Music critic Jon Bream here on the Idol beat on Wednesday night. In an attempt to grab viewers and raise funds, AI brought out the A-list. However, not all the advertised names (Hillary, Barack, McCain, Jim Carrey, Toby Keith, Michael Kors, to name a few) appeared. Oh well. Let’s dish about what happened, not what didn’t happen.

Some thoughts:

* The eight remaining finalists need more rehearsal if they are going to sing as an ensemble. Group singing is different from solo singing; it takes work. Their blend and power were lackluster. However, I did like the dancers from So You Think You Can Dance who joined the Idols on “Please Don’t Stop the Music.”

*Jimmy Kimmel was funnier than his gal pal, Sarah Silverman. Ellen got off a good line: “Hi, it’s me, Oprah.” So did Rob Schneider, when he said “You’d think Bono has enough money to fix wha’ts wrong in Africa. He only has half.” Ben Stiller had a funny bit about fundraising a gugillion dollars near the beginning — and the end– of the show. btw, the show ran 9 minutes long.

* Don’t expect Ryan Seacrest to take over for Jerry Lewis on Labor Day. Ryan has to learn how to cry. 

*Having an orchestra play “Maria” from “West Side Story” when Maria Shriver walked to the stage was so Oscars. Oops, this event was in the Kodak Theatre, home of the Oscars.

*Speaking of the Oscars, that Generation Gap bit between Billy (I Hosted the Oscars 8 Times) Crystal and Miley Cyrus seemed like lame filler from the Oscars. Robin Williams’ routine about being the Russian Idol was more on-target for baby boomers and younger viewers.

* I’m soooo glad Mariah Carey made it onto Idol. I’m sooo tired of the Mariah wannabes on AI.

What did you think? Please post your comments here:

Just had the pleasure of seeing the new version of “My Fair Lady” at the Orpheum and I’m reminded that it’s got one of the best scores in the history of American theatre. It’s also got a lousy ending. It would sure be interesting to see someone do an updated TV version in which Henry Higgins explains why he’s truly a “lifelong bachelor” and gives his heart to Col. Pickering (Why IS that guy staying in his house for six months anyways?).

What about Kelsey Grammer (who played Higgins in a limited recital) and Anne Hathaway?

TV used to do theater adaptations all the time, but it’s becoming rarer and rarer. I’m too young to remember the heyday, but I do remember 1985’s “Death of a Salesman” with Dustin Hoffman and John  Malkovich. Has to be one of the best things that’s ever played on the small screen. Your faves?

As the Strib’s resident TV critic, I don’t like to venture much into the world of politics, unless it’s something really important like: Ginger or Mary Ann? (For the record, Mary Ann, hands down). But I can’t help notice that we’re this presidential election has offered us a groundbreaking opportunity: Four finalists that appear to have a decent sense of humor.

I’m exploring that idea more in depth in Thursday’s column and I hope you’ll weigh in with your thoughts. You’ve got to agree that the jokes are a lot better than the “wit” that flew between George Bush and John Kerry the last time around.

You may think that the ability to tell a good joke is pretty low on the list of prioirities, but I’ve always found that people with a good sense of humor tend to be better leaders. (Abraham Lincoln was the sharpest wit the White House has ever had and we went and named a holiday after him).

Which politicans have or currently make you laugh - for the right reasons, of course…. 

TRIO, a cable network that three subscribers get on the outskirts of Fridley, occasionally runs a series called “Brilliant but Cancelled,” paying tribute to shows that got the axe before their time. “Jericho” was almost a member of that club. Thanks to an Internet campaign, the show returns next Tuesday (for details on how they did it, see my Sunday column in the A&E section).

Truthfully, I wouldn’t have been heartbroken if “Jericho” hadn’t returned. Not that it’s a bad show. It’s just that I’ve shed too many tears for other worthwhile fare that got no respect.

At the top of the list has to be 1996’s “EZ Streets” on CBS. It was created by some TV hack named Paul Haggis, who would later go on to do “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby.” But when it came to this series, he only got a handful of shows on the air. What I saw was amazing. I had just started covering TV and this was one of the first shows I reviewed. Call it puppy love, but it promised everything that “The Sopranos” would later deliver on: A charasmatic mob leader, crooked cops, shattered families, great music and cutting dialogue.

It was network TV at its edgiest and most sophisticated - so naturally it got dumped. Check out it  out if you can find it on DVD.

What’s on the top of your brilliant-but-cancelled list? 

This Sunday’s column is all about “Happy Days” - and the fact that a whole new generation know very little about Arnold’s Diner and the pain of being told to “sit on it.”

More about that in the column. For those of us who grew up with Richie & the gang, we have our favorite moments for the series that will stay with us all our lives. Here are five episodes that I consider the most memorable. Feel free to share your own memories:

1) “Fonzie Moves In” (Feb. 26, 1974): Fonz was a satelitte character that first season, but his popularity grew rapidly, so much so that ABC considered renaming the series, “Fonzie’s Happy Days.” (star Ron Howard balked at the idea and it was dropped). I think the turning point for Winkler and the show was this early episode in which the Fonz returns to school and considers cheating. The episode included the Fonz’s first meal with the Cunninghams and, if I’m not mistaken, it includes a scene where he’s yelling at some girl outside to show some respect while they’re eating (someone correct me if I’m wrong). Not sure of the episode, but that moment may be the show’s funniest in it’s 10-year run.

2) “They Shoot Fonzies, Don’t They?” (Nov. 16, 1976): The first season made tons of references to the 50s, a trademark the show made less and less as it went on, but in this episode, there’s a tip of the hat to dance marathons, a big deal in that decade, with Fonzie teaming up with Joanie to try to upend a rival cheerleader (played by Charlene Tilton). Fonzie, exhausted from pushing his bike 12 miles, rises to the occasion in a dance-off featuring something called “The Kasatsky.” The coolest.

3) “Richie Fights Back” (Oct. 14, 1975): Jeff Conaway, who would later rise to fame in “Taxi” and then drop to pathetic in “Celebrity Rehab,” plays a bully who forces Richie into a corner. He tries to learn martial arts, but when that fails he stages an intimidation scene with a jacket that rivals the physical comedy of Buster Keaton.

4) “The Last of the Big Time Malphs” (March 22, 1977): Donny Most was supposed to get the role of Potsie, but at the last minute, producers went to Anson Williams. The second-place prize was Ralph Malph, always the stooge who got the least attention. Too bad. He could be great as a sort of teenage version of Eddie Haskell. This is his best performance as he gets in over his head in a gambling scene and fears big-time retaliation. The final scene with his father, played by Jack Dodson, is touching and hilarious.

5) ”A Shot in the Dark”: Fathers and sons are key to this episode as well, especially the ending. Richie unexpectantly becomes a school star after sinking the winning basket in a big basketball game. He flubs a chance to be the hero the following week and is consoled by his father (the wonderful Tom Bosley) who offers him a Life Saver. Great moment, great relationship. 

I’m a little tardy in this post welcoming thoughts on who is doing the best job in covering the presidential campaign. Sue me.

I was too wrapped up in Saturday’s coverage of the South Carolina primary. I mostly watched MSNBC, since I’ve somewhat ignored it in the past. Love Keith Olbermann as a commentator but he has something to be desired as an anchor. I loved it when he kept saying that MSNBC was only going to say Obama had one by a “significant” amount, but then kept quoting AP as using the world “rout.”

But we’re not going to use that word! Uh, can’t have it both ways, Keith. Here are some comments sent to be by e-mail on my Sunday column:

Tom Brokaw is the the best commentator going. I wish he was still anchoring. I agree, of those anchoring the news today the best is Brian Williams.

In second place is Wolf Blitzer on CNN. He seems the most neutral appearing commentator and thus has gotten most of my viewing time.

The comedy guys are all good. Most MSNBC commentators are blatant about their desire for Obama, although they may not say it, their slant on things is definitely anti-Hillary.

Example: When Hillary said the President has to be ready on day one, she cited what happened to Prime Minister Brown of England on his first day in office. This was an actual fact! Keith Oberman said that she was playing the “Fear Card” However, when Obama said independents and republicans will vote for him but not for Hillary (something he believes but is not yet fact), which to me is a “Fear Card” (the dems will only win if I’m the candidate) Mr. Oberman had nothing to say.

Evidently Obama can’t possibly play a “Fear Card.” I am still amazed at how poorly they handle interviewing women candidates. They are overly aggressive (so they don’t appear to be condescending). They play around with the men joking about sports or something but they are all business with women.

The comedy guys get it right but Russert and at times Oberman can’t just sit back and enjoy interviewing Hillary (or for that matter Pelosi or other women politicans). When Russert had Hillary on Meet the Press recently he looked like he was in extreme pain (it reminded me of the first time my husband had a kidney stone attack.)

Lighten up guys. It is O.K. to have fun with the ladies, too. None of the commentators picked up on how condescending Obama’s statement and actions were when he said “You’re likeable enough, Hillary” as he was looking away fiddling with papers during the New Hampshire debate.

I noticed none of the other men on stage came to Hillary’s defense and that was because they know well enough that she can take care of herself just as well as any of them could. She wasn’t a damsel in distress needing a knight in shining armour to come to her rescue with a comment like Obama’s.

I think Obama showed his true self at that time.

Don’t even get me started on the Fox political commentators who live in a parallel universe.

I agree with some of your picks for “Best TV ” personalities, but I strongly disagree with one of your choices. Bill Schneider. A word to the wise…don’t “leave the math to Bill Schneider”. Bill has been wrong on several occasions regarding his figures. Have you done your homework on his accuracy?

There is a “reportcard” on the accuracy of his facts. Not so much praise for ol’ Bill. Bill’s “trusting face and son-of-a-gun demeanor” have been good to him, and have enhanced his credibility over the years.

Check it out.