American Idol Top 20 Guys Night Has Michael Lynche, Casey James, Lee DeWyze Rocking the Theatre

American Idol flipped the performance order this week for their Top 20 finalists, allowing the Top 10 guys to have a go at it Tuesday evening in Hollywood before allowing the Top 10 girls to have a try. Ryan Seacrest explained the change had come due to Crystal Bowersox suddenly being hospitalized, delaying the Top 10 girls' performances in order to give her the chance to perform Wednesday. But if the American Idol judges hadn't kept saying "your last performance" or "last time," one might have been under the misapprehension that it was a repeat of last week's Top 12 guys half of the Top 24. Give the guys credit, they were pretty consistent.

Except for Alex Hamilton and Tim Urban, whose performances last week were -- in a word -- terrible. Alex Hamilton's performance last Wednesday was so pathetic, Simon Cowell commented that he didn't know who was more glad that the song was over, himself or Alex. But Hamilton stepped up and sat down, leaned across an acoustic guitar and sang John Legend's "Everybody Knows" Tuesday evening in a manner that belied last week's performance. His song choice was a bit boring, but his vocal control and style were far more confident.

And Tim Urban -- well, Tim Urban had no other direction than up from his downright awful performance from last week...

But "Big Mike" Michael Lynche started the show off, and he set the bar high for the remaining guys, ditching his acoustic guitar (which looks like a toy in his gigantic arms) and going old-school soul with James Brown's "This Is A Man's World." And he nailed it, causing American Idol judge Randy Jackson to give him a solitary standing ovation. Ellen DeGeneres told him he was the one to beat. Kara DioGuardi told him he had transformed from a "pussycat into a lion." Simon Cowell said it was his "best performance of the competition."

But John Park's follow up, John Mayer's "Gravity," left the judges flat. Randy said it was "nothing special." Ellen DeGeneres and Kara said that he needed to make better song choices. Simon Cowell told him that Purple Haze, the band Park fronted in Chicago, just "may get their lead singer back."

Third up: Casey James. He plugged in his guitar this week and channeled a little Stevie Ray Vaughan blues for Gavin Degraw's "I Don't Wanna Be." And he tore it up -- guitar-wise. Vocally, not so much. Randy Jackson was visibly impressed, rocking forward, telling Casey James that "that was hot!" Kara DioGuardi, who has been taking a lot of ribbing over her visible attraction to the contestant, told him he just took "two steps back" in her estimation. Simon agreed with her, telling Casey his act was something he could see anywhere.

Then it was the aforementioned Alex Lambert's turn. Ellen DeGeneres told him that he had a "great voice under that mullet." Kara DioGuardi told him that he had an "incredible, recordable voice." All the American Idol judges agreed he had improved over last week.

Toddrick Hall reworked Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It," slowing it down, making it a more plaintive R&B number. Randy told him he went too far and that he just needed to pick a song and sing it. Simon told him he'd gotten it "completely, utterly wrong." It was almost verbatim what they'd told Toddrick last week when he rearranged and sang Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone."

Then Jermaine Sellers slowed down "What's Going On?" just enough to make it different but didn't give it enough life for the judges to like it. Randy said it wasn't a great performance. Ellen said it didn't work for her. Kara said it felt "forced." Simon said it was "watered down" and that "no one can take you seriously." Jermaine Sellers then told the judges he knew God, but he would like the judges to pick a song for him. Simon Cowell told Sellers he may not be back for the next show, to which Sellers repeated his God connection. Ellen DeGeneres suggested he do a Frankie Beverly and Maze tune, and Randy heartily agreed. During all the back-and-forth, Jermaine Sellers told Simon he ought to come to his church and hear him sing. Somewhere in it all, it looked like they struck a deal, prompting American Idol host Ryan Seacrest to comment on a new reality show where Simon and Jermaine go to Sunday school (and who wouldn't watch that?).

Andrew Garcia was next and got the same "Your Paula Abdul rearrangement was so good, you may have set the bar too high for yourself" critiques he got last week. The young father sang "Broken Strings," the James Morrison and Nelly Furtado hit. Randy Jackson said it wasn't the "right vibe for you." However, Ellen DeGeneres said she liked it. Kara told him she wanted him to surprise them and Simon said, like last week, he was disappointed.

Aaron Kelly stepped out and proved that he had master control over his vocals, singing "My Girl" by the Temptations. Randy told him it was "200% better than last week." Ellen said it was a "little forgettable." Simon flat-out said he didn't like it. But they all agreed that Kelly has a great singing voice.

Tim Urban, the one person who arguably should have been sent home out of the Top 24 with his excruciatingly terrible rendition of OneRepublic's "Apologize,"did far better Tuesday evening with Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher." Still, Randy Jackson said it was "too karaoke." Ellen DeGeneres said he had "no charisma, no stage presence." She said he should act and sing and that she could see him on "Glee." But Simon disagreed with his fellow judges (something he'd done most of the night), telling Urban it was a marked improvement over the week before.

Lee Dewyze anchored the evening with Hinder's "Lip Of An Angel." With the exception that the flow of the song was a bit off, his mastery of the sound of the song was uncannily similar. Randy said that other than the pitch problems, he liked it. Ellen said that with the "intensity, it was great." Kara DioGuardi said, "I can hear you on the radio right now." Simon agreed, saying that Lee Dewyze was "head and shoulders about everyone" and that he just "may be the one to beat."

It should be noted that at the beginning of the show, Ryan Seacrest had asked Simon Cowell who he thought has the edge so far in the competition - the girls or the guys. Simon, who had been pushing the girls in interviews, said that they might have the lead "by a smidge." Anyone who saw last week's performances knows that he was being disingenuous. The American Idol Top 12 girls were simply a conga line of boring. The guys were not and they seemed to keep their performances consistent for the Top 20 round. The Top 10 girls will have to step up their game.

As for who might be sent home this week from the Top 10 guys? John Park's lack of emotion in his renderings might get him sent home this week. Besides Park, it's a toss-up. Jermaine Sellers, Alex Hamilton, Andrew Garcia, and Tim Urban all did passably well, but their songs were a bit ho-hum and safe. In fairness to Toddrick Hall, who has strived to be unique, his two rearrangements in the past two weeks have shown a creativity unlike any other contestant other than Andrew Garcia. With the American Idol judges telling most contestants to be unique and take risks, they're telling him to rein it in (although his arrangements have been well done). He might get axed but, in his defense, he's exactly what American Idol needs - something different. And since Tim Urban got a pass last week and really didn't step it up this time around, he should get the boot.

But those that shouldn't have anything to worry about - at least for this week - are Michael Lynche, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, and Lee DeWyze - with the best overall performance of the night going to Michael Lynche (and best guitar performance going to Casey James).

The viewers will see two of the guys (as well as two of the girls) get cut from the American Idol Top 20 Thursday on the results show.

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Sources:

"American Idol," Fox Television

AmericanIdol.com