AI - 3/10/09 - Michael Jackson Night - With a Lizzy Surprise!!!!

They start out with the judges coming out of an opening stage. Holy CRUD - what did Paula do to herself? Did she have plastic surgery? Did her bronzer blow up? It's just not good.

Here's a little surprise for you - I'm going to start giving you visuals of the contestants each week. As I, and my sharpie, see them.

First - we're watching. Essie says "Oh Michael Jackson! I love him! I LOVE HIM!!!" Gert says "ME TOO!!!!!! Who is he?" LOL

Lil is up first... The Way You Make Me Feel. She's hitting it hard. And good. And sadly attacked by some pink tulle on her neck. And some weird 80's high waisted pants. But I think she sang it well. Randy said she kicked off Season 8 right. He says that every week. Kara liked it. Paula liked the palate of what Lil was wearing. Simon didn't like the song choice (um... she's limited to MJ songs... there are only so many choices) and didn't like what she was wearing. Interesting that they went from putting her in the sweet spot (last to sing) in her semi-final round and now put her in the spot of death (first.) Up next is Scott. Live!!! (Better than dead.. what would be awkward.)

Scott sings Keep The Faith and plays piano - he ROCKS at the piano. Not so much the vocal. So clunker notes and the falsetto thing really didn't work for him. Kara loved the piano playing, and said he stayed true to himself. Paula loved it. Simon didn't like the song. Jeez - he's impossible to please. Randy... felt he went safe.

Danny sings PYT - one of my favorites - IT started out a little rocky - kind of slow - but then he starts rocking it... WOW - great vocals- strong and really believable. The judges collectively love it. Simon doesn't like his dancing, but Danny agrees so it's cool.

Michael - You Are Not Alone - Good song choice - slow and a little sexy... (some people like a little sexy oil man)... Good vocal tone - not nasal or too gruff. And he REALLY draws me in with his smile. Mmmmm.... The judges agree with me. As do others.

Jasmine - I'll Be There- not too hard to forget the words... there's like 7 of them. She does a good job. Her dress looks like my grandma's afghan. And she needs some stage presence. LOL - Kara just said she has great stage presence. I think she's a little boring. Paula says she was just a little flat (well, she called it under but I think we all know the technical term). I've said it before, I'll say it again - give her some life under her belt and come back with some real heart in it.

Kris - Remember the Time - he's wearing PLAID!!!!! He's playing his guitar and just SO dang adorable. He's comfortable on stage and engaging and the girls in the audience are TOTALLY eating him up. I really like him. The judges seemed to like him. He has plaid on, how could you NOT????

Allison - Give It To Me (I don't know this song)... she sings the crap out of the song. I'm not sure she's capable of soft. She actually scares me a little bet. I'm pretty sure she could kick my arse. Leather jacket and skirt with chains hanging off... yep. I'm scared. The judges love her and say she totally knows who she is and blah blah blah.

Anoop - Beat It - He comes out... and... yeah... really, how do you sing this song? I'm telling you even Michael Jackson couldn't pull that song off anymore. The vocals...just... it's not even really a song in some ways, you know???? The judges pretty much agree. Note to contestant - if the judges fight over who has to talk first, it is NOT a good sign. They all thought it was pretty karaoke. And I have to agree. Kind of like karaoke night at the frat house.

Jorge - Never Can Say Goodbye - Well... it was... kinda all one note. And cheesy. Oh No No... The judges aren't wild about the song - and poor Jorge is trying to answer in a language that's not his first... and it's ranking up there with sportscasters who come up to the skater from Upper Petrosk (which is just north of Lower Petrosk - YO MEL!!!!!) and ask them "You seemed nervous tonight, can you tell us about the preparations you make before you hit the ice" And the skater gets this deer in the headlights look and just keeps saying "Hoppy. Veddy Hoppy".

Megan - Rockin' Robin - Wow... this is old school but I have to say this is my most favorite performance of hers. You can see she's trying REALLY hard not to shimmy, and most of the time she's managed to keep it under control. But it makes her look like she's trying to hard to NOT do it she's looking uncomfortable. Um... she cawed at the end... Oh.... My. Could have done without that. Kara says it was good but eh.... and Paula says something about more than her beauty, and Simon REALLY didn't like it and really neither did Randy.

Adam - Black or White - Oh my... he's a good singer - there's no way around it. But can he sing softly? Can he express his own emotions? Can he be ADAM? Not Adam the performer? Paula is wetting herself with excitement. And says he's got more stage presence than anyone. DUH - HE'S BEEN IN MUSICAL THEATER... that's quite different than someone coming off an oil rig.

Matt - Human Nature - (I love this song) - This guy is SO a Justin Timberlake (HEY KAT -you can have HIM on your pillowcase!!!!) ... My respect level goes up a notch for anyone who plays an instrument while they're singing. He's going into a falsetto at the end, which isn't really grabbing me, but it was good. The judges apparently mostly agreed with me. Simon called it meat and potatoes. It would suck to follow Adam the Screamer.

Alexis - Dirty Diane - Wow... um... I'm not sure. Pretty much screaming, and pretty much 2 words... didn't really show me she's capable of singing. Kara liked her, Paula liked her but said she over sang it. Simon & Randy agree.

Ryan is saying they're changing the rules of the show tomorrow. WHY do they do this mid=season? Just leave the freaking thing alone.

Ok... so two are going home. I say Jasmine & Michael. (Sorry Kori)