American Idol

They've survived their first results show.

They've seen two of their own sent home.

But tonight is about their future and it lies in your hands.

It is time for the guys.

Ladies and gentlemen, from Hollywood, this is American Idol.

Good to have you with us.

Welcome to the show.

I'm Ryan Seacrest.

Tonight... Hello.

Thanks for coming.

Good to have you with us.

Tonight the ladies were scheduled to perform,

But there has been a last-minute change of plans.

One of the contestants, Crystal Bowersox,

was taken to the hospital this morning and under doctor's orders

will not be able to perform tonight.

Crystal, if you're watching,

we hope you feel better very, very soon.

Let's hear it for Crystal.

So due to this change, the girls are going to sit back tonight,

relax, and enjoy the show.

So while they watch, we're going to bring out the guys

who have agreed to switch nights.

Say hi to the gentlemen.

Michael Lynche, ladies and gentlemen.

Here he is, big Mike.

John Park. John Park

Casey James. Casey James

There's Alex Lambert.

Todrick Hall. Todrick Hall

Jermaine Sellers. Jermaine Sellers

Andrew Garcia. Andrew Garcia

Aaron Kelly. Aaron Kelly

Tim Urban. Tim Urban

And Lee Dewyze.

Let's have a good one.

You're voting to keep your favorite guy in this competition.

And Thursday night we have got your results.

The two guys and the two girls

with the lowest number of votes will be out.

Say hi to our judges, Randy Jackson,

Ellen Degeneres,

Kara Dioguardi,

and Simon Cowell.

Boo, boo, boo.

So, Randy, as I mentioned, a curveball tonight.

How do you think this last-minute change will affect

the guys' performances this evening?

Dude, I don't think this gonna affect it at all.

Listen, I mean, the boys are a day earlier.

But it's still the boys against the boys, the girls against the girls.

So you have to be prepared to be at this point to be in this no matter what.

So I think it's still going to be good.

It's never fun, talking about Crystal, to ever miss a show.

Have you ever missed a show?

Have I ever missed a show?

You know what I miss was "American Gladiators".

When it went off the air, it was like crazy.

Then they brought it back, it wasn't as good.

I thought it was barely on.

'Cause Nitro was good and ice. I like her a lot.

And I missed "The Witch".

Because I almost went off and then they switched Daron.

Do you remember that? So I missed that.

Do you mean one of my shows?

I'm sorry.

I thought you meant... - Being out for a show.

I have not.

But I was... I was so ill, my back was out,

I was in a hospital bed, remember?

You were on that show.

I was on that bed.

With me.

We were in the bed together.

Remember when we were in the bed together?

I have pictures.

I don't remember it. But I have photos.

Kara, you had a chance to see the rehearsals.

What do you think is going to happen tonight?

Have these guys made improvements in their performances?

I think they have.

You know, it's fear of the unknown last week.

Nobody knows what it's going to be like.

First time out.

And now they've had a taste of the stage.

They know what to expect and they know what the stakes are.

And I think they're going to bring it.

Mr. Cowell, how are you this evening?

I'm good. How are you?

Very good.

Good.

At this stage so far, who do you think is in the lead?

Is it the group of girls or the group of guys?

Come on, Cowell.

I'm going to say by a smidge the girls.

Gentlemen, it is on.

10 Billboard hits coming to you tonight and we've asked

the contestants to give us a little more insight into their lives.

Let's see what big Mike has been hiding. Roll it.

A lot of people don't know I guess now in my life

that I'm huge into theater and have been for a long time.

I went to performing arts high school, Gibbs high school, pcch.

I also played football.

I balanced being on the physical, you know, football side

and the musical theater side by spending some time in the gym.

I press 505 which is about three, four Ryan Seacrests depending on

if he's wearing a suit or not.

Last week's performance for me was good.

It was fun. I wanted to have fun.

That was my main goal coming into opening week.

I thought that was a great song choice.

I thought there were a few pitch problems.

It doesn't matter.

'Cause you've got such a great personality.

And I just love watching you.

Thank you.

There were some good things about it,

But it wasn't outrageously great.

You were like the support act before the main act.

I think They were on.

Nothing they can say is ever negative to me

Because they're here for us.

And they want us to be great. They're looking for somebody great.

I want to be great.

For tonight I've chosen "This Is A Man's World" James Brown.

Taking into account what Simon said

last week of being a supporting act,

I want to come and show that I'm the main event.

So it's my time and here I am.

All right.

It's his moment.

It's his time.

Here is Michael Lynche.

# this is a man's world #

# this is a man's world #

# oh, oh #

# but it wouldn't be nothing #

# nothing #

# without a woman or a girl #

# see man made the car #

# to take us over the road #

# man made the train #

# to carry the heavy load #

# man made the electric light #

# to take us out of the dark #

# yeah #

# man made the boat for the water #

# just like Noah made the ark #

# this is a man's world #

# oh, oh #

# but it wouldn't be nothing #

# nothing #

# without a woman or a girl #

# ow #

# he's lost #

# yeah #

# in the wilderness #

# he's lost #

# in the bitterness #

# this is a man's, man's, man's world #

# but it wouldn't be nothing #

# without a woman or a girl #

# ooh, ooh, ooh #

# ooh, ooh, ooh yeah #

Yo, yo, listen, Mike, man, I feel like right now

this season is really getting rolling.

Maybe because what I was looking for I didn't see last week.

I was trying to look into everybodies' eyes and see who had the fire in the eyes

who wanted to take it to the house

and win the whole thing.

Mike, first time I did it this season,

I don't know how many times I'm going to do it,

this is how I feel about that.

Dog, I gotta give it to you.

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Unbelievable.

R&B star right there.

I like every song choice that you've made so far.

I think you... and they're all so completely different.

And that's a great song, and it's educational.

We learned that man has made the car and the train.

Women, by the way, have made the medical syringe

And the water heater, everybody.

Don't forget it.

Seriously, that was the one to beat.

That is the way to start out the night.

And everybody has now got to top that.

That was fantastic.

Yep.

Mike, I have to say, I did not get it until tonight.

Tonight, you went from being a singer to someone

who could potentially be a great artist.

You owned it tonight.

I don't know what you ate between last week and this week.

I think a lot.

Maybe a lot.

Let me tell you, you are not the same guy.

You know now you've got a baby to support.

I don't know what's going on with you,

But you are a different Mike and I'm feeling it.