The master of longevity came to mentor the remaining 9 Idols. At 80 years young, Tony Bennett gave his input and showed this young group of hopefuls how it's done. They learned well, as each came out and entertained - some better than others. It seems that weeks when the theme was older songs, they've sung top-notch. There was no deviation from that trend this week. While the search is on for a pop idol, the classics served us well this week.

Here's how I heard it:

1. Blake Lewis - "Mack the Knife." The vocal was smooth and jazzy and the overall performance was entertaining. What I want from Blake, though, is to get a better feeling from him that he knows the meaning behind the songs he's singing.

2. Phil Stacey - "Night and Day." This was Phil's week to shine, as these classic tunes have his crooner voice written all over them. Well done, Phil - the Rat Pack would have been proud.

3. Melinda Doolittle - "I've Got Rhythm." Like Simon said, there is no way to criticize Melinda. Her voice is flawless and her performances are always so entertaining, as she sings us a story week after week. Here's to 8 more weeks.

4. Chris Richardson - "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." He definitely showed some personality tonight and put a nice, current twist on an old standard. It was believable and hip - one of Chris's strongest performances.

5. Jordin Sparks - "On a Clear Day." I am astounded by the maturity in the performances this girl puts forth every week. She shows such control in her singing and she's only 17 years old. There is joy in her voice and it shows each time she takes the stage.

6. Gina Glocksen - "Smile." It was a beautiful performance--quite understated for our resident rocker, but it certainly wasn't in the same league as her girlfriends, Melinda and Jordin.

7. Sanjaya Malakar - "Cheek to Cheek." I hate to borrow a "Simonism," but that was like some hideous Love Boat performance - and I want my money back.

8. Haley Scarnato - "Ain't Misbehavin'." This was a really great performance. Haley listened to Tony Bennett and she nailed it. It was a great genre for her and she put a stylish spin on it.

9. LaKisha Jones - "Stormy Weather." Something about the style of her singing is just a bit overdone for me. Don't get me wrong, the girl has a great voice and she hits all the notes-it just seems like she is trying too hard to jazz it up and it ends up a little over the top. Also, she should have listened to Tony Bennett - her money note was the big one at the end and she ruined it with her little "ain't no sunshine when he's gone" tag. Nice dress, though.