Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Hey, not bad, Idol.

I mean Wednesday’s results show was still chock full of some familiar filler — the group number and the Ford video, for instance.

But, you know what? I think this new judges’ save is going to add some needed suspense to a results show that always seemed to drag in the past.

I mean, here’s how it will work: A contestant learns he or she has been voted off. Then the contestant sings. And during the song, the judges discuss the contestant’s fate.

Maybe not edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I mean, did anyone think for a minute they were going to save Jasmine or Jorge?

But a nice little twist.

Toss in performances by Kanye West and Kelly Clarkson, and Wednesday’s show breezed right along. Ryan promised a performance from a former Idol every week.

And did anyone notice what was missing? That incredibly silly segment from last year when viewers called in and asked questions of the judges.

Very good addition by subtraction, I’d say.

Deserved their fate: Jorge Nunez and Jasmine Murray. Jasmine never lived up to her Idol potential. Frankly, I think she needed to inject some Alex Wagner-Trugman into her performances — the stage antics, that is, not the awful singing. She never cut loose on stage. Jorge couldn’t recapture the emotion of his semifinal performance and paid the price.

Very, very lucky: Anoop Desai, who turned in Tuesday’s worst performance. That’s three times on stage, and not a great vocal yet. Anoop simply hasn’t dazzled and is only around now because the judges expanded the field to 13 contestants.

On the bubble: I fear that would be Megan Joy, who did pretty well Tuesday night considering her inexperience. It would be a shame to see her go early in this competition. She offers a different sound to a finals that includes too many similar contestants.

Stock rising: Adam Lambert’s can’t get much higher. The early favorite solidified that status this week. Meanwhile, Allison Iraheta and Alexis Grace proved they were not one-week wonders.

Stock sinking: Kris Allen slipped a notch from the semifinals; Scott MacIntyre slipped behind a piano, and didn’t sound any better. Michael Sarver also needs to do more to distinguish himself from the pack.

Coming tomorrow: Exit interviews with Jasmine and Jorge

Coming early next week: New rankings for the finalists … at least some of them.