The sky falls for ‘Idol's’ Chicken Little

Boy among men
He was truly a boy among men — Barry Manilow called him a boy twice last week, and Ryan Seacrest said after this week's obligatory product placement Ford video that featured Covais, "We have transformed that boy's life." But boys win talent shows and college scholarships; men and women win record deals.

The shame of it is that Covais exited after his best performance in weeks. He took advantage of the theme and picked a song that it made sense to have a 16-year-old-boy singing. "When I Fall in Love" was right in his wheelhouse and he sounded genuine singing it, but the voters didn't care that Barry Manilow approved of the performance. He came and he sang without faking — but they sent him away.

That saved Bucky Covington and Lisa Tucker, the next lowest vote-getters, for at least another week.

Tucker actually improved her position slightly; she had the second-lowest number of votes a week ago, and was the third-lowest this time around. But she's also just 16 years old, and has the same problem among the women that Covais had among the men; she's the youngest of the five remaining in the competition, and always winds up looking like someone's little sister who wandered onstage and grabbed a microphone.

She came into "Idol" with a lot of experience performing onstage, but it hasn't made her seem like a star. It's easy to see her performing onstage in front of a crowd — heck, she's been in "The Lion King" — but harder to see her headlining a concert tour.

It's even harder to see Covington in that role, and he can't use age as an excuse since he's 28. He's had trouble standing out from the beginning, and every week has been a struggle for him to build a niche as something besides the goofy-looking guy with the Jessica Simpson hair who sings a little bit of country rock.

He looked to be in more trouble than Covais this week after struggling with Buddy Holly's "Oh Boy", but apparently his veteran guile and a late surge of votes from North Carolina was enough for him to skate by.

It's no big deal. Even Covais didn't think he was going to win, and the whole experience gives him a great topic for those college application essays.

Craig Berman is a writer in Washington, D.C.

MORE FROM AMERICAN IDOL

Happy birthday, Simon, the best mean Brit ever

Happy birthday, Simon, the best mean Brit ever ‘Idol Gives Back’ returns to ‘American Idol’ Ellen brings EveryFan sensibility to ‘Idol’ Paula Abdul wishes Ellen luck on ‘Idol’   Add American Idol headlines to your news reader: