Jason Castro may have forgotten the lyrics to "Mr. Tamborine Man" on "American Idol" this week, but that doesn't mean he didn't want to win the singing competition.

I mentioned to Jason during a conference call Thursday that judge Simon Cowell had speculated that the dreadlocked hearthrob had intentionally flubbed the song because he wanted to be done with the rigors of the show.

He laughed then said: "I definitely did not do that on purpose. I couldn't believe I forgot such a popular line, something that's, like, written on your soul. Somehow it slipped my mind, but I definitely didn't do it on purpose."

So, I asked, he still wanted to win?

"Yesterday I wanted to win, and the day before that," he said. "I think what it came down to was just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs, I wasn't really able to focus. ... My mind was split, and I just couldn't deliver either/or.

Jason had made it to the final four but was voted off Wednesday night leaving David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado as the final three.

While Brooke White cried tears of anguish a week earlier, Jason could not have appeared more carefree when he got the boot.

"I was as happy last night as I was when I found out I made the top 24," he said. "This whole time, I had a blast. And I was trying. But it's just really been hard. ... I remember before we found out about the results, I was really starting to fear the week ahead. If I had made it, (I thought)'How am I going to do three songs?' I can't even do two right!" With the hometown visit, it was just going to be a lot of work, even though it would've been so much fun. I was just freaking out about it. That was all building up...I loved my time on there, and I would've liked to go farther, but I don't think I could handle it. I'm content."

You gotta love this kid's honesty!

Jason, 20, didn't pick up a guitar until his freshman year I college and his public performances consisted of about a dozen shows in his hometown of Rockwall, Tx. late last year as practice for "Idol."

So it's been a big adjustment being on national television each week and being mobbed by fans.

"It's kind of a weird thing, I don't really get it yet," he said of his newfound fame. "It kind of takes me off guard when people are so crazy. But it's cool, it means they like you, it's flattering."

Jason does not hold any kind of grudge against host Paula Abdul who judged one of his songs a few weeks back before he had even sung it!

"That was kind of funny, I was just kind of confused," he said. "It was an honest mistake and I don't think it really affected my next performance."

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We knew the two Davds were a lock but I'm just relieved and thrilled that the talented Syesha Mercado has also taken her deserved position in the top three. That leaves Jason Castro as odd man out. The dreadlocked cutie was not in the least disappointed, sensing that he and his limited talent had already overstayed their welcome: "There's three songs next week - I don't know whatI would have done."

Castro said this week he tried to pick songs he knew -- "Mr Tambourine Man" and Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" -- and yet he "screwed it up." When a viewer asked on Wednesday's show what the contestants' biggest challenges were in the competition. Jason answered: "Just the brain being dead."

Since the show strained to fill an hour, we were treated to performances by season four runner up Bo Dice and - best of all - Maroon 5 and its oh-so-handsome lead singer Adam Levine. He's so good looking that who could blame heterosexual host Ryan Seacrest for hugging Adam twice.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

...I think even he hopes so! I don't know what in the name of Sanjaya is Jason Castro is doing in the top four when far more talented singers like Carly Smithson are long gone but after he forgot the words to a song last night and seemed to be singing karaoke at the bowling alley, he really must go.

Simon said to him after his performance: "Pack your bags." I'll have an interview with whoever does get eliminated on the blog tomorrow...

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brooke White may have been emotional after being voted off of "American Idol" this week, but by Thursday morning, the fifth-place finisher had regained her equilibrium and was able to calmly reflect on her experience on the show.

"I can't even believe I made the top 5," she said during a conference call. "What an amazing, amazing journey it has been."

The 24-year-old singer from Arizona managed to avoid elimination last week after forgetting the lyrics to a song but said she had a feeling Wednesday morning that she had reached the end of the road. Still, there were many tears.

"(I) thought I was strong, I really did. I felt so grateful and happy and then boom! It hit me. It's over, this is done. The finality of that phase of the experience being over was sad. .It was emotional and I'd hoped so much that I could have been stronger but... I'm an emotional girl and I'm passionate and that really came across on the stage."

Brooke was sympathetic toward judge Paula Abdul who caused a furor this week when she judged a second song by contestant Jason Castro that he had not yet performed.

"Well, it is live television, anything can happen. Last week, I stopped and restarted my song, it's just human moments that happen on the show. I don't exactly what happened with Paula, but stuff happens on the show, and when it's live, things can change very quickly, and they decide in the middle of the show to change something, and I'm sure she just kind of got lost in the moment. She's a good-hearted woman, and you just move on."

Brooke was asked if she thought she had a realistic chance of winning the competition.

".I think I hoped for that, but at the same time, I tried to set goals, once I got the top 24, to the top 12, and once I got to the top 12, it was top 10, and once I hit the top 10, it was top 5. You just have to take it in increments because you can overwhelm yourself, and the expectations can sometimes bring a lot of disappointment."

Online exrtra:
On making the top two: I think I hoped for that, but at the same time, I tried to set goals, once I got the top 24, to the top 12, and once I got to the top 12, it was top 10, and once I hit the top 10, it was top 5. You just have to take it in increments because you can overwhelm yourself, and the expectations can sometimes bring a lot of disappointment. Every time I was up on stage, I threw my heart into it, but I was open to whatever may be, because you only have so much control in this situation.

On her wavering self-confidence: I didn't start singing until I was a teenager, until I was about David Archuleta's age, and I never thought I had a nice voice. It wasn't pretty, it was this low, raspy thing, I didn't have a big range, and I think I was very intimidated by other singers, especially on American Idol where it's so focused on vocals. I didn't know how well I would do, or if I would survive.

Oftentimes in rehearsal, I'd hear everybody sing and I'd think, wow, how did I get here, this is amazing, and these people are incredible. Sometimes it was easy to feel intimidated. I'm learning that everybody is different; there are several artists out there.
I spoke with Carly Simon this morning during an interview, and she just said some things that really meant a lot to me. It's okay to be different and it's important to accept that and make the most of it. There are people out there who appreciate it, so you just have to go with it.

On the judges: When Paula said last night, "Someone has to give hope to them for their dreams, someone has to be positive, and I think she gets that. I think Simon comes from another side, he wants to push you do your best, and his way of doing that is being harsh, and very blunt. That's his style, sometimes I take it, and sometimes I leave it."

On Girls vs. Boys: Well, the boys are awfully popular this year, and I know that because their fan mail came in great, humongous stacks, and we girls received three a day, it was amazing. The boys are very talented and very charming, and it's, oh to be a boy this year, it probably would have been helpful. They're great, but so are the girls, I have to give them all props; everybody has been so good.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm usually all over the "American Idol" results but missed the show last night due to an awards dinner and missed the exit interview with Brooke White this morning because they moved it up by 30 minutes from the usual start time. But I'll be listening to a playback and provide some highlights shortly. Sadly, I wasn't able to ask Brooke any questions myself such as: "Did you realize how scary you looked while you were singing 'I'm A Believer'"?

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I did not mention Paula Abdul's massive screw-up in my 'Idol" recap last night because I wanted to focus on the performances and not to antics of the judges. But boy, Paula - who has different levels of lucidity on the show - gave a critique of Jason Castro's first AND second songs even though the dreadlocked singer had not yet performed a second time. When this was pointed out to her, she said: "Oh my God! I thought you sang twice! You know what? This is hard!"

Not really THAT hard Paula. I took notes during the show and kept up and I'm not being paid the millions of dollars each year like you are. This is getting a lot of attention already and I hope it motivates Paula to be more on-point and useful in her critiques.

UPDATE: Paula talked exclusively to ET.com about her flub: "It got very confusing ... the producers come up to us in the dark and said, 'We are not going to have you guys judge after each performer, we are going to have all the performers go once, then twice and at the end critique them.'"

Surprised by the last minute switch in judging procedures, Paula recounts, "I am feverishly trying to write notes for every performance. ... I was trying to give my critique for Jason Castro, and scribbled Jason's name, and that was David Cook's! ... We all just screwed up everything." She adds with a laugh: "This is live television. This is fun!"

Yeah, but she panned the second song! Was she panning Cook? Still doesn't make sense but at least she's not slurring.

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 12:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

NO GRACE UNDER FIRE: Brooke White better get a grip is all I'm saying. After Simon Cowell told her that her ridiculous version of Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer" was "a nightmare." She yelled out: "No! No! Nooo! Absolutely not!" She was going for some kind of groovy 60s chick thing I think and it was painful to watch her on that song. Based on that performance, she'd be voted off tomorrow night. But, she came back nicely on "I Am, I Said" safely behind the piano. Simon told her it was "Well done but reiterated that he "hated the first song."

SLEEPWALKING: Let's face it, if Jason Castro were not so damned cute, he would have been gone weeks ago - certainly before Carly Smithson who was missed this week I must say. Jason sang "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "September Morning" just fine but did not challenge himself one bit. Very safe and maybe that will keep him in. His blue eyes and dreadlocks get him far more votes than his limited vocal range and complete lack of stage presence.

KING DAVIDS: Paula Abdul called David Cook "the American Idol" after his rock solid performances of "I'm Alive" and especially "All I Ever Needed Was You." Cook has passion and confidence and is the consumate professional and that's why I think he deserves the win the whole thing. But he doesn't need to because he's already a really big star and I'd buy his album right now if he had one. As for David Archuleta, how can you argue with that amazing voice - especially when he knows how to use it so well, hitting all the notes on "America" and making the most of lyrics like "let freedom riiiiing!" His first number, "Sweet Caroline" was just fine but I was really excited about the second number. The knock I have on the younger David is that, especially on fast songs, he seems a little awkward standing on stage. He needs to figure out what to do with his body. Castro has the same problem and Brooke is a disaster in this regard. Syesha Mercado and David Cook on the other hand, total comfort with their bodies - on stage - and their gifts.

BEST OF SHOW: Give it up for Syesha Mercado! I'm lovin' this joyous and confident girl who would most certainly be in the top three if we were voting purely on talent and stage presence. I loved her first number, "Hello Again" which she sang barefoot sitting at the steps of the stage. She built nicely to a powerful finish and looks to have hit her stride big-time. Then she went into high gear like she did last week with a theatrical number: "Thank the Lord for the Nightime." :She was in full-flight, utterly confident, commanding the stage, knowing how to move, how to perform. She made Brooke and Jason look as stiff as corpses. Simon still thinks Syesha could be in trouble, didn't think the second song was memorable enough to close the show with. I hope not. She deserves to go on the top four and Brooke or Jason deserve to go home.

We will find out tomorrow!

Posted by Greg Hernandez at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)