American Idol

And So It Goes

Paula Abdul, or whoever handed her the letter to sign, chose this Billy Joel song for David A.'s first. It's a fastball down the middle for him — a big, hymn-like ballad that he emotes well and doesn't dress up with too many runs. As Simon says, he didn't exactly step outside his comfort zone, but I doubt his voters want him to. David Archuleta _is_ a comfort zone.

— by James Poniewozik