By Chris Varias
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A talent show was the TV event of the summer. It might also go down as the Cincinnati teen-music concert of the year.

The 10 finalists from Fox's hit show American Idol have stepped out from the small screen and hit the road for a nationwide tour, which stopped at U.S. Bank Arena Friday.

"American Idols - The Top Ten" showcases the twin phenomena of reality television and boy (or girl)-band pop. With a backup band in place all night, each of the performers had a solo turn in the first set, beginning with 10th-place finisher EJay Day and ending with American Idol Kelly Clarkson. The second set featured ensemble pieces plus additional solo performances from the Final Four: Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray and Ms. Clarkson.

Seeing their two-dimensional heroes and heartthrobs come to life on stage presented the audience members the impossible task of containing their joy. The screams were at times 'NSync-loud, despite the fact that most of the upper-tier seating was empty.

Three of the 10 received the loudest screams - Ms. Clarkson, Mr. Guarini and Ms. Gray.

The first set was ballad-heavy, but Ms. Gray went with "I'm Every Woman," a strange choice considering it was more of a beat-driven disco song than a opportunity for the 23-year-old to show her vocal abilities. She went with the ballad "A House is Not a Home" in the second set and showed why she's a crowd favorite.

Mr. Guarini, he of the mop-like, tightly curled coiffure, was the most polished stage performer of the group, naturally interacting with the band and calmly and confidently working the crowd. The 23-year-old's version of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" was solid, either because he's a good singer or because it's a good song.

The giddy Ms. Clarkson, 20, seemed to be riding high not only on her American Idol win but the success of her hit "A Moment Like This."

Unfortunately her seemingly uncontrollable habit of pointing out random sights in the stands - cardboard signs bearing her name, cotton-candy vendors - will be remembered as much as her performances of "Respect" and "Before Your Love."

E-mail: cvarias@enquirer.com