This week marks the beginning of this cycle’s live playoffs, when the remaining 24 singers – six from each team – fight, and sing, for survival. More important, switching to a live format means that segments can’t be edited, and judges must be aware and respectful of the time allotted for each portion. And the way judge Kelly Clarkson free-associates and freely (and charmingly) gabs, the level of unpredictability from now on is ramped up considerably.