American Idol 2007--Live Thread (Part I)

Me, too. I think we'll see him at the finale.

Just a little sidelight...Katharine Mc Phee was a guest on the "Ugly Betty" show on Thursday night. She looks terrific. It looks like acting may be her best bet after all.

'Idol' Week 3: The Power List

By Michael Slezak

1) JASON ''SUNDANCE'' HEAD
Burly, genial son of '60s hitmaker Roy Head was a bluesy delight delivering ''Stormy Monday'' in Memphis and scored a big win in our Week 2 EW.com reader poll. Now if we could just do something about that warthog-style facial hair...

2) CHRIS SLIGH
Jack Osbourne look-alike hooked us from the get-go with his Hasselhoff joke, and his vocal and emotional range on Seal's ''Kiss From a Rose'' proved equally appealing. Probably causing panic at 19 Entertainment HQ, which makes us cheer for him twice as hard.

3) PORCELANA PATINO (last week No. 2)
With her bleached hair, cheap bracelets, and brash personality, Porcelana is 1-800-TOO-MUCH, but that husky, heartfelt rendition of Mary J. Blige's ''Love No Limit'' was just right. The best thing to come out of Queens since Ugly Betty?

4) SANJAYA MALAKAR (last week No. 3)
Younger half of a potent brother-sister combo tackled Stevie Wonder without sacrificing melody for melisma, and despite having had no airtime since Jan. 17, he remains a force in our EW.com poll. With the help of a stylist, there's no telling how far he'll go.

5) JENRY BEJARANO (last week No. 5)
What's this? A 16-year-old who looks like Tyson Beckford's far hotter younger cousin? And who delivered an above-average version of Gerald Levert's ''I'd Give Anything to Fall in Love''? Yes, people, God does indeed play favorites.

6) MELINDA DOOLITTLE (last week No. 4)
It'd take a Grinch not to root for this 28-year-old backup singer, who fought off a mean case of the nervous shakes before her home-run audition of ''For Once in My Life.'' Still, lack of confidence may not look so cute in front of a live audience.

7) BRANDON ROGERS (new this week)
His smooth, seductive ''Always on My Mind'' was the lone cause for celebration from Idol's lackluster Los Angeles audition episode; is it any wonder Christina Aguilera and Anastacia brought him along for backup support on their respective tours?

8) ANTONELLA BARBA (last week No. 5)
Untrained half of New York episode's ''Jersey girl'' duo proved to be a surprisingly powerful vocalist with a great sense of rhythm on Deniece Williams' tricky ballad, ''Free,'' but is there enough genuine fire beneath that low-wattage façade?

9) SARAH KRUEGER (last week No. 7)
She's pretty, she's unassuming, and she gave a knockout rendition of ''Somewhere Over the Rainbow'' at her Minneapolis audition. But two weeks after her initial appearance, we can barely remember the sound of her voice.

10) RACHEL ZEVITA (last week No. 11)
Brilliantly neutralized Simon's accusation of musical schizophrenia by pointing out that Idol wannabes need to tackle different themes each week. But while she aced the rock, AC, and opera genres, she desperately needs a tutor in Style 101 — and a tweezer.

11) RUDY CARDENAS (last week No. 8)
Watching Paula drool (and Seacrest go in for a half-hug) over the 28-year-old Venezuelan-born hunk was high comedy, but the guy's mighty fine rendition of Journey's ''Open Arms'' proves his Idol aspirations are no laughing matter.

12) SHYAMALI MALAKAR (last week No. 10)
Sure, her jazzy take on ''Summertime'' wasn't at Fantasia levels, but at least she did it her way. Not only that, Sanjaya's sister is sassy without being mouthy, and her success would leave Simon regretting that ''nothing unique'' critique. Oh snap!

13) JORY STEINBERG (last week No. 12)
Her plunging neckline grabbed Simon's attention, but it was a polished interpretation of Tina Arena's ''Chains'' that held it. Still, is this Canadian beauty who once sang for the queen of England just a pageant contestant in pop star's clothing?

14) NICHOLAS PEDRO (last week No. 9)
Yet another chap who had Paula salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs, but his ''Fly Me to the Moon'' proved he's more than a handsome face. Still, after botching his lyrics and bailing during season 5's Hollywood round, his guts remain a question mark.

15) MATT SATO (last week No.13)
This 16-year-old's tearful phone call to mom was the emotional highlight of Idol's first week, but if we're being honest, his compelling backstory upstaged a good, but somewhat oversung, rendition of ''California Dreamin'.''

16) CHRIS RICHARDSON (last week No. 16)
The judges dubbed this 22-year-old Virginia native a Justin Timberlake look-alike (and sound-alike), but his overwrought take on ''A Song for You'' paled next to Elliott Yamin's version, to say nothing of Donnie Hathaway's.

17) SEAN MICHEL (last week No. 20)
It takes chutzpah to point out to America that you resemble Osama bin Laden, Jesus, and Fidel Castro, and while his ''God's Gonna Cut You Down'' didn't please my ears, the dude finished at No. 5 in last week's reader poll. Are you guys just teasing me?

18) TATIANA MCCONNICO (new this week)
Mad props for selecting Aretha Franklin's ''I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You),'' but this teen's nerves crept through in the way she rushed the tempo. Lacks Paris Bennett-like confidence — and that lil' firecracker only finished fifth last season.

19) DENISE JACKSON (last week No. 15)
Her ''And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going'' had power but lacked subtlety — much like her hooched-out red minidress and black crocheted sweater. One also has to wonder, was that ''crack baby'' revelation too much too soon?

20) JAMIE LYNN WARD (new this week)
Showcased a pretty, if uneven, tone on Xtina's power ballad ''Reflection,'' but this teenager's revelations about her family's painful past played like a Mad Libs of Idol sob stories. This ain't Maury Povich, sister!

link for the last post

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007164_20008533_20010777_,00.html

I had no idea who she was until " Betty " said, Katharine McPhee !

Good list, althou8gh a couple of them are there for the colorful personalities, and not the voice.

10) RACHEL ZEVITA (last week No. 11) Brilliantly neutralized Simon's accusation of musical schizophrenia by pointing out that Idol wannabes need to tackle different themes each week. But while she aced the rock, AC, and opera genres, she desperately needs a tutor in Style 101 — and a tweezer.

Brillant analysis! However, this little "B" can blow lung! There isn't one contestant I've seen yet who can hang with her technically. Which just may be her downfall.

I hope she figures it out...