American Idol 2, April 1: Fool Me Once...

This has been quite a week for American Idol. The maelstrom over Marine Josh Gracin's continued participation grows higher, a skeleton from Trenyce's closet falls out, while Corey Clark has been expelled due to his own brush with the law. In the midst of all this, we get Disco Week. A week that always seems to make Simon crabby, and tonight is no exception.

The show begins and Ryan Seacrest greets us with 1,784 disco cliches. I'll spare you. We are introduced to the eight remaining contestants. Eight? Ryan goes on to explain that Corey Clark has been expelled from the show due to pending legal issues over his head, "We certainly do a background check on all of our contestants. But, that process is compromised when the contestant is less than honest. Corey Clark chose not to reveal his arrest, so we had to release him." Strong words from Fox's legal department! (Ryan made no effort to look like he was doing anything but reading a carefully prepared statement.)

Speaking of words, Corey has the chance to explain himself in his own words: "The story came out this morning that I was alleged to have beat up my own little sister, and I beat up four police officers and I was endangering a child, that was my little sister, and obstructing justice. Basically, the charges they are trying to bring against me, I'm not guilty of, at all. I am guilty of not letting the producers of the show know what happened. If I told the producers from the beginning, you know what I'm saying, there's no telling what might, or might not, have happened. I guess I was a little scared." Corey goes on to apologize to the contestants who may have been cut in favor of him, and the contestants who are no longer in the competition who may have received votes if he weren't there.

Okay, let's party! (Oy vay.)

Ryan introduces the judges, you know them, and guest judge, Verdine White from the absolutely legendary Earth Wind & Fire. Verdine glides out, slick as spider snot, exchanges pleasantries with Ryan, and glides on to his seat as we get a package telling us who EW&F were, like anyone with a radio doesn't know them (and stupidly calls EW&F a disco band! Every song folks danced to during the disco era was not necessarily a disco song and not every successful act was a disco act! But, it is a Fox show, do we really expect accuracy?).

On with the show. Time for the performances.

Rickey Smith, "Let's Groove"

Randy - "I don't know if I was so thrilled... had some pitch problems"

Paula - "I couldn't disagree more... you picked the perfect song for your register"

Simon - "I saw someone who should have been performing at children's parties"

Verdine - "it must have been hard to do that song with me out here... you held your own"

Sting7- I don't have a problem with Rickey having a little levity with his performance, he came out with a disco wig, and did more than a little grooving. I don't know why Rickey's voice still surprises me. I didn't see the pitch problem Randy did, but the pacing was an issue. "Let's Groove" is a tight and intricate song with Maurice White handling base of the vocals and Philip Bailey using his classic falsetto to sing the hook. Rickey tried both parts, which was jarring, and made breathing hard. But it was an admirable attempt!

Carmen Rasmussen, "Turn The Beat Around"

Randy - "it was alright... it was feeling karaoke, it was alright"

Paula - "lot of energy... you had more fun than I've seen you have... did a good rendition"

Simon - "not the best voice in the competition, but the most commercial"

Verdine - "best strength is your performing... may want to tighten your skills"

Sting7- Carmen actually won me over a bit. Her voice is interesting, and she really belted it tonight. Her stage presence took a huge leap forward.

Kimberly Caldwell, "Knock On Wood"

Randy - "look great... hated the arrangement... you sang in tune... arrangement was too Vegas but you were stellar on it!"

Paula - "you were off-pitch... you are consistent and your consistency seems to equal complacency"

Simon - "hard to tell in here, it may be different when I hear it again later... 6.5 out of 10... whoopee"

Verdine - "great stage presence... check out the pitch thing... you only have a minute and half, but I think you were killer"

Sting7- I actually agree with Paula! I think Kimberly stays consistently on the same level, but the pack is moving forward. It's going to catch with her eventually. I will admit that she has the most diverse song choices of all the finalists. However, Amii Stewart was veeeery stylized, and anyone doing the song would have to follow her over-the-top stylizing which makes them look silly, but Kimberly managed to avoid that with own amazing presence.