Ryan starts the show by talking about Idol dropping a bomb last week by announcing a top 13 – funny that the Idol tracker boards arrived today with 13 squares on them. Seems SOMEONE was prepared for a top 13.

The judges make a grand entrance – and they’re all jazzed up…except for Simon, of course. Same black tee, same smirky know it all smile.

I love him.

Ryan is cracking up – at Simon, I suppose. He says Simon wanted to create a very entertaining entrance. I think they just wanted to take attention away from Seacrest. Good call.

Randy’s advice to tonight’s contestants is to bring it hard. Kara says she will have to be tougher on “the kids.”

Or, she can just mimic Randy.

Paula says to not be afraid to use the stage and not let it use you.

Ryan speaks of self consumption and then tosses to Simon.

Simon says you can’t forget the words and you must prove you are not swallowed up by the stage. Is he mimicking Paula? I see a trend.

Ryan intros the top 13 and then Simon announces that two will leave us tomorrow. An MJ montage follows, listing MJ as one of best selling artists of all time.

And the pressure free competition begins…

Lil Rounds
24-year-old from Memphis – who discussed BBQ. Doesn’t she know the best BBQ comes from Texas?????
Sings “The Way You Make me Feel”

Wow. That outfit is bootylicious. Did you know that term is in the dictionary? At least that’s what Beyonce said in her “E True Hollywood Story.” I don’t love her outfit…but what does it matter? She sounds a little pitchy, dog. This is not her best – but it’s a good way to “jump it off.(said in the style of Mr. Randy Jackson)” She gets better as the performance goes on. Strong finish. Decent job.

Randy says “Yo. Check it out. “This is the way to kick off season 8, the big dog says. How many times can he say that? He thinks she put a whole new spin and a new vibe on it. She made the song new again.

Kara thinks what Lil just did everybody got to be like… whoopsie. Good grammar. She really does want to be randy. She hopes we get to see her on the radio. Can you SEE people on the radio? I’m just asking.

Paula gives props to the glam squad. She thinks Lil is a force to be reckoned with.

Simon thought it was good but was a little bit disappointed. Like your idol expert here, he thought the 2nd half was better than the 1st. but he hates her white pants, froo froo pink powder puff prom top.

A promo for the Osbournes Reloaded airs during the break. I know I work for FOX…and in promotion at that…but, UGH!

Scott MacIntyre – aka the blind guy. Let’s be honest. That’s how people know him.
23-year-old from Scottsdale, AZ
Sings “Keep the Faith”

I’m not so evil for referring to him as the blind guy since his intro was about that fact. He’s on piano. Good idea. This is not the best MJ song, but they can’t all by my fave right? I’m a bit bored. What song is this anyway? Is it just me or did the stylists make him very Art Garfunkel. I blame the stylist b/c it’s not like he could ASK for that look. I don’t think they did him any favors. This was a bit amateur…but then he has been a bit amateur from the start, hasn’t he? Vocally I mean.

The crowd loves Art…I MEAN SCOTT. SORRY FOR THE CAPS AT THIS POINT. I AM NOT SHOUTING. MY LAP TOP JUST SCREWED THE POOCH.

KARA SAYS SHE IS GLAD HE GOT BEIND THE KEYS. She likes that he is true to himself every week. Oh look, the caps lock got fixed.

Paula thinks it is magical to see his instrument at his fingertips. Gross.

Simon hated the song b/c no one knows it. He advises to not be artistic on this show. LOL.

Randy thought it was safe.

There’s some discussion about the biggest MJ song in Norway – or something like that. Awww, Norway. For those of you who don’t know, my bro, sister-in-law and mini me niece live in Norway. Tear.

Danny Gokey
28-year-old from Milwaukee
Sings “PYT”

He’s putting a slow twist on the song. Not sure I like it. OK, he’s picked it up and it’s better now. Paula has also picked up her ass from the chair. You know how she loves to get up and get groove. Where’s Skat Kat? He points the mic in Paula’s general direction. Ewww. Stop that! Have you not heard “Straight up?” His voice is so much better than this performance. I love me some Danny but I do not love this.

Paula says a true mark of an artist is when you can hear somebody with your eyes closed and know who they are. She chokes up and says he is on his way to the final.

Simon thought the vocals were brilliant. Danny reminds him of Michael McDonald. He’s a white guy with soul. Not sure that is a compliment. He also says that because he was overexcited, the dancing was hideous.

Danny recognizes that singing and dancing together is difficult.

Randy loved it all.

Kara says he has joy.

Michael Sarver
27-year-old from Jasper, TX
Sings “You Are Not Alone”

Isn’t this the song MJ sang while making out with Lisa Marie? Ewww. I do like Michael(Sarver, I mean), but I don’t love the start of this tune. MJ is hard, man, b/c I love MJ singing these hits. MS is not bad, but not great either. Like everyone else, he has his own spin on the song, but I digs the orig.

Simon says he is not the best singer in the comp but he made up for it with heart. He jokes about all the rough neck vids/ stories/ references. Hey! Step off the Texas tie-ins, aright?

Randy talks about how he returned to the R&B flavor. Are you kidding me? What was R&B about that? It was totally countrified. If it was R&B in any way, I guess it was R&B ala Nelly. Country. That’s what I fixin’ to say.

Kara says that tonight showed her he really can sing. She thought he did great and that he brings his game. Again, I call Kara unnecessary.

Paula says he is likeable and calls him an ordinary guy with extraordinary talents.

Simon is cut off by the tune. LMAO.

Jasmine Murray
17-year-old from Columbus, MS
Sings “I’ll be there”

Love me some Jackson 5. Gary, Indiana, represent! Great song choice for her voice. I love this song choice. A couple of flat notes, but I dig it overall. She is not over singing AT ALL. Which is a sign of a much trained teen.

Randy says, “Yo. Check it out.” He name drops about recording that remake with Mariah and calls it “not that bad.”

Kara thinks she should sing a half key down, but she thinks she sold it.

Paula says she has tremendous poise. She thinks she may not hear herself in the monitors but says way to go. Is that a compliment?

Simon thinks it was a good attempt but a bit robotic. He advises her to lighten up and act her age.

If I was Jas, I would be totally confused at this point.

Kris Allen
23-year-old from No Where, Arkansas
Sings “Remember the Time”

He’s strumming the strings. Where’s Magic Johnson when you need him? Isn’t that who was in this video? It’s no secret that I do not like this guy. The boy band sound is out. Way out. I can’t take him seriously. Sorry. Next.

Kara says the girls love him. Duh. Boy band! Kara is happy to see him with his guitar and points out what a nice guy he is. Someone loves her some Kris.

Paula calls him adorable and sexy. Hey, hey Paula. He’s a married man, remember?

Simon calls it interesting and says the performance was a bit clumsy. He’s not sure he would have brought the wife out so early. OMG. He says he’s kidding…but I don’t think so.

Randy says the guitar was very Jason Mrazy. “Very well job done, baby.” Somebody got good grammar skills.

Ryan points out that b/c Simon is single he should not be giving advice. Doesn’t he know? Those who can’t do, teach. Duh.

Allison Iraheti
16-year-old from LA
Sings “Give in to Me”

Somebody needs to tell her that pink hair does now bode well. Has this chick not done her research? Hello Vanessa Oliverez. This is a bad song choice. Obviously she is not old enough to know what a good MJ song make. I can’t even focus on her singing b/c I am so distracted by this random song choice.

Paula thinks her voice is mind boggling. She loves her hair and…something else. Whatever, Paula.

Simon thought it was a good performance and she knows who she is. Like Jas, he advises her to lighten up a bit.

Randy says, “Yo,” followed by something like, “If you got it you born with it.” He says she can sing anything and calls her one to watch.

Kara tells her to keep being the rocker girl…followed by some other nonsense.

Anoop Desai
23-year-old from Chapel Hill, NC
Sings “Beat it”

Love that his video intro is the complete opposite of Sanjaya. This is a true Indian – unlike that teenage faux hawk wannabe. I love this kid. His hair cut is a bit too Simonesque for my taste. I know they say his voice is not the best, but I think he is actually pretty good. He’s not all show. I think his voice in strong and I still think he has a good chance of going all the way. Didn’t love the end, but I dug the most of it.

Paula thinks that song is untouchable and anything else sounds karaoke.

Simon thought it was horrible and calls it light weight, karaoke and stupid. He compares it to somebody trying to be like MJ and failing.

I totally disagree.

Randy says it was the wrong choice and totally karaoke.

Kara says we didn’t get to see any variation and she felt disconnected.

Simon now regrets adding Anoop to the Top 13. That’s it. We are broken up again.

Jorge Nunez
21-year-old from Puerto Rico
Sings “Never Can Say Goodbye”

It’s another Jackson 5 tune. Cool. Well… maybe not so cool. This is boring to the max. Work the stage, dude. Ugh.

Randy says “Yo.” He has mad love for him but would not have chosen this. He says he definitely has vocal chops and a good upper range but he didn’t love it.

Kara didn’t dig.

Paula has mad love too but she did not feel he was himself. She asks why he chose this song. Jorge says he had no choice. Huh? I guess he got the last pick out of the hat. He says he was not going to sing “Bad.” Simon pipes in that he actually did. Snap.

Paula reminds America to remember what a brilliant vocalist Jorge is.

Simon says it was corny and he was out of his depth. He calls the arrangement “absolutely awful” and says he couldn’t wait for it to end.

Paula says he deserves to be here though.

Megan Joy Corkrey
23-year-old single mom from somewhere in UT
Sings “Rockin’ Robin”

Her video tugs on the heart strings, talking about being away from her bubba. Awwww. Her dancing moves slay me. She talked about not being chosen for roles in musicals, and I gotta say, I see why. She is totally awkward. But I love her voice and I still want to see more of her. She’s the Brooke White of Season 8. The shimmy and caw at the end of her performance is hilarious!

Kara says she puts her signature on everything she touches. She calls it not the most overwhelming vocal but says she in “So Megan.”

Paula loves the quirky and unique tone to her voice but says she felt disconnected.

Simon sez, “What a stupid song choice.” He calls the vocals not very good and says the dancing was verging on ridiculous. He then calls her performance clumsy and awkward.

Randy thinks the song did not allow herself to be Megan. Uh, oh. I bet Kara is cringing and wishing she could change her critique.

Simon tosses to Gordon Ramsey in the audience. Horrid FOX cross promotion.

Adam Lambert
27-year-old from Hollywood
Sings “Black and White”

Is he singing about his makeup? Oh, no? Sorry. He’s actually toned down the liner. Good call. Am I watching a performance at Rain? His style is getting old for me.. I am a big Adam fan and I think the judges will love it based on the other performances tonight… but I am not bowled over.

Paula says, “Never in the history of Idol have we ever seen someone so comfortable and seasoned on this stage.”

Adam fights tears.

She says she believes in her heart we will see him running to the very end.

Simon thought that this was in a totally different league than anything else we saw tonight. Did I call it or what? He says to make MJ work you have to be over the top and comfortable with it. True. I guess we are back on.

Randy says Adam has been the most current since day one. He could make a record right now and sail to the top. “When you got it, you got it,” the Dog says.

What can Kara say that the judges have not already said? Exactly. What is she doing here?

Ryan says this is the first time this season we‘ve seen Paula do a hurkey. How the hell does Ryan know what a hurkey is?

Matt Giraud
The 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, MI
Sings “Human Nature”

He’s on the keys. He’s attempting to rock the Timbelake look – and the Timberlake voice. I’m not feeling it. I mean, he’s good. I just think the MJ theme is too much for me.

Randy thought it was really good performance and compares him to JT.

Kara hopes she sees him for many weeks,

Paula calls him talented, sexy and authentic. Note to producers: step in NOW to avoid future issues/ tabloid fodder!

Simon says it was really good. He calls it “meat and potatoes good.” Not sure what that means. Is that like porch chops and apple sauce?

Alexis Grace
21-year-old from Memphis
Sings “Dirty Diana”

Is it just me, or does her dad look like Cousin Oliver all grown up? Wow. That’s two Brady Bunch references in one review. I guess I am a true child of the 70s/80s. Oh, crap. Did I just date myself? Anyway, she rocks. And she looks like a rock star. Her voice is on. Her look is on. She’s definitely the best of the night.

Kara says Alexis is back! She has a few words …she’s “a naughty girl” and she “liked it.”

Paula agrees but tells her to watch the over singing.

Simon calls it very over the top and not as good as she probably thought it was.

Randy thought it was good. Not great, but good.

Man, I am not sure about the in studio monitors…and I’m not sure about this theme. You don’t mess with a master. But I am glad no one touched “Thriller.” That’s just suicide, yo!

I though the judges were WAY too nice to a lot of the peeps tonight. But I guess they needed to be in order to prove that there was a reason they picked these people.

I don’t really care who gets cut this week. I mean, there were no clear Sanjayas. Oh, God. What is VoteForTheWorst.com to do?

Nobody was real bad. Nobody was real good. It’s all going to come down to popularity at this point.

According to my Twitter friends it looks like Jasmine, Michael, Scott, and Anoop are likely to go home tomorrow. But, who knows? As I said, it’s all about America and who they like best.

You can follow me on Twitter at FOX7_IDOL_EDGE.