Fan Fare

 Frank Sinatra is a tall order for any singer. 

Add Harry Connick Jr. accompanying on stage, Sinatra’s two daughters Tina and Nancy in the audience and possibly the weakest  “American Idol”  top five for a number of years, and  you’re in for an uphill climb.

 Only Michael Lynche and Lee DeWyze came anywhere near pulling it off on a night of songs made famous by ‘Ol Blue Eyes.  Lynche, who was “saved” by the judges four weeks ago, looked most at ease and had the best natural fit with Sinatra’s singing style.  He even had the hat!

  But just when Big Mike looked to have won the night with “The Way You Look Tonight”,   Lee came out with an up tempo, rock-style version of  “That’s Life” that Simon Cowell deemed to be by far thge best performance of the night.

But the biggest questions posed by Tuesday night’s “Idol” show were:

1) Is Crystal “in it to win it” or will her laid-back performances of the last two weeks come back to haunt her?

2) Does Lee have the self-belief  to win?

3)  Can Mike cause a finale upset?.

 But after a tight race last week, the obvious candidate for elimination this week must be Casey James.  Slammed by the judges for a stiff, pitchy performance of “Blue Skies”, James must surely have suffered a knock-out punch when Kara told him that his long notes “sound like a lamb.”  (Ouch!)