American Idol Top 7 Get Judged. Finally!

So the "American Idol" top 7 took to the big stage last night to perform songs of the 21st Century and were forced to experience something for the first time this season. Actually being judged by the judges. Oh the horror! The horror! Well thank the TV gods! Well, really thank the show's producers who clearly finally utilized the Hammer Of Thor to get through to Randy, Steven and JLo. No more suggesting, no more prodding, no more asking - there is no doubt after last week's nadir of their role on the show becoming nothing more than that of a trio of mere cheerleaders, the producers took them aside and DEMANDED they actually do their job.

SEE: American Idol judges do their best cheerleader routine

And what is their job supposed to be? Offering CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. They don't have to be nasty. They don't have to be Simon... though we all wish one of them would. JLo and Steven needn't jeopardize their revitalized careers by coming across as big meanies - but they are being paid big stacks of dough to ADD to the show. They are supposed to be helping these contestants reach their full potential and helping the audience evaluate what they've just seen. So far the ONLY person doing that at all has been Jimmy Iovine. If they don't do everything they can to put him on the judging panel for next season, they're crazy! The guy obviously knows what he's talking about, actually cares about helping the performers become better performers and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Think about how he chastised Jacob to his face last week for his ridiculous assertion to the audience that if he were voted into the bottom three it would be because we're all douchebags, and then how much he supported him and tried to boost his ego up this week. He knows what the artists need to hear and how to help them. The judges FINALLY got with the program and joined him this week and gave them all a few pointers themselves from their "expert" opinions. Well hallelujah. And how did the performers do?

CHECK OUT: Idol changing voting process that favors the boys

Scotty McCreery - solid, not spectacular country crooning as usual
James Durbin - TOTALLY amazing - showed how contemporary an artist he really is
Haley Reinhart - great Adele impersonation - but the girl lacks commercial appeal
Casey Abrams - for the life of us we don't understand why the judges love him so
Jacob Lusk - hollow, empty "emotional" performance
Stefano Langone - took Jimmy's advice and nailed it!
Lauren Aliana - her scared little rabbit routine is getting really old

And a side note: how nice was it to at least see Pia Toscano back on the Idol stage as part of a dreadful "Voted Off Group Routine"? Really, really nice :)