American Idol Misses 'Big Picture' as Contestants Turn in More Weak Performances

It may have been Movie Theme night on American Idol, but both the show's producers and its remaining four contestants clearly missed the "big picture" as the "Final Four" delivered some mediocre and ho-hum performances trying to interpret songs from classic and famous movies.  One more example of how Idol's contrived "theme nights" don't work well for either the contestants or the show's massive audience.

The highlight of the night was Crystal Bowersox who burned up the stage on Kenny Loggins' "I'm All Right," from "Caddyshack."    Second-best showing of the night was Casey James' understated but charming delivery of "Mrs. Robinson" from "The Graduate," followed by an in-tune but uninspired "Will You Be There," from "Free Willy"  by Big Mike Lynche - followed in quality or lack thereof, by a very pitchy "Kiss From a Rose," from "Batman Forever" by Lee DeWyze.

DeWyze picked the most memorable but most difficult melody of the evening to sing - and didn't do much more than a mediocre job of navigating the difficult melodic twists, turns, jumps and dives of Seal's intricate classic.  He and Bowersox accounted for themselves somewhat better on the melodic "Falling Slowly" from "Once,"  but at times their attempts at tight harmony just didn't come together.

Big Mike and James joined guitars and vocal forces on Bryan Adams' "Have You Ever Really  Loved a Woman," from the movie "Don Juan DeMarco," but the pair looked and sounded uncomfortable in their forced duet.

Based on tonight's showing, we predict that Bowersox will be safe - since both her solo and duet performances were the strongest of the evening.  We think Big Mike and DeWyze should be in the Bottom Two, but based on the fans' constant lack of taste and discernment, probably will send James and Lynche to the Bottom Two.

And that's our view from The A&R Room.