AMERICAN IDOL Recap: A Candidate for Clarkson's Crown Emerges & Demi Lovato Critiques (Updated w/ Pictures)

Now that American Idol has pared down its finalists to a manageable seven, the producers decided to bust out the most original theme in the show's 13 seasons, "Competitor's Picks." How it basically works is, Randy Jackson did his only work of the season by playing stenographer as each contestant recommended songs for everyone else in the competition. Randy then handed pieces of paper to all seven remaining finalists, who subsequently picked their song for the week based off of that list.

As always, some of the song choices were inspired, while some were insipid. Coming into the episode, I was as interested to see what songs each contestant turned down, as I was for the performances themselves. There was more than one instance where I would have picked any song other than the one that actually got performed.

Perhaps this demonstrates my competitive nature, but if I was one of the finalists, I would have been suggesting Biz Markie and Rebecca Black all over the place.

The energy for tonight's show was at a more normal level after last week's bizarre judges' cheesefest, but Ryan Seacrest promised a number of surprises on the evening. And while he definitely delivered, most where only surprises because they made little to no sense whatsoever.

I will be back shortly with pictures from each song. Until then, onto the performances:

Caleb Johnson
"Family Tree" by Kings of Leon
Suggested By Alex Preston
Three-Word Review: Adding Another Dimension

As he did last week with Journey's "Faithfully," Caleb again showed another side of himself tonight. I think "Family Tree" was a great song choice for him, even though it was not a song I was familiar with before. This should prove to America that Caleb is a contemporary performer, rather than just a classic rock cover artist. While there is a very specific style of modern rock that he fits into, I could definitely hear him turning out a record a la Panic at the Disco. Also, I am surprised that this was the first Kings of Leon performance in IDOL history.

Jessica Meuse
"Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert
Suggested By Sam Woolf
Three-Word Review: Wait For It............................

I'm starting to feel like a broken record with Jessica, and I feel badly about it, but, to me, she just seems to have an air of unbelievability in everything that she does on stage. Whether it is that she has zero comprehension of the lyrics she is singing, her robotic stage choreography, or that she has to stare at Ricky Minor for 10 seconds to make sure that she drops her arm at the same time as he cuts off the band, nothing about her rings authentic for me. As, I've said before, her voice has a gravelly pleasantness to it, even if she does have some awkward vibrato at inopportune times. Also, in an effort to secure votes from, and curry favor with, the American public, perhaps Jessica should keep her alien abduction stories to herself next time.

Surprise #1: Ryan next welcomed erstwhile X-FACTOR judge Demi Lovato to the proceedings. While I have no idea why she was there, since FOX already cancelled her show, I am so glad that she sat alongside "mentor" Randy in the lounge, because in one night of critiques she gave more constructive feedback than the "Dawgfather" has in 13 seasons.

Duet #1: Sam Woolf and Alex Preston
"Let Her Go" by Passenger
Six-Word Review: This Act Is Quickly Wearing Thin

Surprise #2: After we come back from break, Terry Bradshaw is at the judges' table. While he has far less connection to a singing competition than Demi, at least the corporate synergy with FOX NFL SUNDAY makes sense on this one.

C.J. Harris
"Gravity" by John Mayer
Suggested By Caleb Johnson
Three-Word Review: Just Not Enough

Like Jessica, I always feel badly when I write about C.J.'s performances, because he seems like a genuinely nice dude, and I think he should have gone home during the Wild Card round. While I agree with Jennifer Lopez that C.J. is improving each week, just being primarily on pitch for one performance should not enough with only seven contestants left. The bar needs to be set much higher than simple tonal memory, and I just don't see it from C.J. Everyone always talks about his emotional connection, but that shouldn't be the only positive anyone can say about a potential American Idol champion.

Surprise #3: Some guy named Martin Garrix came straight from Coachella and looked distractingly like Andy Mientus.

Surprise #4: UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey showed up and happened to give the most cogent advice on the show all night. By the way, UFC has a partnership with FOX Sports.

Dexter Roberts
"Muckalee Creek Water" by Luke Bryan
Suggested By C.J. Harris
Three-Word Review: Rek'n T'was Aight

Here is the issue with Dexter, everyone is tired of hearing him safely sing massive anthems that everyone knows the words to, but when he does sing a song off of the beaten path, you can't understand a single word that comes out of his mouth. While Dexter gave his typical adequate performance, what annoyed me most about his segment was that Keith Urban apparently didn't understand how this week's theme worked. As Harry Connick Jr. was telling Dexter that he is hoping that he will eventually do something other than sing "along with the radio," Keith butted in and chastised the resident two-time Tony-nominee that someone else picked the song. Well, excuse me Mr. Kidman, the contestants did pick their own songs, it was just from a list of six that were suggested for them. Would it be too much to ask for the judges to pay attention during production meetings, or even the opening of the show?

Duet #2: Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene
"Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones
Six-Word Review: Champion MUST Be One of Them

Alex Preston
"The A Team" by Ed Sheeran
Suggested By Dexter Roberts
Three-Word Review: Moment Unlike This

This week JLo talked of the importance of "having a moment" to cement your status in IDOL history. While I have been a big fan of Alex's throughout the season, and this song did nothing to change that, the problem I have with him is that I love his performances, but forget them almost before they are over. I don't know what it is going to take to catapult Alex into his rightful spot in the hierarchy of this season, but every week I hope he has his "moment," but each time I am unfortunately underwhelmed.

Sam Woolf
"Sail Away" by David Gray
Suggested By Jessica Meuse
Three-Word Review: Rapid Eye Movement

Much to my surprise, there were a couple of points where Sam went into his upper register that I actually felt something from his performance. Unfortunately, they were both within the first 30 seconds, leaving the rest of the song stuck in Sam's typical REM-inducing lullaby status. It just sounded like every other song he has sung on the show thus far. Also, why did he have to steal the hat off of the Travelocity gnome?

Duet #3: Jessica Meuse, Dexter Roberts, and C.J. Harris
"Compass" by Lady Antebellum
Nine-Word Review: Painful listening, but Jessica should more songs like this!

Jena Irene
"Creep" by Radiohead
Suggested By Caleb Johnson
Three-Word Review: Got My Vote

Despite the night's third audio issue, Jena delivered the best performance of the night. What was most impressive to me was that on her only misstep of the song, she made a lightning quick mid-note correction to get back on tune, then took it up another step. With each week, she is becoming more and more deserving of the Kelly Clarkson crown. If she does not end up as one of the two finalists in June, there is something seriously wrong with America.

Ok, I felt like tonight was a little taxing. Each week I keep hoping for more and more, and while the performances are getting better as a whole, with the escalating expectations, it feels like I am getting less and less. Here's to hoping America gets it right tomorrow

Should Be Bottom-Two
They went with two last week. Hey producers, can we get a bit of consistency please?
Jessica Meuse
C.J. Harris

Should Be Eliminated
C.J. Harris

Best of the Night
Jena Irene (again)

So, what do you think? Do you agree with my assessment of tonight's performances? Who do you think should make the Top-6? Chime in in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. Remember to come back to BroadwayWorld TV on Thursday morning for videos of each performance, and Thursday night for my recap of the Elimination episode.

Photo Credit: Frank Micelotta | FOX