Will the worst end up first on ‘Idol’?
As predicted here, the chaff may be rising to the top of the “American Idol” heap (9 p.m., Fox). Last week, voters evicted Jessica Sierra, who had just been praised for having one of the strongest female voices of the group.
Joining her in the bottom three were Anwar Robinson and Nadia Turner, the two most capable performers of the lot. And absent from the firing squad was Anthony Fedorov. When asked what parts of young Anthony’s performance he didn’t enjoy, the caustic Simon Cowell suggested, “the beginning, middle and end.” And I couldn’t have agreed more. But, as I predicted, Fedorov’s nonthreatening image will far outweigh his musical mediocrity and carry him into the final five.
If you’ve got real talent and showmanship, do you really want to win “American Idol”? Call it the Mario Vasquez effect, but that performer’s defection from the contest remains a mystery. Maybe he didn’t want to be forever known as an “Idol” and have his voice and image handled by the show’s packagers. Just how long does an “Idol” remain the property of the “Idol” production company? Look at Ruben Studdard. Two years ago he was America’s velvet teddy bear, a sultry but safe soul balladeer. Tonight he has to don a silly suit and do a cameo on “Life on a Stick” (9:30 p.m., Fox), one of the worst new sitcoms in recent memory. I still think Nadia is my favorite “Idol” contestant. But I’m not sure if I want her to suffer Ruben’s fate.
Court TV returns to one of its favorite subjects in “Hollywood Stalkers,” in an installment of “The Investigators” (10 p.m., Court) profiling Los Angeles prosecutor Rhonda Saunders, who has convicted more than 1,000 stalkers, including individuals who have threatened Steven Spielberg, Gwyneth Paltrow, Madonna and Anna Nicole Smith.
Speaking of show-biz crime, Comedy Central presents “Con” (10:30 p.m., Comedy Central). Self-professed confidence man Skyler Stone takes the “Candid Camera” and “Punk’d” genre to new levels. Part stand-up and part seminar, Skyler “teaches” his audience how to pull off elaborate cons on the most unlikely marks.
Tonight’s highlights
Longitudes and attitudes “Amazing Race” (8 p.m., CBS).
Claire goes into labor on “Lost” (8 p.m., ABC).
Drama at the convention distracts Bartlet from peril in outer space on “The West Wing” (9 p.m., NBC).
“Great Performances” (8 p.m., KSPS) presents a musical adaptation of the fable “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
The truth about Vaughn’s father proves elusive on “Alias” (9 p.m., ABC).
A deadly rivalry between circus clowns on “CSI: NY” (10 p.m., CBS).
McCoy makes a case out of gay marriage on “Law & Order” (10 p.m., NBC).
Suspicion falls on Harlan’s old pal on “Eyes” (10 p.m., ABC).
Cult choice
As part of its “April Fools” salute to classic comedy, Turner Classic Movies presents four consecutive films from Preston Sturges from his brief, great reign as Hollywood’s most sophisticated writer-director. They include “The Miracle of Morgan Creek” (3:15 p.m.), “Sullivan’s Travels” (5 p.m.), “The Lady Eve” (6:45 p.m.) and “The Palm Beach Story” (8:30 p.m.).
Series notes
Lindsay Lohan guest-stars on “That ‘70s Show” (8 p.m., Fox) … Tyra Banks hosts “America’s Next Top Model” (8 p.m., UPN)… On back-to-back episodes of “Smallville” (WB), a mysterious attack (8 p.m.), and a nefarious jinx arrives (9 p.m.) … Interns out of control on “The Simple Life” (8:30 p.m., Fox).
Van abuse on “King of Queens” (9 p.m., CBS) … A legal mentor needs help on “Kevin Hill” (9 p.m.) … Adventures in real estate on “Yes, Dear” (9:30 p.m., CBS).