I tried for an hour to call in and only managed to get through to Clay's line once! You really have to be persistent to get some votes in. This was my first time calling so I hope my *one* vote makes a difference. Ruben's line was just as busy so I finally gave up calling to watch 24 on Tivo.

Really, really, really looking forward to tonight's show to see either Josh or Kim get the boot.

Clay gets an A and a D. Hated that Grease thing.

Ruben gets a B and a B. Good but not great.

Kim gets a C and a C. C's are unacceptable at this point in the competition.

Josh gets a D and a B. And a B for Josh is a great performance and maybe enough to keep him on the show (but I hope not).


Please, no more horrible theme nights. I hope next week we get the contestant's choice and the judges' choice like last year.

Was that a Elton John Toup on Robin Gibbs' head?

My thoughts from last night (and it took forever to get my calls through - guess everybody figured they'd actually better call this week instead of letting things coast)...

Josh: don't like his looks, voice, *twang*, he was ballsy to do the same song (didn't he do this on a previos show too - same song as Ruben?)...hope he's gone

Kimberley: frankly after the first few seconds I flipped back to Gilmore Girls... she bores me but I don't dislike her like I dislike Josh

Clay: first song was good and frankly I thought Grease was good...he's taken the judges advice (less weird face things and shook his booty) and basically just looked like he was having fun with it, though maybe not an Idol-winning performance showed he was comfortable on-stage and willing to try new things

Ruben: good of course, especially first performance where he moved around and showed a little more stage presence; the 2nd song was good as well but the arm was back...don't they have choreographers and the like working with them at this point? they need to lose the arm thing

In the end I hope Josh goes just 'cuz he bugs me and I'm petty that way

Is Kimberley shrinking in size over these 2 months?

That's what I was thinking. I was wanting to see how well Reuben and Clay would do with a Disco song. I think Reuben is an excellent singer, but he's extremely one dimensional. Clay also is to a lesser extent. At least Josh tries to do the harder songs.

The judges might keep Kimberly just to have a girl around, even though she clearly deserves the boot.

???
The judges have no say anymore.

I couldn't tell, but at one point was that
Zuleikha Robinson in the audidence?

I noticed Brooke Burke (former "Wild On" host) in the audience. She's a hottie.

Clay just won the whole competition last night.

Think about it. He's this year's Kelly Clarkson. Neither were/are ever in the bottom 3 (or 2). Both weren't favorites starting out. Both got better each week and each had defining moments late in the competition. (Kelly's being the swing show and Clay's first number last night.) Ruben is this year's Justin--good, but can't close the deal. Clay wins. Beli' that.

I've noticed this too. First they had folks dressing her which helped considerably (she was an ideal candidate for "What Not to Wear" imho).

But she's definitely dropped 20+ lbs (I'm really bad at estimating stuff like that so could be a whole lot more).

I am totally buying one of those jackets. Not because of Clay, but because that jacket kicks some major ass.

It is also the same kind of jacket the dude wore in that dreadful Sandra Bullock film, Murder by Numbers.

----

On topic,

I usually don't watch the show (because it clashed with a study group I was involved in with school), but school is over with and I am at home for the summer so I watched with my mom.

But from the recaps on Wednesdays and last night's episode - I can exclaim that Clay should be the American Idol. Ruben is too similar in his performances (Clay is sometimes, but he sort of got away from his same ole same ole phase) and I don't believe his hype. Kimberly is just blah and just started to get good then went downhill with last night. I agree with the person who said she started off bad with each song. Josh is just another hype because he is a Marine.

My vote: (if voters go by the performances of last night...and not personal faves: ie Ruben and Josh

Kimberly should be kicked off.

Proof that I am not biased in any way, I must give props where they're due:

Josh: dude's got balls. While the 'Jive Talkin' vocals were avereage, at least he showed some energy for the performance. And 'To Love Somebody' blew away Clay's version--sounded really good with a little country twist.

Ruben: A+. I was hoping someone would do 'Nights on Broadway' and he got a standing O from me. GREAT rendition with the R&B flavor to it. I hope he records that on his album when he wins. 'How Can You mend..." was about a B+, but overall, he was easily his best.

Clay: even though my wife and I are sick of him, I had to gice him ups for 'To Love Somebody'. I didn't think there was any way Josh would outdo him with his own version, but he did. 'Grease' was just awful.

Kim L.: unfortunaetly, she was just average tonight. She did good updated versions of the songs, but she could have picked better songs. While I think she has the most commercially-viable voice in the group, I have a feeling she'll be gone.

While Josh shouldn't even have been there, he came strong and took advantage of his second chance. I wouldn't be disappointed if he got the boot, but wouldn't be upset if he stayed either (as long as it was Clay that went instead of Kim).

Don't worry, hehe. I got at least 100 votes in for him at 10pm. (Gotta love being able to make two calls at once with three-way calling!)

I'm such a dork.

Ruben was 01 right? Because I had no problem getting through and got several votes in.

Josh was 01.

Saw Brooke Burke - she's my American Idol!

The other dude with the gray hair was a Bono-wannabee. Down to the glasses (blue lenses instead of yellow).

You guys already covered the performances, but I gotta say I have finally hit my limit with the comments of Randy, Paula and Guest Judge.

Criminy, only Simon says anything worthwhile. They first 3 were a waste of breath. I would love to see a "Guest" judge say something critical.....

That *has* to be it.

He's not getting by on his vocal talents, and he sure as hell isn't getting by on his looks. Reasoning leaves that he's still in 'cause it's war-time and he's a "hero."

And that whole running-around-the-audience thing during 'Jive Talking' did nothing for me. Aside from the fact that he sounded like a cat being smacked repeatedly against a wall (and a very off-tune cat at that) he looked like he was just going through the motions. No *feeling.*

If he stays this week, something is very wrong.

• Quoth Groucho •<HR SIZE=1>Ruben was 01 right? Because I had no problem getting through and got several votes in. <HR SIZE=1>

Yeah ... my friends and I must have gotten a good 15,000 votes in between us. I was surprised how easy it was to vote for him. They must have upgraded their phone system to handle more calls. GO RUBEN!!!

das

If "Grease" was Clay's attempt at a fun song, god help us if he puts out a fun album if he wins. I'd rather listen to an album of his boring ballads. It was by far the worst performance of the night, and Simon was the only judge who told him that he stunk (what else is new). His hip gyrations were not fun or cute, they were pathetic. Stand still if you're going to do garbage like that.
His first song was all right, but I liked Josh's version better.

Kim L. was bad as usual. Someone needs to inform her that this isn't VH-1 Divas live. She really needs to concentrate on singing songs with notes she can hit.

I don't like when Josh runs around in the crowd, it seems to be a desparation move to get people behind him. The singing on the song was not horrible but not great. His second song was the best of the night IMO.

Ruben was not outstanding tonight but he never seems to have a really bad performance as everyone else in this competition is prone to doing (most on a weekly basis).

I really don't care who wins, I won't buy any of their records. I watch hoping there is some compelling TV (like say Ruben and Clay in the bottom two this week, that would be great )

I really think that Ruben was the absolute worst. It isn't anything necessarily related to his performance. Rather, he is just the most boring competitor. His voice is subpar compared to everyone left. He looks bad on the stage. And I don't think he truly cares much about the competition. He needs to lose this week.

Does anyone else think Josh looks like Frankenstein?

His face just really bugs me.

I too, was disappointed in Kim. She can do better.

Josh just plain sucks. Should have been sent packing a long time ago. Definitely last week. He knows he escaped a horrible performance.

He should have sang "Tragedy". That sums up the fact he's still on the show.

Never thought I'd ever hear anyone put Josh's voice above Ruben's.


I have to agree that his performances lack visually, and that for some reason, he has trouble controlling his breathing, but he has a great voice. I've noticed a lot of people ragging on him because of the rasp in his voice, and all I can think is..."Has r+b truly become that homogenized? Did Pat Boone win?" That rasp was a trademark of soul music for the longest time, with singers from Wilson Pickett to James Brown to Levi Stubbs to Ray Charles, using it to great effect. While Ruben is definitely not in their league, I think the rasp adds great tonal color to his voice. Plus, it is a great tool of communicating heartbreak in a song (prob. why the second number last night worked so well for me, vocally). His main drawback is that he still comes across as a Luther wannabee. His voice lacks anything distinct.

Josh's performance of "To Love Somebody" was okay last night (IMHO, his best performance was weeks ago with "Don't Want to Miss a Thing"...I was even under the impression from that single performance that he could win the darn thing). But he is far from consistent. When he is good, he's good (but not great). When he's bad, however, I start thinking that I might put on a Leonard Nimoy record instead.

Ironically, I still think its Josh who most likely could sell records in his "field." A number of country artists have less than stellar voices (as did many new wave artists of the early 80's) and still manage to have solid careers. What he would need is a good producer to curb in his worst tendencies. Don't think he'll ever make it as a live performer, though.

But then stranger things have happened? Didn't Michael Bolton have a number of high charting singles??

As for the others, Clay continually comes across as late night TV record offer fodder (competent, but not the stuff of modern radio) and Kim, much like Josh, needs to come to terms with what her voice can and can't do. Until then, she just seems like she's lucky when she clicks with a song.

When Kimberly Locke is on, I would rather switch to the GOLDEN GIRLS!!!