Lee DeWyze turns the corner on 'Idol,' Tim's run must end

By April MacIntyre Mar 31, 2010, 14:23 GMT

Lee rocked it last night-courtesy of FOX

Tuesday night is a bonanza of programming that Monsters and Critics absolutely loves, and the TiVo dance begins as the first show of the night, American Idol on FOX, begins the intense run to the finish on a night that boasts "Dancing with the Stars" (ABC) and "Justified" (FX). 

The judges are settling in and the back and forth between Ryan and Simon continues, though now played more innocuously and light, we aren't buying their close off-camera friendship. Ellen DeGeneres is gelling in her feedback, her quips appreciated but more importantly her advice more focused. Kara is the empath of the group and Randy is the eternally pragmatic dawg of the lot.

All the comments begin with a simple notion: Who would I plunk hard earned money down to either buy their record or see them live?

With that criteria, let's discuss.

More importantly, last night changed my opinion on who can take this prize. Lee DeWyze simply transforme before our eyes, and front-runner Crystal Bowersox gussied up and broke out the cha cha shoes, and let somebody tame her dreadlocks.  Big Mike Lynche's sit down acoustic guitar performance shined, and Andrew Garcia is back in the game.

Lee DeWyze nailed ''Treat Her Like a Lady'' and made Usher talk right to the camera, that this guy was something fierce. He was brilliant in his inflections and intent in the song which served as instruction turned warning.

A quick side note to Usher: Keep those glasses off more, you have great eyes and you look better with them off.

Someone needs to make Tim Urban go away.  His wide-eyed poor man's Zac Efron bit is not cool. Many Europeans think Americans smile too much and it makes them appear dim.  Tim/Zac fills that bill, and after listening to Lee's performance last night, how can anyone say he even deserves to stand on the same stage?

Another talent ready to take a powder is Didi Benami who was scorched by the judges last week for her ''You're No Good'' cover, but this week Kara nailed the problem telling Didi she lost her way in the competition. Her version of ''What Becomes of the Brokenhearted''? made me wince.  Noted was Simon's dig at Dancing With the Stars cover band and their singers who "murder" a perfectly good song.

Portuguese-American Katie Stevens had great hair and sang ''Chain of Fools.'' The makeup and hair department served her well, the wardrobe department dressed her like a middle-aged tranny. She isn't interesting enough to win this.

Aaron Kelly did Ain't No Sunshine'' and it was just okay, no great shakes. He blew Usher's advice and did not put emphasis on the succession of ''I knows'' in the middle of the song.  He reminds me of Jackie Earle Haley from "Bad News Bears" years.

Cape Codder Siobhan Magnus was also dressed poorly but was not as well served by hair and makeup as Katie.  Shame because she is naturally a stunner, almost like Audrey Hepburn in her feral beauty.  She lost her Chaka Khan melody and could not recover. She was distraught backstage afterwards.  Time to regroup.

Andrew Garcia redeemed himself nicely and his mother was all over Simon for his comments.

Crystal Bowersox took on the piano for "Midnight Train" and eyeshadow and performed brilliantly as per normal.  She and Lee are the two leaders in my estimation.

Another interesting performance from comely Casey James who growled ''Hold On, I'm Comin''' — and the male judges loved it, the females cried "safe zone."  Sometimes you can't win on Idol.

Top dawg for the night was Lee, bottom was Tim.

What say you all?