Getting the eye of the idol

IT is not insignificant that on the second night of Passover, as the world’s Jewish people celebrate their liberation from slavery thousands of years ago, the “Idol” contestants gathered to celebrate their own flight from bondage. Tuesday night was different from all other nights of “American Idol” because the chains of Seasons 4 and 5 were broken and The Nine, led by the prophet Tony Bennett, became full-fledged members of the “Idol” community at last. No asterisks necessary.

‘Twasn’t always so. Just a few short weeks ago this group seemed hopelessly lightweight; cries of sorrow rattled the nation at the thought of building a season around these children. Just last week, they seemed an exhausted, spent clan -- on the brink of implosion.

But on swing night Tuesday, although not all contestants were equal, they stood in their own shoes. Now that the field has been winnowed, at least half of the surviving contestants delivered performances on the par of “Idol’s” legendary assemblages of yore. The group had, to all appearances, shaken off the fatigue of last week. The tone of the night, racing through nine intros and performances in an hour -- was brisk, upbeat and professional. (The results of Wednesday night’s elimination were unavailable at press time.)

Some notes from the Tuesday night show:

* Betraying his legacy as the show’s antihero, Sanjaya Malakar actually made an effort, turning in a merely mediocre performance instead of an aggressively bad one. Upping the Malakar wars a notch, the show seemed to be trying reverse psychology on its Vote for the Worst demographic -- with Bennett and Randy Jackson praising him as a great entertainer.

* There seemed to be a heavy musical theater aspect to the show, with the contestants doing extra emoting and acting on the songs. Indeed, musical theater is an important sub-current of “Idol” culture -- clearly a huge influence on many of the contestants. But its showiness is at war with attempts to be current and hip, which call for understated cool. However, Blake Lewis in his mugging and scenery chewing and need to insert himself into the center of every group hug, seems a man of the high school stage if ever there was one, quite at odds with his Mr. Now posture.

* That said, when Lewis does his moonwalking stuff -- and most of what he was doing Tuesday night couldn’t be seen on TV -- the children in the crowd explode in raptures of delight.

* LaKisha Jones, who has been warming up in recent weeks and has actually been seen joking around with other contestants, blew off Bennett’s admonishment not to put her little flourish at the end of “Stormy Weather.” Kiki takes her orders from nobody.

* The biggest ovations of the night by far went to Lewis and Melinda Doolittle.

* Haley Scarnato’s “Ain’t Misbehaving” routine seemed even more bump and grindy in person. Someone commented she looked as if she wanted to be jumping out of a cake. Having found her niche, she’s definitely saying, “In for a dime, in for a dollar.”

* Phil Stacey’s “singing to my wife” comment won over the crowd in a big way after his disappointment before the judges.

The Nine now know their freedom. They will forever stand in the pantheon of Idols. But is it enough? For the nine, their “Idol” journeys will continue with the tour this summer, but is that enough? They have made friends and had experiences beyond their wildest dreams. But is that enough?

Last week in his exit interview, Chris Sligh declared he never really wanted to win. Seeing his uncomfortable demeanor on the “Idol” stage, that is entirely believable. However, for The Nine, now for the first time in sight of the Promised Land, will just getting this far truly be enough? With freedom comes responsibilities, and the competition begins in deadly earnest now.

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