Idol update

We watched almost a whole “American Idol” episode Tuesday night. It was Group 3 of the Top 36 week. Best I thought was Puerto Rican crooner Jorge Nunez (pictured above) belted out Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun (Go Down on Me).” In a nod to issues Stephanie’s students face, Nunez’s accent became a topic of debate – and, prompted, he talked briefly in Spanish about how happy he was to be up there. Also excellent were Ju’Not Joyner who sang a sultry “Delilah," and Felicia Barton, who the judges initially rejected after Hollywood week, but called back when a Top 36 slot opened up.

Also solid were country singer Kendall Beard who sang a passable “(This One Is) For the Girls”; sight-impaired Scott MacIntyre who sang “Mandolin Rain”; and Lil Round.

Our peek at the results show Wednesday suggested that Nunez at least had made it through this brutal round and into the Top 12. Of course, all of these goings on this week is new for “Idol” (there was no such thing as the Top 36 last year – viewers didn’t have an impact until faced with the Top 12). Continuing with the new tonight is apparently a round of performers cut during Hollywood week that the judges got to call back. Promising to be fun to watch will Tatiana del Toro, the feisty Puerto Rican who coaxed, cajoled, and coerced the judges into including her into Hollywood week in the first place (and not a terrible singer).

-- Perry