First Three Advance: And Some Lessons for the Rest

I am still giggling about one particular moment during last night's show, maybe you remember it, or you wiped it from your memory...the part when Paula announced to everyone (in response to Danny's performance): "I've got two words for you: Sold out arenas!" That still makes me laugh.

Okay, tonight's show was pretty good, with no real surprises, although some of you might disagree with that assessment. Ryan's proclamation at the top of the hour that we should "take nothing for granted" seemed to foreshadow a disaster....could it mean that Danny was not through, or that Tatiana was??! Didn't know what to make of this. Didn't like it, but just like my histrionic great aunt, I have come to accept this kind of behavior and not make too much of it.

After the announcement of 24 millions votes coming in last night (wow!) there were a few slightly awkward moments with the judges talking about something about last night, and dinner, and Kara and Simon said something, well, weird. I brushed it off with some uneasiness. I guess they are still getting to know each other.

Ryan called last night's show "raw and intense"....okay. I thought for a minute he was talking about that weird photo/video clip of Stevie that was shown at the wrong time, but I'm not sure he was. Hmmmm.

We begin the roll call, and I notice immediately (the veteran Idol watcher that I am) that Danny and Tatiana are sitting together and might very well be paired against one another in a dramatic showdown, and given Ryan's proclamation, am immediately nauseous. I instantly recall my assertion that if Tat makes the Top 12 I will stop watching and am suddenly wondering what I will do with my Tuesday and Wednesday nights through May if that happens and wondering how long the scarf I could knit would be, just how long that scrap booking project might take, etc.

It was great to see Carly Smithson and Micheal "Papa" Johns back on the show, but it would have been better to see something we hadn't seen before. It tasted like reheated leftovers, and given the artistic soup the both of them have been involved in since Idol S7 finished, seemed a little less than satisfying.

I will cut to the chase. Not joining the Top 12 at this point in time are Casey Carleson (back to bikini modeling), Stephen Fowler (still like him, but sorry, dude), Ricky Braddy, (see below), Jackie Tohn (have fun singing in that Holiday Inn), Anoop (see below), Anne Marie (you'd better hope your peeps tank in rounds 2 and 3 which would mean you might get asked back), Brent Keith (time for a new occupation?), Stevie Wright (finish high school!) and Tatiana (who showed by her reaction to being cut that unstable does not equal American Idol material).

Kudos to Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Micheal Sarver (a little) for making it straight through to the top 12. These lessons still apply to you, and especially to the remaining 24 to compete:

Lesson 1: Stick With What Got You There. Casualties of this edict cost Stephen Fowler, Stevie Wright, and likely Anoop a possible automatic advancement. Look, if the judges put you through singing soulful jazz, contemporary boy band tunes or slow ballads, go with that! Now is NOT the time to show your diversity....you're thinking David Cook back nine, and you are teeing off. Do what you do best and don't try and change it now.

Lesson 2: Screen Time Matters. Unfortunately, there isn't much Ricky Braddy, for example, can do about this since he isn't in the back room cutting film, but I think this is what cost him an automatic fast pass to the top 12 tonight: he suffered from a lack of screen time (back story if you will) and had to compete against the Danny Gokey's, Tatianas and Anoops of this group whom the public had already gotten to know (and love, or hate, which ever the case may be). Take heart, though, that Jason Castro, for a recent example, was completely unknown as a Top 24 member last season and ended up placing 4th....so this lack of exposure CAN be overcome.

Lesson 3: Every Minute Counts. Treat each exposure as a job interview. In this case, all 12 performers tonight were looking for America's vote but knowing how fickle we can be, were also looking for the judge's vote of confidence in 3 weeks for another chance at the Top 12 with the Wildcard. Lesson? Don't fall apart when you lose. Stay grateful and composed. Do NOT look at Tatiana for an example on how to behave (Lordy). You never know...you could get another chance at the Idol crown (note: Felicia Barton!), or at the very least, a bikini modeling agency could be looking for it's next pin up person ....) Eyes of all kinds are on you, even when you lose.

Are there lessons I've forgotten that you can add for the remaining 24? Do you believe that 20,000 votes really separated Anoop from Micheal? And most of all, was Tatiana robbed?