Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Forget the theme, the guest mentors and the guest stars.

The big news this week is that we’ll get more music per minute on American Idol.

That’s right, we’re down to the final nine contestants. Meaning it’s time for Idol to shave its performance show from two hours to … get this, 1 hour and 25 minutes.

After all, Idol has to leave a strange 9:25 p.m. Tuesday time slot open for the new family comedy show featuring the Osmonds … oops, make that the Osbournes. No thanks, FOX. I can do without Ozzy reinvented, or reloaded or whatever you’re calling it.

For the record, this is Download Week on Idol. After a week of country and a week of Motown, I’m assuming that means all the finalists should be able to pick songs that fit their musical style.

The guest stars for Wednesday’s 9 p.m. results show will be reigning Idol David Cook and the phenom known as Lady Gaga. Somewhere over the course of the two nights, I think we’re supposed to get a sneak peek at David’s new video, for the single “Come Back to Me.”

All that said, the biggest challenge this week rests not with the contestants, but with host Ryan Seacrest. I can already hear him rushing Kara and Paula through their commentary as they vie for the spotlight on a shortened show.

No time for crayon craziness this week.

Check back at 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the live blogging fun begins.

And here are the new rankings, heading into week four of the finals.

9. Megan Joy (9th last week): There are a prince, a wizard and a fairy godmother on Megan’s sleeve tattoo, and they all must have been working overtime to keep Ms. Joy out of the bottom three last week when she performed “For Once in My Life.” No doubt, the camera loves Megan. It’s time for Megan to deliver a vocal the ears will love.

8. Scott MacIntyre (8th last week): Will this be the week Scott comes out from behind his piano? The week he steps out of his comfort zone? Who cares? I’m more interested in whether this will be the week he finally delivers a vocal worthy of a spot in the finals. Last week marked a third straight so-so performance.

7. Matt Giraud (6th last week): That Matt finished as the second- lowest vote-getter last week is testament to the hazard of singing first on a two-hour Idol performance show. I’m not a big fan of Matt, but no way his performance was second-worst on Motown Week.

6. Anoop Desai (7th last week): In three weeks, we’ve had one great, one pathetic and one middling performance from Anoop. Along with Scott, Matt, Kris and Danny, he makes up what I’m calling Idol’s soul-pop bots, similiar performers who seem to want to record pop with a touch of soul once their post-Idol careers begin. Which means there isn’t enough musical diversity in this year’s finals. Oh, Anoop is also a very intense basketball player, according to Michael Sarver, who got booted from Idol last week. Just thought I’d throw that in, since it didn’t make the blog about Michael’s exit interview.

5. Lil Rounds (3rd last week): What will Lil sing for download week? Perhaps Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face?” Perhaps Taylor Swift’s “Love Story?” Based on her track record, it will be something that does absolutely nothing to show off her powerful vocals. I’m still haunted by that painful performance of “Heat Wave.”

4. Allison Iraheta (4th last week): She got much-deserved praise from the judges last week. After all, she’s been the most consistent performer among the ladies. And the 16-year-old shows more self- assurance at this stage of the competition than the teenage Jordin Sparks did when she was on her way to winning the Idol crown two years ago.

3. Kris Allen (5th last week): The guitar-bearing member of the soul-pop bots delivered a nice little twist to “How Sweet It Is” last week. It sorta reminded me of Jason Castro, minus the dreads, but with the same sex appeal and much more effort. Consistently solid performances are becoming Kris’ trademark.

2. Danny Gokey (2nd last week): Wow, I think last week was the first time the judges didn’t go goofy over Gokey. Way to control yourselves, Kara and Paula. The thing is, I thought Danny was very solid with his performance of “Get Ready,” complete with a goofy little Gokey dance with the background singers.

1. Adam Lambert (1st last week): My wife thinks he looks like a young Elvis Presley. I think he looks like the next American Idol, with or without the fingernail polish and eyeliner. I also think he’s using his experience in musical theater to wonderful advantage, making the rest of the field look amateurish in the process.