Most of us didn't make it to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, so TV One is once again offering a taste of the event with "TV One Night Only: Live From the Essence Music Festival 2010" at 9 tonight.

It's just a sampling of the talent assembled but you'll get to see performances by Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Gladys Knight, Monica, Keri Hilson, LL Cool J, Earth, Wind & Fire (who, with some controversy, took perennial closing act Frankie Beverly & Maze's spot), Raphael Saadiq, Alicia Keys, Trey Songz, Janet Jackson and Mary J. Blige.

With all due respect to "Southpark" fans, for a minute or two on last night's "American Idol, it sounded like someone was killing Kenny.

Kenny Everett of Durham, who calls himself "the male Mary J. Blige," auditioned for "American Idol" in Denver. It wasn't pretty. After he "sang" a bit, Simon told him, "It sounded actually like you'd been punched, and you were just screaming at us, Kenny. It wasn't singing, it was literally screaming at us." Kenny wanted to sing another song but Simon told him no. "Only one song today, Kenny."

Randy was no gentler. "Terrible, no, man. It wasn't good, dawg."

Lenni G. ogles and reports before the finale:

Great night of eye candy for this old lady with a theme of "shirts optional" for the guys. But I digress.

Kathryn and Ryan were first up, doing a Samba (tribal version) from Jason Gilkison.

Mary J. Blige rolled into town Sunday night, with a show that felt like that all-men-are-scum conversation from Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever" -- a set that was a marked emotional contrast from the smooth come-hither vibe of opening act Robin Thicke. For more, see the review. And there's also a very nice photo gallery, shot by N&O photographer Takaaki Iwabu.

Just in, another good R&B show coming our way: Queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige will play yon shed in Raleigh on Sept. 21. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the usual spots.