Update: What do you think of the Wizbang rankings? I would change around the top six a bit, but not that far from what he’s done. And dig the David “The Stripper” Hernandez picture at the end of that post. The Ranty One talks Idol, too. And we were kindly linked by Deb, who has links to other reviews.

I loved the Winter Olympics when I was a kid. All of the skiing events, luge, all the skating events--it was all terrifically exciting to watch. I don’t watch as much anymore mostly because I don’t enjoy coverage of sports that jumps around so much that you rarely get into the rhythm of enjoying one sport.

One of my favorites was the ski jump, which looked a little like touching heaven and a little like attempted suicide. Exciting. Via Instapundit, we see something that looks a lot like good, old fashioned sexism in refusing to allow women to compete in an existing event. I remember asking, when I couldn’t even have been 10 years old, why there weren’t any women in the event. My mom, who always watched the games with me, didn’t have an answer.

If you’re so inclined, you can sign the petition here. Sadly, the people hosting the site then asked me to sign one calling for the banning of drilling in ANWR. There wasn’t one calling for immediate drilling, which seemed a tad unfair.

None of which changes the fact that I fully expect American Idol contestants to absolutely butcher the Beatles songs tonight. It’ll be a bloodbath.

Here’s a hint: respect the songs, folks. Screwing with them will only make you look foolish.

First up, Syesha Mercado, continues to be beautiful. Which is nice for me. “Got to Get You Into My Life” isn’t one of my favorites, precisely, but it’s a fun song. Unfortunately, Syesha starts by looking terrifically confused. It was better as it went along, although she really tried to over-sing some of the bits, which might work for some, but doesn’t work for everyone.

Randy thought it started rough, too, but thought it ended up reasonably well. No great praise, there. Paula agreed about the beginning, but was much happier with the thing as a whole. She even talked about the singing for once, which was nice. Simon thought the performance was better than Randy did--and better than last week--but thought she looked a little nervous on stage. True.

The rest of the commentary will be in the extended entry.

Chikezie thought that he was going to go instead of Danny last week. Most of us are glad that he was wrong.

Tthe choice of “She’s a Woman” was a little surprising, too, but not a bad one. His performance, moving from a countrified start to a hard-rocking end, was fun, high energy, and over the top. Brilliant way to shock the audience. It was risky (ignoring my early advice), but it paid off amazingly.

Randy loved it big and so did Paula. Simon, shockingly, agrees--and Chikezie is about as happy as I’ve ever seen someone. Wonderful.

I don’t envy Ramiele having to follow up that one. In fact, Chikezie is going to cast a long shadow over the rest of the show. She’s picked a twee little song, of course, and sings it straight up boring. “In My Life” is a lovely song, I suppose, but a bland one for even the best of singers and she’s not in the real of the best of singers. Which isn’t to say that she did poorly--she didn’t. I was just in danger of falling asleep.

It’s a severe come down from Chikezie’s powerhouse performance.

Randy didn’t dig it. He was bored. Paula started out by talking about how lovely she is this evening--which is never a good sign. Even she wasn’t impressed. Simon critiques Paula before saying “I was bored to tears through the entire song” and calls the song choice dreary. Yeppers.

Jason Castro--he of the progressive dreads--sings another boring song, relying on his sincerity and hair to carry him through “If I Fell.” I wanted to make him shut-up. This guy needs to stretch a little bit.

Randy is nicer than me. Paula loved it. Simon says it was “student in a bedroom at midnight” and “boring.” Ryan Seacrest is more irritating than usual right now. And he usually sets a pretty high standard.

I love your tattoos, Carly Smithson. Just thought you should know. Has Ryan been dipping into the communal meth trough tonight?

“Come Together” is one of my favorite songs--I was listening to Joe Cocker’s version from the movie of evil earlier today--so I’m an easy sell on this one. She’s pretty convincing as a rocker, although not with the same vocal power and commitment as her roommate, Amanda. Towards the end, she’s a little too tentative, but she bounces out of it nicely. Very good performance and she owes a bow to the band for pulling it off, too.

Will it be unanimous? Randy thinks it was stellar, Paula thinks she’s a star but fails to comment on the vocals, and Simon thinks that she finally chose the right song.

“Eleanor Rigby” brings David Cook out from behind the guitar. From the beginning, he rocks it up a little bit and gives it a very contemporary, alt-rock vocal, which works reasonably well. It won’t be my favorite of the night--Chikezie still owns that spot--but it was definitely strong enough to stay near the top of the show.

Randy wasn’t thrilled with the beginning but liked the rock attack and Paula talks about horses and things wholly unrelated to the singing. Even Simon liked it and says that Cook could win the show. I’m not sure I’d go that far, but he’s establishing himself with consistent, rock-oriented performances that are completely solid. He’s sort of branding himself carefully and with more success than a lot of the pretend rockers that have come through the show.

Brooke White sings “Let it Be” and play the piano for our pleasure. It’s a straight up take on one of the Beatle’s most popular songs--that country lilt is just the way she sings--and it’s gorgeous even with a few rough patches and a little too much worrying about the camera. I’d be shocked if she went home after that. And, damn, she’s pretty. Lovely hair tonight.

While Brooke looks like she might cry, Randy tells her how it wasn’t her best performance, but it was good. Paula loves her. Simon thought it was one of the best of the night and a great song choice. When Brooke talks about how it’s a brilliant song, beautiful piano, wonderful crowd, and bare feet, she’s even more likable. There is something very genuine about her that makes her a joy to watch.

I’m surprised at how well the singers are doing this week.

I’ve died and gone to high school. David Hernandez’s performance of “Saw Her Standing There” was vocally fine, but he looked like he was doing a Beatles review--better than karaoke, but not a good performance at all.

Randy thinks he was trying to do too much with the song, and Paula professes love for his voice while hitting him for overdoing it. When she kicks her designated lap dance guy, you know that he’s in trouble. Simon calls it “corny verging on desperate.” Could this be the end of the road for him? He was one of the worst of the night.

A Beatles night should be perfect for Amanda Overmeyer and her Harley. She should bring that up on stage some night--it would drive people crazy. Another surprising choice, “You Can’t Do That” makes a fun rock song like something the Raveonettes could really get into. I really think that she’s the most consistently fun singer to watch on the show and she’s a passionate rocker. It’s not my favorite of the night--although the crowd went bonkers for it--but it’s definitely closer to the top than the bottom.

Randy dug it, Paula loves you, man, and Simon didn’t think it was as good as last week and thought she slurred the words. He also thinks ("shut up, Paula"--haven’t we all said that a time or two?) that she’s a breath of fresh air in the competition.

Aussie hottie Michael Johns really needs a good performance. Seriously, he hasn’t had a good week since Hollywood week and it’s purely his face and his accent that have kept him in the show. Which still makes the girl awfully happy. I hope he does well tonight as I also find him likable.

“Across the Universe” is a great song and well within his vocal range. He doesn’t need to push or make strange changes to get it to fit his limits, which makes it a good song choice. The performance certainly isn’t earth shattering, but it confirms his place on the show. It’s a marked improvement. Nicely done, li’l Aussie boy.

Randy didn’t think it was his best performance (which bodes ill for the young man), Paula disagrees heartily, but she might be looking for a new lap dance boy. Simon agrees with Randy and thinks that he should have done more with the song.

Kristy Lee Cook is another one who needs a good performance tonight. Changing “Eight Days a Week” into a country song is a bold move--and a confusing performance. It felt a little like hearing the Gourds do “Gin and Juice” in a bluegrass style, but not as successful, and the yodel at the end simply stopped me. It was more funny than good, more cartoon than art.

Randy didn’t like it, Paula didn’t like it, and Simon thought it was “horrendous"--which might well be true, although the “Dolly Parton on helium” bit was uncalled for. “Brave but foolish” was probably about right. If she wasn’t beautiful, I’d say that she’ll be gone tomorrow. I’m still not sure that this isn’t her final week.

And then comes the buzzing little elf, David Archuletta, who seems to be loved by America. Instead of going maudlin on us as many expected, he chose to sing “We Can Work it Out,” and comes up with a terribly uneven performance. At a few points he lost the lyrics, recovered, but never quite brought the thing together.

It was easily his weakest vocal performance with missed notes, a seriously tentative style, and a confused arrangement where the band--which has been spot on all night--even sounded bad. Luckily for him, there is little chance that he’ll be going home.

Randy kicks him, Paula shows him love while kicking him lightly, and Simon kicks him hard. If he weren’t so beloved of the masses, he would have a good chance of going home. It was easily one of the worst of the night.

And how the hell do you not immediately know at least a dozen Beatles songs. Whether you like them or not, it’s shocking that someone in a pop singing competition could profess to be unfamiliar with everything except the Stevie Wonder version of “We Can Work it Out” and then imagine that your little boy voice could do justice to the Stevie vocals? He could have chosen a handful of songs that are easy to learn, well-suited to his voice, and would have kept him at the top of the billing. I don’t get it.