Because never mind that the TiVo blinked out and I had to quick switch from The Mentalist back to Fox to catch the show-stopping, heart-stopping final act of the night, Adam Lambert. How about the grave injustice that was dealt to Adam’s performance, when the judges were stifled and so were unable to underscore for America the brilliance of his interpretation of Tears for Fears’ awesomely creepy Mad World?

My mother always said if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. But I’m sure if I called her and told her that American Idol went EIGHT minutes over Tuesday night that she would give me permission to say something mean about the dunces running this show.

Because never mind that the TiVo blinked out and I had to quick switch from The Mentalist back to Fox to catch the show-stopping, heart-stopping final act of the night, Adam Lambert. How about the grave injustice that was dealt to Adam’s performance, when the judges were stifled and so were unable to underscore for America the brilliance of his interpretation of Tears for Fears’ awesomely creepy Mad World?True, I don’t care what gibberish Kara or Randy spew, and most of the time ditto for Paula, and yes, Simon summed it nicely with the standing ovation (has Sir Cowell ever stood up before? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?), but come on. Talk about disrespectful, not just to we the audience, but to Adam the performer. That performance should’ve been lingered over and savored and lavishly praised and instead we had Ryan rushing us out the door, here’s your coat, no, take the dessert with you, thanks for coming, good-bye.

True, I don’t care what gibberish Kara or Randy spew, and most of the time ditto for Paula, and yes, Simon summed it nicely with the standing ovation (has Sir Cowell ever stood up before? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?), but come on. Talk about disrespectful, not just to we the audience, but to Adam the performer. That performance should’ve been lingered over and savored and lavishly praised and instead we had Ryan rushing us out the door, here’s your coat, no, take the dessert with you, thanks for coming, good-bye.Idiots. It’s not that hard to fit into 60 minutes eight singers doing 120 seconds each. They have been messing up the timing of the show all season, and it’s time somebody got fired and some professionals (Nigel Lythgoe) were brought in.

Idiots. It’s not that hard to fit into 60 minutes eight singers doing 120 seconds each. They have been messing up the timing of the show all season, and it’s time somebody got fired and some professionals (Nigel Lythgoe) were brought in. Whew. Thanks Mom. I feel better.

Whew. Thanks Mom. I feel better.Now, let’s get to the ’80s (and 1992), Songs From The Years They Were Born. For those keeping track (Mom), two of last night’s performers took my advice: Anoop sang True Colors by Cyndi Lauper, and Allison sang I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt. And also for the record, both blew the doors off the place, in completely opposite ways. If not for Adam’s frightening genius, they would’ve been my top two. Instead they tied for second with me, with Adam an astonishing, super-duper first. (Also, record-keepers, Adam performed in the Idol lighting I like to call Bohemian Rhapsody.)

Now, let’s get to the ’80s (and 1992), Songs From The Years They Were Born. For those keeping track (Mom), two of last night’s performers took my advice: Anoop sang True Colors by Cyndi Lauper, and Allison sang I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt. And also for the record, both blew the doors off the place, in completely opposite ways. If not for Adam’s frightening genius, they would’ve been my top two. Instead they tied for second with me, with Adam an astonishing, super-duper first. (Also, record-keepers, Adam performed in the Idol lighting I like to call Bohemian Rhapsody.)But enough about Adam, who may well win this thing. Last night, for the first time, Anoop won me over. True Colors is my favorite Cyndi Lauper song - and I am a Cyndi devotee, and yes I cried when I saw her at Foxwoods and she sang this - and Lord knows it has been covered by everyone. But Anoop did a truly lovely version of it. Still dressed like a preppy snot, and forced to grovel to Kara by Ryan just before taking the stage, the young man who shares a birthday with David Cook did a fabulous job.

But enough about Adam, who may well win this thing. Last night, for the first time, Anoop won me over. True Colors is my favorite Cyndi Lauper song - and I am a Cyndi devotee, and yes I cried when I saw her at Foxwoods and she sang this - and Lord knows it has been covered by everyone. But Anoop did a truly lovely version of it. Still dressed like a preppy snot, and forced to grovel to Kara by Ryan just before taking the stage, the young man who shares a birthday with David Cook did a fabulous job. Allison made an obvious choice, I Can’t Make You Love Me, dressed like Heart from their heyday. That kid has the oldest soul on the planet, I think. And while we have doubted that maybe she understood all the emotion in some of the songs she has sung in the past, I did not doubt any of it for a minute last night. Beautiful.

Allison made an obvious choice, I Can’t Make You Love Me, dressed like Heart from their heyday. That kid has the oldest soul on the planet, I think. And while we have doubted that maybe she understood all the emotion in some of the songs she has sung in the past, I did not doubt any of it for a minute last night. Beautiful.My middle two were Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. Danny did what I hate the most, the cheat, in that he chose Ben. E. King’s 1961 hit Stand By Me, but claimed it was Mickey Gilley’s 1980 version. CHEAT. The bizarre thing for this countrified version by this country boy was it sounded exactly like Donna Summer’s Last Dance to me, all the way through. And it felt emotionless.

My middle two were Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. Danny did what I hate the most, the cheat, in that he chose Ben. E. King’s 1961 hit Stand By Me, but claimed it was Mickey Gilley’s 1980 version. CHEAT. The bizarre thing for this countrified version by this country boy was it sounded exactly like Donna Summer’s Last Dance to me, all the way through. And it felt emotionless.Kris Allen unwisely chose All She Wants To Do Is Dance, perhaps the second worst song off Don Henley’s stellar 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast. I’m sure if he had asked Henley, Don would’ve said, “Dude. Don’t.” Worse even, they set it to horns, so it sounded like Kris Allen doing Jack Johnson doing Don Henley doing Earth, Wind and Fire. And they stuck him in the dreaded Pit of Clapping Teens. Kid did not stand a chance.

Kris Allen unwisely chose All She Wants To Do Is Dance, perhaps the second worst song off Don Henley’s stellar 1984 album Building the Perfect Beast. I’m sure if he had asked Henley, Don would’ve said, “Dude. Don’t.” Worse even, they set it to horns, so it sounded like Kris Allen doing Jack Johnson doing Don Henley doing Earth, Wind and Fire. And they stuck him in the dreaded Pit of Clapping Teens. Kid did not stand a chance.My bottom three were Lil “It’s Not Little, It’s Lil” Rounds, Matt, and Scott. Lil again made a dumb song choice with Tina Turner’s iconic What’s Love Got To Do With It and then made an even dumber choice to do an impression of Tina, albeit while wearing a Diahann-Carroll-circa-Julia wig. It was awful, and I felt sorry for her.

My bottom three were Lil “It’s Not Little, It’s Lil” Rounds, Matt, and Scott. Lil again made a dumb song choice with Tina Turner’s iconic What’s Love Got To Do With It and then made an even dumber choice to do an impression of Tina, albeit while wearing a Diahann-Carroll-circa-Julia wig. It was awful, and I felt sorry for her. Scott hilariously chose The Search Is Over by Survivor and took Paula’s advice and stepped away from the piano, awkwardly donning an electric guitar. Note to everyone: Do not take Paula’s advice. It was painful to watch and even more painful to listen to.

Scott hilariously chose The Search Is Over by Survivor and took Paula’s advice and stepped away from the piano, awkwardly donning an electric guitar. Note to everyone: Do not take Paula’s advice. It was painful to watch and even more painful to listen to.Matt sang Stevie Wonder’s Part-time Lover while dressed as Justin Timberlake and the judges drooled all over it and I thought it was nervous and a little desperate.

Matt sang Stevie Wonder’s Part-time Lover while dressed as Justin Timberlake and the judges drooled all over it and I thought it was nervous and a little desperate.Oh, whoops, I’m out of time. Quicktellmewhatdidyouthink?

Oh, whoops, I’m out of time. Quicktellmewhatdidyouthink?