Asked to take on Billboard #1 hits, a nebulous theme that gave them nearly free rein, Lee DeWyze made an unusual choice but delivered on American Idol last night.

Lee honored the late Alex Chilton, who passed away last week, with the Box Tops’ “The Letter,” and was met with general praise from Simon, Randy, Kara and Ellen.

It might have even earned him THG’s top spot, but when Crystal Bowersox channeled Janis Joplin on “Me and Bobby McGee,” she reminded us why she’s the favorite.

Big Mike was his typically solid self on “When a Man Loves a Woman,” as was last week’s star Siobhan Magnus on “Superstition.” Singling out the top four was easy.

As for the bottom four …

Lee DeWyze’s song selection and performance bumped him up with the contenders on last night’s American Idol. Can he build on this momentum going forward?

Meanwhile, Paige Miles and Tim Urban will be vying for a ticket home thanks to their respective performances on “Against All Odds” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.”

Clearly not up to par or worthy of a trip back, but one of the two will sneak through … if not both. Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia didn’t too much to help their causes.

Agree with our assessment? Who do you see going home tonight? Here’s how we rank Tuesday’s American Idol performances (with last week’s rank):

1. Crystal Bowersox, “Me and Bobby McGee” (2)
2. Lee DeWyze, “The Letter” (5)
3. Michael Lynche, “When a Man Loves a Woman” (3)
4. Siobhan Magnus, “Superstition” (1)
5. Casey James, “The Power of Love” (8)
6. Aaron Kelly, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (4)
7. Didi Benami, “You’re No Good” (6)
8. Andrew Garcia, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (10)
9. Katie Stevens, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (9)
10. Paige Miles, “Against All Odds” (7)
11. Tim Urban, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (12)

Click to enlarge photos of the finalists in action …

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In case you missed her debut performance on Monday’s Dancing with the Stars season premiere, to put it delicately, Kate Gosselin should not quit her day job.

We have no idea what that is, but you get the point.

Kate’s Viennese waltz was a tad stiff would be an understatement. It’s awkward just watching this. Just the same, Kate has several things going for her:

1. There were no eliminations this week
2. She is new to this and can’t get worse
3. She’s getting paid, unlike Jon Gosselin
4. She’s doing well in our poll (see below)

Check out Kate’s Dancing with the Stars debut and the judges’ reaction. Sounds like she better be hitting that makeshift basement studio harder than ever …

Who are you rooting for on Dancing with the Stars?

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Zachary Loring is not a fellow you would term, say, normal.

A judge pretty much told Audrina Patridge’s stalker as much.

Amazingly, you go off on one profanity-laced tirade in open court and you end up a prime candidate for a psychiatric evaluation. Who knew? Well, besides DMX?

That’s precisely what happened to the dude harassing Audrina Patridge after a judge-directed verbal lambasting resulted in a suspension of his criminal case.

Zachary Loring is stalking this. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

Zachary Loring, who’s been loitering at the home of Audrina multiple times, tried to enter a guilty plea to one count of felony stalking The Hills star. He tried.

His attorney then objected, and after the judge sided with the lawyer and refused to accept the plea, Loring absolutely erupted, tearing the judge a new one.

Always prudent. He also went off on a judge last month too.

Immediately after the flare-up, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William Ryan suspended the hearing, ordered Loring to undergo no less than two evaluations.

He was then returned to police custody, where he is being held on 0,000 bail. A competency hearing is set for April 13. We wouldn’t bet on him passing.

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Ed Hardy totally bagged Lindsay Lohan. In a manner of speaking, of course.

A source reveals to E! that Linds is in talks with the L.A.-based clothing company, which really must be low on options, to launch a new line of handbags.

The line will feature bags named Jon Gosselin and The Situation. Kidding.

“Lindsay and the designersat Ed Hardy have mutual friends, and they knew she was interested in looking for a handbag license and partner,” a source says.

“They thought she’d be a good fit and so did she.”

BAG LADY: Ed Hardy wants Linndsay to be. [Photo: PacificCoastNewsOnline.com]

So far, it sounds like the collaboration is going smoothly. “As of last week, there are three collections in development and numerous more are expected,” a source says.

“Lindsay is very directly involved with the project.”

This isn’t Lohan’s first involvement in fashion. She was axed this month by Emanuel Ungaro after serving as its artistic director for just one poorly received collection.

No word yet on when the Lindsay Lohan-Ed Hardy collaboration will be released. Just don’t expect any joint ventures with E*Trade … or the entire nation of India.

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The Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, doesn’t just think the newly-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a big deal.

It’s a pretty big f*%king deal!

Without realizing he was being recorded by the podium mic, or maybe just not giving a $h!t, the V.P. congratulated the President yesterday with exactly those words.

He’s definitely right, whether you oppose the bill or not. Here are the #1 and #2 men in the U.S. Government marking the passage of landmark health care reform …

HEALTH CARE REFORM: A bill worthy of a Joe Biden f-bomb.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reportedly backed the V.P. up, saying “Yes, Mr. Vice President, you’re right.” Barack Obama’s senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, later responded that they are unable to change the gaffe-prone Biden one bit.

He certainly had his share of memorable moments during his decades of service as a member of the U.S. Senate from Delaware, including more than one like this.

Hey, at least you know he says what he’s thinking, right? A rarity in politics. Here’s a video of Joe Biden’s f-bomb from yesterday and some of his greatest hits …

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