Idol Goes Live with the Top 12 Girls

Can you feel the excitement in the air? It's that thrill that only comes on the first live night of the season on American Idol! Alright, it's not that exciting. In fact, it can be downright painful. We've got a long night ahead of us. No more screwing around. Let's get all critical with the top twelve girls and figure out who's going home on Thursday. 

(Note: These reviews are not displayed in the order in which they were performed. I hope this doesn't create too much confusion, but with so many contestants, keeping the html code straight is a nightmare.)

Ashley Rodriguez

"Happy"

I have no recollection of this girl ever performing on any of the previous shows. I'm not sure we'll ever see her again after Thursday night. God, what an awful song choice and an even more hideous arrangement capped off by a pitiful performance. She'll need to do a lot better -- if she gets another chance.  

ODDS ON STAYING: 50:1

Crystal Bowersox

"Hand In My Pocket"

I love her. She's my absolute favorite -- maybe my favorite Idol contestant ever -- but Cowell hit the nail on the head. While Crystal is a great performer, her lack of versatility will be her demise -- it may be several months from now -- but it will do her in eventually. She was clearly the best this week, but can she be the best every week?

ODDS ON STAYING: 2:1

Didi Benami

"The Way I Am"

What a pleasant surprise. Cowell and Jackson are asking for way too much way too early. Were they not paying attention to the disaster that was the first half of this show? By comparison, this was great! Didi chose a song that she could handle and she handled it. Not a home run, but a solid triple.

ODDS ON STAYING: 3:1

Haeley Vaughn

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

I have to applaud the choice to use Beatles songs. They're so beautifully "singable," once again revealing the unparalleled genius of Lennon and McCartney. Sloppy performance by Haeley, but it had so much potential! More singing, less screaming would help. I really want to root for this girl but I still need convincing.

ODDS ON STAYING: 10:1

Janell Wheeler

"What About Love"

Thirty seconds into this mess, I felt like rewinding the DVR back to the Old Spice Commercial that preceded it. It was far more entertaining. The judges said it all -- a completely idiotic song choice. On Idol, you simply cannot walk out on stage and try to tackle a signature song of this caliber. You have to earn the right to sing the epic numbers. This was awful. Karaoke awful. 

ODDS ON STAYING: 50:1

Katelyn Epperly

"Oh, Darling"

It took her a while, but once Katelyn got into the song, she did okay. Not bad for a first night. She can hang around another week. But what is up with Judge What'sHerName giving Katelyn the business about her hair and makeup? I thought we got rid of the stupid judge. 

ODDS ON STAYING: 8:1

Katie Stevens

"Feeling Good"

The judges must have heard something I didn't. I actually went back and listened to her performance a second time and I still didn't think it was anywhere near as bad as the judges made it out to be. Yeah, okay, so the song choice was a little mature for her, but had she performed "like a 17-year-old" as the judges suggested, she would have been hammered for being too much of a "pop star." Personally, I want to hear more from this girl. I think she can last a while.

ODDS ON STAYING: 14:1

Lacey Brown

"Landslide"

Landslide indeed. After all these seasons, can't someone figure out how to help these people choose songs? Stevie Nicks? Are you kidding me? On the first night? That was just plain dreadful. That's exactly what gets you sent home. If she gets voted out, she certainly earned it tonight. 

ODDS ON STAYING: 120:1

Lilly Scott

"Fixing A Hole"

Okay, I'm going to get this out of the way. What is with this look? Somebody call in the stylist! This whole gray/white hair thing is really distracting. Regardless, I thought this was an excellent song choice. It fit very well within her range and while her performance was by no means stellar, it was certainly good enough to keep her around another week. A very smart call. 

ODDS ON STAYING: 4:1

Michelle Delamor

"Falling"

Funny how when a pro takes the stage, you recognize it immediately. This young lady will go very deep into this competition. If she can show some versatility and range in the weeks to come, she might become my favorite to win it all. Very, very nice. 

ODDS ON STAYING: Even

Paige Miles

"Alright Now"

Well, that didn't start out well, did it? I knew there was a reason that I had never started my blog until they had significantly thinned the herd. A very foolish song choice and a very flimsy performance. She can do a whole lot better. I'm confident she'll get the opportunity, but this was a real stumble coming out of the gate.

ODDS ON STAYING: 15:1

Siobhan Magnus

"Wicked Game"

I've been looking forward to this performance. This girl appeared to made a real move during Hollywood week -- at least that's how it appeared in the televised edit anyway. She went with a dangerously low key and it made the start a little muddy, but she recovered nicely and really delivered in the chorus and the second verse. The more comfortable she gets with her surroundings the stronger she's going to be in this competition.

ODDS ON STAYING: 8:1

I typically do not usually watch Idol until the final twelve have been chosen and even then, I've always felt half of them really had no business being there. It comes as no surprise that there was a very clear distinction between the "haves" and the "have nots." Looking over the twelve boys we'll be seeing Wednesday night, there's at least 50 percent more mediocrity in store. Ugh.

Is there a winner here? That remains to be seen. But there are for sure two losers, because two girls have to go home on Thursday. I'm betting that it's Lacey and Janell.