Idol Watch

Idol elimination: The Twain crashes for ... Siobhan.

Shania Twain night on American Idol Tuesday means a night of pop-country guests on results show at 9 tonight. Lady Antebellum (pictured, AP), currently the hottest music group in any genre, performs, as does Rascal Flatts, the group Lady A supplanted at the top.

And then... eliminations. My guess is Mike Lynch is most vulnerable (even if he has never been the worst). Follow live blogging and Twitter commentary.

Perhaps even producers realize less and less people care to see these so-called Idols because instead of the usual group number to open results show, we get a performance from Rascal Flatts who sang their unremarkable new single, Unstoppable. Really wish they would stop.

The bottom three: Mike, Siobhan and ... Casey? This was Casey's best week. The fix is in so long as Lee remains in this competition. In addition to Lee, Aaron and Crystal are safe.

Next week Harry Connick mentors the Top 5 in the Songs of Sinatra. They are going to have the likes of Lee and Crystal, Aaron and whoever survives among the bottom three tackle the master vocalist? Not one of these people are fit to utter the name "Sinatra," let alone sing his music.

Lady Antebellum performed Need You Now. Still waiting for someone to write and perform a better pop song this year. A surebet Song and Record of the Year Grammy nominee, that one. Watch.

Casey bottom two?? That's a surprise given he was TOP 2 last night with Aaron. It'll be Casey or Siobhan going home. Mike's safe.

Finally, viewers cried, "So, you're Siobhan Magnus? That don't impress me much" and the Irish lass screams her last scream on the Idol stage. A passable outcome.

Idols Live Tour Dates

Dates have been announced for the annual summer tour for the Top 10 American Idol finalists.

South Florida, always a stop on the Idols Live tour, once again figures as the Season 9 cast comes to the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise on Aug. 3.

Tickets are expected to go on sale for our date on May 15.

The 49-date tour opens July 1 in Auburn Hills and closes Sept. 14 in Pittsburgh.

For more chatter follow me on Twitter by clicking here.

Shania Twain mentors Idol Six

Shania Twain (left, Getty Images) was a fine guest judge during audition rounds this season so she's been brought back to help mentor the remaining finalists.

This should be amusing. Had the theme been the broader country category one could imagine the contestants could find some sort of song to fit them. But the theme is Shania's songs and her tunes, in general, have been written from a female point of view. Will be most interesting to watch the guys scrap over the few unisex songs from the 50 songs provided. I sure hope someone shows a sense of humor tonight and Big Mike winds up with Man! I Feel Like a Woman! or Lee has to settle for the spoken word interlude in That Don't Impress Me Much ("So you're Brad Pitt? That don't impress me much.")

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Shania amusingly notes that she was surprised that guys had to sing her songs and wondered how they might do. "Disappointed they didn't sing Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" Yes, me too.

Slow-witted Lee Dewyze kicks things off with one of the few Shania songs a guy can do (You're Still the One) and, as usual, half sleeps and half growls his way through it, bumping all around the key and never quite hitting it correctly. He's awful but for some reason Americans are celebrating mediocrity on this show and he's a lock to face Crystal in the finals.

Michael Lynche sings Shania's It Only Hurts While I'm Singing This Lousy Song. Boring. And, almost assuredly, his last time on the Idol stage.

 Meantime, the judges continue on their path of ignorance. Kara calls Shania a very "connected singer." Uh, no, she's not. Once popular, with a Def Leppard-meets-fiddles sound (thanks completely to her ex-husband Mutt Lange), her songs topped the charts more for their then-novel pop sound and not because she was some amazing singer. It's quite telling that now that she doesn't have Lange with her she hasn't released an album in a decade and none are on the horizon.

Casey James, along with the other two guys, sings Don't and helps make the case that when Shania considers writing another ballad she should hear the word "Don't" in her head and heed it. They all sound the same and lack strong melodies. That said, Casey did a good job with the material and far outshone the competition thus far. His best performance in weeks.

Crystal leeches the life right out of Shania's perky No One Needs to Know. Perhaps Shania's most country-oriented song and one of her best, Crystal was a major disappointment. Limp, lifeless, joyless, pick your -less and that was Crystal this week.

Aaron Kelly soars tonight on You've Got a Way and if anyone in power is listening, he should be made the new lead singer in Rascal Flatts (even if they aren't looking for one.) Tho just 17, Aaron sings with maturity, depth and strength with this kind of country-pop balladry. He'd be great as leader of Rascal Flatts cuz, unlike the sour guy they have now, Aaron is delightful. Charming. Can't say enough about him tonight. He and Casey, far out front.

Mandisa did a better job on Any Man of Mine years ago than Siobhan's self-conscious mess with it tonight. And the annoying screaming's back. Blech.

Prediction: Bottom three should be Lee in the deepest basement followed by Mike and Crystal. But it's fixed to keep Lee safe. Going home: Mike.

Best: Aaron and Casey.

Shania did a decent mentoring job. Some good advice.

OK, time for Dancing with the Stars results on DVR and then Glee.

Adam Lambert 'Glam Nation Tour' Dates

Adam Lambert (right, Getty Images) has announced the first string of dates on his coming "Glam Nation Tour." He'll be joined on the road by guitarist Orianthi and, on some dates, fellow Idol finalist Allison Iraheta.

“I hope the audience will be able to escape for a few hours and fall into a world full of glam, drama and excitement,” Lambert said in a statement. “And I would love everyone to come away with a new appreciation for the music on my album.”

Here are the initial dates from his publicist. South Florida doesn't feature among them, however, the Sept. 18 gig is in Florida so it appears, geographically, he's inching to our parts. Here's hoping.

6/4 – WILKES-BARRE, PA  - THE FM KIRBY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
6/5 – SAYREVILLE, NJ  - STARLAND BALLROOM
6/8 – TOLEDO, OH - OMNI             
6/10 – COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA  - HARRAH’S BALLROOM
6/11 – MAHNOMEN, MN - SHOOTING STAR CASINO
6/12 – PRIOR LAKE, MN - MYSTIC LAKE CASINO HOTEL
6/14 – COLUMBUS, OH- LC PAVILLION
6/15 – MILWAUKEE, WI - RIVERSIDE THEATER             
6/17 – HAMMOND, IN- THE VENUE AT HORSESHOE CASINO
6/18 – ROYAL OAK, MI- ROYAL OAK THEATER
6/19 – WEST TORONTO, ON/CANADA -             MOLSON AMPHITHEATRE
6/22 – NEW YORK, NY- NOKIA THEATRE            
6/24 – MASHANTUCKET, CT- MGM GRAND THEATER AT FOXWOODS
6/26 – ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - BORGATA SPA & RESORT – EVENT CENTER
7/15 – KANSAS CITY, MO - MIDLAND THEATRE
7/27 - COSTA MESA, CA - OC FAIR – PACIFIC AMPHITHEATRE
7/28 – COSTA MESA, CA - OC FAIR – PACIFIC AMPHITHEATRE
8/13 – BETHLEHEM, PA - MUSIKFEST
9/18 – ST. PETERSBURG, FL - TROPICANA FIELD 
 

For info on the tour visit http://www.adamofficial.com/us/home

For more entertainment chatter follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/HowardCohen

 

Adam Lambert: Simon's replacement?

Another enticing rumor flies over Twitter: Seems execs were so impressed with Idol runnerup Adam Lambert's guest mentoring two weeks ago, he's been approached as a possible replacement for Simon Cowell. The theory is that Adam has gone through the process so knows what is involved, he'd bring youth appeal and he has the attitude and talent to pull off the requisite criticisms from the judges' panel.

I actually think this is a terrific idea for all the reasons above. Adam was, by far, the best mentor Idol has seen this season. In a show starving for anything remotely exciting this season, this polarizing contestant would certainly get people talking -- and perhaps tuning in, once Simon bails.

That said, Adam also has minimal music industry experience. He's never signed anyone to a contract and is only now achieving Top 10 success on the singles chart with his current song.

Of course, this is just a rumor and whether or not Adam would want to tie himself to the program and its demands remains to be seen. But aside from Elton John, another great idea in theory whose name remains in the rumor mill -- probably from wishful thinking on fans' parts, the Adam rumor sure beats the other names that have cropped up (including a returning Paula Abdul.) 

For more Idol chatter follow me on Twitter. Click here.

Jordin Sparks comes alive at Revolution

Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks performs June 22 at Fort Lauderdale's Revolution Live. Kate Voegele is one of the opening acts.

 Tickets are $21.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday via Ticketmaster or www.livenation.com

Photo: Manny Hernandez/Miami Herald

Idol Gives (Tim Urban) Back

 
  
Tonight American Idol tries to atone for last night's sin of running long and costing Glee viewers on DVRs the last 5 minutes of the Madonna-themed show and the excellent Like a Prayer group number. Word is viewers were so angry, Fox plans to repeat The Power of Madonna Glee episode on Friday. (Next time, just cut Idol back. We don't need Ryan Seacrest's endless and self-aggrandizing walk down the stairs, his self-introduction and other bluster. He's just the host.)

 
So how will Idol atone? They'll run long again tonight! At least, that's the warning from Seacrest himself. Expect the usual bloated, two-hour Idol Gives Back charity special in which the cast, former Idols (including David Cook, Phil Stacey, Lindsey Cardinale, Melinda Doolittle, Danny Gokey, Lakisha Jones, Bo Bice, Bucky Covington, Mandisa) and self-serving pop stars like Mary J. Blige and Carrie Underwood pretend to care about malaria in Africa while, at the same time, making sure to sing and promote their lousy new singles. (At least Elton John isn't shilling a new song.)

 
The upshot? This year the sentimentality goes out the window and a contestant will be eliminated at the end of the two-hour extravaganza. That's the promise, anyway.

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The show kicks off with President Obama and Michelle Obama with a welcome statement. The First Lady had a message for our cranky judge: "Simon, be nice."

Nah, Simon, that's one national order you're free to ignore.

Some music box confectionaire tune followed, sung by the returning Top 12, but only Crystal Bowersox had any featured vocal. Guess the coronation is complete. She's the anointed one. Perhaps if she wins, she could afford to hire an extermination company to remove the rat infestation atop her head.

One of the charities this time, Save the Children, is U.S. based.

George Lopez steals the first 45 mins with a funny routine rating the judges. "Simon: Ryan stop touching me."

Alas, Ryan returns to name Aaron and Casey two of the bottom three. Casey belongs in the bottom. Aaron doesn't. Lee, unfortunately safe to sing badly another week, looks puzzled. His normal look. Crystal wants to go home but viewers won't let her.

Not a lot of entertainment thus far. Black Eyed Peas performed another abysmal song from their inexplicably popular album. Someone on Twitter wonders if it's their cable or could that song possibly be that bad. The answer is the former, it's the song. Jeff Beck and Joss Stone deliver a blues tune from his new CD. Joss looks like she's about to bust a vein in her forehead as she screams the song at the old legend.

Maybe it's the main Idol stage that is making everyone sound so rotten lately. Even Alicia Keys sounded raspy and off tonight on her two songs. (Two songs for serving as such a lousy mentor last night?) Carrie Underwood, by comparison, sounded OK but she was on a separate Pasadena stage. (Also sounded like she had some taped accompaniment help.)

Ryan then warns this depressing, entertainment-free mess is to run late tonight. Maybe if they'd consolodate the commercial pledges down to one or two this endless slog in self-importance could end in the alloted two hours.

Finally, some more results. Tim Urban joins Casey and Aaron in the bottom three. This is the wrong bottom three.

Mary J. Blige's "all star" rendition of Stairway to Heaven was quite decent -- but with the show running way long, this program needs a director to hustle this stuff along. Elton John now on, telling us to get tested for HIV. Love you, Elton. But just run an ad and let's get on with it.

Finally...we may find out who is eliminated after another run of 8 million commercials: It's Tim Urban, the charming, ever-smiling contestant who outlasted predictions. Casey was bottom two.

Show says $15 million raised so far for needy children as of 11 p.m.

Photos: AP.

American Idol's Inspirational Night

American Idol's theme tonight: Inspirational songs (whatever that means) with R&B star Alicia Keys mentoring.

 Blogging live and on Twitter.

It's Idol Gives Back week, Ryan informs us. "This is when Idol gives back." Hmm, can we give Ryan back?

"Don't stop/thinking about tomorrow/don't stop/it'll soon be here," sang Casey James as he did an off-key rip of the Fleetwood Mac Rumours classic. What I was hoping would "soon be here" was the song's end when we'd be finished with this lame performance. Casey can play guitar but is a mediocre singer and, in addition, Don't Stop is an inspirational song? I guess it is a positive song written by Christine McVie to her soon-to-be ex-husband John. She was always the supportive ray of sunshine in Fleetwood Mac. But this rendition just didn't sound inspiring, it sounded bland. The then-underrehearsed Fleetwood Mac did a better job with it for Clinton's 1993 inauguration.

My goodness, this program is so bad why is it even still on TV? Simon & Garfunkel's The Boxer is a ridiculous choice for an inspirational song. It's partly about a beaten-down, depressed guy trolling the streets of New York seeking "comfort from the whores on 7th Avenue." Naturally, Lee Dewyze (and the equally clueless Alicia Keys) don't understand the song and he studiously avoided that line. The judges are similarly clueless about music because nearly every note of that song -- even the simple "li-li-lis" was sung out of tune. This paint salesman needs to go back to Home Depot where he can do less damange. Just unbearable.

Tim Urban's the best of the first three so far -- but that Goo Goo Dolls song and performance is still pretty forgettable. Alicia is not much of a mentor, either. So far she's had little to say to the contestants and isn't inspiring decent performances the way Adam Lambert did last week.

A Kelly takes on R Kelly and the 16-year-old Aaron Kelly delivers the big I Believe I Can Fly with the requisite inspiration, the big notes and the confidence. The show finally started tonight. Finally, someone who gets it -- the youngest contestant.

Siobhan Magnus reminds me of an old Pinto we once had with a bad transmission. Took awhile for her to shift her song, When You Believe, into gear and then finally did get up to speed -- but not smoothly. When she tried to shift keys in the change she went slightly off-key. More voice lessons are required here. Alicia and all her Keys can't help Siobhan (or Lee) find the right ones.

Simon complains that Michael Lynche's choice of Hero from the first Spider-Man movie was not appropriate as an inspirational song but he had no qualms with the Simon & Garfunkel song about a washed-up boxer or Fleetwood Mac's post-divorce song? Uh, Simon, the Chad Kroeger song's called Hero and Michael's stylistic leap was inspirational and paid off.

Crystal Bowersox sure can sing. I'm not a fan but she sang that soul classic, People Get Ready, in a league beyond anyone else tonight. But she's a strange one with that crying jag at the end. Nevertheless, Crystal far out front tonight, Aaron and Mike next. The rest? Idol, give 'em back. Siobhan's probably going home.

OK, gotta run. Dancing with the Stars results and the Madonna Glee on DVR, can't wait.