Some quick reactions to the stunning news that none other than herself, Miley Cyrus (not Smiley Virus) will be mentoring the Idol contestants this week.  Some out there have been mocking this news.  I however am all for it. Here are my reasons, and my ruminations on the fallout to come when Miley visits the Idoldome :

• My first thought is that my dream has been realized.  While others have been calling for Guns n’ Roses or Alex Chilton theme nights, I have been arguing all season that what the show really needs is a The Climb themed night, when every contestant would perform The Climb.  Perhaps if they waited until later in the season, they could have made every contestant do The Climb twice, in two different styles.  If you can’t see why that episode would be incredible, don’t ask me to explain it to you.

• Say what you will, when Miley was a guest performer on Idol last season (singing The Climb) she was fantastic.  No one in their right mind who was there would disagree, if they were being honest.

• This is very good news for the Inferno candidates: Siobhan Magnus and Katie Stevens.  The Magnus Militia and Team Katie should flourish on a teen-led night.

• That said, there is a great Idol tradition of singers bombing when the theme is on their home turf.  Interviewing Matt Giraud just last week he recounted how he went home on jazz standards week.

• That said, Siobhan isn’t really a teenybopper but a mature adult performer.

• That said, Hansen is her favorite band.

• And Katie doesn’t like any singers under 60. (God bless her).

• Just getting Katie through this week so she can make the tour is all we need and can’t but think this doesn’t hurt.

• Anyway you slice it, this can’t be good news for non-Katie and Siobhans Casey James, Andrew Garcia, et al.

• Most interesting will be to see what this does to Siobhan’s one obstacle to the crown, the Hippie Bowersox.  Will her hippie lineage allow her to be respectful and polite to her mentor who has come so far just to help her?  Or will she turn up her pierced nose at the Disney princess?  Thus casting scorn upon the entire electorate and dooming her chances?

Implications, implications, implications, as they say.   But where will the little ball come to a stop? Tomorrow all shall be known.

- Richard Rushfield