Casey James is officially Jasmine Trias. You remember Jasmine Trias don’t you? Jasmine Trias was an undeserving Idol contestant in season three who overstayed her welcome. I’m officially tired of Casey James. Can we please send him away this week? I’m definitely fine with a Lee, Big Mike, Crystal final three. Do work America!

The Hot List (based on last last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – Simon’s picking on her. I’m not sure why, but he is.
2. Lee DeWyze – I didn’t think he was great last week, but it was the first time all year that I thought he could win it.
3. Michael Lynche – For whatever reason, the judges loved Lee, overshadowing Big Mike’s great performance last week.
4. Casey James – Hey Casey, Big Brother starts taping in the summer. Make sure you send in your resume.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles
3. Young Didi Benami
4. Young Andrew Garcia
5. Young Katie Stevens
6. Young Tim Urban
7. Young Creepy Girl
8. Young Aaron Kelly

Tonight, the crew sing songs from the movies. And Jamie Foxx is the mentor. I thought he mentored earlier this year, but it was last year. And no, I didn’t mix him up with Usher.

Jamie is giving the crew shirts that say ARTIST on the front, or CONTESTANT, based on how well they do. This coming from a guy whose most famous song features the hook, “Blame it on the al-al-al-al-al-al-cohol”? I’m kidding. I’m a fan.
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Last week, I went with Brian on his Science Camp field trip to Hume Lake. I was a chaperon and was one of three parents who oversaw a cabin of seven 10 and 11 year old boys.

I’m not a big outdoors person. I don’t like camping and am not a huge fan of hiking. And I had to do this for five days in a row. But, I can do anything with Brian. He’s probably the only person in this world who I can do stuff like this with and enjoy it.

My original mindset was that at the very least, he and I would spend some rare one-on-one quality time together and just hang out. That was an oh-so-very-wrong mindset, but that’s ok because I got something much more meaningful out of the trip.
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I was out all week at Science Camp with my oldest son and have absolutely no idea what happened. It’s as if American Idol is on Saturday morning and not Tuesday evening. That’s why this is so late.

When you write something like this for the past eight years, you yearn for people like Siobhan Magnus, aka creepy girl. People like her (and Sanjaya) make it easier to have fun writing a running American Idol post. I could comment on what goofy outfit she was wearing, how her teeth resembled that of Jacob the werewolf from Twilight fame, and even how whenever she came on screen I instinctively made sure that my front door was locked. She’s really one of the greatest American Idol characters of the last few seasons. And yet, so many people are happy that she’s gone. Not me.

The Hot List (based on last last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – She’s in a zone. She’s in an f’in zone, even if Simon wants to make sure her britches don’t get too big.
2. Lee DeWyze – Hey Lee, how about you actually act like you belong here?
4. Michael Lynche – Big Mike is the feel good contestant of the year.
5. Casey James – In 6 months, he’ll be on the Amazing Race with his guitar as his partner.
6. Aaron Kelly – He’s very lucky to be under the radar.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles
3. Young Didi Benami
4. Young Andrew Garcia
5. Young Katie Stevens
6. Young Tim Urban
7. Young Creepy Girl

I just noticed that it’s Crystal and four dudes left. Sans Casey, they’d be decent backing vocals for her.

It’s Frank Sinatra night, which scares me. How can you make any of his music current? And how is Harry Connick, Jr. going to help them with that? He’s helping out with the arrangements for their songs as well.

Have you ever wondered what Harry Connick, Sr. is doing? Well, I googled him for you.
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Let’s play a game of fact or fiction.

I missed my first episode of American Idol in 8 years.

Fact: My cable went out and I didn’t see the show and wasn’t able to blog about it. I was heartbroken, but I think I needed the break. Why?

This isn’t the worst year for American Idol ever.

Fiction: They are actually losing some weeks to Dancing With The Stars, which I don’t think has ever happened. I usually buy a handful of Idol performances on iTunes during the season and I haven’t bought any yet.

Lee DeWeed is strong enough to battle Crystal if they get to the final two.

Fiction: He’s too boring. He has zero stage presence and when Ryan talks to him, he looks like he’s going to urinate in his pants.

The longer Big Mike goes, the better.

Fact: Other than Crystal, he understands showmanship more than anyone. He also doesn’t come off as a robotic child like Aaron, a whiner like creepy girl, and a complete one-trick pony like Casey James. He’s a real live adult like Crystal.

Kara DioGuardi is my wife.

Fact: Well, you all knew that already.

I don’t have a new hot list because I didn’t watch last week, so we’ll keep them in the same order that I had them before, which I imagine is a little bit different than what it should be, but oh well.

The Hot List (based on last last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – She’s in a zone.
2. Lee DeWyze – Someone needs to buy him a personality. He’s not genuine like Elliott Yamin. He’s just scared.
3. Siobhan Magnus – She’s very close to being creepy, dramatic, and annoying girl.
4. Michael Lynche – American Idol needs a great Big Mike.
5. Casey James – One. Trick. Pony.
6. Aaron Kelly – The only reason he’s still here is because he’s under the radar. No more.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles
3. Young Didi Benami
4. Young Andrew Garcia
5. Young Katie Stevens
6. Young Tim Urban

Like Arsenio used to say, let’s get busy!

It’s Shania Twain Songbook night, and I have a feeling I will only recognize two or three songs. But that’s my bad. I do like pop country music, but I just don’t listen to it all that much.

Lee DeWeed is up next and he’s singing You’re Still The One. Someone wake Lee up, he’s on stage! Get to the chorus Lee! Hurry! I never noticed this, but Lee does the Rocky Balboa lip curl. The only thing I really like about Lee is his kickin’ soul patch. Eh, I wasn’t too pumped. Let’s see them drool over him. Randall says he made it his own and did a pretty good job with it. Elly says he made it his own and he looks cute. She’s copying Randall again. Kara says his voice makes everything relevant. Simon thought it was the perfect song for him out of Shania’s catalog. Notice that he doesn’t get heat from his lack of stage presence. The rules don’t count for their favorites I guess.
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You know, I’ll never be a drill sergeant like Earl Woods, but then again, my kids won’t ever cheat on their wives with 30 Las Vegas escorts. Ok, so maybe Tiger has a lot of options. Still.

But one way that Earl and I are similar is in the way we handle our business. Watch below.

You can watch the inspiring video at Fanbase.

This is the second episode of Thompson 2 Clark Radio. Once again, Sarah (don’t forget the H) joins me as my co-host and we welcome Stephen (pronounced like Stephen Curry’s name) to talk about the Giants and the open to their 2010 season.

We go over the opening day line-up, talk Jonathan Sanchez, tell stories from the games we’ve already attended, talk Giants/Dodgers memories, and give our World Series predictions.

And Sarah give her first Hot List of Giants that she enjoys for more than just their baseball playing prowess. Stephen and I are disappointed in who doesn’t make her list.

Listen below.

Right click to download.

Follow Stephen @stove82 and Sarah @luvboysofsummer on Twitter.

You can e-mail the show by clicking here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

When Ryno Seacrest announced that Big Mike Lynche was the person going home last week to the surprise of everyone who has ears, I knew that Simon, Ellen, Randy, and Kara were going to use the save on him. There was no way they were letting Big Mike get away from them so early. It would’ve been a travesty in the sense that there’s at least three singers that should go home before him, and if you want your contest to not be a sham, he had to stick around.

I just don’t know how they’re going to save him this week if America becomes deaf again.

Just like last year, what happens this week is that two people get the boot. It should make for an interesting show both tonight and tomorrow.

And don’t forget the Sonic Spring Singing Contest which is a game you can play after every American Idol Tuesday night show. Just make sure you vote before Wednesday night’s show. I’ll be playing along every week. Please join! It’s free to play and you can win an Amazon Gift Card. And make sure to play EVERY WEEK!

I’m still winning even though Mary Tara is gaining on me. Hea Jin is in third and she keeps voting for the Korean guy to win the show even if he didn’t make the top 12.

And now the hot list.

The Hot List (based on last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – She’s in a zone.
2. Siobhan Magnus – I smell a creepy girl backlash coming.
3. Lee DeWyze – Lee DeWeed is skating by. I still don’t think he’s that great.
4. Michael Lynche – I didn’t like his performance, but it was a travesty that he was supposed to go home.
5. Casey James – Yes he’s all gimmick, but that gimmick was good last week.
6. Katie Stevens – She’s starting to make her run.
7. Andrew Garcia – He’s on thin ice.
8. Aaron Kelly – When the best word I can use to describe him is elf-like, I don’t think he’s winning it. This year’s Chicken Little.
9. Tim Urban – Teflon Timothy.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles
3. Young Didi Benami

Is it really Elvis week? I fear a corny rendition of Jailhouse Rock.

Adam Lambert is the mentor? He sure can teach them how to not drop a record. He can teach them how to have huge buzz and turn off more people than create new fans. But I do envy his hair. I wish I could get my hair that high.

Wait, what does he have in common with Elvis again? I’m a little hard on Lambert and it’s mostly because I thought had a really cool record in him and he decided to go for shock value and turning heads.

Crystal Bowersox is up first with Saved. I could live without her lack of actual hip functionality, but vocally, it wasn’t only money, but it had the perfect amount of sass and fire. Randall says it was dope and could’ve been the second coming of Bonnie Raitt. Ellen says it was fantastic. Kara says it she did some really good things tonight. Simon says she didn’t fall into the karaoke trap and it sounded great.
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Your friend and mine, Didi Benami was eliminated last week. It wasn’t sad at all. After her uncomfortable performance it was quite an easy choice. It was almost as if she was in pain singing, letting us know she was ready to go. No, it wasn’t as dramatic as I’m making it. But it’s Didi. Didi Benami.

And don’t forget the Sonic Spring Singing Contest which is a game you can play after every American Idol Tuesday night show. Just make sure you vote before Wednesday night’s show. I’ll be playing along every week. Please join! It’s free to play and you can win an Amazon Gift Card. And make sure to play EVERY WEEK!

(Psssst, I’m still kicking tail in the contest by the way.)

And now the hot list.

The Hot List (based on last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – What would this show be without her?
2. Siobhan Magnus – I didn’t think she was as bad as they tried to make her out to be. But she might be knocked down two notches unless she comes out strong.
3. Michael Lynche – He’s the definition of the word likable.
4. Lee Dewyze – Lee DeWeed.
5. Andrew Garcia – He came back stronger, but he’s very predictable now. He’s just flippin’ pop songs.
6. Aaron Kelly – I think Santa calls him in on the 24th to help make toys for the children.
7. Casey James – He’s really annoying now. He’s more gimmick than anything.
8. Katie Stevens – She needs to start dressing a little more hip instead of wearing the party favors dress all the time.
9. Tim Urban – Teflon Timothy.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles
3. Young Didi Benami

Nothing really changed for my this week. It’s time to get serious peoples. Wait, it’s the Lennon and McCartney songbook. Who’s singing Imagine? I say Aaron Kelly or Lee DeWeed.

No McCartney on the show of course.
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Oh Paige Miles. You had the pipes. But you couldn’t put it all together. I had high hopes. But those hopes crashed when you gave me sonic poison ivy with your rendition of Against All Odds.

Don’t forget the Sonic Spring Singing Contest which is a game you can play after every American Idol Tuesday night show. Just make sure you vote before Wednesday. I’ll be playing along every week. Please join! It’s free to play and you can win an Amazon Gift Card. And make sure to play EVERY WEEK!

(And guess what? I’m winning. Even though I’m not able to win the prize, I’m going for bragging rights.)

And now the hot list.

The Hot List (based on last week’s performances)

1. Crystal Bowersox – She’s not only good, she could battle the top stars of past seasons on the American Idol All-Stars show that they’ll have to do in two years.
2. Siobhan Magnus – She’s a creepy little girl.
3. Michael Lynche – I’m starting to come around on him. His charisma is getting me on his side.
4. Lee Dewyze – He has talent, but I haven’t seen him really do anything super special yet.
9. Andrew Garcia – I almost wish he never performed Straight Up.
9. Aaron Kelly – I hope he doesn’t have to go back to Hogwarts before the season is over.
9. Casey James – He’s going to start needing to perform shirtless to stick around.
9. Katie Stevens – Big girls may not cry, but there’s no way Katie is winning.
9. Didi Benami – Like Shanice, I like her smile, but it’s the only thing I really like about her.
100. Tim Urban – Oh Timmy.

The Departed

1. Young Lacey Brown
2. Young Paige Miles

As you can tell, I only really ranked the top four. It’s because everyone else sucks. There’s the top four right now (and could be top 3) and then the rest. I’m not sure that many of these bottom dwellers would even make final twelves in other seasons.

Your boy Usher is tonight’s mentor. Let’s hope that they haven’t listened to his latest album.
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The rest of the trip

Sunday was WrestleMania, but before that, we headed over to Baby’s Steak And Lemonade, Armando Alejandro Estrada’s restaurant. We met up with Bryan Alvarez and Ed in San Antonio and even met a woman who grew up with CM Punk. Nope, she wasn’t there because it was WrestleMania weekend. She just had bad timing.

In short, the show was great. The kids had a blast. And then shortly, we were on our way back to California. Rather than continue to go on, I put together a video with photos from the trip.

The Three Amigos Trample Phoenix from Garrett Gonzales on Vimeo.

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