Siobhan Magnus was the one to watch

The Boston Herald reports on a night of triumph for local girl Siobhan Magnus as she survives this week's cut on American Idol.

Siobhan Magnus survived to sing another week on Fox’s “American Idol.”

Her moody rendition of “Paint it Black” stuck out from a number of shaky performances from the show’s top 12 during Rolling Stones week.

Pre-teens rejoiced and somewhere Mick Jagger and Keith Richards chortled when it was revealed fresh-faced Tim Urban also made the cut, forcing the genuinely talented Lacey Brown upon the judges’ mercy.

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For the first time, Simon Cowell and his chums have the power to save a contestant in the top 12 from elimintion. The catch: The decision must be unanimous and only used once per season.

Brown kept her composure singing “The Story” while the judges quickly deliberated her fate. As “Idol” faithful know, the Texas songbird failed to make the top 24 in the eighth season. Despite inconsistancies early on as a member of this year’s top 24 - a shaky take on “Landslide” comes to mind - it looked like smooth sailing for the bottle redhead.

Sadly, the judges didn’t think she was worth keeping.

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Is Big Mike the man to beat on American Idol ?

Micheal Lynch wow'ed the audience and Judges with a heartfelt rendition of "This Woman's work". It had Randy Jackson beaming with satisfaction, Ellen DeGeneres impressed, Simon Cowell soberly appreciative and Kara DioGuardi in a flood of tears.

Sean Fennessey in his GQ blog breaks down the reaction to Big Mike's Big Moment.

There are but eight men left, and many of them are even better than we initially predicted. But two more have to go. Song choice was the crucial theme tonight. Tim Urban went predictable and preposterous with Leonard Cohen's "Hallejuah." Lee DeWyze dipped into electro-pop with Owl City's Postal Service redux, "Fireflies." Andrew Garcia attempted to rekindle the flame he first blazed with his cover of Paul Abdul's "Straight Up" by reconfiguring Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle." It all mattered very little. This was all prologue to Michael Lynche's moment. So maybe he deserves some extra attention.

THE GOOD THING: Michael Lynche's astounding, near-moving vocal performance of "This Woman's Work." So many things were right with this; it was so gripping so as to be emotional. The bulky, log-necked Lynche, best known as the guy whose wife gave birth during Hollywood week, has been a gregarious but deceptively unlikable force in these first few weeks. Last night's performance shifted everything. It nodded at Maxwell's famous and revered cover of Kate Bush's gobsmacked original about responsibility and family, from the bracing soprano open to the throat-slashing, heartbroken closer, so delicate and strong simultaneously. Listen and hear how Lynche throws in a little Luther Vandross, a splash of Sinatra, and a lot of femininity. This was a savvy choice by Lynche, who is so big he has become known, unfortunately but predictably as "Big Mike." By paying tribute to his wife and newborn child, nodding at two different and essential artists, and wrestling the spotlight upon his burly shoulders, Lynche gave this season the sort of charge that always happens, but never feels less than thrilling.

THE BAD THING: Everything else about Michael Lynche's performance. The way he swaggered around the stage. His hand motions. The smug, knowing smile that crept onto his face at song's end. Even the tacky red handkerchief in his coat pocket. Whether hustling low-rent James Brown or sloppy, babyfaced Maroon 5 in past weeks, Lynche has been a classic Idol groaner all year. He grins, he chuckles, he riffs with the judges. Just the sort of loathsome garbage that looks as natural as a two-billed duck and flies like one, too. The quickness with which Lynche zapped the good will from his performance was like a lightning bolt metaphor for American Idol: Good thing, then, in a flash, bad thing. No matter, he'll fly through to the Top 12 and likely be cursed by his wondrous performance until he is eliminated.

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Can American Idol survive without Simon Cowell?

Love him or loath him it is indisputable that the real star of American Idol is a certain Mr Simon Cowell, the nastiest Judge to hit America since Isaac Parker in the 19th century.

Well it looks like Simon is tired of being Mr Nasty in some else's show, despite being paid over $35 million to do so, and wants to be Mr Nasty in his own show. Press reports suggest that he is preparing to bring his his mega-successful show X-Factor from the UK to the USA.

Cowell, whose "Idol" contract expires in May and who has been in talks with Fox since last summer, is preparing to announce the new arrangement with Fox early next year which will see him leaving AI in 2011 to front a US version of the X-Factor.

"There are discussions going on with 'American Idol' and also about the possibility of bringing 'X Factor' to the United States, but no decisions have been made, and nothing has been finalized," Cowell's spokesman Max Clifford said.

"The X Factor" is a British phenomenon produced by Cowell, who's also a judge on the show. Unlike on "Idol," Cowell and two other judges mentor the "X Factor" contestants, adding competition as the judges -- as well as the musicians -- are competing against one another.

"X Factor" also allows groups to compete in addition to solo singers; "Idol" does not. But just like on "Idol," viewers vote on which singers stay or go.

Since its debut four years ago, "The X Factor" has been one of the most popular shows in Britain. More than 19 million people, the show's biggest audience ever, tuned in Sunday night to watch singer Joe McElderry win in the finale. The winner of the show's third season, Leona Lewis, has become an international recording star.

Will AI survive the loss of Cowell, it could possibly if the right panel is found, however the likely hood is that FOX current home of "Idol" and future home of the American version of the X-Factor is likely to support both and that ultimately would prove the death knell for AI.

As Simon would say "I am sorry...it is a no from me!

Adam Lambert : Yes I Am Gay !

.....Ok it is probably one of the the biggest non-secrets in celebrity history. I doubt you would be shocked if I reveal that Adam Lambert runner up in 2009 American Idol series has come out and confirmed that he is gay.

The fabulously talented soon to be mega star (in my opinion) revealed all in an exclusive interview in the current edition of the Rolling Stone magazine.

Speaking about his sexuality Adam said “I don’t think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I’m gay". He stresses he was proud of his sexuality and embraces it, saying "It’s just another part of me.” but adding that “I’m trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader,”.

He talks about his experiences on American Idol and what effect his sexuality may have had on the final showdown between Kris Allen and him.

Adam Lambert's first single No Boundaries reached only No 72 in the US Charts finishing way behind the version of the same song by AI winner Kris which reached no.11. As they say it's a marathon not a sprint.

Hallelujah!...Alexandra Burke gets £3.5m US deal

Alexandra Burke winner of last years X-Factor is following in the footsteps of her predecessor Leona Lewis as she's just signed a five album US deal worth $3.5m deal with Epic records.

All stops are being pulled out to mirror the success Leona has had stateside. Producers and writers that have guided the likes of Beyonce and Rihanna to success are being lined up to work with Alexandra.


Predictably Alexandra is excited by the prospect and gushed in her blog

Oh my God!!! I cannot believe I have been given a deal in the US!!!

It’s just so exciting and I can’t even explain how it feels. I’m just so happy, and of course so emotional!!!

Cracking America will be another one of my lifelong dreams that is coming true and I just can’t wait to get in that studio!

Good luck to Alex, it going to be tough cos the US produces truckloads of seriously talented singers witness how American Idol puts X-Factor in the shade with its sheer quantity of talent. Anyway enjoy the best of Alexandra Burke duetting with her hero Beyonce.

Ex-Idol Kelly Clarkson is back at No 1.

Kelly Clarkson is back and with a new US No1 as her smash single My Life Would Suck Without You has stormed to the top of the charts from a relatively poor entry at 96, pushing aside former No.1 Lady Gaga's Just Dance.

For Clarkson, the first winner of the American Idol Tv show, this is only her second No1. The first A Moment Like This , was released on the back of her victory on the reality TV show.

The Video for the single debuted during the commerical break of this week's American Idol.