Hi. It's Jonathan Takiff here. Ellen's asked me to post a few comments in her absence tonight. So here goes.

It's not gonna be easy for anyone to fill Freddie Mercury's shows in this Queen tribute . Ask Paul Rodgers. So how can mere mortals survive?

Bucky Covington admits he's out of his comfort zone, but does a-ight, I guess with "Fat Bottom Girls." Not a promising beginning for what's sure to be a "challenging" night.
Ace Young takes on "We Will Rock You." Randy gives him a five or six, and that's about right - out of say, 15 or 20. Our boy Simon says it's a complete mess, that he really hated it. I'm thinking that he's a real Queen fan. But truthfully, what can you do with one verse and one chorus? It's hard to "build" with that.

Kellie Pickler looks like a British mod, tonight. All ironed blonde hair and black leather. Constantine got blasted last year for doing "Bohemian Rhapsody," but she takes it on, and survives.
Simon - "on paper it should have been hideous . . but it worked." Mostly the look, I'm thinking.
You gotta love Kellie's aw shucks country girl response. She didn't understand what Simon said! Must have been the accent.

Can Chris stick it "Innuendo." Doing an obscure Queen song is a stroke of genius. Who cares if it's not a hit, Simon. It avoids comparisons with Mercury.
p.s. How awful does Queen's John Taylor look in the rehearsal shots?

Can Chris stick it "Innuendo." Doing an obscure Queen song is a stroke of genius. Who cares if it's not a hit, Simon. It avoids comparisons with Mercury.
p.s. How awful does Queen's John Taylor look in the rehearsal shots?

Can Chris stick it "Innuendo." Doing an obscure Queen song is a stroke of genius. Who cares if it's not a hit, Simon. It avoids comparisons with Mercury.
p.s. How awful does Queen's John Taylor look in the rehearsal shots?

Catherine brings out the Broadway in her hammy read of "Who Wants to Live Forever." Maybe she'll join the cast of the "Queen" musical, if this contest thing doesn't work out. I've liked her lots in past performances, but this ain't an A. Good enough to keep her in the running, though.

Hmmm. Elliott Yamin was an overnight DJ -- just like me!
(Remember the good days, and nights, of MMR?)

Brian May told him to think "Aretha Franklin" when he sings "Somebody To Love." Not easy for the guy, but the backup singers help a bit, and his "soul testifying" at the end brings the song home.
Pitchy problems notwithstanding, Randy, the guy's a winner.

Taylor's first thought was "We Are the Champions," the sports fans' anthem, but has switched to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." A good choice, cause it allows him to work his soul slurring "Elvis" voice, much more comfortably.
Paula ponders if we should give him a record contract or a straight jacket. She thinks he's nutty! Simon snorts he's "ridiculous." Again, I'm think Cowell is too close to the material, tonight. The Queen lover has lost the ability to distance himself and be objective. Not that I'm a huge Taylor fan but this was decent.

Paris Bennett closes the show (huh?) with "The Show Must Go On." Bad placement, darned good performance. Who knew she could come on so tough? And the woman positively glows. It's a top three performance for the night. Also sharing the winner's circle -Elliott Yamin and. . . oh. . . . um.. . . Chris, I guess.
If the audience is listening to Simon (as oft they do), it may be the hapless Taylor getting the boot after this difficult night. But I'd remove Buck-ster, first.

Aside - what a gas getting a gander at Bruce Gowers, A.I's director and one of the true innovators of the music video. Twas he who created the Queen breakthrough video for "Bohemian Rhapsody." Tonight's show, for better and worse, was clearly in Gowers' honor.