Adam, Kris lead surprisingly solid ‘Idols Live’ | See more photos | Set list, audience review | Meet Danny Gokey | Meet Lil and Megan

The interview hour that takes place every year before the “American Idols Live” show at BankAtlantic Center is a mixed bag – you’re never sure which of that year’s Top Ten you’re going to be able to talk to, and which of those are going to be good interviews.

The way it works is that each reporter gets about five minutes with each singer in a big room high above the places most of us normal ticket holders get to go, while you try to keep an eye on the singer you want to talk to next. Most of the kids – and they really are mostly kids – have been incredibly nice and down to earth, regardless of their media savvy (The sole exception in the three or four years I’ve been doing them has been a Season 7 contestant who will remain nameless, who spent the entire interview picking red polish of her fingers, as the flakes fell to the floor, because she didn’t get to go see the stylist that day. Tacky. Rude. Talented. Which does not excuse the tackiness.)

Fortunately, everybody on this tour that I spoke to: Danny Gokey, Lil Rounds, Megan Joy Corkey, Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud and winner Kris Allen, were polite, candid and great interviews. Sadly, we weren’t able to get Adam Lambert, because they apparently alternate press days and we weren’t that lucky. But we move on – looking forward to seeing him sing tonight.

Here’s the best snippets of the Idols I got to meet:

SCOTT: (Who is now sporting facial hair and is shockingly Abercrombie-ish. He could totally play The Hot Sight Impaired New Teacher on a very special episode of “90210: You Girls Should Eat A Cheeseburger.”)

Question: How’s the tour going?

Answer: I’m excited to be here. I’m losing track…I think this is about week 3, and the 15th show. We have a long way to go. I having the time of my life.

Q: So I guess in January, when the show started, you had no idea where this was going to go.

A: Actually, it was exactly a year ago that I finished my audition in Arizona. Looking back, I played the same arena where I auditioned. I was just one of many standing in a crowd, dreaming about being on the other end of it. I never assumed I would win, but I had a feeling that if I could get to Hollywood week, I’d be staying around. I’m so grateful for (the fans) putting me on the road.

Q: What are you singing tonight?

A: Keane, “Bend and Break;” Billy Joel and Vanessa Carlton. The Keane song is a little more contemporary than what I did on the show, but this was a good excuse to do that….Those are a good representation of the kind of artist I will be, and this is the first time I’m able to (show) that, because I don’t have “Motown Week” or “Country Week”….I go back in my mind, and there were a few times I could have played a couple of songs differently than I did. I chose Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are” because I thought it would be cool to say that I did that. (laughs). Those were songs that are not from last week…But it was just me and my instrument and my voice.

MATT: (My last interview, with whom I got about three minutes, but who cracked me up. I wish I’d had longer with him – he reminds me of my younger boy cousins, who say inappropriate things because they know it gets a laugh)

Q: What’s up with your shoes? (He was wearing huge blue cartoon looking shoes, that looked like the feet of an amusement park costumed character)

A: They’re called Happy Feet. Soe fans gave them to us. We love them! They’re like Heaven in your shoes. (laughs) I’m gonna start telling people “Shoot, these are the new Jordans! You better get up on ‘em!”

Q: I have to tell you that when FOX replayed you guys’ Michael Jackson night show after he died, I found myself repeating your “Human Nature” over and over. It was excellent, moving.

A: Aww! (hits the ad-lib at the bridge) I was listening to the Jackson 5 when my friends were listening to Korn and Limp Biskit. (sings) “Oh, baby, give me one more chance.” That’s why I did three of his songs (between the auditions and the show). After he died and the show became a tribute, I was so honored to be a part of it. And I recorded the recorded version in the same studio where he did. They built a room for his monkey. They called it “The Monkey Room.”

Q: So are you going to get famous enough that someone will come into a studio one day and say “Matt’s here with his elephant. We need to build a room for him?”

A: No. I do have a snake. I’m gonna be all…(pantomimes wrapping snake around his neck, sings) “I’m a slaaaaaave for you!” Britney Spears cover! Hello!

Q: What’s the best thing about the show for you?

A: When the crowd goes wild when I do “Hard To Handle.”  I never thought I would get that reaction from a crowd. I used to work at a piano bar and nobody was even listening, because they were all wasted. “Hello? I’m singing over here! I killed that song!”