Idol Chatter & Voice Views

There’s a lot to look forward to this week on American Idol.

For starters, it’s rock-and-roll Hall of Fame week, which means the steady diet of ballads we’ve been served so far in the finals should come to an end.

Oh, and you know all that filler footage we’ve had to sit through the last two weeks — from the bad (checking out food Stefano Langone’s mom didn’t cook) to the so-so (Idol fashion shoots) to the good (Scotty McCreery shooting hoops from the mansion balcony)?

Consider it gone.

Idol pares down the show to an hour and a half this week. If history tells us anything, it tells us the show will have trouble ending on time, even without fillers.

Most interesting of all will be watching who lands in the bottom three Thursday night.

Was Paul McDonald’s inclusion last week a fluke or a true indication of voters’ feelings?

Will Haley Reinhart — suddenly a rising star — be able to avoid the bottom three for a third straight week?

And, if so, who else besides Stefano will be exposed as vulnerable.

Given the lack of support for female contestants, could Lauren Aliana or (gasp!) Pia Toscano find herself sitting on a stool come Thursday night?

While we all contemplate, here are this week’s rankings …

1. Casey Abrams (1): He remains here not because of last week’s toned-down, off-pitch performance on Elton John week (way to nudge him in the wrong direction, judges). He remains here because of the surge of support coming his way after the save. Lest anyone forget how close Casey came to being ousted, Idol reminded fans with backstage footage last week that showed him on the verge of collapse, he was so overcome with emotion.

2. Scotty McCreery (2): Hmm. Scotty gets up and turns in pretty much the same performance, week after week, and gets rave reviews for staying true to his artistry. Pia sings ballads week after week and is told to change. A double standard? Sure seems so. Regardless, Scotty has been rock steady. And never sounded better than on that results night duet with Lauren Alaina. It’ll be interesting to watch him rock.

3. Pia Toscano (3): Last week, she announced she’d be singing “River Deep, Mountain High” this week. What? An Idol finalist announcing what they’ll be singing in the coming week? Clearly, someone didn’t clue Pia into the fact that these are closely guarded Idol secrets. Regardless, I hope she tackles the old Ike and Tina Turner classic. In fact, I hope she let’s her hair down, dives into the song full throttle and shatters the diva-like image she’s displayed to this point.

4. James Durbin (4): What, you think I’m going to drop James in the rankings on rock week? After managing to work a  flaming piano into his performance on Elton John week? Then there was that endearing oops moment (daring mention Pepsi on a show sponsored by Coke). Performing with rock star flair won’t be a problem for James. I’m just hoping he picks a rock song that matches his voice as well as his shriek.

5. Lauren Alaina (5): Once the music starts, Lauren is always at least adequate. Once the music ends, Lauren handles the on-stage interviews with the skill of a 6-year-old. And, like it or not, Idol watchers are voting on voice and personality. Fortunately for Lauren, she entered the competition with a pretty large fan base. For the record, this will mark the third straight week Lauren will be pushed out of her country comfort zone. And, unlike so many other females, she’s still standing.

6. Paul McDonald (6): I figure Paul is due for a breakthrough performance. I figure last week’s bottom three finish might pull it out of him. I figure he won’t be inclined to  whisper his way through a song on rock week that way he did on Elton John week after being encouraged by Randy to play up the tender side of his vocals. On the other hand, Paul’s played guitar twice in a row. I can’t imagine Nigel will allow that to continue. No hiding behind instruments has been an Idol mantra for Season 10. Which means Paul might rock a little awkwardly Wednesday night.

7. Stefano Langone (8): If any contestant needs a theme to jolt him/her out of ballad land, it’s Stefano, who sizzled singing upbeat in week two, then plummeted singing slow songs the last two weeks.  And, heck, with Casey, James and Paul as Band on the Run mates, you’d better believe Stefano will get plenty of advice on how to rock. The big question: Can he rock and keep his eyes open? The bigger question: Will he touch hands with Jennifer Lopez at the end of Wednesday’s performance?

8. Jacob Lusk (6): I guess someone’s voting for Jacob. My guess is those folks watch Idol with their eyes closed, because some of his facial expressions are downright frightening. And make his overbaked vocals seem even more overbaked. Look, Jacob will make gospel music post-Idol and be very good at it. Is he the Season 10 American Idol? I don’t think so, despite the rave reviews from the judges.

9. Haley Reinhart (9): Interesting. Haley got generally excellent reviews on her “Bennie and the Jets” performance. Honestly, I had trouble making out the lyrics. No doubt about one thing: Of the remaining females, she’s the most playful on stage, which should work to her advantage on rock week.  Here’s what would work to her disadvantage: She closed last week’s show. That means she might be forced to perform first Wednesday night. It’s a whole lot easier to leave fans with a good impression singing last. It’s a lot easier to be forgotten singing first.