Although American Idol judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson all gave high points to Melissa McGhee’s lyrically-challenged, raspy rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately,” home viewers disagreed, sending the 21-year-old from Tampa home in the first week of real episodes of Season Five. And nerdy bad boy Kevin Covais’ jumpy “Part-Time Lover”? Not even in the bottom three. Um, okay… No matter, everyone was better in this week’s episode, which welcomed Barry Manilow to coach the top 11 not in singing his hits but songs from the 1950s (Huh? Frankie Valli wasn’t available?!). It was also the first week that vaguely familiar former Idol contestants like Lindsey Cardinale, Constantine Maroulis (pouting, as always) and Jasmine Trias reappeared as audience members, reminding us all exactly how fleeting this certain brand of fame is.
Best In Show
Mandisa – The first spot of the show can be deadly–just ask Ace Young, who found himself in the bottom three last week to the horror of his sizable fanbase. But things went differently for one-named wonder Mandisa. Two hours and ten contestants later, we were still remembering her vocals, easily the best of the night. One fan in the house called her “Mandiva” on a homemade sign and it’s a nickname that should stick. Mandisa is so confident, so charming and so damn talented that just planting herself center stage and singing out “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” was good enough for us. Cowell had a grin plastered on his face for the entire performance, calling it “very sexy” and likening her delivery to that of a stripper. Clearly, Simon’s come a long way from his original dig at her plus-size status. Speaking of, has Mandisa been dropping pounds since her first Idol appearance? Good for her if she is, but we love her any size.
Big Steps
Kevin Covais – Yes, we did go after Covais last week like a pitbull and we do still think that he really needs to go (Sorry, tween readers). But he earned a spot in the Big Steps part of our round-up simply because he seemed to actually learn something after his “Part-Time Lover” debacle. Gone this week was the edgy banter with Cowell and the hyperactive performance style. In their place was a kinder, gentler and most importantly earnest Covais who crooned “When I Fall in Love” in a baby blue polo shirt, coming off like the cute kid that he hopefully is. Was it all calculated? Well, of course. Will his fans eat it up? With a spoon.
Katharine McPhee – Last week we used the “s” word to describe McPhee and this week Simon Cowell did as well. “Tonight, you turned into a star,” he offered after she finished a slinky, jazzy performance of “Come Rain or Come Shine.” McPhee is so at home on the Idol stage that she looks as if she could be singing on the Grammys. And she’s incredibly sexy onstage, which she balances with a girlish, fun offstage persona, making just all-around appealing (Our favorite audience sign of the week: “Call a doctor. I have a McPheever!”). She’s also tops with fashion, in a form-fitting silky cobalt dress that proved that sometimes covering up is hotter than showing skin. With the newfound support of Simon (who could only muster up, “You’re good” last week), McPhee is now a favorite.
Elliott Yamin – The most unaffected of the contestants, Yamin kind of bombed with the Stevie Wonder songbook and we prayed for a comeback… which we thankfully got. “Before I met Barry Manillow, I wasn’t too fond of his work to be honest,” he bluntly told Seacrest before his performance, showing off all the regular guy qualities that we find so refreshing about him. Sporting a new goatee and a rare necktie/dress combo (untucked over jeans, of course), Yamin challenged himself with “Teach Me Tonight” and won big, earning praise from all three judges that wasn’t in the cards last week. Now if we only felt secure in the number of people dialing up Elliott’s voting number. Here’s hoping he doesn’t slip through the cracks between his showier competitors.
Missteps
Bucky Covington – The good ole country boy seemed strangely out of breath and out of tune with his rendition of Buddy Holly’s “Oh Boy,” although we did breathe a sigh of relief that the Jessica Simpson do was done (But we still wish he’d just pulled his hair back in a ponytail like on early episodes of AI rather than let it hang). Overall, the likable Covington just looked sort of out of place in comparison to his competitors–it’s not hard to imagine him in the bottom three, a fate he somehow avoided last week.
Taylor Hicks – Don’t get us wrong. We really do like Taylor and we absolutely dug his silver blue suit. What made him one of the night’s missteps was the fact that, after weeks of solid work, he finally showed some vulnerability. It was mostly his choice of song (“Not Fade Away,” which came off a bit one-note) that brought him down a notch. His goofy dancing also gave us pause for the first time, but we can live with that. But Taylor without the wow factor is simply not going to fly.
Lisa Tucker – Tucker came dangerously close to being voted off last week and everything about her performance this time out seemed calculate to avoid a similar fate again. The polished makover was toned down, making her look more like a 16-year-old and less like a pop idol. She also went with a well-loved song, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” but her nerves seemed to get the best of her vocals. The money notes were still there, but the magic was gone.
Who Will Go?
Last week, we predicted that either Bucky Covington or Melissa McGhee would get the boot and McGhee did indeed sing her last throaty Idol performance. Although Elliott seems like he could always be vulnerable to one of those premature evictions that the Fox show is famous for (we’re still licking our wounds over Jennifer Hudson!), we’re guessing that either Covington or Lisa Tucker will be sent home. As Covington had enough fans last week to avoid the bottom three, Tucker is the safer choice.
