"Big Mike" Brings Tears on "American Idol"

Simon Cowell Calls Michael Lynche's Performance "The Best" of Live Shows so Far

(AP)  Michael "Big Mike" Lynche made Kara DioGuardi cry and turned the rest of the "American Idol" judges giddy with a moving performance of "This Woman's Work."

Lynche, a mountain of a guy who lives up to his nickname, performed last among the eight male semifinalists Wednesday and emerged as the star of the Fox TV show.

"You come out with an incredibly difficult song to sing, and you 100 percent nailed it," said Simon Cowell. "Not just the best performance of the night, it was the best performance of all these live shows so far."

The eight female semifinalists performed Tuesday, with the top six vote-getters from the men's and women's groups to be announced Thursday.

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Lynche, 26, of Astoria, N.Y., moved impressively from a quiet falsetto start to a booming finale, but it was as much the story behind the song as his range that touched DioGuardi. Lynche's wife had a baby girl while he was in Los Angeles making the cut for "Idol."

"It's amazing. You were amazing," DioGuardi said. "It's your life right now, it's your respect for your wife, what you've gone through. ... It brought me to tears."

The other contestants, who may have been glad they didn't have to follow Lynche, picked up a mixture of praise and criticism.

Andrew Garcia, 24, Moreno Valley, Calif., had the roughest night, with his performance of "Genie in a Bottle" deemed pitchy by Jackson and dismissed by Cowell as "a little bit desperate."

Casey James, 27, of Fort Worth, Texas, did better with "You'll Think of Me," which Ellen DeGeneres and Cowell said sounded "great" but struck Jackson as a safe choice.

Tim Urban scored with his version of "Hallelujah," which is becoming an "American Idol" standard.

DeGeneres, noting she has been critical of the 20-year-old from Duncanville, Texas, jumped on the stage to give him a congratulatory hug and called his rendition "fantastic."

"Todrick's back!" was Jackson's response to Todrick Hall's performance of "Somebody to Love," while Cowell said it was a mixed performance but may have saved Hall, 24, of Arlington, Texas, from elimination.

Alex Lambert's version of "Trouble" drew mostly favorable critiques, including a highly creative offering from DeGeneres.

"You're becoming a mushy banana. You're ripening so fast," she said. Translation: The 19-year-old from North Richland Hills, Texas, is getting better and better.

Aaron Kelley, with "I'm Already There," showed he has the "makings of a great," Jackson said, and Cowell lauded his emotional delivery - while dismissing DioGuardi's contention the song about a man away from his family was too old for the 16-year-old from Sonestown, Pa.

Lee Dewyze, 23, of Mount Prospect, Ill., showed "there's a star bubbling there" with his version of "Fireflies," said DioGuardi, while Cowell said he was better than the performance but had a "great chance" of making the top 12.

If not, DeGeneres could set him up on a date as a consolation prize: She's heard from several people with crushes on him, she said.

[nirak2-2009]

Give it a break folks. Nothing is going on between the two.
Simons future wife is the make-up girl and Karas husband is usually in the audience. Do you really believe they have something going on?
No, they count on you to talk about it!

[erasmus111]

I know all about Simons fiance. I don't think for one moment that there is anything going on between him and Kara. But I do think that Kara is obsessed with Simon. Whether she realizes her obsession or not, I do not know. But after last night I think she might clue in. Ryan told her that there were emails commenting on her sitting so close to him.

[Leannarae]

Kara is a sickening cougar in heat!

[shelly2810]

If you look at the microphones it is Simon on top of Kara. he was talking into her mic last night and at the end of the show when she was crying he was touching her first! I do not like her but it is all Simon!

[erasmus111]

No, it is not all Simon. Yes, last night he was putting his arm around her when she was crying, but normally it is all her. He almost looked like he was doing it deliberately. To annoy her?

[jcb112647]

Her husband attends some of the shows, so he must not have to much of aproblem with it. What I find interesting is, she seldoms wears her wedding ring.

[nirak2-2009]

If anyone touched me last night was the young kid Tim Urban singing Hallelujah.
Other than that no one can touch Idol from last year with Adam Lambert in it who at least made it exiting.

[erasmus111]

Yeah, the guys aren't really cutting it this year. I don't really like Tim Urban, but last night he did a really good job. I like Casey James but he isn't being very consistant.

From the girls, I like Crystal Bowersox and Siobhan. Paige probably has the best singing voice, but she can't seem to pick the right songs.

[nirak2-2009]

I don't understand the fuss over Big Mikes singing last night.
Couldn't understand one word in that song and the beginning of it sounded much like my cat meowing for her snack.
Making Kara cry? Give me a break!

[erasmus111]

I agree.

[buzbeech]

Simon Cowell. I love his honesty, but he looks like he would rather be anywhere else but there at this time in his life. I guess that is why he is leaving, he has lost interest.

[buzbeech]

Big Mike. I could think of another Big name to call him. I can't stand him. I didn't understand anything he was singing about and this stupid woman is crying. What was it all about. Someone I work with who is familiar with the song says he did a terrible job. He appears to me to be an abuser. How else do you explain him going off and leaving his wife alone to have a baby. It seems to be all about him. That jovial good humor is all an act. He is so big and gawky, he is a physical trainer? What happened he is just a big fat slob.

[erasmus111]

That Kara DioGuardi makes me want to PUKE!

Is it just me, or does anyone else notice how close her chair is to Simon's? How her arm is always against Simon's? And how she is ALWAYS leaning into him and looking up at him? It's pathetic. I wonder what her husband thinks about it. It is so obvious that she is obsessed with him.

[mtcolquitt]

It's all part of "the show".
Just go with the flow, ya know!

[erasmus111]

by mtcolquitt March 11, 2010 7:46 AM EST
It's all part of "the show".
Just go with the flow, ya know!


You mean they are doing it for the show? I don't think so. What husband is going to want his wife snuggling up to another guy on National TV? If she was single, I could see it.