This is gonna be a short one, because  the outcome is simple – Little Lacey Brown, let go because America apparently wasn’t thrilled with her version of “Ruby Tuesday.” For she did not change with every new day, and they’re not going to miss you.

I love when the theme provides you with a nifty way to sing people off the show.

I’m not all that sorry Lacey’s gone, although I thought that Andrew was gonna feel the fierce bump of the boot first. If he doesn’t get better, he’ll be following soon enough. I will note that I loved Simon’s trying to get serious with Seacrest about the weird uncomfortable moment between them Tuesday night when Seacrest got in Simon’s face about his criticism of Big Mike. Simon was totally right – it was uncalled for, crossed the line between host and judge, made the poor kid uncomfortable, and just ate up all the air time.

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It was Rolling Stones night, but for some reason I couldn’t get Barry Manilow’s “Ready To Take A Chance Again” out of my head – “It’s all very nice, but not very good.”

Even though Kara kept referring to the Stones in the past tense, like they were dead people from olde Vaudeville times, Mick and the boys are still incredibly energetic performers, even with the health problems and addictions and shenanigans that should have killed them 40 years ago (and, perhaps, did – you can still not convince me that Keith Richards isn’t pulled together by fairie dust, bionics, and the engineers that do the figures at the Hall of Presidents at Disney).

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On `Idol,’ Bowersox shines, 3 sink in judges’ eyes

“Newsday”’s Verne Gay did a story recently (that re-ran in the Palm Beach Post, BTW) about how “American Idol” has lost its way a little this season, largely because it doesn’t seem to have a lot of heart anymore. And he placed some of the blame on what he considers Kara DioGuardi’s disingenuous judging style, where you don’t quite believe her when she tries to be supportive or sweet. Not to pile on, but after catching her act Tuesday, I think it’s more than not believing her niceness – it’s that I don’t believe her because she’s so dang wishy-washy. Last week she flipped on Michelle Delamor from one day to the next, and Tuesday, she praised Siobhan Magnus but then, when Simon didn’t like the song 15 second later, piled on.

It’s baffling. Seriously baffling. The whole point of Kara, I thought, was to add some credibility and some current hitmaking savvy to the panel, and she has some moments of clarity. But how credible is she when she’s waffling all the livelong day? Also, she’s still doing that maddening thing she started during the auditions where she says “When I found out you were singing this song I wanted you clapped in leg irons and locked under Space Mountain so you couldn’t murder music like you do, ’cause girl, you know you do. But after hearing you sing and realizing I still had the use of my hearing, I didn’t want to kill myself, so good for you!” When Simon leaves next year, I want him to take her with him. Never in a million years did I think I’d be pining for the succinct clarity of Randy Jackson. Read the full story

Technically, this telephone press conference with Simon Cowell is a preview of the ninth season of “American Idol,” whose first live performances Tuesday start the season in earnest. But instead of focusing on beginnings, the acerbic Brit finds himself fielding questions about endings – specifically the end of Cowell’s tenure as the show’s go-to, no-nonsense judge of record.

“I want to go out on a high,” Cowell says. “This is my last season, and I want to be successful. We will do everything we can to make it happen.”

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Paula – I take it all back.

Remember how everybody used to accuse the former “American Idol” judge (but forever your girl) of getting a little overly familiar with the male auditioners and contestants? That she flirted a little too much, and in some cases picked her tiny self up and flung herself over her product placement Coke cup right into their very young arms?

Well, as wacky as Sister used to get, I don’t ever remember her asking a hopeful to take his shirt off. But that’s what Kara did in last night’s Denver episode, raising her inappropriateness with the Bikini Girl rivalry right into hideousness. It was supposed to be funny, when she and Posh Spice asked this kid with a blusey voice and a ponytail to take his hair down. But saying “Take your shirt off?” Sleazy. If Simon and Randy had said to some girl “Take your jacket off and let’s see the goods”….well, even if they wanted to they wouldn’t do that. Harrassment knows no gender, y’all. I…well…it was sorta gross.

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LONDON (AP) — A British newspaper says singing sensation Susan Boyle was surprised by an intruder as she returned from recording a charity single for Haiti.

The Sun tabloid says Boyle, who shot to stardom on the back of her appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent” last spring, ran into the man as she returned to her home in the small Scottish village of Blackburn.

Local police did not directly confirm the report, but when asked about Boyle they said that they were called to Blackburn Tuesday night “following reports of a disturbance.”

Police said Wednesday that the unidentified man was detained and but has since been released. A representative for the singer could not immediately be reached.

Hello, y’all! Your “American Idol” Boot Camp will be back this year, including with a blog from the second night of auditions. I was unable to blog last night, as I had planned, because unexpected work obligations took precedence. But I caught it this morning, and can say – love that girl who sang to her grandmother, as well as Bosa, the Italian kid and the dude who fell out of the tree and broke his wrists.

And I loved Posh Spice – very composed, very sweet and wouldn’t take any guff from Simon.

Tonight…Mary J. Blige freaks out the ATL with her awesomeness. Can you handle it?

Simon Cowell, the acerbic Brit who has helped give “American Idol” some of its sharpest – and nastiest – moments, will leave the popular singing show after this season. The cantankerous judge said that “The X Factor,” a show he created and is a hit in Britain, will join Fox’s schedule next year. Cowell will be on “The X Factor.”

Cowell’s decision is the biggest threat yet to what has been the country’s most popular TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres.

But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of “Idol.”

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About 15 minutes into a conference call with reporters, Randy Jackson had answered several questions about the ninth season of “American Idol,” including the guest judges who will chiming in during the audition episodes, new permanent judge Ellen DeGeneres and the showmanship of Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert. Those were expected questions, and sprightly answered, but there was something missing.

That is, until the next question.

“I know there are a lot of questions about Ellen, and the guest judges,” the male reporter asked. “But I think there’s also some contestants and some singing?”

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Simon Cowell’s brother says the next season of “American Idol” will be the judge’s last.

Tony Cowell said in his weekly podcast, “The Cowell Factor,” that a press statement was being prepared that would confirm that the acerbic British judge was leaving the popular Fox competition at the end of 2010.

Tony Cowell said his brother will concentrate on bringing his popular U.K. talent show “The X Factor” to the U.S. next year. The podcast has since been removed.

A Fox spokeswoman had no comment about the report. Messages left for Cowell’s spokesman were not immediately returned.