American Idol 8 is one week away from completion, at which point we will likely have a new champion named Adam Lambert.  It feels like the judges and the producers want this to happen (which would be an about-face since the beginning of the season), and it would be a let-down if it didn‘t happen, given the excess media attention the man from San Diego has procured over the last few weeks and months.  Nonetheless, there is a very real possibility that any of the three men left standing in the Idol Battle Royale could walk the green mile tonight.  Dial Idol is predicting a dead heat, with all three potentially being eliminated.  It shouldn‘t be this way, and in today‘s podcast John "Lemmiwinks" Kubicek and I hope upon hope that logic and justice will defeat idiocy and madness.  We think (and desperately hope) that Danny Gokey will be eliminated. 

American Idol presented us with an impressive series of Rat Pack era performances last night, and the result was consistent competency.  We are past the days of clear bottom feeders.  Choosing who will be eliminated is no easy chore.  The bizarre performance of Simon Cowell, everyone‘s favorite curmudgeon, complicates matters even more.  Also, Dial Idol gives us little insight this week.  All we are left with is logic which, as we all know, rarely has a place in the realm of American Idol.  I, Oscar Dahl, and John "Slap Fight" Kubicek discussed the prescient matters of American Idol on this week‘s podcast and, unfortunately, came to the same conclusion - it is Matt Giraud‘s time to walk the plank.

Disco Night did nothing to change our minds on American Idol.  In what was a microcosm of American Idol 8, the Top 7 contestants only reinforced (good and bad) the opinions we‘d cultivated throughout the last three months.  Looking forward to tonight‘s American Idol Results Show, it‘s difficult to know what to think.  We know one person who should go home, though it‘s unclear if justice will actually be served.  We know a few people who shouldn‘t be eliminated, but might be anyway.  It would be downright foolish to say with any certainty who you believe will kick their American Idol bucket tonight, but in this week‘s podcast, we‘ve attempted to do just that.  Once again, I am joined by John "Colonel Sanders" Kubicek for a raucous American Idol discussion.  If you end up checking out the podcast, I promise you total consciousness. 

Justin Guarini is a name that any American Idol fan is familiar with.  The first season runner-up was integral in turning American Idol into the phenomenon it has become over the last decade, and even if his solo career hasn‘t reached the heights of his fellow season one competitor Kelly Clarkson, Justin remains ubiquitous in the realm of American Idol.  You can see him on the TV Guide channel hosting about four dozen different American Idol talk shows, and he also currently blogs about Idol over at Fancast.  You can check it out here:

American Idol 8 is at an important juncture.  There is one contestant in the top 7 who clearly doesn‘t belong anymore (Lil Rounds), and everyone else is, at the very least, a competent performer.  The Judges‘ Save has yet to be used and, if it is to be used at all, it has to be in the next two weeks.  If Lil Rounds advances much further, it will be a grand travesty.  Even the judges, who began the season preaching the Gospel of Lil, are now off the train and very obviously want her off the show.  Which leads us to the very interesting part of tonight‘s American Idol Results Show - there‘s a very good chance that the Save will be used on anyone not named Lil Rounds.  If the judges want to be fair, that‘s how they should approach tonight‘s American Idol.  Unfortunately, fairness and American Idol are rarely synonymous. 

All reasonable humans agree - it is time for Scott MacIntyre to go home.  The blind man from Arizona has done nothing to deserve his spot in the final eight of

American Idol gave us a confusing smattering of Top 40 performances last night.  It didn‘t help that the judges were frustratingly schizophrenic.  When it comes to predicting the American Idol eliminated contestant, there are myriad aspects to consider.  Will any of the judges‘ harsh criticism make a fan base rise up and unite in voting glory?  Was anyone completely forgettable?  How much of an effect will performance order have?  At what point do the viewers ignore the judges‘ comments and vote with their brains?  I, Oscar Dahl, and my loyal colleague John "Walkin‘ on Sunshine" Kubicek broke down last night‘s American Idol performance episode in an exciting and jubilant podcast this morning.  Once again, John and I disagree on who is going home, which should allow me to overtake Ol‘ Kubes in American Idol‘s Fantasy TV league. 

Last week, my colleague John "The Truth" Kubicek took the American Idol Fantasy TV lead on me by correctly predicting Alexis Grace

The Grand Ole Opry theme proved a mild success in a lot of ways.  It gave us a good feel for how creative the Top 11 on American Idol can be with their song choices and arrangements.  It allowed a couple of singers to really emerge and show us that they‘re better than what we‘ve seen previously.  And, perhaps most importantly, it made clear the distinction between the contenders and the pretenders.  There is a very apparent line between who can win

Brande Roderick led her team to victory this week on The Celebrity Apprentice. The women‘s team beat the men in every way possible. They got along well, their store was beautiful and they raised a lot more money. Roderick was a surprisingly strong competitor from the start and every player is starting to take her very seriously.