'American Idol' recap: Joshua Ledet goes out with style

No matter who was eliminated on "American Idol" Thursday night, it would have felt like a shocker. All three finalists -- Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips -- were in solid contention for the win. But heading into the finale, one of them had to go home, and that person was … Joshua Ledet.

Of course, the judges gave him one last standing ovation.

How many had they given him over the previous weeks? It was nearly impossible to keep count -- though, at least for a while, his fellow contestants apparently had. It may be that all of that judge enthusiasm had cost Ledet the win -- turning voters off or luring his fans into believing he was safe and therefore not in need of their votes. Or the judges' high praise may have been a key factor in his staying as long as he had.

We'll never know. But going out in third place ain't bad. And Ledet will likely forge a perfectly respectable – yes, Randy Jackson, perhaps even "ginormous" – career in music from here.

In any event, Ledet could hardly have taken the news better. At the show's outset, he told Ryan Seacrest he felt they were "all winners" to have made it as far as they had, and that if he was not able to continue to the finale, he'd be voting for the two remaining contestants, both his friends, because they were "amazing."

He'd also shown admirable humility and gratitude after mentor Jimmy Iovine assessed the performances he'd given the previous night. Iovine said Ledet had had a "good night," though not his best, and said the judges had been "very generous" to him on his first song, Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind." Iovine was no fan of Ledet's take on John Lennon's "Imagine," either, feeling that his "exciting showman" talents were wasted on the song, and that he'd overcompensated for the song's simplicity with "riffs and runs." It was, Iovine said, "kind of like putting a Ferrari in a racetrack and leaving it in first gear."

Iovine had kinder words for Ledet when it came to his own song choice, Mary J. Blige's "No More Drama," on which he felt he'd hampered the singer with "a song that didn't have enough melody." "Joshua needs melody," the veteran producer said, adding that the fact that Ledet did as well with the song as he had was testament to his talent. "Does Joshua belong in this finale? 100 percent. He should be in anyone's finale," Iovine said.

"I listen to everything Jimmy says," Ledet said afterward, noting that Iovine had been in the business "for so long." "I look up to him and he's always right," he said.

But if Iovine's praise for Ledet was a finale prediction, it turned out to be one time he was not right at all.

After Adam Lambert and Lisa Marie Presley had both sung their songs, the Season 11 top three were gathered to hear the results of the audience vote.

Sanchez, who had not had a strong night Wednesday and had been saved from elimination earlier in the season, was the first contestant to learn she'd made it to the finale.

Even she looked stunned by the good news.

That left Ledet and Phillips -- and Phillips had been credited with having the biggest "moment" on the show the previous night. (Iovine said that with his version of Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight," Phillips had "won the night.")

If only for that reason (and not, say, because Phillips, as an attractive white guy, resembles other recent "Idol" winners), it wasn't a total shock to hear that, of the two, Ledet was the one who'd been sent home.

Ledet finished his "Idol" run with "It's a Man's Man's Man's World." During his performance, he hugged the two singers who'd bested him for the finale and the "Idol" judges who'd often deemed him the best, and never missed a beat. Then Ledet brought his mom onstage, a very sweet tribute that made his final moment not just a "moment" but, perhaps, a "moment-moment" or even a "moment-moment-moment."

For that gesture, and for a season of passion and dedication, Ledet deserves, yes, a standing O as he departs the "Idol" stage.

Are you sad to see him go?

'Idol' vs. 'The Voice'

More than 300,000 reader votes have been cast in The Times' agnostic poll on the talent on the Fox and NBC singing competitions. Even before the results Thursday, San Diego native Sanchez had the most so far, with Phillips in second place and Ledet in third. Juliet Sims has the most votes for any "Voice" contender.

The poll below includes the top 15 reader vote-getters. Vote for your favorites and check back to see Friday to see who tops the chart and where our experts stand on the talent after watching all season.

RELATED:

Full coverage: 'American Idol'

'American Idol' recap: The top three vie for the finale

'American Idol' recap: Hollie Cavanaugh ousted, three remain

'American Idol' vs. 'Voice': Jessica Sanchez better than Jermaine Paul?

— Amy Reiter

Photo: Joshua Ledet performs on "American Idol," airing Wednesday, May 16, on Fox. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

'American Idol': The final two standing are...

 
Throughout the 11th season of “American Idol” he’s been called “one of the top two best 'Idols' of all time” by Steven Tyler and one of the best singers Jennifer Lopez has “seen in 50 years.”

Now, he’s a third-place finisher.

Louisiana soul singer Joshua Ledet was sent home by “American Idol” viewers in the show’s semifinals week. Ledet’s exit sets up a finale between acoustic strummer Phillip Phillips and diva-in-waiting Jessica Sanchez.

“American Idol” will come to a close next week, with performances between the two finalists taking place on Tuesday and a winner being crowned on Wednesday. San Diego’s Jessica Sanchez is just 16, but she’s been championed by the “Idol” judges all season, earning the trio’s “save” when viewers tried to send her home on April 13.

"This girl is one of the best singers in America, ever," Randy Jackson gushed after the judges vetoed voters and kept her on the show.

Phillips, a 21 year-old from Georgia, has stayed true to his rock 'n' roll roots all season, usually appearing tethered to his acoustic guitar as he tackled songs from the likes of the Box Tops, the Zombies, Jonny Lang and the Dave Matthews Band. The latter was a sly wink to the judges and viewers, as Phillips has been compared to Matthews since first appearing on the show.

He wowed the judges on Tuesday when he showed his tender side, tackling Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight" sans guitar.

L.A. Times readers called the final two right in voting that has taken place over the last eight weeks in our "Idol" vs. "The Voice" poll. The poll has pitted the hopefuls on Fox against their counterparts on NBC, where former backup singer Jermaine Paul emerged the victor earlier this month.

Of more than 300,000 reader votes cast, San Diego-native Sanchez, has drawn about 99,000. Phillips is in second with 37,500.

Our readers got Ledet's third-place finish right -- he had nearly 26,000 votes in our poll.

Do you think readers' predictions will hold for next week's finale? Will Sanchez emerge the first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007 or is Phillips going to keep the boys' streak alive?

The poll below includes the top 15 reader vote-getters. Vote for your favorites and check back Friday to see who tops the chart and where our experts stand on the talent after watching all season.

RELATED:

Full coverage: 'American Idol'

'American Idol' recap: The top three vie for the finale

'American Idol' recap: Hollie Cavanagh ousted, three remain

'American Idol' vs. 'Voice': Jessica Sanchez better than Jermaine Paul?

-- Todd Martens and Megan Garvey

Photo: From left are "American Idol's" final three: Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

'American Idol' recap: The top three vie for the finale

The three "American Idol" Season 11 finalists -- Joshua Ledet, Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips -- took the stage Wednesday night to compete for a spot in next week's finale and, ultimately, the "Idol" crown. It was a surprisingly unexciting fight for the finish.

How could that be? You may ask. After all, the three remaining contestants are all talented, all have dedicated fan bases, all have a shot at the win. This neck-and-neck-and-neck race should have had us on the edge of our seats.

Yet many of the show's performances didn't seem to fully gel. There were, as Randy Jackson was wont to point out, few "moments." (Though I will say that the critique in which Jackson used the phrases "moment-moment" and "moment-moment-moment" for emphasis was itself a great moment.)

Each contestant sang three songs apiece: one picked for them by the judges, one they chose themselves, and one selected by "Idol" mentor Jimmy Iovine.

Part of the problem may have been the judges' less-than-stellar choices, which in two out of three cases didn't do much to highlight the singers' talents. (Jennifer Lopez said there'd been a lot of back-and-forth, so perhaps they've overthought it.)

Part of it may have been that the contestants' "hero homecoming" montages lacked a certain drama this year. (Phillip Phillips Sr.'s heartfelt description of the pride he felt in his son for pursuing his dreams "with integrity and passion" was lovely, however.)

And who knows? Maybe the fact that it could be anyone's game doesn't add to the excitement, but instead detracts from it because we don't have a clear favorite to root for. (At least, now that arguably the best three have made it to the top three, I don't.)

In any event, even the judges, after rising to their feet to applaud Ledet for singing the song they'd chosen for him (it was their one good song choice), didn't feel moved to scramble onto their tootsies again until the very end. (Steven Tyler gamely stood after Sanchez sang one of his songs, but no one joined him, and he quickly re-took his seat.) They rolled out the superlatives, but then -- to paraphrase Tyler after Ryan Seacrest asked him if, in praising Sanchez, he'd just predicted a winner, which Tyler had also just done while praising Ledet -- don't they always?

Here's how the performances broke down:

Joshua Ledet
Ledet proved to be the evening's most consistent performer, kicking off the evening with a song the judges said would highlight his classic R&B style: Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind." Ledet gave a solid performance there. (Coincidentally -- or not -- the very same song was used in a commercial aired immediately thereafter.) Then Ledet pulled back to give a restrained, if somewhat schmaltzy, take on his own pick, John Lennon's "Imagine," later explaining that he picked the song after hearing it on the radio. And then he pulled out all the stops on Iovine's pick for him, Mary J. Blige's "No More Drama." His energetic bouncing was a bit distracting, as was all his jacket removal as the song reached its emotional peak, but he can't be faulted for lack of enthusiasm.  

Jessica Sanchez
Poor Sanchez got saddled by the judges with one tough song, Mariah Carey's "My All," which was pitched low for her and had a complicated melody and a lot of lyrics to remember, but she managed to pull it off. Then she tasked herself with singing Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" in front of Tyler, the man who'd made it a hit. Tyler often looks irritated when other people sing his songs, but in this case, he generously stood for Sanchez and told her she'd made the song even better. Iovine's selection for Sanchez, the Jackson Five's "I'll Be There," may have brought her best performance of the evening, no matter what Randy Jackson said, showing off her vocal sweetness and the power of her upper range. But Sanchez, usually a compelling presence onstage, seemed to lack a certain weight on Wednesday. Will that spell her doom?
 
Phillip Phillips
The judges picked Madcon's "Beggin'" for Phillips, Tyler explained, because they wanted to pull the melody out of him. But no matter how much the judges were beggin' for it, the song proved not terribly melodic in Phillips' hands. Of course, that didn't keep Tyler from predicting that Phillips could be the new Springsteen. Phillips' selection for himself, Matchbox Twenty's "Disease," didn't go much better. But on Iovine's pick, Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight," we saw what felt like a new side of Phillips. He sat still, facing front, unsmiling, with no guitar and none of his trademark leg moves. And he sang the melody faithfully, looking almost fearful in the process, as if he himself was unsure if he could hit all the notes. He did hit them. It was an honest moment -- Jackson hyperbolically called it "giant" -- and startling for its simplicity. Will the audiences respond well to this tame, tender, terrified-looking Phillip Phillips, as they have to him all season long?

We'll find out tonight.

What did you think of the performances? And who do you predict will be sent home?

RELATED:

Full coverage: 'American Idol'

'American Idol' recap: The final four duke it out

'American Idol' recap: Hollie Cavanaugh ousted, three remain

'American Idol' vs. 'Voice': Jessica Sanchez better than Jermaine Paul?

— Amy Reiter

Photo: Joshua Ledet performs in front of the judges Wednesday on "American Idol." Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

Rumors swirl about Jennifer Lopez leaving 'American Idol'

The search for "The X Factor's" new judges ended earlier this week, but the search for a new "American Idol" judge may be just beginning, if there's any truth to rumors that second-year judge Jennifer Lopez is looking to leave the show.

Lopez's one-year contract for $20 million is up after this season and she has not yet signed for a third season.

The singer is touring with Enrique Iglesias in the U.S. and Latin America this summer and there are reports of a world tour after that. She also reportedly wants to spend more time with her children.

This could just be part of a negotiating tactic, of course. While it's preferable for the network to have next season's contracts squared away before the upfront presentation (which was Monday for Fox), Lopez didn't re-sign with "Idol" last year until August. And though network execs reportedly wanted her for a multi-year contract, like that of her fellow judge Steven Tyler, she only signed for one year and got a hefty pay bump (from $12 million to $20 million).

Lopez appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Tuesday to promote the movie "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and told the host, "I really do enjoy it. Now this is my second year. I don't know if I can go for a third year. I miss doing other things. It really does lock you down, which was nice the first year with the babies being 3, but now they're getting more mobile, they're about to go into school. So I just don't know."

"Idol" executive producer Nigel Lithgoe told TMZ on Wednesday: "We want her back. I want her back.... It's a business. She has to weigh everything. I know she's gotten lots of offers to do movies and other things."

With a world tour a possibility, it could be difficult for the singer to be in the States for the "Idol" auditions, which start in the fall.

Earlier this week, Lopez was named the top celebrity on Forbes' Celebrity 100 List, citing her rich "Idol" deal, her various endorsement contracts, her huge social media following and her clothing line. It's possible Lopez is just using the moment to push the network for an even larger payday.

Fox declined to comment.

RELATED:

Jennifer Lopez back for 11th season of 'American Idol'

Jennifer Lopez's 'X Factor' advice to Britney Spears, Demi Lovato

'American Idol'-'Voice': Jessica Sanchez better than Jermaine Paul?

-- Patrick Kevin Day

 Photo: Jennifer Lopez. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Associated Press

American Idol on TV: May 16 - 23

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox: The finalists visit their hometowns then  perform. (N)

“Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew” 10 and 11 p.m. Wednesday, MTV: Pitbull: The crews must blend a regional dance style with their unique moves. (N)

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Thursday, Fox: Lisa Marie Presley performs; Adam Lambert performs. The two finalists are revealed. (N) 

“Access Hollywood Live” 11 a.m. Friday, NBC: Dan Rather; Arsenio Hall; Clay Aiken; Bob Harper shares weight-loss rules. (N)

“Chelsea Lately” 11 p.m. Friday, E!: Adam Lambert; Chris Franjola; Loni Love; Greg Fitzsimmons.

“The 2012 Billboard Music Awards” 8 p.m. Sunday, ABC: Festivities at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas recognize artists for the fan support they've garnered; musical performances include Carrie Underwood, Justin Bieber, LMFAO and the Wanted; musician Stevie Wonder receives the 2012 Billboard Icon Award. (N)

“Chelsea Lately” 11 p.m. Monday, E!: Randy Jackson; John Caparulo; Ali Wong; Chris Franjola. (N)

“Live! With Kelly” 9 a.m. Tuesday, ABC: Jimmy Fallon; Kris Allen performs. (N)

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Tuesday, Fox: Final Performance Round: The two finalists perform. (Part 1 of 2) (N)

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox: Season Finale: The top 12 reunite on stage; Ryan Seacrest announces the winner; Rihanna performs. (Part 2 of 2) (N)


-- Compiled by Ed Stockly

 

Photo: Phillip Phillips, left, Jessica Sanchez and Josh Ledet. Credit:  Michael Becker / AP / Fox

Fall TV: Fox unveils 2012-13 schedule; 'Glee' moves to Thursdays

Fox added three new comedies and two dramas to its slate for the 2012-13 season--including "The Office" alum Mindy Kaling's new laffer and the Kevin Bacon-led thriller "The Following"--and in the process moves "Glee" and "Touch" to new nights. So where will they land?

"The Mindy Project," which stars Kaling as an OBGYN, will help beef up the network's Tuesday comedy block along with new ensemble comedy "Ben and Kate."  The duo will join "New Girl" and "Raising Hope," which means "Glee" is moving to Thursday nights--creating a musical block, with "The X Factor" as its lead-in.

And the Kiefer Sutherland-helmed drama "Touch" makes the move from Thursdays to Fridays, serving as a lead-in to fellow sci-fi drama "Fringe." Will the series find the magic numbers in its new slot or will its ratings continue to decline? The show averaged 8.37 million its first season, with a 2.49 in the 18-49 demo. It'll find itself up against NBC comedies "Community" and "Whitney."

Meanwhile, new series "The Mob Doctor" inherits the medical drama space once occupied by "House" on Mondays. 

For those looking to lessen their degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon, you'll have to wait until midseason, when "The Following," from "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Kevin Williamson makes its debut; Bacon stars as a former FBI detective on the hunt for a serial killer and his posse of followers. Also, making its debut midseason is the new comedy "The Goodwin Games," which centers on three siblings poised to inherit a large fortune--if they pass a series of unique challenges.

Here's a look at Fox's 2012-2013 primetime schedule.

(All Times ET/PT)

'American Idol'-'Voice': Jessica Sanchez better than Jermaine Paul?

“The Voice” ended its run this week, crowning Jermaine Paul the winner of Season 2. Over at "American Idol," Hollie Cavanagh got the boot, leaving finalists Jessica Sanchez, Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet  to do their hometown visits and vie for the big prize.

Although “The Voice” is over, our "Idol" vs. "Voice" rankings continue, taking the singers from both shows and putting them head to head each week. I'm still choosing my top five performers from among the two shows, along with Times music writers Todd Martens and Chris Barton, and you can cast your votes too, at the bottom of this post.

Below are my picks for the week. To see what my co-judges have to say and to view the performances, click below.

INTERACTIVE: Who's the best? "Idol" vs. "The Voice

1. Jessica Sanchez, "American Idol"

Jimmy Iovine predicted that Sanchez's performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls" could seal the "Idol" win for her, and if Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet hadn't also had strong performances this week, it likely would have done so. Sanchez funneled into the song all the fury and frustration she felt after her near-elimination earlier this season and solidly, passionately landed every note, every word, every nuance. It felt cathartic. And when she sang "And you, and you, and you, and you … You're gonna love me," she left viewers no choice but to surrender.

 2. Phillip Phillips, "American Idol"

This take on Damien Rice's "Volcano" was perfect, pure Phillip Phillips: intimate, contained, intense, with so much hot emotion roiling beneath the surface of his pebbly voice. He showed a range, melodic command and vocal ease he had not before and brought the song a lava-like sizzle that was also … cool. No herky-jerky moves, no jimmying legs, you could barely see Phillips' profile in chiaroscuro. Steven Tyler was spot-on when he said it was the kind of song he could imagine listening to on headphones over and over and over again. I'm ready to replay it –- yet again -– right now.

 3. Jermaine Paul, "The Voice"

Paul tucked the "Voice" win under his wing and lifted off as a solo artist with R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly." He sang with soul and style, passion and power, emotion and elegance. Now he'll be able to crow about a win (though he seems so humble, it's hard to see him doing that), feather his nest with $100,000 and sing like a bird on his own record. May he soar high and go far.

 4. Joshua Ledet, "American Idol"

Ledet went all in on James Brown's textured "It's a Man's Man's Man's World." At points, he seemed to be attacking the song through gritted teeth. And how could you not love that stage full of female musicians? Though it didn't pack quite the emotional punch and the added irony of Juliet Simms' triumphantly furious recent take on it on "The Voice," it had standing-o-worthy soul to spare (that "ahhh-hooo" moment especially). If Ledet keeps this up, who knows? It may be a Man's Man's Man's "Idol" again this year.

5. Juliet Simms, "The Voice"

Though she was apparently ill, Simms carried off Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird" like the rock star she's poised to become. She's a bird we don't want to change –- and it will be interesting to see how she launches from her second-place perch. The incredible Erte-esque costume –- that fiery red dress with the filmy cape that at one point shot up in the air like a flame –- didn't hurt either. Lighters aloft to that!

"American Idol" vs. "The Voice"

Each week our experts and readers rank the best of the best between the two blockbuster singing competitions. Last week, readers put "American Idol's" Jessica Sanchez just slightly ahead of "The Voice's" Juliet Simms on top. Who will be the favorite this week? Vote below and check out this week's performances and see what our judges had to say at latimes.com/idol-voice.

 RELATED:

'The Voice' finale recap: Jermaine Paul wins Season 2

'American Idol' recap: Hollie Cavanaugh ousted, three remain

Jermaine Paul wins and Christina Aguilera mends fences [video]

— Amy Reiter

Photo: Jermaine Paul won it all on "The Voice." Credit: Mitchell Haaseth / NBC.

'American Idol' recap: Hollie Cavanagh ousted, three remain

It was no pleasure to see Hollie Cavanagh go home on "American Idol" on Thursday night, just shy of earning a slot in the top three and a hero's homecoming. Despite giving uneven performances all the way through – a few rousing numbers ("The Climb," which she reprised as her goodbye song, and, just this week, Journey's "Faithfully") amid a sea of so-so ones – Cavanagh had been unfailingly likable, sunny and upbeat in the face of near-constant criticism.

The 18-year-old British-Texan seemed to embody a certain all-American can-do attitude, an optimistic stick-to-itivenenss, doggedly getting out there and giving it another shot, week after week, long after most people – including probably the "Idol" judges and Jimmy Iovine -- had expected her to stick around.

But Cavanagh's time was clearly up. And of course, it would have been far worse to have seen any of the others go. Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips are the perfect top three. Each so different. Each so talented.

Before the results were revealed, each of the top four contestants was called forward for a recap of the previous night's performances and a taste of Iovine's tough love. The "Idol" mentor had high praise for Sanchez, calling her "Dreamgirls" number "flawless" and saying that, immediately afterward, star maker Tommy Mottola had emailed him to say she was "the real thing" and he couldn't wait to go to her first concert. He gushed that, on Damien Rice's "Volcano," Phillips had "finally delivered" on his promise, giving a "magnificent" performance that would have prompted Iovine to sign him on the spot had he heard him do it in a club. And he said Ledet was practically speaking in tongues on "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," and while he had seen Prince and Bruce Springsteen do that, "I've never seen that on 'American Idol' … It was so, so captivating. I want to see it again and again and again."

'American Idol' recap: The final four duke it out

I'm still a little damp-eyed from Jessica Sanchez's final performance on "American Idol" Wednesday night, on which the final four contestants each sang a song either from or about California (yes, somewhat random) as well as a song they wish they'd written themselves, which Ryan Seacrest also classified as songs that inspired them.

Sanchez's take on "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls," into which she channeled all the emotion stirred up by her near "Idol" ouster a few weeks back, may have inspired us all — or at least anyone who has at any point ever felt underappreciated or overlooked. It was not just beautifully sung and deeply felt; it was moving, galvanizing, electrifying. Breathtaking.

Jimmy Iovine had been so deeply affected by Sanchez's song during rehearsal, he said he'd probably never forget the moment. He said if she sang it the same way during the show, "it could be game-over."

It could be game-over.

It really would be game-over if it weren't for the fact that Sanchez has some stiff competition — at least for the judges' affections — in Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet.

American Idol on TV: May 2 - 9

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” 4 p.m. Wednesday, NBC: Carrie Underwood performs; actress Anna Kendrick. (N)

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox: Performance Show: The finalists perform for the judges. (N)

“Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew” 10 p.m. Wednesday, MTV: J.Lo: Tribute to Jennifer Lopez's career. (N)

“Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew” 11 p.m. Wednesday, MTV: J.Lo: Tribute to Jennifer Lopez's career.

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Thursday, Fox: Results Show: The contestants face elimination; Jennifer Lopez performs; David Cook performs. (N)

“Chelsea Lately” 11 p.m. Thursday, E!: Musician Adam Lambert; comic Chris Franjola; comic Loni Love; comic Greg Fitzsimmons. (N)

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” Midnight Thursday, ABC: Dr. Phil McGraw; Carrie Underwood performs. (N)

“Live! With Kelly” 9 a.m. Monday, ABC: Top Teacher Week: Actor Chris Colfer; the latest “American Idol” castoff performs; a special-education teacher from New York; co-host Jimmy Kimmel. (N)

“Pawn Stars” 10 p.m. Monday, History: Pawnocchio: Some hand-crafted Pinocchio dolls are brought into the shop; a Cy Young baseball card from 1909; a harmonica that once belonged to Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live” Midnight Monday, ABC: Actress Emily Blunt; animal trainer Dave Salmoni; Adam Lambert performs.

“The Ellen DeGeneres Show” 4 p.m. Tuesday, NBC: Actresses Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz; singer John Mayer; Victoria Justice performs. (N)

“American Idol” 8 p.m. Wednesday, Fox: Finalists Compete: The finalists perform for the judges. (N)

“Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew” 11 p.m. Wednesday, MTV: Pitbull: Dance crews from around the country compete.


-- Compiled by Ed Stockly

 

Photo: Phillip Phillips, left, Hollie Cavanaugh, Josh Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox

'American Idol' vs. 'Voice': Juliet Simms better than Jessica Sanchez?

The finish line is in sight for both "The Voice" and "American Idol," with just a handful of performers still standing. On "The Voice," Jamar Rogers, Lindsey Pavao, Katrina Parker and Erin Willett were eliminated, leaving behind a final four of Tony Lucca, Chris Mann, Jermaine Paul and Juliet Simms. Over at "American Idol," Skyler Laine went home, leaving behind Jessica Sanchez, Phillip Phillips, Joshua Ledet and Hollie Cavanagh.

As the final four on each show move forward, so do our "Idol" vs. "Voice" rankings, which take the singers from both shows and put them head to head each week. I'm choosing my top five performers from among the two shows, along with Times music writers Todd Martens and Chris Barton —and you can cast your votes too, at the bottom of this post.

Below are my picks for the week. To see what my co-judges have to say and to view the performances, click below.

INTERACTIVE | 'American Idol' vs. 'The Voice'

1. Juliet Simms, "The Voice"

This performance of "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" wasn't just a deeply visceral take on the James Brown classic and one of the best performances we've seen on either "The Voice" or "Idol" all season long. It also was a rallying cry, a raised fist against the male favoritism Simms has come up against in the music industry. "My performance tonight is for women everywhere. Mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and grandmothers," she tweeted. "You're amazing and beautiful. <3 you all." It feels both ironic and inevitable that it helped secure Simms' spot as the sole surviving female contestant on "The Voice" going into next week's finals, an especially impressive accomplishment given that she had to beat out perceived front-runner Jamar Rogers to get there.

2. Jessica Sanchez, "American Idol"

Shunning the stage commotion after her too-much, too-soon take on Tina Turner, Sanchez kicked off her high heels and offering up a soul-baring moment with "You Are So Beautiful" that was magnified by its intimacy. She'd worried before taking the stage that she might end up sounding lounge-y. But her voice came through as pure and honest and just … so beautiful. The stillness and simplicity of the staging (nothing onstage apart from a few fog-ensconced flickering candles) allowed us to zoom in on Sanchez's pure voice — its clarity and vibrato, its breadth and tone — and appreciate every detail.

3. Jamar Rogers, "The Voice"

Despite the song title ("If You Don't Know Me by Now") and the fact that we've been watching and listening to Rogers all these weeks, we learned a few things about him we didn't know. He showed us his vision for the sort of musician he'd like to become and revealed a heretofore-unheard resonant lower register that somehow felt like a deep surprise. On results night, he seemed as shocked as the rest of us by his elimination. But we know him well enough by now to predict that — as long as he keeps his newly adopted "victor's mentality" — the comeback kid will bounce back just fine.

4. Lindsey Pavao, "The Voice"

Katrina Parker, also eliminated this week, was a near miss for this slot. But Pavao, with her quirky lyrical pronunciation, asymmetrical 'do, beautiful tone and shy smile, pulled ahead, capturing my attention anew in her final performance of "Skinny Love." Those haunting, breathy, half-swallowed "my my mys" were particularly arresting. Had Christina Aguilera not been so irritatingly aggressive an advocate, my love for Pavao, slender at times though never emaciated, might have been much beefier.

5. Joshua Ledet, "American Idol"

Though he'd never heard the Bee Gees song "To Love Somebody" before Jimmy Iovine and this week's guest mentor, Steven Van Zandt, handed it to him in rehearsals, Ledet sang it as if it had been written for him — or by him. He got swept up in the emotion, and swept us up in it, but never lost control. Midway through, he actually seemed to be ripping whole hunks of pain off with his teeth, chewing them up and spitting them out. We may or may not know what it's like to love somebody like he does. But he sure made us love him.

"American Idol" vs. "The Voice"

Each week our experts and readers rank the best of the best between the two blockbuster singing competitions. Last week, "American Idol's" Jessica Sanchez came out on top. Who will be the favorite this week? Use the poll below to vote. Check out this week's performances and see what our judges had to say at latimes.com/idol-voice.

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— Amy Reiter

Photo: Juliet Simms on "The Voice." Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBC.

'American Idol' recap: Skylar Laine booted off in fifth place

Someone had to go home on "American Idol" on Thursday night, and certainly there's no shame in heading out in fifth place, especially this season. But the fact that it was Skylar Laine, the boot-stompin', gun-lovin', rip-roarin' country girl who had made no secret of her desire to win, well, I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for her. After all, she'd taken the competition seriously and worked hard to select songs she thought could position her for the long haul.

But Laine had fumbled with her song choice Wednesday night. Dusting off Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" and giving it a dated production that was cheesy to boot (Jimmy Iovine noted it had elements of Vegas and Broadway) wasn't such a great idea, as it turned out. The judges had gushed about the song choice and the performance, but these judges, they gush. And with Hollie Cavanagh seriously stepping up her game Wednesday to save her own skin, the voters made Laine pay.

Once you're in the upper ranks of "Idol" this season, there's no room for a stumble -- unless your name is Phillip Phillips. I love Phillips, but he's had a series of off weeks (Iovine implied Phillips' health might be to blame) and, week after week, he's dipped nary a tappin' toe in the bottom two or three.

INTERACTIVE | 'American Idol' vs. 'The Voice'

Phillips was sitting pretty on the couches again this week, despite the fact that neither of his performances was up to the standards he'd set earlier in the season. Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez, both of whom had had strong nights, were safe, too, though Iovine echoed my sentiments that Sanchez scanned too mature and too sexy for a 16-year-old girl on "Proud Mary." Her stellar "You Are So Beautiful" likely restored her to voters' good graces.

Cavanagh, meanwhile, kept Laine company in the bottom two. And after Coldplay had performed twice and Carrie Underwood once, and Ryan Seacrest had done all he could to stretch out the results, the two 18-year-olds finally got the news that, after nearly 60 million votes had been cast, Laine was the singer who'd leave the competition.

Cavanagh locked Laine in a clinch and refused to let go for an uncomfortably long time. Jennifer Lopez, who'd only the night before posited that Laine had a good shot at the win, teared up. But Laine appeared to take the news in boot-shod stride. She almost seemed less upset by her ouster than she had about those rumors that she and Colton Dixon were an item. As her highlight reel ran, she could actually be seen in video inset singing along with the Scotty McCreery song that's serving as this year's sayonara song.

So it's probably safe to say that Laine will keep on singing, whether on "Idol" or off. As if to prove exactly that, before the credits rolled and her run on the show ended, Laine kicked up her heels with a rootin', tootin' rendition of "Gunpowder and Lead." Yeah, she's tough, that girl. And I predict her music career will take off like a shot.

Are you sad to see Skylar Laine get the boot?

"American Idol" vs. "The Voice"

Each week our experts and readers rank the best of the best between the two blockbuster singing competitions. Last week, "American Idol's" Jessica Sanchez came out on top. Who will be the favorite this week? Use the poll below to vote. Check out this week's performances and see what our judges had to say at latimes.com/idol-voice.

RELATED:

Full coverage: 'American Idol'

'American Idol' recap: Top 5 tackle the '60s and the Brits

'American Idol' recap: Elise Testone sadly departs

-- Amy Reiter

Photo: Skylar Laine performs on "American Idol" on Wednesday. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox