American Idol

It's 3:00 AM. Jason Castro is asleep in his bed. Two phones ring: one has Simon Cowell on the line, the other is a group of orphans in Honduras who need a home. Which phone does Jason answer?

Soft-spoken Jason Castro, a junior at Texas A&M, was inducted into the Aggie Mens Club this past fall -- an organization that provides a "social atmosphere of Christian fellowship and brotherhood." They're currently on a trip to Honduras, donating time and money ($14,000) to build homes and orphanages.

TMZ spoke to Chris, the Club's president, who's now in the country's poverty-stricken capital, Tegucigalpa. Chris spoke highly of Jason -- saying Jason would likely have joined the 14 guys who are in Honduras right now ... but for "Idol."

BTW, the guys way down south caught Jason's performance Tuesday night -- thank God for Honduras cable.

As TMZ first reported, major publishers have already started writing songs specifically for Hernandez, regardless of being booted from the competition.

TMZ spoke with Ramiele Malubay's Spanish teacher at Zephyrhills High School, who distinctly remembers something that could knock Rammy off "American Idol" -- she's extremely allergic to peanuts!

This could be vital information for fellow "Idol" contestants who might want to sabotage Ramiele if they ever feel she's a threat. Fortunately, based on previous performances, that probably won't be an issue.

Surprisingly, "Idol" wannabe Kristy Lee Cook didn't get axed after massacring the Beatles' "Eight Days a Week" -- and her good looks may have a lot to do with it!

Sources tell TMZ most of the contestants (and the world) were convinced Kristy was getting the boot last night. After strip daddy David Hernandez was eliminated, we're told several of the contestants were overheard discussing Kristy's survival and the prevailing theory was that she was saved -- not by her vocal talent -- but because "it's too early to send home the hot chick." Can you say Kellie Pickler and Haley Scarnato?!

Another thing working in Kristy's favor is the loyal country music crowd. In the end, her twang may take her farther than her t**s!

The band DOXOLOGY recorded their version of the track a year and a half ago, putting it up on iTunes and on the band's MySpace page. The band's manager tells TMZ the song is what they're best known for and have played it at nearly 200 shows.

The manager says the band has no intention of suing, but they're trying to get in touch with the show -- they want some props.

"Idol" tells TMZ the contestants pick their song and present their ideas for the arrangement to the show's musical department and work with them on it.

Welcome to Hollywood.

September 11, 2001 isn't just the day the world stopped. It also just happened to be "American Idol" Chikezie's sixteenth birthday.

It's pretty ironic Chikizzle ended up working as an airport screener for TSA.

One of them has demons to exorcise.

We're just sayin'!

"A.I.'s" Kristy Lee Cook hails from Selma, Oregon -- which boasts a population of less than 3,000. Turns out that a number of the residents can't get "Idol" at home, so they mosey on over to the local Country Folks Restaurant to catch Kristy's performances -- and chow down on $1 hot dogs!

The eatery is pro-Kristy -- where family and friends also attend to root for the hometown girl they watched perform at local fairs when she was younger.

After last night's performance, Kristy better hope the townsfolk have better access to telephones than they do cable television!

Chikezie was in a church choir called Praise Team. In this video, shot in October of last year, it's clear that his years there have served him well. The pastor of the church, Carl Hargrove, tells TMZ that Chikezie sounds better in church than he does on "AI". Guess there's nothing quite like the acoustics in God's house.

Pretty boy Luke Menard ditched his a cappella group for "American Idol" -- and even though he's gotten the axe from the show, he may be getting replaced in the group too.

TMZ contacted Chapter 6, a popular all-male group in the college touring circuit, who tells us "It was a great run for him ... At this point Luke has many offers being presented to him and we are not sure if or when he will rejoin the group ... we will continue to look for tenors that are able to cover his track and we will continue to tour and record."

Based on the Bruce Campbell look-alike's unmemorable solo "Idol" performances, replacing him may not be a bad idea!

TMZ spotted the brutally honest judge at Ago after the show and after raving about "the Irish one," he also gave his predictions for who should get the boot tonight -- will he be right?

Kristy Lee Cook could kill the surviving two Beatles with her country rendition of "Eight Days a Week." To make matters even worse, the crafty producers put her right before David Archuleta, who went last.

David Cook, on the other hand, delivered big with what could be the best performance -- a rocked-out version "Eleanor Rigby" -- no guitar this time.

David Archuleta's dad (aka stage dad) was sitting next to "A.I." E.P. Nigel Lythgoe. Nigel took aside David Cook, David Hernandez and Ramiele. It looked like he gave Cook props and constructive criticism to the other two.

Ryan Seacrest grilled Chikezie like a cheeseburger over the TMZ story that Chike-poo worked at LAX as a baggage screener and made the TSA choir. Ryan suggested Chikezie once found a blow-up doll in Simon's bag. Hard to tell if he was kidding.

And David Hernandez ... in his montage video that focused on previous employment, he said he was a pizza guy who got fired. No mention of his pepperoni at his other job.

As we first reported, the finals will be held at the Nokia Theatre in downtown L.A.

The "Idol" rehearsals are on, and we're told the new set is amazing -- but it's got some big problems!

We hear the computers that control the doors to release the contestants at the beginning of the show are not working. Sources say come hell or high water, the contestants are coming out, but it may not be the way they planned.

We're also told there are two gyroscopes on the stage but only one is working. They are re-bolting portions of the set right now because it hasn't totally come together.

And here's the biggest problem. Did you ever buy a sofa that didn't fit in your apartment? We'll that's the problem they're having now, only on a much bigger scale. The set is too big for the small studio, so it has to be wedged in. We're told producers are freaked because even if they get it in they need to get it out for the finals in a three-day period -- the finals are held at the new Nokia Theatre in downtown L.A. That could be a big problemo.

We hear the set is amazing, but will it work tonight?!!!

TMZ has learned Paula Abdul was strolling through Los Angeles International Airport when she recognized Chikizzle while he was singing with the local TSA workers choir. We're told Paula pulled him aside because she remembered him from last season's tryouts (when he didn't make it through to Hollywood) and told him to hit it one more time.