I thought he made a pretty good fist of it. It's not going to sound like the record but it's better than what Jon could do flying solo. I hadn't really watched Idol in about 5 years but it's been better this year than I remember.

The show is obviously catered to a particular audience (one of the contestants from this year got panned for picking "obscure" stuff like Radiohead and Muse) but it isn't the free ride most people seem to think it is either. The winner from 2 years ago is no longer with the record label, and another winner from a few years earlier now sells stuff at the markets. In this year's top 12 there was a guy who's been playing pubs and clubs for a decade, and auditioned this year because it was his last year of eligibility, so I'd say he's done some hard yards too.