American Idol Commentary - Playing It Safe

Tuesday night's guys' performances were pretty much what is expected for the first night of the final 24 performances, with many people playing it safe, at least one being clueless, and a few people taking chances, with only one of them being honored for it. But after all is said and done, who is it we're talking about at the water cooler?

First and foremost, we're talking about the odd exchanges between Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell. Last year they continued to get more and more odd, and this season, they're starting out eyebrow-raising from the get go. What it amounts to is this: Ryan asked Simon for an explanation of his comments after Chris Sligh's performance, Simon got mad, called Ryan "Sweetheart," and Ryan got mad.

This was furthered after the always witty dry-humored Chris Sligh told Simon he thinks it can be entertaining even if it isn't Il Divo or Teletubbies, two projects that Simon has his hands in. Simon wouldn't even look at the camera, Chris, or Ryan after this, and looked visibly hurt. Ryan said an adult version of, "You can dish is out, but you can't take it," to Simon, and he told Ryan he was making the situation very uncomfortable.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. For one, even though it's been widely reported that Simon and Ryan are friends offscreen, this one wasn't a joke to Simon. What will happen to their on-air banter after this. Moreso, how will Simon treat Chris? They both admitted they really do like each other, so I don't think it will change much, because they are both adults. But will Simon still hand down criticism to Chris, and will Chris feel the need to keep slamming him? Fox is probably hoping so, as it will make the show extremely popular. Just as they kept feeding the Kellie Pickler/Simon Cowell exchanges, they'll keep feeding this.

We've also been talking about Chris' performance itself, Typical. He rocked it out, and while Randy and Paula liked it, Simon of course didn't. Chris spent his intro clip complaining about having to sing Sweet Home Alabama which he's always disliked and Taylor Hicks' Do I Make You Proud. You're not going to get the norm from this guy. He's different, unique, and unusual, and is that way on purpose, not accident. He's not ever going to do what is expected, and will be willing to be voted out to not have to do it. Theme nights could get very, very interesting.

Also unique is beat boxer Blake Lewis, who came out this week not beat boxing, but with a Keane song and wearing a sweater vest. Yes, a sweater vest. The beat boxer was wearing a sweater vest. I expected him to sit halfway through the song and exchange his sneakers for a set of loafers, and then don a suit jacket and leave, waving goodbye. But instead, he was just very, very good. He proved what he needed to last night, that he is there not because he can beat box, but because, as Randy would say, "He can blow."

We're talking a lot about Sanjay Malakar, too, but it's mostly not good. He's been told since the first audition that he was better than his sister, yet now that she's been eliminated, he takes song advice from her. What is he thinking? He auditioned with a Stevie Wonder song, but that doesn't mean we want to hear another one. Plus, he's 17. He should be singing SexyBack or something. Never mind, I can't see that working either. He just needs to pick something that doesn't make him uncomfortable, because if he is, so are we.

Also panned by the judges was Sundance Head, who can't seem to catch a break since arriving in Hollywood, and now it's created a confidence problem with him. The guy can definitely sing. He proved that in his audition. Singing Nights in White Satin was a bold choice, and while the judges didn't like it, I did. And it didn't seem nearly as out of tune as they were saying. They just want to see the guy that auditioned for them, and they haven't. If he makes it through to next week, and he should, he just needs to go back to his Texas bluesy roots, and all will be well, with the judges, the viewers, and his confidence.

Brandon Rogers seems to be struggling with confidence, or creating a struggle with confidence. As a former backup singer, it's his chance to shine, yet he sings Rock With You? For gosh sakes, if you're going to sing Michael Jackson, at least make it one of his good ones. ABC would have probably even been better. As a backup singer, he was stuck in everyone else's genres all the time. Now it's his chance to show who he is as a singer, and this one just made him sound like a karaoke singer that isn't drunk. (Yes, I think there are a few of them out there.)

Also being talked about is the barefoot Paul Kim. He's trying to create a "thing" like Ace Young's beanie, but Ace backed it up every week with good tunes. Paul brought it later in the song, but the beginning was incredibly shaky. Then again, he was singing Wham! I think he'll most likely stay, but only because the barefoot thing is kind of kitschy. But if he comes in next week singing Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, he's gone, gone, and we'll be the ones sleeping.

The ones we're not talking about will wish we were, as they'll be on the bubble on Thursday, and two of them will leave. The ones that did nothing to make us notice them, and haven't been seen on the show before, have much to worry about. At least one of either AJ Tabaldo and Jared Cotter have sung their last song on Idol. AJ tried out five times before making it this far. Perhaps they let him in this time, only because it now makes him ineligible to try out again, and they can finally wrap it up with him.

Wednesday night is ladies night. I expect more of the same from them. Safe, one not getting it, and a few taking chances, with only one being successful.

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