Group 2 of American Idol Finalists Are a Yawn!

Last week, I wrote that the American Idol finalists should take note as to what David Cook did last year if they wanted to win the competition for Season 8. Apparently, the second group of 12 finalists was asleep at the wheel! In fact, most of their performances proved to be lack-luster.

The biggest issue with the performances this week was song choice, as pointed out by the judges. While song choice certainly played a role, the performances generally had other flaws. For example, Kris Allen, Mishavonna Henson, and Jeanine Vailes just didn't seem to be comfortable performing and had an awkward or karaoke-like stage presence.

The only highlight of the evening was Adam Lambert's performance. In fact, if you were as bored as I was with the previous 11 performances, you may have slept right through Adam Lambert's performance, or at least thought you were dreaming. Thank God for DVR's so that I could rewind and watch Adam Lambert's performance!

Adam Lambert blew away his competition last night in the second round of competition among American Idol finalists. Unlike Danny Gokey, the big winner from last week, Adam Lambert rocked the house with an entertaining and enjoyable number. His challenge will be if he can connect with the audience in a way that Danny Gokey already has. With rock numbers, Adam Lambert will be able to overplay his actions and emotions; not so, with a ballad. He's already admitted that he needs to rein in the dramatics - let's hope he keeps that in mind with each future song selection.

In turn, Danny Gokey will need to prove that he can be as entertaining and as fun to watch as Adam Lambert.

At this point, either Danny Gokey or Adam Lambert could win the competition, although I would give an edge to Danny Gokey.

I do find it disappointing that this second group of 12 finalists didn't have more to offer. Outside of Adam Lambert, I'm not sure that there were any really good performers. The female contestants overall were better than last week's group of female finalists. This week's group showed they had the pipes (e.g., Allison Iraheta, Mishavonna Henson, and Jesse Langseth) but that's about it, with maybe the exception of Allison Iraheta. I certainly hope there are a number of male contestants from the first group of finalists that are back for the wild card round. They are deserving of a Top 12 spot. It is a shame they were in such a talented group where only the top male and third-highest vote getter could secure a spot in the Top 12 that week. I certainly hope few of the singers from the second group will be offered a second chance. If they are in the Wild Card round, I hope their performance this week was a wake-up call and they'll prove exactly why they deserve to be the next American Idol.

Let's just hope that the third group of finalists will learn from this group's mistakes and gives us a much better show next week.