On “Songs of the Cinema” night, it was Crystal Bowersox who earned the “American Idol” Oscar.
She was the only singer to come through with a noteworthy solo performance, which got her more effusive praise than she’s earned over the past two weeks. Indeed, after Bowersox finished her hit-worthy cover of “I’m Alright” from the movie “Caddyshack,” Simon Cowell told her she was “back in the game.”
That could well be the dumbest thing the British judge has said in his nine seasons. “Back in the game?” Had she ever left? She’s been the favorite all year, has never been in the bottom three, and is by far the most polished and artistic of the remaining finalists. Saying that she’s back is like saying the New York Yankees are back in the play-off race this year.
It was not a great week for Simon in general, who apparently isn’t much for movies. He had to ask which films the songs came from, which just made him look silly and served no useful purpose. Who cares that “Free Willy” and “Caddyshack” were among the films honored, or what the plots of those movies are? Was he planning to make a Redbox run after the show?
But regardless of that, Bowersox was again the star. She preceded her solo with a duet with Lee Dewyze, singing “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and doing a nice job on a song that helped Kris Allen win the “Idol” crown a year ago.
Not that she was flawless on the night. For example, she has to have a serious talk with her boyfriend. He’s getting more TV time every week, so it’s time for him to make a commitment … to his wardrobe. Track down Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, film a rapid episode of “What Not to Wear” and come up with some outfits that don’t make him look like he’s a college senior who just rolled out of bed and had to run to the morning psych lecture in his pajamas. Flag pants? Seriously?
However, her duet was a huge boost for Dewyze, who was the worst he’s been in weeks when he opened the show with Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose.” There’s taking a risk, and then there’s picking a song that’s impossible to pull off in the “Idol” setting, and Dewyze was in the latter camp. Maybe it was the result of the Jamie Foxx motivational techniques, as the guest mentor got about two inches from Dewyze’s face at their rehearsal session. Lord bless him … for the second season in a row, Foxx had the contestants wondering whether he was a genius or a nut.
Michael Lynche told Ryan Seacrest that he made the goal a year ago to make it to the top three, since that’s when the remaining singers go back to their hometowns to be feted and fussed over by the mayor, high-school cheerleaders and the local Fox affiliates. Not unreasonably, Ellen DeGeneres dinged him for not stating that his goal was to win it.
It was a banner night all around for Ellen, who’s been struggling to be relevant. She had her funniest line of the year after Lynche and Casey James finished their duet, “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” by Bryan Adams. “As a matter of fact, yes I have loved a woman,” she said. Take that, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Lynche, on the other hand, has had better weeks. He sang Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There,” and the best you could say about it was that he didn’t forget the lyrics as he apparently did in his rehearsal session.
That move made him the only singer offered the “Contestant” T-shirt by Foxx — everyone else got the “Artist” ones, which was the more desirable choice, but Lynche didn’t accept it on camera. That could be costly — the shirt would sell for big bucks on eBay.
His duet partner, James was … different, for him. He sang “Mrs. Robinson,” which brought back the whole “I bet he’s singing to KARA! OMG! Casey likes Kara!!!!” story line that seemed overplayed two months ago, but probably can’t do anything but help him now because it makes him more interesting.
The fact that nobody got truly slammed makes this an unpredictable week, but Lynche and James are in the greatest danger of going home.
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