Judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. sank their teeth into the rubbery candy as they were evaluating Roberts' performance on the Fox TV reality series. Their sugar-fueled banter formed part of his critique, distracting the troika from the real task at hand.
Silly? Absolutely. But the easygoing country singer didn't seem to mind. He simply waited for the shenanigans to end, wearing a big smile on his face. And when you come right down to it, Roberts has a lot to be happy about these days. He's one of three Alabama singers left on the show, competing among the top nine finalists.
Here's the latest on the 22-year-old contestant from Fayette, as seen on the 7 p.m. broadcast.
This week's theme: "I'm With the Band." Contestants shared the stage with the "Idol" music team, led by Rickey Minor. The band played a central role in the performances, instead of being hidden in the background. Song choices? Up for grabs.
What he sang: "Boondocks" by Little Big Town. It's a hit single from the country band's 2005 album, "The Road to Here." (Alabama note: Three of the four principals of Little Big Town have state ties. Jimi Westbrook is from Sumiton; Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman met as undergraduates at Birmingham's Samford University.)
What Roberts said: While discussing his chores on the farm in Alabama, Roberts talked about listening to the radio while driving a tractor in the sweltering sun. He's been moving on up, though, with his "Idol" experience in Hollywood. "Now, it's a change, a good change," Roberts said. "I don't have to get in a tractor unless I want to."
What the judges said: Basically, they repeated themes they've mentioned before. "You pick these giant, anthem-like songs," Connick said. "Unless you bring your own stamp to them, they're going to end up sounding generic. You have to find a way to make these songs your own." Urban praised Roberts' vocal skills and song choice, but said he needed to show another side of his personality. Lopez said Roberts did a "great job," but asked for more variety -- "something else that makes us take a second listen."
Critical reaction: Another solid vocal performance from Roberts. He dug into the lyrics of "Boondocks" and settled into a twangy groove, singing about "muddy water running through my veins." Visually, however, Roberts still has work to do. His stage presence? Ho-hum. Although this Southern gentleman is an appealing character, he's just not fun to watch.
What's next: Viewers will vote for their favorites in several ways, including a new method linked to Google searches. One singer will be eliminated on the March 27 episode, which airs at 8 p.m. CST. Janelle Monae will perform on the half-hour results show.