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American Idol 9: Top 9 Results


A montage of clips from Tuesday’s performance round as the Beatles music played in the background. Such was the intro of the Top 9 results show of . Would this results show be the one to feature the judges’ save? Ryan Seacrest promised “shocking” vote tallies at the top of the episode, which was jam-packed with a mishmash of performances (with a few results thrown in).

Idol Gives Back will air in two weeks. To aid in the effort, Idol judges are donating prizes and items to raise money. Just go to the official Web site for details or to give.

The Top 9 appeared on stage to sing a medley of Beatles tunes. Lee DeWyze kicked it off beautifully. As “Here, There and Everywhere” progressed and fans screamed, I couldn’t help but feel impressed. When Andrew Garcia came out with “Got To Get You Into My Life” the number truly became fun. The wardrobe was really, really good too. Other songs featured in the medley included “Fool on the Hill,” “All You Need is Love” and “She Loves You.” It was definitely the best group performance of the season.

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American Idol 9: Top 9 Perform


began this week’s performance round on American Idol 9 from the control center, a room filled with monitors and techs. It’s here that camera angles are called out, cast members are queued - truly, it’s the hub of the entire show.

Songs from the Lennon/McCartney songbook were the feature of the week (which is almost every single tune The Beatles ever recorded, minus a few little ditties like Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and Ringo Starr’s “Octopus’s Garden“). Sir Paul McCartney didn’t have enough time to mentor the Top 9, but he did offer a pre-recorded video message for the contenders.

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American Idol 9: Top 10 Results


’s Top 10 results show opened with a Clash of the Titans movie tie-in. Simon Cowell, of course, was the villain, with the contestants portrayed as Titans in the opening video package. It was pretty cute, but it’s still blatant cross-promotional advertising.

Viewers were not graced with a group performance this week. To see the entire Top 10 singing together on one stage, it seems you’ll have to go to one of the summer tour shows. Though the Idols did not sing together, this particular results show was still jam-packed with stage shows, starting with one favorite AI alum.

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American Idol 9: Top 10 Perform


started the Tuesday performance show in the backstage area, something of an unusual start for American Idol. After Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres exchanged a kiss, the host walked to the big stage to soak up applause from the waiting crowd. Ellen’s outfit, by the way, was pretty weird-looking.

The Top 10 performers of this performance round will for ever be part of the Idol pantheon. This summer, they will tour the country and continue to peddle music. After that, only a few of them - if even that many - will go on to lasting recording industry success. Will your favorite season 9 contestant soon be a Grammy-winning artist? Maybe…but first, they’ve got to get through this week’s elimination.

was the mentor for the week, the theme of which is R&B/Soul in honor of the star. “To be a great performer, you really have to understand what it takes,” he told the contestants upon their group meeting. “I want you to be great.”

“This is their time to shine, and this is the stage to do it on,” Usher seemed to accept his responsibility with sincerity and seriousness.

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Ousted American Idol Paige Miles Speaks


“There was the possibility of doing permanent damage,” spoke to reporters in a gravelly voice after her Wednesday elimination from American Idol. The eleventh-place contestant suffered with illness for three weeks leading up to her permanent dismissal from the show. “I had to take it easy. Unfortunately, it was bad timing. Awful timing.”

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American Idol 9: Top 11 Perform


started the Tuesday performance round of American Idol with well wishes for Lacey Brown, who was eliminated from the Top 12 last week. “This is a big night…the Top 10 make the tour,” Randy Jackson explained the stakes at the top of the episode. Ellen DeGeneres then took a few moments to promote voting (because that helps make the show more money). Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell also buried the hatchet at the beginning of the episode. Cowell offered an apology after Kara explained her point of view: that “every song tells a story.” Then, quite randomly, Ellen and Ryan kissed - quite awkwardly.

“It’s probably the worst night to go,” Simon Cowell grimly reminded the contestants, just before they were brought onto the stage.

The theme for the week was Billboard hits - again. This led into a video package about Billboard’s “Hot 100” list. The mentor for the week was , who certainly knows something about #1 hits. “The talent is not the question. It’s just making them feel comfortable,” Miley explained her mentoring style.

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American Idol 9: Top 12 Results


The Top 12 results show opened with a montage of the contestants’ journey on the show. The intro was very dramatic…would it lead up to a surprising elimination?

The theater went green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, but only for a moment (and more’s the pity - it would be a blessed change on the same old, same old set). Right away, confronted Ryan Seacrest for his “aggressive behavior” during the Tuesday performance round. The judge then went on to talk about the “judges’ save,” an element which was introduced only last year on the show.

started off the elimination round with “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” It was rather odd that he chose not to do an original tune, but the performance was as solid as you’d expect from the Season 7 Idol champ. Cook is currently working on a new album, so be on the lookout for that one, AI fans. He will soon take a trip to Africa for the upcoming Idol Gives Back extravaganza.

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American Idol 9: Top 12 Perform

American Idol Top 12

The Top 12 have the honor of performing on the big Idol stage, a privilege which can only be earned after three intense results rounds. Some always fail miserably the first night, while others shine like never before. Which of the contestants would tank terribly on Tuesday…and which would rock the stage?

The judges got a big intro for the episode, strolling out onto the stage shoulder-to-shoulder. took the long walk down the stairs right after them, and suddenly the show was under way. The Top 12 had the honor of performing Rolling Stones songs for the night, truly a huge and varied catalog. First question: which one has the nerve to do “Paint It Black?” We shall see.

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American Idol 9: Top 16 Results


American Idol’s Thursday elimination round opened with an expectant promise: by the end of the show, we would know which contestants will make up the Top 12. Heady stuff, and the show gave the moment the appropriate drama.

The Top 16 performed “Haven’t Met You Yet” to kick off the show. Alex Lambert and Casey James sounded terrible together, but the other pairs of males were pretty good. The women eventually joined in, but the easy-listening vibe really wasn’t so hot. The group performances this year have been absolutely horrible.

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American Idol 9: Top 8 Men Perform


The Top 8 men of American Idol 9 performed on Wednesday night, following a few amazing performances by the competition’s female contenders from . It’s all boiling down to Thursday night, where four more contenders will be released from their reality duties. The Top 12 will subsequently be voted off one at a time.

Lee DeWyze kicked off the show with “Fireflies.” As usual, Lee delivered engaging vocals that got the crowd fired up immediately. It was another solid performance from DeWyze, who has been winning high praise from the judges. “For me, it was a strange song choice,” Randy Jackson critiqued. “But, you made it work,” he offered a positive note. “I think it was great,” Ellen DeGeneres smiled at him and called DeWyze “adorable.” “You looked confident tonight,” Kara DioGuardi observed, saying “I think you made the song a better song.” “There’s nothing to rave about,” told him, however Simon thinks Lee has “a great chance at making the Top 12.”

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