'American Idol' recap: Haley and the Jets

Casey Abrams transformed from an unraveling beast into a sophisticated, kindly ginger with a controlled thicket of a beard last night, and even has a photo of himself with that species' leader, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, to prove it. His starry night version of “Your Song” didn't change my mind about Casey either way. I liked that he didn't get up and act crazy, but it wasn't my favorite vocal from him. Yo. Yo. I'm sorry for sounding like Randy just then. This was a safe maneuver from Casey on the week after his big save. Steven Tyler, who has hilariously become the king of low standards (probably without even realizing it), told Casey he could have just sung the last two notes of the song. This came shortly after he told Paul McDonald that it was cool to mess up some of the notes. Stay tuned for next week, when Steven will jauntily scold Lauren Alaina for even showing up.

I love how right before Jacob Lusk's performance, Jimmy Iovine was begging no drama no drama no drama and then BAM! Fog machine. Jacob took on “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” with his usual pulsating vibrato. Tricky was his producer, but Mary J. Blige was the real inspiration for Jacob, and it helped that she was "ironically" in "the back of the room." I believe the subtitles for this big reveal said "I'm terribly sorry. Mary J. Blige is in the background." That is just always happening. Anyway, I guess I can see Jacob selling records within his niche, but it really has become visually jarring to watch him. His ecstasy looks like agony, for better or worse.

On the bright side, I've finally figured out who Jacob Lusk keeps channeling. Duh.

It's like Lucy pulls away the football every night before he sings. It's a sad, sad situation and it's gettin' more and more absurd. I did, however, appreciate how Jacob didn't even feel the need to finish the word word at the end. Why bother? Oh, the pain!

Pimp spot. Yes! Haley Reinhart with the breakout Idol moment! Our bluesy beauty, who looked all dressed up for some sort of sexy Wednesday night mass, writhed around on the piano to begin "Bennie and the Jets." I may be alone here but I think she could have spent the whole song perched up there trying out different leg placements. Play around a little with the arrangement, you know? I love that Haley is not self-conscious onstage -- she's just in her own little world and you are very welcome to join her if you too like fictional '70s bands, flowers, and freedom. I dug the drawn-out hissing noise after "Jets." I liked Haley so much, in fact, that I was even excited to see her clip during the post-performance wrap-up.

But I was mostly just excited to see this face again.

'Til tomorrow, friends.

You know I read it in a magazine, Ohhhhhhhhhh...Eh-eh-eh-Entertainment Weekly....

Sorry.

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Read more:
On the scene for the Top 11 (take 2) performance night: What you didn't see on TV
'Idol' coaches talk the Top 11 taking on Elton John
Behind the scenes at EW’s photo shoot!
All 'Idol' on-the-scene reports
All ‘American Idol’ recaps
EW.com’s ‘American Idol’ Central

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