Ann Powers: Putting away the chair

Two hours' worth of teasing, and all we got was one legitimate surprise. I'm talking about Jamar Rogers getting booted off, not Tatiana Del Toro, who's already water-cooler conversation gold, being granted a stay. As anyone who's seen "Dead Man Walking" well knows, executions make for higher drama when they're drawn out.

Tonight's "American Idol" was a long way from reality television at its best. Here's what was missing: actual suspense; any real insight into the judges' decisions (though most choices were stunningly obvious); and, oh yeah, music. We knew we wouldn't get much of the latter during this, the "chair" episode, which always captures heartbreak and delight in sobs and mad hopping, not Diane Warren songs.

Yet if we must endure all this faux tension over the judges' decisions, couldn't there have been some mention of what makes an "Idol" voice viable? Simon kept repeating that it's all about the mix, the judges look for certain things, it's more than just raw talent, yadda yadda yadda. But I didn't catch many specifics, beyond Paula chiming in that welder Matt Breitzke is "likable" (as opposed to Michael Sarver, the Manwich? As if they weren't going to let the next Dierks Bentley through!) and everybody getting on Awesome Adam Lambert's case about being a musical theater geek.

Let's go back to Jamar, the perfectly nice, obviously gifted guy holding Danny Gokey up through every round. What was his failing? Was it his Andre 3000-style wardrobe? The precision of his vocal style, which reflected a harmony singer's humility more than a lead's bravado? The teardrop tattoo on his cheek? That irritating Jason Mraz-style twist he gave the Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" at the Kodak? We'll never know. I suspect that the producers just wanted to make the recently bereaved Gokey feel more alone without his BFF nearby, so he might wallow in both grief and survivor''s guilt, and get those ratings up.

Jamar deserved a sing-off, at least. I'm sure he could have triumphed over Norman Gentle/Nick Mitchell, whose not-that-hilarious schtick might eventually prove as disruptive to the "Idol" flow as Tatiana's sobbing fits.

Phil Stacey Blog: Few surprises in the Top 36

The chair episode is the most difficult episode of the entire "American Idol" season for the contestants.  Think about it.  You don’t even perform from the time you make it into the final Hollywood group until you sit in front of the judges to find out if you’ve made it to the semifinals or not.  This year, it will be a little different, as I will explain in a bit.

There were a lot of surprises for those of us on my season.  I can’t even begin to tell you the amazing talent Season 6 had that you never saw — simply because they weren’t what the producers were looking for.

Anoop Desai is first, and it is no surprise to see him sail through to the semifinals.  Anoop is an amazing singer and I predict that he will make the top 12 pretty easily.

Von Smith is next.  As I have predicted, Von makes it to the final 36. I think he will have to learn to be an artist as opposed to a performer if he wants to be a pop star.  He reminds me vocally of Robbie Williams — the original artist who recorded "Angels" — a great voice with a little theatrical edge. I think he could do well if he learns to balance those ingredients.

This year, they have introduced a sing-off between contestants, and the first sing-off is between Cody and Alex.  I don’t know about you, but this is pretty exciting to me....

Alex is very reminiscent of Clay Aiken, singing a song that Clay nailed in Season 2, "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me." He wins the sing-off and Cody goes home.  I like the whole sing-off thing, but it does feel a little uncomfortable.

The Contenders: Meet Danny Gokey

"American Idol" Season 8 contestant Danny Gokey auditioned in Kansas City and made it to Hollywood with his rendition of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine." His wife, Sophia, had passed away just a month before the audition from a heart condition she was born with, but he didn't let her down. Since then, he's started Sophia's Heart Foundation in her name. Best friend Jamar Rogers is also along for the "American Idol" ride. He also has four sisters and brother Charles cheering him on from home.

Danny Gokey appears -- and sounds -- to be one of "Idol's" strongest participants so far, having impressed the judges again during the Hollywood Night 2 group round. The Milwaukee-based church music teacher, 28, is an avid Christian. Beliefnet has the inside scoop on what Fox viewers can't see:

Gokey got well-deserved high praises from the judges, and his story clearly touched viewers. I told you in today's American Idol post that he's part of Faith Builders International Ministry in Wisconsin. Here's a little more info on Danny Gokey.

According to a contact at the church, Gokey was the praise and worship leader at both Faith Builders International Ministry locations, in Beloit, WI, for the morning service and then he headed to Milwaukee for the afternoon service, as well as doing mid-week services. While Faith Builders is Gokey's home church, he travels back and forth to Nashville, where he's been recording and working on the foundation that he set up in his wife Sophia's name.

The bespectacled artist is likely to keep on charming his way through the season, but we'll have to watch to see just how far he makes it. Meanwhile, Danny Gokey's MySpace should have all the latest.

--Leslie Anne Wiggins

Video: A visit to Jamar Rogers' workplace

Tribune's Fox Six from Milwaukee, WI stopped by the PF Changs where Jamar tends bar.

Idoltracker Review: Hurray for Hollywood Week

“I want this more than anything. It’s under my skin and it bursts out when I’m on stage.”

The immortal words of Nathaniel Marshall, American Idol Hollywood Week aspirant, are a fitting tribute to what is the most exciting week of the most important program in entertainment.

Along the American Idol trail -- a slow, arduous climb up an increasingly steep cliff -- Hollywood Week represents a sudden detour into a demolition derby.  For the rest of the season, contestants will be executed at a gentlemanly once-a-week pace (or a bit more in the Top 36 rounds), but for this one segment, death does not take a stately stroll across the Idol set, but rampages across, a rabid dog unleashed seeking to bury his fangs in any victim at hand.

As the curtain rose on the Kodak stage -- the platform where Sparks and Underwood received their coronation -- we saw 147 young hopefuls, plucked from absolute obscurity and dropped at the gates of immortality.  By the end of the night, 43 of their number, a full quarter, had been cast out and told that the kingdom would never be theirs.  They have been called forth from the seas of people who flooded America’s stadiums for a chance at this dream; astounded to be 1 of 147 chosen out of tens of thousands.  But for most of those, the gates of the kingdom are as close as they will ever come.  And this is the drama of Hollywood Week.

Phil Stacey Blog: Welcome to Hollywood

Hollywood is my new favorite part of the "American Idol" season.  I remember how awesome it was to be there, watching all the other people sing and trying to guess which contestants would become finalists.

The episode starts with Ryan introducing the Kodak Theatre, which is where the finale is generally held.  Almost 150 people have made it this far.

The contestants are split into two groups.  One group goes sightseeing, and the other stays to perform. 

On the first day of my own "Hollywood Week," I was in the sightseeing group. We did all kinds of cool things, including previewing "The Simpsons" movie.  Many friends were made and it was a joyous occasion for all.

Back at the theater, Lil Rounds is the first to perform.  She’s amazing and you can bet that we’ll see her again.  I would be SHOCKED if Lil Rounds doesn’t make it through Hollywood.

Several contestants are shown making it through the first day, but the ones I’d like to focus on are Von Smith and Nick Mitchell.  Von is the guy with the extraordinary vocal range.  After he sings, Simon tells him it is indulgent nonsense.  I can tell immediately that not only will he make it through, but he also will go pretty far because Simon is making people sympathetic toward him.

Norman Gentle — or Nick Mitchell, whoever he is — goes next and his schtick is getting a little old for me.  But there is no justice in the world and he makes it through.  I hope he comes out and just nails his song next time because I do like the guy — you kind of have to, you know?