Idol's Deranged Cockatiel

I’m still reeling from last night’s American Idol. Gwen Stefani was “guest mentor” (apparently sales for her latest album are flagging a bit so she needs the exposure). She was pleasant enough but, unlike Lulu from the week before who actually seemed to give the contestants useful advice, Stefani mostly just offered platitudes like “Lakisha’s singing makes me sweat” or, to Melinda Doolittle: “I’d tell you good luck but it sounds like you don’t need it.”

As for the performances, LaKisha and Melinda were near flawless as usual. Resident rock chick Gina Glocksen was also a standout doing a Pretenders song. Chris Richardson and Jordin Sparks (my two favorite contestants) both did well with a couple of No Doubt tunes. Blake, Phil and Haley were all just so so to me.

Chris Sligh (or the “Pillsbury ‘Fro Boy” as I like to call him) butchered “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.” Time for him to go I think.

In the “so bad it was good category” I’d have to put Sanjaya Malakar. Continuing with his streak of absurd hairstyles, this week Sanjaya sported a “Faux Hawk” and wound up looking like a deranged cockatiel. Also, he forgot the words to his song. That poor kid. Whoever is voting for him every week – PLEASE STOP!

So far in the competition Melinda has delivered consistently flawless performances. But she’s just not that interesting to me. I think it could wind up being a race between Jordin Sparks and Chris Richardson. (I was shocked as hell last week when he wound up in the bottom two).

Any American Idol fans out there with thoughts/opinions on who might win the whole thing?