Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Ke$ha — aka Baby Gaga — performs on Idol tonight. She’ll be singing her single “Blah, blah, blah.”

That song title would have been oh, so appropriate for any of Idol’s semifinal shows.

After last night … well, no.

The Idols pulled their collective act together. OK, some did more pulling than others.

Tim Urban, for instance, tried to take us on some reggae retreat that defied logic. But Siobhan Magnus followed him to the stage and dragged us screaming back to the land of Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.

Oh, that wasn’t the audience, was it? That was Siobhan screaming. Should have known.

Anyway, I’m suddenly much more enthused about season nine. Paige Miles and Aaron Kelly finally showed America why the judges selected them for the semifinals. Didi Benami served up a reminder.

And I really like the variety of this year’s final 12. Not like last year when Scott MacIntyre, Anoop Desai, Matt Giraud, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen all wanted to serve up pop with a touch of soul. Individually, fine performers. As a group, that was one borrrrrrring season.

The better mix of guys and gals helps. Of course, I still resent the lack of a country cutie. While I longingly listen to golden ticket winner Mallorie Haley on MySpace, the show that gave us Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler put a never-on-key teen named Haeley in the semifinals, then dubbed her not ready for prime time. No kidding.

On to tonight’s business. Eliminating Tim Urban. Or Lacey Brown. Andrew Garcia might even be in trouble.

But before someone gets the boot, we’ll also hear from Orianthi and season seven champ David Cook. Hey, Idol has lined up an action-packed show.

First, we learn that the judges’ save is back for season nine. Good move, Idol. Adds a real sense of suspense to results night.

Next, we hear from David Cook. Hope the Idol hopefuls are taking notes. I don’t think anyone came close to capturing that energy last night. The better news — not necessarily new — David will have a new album coming out later this year.

Time for the weekly Ford video. Hey, is Idol going to skip a group number this week? I mean, we have three performers lined up. Don’t know how there’s going to possibly be time.

And we’re down to the results …

Paige Miles: She’s in the bottom three. I would have put her there after any of the semifinals. Not last night.

Lee DeWyze: He’s safe.

Siobhan Magnus: She’s safe.

Aaron Kelly: He’s safe.

Andrew Garcia: He’s safe.

Tim Urban: He’s in the bottom three.

Now a musical interlude featuring Orianthi (right) and her hit, “According to You.” So much better than a group number, right?

Didi Benami: She’s safe.

Crystal Bowersox: She’s safe.

Katie Stevens: She’s safe.

Michael Lynche: He’s safe.

Casey James: He’s safe.

Lacey Brown: She’s in the bottom three.

And TIM URBAN, unbelievably, survives during reggae on Rolling Stones night.

That means Lacey or Paige is heading home.

And NO, Ellen, neither is worth using the save on. Not when you might need it to rescue someone like Crystal or Lee from American’s tone-deaf voters sometime later this season.

Another musical interlude. “Blah, Blah, Blah” from Ke$ha. They might have to bleep part of this. Nope, she changed the words.

Here we go: The first finals elimination of season nine.

And heading home will be Lacey Brown … unless the judges foolishly use their one and only save of season nine.