Phil Stacey blog: Now, officially, an Adam Lambert fan

Tonight started a bit strangely for me because Randy talked about how disappointing last night was.  Was I watching a different show?  They slayed me last night!  They rocked my face off!  And for the first time in "Idol" history, a man received a standing ovation from Simon Cowell!  I was thoroughly impressed.

Maybe I'm easy to please.  But I truly think there is some amazing talent up there this year.  To me, the only reason Lil Rounds and Scott MacIntyre were on the chopping block was because of how GREAT everyone else was!

By the way, it is official.  I am ready to eat crow.  I have not been a big fan of Adam Lambert -- but I  said that if he delivered a performance worthy of being compared to Jeff Buckley and Freddie Mercury -- I would become a fan.  So as of tonight, I am officially an Adam Lambert fan.  Dude can sing.  He's still a little crazy -- but he's a rare talent.

A quick break to say that the Ford video was just like one we did on our season.  I am including a photo that Blake Lewis took on the set -- I don't know if I'll figure out how to post it, but if so, hope you enjoy it.

Phil Stacey blog: Group dreams

Tonight covered Day Three of Hollywood Week. Trust me when I say that these contestants are TIRED during this episode. When I was on "American Idol," Day Three was group day. I remember I stayed up all night with my group practicing harmonies and dance moves. I was literally out of it when we performed –- and so was the rest of my group. My roommate, Chris Sligh, however, was in a group with Blake Lewis, Rudy Cardenas and Tom Lowe. When they formed their group, they spent all of 15 minutes choosing a song and coming up with an arrangement for the following day. They were well rested and absolutely tore it up when they performed. Theirs was easily the best group event of the day. All four people easily skated through to the next round, while two members of my group were sent home. It just goes to show, sometimes you either have it –- or you don’t.

Simon has a “forget the words” no-tolerance policy. That is, unless he REALLY likes you. If anyone forgets the words and still makes it through, they are a guarantee for the semifinals.  It really is that simple.

This episode begins with a lot of group drama. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy watching the drama.

Tatiana Del Toro is the focus of most of the drama. I am assuming this is the day she will get cut. I’m kind of surprised to see that she’s still here.

American Idol Daily: Idols everywhere

After a momentous few days in the history of Idol Nation, the news front fell relatively quiet.

The biggest news, in this reporter's opinion, was the announcement of a mini-tour of ex-Idols, The Idol Mania Live tour. Actually, thus far it seems to be more of a show than a tour with only one date announced yet on the website -- in Sarasota, Fla., on Dec. 6. According to the website, the concert will feature, unlike the official tour, songs written by the Idols themselves. The participating cast includes Justin Guarini, Blake Lewis, Gina Glocksen, Vonzell Solomon, LaKisha Jones, Ricky Smith, Mikalah Gordon and Melissa McGhee.

Writing on her MySpace blog about the show, season five finalist McGhee tells:

I can't tell you how awesome it feels to jump back in. I took a little time off to regroup after Idol, but I have definitely missed it and can't stay away! With a new sound and new music I am totally psyched to be starting back on tour with amazing performers and being able to share our hearts with everyone! Thank you everyone for all of your support and I am completely excited to get the album out!

For season six's runner-up, Blake Lewis, who has been very outspoken in his criticism of Idol in recent interviews, returning to perform under the Idol umbrella, even in this unofficial version, must provoke some mixed feelings to say the least.

The tour is the largest incidence I have seen of what seems to be a trend of outside-the-tent, unofficial Idol conclaves. While season seven was still in progress, a few of the also-rans from the top 24 put together a mini-tour of a few cities. The lounge of Hotel Niko in San Francisco featured a different lineup of former Idols each week. The ability of the Idol brand to fill a room and curiosity about and enthusiasm for those who have battled and bled in the Idoldome is endless.

Meanwhile Idol Mania tour member and stalwart of the show's smallest caucus (female rockers) Gina Glocksen has released her first self-written song. She says of the number on her MySpace blog:

I just posted my first recorded original called, "Taking the Keys". I really hope that you enjoy it! I've just been through the situation too often where I'm out with someone, and they embarrass the hell out of me, so, I wrote about it! I hope you'll share it and let it be known that i'm NOT even CLOSE to being "done" with music. I'm here to stay and this is just the beginning!

The song can be found here. Congratulations to Gina -- an Idol pioneer and one of the bright lights of a  difficult season.

55 days to season eight!

-- Richard Rushfield

Photo: Gina Glocksen. Credit: Fox