In a piece called “Whole Lotta Lambert” in the latest issue of Rolling Stone, writer Rob Sheffield’s waxes about how the singer is pretty much the perfect contestant and the savior of the show.

“American Idol” is back on top, and it’s all one little black-leather-clad demon prince’s fault. For the past few seasons, “Idol” seemed to be dying of boredom, but Adam Lambert, a goth studlet with mascara, black nail polish and a falsetto from deep in the larynx of Lucifer, has single-handedly rescued the franchise.

Yeah, it’s a little over the top (okay, a lot over the top), but Sheffield does have a point when he writes about Lambert, “He can do sincerity and ridiculosity all at once, exactly the algorithm ‘Idol’ has been striving for all these years.”

That may be exactly why the singer has struck a chord with the judges and fans alike – he’s the first contestant to be in on the joke.

He’s easily the most fun “Idol” ever, a flam-bam-boyantly queeny California boy who has devoted his nights to making Midwestern housewives slobber into their tubs of Ben & Jerry’s Karamel Sutra.

Thanks Rob. There’s an ugly image I didn’t need burned into my brain.

Read more of Sheffield’s, well, idolization of Adam Lambert here and in the current issue of Rolling Stone.

Wednesday, May 13
Jay Leno, Ciara – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Steve Earle – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Bob Saget, John Caparulo, Todd Glass – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Robin Williams, Wynton Marsalis – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Yusuf Islam – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
The Beat Freaks – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Ciara – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Paula Poundstone – “Late Late Show with Craig Fergsuon”
Brett Dennen – “Last Call with Carson Daly”

Thursday, May 14
Kelly Clarkson – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Billy Gardell, Brad Wollack – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Dierks Bentley – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Rick Ross with Magazeen – “Late Show with David Letterman”
The Decemberists – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Will Ferrell, Asher Roth – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Yusuf Islam – “The Colbert Report”
Steve “Lips” Kudlow & Robb Reiner (Anvil), The Airborne Toxic Event – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Howie Mandel – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Operation Aloha – “Last Call with Carson Daly”

Friday, May 15
Mel B, Jo Koy, Natasha Leggero – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Mastadon – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Kings of Leon – “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”
Yusuf Islam – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Eminem – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
All-American Rejects – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Friendly Fires – “Last Call with Carson Daly”

Saturday, May 16
My Morning Jacket – “Austin City Limits” – rerun
Will Ferrell, Green Day – “Saturday Night Live”