About Last Night: Friday

American Idol Results: IceQueen

Last night’s American Idol was… a big change from last week’s super-fantastic-happy-hour results show. There was more singing, fewer surprises and two contestants kicked to the curb to make up for the judge’s save last week. There were two celebrity performances. The first was an ode to unhealthy food and the possibility of hypertension, courtesy of Idol winner Fantasia and her adult braces. Later, award-winning superstars Jamie Foxx and will.i.am plugged their animated movie about a bird? In Rio? Named Rio? Anyway, something about hot wings and the samba and Jamie Foxx singing off key… I don’t know, I guess this was a food-themed episode?

The remaining 11 contestants were split up for their performances this week. Lauren and Scotty did a really nice, non-smarmy version of “I Told You So” and I liked Scotty when he was gazing at Lauren instead of smugly into the camera. Lusky and Naima were cute and choreographed as they performed “Solid.” Unlike the first duo, they were at their best when they played to the camera. Haley, Thia and Pia covered “Teenage Dream.” They looked good but, for me, it was kind of a hot mess, especially with Thia singing as though she were in a community theater production of “Sweeney Todd.” And finally, Paul, James, Casey and Stefano debuted their “band.” Is three guitars and a keyboard a band? I guess anything can be a band. They did “Band on the Run,” which featured a lot of Stefano and Casey making faces at one another. Steven Tyler said they could open for Aerosmith, though. Perhaps my kazoo band can open for the opening act?

Let’s talk results. Tink claimed that 55 million votes came in on Wednesday night. He reassured Casey — who apparently felt very bad about getting the judges save — that he got a ton of votes. Naima, Thia and Paul were in the bottom three. We knew Thia had to go home. She was a snoozer. Naima made a fatal error in reggaefying “I’m Still Standing” so, despite her energetic, entertaining, creative and thoughtful performances, she had to go. I’m not a huge fan of Paul’s singing yet, but I could be. And I do enjoy his smile and extensive collection of bolo ties, so I’m glad he’s around for another week, but I think it may be his last, barring any kamikaze-type performances from the other contestants.

Grey’s Anatomy: NinjaStarr

If we were in Callie’s head last week, this is what we would’ve heard: I’m damn near dead lying on the hood of this car because I had a moment of silence after receiving an unwanted, unexpected marriage proposal from Arizona. As Calhoun Tubbs from In Living Color would say, “Wrote a song about it. Like to hear it. Hear it goes.”

Near-death experiences are most enjoyable when set to music. At least, that’s what the producers of Grey’s Anatomy were hoping. And if they would’ve have had the cast of Glee–or hell,even Big Stats from American Idol–singing along with Callie, I would’ve loved it.

Lexie does a decent enough rendition of Anna Nalick’s “Breathe” while frantically searching for Mark. She finally finds him and she holds his hand. That’s all the comfort he gets? She could have just got on the PA system and said, “Yo Mark.” The rest of the songs are eh, okay. Mark and Arizona have a cock fight, measuring which has the biggest and who is more significant in Comatose Callie’s life. The SG docs are forced to take her baby who pops out looking like a hanging plucked duck in Chinatown. And then there’s this weird scene when everyone is in bed doing the deed while a punchy song plays in the background. People’s live are in the balance, dammit, get serious.
In the end, I don’t know if I was sad because of all the lives shattered by the car wreck or my shattered ear drum. I’ll give it more thought while writing the full recap. Check back in a few days.