'American Idol': Phillip And Joshua Are The Standouts Of The Final Three

Finally, the producers find a way to fill time that’s actually worth mentioning. Traditionally, we’ve saved the big homecoming clip packages for the final three results show, but with two hours to fill (instead of the typical 90 minutes) the producers shrewdly moved those fun packages to the performance show.

I think this worked a lot better because there’s always some sadness, some trepidation, some fear on the results show since somebody is about to get voted off. It’s hard to get in the full celebratory mode of these packages. They just work better on the fun performance show where everybody is having a good time.

So kudos to the producers for making me break my intro-writing strike with some solid homecoming packages this year.

Random Thoughts Waiting for the Actual Show to Start:

Yes, kids. Programming note. With the shift in show air dates for sweeps weeks, this column will appear on Wednesday and Thursday mornings next week. Adjust your surfing accordingly.

Has any year of a competition show not had the “closest race ever”? Wouldn’t you just love to hear a host say one time, “This race is a total blowout. Watching and voting is kind of useless at this point.” Like it is this year since Phillip Phillips is going to win.

And…on with the show!

Joshua Ledet’s First Song: “I’d Rather Be Blind” by Etta James

Steven Said: Out of 70,000, there’s only one American Idol. And you sang like that one tonight.

J-Lo Said: You always bring down the house.

Randy Said: Another amazing performance.

The Verdict:

Joshua’s suffering from a little bit of a problem here. It’s not his fault. It’s the fault of the show’s going on too long.

That problem is that he’s so good. So reliable. So consistent that we already know exactly how he’s going to sing this song, when he’s going to create moments and when he’s going to make that transcendent Joshua connects.

He does it all here again and it’s really great, but I’ve just seen it so many times. Again, not his fault, but we’ve just seen it all before.

Grade: B+

Joshua Ledet’s Second Song: “Imagine” by John Lennon

Steven Said: Another “Thank you, God” moment.

J-Lo Said: You have an incredible instrument and the performance quality you bring to it is what makes you very special.

Randy Said: Every time you sing, people feel what you do.

The Verdict:

And just when I’m saying Joshua keeps delivering similar performances, he gives us…this.

Joshua made such a smart song choice here. This melody is so simple that it allowed him to do whatever he wanted to in order to make it fit his voice. Here he went with some stripped-down soul and gave an almost casual rendition of this classic with a more flavor that we’ve ever heard applied to it before.

Source: starpulse