Four performers nailed the The Beatles while others …, well, not so much.

David Cook’s version of “Eleanor Rigby” was awesome. He was the top performance of the night. Props to Chikezie, Carlyand Brooke, who were also outstanding.

Amanda and Jason were also solid.

The rest were so-so to downright bad. David Archuleta’s poor memory overshadowed a very ordinary performance. Michael and Sayesha were middle of the road.

Then there were the bottom three - Ramiele, David Hernandez and Kristy Lee. At this point, each should get a home version of the game and be sent on their way.

But since only one goes …

American Idol proves there can be too many Cooks in the kitchen. Good bye, Kristy Lee Cook

Going into tonight’s show, here are my rankings, based on the three performances so far.

12) Kristy Lee Cook

11) Chikezie

10) Amanda Overmyer

9) Ramiele Mulaby

Jason Castro (sorry, Jaclyn)

7) Michael Johns

6) David Hernandez

5) Brooke White

4) Syesha Mercado

3) David Cook

2) Carly Smithson

1) David Archuleta

Note: I am not very smart. Jordin was ranked fifth last year in the preseason poll. I did call Taylor and Carrie from recent years, but changed my mind as the season went on.

Note, part 2: I have little to no idea why the No.8 appears as a smiley face. No, I am not taking extra delight in ranking him eighth, although if it angers Jacyl …

Before this week’s predictions, Mrs. Tim had a revelation.

After reading Diet Pop Culture, Mrs. Tim agrees that Luke Menard resembles Orlando Bloom. Even more, Mrs. Tim feels he looks like this guy.

Weigh in if you like.

Anyway, the men again outshone the women this week and the cast-offs should be fairly easy.

For the men, look for Luke and Danny to be voted off. Chikezie could go, but I think he’s good enough for the top 12.

The women present a bigger problem. Kristy Lee Cook is gone, no questions ask, but who else should go? Sometimes the voting public doesn’t get it right and tonight will be one of those occasions. Look for Ramiele Mulaby to go in an unjust send home.

Eleanor is six months old today, hard to believe, I know.

I can’t remember what life was like before she came to be, although I got a little taste yesterday.

I took my son for a much-needed haircut and his twin sister came with us. By the time we got home, my wife left to get Ellie’s pictures taken.

They didn’t get back for four hours and the house just didn’t seem the same. Where was the noise? Where was the “I’m-hungry” cry? Where were the dirty diapers?

On at least three occasions while I was doing the dishes, I turned around to see what she was up to. Twice I started to tell one of the twins to check on her. Alas, she was not there; she was out working on her modeling career.

The silence was deafening.

For four months (my wife was off work or the first two months), it’s been basically Dad, the twins and Ellie at night. Our routine is set — make supper for Tyrece and Tyra, feed veggies for Ellie, give Ellie a bath, make sure twins are ready for bed, try to get Ellie to sleep for longer than 25 minutes, become frustrated when Ellie wouldn’t sleep longer than 25 minutes, give Ellie one last bottle to try to get her to sleep longer than 25 minutes …

I didn’t know what to do with myself.

When she finally did get home, I showered her with love and affection. She gave a little back … by puking on me.

The genders flip-flopped this week. After a strong show last week, the girls’ show was just ho-hum while the boys excelled.

Here are my predictions:

MEN

(in no particular order)

Top 6

David Hernandez

David Cook

Robbie Carrico

David Archuleta

Jason Castro

Michael Johns

First 6 men to leave

Chikezie

Jason Yeager

Luke Menard

Colton Berry

Garrett Hayley

Danny Noreiga

Who will leave tonight: My money goes on Jason Yeager and Luke Menard, although I will not be shocked to see Robbie Carrico leave. It would be undeserving, but not surprising. Despite weaker performances from some (Castro and Johns), the rest of my top 6 should be safe.

On the rise: Chikezie

On the fall: Michael Johns

WOMEN

(in no particular order)

Top 6

Alexandrea Lushington

Brooke White

Asia’h Epperson

Ramiele Malubay

Syesha Mercado

Carly Smithson

First 6 women to leave

Amanda Overmyer

Kristy Lee Cook

Joanne Borgella

Amy Davis

Kady Malloy

Alaina Whitaker

Who will leave tonight: The weaker week 2 performances make this even more difficult. Look for Kristy Lee Cook and Amanda Overmyer to be sent packing. Kristy has been mediocre both weeks while Amanda was “very much bad” with her Kansas cover.

On the rise: Brooke White — Solid work on Carly Simon.

On the fall: Ramiele Malubay — I suspect the “weaker” performance was just a hiccup.

Current favorite to win: David Archuleta

I remember the good ol’ days of going to the grocery store on Friday nights after my mom and dad were off work.

We’d go to Quality Supermarket in Watseka and I’d climb under the cart for the trip through the store, only to climb out when there was a good sale on pop (there wasn’t enough room for more than a case) or when we hit the cereal aisle.

(From there I would wander to the Hostess display to look at the bottoms of the boxes for the baseball cards, but that’s another story.)

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Colton Berry said in Wednesday’s show that he has a likeness to Ellen DeGeneres. Could that have led to his demise?

Here’s Colton.

Here’s Ellen.

Very true, but how about this?

I can’t look at this guy …

without seeing this gal.

I know it’s wrong, but you take the good, you take the bad …

Well, I was able to get through the two shows and managed to get these predictions in before the elimination show.

No performer was great, a few were very good. Some were awful.

For the men, it’s rather apparent. The women take a little more thought.

Here are my initial predictions:

Men

Top 6

David Hernandez

David Cook

Robbie Carrico

David Archuleta

Jason Castro

Michael Johns

First 6 men to leave

Chikezie

Jason Yeager

Luke Menard

Colton Berry

Garrett Hayley

Daniel Noreiga

Who is leaving tonight: Jason Yeager, Luke Menard

Women

Top 6

Alaina Whitaker

Amanda Overmyer

Asia’h Epperson

Ramiele Malubay

Syesha Mercado

Carly Smithson

First 6 women to leave

Kristy Lee Cook

Joanne Borgella

Amy Davis

Brooke White

Kady Malloy

Alexandrea Lushington

Who is leaving tonight:Amy Davis, Joanne Borgella

 Current favorite to win: Syesha Mercado

Afterthought: Well, I got both women correct.

For the past three years, I have “covered” American Idol for this company, either in the print edition or in a blog. I would rank the performers, predict who would be sent home (Chris Daughtry’s ousting is still my claim to fame, although I don’t think I am famous) and have a little fun. I even got a hate e-mail.

Eleanor Ahrens has put a stop to this, she and her beautiful blue eyes. I just can’t watch Idol until much later. In fact, I haven’t completely watched last Wednesday’s show yet. Thank God for the DVR.

Ellie’s feeding, bath and go-ni-ni-go time is right during Idol, making it really difficult to get a post up at a good time

Sooooooo, if you are checking Tim-bits for Idol predictions and such, I apologize. I will try to discuss Idol when I can, but it won’t be on a daily basis.

Be sure to check out Diet Pop Culture. Jaclyn will also have Idol tidbits from time to time.

My Amy Whinehouse-Best New Artist blog has infuriated singer/songwriter Marc Cohn’s biggest fan. Heck, maybe it is Marc Cohn himself, although he doesn’t strike me as a guy who trolls the Internet looking for word wars.

Here is the initial blog entry. Feel free to read it again.
Here is the latest comment from my newest fan.

I don’t know why you’re standing by your comment. It was ignorant.
Obviously you didn’t know anything about what Marc Cohn is doing, or that he hasn’t “Fallen off the face of the earth,” as you put it.
Try listening to something other than WGFA. That way, you won’t sound like you have no idea what’s going on.

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