‘American Idol’: Bon Jovi gives back

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After the good-intentions breather last week, the crowd for Bon Jovi night live at the Idoldome -– a crowd that included visiting dignitaries Abigail “Little Miss Sunshine” Breslin and returning ‘Idol’ icon Antonella Barba –- seemed ready to get back down to business. At Tuesday’s pre-show sign check, Bill, the warm up guy, commented that signage was at an all time high. The favorites among the sign-carrying demographic (mostly the under-10 set) are solidifying -- with seemingly 90% now dedicated to either Jordin or Blake. Melinda scores a distant third.

One of the most astonishing discoveries of my time in the Idoldome is the huge number of middle-aged white people who know all the words to “Rapper’s Delight.” Before each show, a standard part of Bill’s routine is to invite an audience member familiar with the lyrics to “Rapper’s Delight” on stage to sing it.

This week, when Bill put out the call, none other than ousted contestant, the great fallen but still shining light of the 12, Gina Glocksen answered, returning to the stage one last time to treat the crowd to her version. After the song, she then held the stage, stepping into Bill’s role to announce the judges’ grand entrances and heralding her former comrades onto the stage. You can go home again in the ‘American Idol’ family, at least until Debbie the stage manager tells you to put down the damn mike and get back in your chair -- in the audience.

Upon the announcement that it would be an entire night of nothing but Bon Jovi songs, a gasp was heard from much of the audience. Fortunately as they are down to a mere six contestants, the Bon Jovi oeuvre proved adequate to go around. To the shock of many, Bon Jovi night turned out to be one of the most consistently fun and high-quality shows of the season. All except for poor Jordin delivered some of their best work thus far.

More importantly, the six who have made it this far now show more than confidence onstage, they are downright swaggering -– sassing the judges, standing up for the first time as not just contestants but as stars.

Which calls to mind something ‘Idol’ music director Rickey Minor said in our interview, that for every contestant there comes a day when ego outstrips ability.

Does Tuesday night’s pride cometh before the fall? For two of them, that is now written in the book of life.

But for those who survive Wednesday night’s massacre, the awareness of their stardom can no longer be denied. Even Melinda now seems to be aware what she is dealing with. So how do you balance a sense that your world is exploding to proportions beyond your imagination with the fact that the competition in its very final weeks is about to get much much harder, and the need to buckle down and focus will become much greater?

And this season’s cast, it has been widely noted, has been the greatest buddy act in the show’s history, fairly falling all over each other on the set each week. This may be the point where they finally turn, look one another in the eyes and realize that the enemy is not the bloggers, or the judges or Angel of Death Seacrest, but the person who has been sleeping across the room all along…

After Jordin’s near-death experience last week, it was Melinda who comforted her and locked her in a long embrace on stage after the show. But if, as oddsmakers predict, Jordin and Melinda become the final two, how much comfort will each have to spare for the person who could cost her the crown, now suddenly so very near?

(Photo courtesy Fox)