Jimmy and Gaga Do Idol

GAGA FOR IDOL: A well-rested Jimmy Iovine and Lady Gaga were the dual mentors on last night’s American Idol, dispensing some helpful advice to the four finalists. Gaga, looking like nothing so much as Pagliacci in a commedia dell’arte, told Scott McCreery to approach the microphone like he was sticking his tongue down his girlfriend’s mouth, which led the good old boy to finger his cross and ask the Lord’s forgiveness. She got right behind James Durbin to show him how to grind his hips, while advising Haley Reinhart to channel Edith Piaf in her overdramatic reading of “I (Who Have Nothing)” and coaching Lauren Alaina on how to sing the word “evil” in character. (5/13p)