AMERICAN IDOL 9 May 4,2010

Mentor: Harry Connick, Jr

Iconic Music of Frank Sinatra

AI is down to the final five contestants. Now is the tough time! Each contestant must perform his/her best performance each week. Now is the time for the audience participation to focus on the best artist; not the cute one, the sexy one, or the one with the best personality. Now is the time when YOUR votes count.

Tonight the audience was given a special treat because Harry Connick, Jr. arranged the selections and mentored the final five contestants. Thank you!

1.)Aaron Kelly - Fly Me To The Moon

Randy said that he really did a good job. Ellen said he had beautiful vocals. Kara felt that he was good, but not as good as last week. To me, you didn't have conviction in that performance, was Simon's comment. He did acknowledge that people like Aaron ( meaning that that would carry some weight with regards to his overall performance. (I thought Aaron sounded more nervous tonight and therefore did not come out as strong as most other nights.)

2.) Casey James - Blue Skies

Randy felt that the song "just didn't work" and that it was his worst song to date. Ellen felt that the performance was very stiff; it didn't feel effortless. Kara told Casey that it took a long time to warm up and that he was out of control. Simon quipped " Good News and Bad News. Good news was the band that backed him up and the bad news was that he came over awkward.

3.) Crystal Bowersox - Summer Wind

Randy felt that it was a great arrangement but that she came over a little subdued and sleepy. Ellen told Crystal that she needs to loosen up a little more. Kara recognized that Crystal was out of her element tonight but that she liked it and felt that she did a good job with the phrasing. ( Phrasing was everything with Frank Sinatra) Simon, who is a great fan of Frank Sinatra and he loves the song but felt that her lperformance was too jazzy in the first half and too night "clubby". Although Crystal had two okay weeks, Simon said that he expected better from her.

4.) Michael Lynche - Just the Way You Look Tonight

Randy commented on the incredible arrangement by Harry Connick, Jr. and said that Mike has an unbelievable voice. "You are in it to win it" were his closing words. Ellen remarked that he is the most comfortable on the stage and that he looks and sounds the part. Kara told him that he had found the drama and that he took us on a journey and didn't lose himself. Simon not surprisingly said that the first three were okay but felt that he (Mike) had listened and everyone worked together.

5.) Lee DeWyze - That's Life

Randy again complimented the arrangement (which was Harry Connick, Jr.) saying it was "great" and told Lee that he had "stayed yourself". Ellen boldly said " if this was the last night you would win". Kara asked Lee a question. "Do you think you can win?" She then told him to write it down 100 times and perhaps it will give you the confidence you need to win. Simon told him that he had brought out his personality and confidence. He told him that he had the best performance of the night.

* * * * * * *

Well, there you have it. I can't say that these were the best performances of the season, but I can say that I think that Harry Connick, Jr. was the best mentor of the season. He gave a great deal of himself and his talents and created arrangements to enhance the vocalists.

Who do you think gave the best performance tonight?

Who do you think will be sent home tomorrow night?

Now, who do you think will be the top two going into choice for AMERICAN IDOL?

Tomorrow - The Elimination

Guest entertainers will be Lady GaGa and Harry Connick, Jr.

(That's good enough to get my attention, that's for sure.)

WEDNESDAY - ELIMINATION

Ryan Secrest opened the show saying "Who's it going to be?"

He announced that there were 32 million votes

• The Top Five sang a medley of Sinatra songs including The Lady is a Tramp, When I Was Seventeen, I've Got The World on a String and Night and Day. Their singing was more enjoyable than Tuesday's competition.
• Lady Gaga performed Alejandro the second single from her CD, The Fame Monster.
• Harry Connick, Jr. performed one selection and then introduced the Top Five saying that he was very proud to have them perform some of his songs.

The Elimination Process

Lee DeWyze was called up first and told that he was safe. Later in the evening Ryan split the remaining four into two groups; one safe and the other in jeopardy of elimination.

Ryan asked Lee to identify which group he felt was safe and would join him.

He declined to make that determination so Ryan announced that Casey James and Crystal Bowersox were safe.

That left Michael Lynche and Aaron Kelly in the bottom two.

Aaron Kelly ------>

GOOD LUCK, AARON