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Michael Sarver had to “Beg” for his stay to continue on “Idol.”

But it didn’t help, and the family man with the oil rig gig was gone .

Michael sang “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations for Wednesday’s Motown-themed “Idol,” turning in a performance that was high energy but not highly memorable. Come Thursday’s results show, Michael found himself in the bottom three for the second consecutive week. His final performance  wasn’t enough to earn a save from the judges.

Michael’s ouster did not surprise me. His songs lacked the punch shown by the rest of the guys in the finalists’ pack. What I appreciate about Michael, though, is how grateful he seemed about being on “Idol” and how he came across as a genuinely nice guy. So, happy trails to the roughneck from Jasper, Texas.

While I didn’t think Michael would survive too much longer, I thought after this week’s show it would be Megan Joy getting the boot. Her version of “For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder was full of bad notes and weird phrasing. The girl’s got a distinctive voice but she has not picked a song yet that has suited those pipes.

But, interestingly enough, Megan was not in the bottom three. It was Scott MacIntyre, who picked “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Diana Ross and The Supremes and —  the big shocker —  Matt Giraud, who got great comments from the judges for his charming take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” I think Matt improves with each show and it would be a shame to see him go anytime soon.

But the real star of this week was Adam Lambert. Last week, his disastrous version of “Ring Of Fire” made him my least-favorite contestant. Then, he comes out Wednesday and just dazzles me with his sweet and soulful performance of “The Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. It is too early to say that I am on Team Adam but I was impressed this week.

The Motown-themed week was also a hit in my book. It was capped off by an amazing performance on Thursday’s results show by Stevie Wonder who sampled a few of his classics, including “My Cherie Amour” and “Superstition.”

Way to go “Idol” for honoring Wonder and the hits and history of Motown.

www.americanidol.com

Smokey Robinson is still working with some miracles.

Wednesday's Motown-themed "Idol" was my favorite night of the show so far. And when I talk about miracles, I am talking about the remarkable performances turned in by some of the top 10. Also, it was a treat to have Smokey as a mentor for the singers. He offered great tips and a nice bit of history on the songs. 

One of the things I enjoy about "Idol" is the respect and spotlight it gives to different musical genres. And, as I mentioned last week, I love me some Motown, so I was all about hearing hits from that label. Like Simon said, Motown songs are "some of the best in the world."

That said, not all of the performances were popping. With some, I wanted to plead with the contestant to stop in the name of love for the song. Here's what I thought about Wednesday's show.

Hitsville

Adam Lambert -- I have not been kind to Adam for awhile. Many times this season I have been baffled about why the judges love him so, but on Wednesday night the dude dazzled me. His tender and beautiful take on "The Tracks of My Tears" -- my favorite Smokey and The Miracles song, by the way -- was the best of the night. I enjoy this Adam Unplugged. I even loved his slicked-back crooner hairdo and clean-cut appearance. It was classy and captivating. Bravo, Adam.

Matt Giraud -- Matt keeps getting better and better with each episode. He was the soul man Wednesday with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Matt got his groove on, that's for sure and gave a solid performance that Paula described as a "sexy cool vibe."

Kris Allen -- Kris is another singer who keeps improving each week. He chose another Marvin Gaye song, "How Sweet It Is" and brought out the guitar for the performance. I loved how he changed the tune up a bit with his phrasing and rhythms and gave it a Jason Mraz feel.

Allison Iraheta -- Allison was "blazin' hot," as Randy put it, and I agree with the head Dawg. She had edge and energy during her performance of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations. Like the judges, I am amazed by this teen's talent.

Danny Gokey -- One thing I like about Danny is how he comes out on stage and just gives it his all. I liked the enthusiasm he brought to "Get Ready" by The Temptations. His quick dance with the backup singers also made me smile. On a side note, is it just me or does it seem like Danny wears a different pair of glasses  each time he performs? As a gal who loves her glasses, I am a little jealous of someone with such a variety of spectacles. OK, now back to our regularly scheduled "Idol" topic.

Middle of the Road

Lil Rounds -- I liked that Lil wanted to give "Heat Wave" by Martha & The Vandellas an authentic tribute and it was fun to see her channel that girl group groove, but I don't know if this song really gave Lil her big moment. Her powerful voice would have rocked a slower-paced song.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop can be counted on to deliver the soul in a song and he did that Wednesday but while his take on Smokey's "Ooo Baby Baby" was pretty, he was pitchy in a lot of places. 

Missville

Scott MacIntyre -- Scott's songs are all starting to sound the same to me. They're good but not super great. He picked "You Can't Hurry Love" -- a song I adore -- by Diana Ross and The Supremes and really did not do anything spectacular or original with it.

Michael Sarver -- Michael offered up some energy on the stage but not an engaging performance. He chose "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations. It was another good but not great performance from him. The judges weren't crazy about it either and said that he shouted in the song and did not give the tune his own unique spin.

Megan Joy (she's apparently dropped the Corkrey) --  Megan's version of "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder was a mess. There were nasty notes and, overall, it sounded awkward. I think Megan's time on "Idol" is coming to a Joy-less end. She is a sweet girl but I don't think she has picked many songs that have flattered her unique voice.

OK, so come Thursday we'll find out which contestant signs off. Plus, we've got more Motown melodies in store for the results show. And that is definitely music to my ears.

Goodbye Miss Grace, I'm sad to see you go.

Was the results show Wednesday a shocker or what? It surprised me at least. I had thought Michael Sarver might be in danger of getting the boot after Tuesday's Grand Ole Opry-themed night. And he was in the bottom three, along with Alexis Grace and Allison Iraheta. True, Alexis didn't dazzle the judges with her "Jolene," but I didn't think voters would send her home so quick. And why was Allison in that bunch? The teen was terrific with her take on "Blame It On Your Heart."

When it came down to Alexis and Michael I was just sure that Michael would go. I enjoy Michael, the strong sensitive family guy that he is, but he has been and will continue to be overshadowed by the other guys in the contest. He's a likable fellow, but I think he'll be gone before the top five. Then again, I am fast learning that you can't count the roughneck out in this competition.

As for Alexis, she has been a favorite of the judges, but Tuesday's show proved that one mediocre song choice can ruin a contestant's chances. The judges indicated they might use their special save rule to keep her, but after a lackluster performance of "Jolene," Simon told her it wasn't good enough.

I would have liked to see Alexis stay, especially since music from Motown is coming up next week. I think she would have soared with those songs.

And speaking of Motown, I am so excited about hearing some of those awesome songs. I can't wait to find out what tunes the 10 finalists select. Ain't no mountain high enough to keep me from "Idol" next week.

The Grand Ole Opry got the grand treatment on Tuesday.

The 11 finalists chose songs made popular by Opry members, and the performances ranged from boot-scootin' brilliant to a blazing burnout. Plus, country legend Randy Travis stopped by to give the singers a few tips and kind words. Maybe they'll always love him for that, forever and ever amen. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. Love ya, Randy).

The country night can be a tricky one for finalists, especially those who have voices more suited to other genres. But part of the fun was watching a few finalists take some songs and really give them a unique spin. Others, though, were just too mixed up, like Adam Lambert's horrific rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire." Someone needed to quench that fire and quick.

So, let's get right to the recap, shall we?

Michael Sarver -- I actually thought Michael would have the voice that would suit a country song and he did, to an extent. He chose "Ain't Going Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up" by Garth Brooks, and it wasn't a hit for me. Michael brought energy and fun to the stage, but sometimes it was hard to understand the lyrics. It just wasn't that memorable. And, after watching the rest of the finalists, my thinking is that Michael may be the one sent home this week.

Allison Iraheta -- Last week, I was tough on the little one, but she came blasting out onto the stage this week like a barrel racer in a rodeo -- full of spunk and stamina. She chose "Blame It On Your Heart" by Patty Loveless and gave it a rock edge.

Kris Allen -- He gave one of my three favorite performances of the night. What pipes on that one. He picked "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks and it was beautiful. I loved the arrangement and sweetness to the song. Kris keeps improving each week, and I hope voters keep advancing him in the competition.

Lil Rounds -- I appreciate that Lil was willing to go country but "Independence Day" by Martina McBride wasn't exactly the best song choice for her. It seemed like she struggled a little during the song. I love the song and I love Lil but the performance lacked her usual spark.

Adam Lambert -- Adam's "Ring Of Fire" was hot all right. A hot mess! It was painful to watch. No wonder Randy Travis was stumped by it during rehearsal. The Middle Eastern musical arrangement just didn't fit with the Cash classic. Simon said it best when he told Adam that the song was "absolute indulgent rubbish."

Scott MacIntyre -- Scott was back on the piano and performed "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride. I liked that Scott kicked it up a notch with the tempo later in the song. Overall, it was a good performance but not on the same level as Kris or Anoop, who I will discuss later.

Alexis Grace -- Alexis had some pitch problems during "Jolene," but what I liked about her version of the Dolly Parton tune is that she seemed to connect with the emotional elements of the song. The resident "dirty girl" -- Kara DioGuardi's words, not mine -- also showed a softer side.

Danny Gokey -- I've said before that Danny is starting to grow on me, but I wasn't wowed by his take on "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. It had some powerful moments but I don't think it was one of Danny's best performances.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop was another one that I bashed last week, but he came back strong Tuesday and gave such a tender and terrific performance with "Always On My Mind." His version of the Willie Nelson classic blew my mind and was my favorite performance of the night. It was a stellar arrangement, and I loved that Anoop showed us his sensitive side. Welcome back to the competition, Anoop Dawg!

Megan Joy Corkrey -- Megan gave us a rock/blues/country hybrid with her version of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight." It was good, and I have to give Megan extra points for singing with the flu.

Matt Giraud -- Play us a song, piano man. And he absolutely did. Matt's song was my second favorite performance of the night. His take on "So Small" by Carrie Underwood was a big and beautiful arrangement. Simon said Matt outperformed Danny, and I definitely agree.

Before I end this entry, I'd like to bring up something I wrote last week. I took a playful jab at Carrie Underwood for her good-girl-gone-bad transformation with some of her songs. Here's the deal, though, I love Carrie. And I'm always about supporting a fellow Oklahoman. I was just having a little fun talking about her wild side, that's all.

I also learned something neat from a reader who commented on last week's blog. Carrie recorded "Home Sweet Home," a remake of Motley Crue's power ballad that is this season's farewell theme. It will also be available for purchase on online music sites.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Humane Society of the United States. Looks like Carrie is turning a power ballad into a powerful tool to help animals everywhere.

"Idol" was all about the doubles Wednesday night.

We had a double elimination and double the entertainment. But wait, there was more. Ryan also explained the new rule for the season that allows the judges to save one contestant from getting the boot until the top five. It has to be a unanimous decision by the judges and they can only use this option once for the rest of the season. No pressure there, right?

However, the judges decided not to play with this shiny new "save" toy when it came to the fates of Jasmine Murray and Jorge Nunez on the show. Both were sent home, narrowing the pool to 11 finalists.

I think what hurt Jasmine is that she is mostly a lightweight in a field of vocal heavyweights, like Lil Rounds and Alexis Grace. But the girl can sing and I think this was a good experience for her.

With Jorge, I think the major problem there was a poor song choice with "Never Can Say Goodbye." I do like him as an artist, though, and his appearance on "Idol" should open some doors.

Even with the double elimination, "Idol" still managed to squeeze in performances by Kelly Clarkson and Kanye West. Of course, I was super excited by Kelly, who was fabulous. As for Kanye, I am not a huge fan of his (I get annoyed by his ego) but he did a good job last night and didn't try to steal Ryan's mic and proclaim that he should be the next "Idol."

Speaking of performers, what did you guys think about Carrie Underwood's remake of the Motley Crue song "Home Sweet Home"? It's catchy as the farewell theme, but should we worry about good girl Carrie? First, she sings about wreaking havoc on a cheating boyfriend's four-wheel drive, then not knowing the last name of a lover and now this. What's next? Will she get tattoos with Tommy Lee? I tease ... a little.

But back to business. What do you all think about this new "saving" power for the judges? Good move for the show or a big mistake? Discuss, share, predict and let me know.

Hands down -- or make that a white sparkly gloved hand down -- the lads bested the ladies on Tuesday's "Idol."

It pains me to write that, gals, really it does. I'm pulling for all of you, but it was the guys who brought power and pizazz to the night dedicated to the King of Pop. OK, make that some of the guys because there were a couple who missed the mark.

But before we moonwalk right into the best performance category, I must say that it was nice to have Michael Jackson's songs spotlighted. To be honest, I find Jackson strange and creepy now, but back in the day I was a huge Jacko fan. So, yeah, I do like to hear some classic Jackson songs every so often, especially "Beat It" and "Thriller."

But enough of my remembering the times, let's get right into Tuesday's show.

The guys: You go, Danny Gokey. The Milwaukee man really got into a groove with "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and I loved the energy he brought to the stage. Michael Sarver also was terrific. I thought he showed some nice tone with "You Are Not Alone." In fact, this was my favorite performance of his so far.

Scott MacIntyre, Kris Allen and Matt Giraud brought out their instruments of choice, and I thought all of them did a nice job. Matt, to me, was the best of this crew. I liked seeing Scott on the piano for "Keep The Faith" but it's a Jackson song that is probably unfamiliar to a lot of people. Or maybe just to me. Kris livened up the stage with "Remember The Time" and sounded better than I had remembered. While I like that he can play the guitar, I don't think it added anything special to this song. Actually, it made the arrangement seem  a bit jumbled. As for Matt, he did a terrific job with "Human Nature," and the piano playing was an added perk.

Now onto Adam Lambert, but first an admission -- I'm not drinking the Adam Kool-Aid just yet. Apparently the judges are. True, he's a talented singer, but I was not blown away by his version of "Black Or White." Simon described it as an original version of the song but, really, if you want to talk about a unique take on a Jackson song, visit YouTube and watch David Cook last season when he performed "Billie Jean." Talk about an amazing performance. But, I digress. Overall, I like Adam but I am still not understanding the fuss over him yet.

As for the rest of the guys, I was disappointed with Anoop Desai and Jorge Nunez. Anoop's version of "Beat It" was just a mess. I agree with Paula that the song is one of those you just don't touch. Also, Anoop was a wee bit overconfident when he said, "I'm looking forward to coming back." Not with that terrible arrangement of "Beat It" you're not. Then again, Anoop seems to be a fan favorite and that could push him forward. As for Jorge, his take on "Never Can Say Goodbye" was too dated and, like Simon said, a little corny.

The gals:  Lil Rounds impressed me. I liked her sassy rendition of "The Way You Make Me Feel." Also, Jasmine Murray offered up a nice version of "I'll Be There" and managed to hit some glory notes.

I'm not sure what to think about the rest of the ladies. I am a fan of rocker chick Allison Iraheta but her song "Give In To Me" was gloomy and nothing to brag about. And what was Megan Joy Corkrey thinking when she chose "Rockin' Robin"? I feel like it was a special song shout-out to her beautiful little boy. Simon told her it was a stupid song choice, and I have to agree. Now to Alexis Grace. She's another favorite of mine but her "Dirty Diana" was too over-the-top.

So, what will happen in Wednesday's results show, other than Kelly Clarkson rocking the stage? Well, we've been told that two contestants are going home. I think it could be Anoop and Megan because of their song choices. But it's still really hard to tell.

What about you out there? Who do you think will beat it back home come Wednesday?

"Idol," you tease you.

All along we kept thinking we were inching closer to the top 12. But the show was messin' with our heads, people. Instead of 12 this season, we are getting a plus-one. That's right, 13 finalists will now work to wow us. 

Thursday's wild card night proved to be fun and fast as the show zipped through performances from eight contestants. The judges then narrowed it down to four finalists from the group: Jasmine Murray, Megan Corkrey, Matt Giraud and Anoop Desai.

Here's a quick rundown on their songs and my say on them:

Jasmine Murray -- She took on "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera and showed off her strong voice but also managed to have nice control of it, too. The judges thought she made major improvements since the last time she performed, and I would have to agree.  

Matt Giraud -- He went back to his bluesy background and chose "Who's Loving You" by the Jackson 5. I wasn't a fan of his performance because it felt like he was too over-the-top with the song. Also, it appears he is trying to channel a little Justin Timberlake but he is not as good as JT.

Megan Corkrey -- The gal with the distinct sound and awkward dance moves took on "Black Horse And The Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall. I thought it was just OK but I agree with the judges that her sound and personality do make for an interesting mix.

Anoop Desai -- This likable fellow did something that is usually deadly on "Idol." He performed the same song twice in front of the judges, but they actually liked it better this time around. Anoop revved up the audience with his version of Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." Anoop really commanded the stage like a star and seemed more in his element. I don't know if he will be the best of the male singers but he certainly will be memorable.

Thursday night was also wild for other reasons. We got to see Tatiana Del Toro perform again and, for the third time, she took on "Saving All My Love for You" by Whitney Houston. Third time wasn't the charm for this drama queen who, as the title implies, did get dramatic when she found out the judges weren't sending her through to the next round. She cried in front of their table as Paula told her that she would find fame someday. Bite your tongue, Paula.

On another note, my biggest disappointment of the night was saying goodbye to Jesse Langseth who had such a cool vibe and ended up being a class act even in the end. I think Jesse showed soul and swagger in her performances and, based on tonight's show, I think she should have been sent to the top 13 over Matt.

So, here's the list of the other finalists who we can look forward to seeing and hearing: Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nunez, Lil Rounds and Michael Sarver.

Competiton heats up next Tuesday, and Ryan announced that Kelly Clarkson will come back to the stage next week. I will try right now to surpress my shouts of glee because Kelly girl you have been missed and you need to come back and rock the house. So, let that sink in and excite you for next week.

Anoop has a growing fan base.

Megan wows with her voice.

Tatiana goes bye-bye again.

But there were also decades lost in the making of LOST's latest episode. This had to be the most confusing one yet, not just what they showed, but the implications of it all.

I was asking questions throughout the show and the biggest and baddest one that haunted my thoughts was: is big Ben going to meet baby Ben? WAS that baby Ben being born by c-section instead of out in the jungle? Is Ben going to turn out to be a different person because he'll have his mom? Or have Sawyer's influence on him now? Does Sawyer yet realize that  the baby IS Ben? Maybe it isn't. I'm lost. Maybe they explained how "Red's" body disappeared with the last time shift and then she was seen as a little girl on the compound as a way of saying to the viewer that the baby couldn't be baby Ben because big Ben is still around. See? I'm still confused.

I LOVE that he and the doc hooked up. I hate that now he has to re-address his feelings for Freckles. Poor Sawyer can't cut a break.  I can't wait until everyone comes face to face again. It looks like I'll be watching this episode over again next Wednesday, with the hints from the writers running at the bottom of the screen.

Blog entry by Amy Hanek
 
Last night Season 5 Top Chef cheftestants gathered one more time with the judges to... well, dish it.
 
Highlights from the evening included behind-the-scenes footage of Leah and Jamie drinking three bottles of wine before judges table at the end of the superbowl episode. Carla explained her, Hootie-call. Hootie.... Hoo! The bro-mance going on between Stefan and Fabio. And my favorite was the curse of the birthday. I'm not sure if every birthday was mentioned throughout the season's episodes, but the footage shown last night was hilarious.
 
There was an outrageous product placement piece where the gladware was used to make a basketball and volleyball court. I'm not sure if I should just enjoy the hilarity of the chef's creativity or be disgusted with this further attempt to sell us gladware.
 
And this entire evening led up to two things. Who won fan favorite and Hosea and Leah's relationship. Hosea and Leah are now single, thanks to the spicy couch scene shown on national television and Hosea attributed this moment to a blatant misuse of alcohol. I think if I were Leah, my feelings would be a little crushed. But still, Hosea can probably have any girl he wants now that he's won Top Chef. I did make Hosea my newest Facebook friend. So, I hope to catch a little chatter on the web about this.
 
Then, there was the little matter of a $10,000 prize. I think I knew that Fabio had this contest in the bag when Stefan was presented with an I heart Fabio T-shirt. I'm sure we'll find those for sale on the website. And I am not immune to that thick Italian accent and snappy one-liners. So, I agree.
 
So, what did you think of all this? Did I miss anything? What did you think of the fan favorite choice? Carla might've been a close second.
 
Oh and for those that want a little more behind the scenes, check out this blog entry from Hosea: http://www.bravotv.com/node/33349

Whew, what a Wednesday.

We welcomed three more people into the finalists' fold, plus we now know who is in the wild-card crew. I have to say that I was surprised. Some contestants absolutely deserve the wild-card chance, while others make me think the judges accepted a bribe from the singers.

First, let's talk about the three who advanced to the top 12. They are: Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre and Jorge Nunez. Lil and Scott didn't surprise me, but I must admit that I thought Ju'Not Joyner was going to top Jorge. I wasn't crazy about Jorge's song choice of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," because I think the tune is done to death, but Jorge does have some strong vocals and a sweet disposition. 

OK, now to my favorite moment of Wednesday's show; the selection of wild-card contestants who will perform Thursday. The judges believe these guys and gals deserve a second chance, and I agree with most of their picks. I'll list them all and offer my thoughts on each.

Von Smith -- Why, exactly? Yes, I have complimented Von on his improvement but there are better singers in the competition, like my man Ju'Not, who deserved this spot over Von.

Jasmine Murray -- I fully agree with this decision. I have liked her from the start and I think she has loads of talent. But she absolutely has to choose the right song to show off her skills.

Ricky Braddy -- Right on, judges. I'm so glad Ricky is returning because he was terrific and has a beautiful soulful tone.

Megan Corkrey -- Megan stands out from the crowd because of her unique voice that seems folksy at times. She reminds me of Jewel, in some ways.

Tatiana Del Toro -- Oh yeah, you read that right. It boggles the mind why the judges want her back. True, her voice isn't terrible, but it is 24-hour drama with that one. Have the judges gone bonkers or did they just miss her crazy laugh? I don't know what it is, but I would be shocked if she advanced from this round.

Matt Giraud -- Matty boy, you were missed. I loved his version of "Georgia On My Mind" a few weeks ago and would love to see him stay with that style of song instead of his Coldplay cover.

Jesse Langseth -- She's another one to watch because of her unique sound, which is a little bit rock and a dash of blues.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop is just awesome. He's got a hip-hop flair about him that I love, plus nice-guy appeal.

OK, there you have it. Looks like Thursday is going to be captivating and crazy. And by crazy, I mean Tatiana.

Lil looks to be a contender.

Scott's passion for music is inspiring.

Jorge's talent puts him in top 12.