'll leave the badgering to you and others. I think I've landed myself in the penalty box.