Entertainment...

AMERICAN IDOL: Last Night's 12 Perform(Posted 3:00 AM, 2/26/2009)


Another dozen American Idol hopefuls took the stage for your votes last night. The 12 picked singles from Billboard's Hot 100 chart -- past and present. Ryan Seacrest opened the night with a nod off-stage to the first three finalists. Alexis Grace, oil rig roughneck Michael Sarver and widower Danny Gokey all looked happy to be spectators. And then the singing started...

First up -- Jasmine Murray. The 17-year-old high school student from Mississippi did "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles. While the judges have praised her past performances as standout, this time Randy said, "It was pitchy all the way through." Kara said, "It was really all over the place." Paula said, "You went off pitch." Simon said, "I am disappointed because I like you. You don't have a great voice."

Matt Giraud, the dueling piano player from Michigan, did Coldplay's "Viva La Vida." Kara said, "You blew me away in Hollywood, and tonight I am just not blown away." Paula said, "Your performance here was far better than rehearsal. I hope you are here next week." Simon said it was "verging on a horrible performance." Randy said, "I am still pulling for you but I agree with Simon."

Bartender Jeanine Vailes did a leg-heavy, voice-light version of Maroon 5's "The Love." Paula said, "Great legs." Simon said, "Painful, terrible but you do have really good legs." Randy agreed on the legs, and Kara said, "Everything about it was wrong."

Nick Mitchell, who performs as his quirky alter ego "Norman Gentle," did a version of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls. He dedicated it to the group of his competitors and then screechily and cheekily played to the crowd as he proclaimed that he wasn't going anywhere. Simon sneered, "I pray you don't go through to the next round. One of the most atrocious performances at this stage of the competition." Randy thought it was funny. Kara said, "At least we remember you." Paula said, "You are a true performer but I am not sure this is the stage for you."

16-year-old high schooler Allison Iraheta did Heart's "Alone." Randy howled, "You just blew it out of the box. We got real singing. Might be one of the hottest tonight." Kara said, "You don't know how good you are." Paula said, "You are by far the best we have heard so far tonight." Simon agreed, "You're the best tonight by a clear mile."

Conway, Arkansas resident Kris Allen did a slow smooth take on Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" without his trademark guitar. Kara said, "The back half was way better then the front but it still doesn't come close to Hollywood week." Paula said, "I think you showed your personality and you nailed it. I thought you were charming." Simon said, "You aren't the best singer in this competition but tonight, you did what we asked. You showed confidence and personality. The chicks are going to love you."

Sunshine blonde Megan Corkrey did Corrine Baily Rae's "Put Your Records On." Paula said, "Tonight you picked the right song. The camera is in love with you." Simon said, "You look gorgeous. It started off really well and then you over sang the second part of the song. I hope America votes for you though. You stand out, you are relevant and current." Randy and Kara agreed that she did a good job.

Welder Matt Breitzke did Tonic's "If You Could Only See." Simon hit him with, "I am really frustrated. It was boring, it didn't suit you. You didn't do yourself any favors with that song." Randy said, "It was just okay." Kara said, "It fell really flat." Paula said, "Every note was in key but the song didn't show who we fell in love with."

Jesse Langseth did a chilly take on the Kim Carnes song "Bette Davis Eyes." Randy said, "I thought it was an okay performance. It was just another cool kind of performance." Kara said, "You had some issues with a few notes." Paula said, "You're cool. Your phrasing is unique." Simon said, "I think you're forgettable. It was too cool for school."

Devoted son Kai Kalama did Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted." Kara and Paula heard some pitch problems. Simon said that "the performance was corny," and Randy was unimpressed with the guy who impressed millions with a life that's devoted to caring for his ailing mother.

18-year-old Mishavonna Henson, who made it to Hollywood Week last season, took on Train's "Drops of Jupiter." Paula wasn't thrilled. Simon said, "Something left me really cold with that performance. You act like a 50-year-old."

Jonas Brother look-alike Adam Lambert closed out the night's competition with a rousing rendition of the Rolling Stones classic "Satisfaction." Paula gushed, "You are in a league of your own." Simon said, "Parts were bad and parts were brilliant. It will be a love it or hate it performance." Randy and Kara also loved it. --Bill McCleary


NICK JONAS: Behind the Scenes in 3-D (Posted 3:00 AM, 2/26/2009)



Nick Jonas tells us what we'll see of his band's off-stage life in Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience, opening Friday. He says, "It gets some really personal things in there too. There's this one scene in particular where it captures all the things that we went through in Times Square in New York City on our album release night, which was one of the craziest scenes. It's the only footage in the world of it, and it means a lot to us and I hope it means a lot to other people too." --Bill McCleary