American Idol recap: Duet to it

*Note: the "American Idol" recaps are a series of blog posts from "Morning Express with Robin Meade" Technical Director, Keri. Keri knows what every button on that giant panel (above) in the control room does, and she presses most of them while putting "Morning Express" on your TV every day. Keri is also a long-time Idol fan and provides the Morning Express writers and producers (who typically go to bed way too early to watch "Idol" live) with a recap. We get a kick out of Keri's "take" on the show, and thought you might as well. The opinions below are Keri's alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the staff of "Morning Express with Robin Meade" or HLN. Here are her cinematic impressions of last night:

PROLOGUE
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away…

There was a TV show so full of drama and excitement that it captured the hearts (and speed dial buttons) of millions throughout its journey to discover the stars.  Often there were such intense plot twists that you might have felt like a twister dumped you in Oz.  Occasionally there were moments of sheer genius that gave you chills to rival the best psychological thrillers (“Billie Jean” & “Mad World”).  Something might have escaped from a gory horror flick to haunt your dreams (Danny’s “Dream On” screech from the dark side).  Or you might’ve felt such bewildered delight as if yanked right out of Alice’s rabbit hole or Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory (Adam’s “Ring of Fire”).  There was heartbreak (Allison’s “Cry Baby”).  There were epic battles (“Guyliner vs. The Guy Next Door” & “The Battle of the Davids”).  And heroes rode in on their horses, fought to win the battle, and carried you away… directly to iTunes.

And now… There is Season 9.  Yes, some pretty talented leading characters, but not exactly the type that can carry the screenplay on their own without big budget special effects and 3D glasses to liven things up.  Even Simon, the resident antagonist, doesn’t appear to be in the fight.  Can you blame him?  What battle are we going to have this time around?  The Mom vs. The Paint Salesman?  Big Daddy vs. Cool Mommy?  Ooh, I’m on the edge of my seat.  But who knows?  Some of the best plot twists are the ones we don’t see coming.  But time is running out…

THE SET UP:
Yeah, I know, I went overboard with the movie references.  But it is movie night, after all, as the Top 4 sing songs of the cinema.  They pair up to give us duets as well.  Mentoring them is Oscar winning actor and multi-platinum R&B artist, Jamie Foxx. He has t-shirts to challenge the Top 4.  They either say “artist” or “contestant,” and he presents one to each after the rehearsals. Music is “the soundtrack to our lives,” he tells us, and these are “big songs” so the finalists have a “big task” ahead of them.  May the force be with them…

ACT 1: SOLOS SPUTTER ALONG:
LEE:  Jamie got right in Lee’s face for his rehearsal of “Kiss from a Rose” and awarded him with an “artist” shirt. Jamie predicts, “If he lets the audience feel it, you might be looking at the American Idol.”  I didn’t feel it.  Not horrible, though there were some pitch problems, but not great either.  The judges all wanted him to do more with the song.  Kara thinks he “got lost” in the arrangement and had some “out of tune issues” (Hmm, I think Kara is taking a note from Harry Connick Jr. and refusing to say “pitchy”).  Simon thinks it was “verging on karaoke,” and he should’ve gotten a “contestant” t-shirt instead.

MIKE:  He forgot the words during his rehearsal of “Will You Be There” so was given a “contestant” shirt by Jamie. Mike refused it and said he would be coming back for the “artist” shirt.  Umm, I don’t think so.  I absolutely loved the choir, but I didn’t find anything too special about Mike.  His goal was to make it to the Top 3, but Ellen said his goal “should be to win this thing.”  She thought it was predictable.  Kara felt it was safe.  Simon “kind of felt that [he] meant it.”

CASEY:  Playing the mandolin, Casey chose “Mrs. Robinson” (Oh, here come the Kara cougar jokes).  Jamie asked Casey to seduce him and gave him an “artist” shirt after singing through all that eye contact.  Much better than last week though I was a bit bored.  Randy wasn’t “jumping up and down” for it but did jump on the chance to start the Kara jokes.  Ellen liked that he changed up the song but wanted him to go further.  Then she turned it over to Mrs. Robinson (Ugh, that got old real fast).  Mrs. Robinson never got a chance to finish her critique through all the jokes.  Simon thought Casey’s performance was “a little bit lazy” and didn’t have “the substance” needed.

CRYSTAL: Jamie gave her an “artist” shirt and wants her to use eye contact to turn the song into a testimony.  Crystal lightened the mood with a song from Caddyshack.  She sang “I’m Alright” and was cool and definitely more than just alright.  It wasn’t Randy’s favorite, but he liked that she switched up the song.  Ellen and Kara both think she made the song better than the original.  Simon said she’s “back in the game.” 

ACT 2: DUETS SAVE THE DAY:
CRYSTAL/LEE:  Both on guitar and facing each other, Crystal and Lee sang “Falling Slowly.” It didn’t quite have magic the Adam/Allison duet had last season, and I preferred the charming version Kris did of this song (also last season), but for this season, it was pretty darn special.  Interestingly, Idol captured the entire song with one continuous camera shot that just kept circling around them, but it kind of made me feel like I was falling slowly into an ocean of seasickness.  The judges loved it with Ellen calling them “the new Captain & Tennille.”  It was one of Kara’s favorite moments of the entire season.  She thought they brought out the best in each other.  “I don’t know if I’d call that a good song,” Simon said, “I would call it a fantastic song.”  Crystal said that Lee is her “musical crush.”  Aww.

CASEY/MIKE:  “Ladies, prepare yourselves,” Ryan warns, for Casey and Mike’s “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman.” The harmonies were really pretty.  Casey’s guitar work was gorgeous.  Randy thought Casey started it off a little rough, but then it was brilliant when Mike joined in.  Ellen said, “As a matter of fact, yes, I have loved a woman.” Kara thinks the incredible duets were better than all the solos.  Simon thinks the “artist” shirts should go to the duets which were “a million times better” than the solos.

RESOLUTION
To be continued... Tune in to results night (& check back here tomorrow) for the exciting conclusion as the Top 4 become 3.  Joining the action will be special guests Daughtry, Fantasia, and Bon Jovi.

Who will succumb to the wrath of the texting teenyboppers?  Who will triumph over the speed-dialing soccer moms?  And after season 9 sputters along at its snooze worthy pace, will any of us live happily ever after?  At least no one released the Kraken this week.

EPILOGUE
Tickets for the summer tour go on sale this weekend.  Anybody going?

*P.S. – if you are new to Morning Express, hello! Please visit us on our main showpage CNN.com/Robin and get to know anchor Robin Meade, meteorologist Bob Van Dillen, business correspondent Jennifer Westhoven, sports anchor Rafer Weigel and news correspondent Richard Lui. Get your "news in the fast lane" on Morning Express with Robin Meade weekdays from 6 to 10 Eastern time on HLN!

*P.P.S. – follow HLN on Twitter @HLNTV and we'll update you as soon as Keri's next American Idol recap is up... you'll also get breaking news, and opportunities to share "your views" on the day's issues.

Posted by: Morning Express Technical Director Keri
Filed under: American Idol • Big Mike • Casey James • Crystal Bowersox • Ellen Degeneres • Extras • Jamie Foxx • Kara Dioguardi • Lee DeWyze • Michael Lynche • Mike Lynche • Mommasox • Morning Express crew • Randy Jackson • Ryan Seacrest • Season 9 • Simon Cowell