Deprecated: mb_convert_encoding(): Handling HTML entities via mbstring is deprecated; use htmlspecialchars, htmlentities, or mb_encode_numericentity/mb_decode_numericentity instead in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/super-cool-ad-inserter/inc/scaip-shortcode-inserter.php on line 37

The 12 male contenders tackled ’60s night with mixed results:

* First up, David H. turned in a disco version of “Midnight Hour.” That growling thing he does is gonna get old fast.

* I liked Chikezie’s mellow R&B vibe, though he didn’t do “I Love You More Today Than Yesterday” any favors. Cheap, tacky orange suit left me breathless — even the Pips couldn’t rock that color. Judge Simon Cowell cared so little that without missing a beat he called Chikezie “Jacuzzi.”

* David C. tried to rawk a Turtles tune, “So Happy Together.” Bad. And stop waving the mic stand around; it looks stupid.

* Jason Y. beamed through “Moon River.” Wow, I haven’t seen anybody go so big-toothy-smile through am easy-listening fave since they cancelled the various Osmond family shows back in the ’70s.

* Robbie — This season’s trying-too-hard “rocker.” The perfectly folded and centered head bandana is one big giveaway he takes his cues from TV, not life. Picking a Three Dog Night song is another.

* David A. — Absolutely adorable youngster; the perfect winning combination of confident while performing and a blushing shy puppy when being interviewed. Will go far, if Paula doesn’t eat him first.

* Danny — Did a high school musical version of “Jailhouse Rock.” Loved the skintight, stove-pipe pants, but recoiled when the young’un laughed like Paul Lynde.

* Luke — “Everybody’s Talking” about how boring you were. Should go early, but might squeak by on cute-boy points.

* Colton. Blond musical-theater elf tore through “Suspicious Minds” like the world’s happiest trained seal. Will last weeks on looks alone.

* Garrett — Another of the teen cuties, with a throwback 1970s glam-rock ‘do. He pined through “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” but all I saw were his magnificent cheekbones and limpid eyes. Like Colton, should survive for weeks on zillions of votes from smitten tweens.

* Jason C. — Worst. Hair. Ever. Too bad American Idol doesn’t have a make-over night like America’s Next Top Model; then some sensible person would step in to chop off those hideous white dreads. But — he did do the best makeover on a cheesy ’60s song, taking a lot of the annoying cute-folk out of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Daydream.”

* Michael. The Australian guy who looks 35 — another unlikely American Idol winner? Still, the producers knew he was good, so they rigged him to go last. After watching him howl and strut through The Doors, I wondered why the dude wasn’t on that find-INXS-a-new-lead-singer show; he’d have been a shoe-in.

My predictions for first-round of bus tickets back to nowhere: Chikezie, Jason and Luke.

Best bit of Simon wisdom: “No one’s ever going to admit to being forgettable.”