"Idol" alum Jon Peter Lewis returns to TV in Midas WhaleSeveral "American Idol" contestants have crossed over to the "The Voice" in the past, most notably Frenchie Davis and Jamar Rogers. But on Tuesday night, the first actual former "Idol" top 10 finalist competed on "The Voice," and he was so fantastic, I hope he goes a lot farther this time.

photo: Michael Becker/FoxIt has been glaringly obvious throughout Season 12 that the "American Idol" powers-that-be want a girl to win this year, and so far things have been going according to plan, with the first two castoffs of the top 10 being male contestants: Paul Jolley and Curtis Finch Jr. Only three boys remain in the game--Lazaro Arbos, Burnell Taylor, and Devin Velez--and Devin has already been in the bottom three for two weeks in row, so it seems like he may be the next to go.

So when judge Nicki Minaj participated in a press conference call Monday afternoon (phoning in almost a half-hour late, presumably because she got "stuck in traffic" again), naturally one intrepid reporter asked her if there was any chance that a boy could win "Idol" this year. Her answer, in her typically (some might say refreshingly) blunt manner? "NO."

Early in Thursday's "American Idol" top nine results show, Ryan Seacrest presented contestant Paul Jolley with a framed certificate declaring March 16 "Paul Jolley Day" in Paul's hometown of Palmersville, Tennessee--right before ruining Paul's current day by informing him that he was in the bottom three. Poor Paul then had to drag that plaque all the way to his stool of shame. This wasn't quite as cruel a bait-and-switch as the one Ryan pulled on Chris Daughtry or Michael Johns the nights those contestants went home, but still, it wasn't very nice.

And now Paul's going to have to haul that heavy wall-hanging all the way back to Palmersville, because he was eliminated in ninth place this week. However, he took the news admirably well, declaring, "Hey, I have my own day! I think that's pretty great, right?" So Jolley stayed jolly till the very end. Good for him.

Last night, the "American Idol" top nine sang the songs of Lennon & McCartney, but many of the contestants disappointingly revealed that they were largely unfamiliar with the Beatles' catalog--even with "Idol" staple songs like "Let It Be." Equally disappointing--to me, at least--was the fact that my boy Charlie Askew didn't win the singoff to be the 11th bonus contestant on this summer's "Idol" concert tour, instead losing out to Aubrey Cleland. Um, how did that happen?

Yes, these are trying times for an "Idol" fan like myself. Thankfully, I get by with a little help from my friend: my "The Day After" cohost, Matt Whitfield. Watch me and Matt talk about Charlie, "Idol's" quickly shifting demographics, last night's performances, and a little band called THE BEATLES, all in our latest chatfest.