American Idol: Should Crystal Bowersox be allowed a week to recuperate?

24-year old Crystal Bowersox – season 9 “American Idol” contestant and mother of one – who’s believed to be diabetic, was reportedly hospitalized on Tuesday, causing “American Idol” to switch its semi-finals order allowing the boys to sing first rather than the girls.

But according to a report at latimes.com, an “American Idol” insider insisted that Crystal will be back to perform on Wednesday. The guys were said to have been alerted at around 10:30 am, when their call time was pushed up an hour so they had more time to rehearse.

However, the last-minute change in order, posed its share of logistical problems. Vewers who had text their votes, got an automatic reply that thanked them for voting for the corresponding girl. And this is not first time the show has had to make last minute alterations either.

Back in 2005, “American Idol” displayed the wrong phone numbers for three of the Top 11 contestants. This prompted a new performance episode, and all the original votes were thrown out. And season 7’s David Cook spent time out at LA’s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

It is unsure whether or not Crystal was out of the hospital by showtime, but if she is under the doctor’s orders not to sing on Wednesday night, shouldn’t she be allowed a week to recuperate? Makes us wonder what a fair way would be to handle a show front-runner.