Somewhere in the TV audience tonight, tuba players, accordionists and cowbell players were grumbling: "Hey, what about us?"
A didgeridoo AND bagpipes on the same night of "American Idol"? Maybe it was a satellite error; maybe I was watching "Outback Idol" and "Highlands Idol."
There's one thing, though: Overall, this may have been the best night in "Idol" history. Working from that huge Lennon-McCartney songbood, there were lots of great moments, a few adequate ones and dandy surprises. Here are my comments; please add yours:
1) They asked the name of the loud guy in the audience and it turned out to be Earl. But really, didn't most of us already assume that?
2) Note to Simon Cowell: The war over Broadway is over and you lost. Your comments about "too theatrical" or "too Broadway" carried some weight a few years ago. That was before Adam Lambert and "Glee" and "High School Musical" and the "Hairspray" movie. It was before big Michael Lynche. The war is over and they won.
3) Note to Kara DioGuardi: Please restrain from all future references to "you could be on the radio." Maybe that's what you obsess on, but I find it sadly limiting.
4) Note to Ellen Degeneres: Thank you. You keep finding the right moment when humor is helpful. It was Ellen, after Andrew Garcia sang that "money can't buy you love," who politely pointed out that it can. And it was Ellen who refered to the bagpiper as "the gentleman who lost his parade." Thanks.
5) Each week, Lynche and Crystal Bowersox have wowed me. They did it again this time -- he with that hugely theatrical (that's now a good thing) "Elinor Rigby," she with the zesty-jazzy "Come Together."
6) Yes, I agree that Katie Stevens looks pretty in pink. Still, please inform her dad that shorts are not a great look for him, when he's in a front row.
7) Speaking of pretty, I melted every time they cut to a close-up of Siobhan Magnus singing that gently passionate version of "Across the Universe." Also, she finally fixed her hair.
8) Speaking of pretty yet again, Casey James finally extended himself. Last week's song was terribly safe; this time, he put great range and passion into "Jealous Guy."
9) No, I hadn't heard that song before. I'm starting to feel that these Lennon-and-McCartney guys have written some good ones.
10) I thought the praise for Lee DeWyze and Tim Urban may have been excessive. Still, those two will probably be saved by, respectively, a bagpipe and a smile.
11) My should and will: Aaron Kelly, Tim Urban and Andrew Garcia should be in the bottom three, with Garcia leaving. Kelly, Garcia and Katie Stevens will be in the bottom three, with Kelly leaving.
12) Did I mention that I played the tuba in high school? It's true. Now get busy figuring out how to put one into a song next week.