American Idol

Yo peeps! The finale is here! Let's cut right to the chase. I'm Erin Fox. I'm live blogging the finale. Enjoy.

The two Davids face each other in all white in the first shot of the show. It's like a really angelic version of Face Off. How are they not cracking up when Ryan refers to the competition as reaching "critical mass?"

Aww...Ryan gets to make his "grand entrance" down the staircase just like a deb at her coming out.

The audience shots include Holly Robinson Peete and Lori Loughlin. That's the best they could come up with?

Whoa... 97.5 million votes: One David got 56 percent, the other 44 percent. Hmm... what could it mean? I have no idea.

Who is Mikahlah Gordon? Why is she acting like a porn star in Kansas City?

Matt Rogers is muffled by thousands of blonde Archuleta fans in Salt Lake City.

The Top 12 are back... singing "Get Ready, Cuz Here I Come," and are also in white, like a big Brady Bunch special! They are backed up by what I'm sure is a gaggle of So You Think You Can Dance peeps.

They all sound fantastic and have a lot of energy... but look at Archie all out of sync. Nervous, you think? Very nice Top 12... even you, Amanda.

David Cook starts singing in a darker outfit and Archie joins him to perform "Hero," and their harmony is wicked! How the hell do they have time to rehearse this all?

Hold the phone, I forgot to say that the camera just flashed to Janice "Plastic-more-than-flesh" Dickinson. Yikes!

These two singing together sound perfect. Why can't they both win? Never mind, I still am all about Cook!

Ugh, Fox is pimping The Love Guru, which looks so lame. I love you Mike Meyers, but this is beyond ridic. The Davids actually go to the set and meet "Guru Pitka" who is just creepy looking Mike Meyers in his guru getup. It's painfully unfunny. BOO product placement! OMG, they actually bring him onstage. His "chant" is actually "Mariska Hargitay"... you know, Benson from Law & Order: SVU.

Syesha is back! She looks so hot! Go girl! She's singing with Seal! OMG, this is a match made in heaven. How stoked is she right now!? The do a nice job together, but they're making Syesha sing too low. And seriously, what's up with the white? Is that normal during the finale show?

Jason is singing "Hallelujah" which was by far his best performance earlier this year.

Thank God, my grilled cheese just arrived... I'm starving.

Oh look, one more Ford commercial for the road. Ugh. But, it's nice to see the gang all back together, having fun.

Whoa... Ryan just gave the Davids Ford Hybrids. Sweet.

Now the ladies, all dressed in vampy red, sing "She Works Hard for the Money." Amanda looks like she'd rather be having a root canal. Ha. Yay! There's Carly sounding amazing as always.

Donna Summer is introduced to sing her new single. Please don't fall down the stairs, Donna. That would ruin the buzz of the night. The ladies are singing back up for Donna. Pretty cool. LOL... I can't get over Amanda's sour puss.

OMG, Paula's boobs are going to knock out Syesha so she can sing, "Last Dance," with Donna. Keep those girls in check, P!

Carly and Michael sing "The Letter" and sound awesome together. Not sure what Carly is wearing... will it deflect bullets? Improve acoustics? Michael looks fab.

Yes! Jimmy Kimmel is back with some choice barbs for Sanjaya, Ryan, Simon, etc... But they actually put Simon's disses set to the classic tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel." It's quite amusing.

The Top Six dudes sing "Summer of '69" which is awesome with Michael, but hilariously bad with David H., Chikezie and Jason. Cook and Archie join in to sing "Heaven" and then Bryan Adams plays a song. I'm having some flashbacks to the '90s right now. They all sound great though. Well played, boys.

David Cook is singing "Sharped Dressed Man" with ZZ freakin' Top! How aweseome is that? Paula is rockin' out, while Simon enjoys the view of her boobs. But seriously, that was an awesome performance and David is having the time of his life. Aww.

David's music teacher is not listening to Mikahlah, but I don't blame her.

Graham Nash and Brooke White sing "Teach Your Children." This is the perfect song for her, and love that Nash is with her! I miss Brooke suddenly. I'm sappy. And so is this song. Brooke is all hippied out without her shoes during the song. Kinda gross with such a fancy dress on, right? My dog just barked in approval.

Mega-tween-idol-sensations The Jonas Brothers perform to the screams of many young ladies in the audience, and most of the tweens watching across America. Can you hear the squealing? Yep, there it is. Where are my ear plugs? Fine, I guess they're entertaining and if I was a tween I'd probably love them.

Ryan just brought "Pat" — a random audience member/Grandma — up on stage and bumps hips with her. Ryan... has it gotten that bad? Leave Pat alone.

Now we get to see a tape of the worst auditions. There's some classics in there. Look, it's Renaldo! In his pimp outfit and singing "Best Friend Forever." OMG, the brought him to the finale and even got the USC cheerleaders and marching band to help him out. Wow, this could be a new low for AI. I know it's supposed to be funny, and it is... but a whole number around this dude? There must be a USC grad on the staff. Oh no, here comes Paula's boobs followed by the rest of her body on stage! Just in the nick of time... a commercial break.

One Republic performs "Apologize," and the crowd loves it. They really love it when Archie joins in. This is actually a good song for him to sing. He should have sung it last night instead of doing "Imagine" again. Archie looks like he's about to have an orgasm... he's definitely having an amazing time.

Now Jordin — in a toddler's party dress from outer space — performs a song. She sounds fantastic. I'm glad her voice is doing well after all the reports of it being so damaged.

Wow, we get a Gladys Knight retro video and her "Pips" are Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. It's pretty awesome watching them all try not to crack up and to actually do the choreography without falling over. At one point, Jack is pants-less. Not sure how that happened. Yet, I laugh.

Ugh, Carrie Underwood. I know many of you are big fans — so I must warn you — I hate country music. But what I hate more than country is Carrie Underwood's wardrobe. I have never seen her in a decent outfit while performing. She's beautiful and needs a decent stylist. Go Fug Yourself will have a field day with this one... just like her many other bad outfits.

OMG (insert valley girl tone), Ashley Tisdale is in the House! I bet she wanted to perform and they laughed at her.

The Top 12 are back to sing a George Michael medley starting with "Faith." I see Kristy Lee is sporting her gaudy engagement ring. Congrats to her. Why does Brooke wear such conservative clothes? She looks classy, but it borders on boring. Prudish. She's only 24! Anyhoo, back to the singing. Or lack there of... I'm talking to you Amanda! She slurs her way through her solo. So bad.

Now the guys are on stage singing "Father Figure" which sounds cool, and then transition into a much more upbeat "Freedom." Sing it guys! That was awesome... and now George himself comes out on stage! This is the big name for the finale? I guess it's OK, but I was expecting someone ginormous. He looks like a guido from a Palm Desert resort with those glasses. He sings the most bland, long and pointless song ever! Boo!

Finally! The Davids are on stage and ready to hear the results. Randy (what the hell is he wearing) says they're both winners, Paula basically says the same, and Simon actually apologizes to David Cook for being too hard and almost disrespectful toward him. Hell just froze over.

And the winner is... David Cook! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I'm so thrilled, you have no idea. I really thought that Archie pulled it off last night, but America came through! David Cook is completely overwhelmed and in tears, but pulls it together. He's so awesome.

David sings "Time of My Life" and I'm choked up like a big wuss because I keep thinking about his sick brother watching this. How can he be singing right now... remembering the words? Oh man, now his brother is in the audience crying his eyes out. The fireworks spark, and the crowd is going nuts. David A.'s dad must be ready to hurt someone. Kidding of course (sorta). Here comes the confetti! Now it feels like a finale!

Well done, David! Can't wait to meet you next week in our studio!

Hey everyone! It's Erin Fox, and I can't believe we're down to two contestants. Can you believe it? It's the final "performance" episode of this year's American Idol contest! Time sure does fly when you're watching Seacrest and Cowell spar week after week. The shows actually kind of blur together after a while when you keep hearing Randy say repeatedly, "That was molten hot, Dawg," or "You can sing anything; you can sing the phonebook!"

For those of you who are curious to see what my prediction/wish for who should win Idol is, check out the slideshow on Yahoo! You can see Matt Mitovich on slide No. 1, and yours truly on slide No. 8. How fun is that!?

On to the show! Some announcer guy ("Let's get ready to rumble!") announces David Cook clad in a satin boxer robe and boxing gloves. And if that wasn't ridiculous enough, they put Archie in the same getup, only in blue. If anyone looks out of place in a boxing outfit, it's that kid. I'm talking, like, it's not even cool as a Halloween costume.

Seacrest comes out and asks for the Cook fans (nice screams), and Archie fans (louder screams), but oddly enough, Simon got the most applause. Interesting. Ryan introduces a taped piece that looks like an Olympics montage instead of a singing contest. The boxing metaphor continues ad nauseum. Seriously, are they for real? So now, Archie and Cook finally come out on stage wearing very muted colors. Ryan asks how they feel.... Gee Ry, let's think: I'm guessing relaxed and kinda sleepy. I really want to reach through my TV and noogie that faux-hawk right off of Ryan's head right now... it's been a long season. Ryan asks the judges what it will take to win it all. Randy says, "You gotta bring it all out on the floor!" Paula says, "You're at the Nokia Theater, and everyone is here for you, so soak it up and let the best man win!" Simon says, "You really have to hate your opponent." What a sap. Of course, David A. can only say, "This guy's awesome! (Gee whiz, shucks, golly, gosh!)" David Cook is much more eloquent and says that the competition is over and it's all about fun now.

The video piece is back with Clive Davis and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber providing commentary. Clive has picked the first song for both Davids.

David C., "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Look For:" What can I say? He's
The man! He sounds relaxed, passionate and like he's really enjoying the song. There's definitely a few flat notes, but they are eclipsed by his charisma. He's rockin', and the crowd loves him. Randy says he thinks the performance was a great way to start out 2007. HAHAHAHAHA. 2007??? I think Randy has finally eclipsed Paula in the acting drunk/out-of-it department. Paula says Cook's in "great voice tonight!" And Simon says that he could tell that David was emotional and tense earlier, but that given that, it was fantastic. Yay!

David A., "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me:" OK, I have to admit that I love this song. I always get goose bumps when I hear it on the radio, and Archie's version was no exception. It wasn't quite George Michael caliber, and he was definitely showing some nerves in the early part of the song. But, he really picked it up and rocked the end. Nice work, Archie. Randy says it was flawless and molten hot, Paula says the sun will never go down on him (That's what she said!) and that she got chills, and Simon says that it was his best all season and round one goes to Archie. I'm not sure I agree with that, but it was a great performance. Archie is in tears from all the praise.

Who won Round 1? Vote here.

The second songs were chosen from the songwriters' competition. ALW says he's worried about Cook's raspy voice, and seems to think the lyrics for Archie's song were written by Simon. Heh.

David C., "Dream Big:" He busts out the electric guitar for this one. I think the judges will think it's too shouty, but the tune is really catchy... possibly for more of a Hilary Duff-type. But I love him, and I don't care. He's awesome. Randy says he sang his face off (huh?), Paula says the audience was mesmerized with him, and Simon says it was a lightweight performance and that he's glad there's a third song. Bah humbug.

David A., "In This Moment:" Surprise, surprise, Archie chose a ballad. But, he's a smart little cookie because he's playing to his tween mafia fan base who will swoon. He sounds great in this song, but his right hand movements bug the crap out of me. The judges will dig this one, I can tell. What can I say, Archie's doing very well tonight. I think, better than the rest of the season. Although he does look like he's in pain as he grabs his side. Don't hurt yourself, Archie! Randy wasn't crazy about the song, but "He can sing the phonebook; that was another hot one." Wow, how original. Paula thinks he was fabulous again, it doesn't matter what he sings, and Simon says he chose the better song and that round two also goes to Archie. OK, that one I agree with, begrudgingly.

Who won Round 2? Vote here.

David C. "The World I Know:" Please be good! Please blow us away! Please pick a song that we know! OK, enough begging. He sounds really great, but I'm surprised at how mellow the choice is... I don't think this will be enough for him to "win" the round against Archie's "Imagine." However, I will still say, I would much rather go to a Cook concert than an Archie love-fest. Awwwwwwwwww!!! David C. is crying! I love him! Randy says it was a great song because David showed his sensitive side, and he thinks this would be the perfect kind of record for him to record. Paula gives him a standing ovation because he's singing his truth and brings originality and soul to his performances. Simon says that David is one of the nicest and most sincere contestants that Idol's ever had (he must have forgotten calling his performances arrogant), but it was the wrong song choice. David says this was about progression, so why would he do something he's already done? Well played, Cook.

David A. "Imagine:" Well, no surprises here since we've already heard it. It's a fantastic version of the song, but I think Cook was right. Why do something you've already done? It's kinda the easy way out. Just saying. Randy says he's so good tonight and he's what the show is all about. Paula says he was stunning tonight and left her speechless. Simon thinks he came out to win and we witnessed a knockout. Well, I guess we know who the judges think is the real American Idol. Randy actually flat out says Archie was the best singer in the competition.

Who won Round 3? Vote here.

Oh yes, and how can I forget sweaty Ruben singing us out. Poor guy.

So I'm dying to know, what did you guys think? Do you think Archie gained new leagues of fans, or do you think Cook will win out in the end?

Who deserves to be named the new American Idol? Vote here.

Related
• Use Our Online Video Guide to Watch Clips of American Idol

Hello everyone, it's me, Erin Fox! Thank you to so many bloggers who welcomed me back and enjoyed reading my post. Thanks also to those of you wearing your cranky pants and calling me "catty" for wanting to draw whiskers on David Archuleta's little baby face. Heh... catty about whiskers... makes me laugh. Just having a little fun guys, try to relax! (P.S. "Shizzle" is supposed to sound ridiculous!)

On to the show! Ryan does a nice job reminding the audience (including many Idol cast-offs like Amanda Overmyer, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber) that making it this far and not winning will be devastating. Thanks for that, Ry. He also tells Cowell to button up his shirt because this is a TV-G rated show. This is terribly ironic considering Paula's boobs are about to leap out of her dress and choreograph a number of their own.

Next, we're treated to a short and lame music video set to "How Far Is Heaven," featuring the reflection of David A. in a large pool. Thank goodness we won't have to see any more of those videos!

After a recap of last night's performances and a commercial break, Ryan introduces recording and Broadway star (aka AI winner No. 3) Fantasia, who sings "Bore Me." Worst. Title. Ever. She struts out onto stage with the craziest shade of red-pink-orange hair (depending on your TV tint) that I've ever seen. She looks like a pro wrestler and not an R&B star, but she's very Fantasia. So, if you're a fan, I think you'd enjoy it??? I like her a lot but thought this song was a hot, tranny mess. Besides her back-up dancers' booties hanging out of their outfits, the most entertaining part was watching Simon's jaw-dropping/horrified expression during her song. Awesome.

Ryan asks David Archuleta to come on stage. We get to watch David's trip home to Murray, Utah (which I know a lot of you were annoyed about not seeing last night). There's lots of screaming girls, cheerleaders and an interview on Good Morning, Utah. They parade him around to radio stations and a large mall filled with screaming tweens and teens. Some cry, most scream. This makes David cry which is sweet, and then he exclaims, "Gosh!" and then I'm over it. But, then I think, wow, this kid must be so tired and overwhelmed. I'd cry too. He sings "Imagine" for his huge high school crowd and says how grateful he is. Aww, little kitten. Then we watch his "journey" tape which is also really sweet.

Ryan then invites Syesha to show the video of her trip home. She visits a talk show, her high school, elementary school and downtown Sarasota. She rides a helicopter over a huge crowd waiting for her. The Mayor of Sarasota awards her with "Syesha Mercado day" and a handstand. Awesome considering she's so old. Go girl! Syesha cries way more than David A. and it's very moving. Especially when they play her "journey" tape because you see how far she's truly come.

Now it's David Cook's turn. Ryan invites his brother (who originally auditioned and didn't make it... awkward) on stage. We watch him travel back to Blue Springs and Kansas City, Missouri and do the same TV, radio, screaming fan circuit. Then he heads downtown for a concert where his family sings along in the background. Then he surprises his music teacher from elementary school which is super cute. The little kids there almost have out of body experiences. He finally cries on the field of his school. Aww. His "journey" tape is set to a Daughtry song which is fitting since they have the same cool vibe. I really enjoyed the journey of his hair actually. It's much improved.

Finally the results! The finale will be David Archuleta against David Cook. Bye-bye Syesha, I'm sure we haven't seen the last of you! She sings us out with her wonderful version of "If I Ain't Got You."

See you next week for the finale! Are you excited? Are you going to have Idol finale parties? What will you wear? Kidding.

Related:
• Watch video interviews with Idol finalists.
• Who's your Idol now? Vote for your favorite here.
• Video: Watch the judges hatin' Archuleta's "Boo."

Erin Fox here, back from sunny St. Lucia with a wicked sunburn and a frighteningly strong desire to get back into Idol mode. Let's break down tonight's Top Three performances.

Thanks so much to Mickey for some seriously awesome recapping skills last week. I hope you all enjoyed them as much as I did. With recent news of David A.'s dad being banned from backstage, and the pressure of not one, but three songs each tonight, it's gonna be intense, peeps. (Update: David A. Defends His Dad; see our Great American Idol blog.)

I have to admit, I was totally having Idol withdrawal while I was away. How did they all sound last week? Did anyone butcher a song? Who would be going home next? Internet availability wasn't great on the island, but I managed to find out that your beloved dready-heady Jason got the boot. Don't worry, kids, because he sure doesn't look like he has a care in the world. P.S. You must check out Mitovich's "hair-raising" interview with Jason Castro here.

Ryan introduces the final three: Archie, Syesha (doing her best Dreamgirls impersonation in that dress), and David Cook (Cookie).

The Judges' Choices

David Archuleta, "And So It Goes:" We are directed toward the screen and introduced to Mayor Star (no understatement there! The guy was clad in a flag patterned cowboy shirt and sported a handle bar moustache) from Murray City, Utah. He says that Paula has chosen "And So It Goes" for Archie to sing first. Aww, I kinda want to puke. Back in the studio, she says she chose it to show off the range of his voice. He sings it very well, as always, but I'm so completely bored with it and want to start drawing kitten whiskers on his face... I just need one of those pens like they use to draw plays for football games on TV. Anyhoo, Randy said he wanted to see him do the piano thing like Billy Joel, but "it don't matter, because you can sing anything!" Paula said it was a pure performance and Simon said it was good, and a bit predictable. Agreed, Simon. (For another take on David A., read Cheers & Jeers.)

Syesha Mercado, "If I Ain't Got You:" I love this song by Alicia Keys, and so does Syesha. She's super-stoked, and I'm praying she doesn't over-sing it. Randy said he chose the song for her because she's young and hot and thought she'd love Alicia as much as he did, and that she could be successful making that kind of record. I think she totally nailed it; it was just the right tone throughout the whole song. Randy thought she did an amazing job and that she's peaking in the competition now. Paula said she looked stunning and did a great job with such an identifiable song. Simon wished Randy picked a song that didn't sound so much like the original. However, he thought she did a nice job and looked gorgeous. Simon, you cad.

David Cook, "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face:" Cookie got his text from Simon during a local news show that said he'd be singing the famous Roberta Flack song. Oooh, Simon just threw down the gauntlet of all love songs to our Cookie! Very sneaky, Mr. Cowell, but I bet Cookie will knock your socks off... and maybe even that smug look off your face. Simon said he chose it because he really wanted to see David do something completely different. After Ryan made a vague gay joke aimed at Simon, Cookie launched into his version of the song. It was, indeed, original, sweet, soft, and at the end, rockin' hot. Well played, Cookie. And how awesome was the shot of his mom standing up during the whole song with tears in her eyes. Aww. Randy thought Simon should have picked a more rockin' song, but that he could sing anything. Paula said that David's version is her second favorite version of her favorite song. I think that's a compliment. And Simon said he was brilliant and that round one went to Cook and Cowell. Insert my rolling eyes here.

The Contestants' Choices

David A., "With You:" Archie said he wanted to try something young again, and the crowd seems happy with it. The beginning of the song is rough, like he is having trouble keeping up with the tempo or he might be forgetting the words? Did you feel that? Randy said he's happy he tried something new but singing "My Boo" was weird to hear (Read: weird coming from a tiny boy who should have kitten whiskers on his face). Paula thought he did a great job and that he should try songs like this more often. Simon applauded him for not singing a ballad but said it was like "a Chihuahua trying to be a tiger." I totally agree, and the metaphor cracked me up. At least Archie has lightened up enough to laugh at that comment.

Syesha, "Fever:" She said she liked the vibe of the song and is dressed in another sparkley number. This is very musical theater-y, but she excels in that area, so I think she does a nice job. She's working it... fondling the chair, the cello, the air.... Even though I still don't love her voice, I think she lights up the screen. Randy thought she sang it amazingly well, Paula (and Randy) said that it wasn't the best song choice and Simon agreed saying she blew her chance to show herself off as a contemporary recording artist. Ouch. He slammed her once more by saying it was lame cabaret. He's kinda right.

David C, "Dare You to Move:" Never heard of this song, but Cookie loves it and says it's the appropriate song at the appropriate moment in time. Deep. The song starts out low and slow and kinda boring. Of course, it turns on a dime into an awesome rock song. Randy said it was pitchy, Paula wanted to hear more and didn't think he could really squeeze the song into 1.5 minutes. Simon said he had an OK middle round, and luckily there is one more left.

The Producers' Choices

David A., "Longer Than:" I'm already gagging over this song. Talk about a cheese fest. Boo producers! But the girls in the audience will love the lyrics ("I am in love with you"... can you hear the screaming?). Randy said he was in the zone, Paula thought it was lovely and Simon thought he sang it well but the song and lyrics were too gooey. Oh Simon, can it be? We're soul mates?

Syesha, "Hit Me Up:" This is much more contemporary and entertaining, but I think she's a little pitchy. Can you blame her after doing three songs in one night? Randy thought it was just OK, Paula doesn't think it's enough to get her to the finals and Simon thought her best moment was last week with the Sam Cooke song, and that nothing this week made her stand apart from the others.

David C.,"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing:" Nice! A little Aerosmith to end the show. Brings back memories, doesn't it? College... wine coolers — I mean beer! Cookie starts the song well and is surrounded by a huge strings section. Love it! Now there's some electric guitar love to help him rock out harder. The crowd is going nuts! Paula is standing up. Randy thought it was just OK (What the hell is wrong with Randy tonight? Did Mariah Carey not call him back or something? What a bitter Betty!), Paula tried to spit out that she loved it and will see him in the finals and Simon thought that Cookie won the night!

Well, shizzle, I'm freakin' exhausted from typing so fast, but I hope you enjoyed the show. I can't believe there is only three more episodes left! Time flies when you're ruining classic songs for millions of people forever. I kid! I kid! You know I love my Idols.

Related:
• David Archuleta Speaks Out about Stage Dad
• Use our Online Video Guide to watch clips of Idol
• Watch our interview with recent castoff, Jason Castro

Hi all -- Mickey O'Connor here again, picking up where we left off last night...

You can always tell when a contestant has had their fill of the Idol smorgasbord. All you have to do is take a close look at the group performances. Tonight, while the final four was busy slaughtering all my fondest college memories with a jazzy, blasphemous rendition of Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years," Jason's posture, body language and half-assed attempt at the choreography all read as one big eye-roll in my book. On the other hand, I'm always kind of amused and surprised to see how game David Cook seems for the whole thing. Maybe he's the one with a future on Broadway.

David Archuleta does a little soft-shoe, aw-shucks shuffle for the fans, and is deemed -- not shockingly! – safe. Speaking of Davids, Paula has an appetite for more "Cookie" – and so does America apparently, and so he is safe too. Duh. And… ew.

And then they went to Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil's Beatles Love! Don't tell anybody, but I went to see the Cirque with my family in Orlando many years ago, and I kind of liked it. Ssshhhh! I kept waiting for the Knocked Up-inspired scene where Archuleta is viewed through a fish-eye lens, totally tripping to the show's hallucinogenic visuals. But... no. They loved it! And gave everyone the peace sign! And all they needed was love! What has happened to Vegas, and will it stay in Vegas?

And then (ugh) the questions… does anyone like this segment? Here's my proposal: Next season, put a poll on the website, asking the fans which classic Idol performance they'd like to see again, and show us that instead.

Maroon 5 was in the hizzy to perform "If I Never See Your Face Again," their new single featuring Rihanna. Except… where's Rihanna? Have no fear, lead singer Adam Levine can handle the falsetto, and, well, my love for Maroon 5 began and ended with "This Love," so I have nothing more to say, except that, for my money, the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears has a better falsetto.

Bo Bice seems like a really nice guy, right? His name even rhymes with nice. His wife is pregnant with a boy, and he is gracious and grateful for the launching pad that Idol provided, in a way that you might not expect a Southern-fried rocker like Bo to be. (Remember when he sang "Vehicle" by the Ides of March? It's one of my favorite Idol moments.) His single, "Witness," is a characteristic funky jam, and you can tell he's enjoying the moment. Although, I kept picturing Peter Frampton sitting at home, watching the wah-wah vocal portion of the song, saying to anyone who will listen: I invented that. One critique: To invoke an old Janeane Garofalo routine about hard rockers and their hair: A little leave-in conditioner, size of a dime, will take care of that halo of crispy-crunchies that surrounded Bo's melon.

Syesha Mercado took the opportunity to explain her emotional outburst last night. She said she was suddenly aware of her good fortune, and thought about the significance of the song, even squeezing in a mention of the history-making Democratic race for president. Yay, America!

Then, after 51 million votes, you, the American Idol viewing public, sent Jason Castro home, to the surprise of nearly nobody. As much as all of you (and Simon) wanted to see Jason pack his bags and go this week, I think Jason himself may have wanted it even more.

"Somebody told me that I shot the tambourine man yesterday -- I thought that was pretty funny," Jason said, as they were about to announce who was going home. Something about this episode made me really wonder if we ever really knew the guy. Sure, his singing was inconsistent, and he was notoriously shy, but I suspect that in the real world, Jason is kind of a character. When Ryan asked if he was relieved to be going home, he answered, "Three songs this week -- I don't know what I would have done." I, for one, appreciate his honesty.

"I'm a fun guy; I hope I [could] translate that and make a good show," Jason said in his departure package. I, for one, think he did. Good luck, Jason!

(TiVo Check: In the New York City area, the show was immediately followed by a missing-children alert sponsored by the local Fox station, which featured Sanjaya (!) saying, "It's 10 pm; do you know where your children are?" Sweet or creepy? You decide.)

Did America make the right decision? And who do you want to see in the final? Vote here for your current pick to win Idol.

Hey guys, Mickey O'Connor here tonight filling in for Erin Fox, who is sunning herself this week far away from the screams of the Arch-Angels, and who was filling in for Nina Hammerling-Smith, who is, I'm sure, teaching her new baby the lyrics to "Hungry Like the Wolf" as we speak. I'm an avid American Idol watcher who is sad that Carly is no longer with us ("Superstar" indeed!), but I'll buck up and turn my attention to our talented final four and their foray into... RAWK! One warning: I usually agree with Simon -- sorry!

The contestants had to choose from the 500 most influential rock songs, as determined by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was hoping to hear some Led Zeppelin or Stones tonight, but then I remembered that Michael Johns and Amanda Overmyer have already been eliminated, and my hopes were momentarily dashed. Would the final four truly rock me tonight? Let's see!

David Cook: "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran
This isn't necessarily a criticism, but sometimes it seems like David is doing Chris Cornell's version of every song he sings, doesn't it? In this case, I missed the synthesized goofiness of the original, but the growly, harder edge that David brought to the song was a good fit. It even left Paula with "a big appetite," which can't be a bad thing, right?

(TiVo Check: Did anyone notice that Tiffany –- who also recently showed up in Robin Sparkles' "Sandcastles in the Sand" video -- plays Meatloaf's wife in that AT&T GoPhone ad?)

Syesha Mercado: "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
I get nervous when a contestant takes on such an iconic song, as Syesha did once before when she sang "I Will Always Love You" during Dolly Parton week. It's hard to avoid comparison, unless you pull a Blake Lewis and beatbox over Bon Jovi or something, but that's not Syesha. She was worried about getting the signature choreography right, which perhaps led Simon to observe that she had delivered a "bad, shrieky impersonation of Tina Turner," which might be a little unfair, but it begs the question: Why risk it? I would have preferred a more stripped-down arrangement instead of the safe, adult-contemporary rendition Syesha chose. "Proud Mary"'s genius lies in the quiet that eventually explodes into madness. Nevertheless, Syesha –- perhaps more than her three competitors –- really knows how to perform rather than just sing. She has fun, incorporates the band, and really commands the stage.

What’s up, Carly? We (I) miss you!

Jason Castro: "I Shot the Sheriff" by Bob Marley
Let's face it: Bob Marley songs are great because of the way Bob Marley sang them. Unfortunately, Jason lacks the depth and warmth in his vocal tones that Marley brought to this classic reggae ditty, so at times it seemed a little speak-sing-y to me. And as the judges are fond of pointing out, at this stage in the competition, you need to choose songs that show off your vocal talents, which I don't think this song did for Jason. I'm not sure I'd call it a "karaoke bomb," as Randy did, or "a first-round audition massacre," as Simon did, but I definitely understand why they were disappointed.

David Archuleta: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
I liked the way David changed up the arrangement of this maybe-too-familiar-for-Idol song. The bongos were a particularly nice touch, and his voice really soared over the softness of the backup singers. David proved that he has the vocal chops to modulate his singing as is appropriate for the song, without resorting to annoying theatrics. Overall, it was a very restrained performance that still entertained me. Paula, naturally, agreed that this 17-year-old is "way beyond [his] years… seasoned already." That said, the audience was particularly scream-y tonight, no?

David Cook: "Baba O'Riley" by the Who
This was a pretty brave choice, in that its distinction -– like "Proud Mary" –- lies in its slow, roiling build-up. Unfortunately, I think you really need to hear more than 90 seconds of it to understand its power. As a result, I thought David's opening was a little weak, but once it opened up into the chorus ("Teenage! Wasteland!"), it made me want to hear more. But, you know, then it just sort of ended. Despite its brevity, David turned in a solid performance without any major gaffes, leaving Paula "humbled to sit here and watch [his] soul" and Simon to say, "Welcome back, David Cook!" Wait, where did he go?

Syesha Mercado: "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke
I was kind of with Randy on this one when he said that Syesha was "trying to [make the song] something that it wasn't." I think when you decide to sing a song so tied up in its civil rights origins, you need to bring some reverence to the stage. And while it was clear that Syesha understood the gravity of the song, to me, her performance came off more sultry than serious. Remember when Katharine McPhee sat down on the stage, dressed modestly, and sang a clear, emotional rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"? That's what Syesha needed to do. Wearing a floor-length gown and singing about the suffering and steadfastness that the song's "change" implies doesn't really match up. So it surprised me that Simon actually praised her performance, even going as far as to berate Randy for making Syesha cry.

Jason Castro: "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan
Jason's second choice was a little simple. But I kind of liked it, and I was bummed that he forgot some of his lyrics because it made him an easy target for the judges' brutal critiques. Randy said he wasn't "in the zone tonight." Simon even went as far as to encourage him to pack his suitcase. Yes, the arrangement was a little too sped up for my taste, but had he opened it up to the audience a little more, as he did with his first song, instead of remaining stool-bound, he might have pulled off a decent performance.

David Archuleta: "Love Me Tender" by Elvis Presley
I haven't been a big Archuleta fan thus far, but after this song, I think I get it. He sang it well, distinguished it enough from Elvis' version to avoid copycat accusations, and practically sexually assaulted the cameraman his performance was so impassioned. Seriously, could the camera have gotten any closer? Randy, too, received some Archuleta love, pointing out that he "caressed every word." Simon summed up the evening well by stating simply that he "crushed the competition tonight."

What did you think? Who were your favorites? And did Syesha or Jason do well enough to upset the seemingly inevitable David-David finale?

Related:
• Cheers & Jeers pulls a Simon on Jason Castro.

OK, so let's face it; last night was as boring as whale sh-t. Bet you didn't know whale shizzle was boring, but it is. And last night's show almost made it seem interesting. And was it me, or did Neil Diamond not make the greatest mentor? Or maybe they just cut it all out for time's sake. Either way, I was disappointed.

Tonight, the Idols begin with a medley of ND songs, starting off with snooze-fest Jason Castro singing "Cracklin' Rose." However, the others come in with some awesome harmony which saves the song. They keep going with more songs and end with their hands in the air like they're the Osmonds or Bradys. It's weird and stagey. So, moving on....

Ryan points out that Constantine and Gina are in the audience... not just to say, "Hi," but to pimp out their new American Idol post-show gig for Fox. Ugh. Next. Then we get a recap of last night's performances.

Wow. In an unusual move by Idol and Seacrest, they address the rumors about Paula's behavior last night (basically, everyone said she was drunk). Ryan said, "The rumors aren't true. Paula's part of our family and we love her." Cut to Paula looking teary-eyed and Simon leaning over to plant a wet one on her cheek. I'm going to refrain from making any smart comments here. It's hard, but I will refrain.

Elimination time! Jason's out first and he's safe. Seriously America? What's your damage? The guy needs to go home. Archie is safe as well. Surprise, surprise.

Now we get a preview (more Fox pimpage) of So You Think You Can Dance. I do love that show though... except for crazy-ass Mary Murphy and her banshee scream.

Eliminations continue... Cook is safe, of course. At least you got that one right, America. He brings Brooke and Syesha and just blabs on and tortures the poor girls... and we know we're just going to watch Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield perform first.

Natasha "Ginormous Choppers" Bedingfield performs an annoying song called "Pocket Full of Sunshine." But what do I know, she's sold a bazillion records. Seacrest says Archie wants to ask her to prom after she hugs him like a teddy bear.

Ugh. Questions from phone callers. Simon does his Rocky and Bullwinkle hand gesture while some chick asks Simon if he thought Paula's or the chick's kiss was a better performance. While I do delight in Simon's embarrassment, this is just so ucky.

ND is up and he sounds great as always, but talk about boring! His band dancing in the background is more interesting. Now it's picking up a little... he actually said, "Ow!" and is gyrating his hips around. Yikes! Look at the back up singers! They aren't "Pretty Amazing." They're pretty scary.

The real elimination now: It's Brooke's turn to go home. I know it's her time after that awful "I'm a Believer" last night, but I thought Jason deserved to go first.

What did you think of tonight's decision? Are you going to miss Brooke's emotional drama?

Who's Your Idol Now? Vote here!

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Hey guys! So, it's Neil Diamond night, and I've had "Sweet Caroline" in my head all freakin' day. Thanks a lot, Neil! P.S., my husband says we're related to Mr. Diamond. Yeah, I'll believe that when I get front row seats to his concert!

Ryan introduces the top five: Syesha looks amazing, Brooke looks like someone's mom from the Jersey Shore out for a night of gambling at the Taj Majal, and everyone else looks decent. Why does Brooke insist on dressing like either an old lady or a fairy princess? Please explain.

Tonight, the Idols will be singing two Diamond songs so buckle up and enjoy the ride. The contestants gather around the piano and Neil tells them not to be nervous, that the songs are meant to be enjoyed. That's cool. Ryan tells us that the contestants will be judged after their second song. That's kinda annoying. We'll see how it works.

Jason Castro, "Forever in Blue Jeans:" OK, I know a lot of you love Jason, and I used to dig him, but how is he still here? Really, he should have been gone a few weeks ago. I'm totally bored by this version of "Blue Jeans." Even the crowd looks bored.

David Cook, "I'm Alive:" David busts out the electric guitar and totally rocks this song (and gave ND goose bumps during rehearsal.) It just looks so easy for David C. to kick ass. Nice work!

Brooke, "I'm a Believer:" She looks like she's a deer caught in headlights and like she's hiding behind her guitar. She's totally uptight and doesn't do the song justice, though I honestly think she could have if she wasn't so damn nervous. The end isn't bad because she's has a bit more fun with it.

David Archuleta, "Sweet Caroline:" Wow is he off in the first few bars. The arrangement is really weird. (But Diamond thinks he's a prodigy?) This feels like an obnoxious karaoke performance. I know y'all love your Archie, but this is not his finest moment. Yes, he can sing, but sometimes, less is more, peeps. The ending was good… I'll give him that.

Syesha Mercado, "Hello, Again:" Wow, she looks so pretty, and her singing has improved each week. Now I kinda get why she's still here. Way to go, girl. She really nails this song and puts her own spin on it. That's why ND wanted to hug her.

Paula is extra drunk tonight.... She thinks Jason sang twice and called one of them "empty." That's just so classic on so many levels. Simon said he was really happy they have two songs to sing tonight. Ouch.

Jason, "September Morn": So, apparently he wasn't listening to Simon. It was really "phoned in" and really boring. Boo, Jason. Randy thought it was really just OK, Paula thought he took the same tone with both songs, and Simon said it was forgettable.

David C., "All I Really Need Is You:" I have goose bumps already, and I'm not all ga-ga over David C. like most of you are, but I really like him tonight. Simon can kiss my arse (He was not just above average!). My husband wants him to throw his guitar and rock out. Whoa, there, hubby. I think he's doing fine on his own. Randy said he rocked the house, Paula was "So proud of him… and feels like I'm looking at the next American Idol." Simon said the first song was OK and the second was brilliant. Thank you, Simon!

Brooke, "I Am, I Said:" Now this is much more "Brooke," and she really connects to the song, though her vocals aren't top notch tonight. Randy thought she did a nice job on a difficult song, Paula thought she showed her vulnerability and it worked for her and Simon said he really hated the first song, and the second song was the Brooke we know — well done.

David A., "America:" What's up with the hand curved at your side, Archie? You're not Vanna White. This kid will do well tonight because, like Kristy Lee Cook, it's such a patriotic song. No one votes against America! He sings the heck out of the song, and the crowd goes nuts. Randy said he's in the zone, Paula thought it was the perfect song for him to sing because he had some fun and Simon thought it was a very smart song choice and he sang it very well.

Syesha, "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime:" Syesha has a lot of fun with this song, clapping with the back up singers, but her dancing is a little cheesy for me. She does a great job with the song and ends the show on a positive note. Randy thought she finally realizes "who she is," Paula thought her first song was touching, the second song was her theatrical side and Simon said she demonstrated she is a good actress/singer, but that she may be in trouble tonight. I think he should be banned from saying that stuff.

What did you think of the double song, one (well, one and a half) critique format?

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**Yo, yo, American Idol peeps. You know I love you all, but I need to set you all straight. DO NOT BELIEVE THE RUMORS ABOUT TVGUIDE.COM SPREADING INSIDER INFO!!! One of our editors has been smeared all over the Idol forums and fan sites for supposedly saying that Jason was getting kicked off tonight. We don't know who is getting kicked off. NO ONE DOES. If you look at our power rankings, they do not mirror the show results at all, they are just a fun poll we use to see who loves who. So, please know that your friendly editors at TVGuide.com are hard-working, TV-loving souls who don't want to spoil anyone's fun.**

'Nuf said. Let's enjoy the show.

So, I'm glad that so many of you admitted that you too enjoy musical theater. I don't feel so alone now. The Idols began the show this evening with a group number singing, "All I Ask of You," from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera. They sound lovely and sing some really pretty harmony during the song. After it's over, Ryan introduces a taped piece that recaps last night's performances and that ALW thinks it will be interesting to see who progresses. Ya think?

They bring ALW on stage with Ryan for a Q&A. It's kind weird, no? This isn't Regis and Kelly. He asks about Brooke's faux pas last night, and ALW was very gracious and said that it happens to the best of them and that he thinks she's very talented. Brooke looks like she wants to claw out Ryan's eyes for bringing that incident up again, but then smiles when ALW says, "It (meaning forgetting) happened on the [judge's] panel last night too." Paula, he's referring to you. Simon does a subtle job of pointing that out to Paula. Hee. Ryan also gets ALW to say that Jason didn't listen to a word he said and had the world's strangest song choice. LOL. Way to hold back there, Sir Webber. Then Ryan asks, in the most asinine way possible, "If you could write a love song for Simon and Paula, what would it be?" Ugh. ALW says, "Time to Say Goodbye?" "How Can I Say I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?" At least it's not calls from fans.

On to the eliminations... or not.... First, we get a Ford commercial on comic book acid, to "Tainted Love." It's really cool, actually. Well, at least the comic book part is. Now we're back and Ryan unveils some stamps that will have different Idols on them until the winner is crowned. It's to raise money for Idol Gives Back. Now we get a message from President and First Lady Bush. It's about as stiff and canned as possible. They have no idea what Idol really is, do they? Must try to keep political sniping to a minimum. Trying so hard...

Now we're at the eliminations: David C. and Archie march out first. After Archie barely gets out his, "Gosh I'm glad I did what I did," speech, we find out they're both safe.

Now we get to see how many former Idols have been on Broadway or are actually starring right now. Tamyra Grey is currently starring as Mimi in Rent and Clay Aiken is in Spamalot (OK, at least he has a reason for that awful hair).

Leona Lewis takes the stage singing, "Bleeding Love" — why? Because Simon discovered her in the UK and now she's a mega-star. His head is officially bigger than the entire world now. She's damn talented, though.

Next on the chopping block are Syesha and Brooke. Syesha goes to the stool and Brooke is safe! Holy crap, I thought for sure she'd get the boot this week! Carly and Jason are up and why are we even doing the critique? Aren't they in the bottom three by process of elimination (no pun intended)? Ohhh, it's the bottom two now. Got it. Jason is safe!? Holy cow! Now they're making Carly sing again. This is torturous. I'm shocked that the two best performances last night (sorry David lovers) are in the bottom two tonight. Boo, voters! OMG, Carly has been booted! I'm speechless. I hope you feel my wrath, voters. I heart Carly!

What did you think of the results?

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OK, so I have to "out" myself here: I, Erin Fox, am a Broadway musical junkie. I know a lot of Broadway shows and used to (gulp) sing along to them in the car as a high school drama geek. This explains a lot, including my lack of dates in high school. But I digress — tonight's show is about the Top 6 and their quest to conquer Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. In his heyday, his musicals were amazing (Evita)... and then there was Aspects of Love — no comment. Also, I'll do my best to keep the CATS jokes to a minimum. On with the show!

Syesha Mercado, "One Rock and Roll too Many:" Syesha finally sounds like she's hit her niche. She looks fabulous with a capital F. The song is sexy and totally brings her (so far lackluster) personality to the forefront of this competition. She might have just bought herself another week. Randy said she could be a huge Broadway star, Paula said she wasn't surprised at how awesome Syesha was tonight, and Simon agreed with Randy and called her "sexy."

Jason Castro, "Memory:" Andrew Lloyd Webber said he never thought he'd see "Memory" sung by a dude in dreads. Ha! You can tell he's not sure if Jason really gets the song. Jason looks like he's nervous for the first time, as well he should be. This is the most famous ALW song. He sings the song with his trademark Indie vibe, but I don't think it's great, and he's way off with the orchestra! Randy thought it was a bit of a train wreck, Paula said that it was smart for him to put his mark on it, and Simon thought it was like a young guy being forced by his "mum and dad" to sing a song at a wedding. HA. That's actually kinda funny.

Brooke White, "You Must Love Me:" Ouch, ALW said that Brooke had no idea what she was singing about... clearly, this genre, like power ballads, is out of her comfort zone. She should have sung, "I Don't Know How to Love Him," because it suits her limited range yet has some cool emotional parts. Oh well. But, ALW coaches her and gets her to connect with the song. Oh man, she stops after the first line, and makes the orchestra start over. She's a wreck tonight, and I'm not sure why. I only like the very end of the song. Randy thought it was vocally tough, Paula told her to never start and stop like that but that she did a great job not over-acting and Simon said that she was too tense from starting over and it kinda ruined the rest of the song. However, he said she did the right thing and was very brave to start over. Paula still disagrees. Shut up, Paula.

David Archuleta, "Think of Me:" First, can we discuss that Ryan lets a bunch of girls on stage to hug Archie? Awkward! Secondly, Archie, this week should be your blow-out, kick ass performance. His voice is all about musical theater. Instead, he's trying to be David Cook and "change up" a girly ALW song and make it his own. I'm not a big fan because it just sounds boy band-y to me, though he sings it very well. And he does keep his eyes open (barely) as ALW coached him to do. Randy said the exact same thing that he did about Archie last week. Boo. Paula thought he was perfect, and Simon thought it was pleasant but forgettable. Holy crap, for once I agree with Simon!

Carly Smithson, "Jesus Christ, Superstar:" She totally rocks the hell out of this song and sounds and looks like she's having a great time (which she hasn't been doing the last few weeks). The crowd loves it and she nails the end of the song. Randy said it was good but not her best (ass!), Paula thought it was unexpected and loved the chorus and Simon (except for some shout-y parts in the middle) said it was one of his favorite performances of the night.

David Cook, "Music of the Night:" ALW tells David that he's singing the sexiest song he's ever written. Let's see if he can pull it off.... So far, I think he doesn't have the strength in this range to do the song justice. This is so not the song I would have picked if I were David. However, he does hit the big climax note, which is hard (That's what she said... sorry, I couldn't resist). Hmm, I'm not sure what I think of this performance as a whole. I think it was good, but no where near his best performance. Randy thought it was molten hot, and an amazing vocal performance. Huh? Really? Paula thought it was wonderful and Simon thought he did the best he could with the song but doesn't like this side of his voice. Jeez, Simon and I agree again? Creepy!

My Prediction: Bottom three will be Jason Castro, Syesha Mercado and Brooke White. Either Brooke or Jason will be history.

Paula watch: Like the hair, decently coherent.

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Ryan opens the show with a warning: Knowing what happened to Michael Johns last week, no one is safe anymore. Thanks, a--hole, we remember that you tortured Michael by telling him no one was kicked off last year during Idol Gives Back — and then you kicked him off! OK, I know it wasn't "you," Ryan, but still, did you have to do it in such a douche-y way?

The Idols sing Mariah Carey's hit, "One Sweet Day," starting off with Jason Castro. He gets a nice solo, but I feel like he's phoning it in. Kristy Lee is totally singing through her nose, but man, is she workin' her outfit. She will totally pull a Pickler and take the country world by storm. The rest of the Idols do a nice job, but I kind of think picking a song about "shining down on me from heaven," must be so hard for David Cook to sing (considering his brother is so sick). But, he's pro, and sings with all his heart.

(Side note: Is Syesha's hair getting taller with every show? Is David A.'s getting spikier?)

We're shown highlights from last night before we get to the first round of eliminations. What the hell is going on here? Ryan asks Jason to start a group on his left and then David Cook has to start a group to the right. Carly is asked to join Jason. Oh, come on! Do we really have to play these games? This is why I didn't watch the results shows last year. Now we're going to a commercial break, and Elliott Yamin will sing when we return.

They just showed the world's shortest Ford commercial to "You've Got to Break Free." On that note, Elliott followed with a song called, "Free." He looked good, sounded great and Paula was rockin' out in her Solid Gold red sequined number. Awww, I miss Elliott! He flashed something on his hand that read, "We miss you, Mom." I guess she just passed away? Dear god, he just said it's the first time he's been on stage without his mom watching. I'm immediately choked up. Damn you, Idol!

Syesha is asked to join Jason and Carly. Brooke is asked to join David and Kristy after she told Ryan that she put everything she had into "Hero" last night. Now, the only one left is poor David "I look like I'm gonna puke any second," Archuleta.

Now Ryan is taking calls from the viewers.... Do I really have to dignify this part with a summary? No.

Mariah saunters out from backstage and begins singing, "Bye, Bye." Her whole microphone and stand is covered in rhinestones. B-ling! Could her dress be tighter or shorter? I'd love to see her in jeans and a sweater to see what she looks like with clothes on (clearly, I'm not a dude). The song is really not that catchy and I don't think it shows off her talent. You can hear her track with vocals on in the background. She did the same thing on SNL, and I don't get it! Now she's trying to belt it out and it sounds like crap. It's kind of whiney and squeaky and I hear some major sound issues goin on. After she finishes and Ryan creepily ogles her, Mariah gives a shout out to her album that's "in stores today." Gross. I take back what I said last night about becoming her fan. That was silly and shameless self-promotion from someone who doesn't need it. Boo.

Now we're back to the eliminations. David A. walks out and is declared safe and then Syesha is asked to swap with David Cook. OMG!!! In the worst scumbag, a--hole move of all times, Ryan asks poor Archie to choose which side is safe! I'm about to throw very large breakables at my TV. Why must they do this? I gain new respect and admiration for Archie for sitting his behind down on the ground and refusing to choose. Good for you! Ryan has to bring David C., Carly, and Jason over to him as the "safe" bunch. They sit with him in a show of solidarity. These producers are disgusting. Boo!

Sorry about that rant, but that peeved you too, right? Our bottom three are all ladies: Syesha, Brooke and Kristy Lee. Whoa — Syesha is safe? Hmmm. Interesting. Kristy Lee is finally going home tonight, and Brooke starts sobbing. For her last song, Kristy Lee sat next to Simon on the judges table making him look extremely uncomfortable. I actually felt uncomfortable until she got back on stage. She did a great job with her last song considering how emotional she must have been. See you in Nashville, Kristy Lee.


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Yeah, yeah, ye-ah, dawgs! Mariah Carey is in the house!!! OK, that was not my best Randy impersonation, but it's not really my fault that his "Dawg Pound" talk doesn't translate well to print. Good evening, it's Erin Fox, and I'll be blogging my little Idol heart out tonight. It looks like the audience is pumped and ready to see Mariah in action mentoring our Top 7. The camera also pans to Minnie Driver (a plug for The Riches, no doubt), and Teri Hatcher with her daughter, Emerson Rose. The Idols look super-fancy tonight! It's about time they didn't look like they were getting clothes from the Forever 21 sale rack. (Ooh, snap!)

We're treated to a musical montage of Mariah's musical and career highlights. I wonder how many times Randy will be referenced as her producer? (We get it, Randy, you work with cool people.) The awesome thing is, Mariah is surprisingly sweet and down-to-earth. Each of her meetings with the Idols seems genuinely helpful and real. I'm really impressed. Bravo, Mimi!

David Archuleta, "When You Believe": I knew David would do well tonight — he loves a good power ballad. He's completely at home with this song. I'm sure the judges will dig it. (PS. Nice leather pants, Archie.) Randy thinks "that was the bomb," Paula thinks Mariah would be proud to hear that song sung so well and Simon thinks he was great and the one to beat. He just has to add, "We're not in for a lot of laughs tonight." Oh Simon, why must you take the fun out of everything?

Carly Smithson, "Without You": Carly looks lovely and sings the heck out of the song. I'm scared that the judges won't like it, though. The crowd goes nuts for her! Randy tells her to have more confidence and support her lower range, Paula thinks her vocal restraint at the beginning was actually quite lovely, and Simon doesn't think she pulled it off because she's overthinking every note. Come on, America, this girl can sing! Keep her in the game!

Syesha Mercado, "Vanishing": She picked a damn hard song, and she does a nice job. But there are some pitchy parts during the Mariah-runs (which annoy me anyway). Randy thinks she did a good job considering how difficult the song was to sing, Paula says she was wonderful and Simon thinks she sang it very well, but picked a song that no one knows. He's such a buzz kill.

Brooke White, "Hero": I like her bluesy version of the song. It's kind of stripped down and really simple, and that's a smart way to distinguish herself from a mega-singer like Mariah. She does have a few pitchy problems that sound like they're from nerves more than anything. Randy digs the singer/songwriter vibe of her version, Paula says that every ounce of Brooke is authentic, and Simon says, "It was like ordering a hamburger and only getting the bun." Seriously, Simon? You can do better than that.

Kristy Lee Cook, "Forever": Kristy tries to connect to the song, but looks more like she's in pain. She definitely misses a lot of the lower notes, but overall, I think she does a nice job connecting to the audience (I like the end of the song, too). Randy doesn't think it was amazing, but likes that she hit the note at the end, Paula thinks she chose a great song and is very proud of her progress, and Simon says it didn't give him chills, but she's at a disadvantage because it was Mariah Carey week. Kristy looks crestfallen and I kinda feel sorry for her. She wasn't so bad tonight! Or am I just light-headed from the gym?

David Cook, "Always Be My Baby": Wow, what an interesting song choice! The lower notes aren't great but he definitely makes this song his own and rocks the middle and end of it. I have goosebumps! You go, boy! Randy thinks it was awesome, and actually gives him a standing ovation. Paula says, "You're it!" Then, Simon freaks out the audience by starting with, "That was like coming out of karaoke hell.... " Insert booming "boos" from the audience. But he saves himself with, "... And taking a fresh breath of air." Awww, David is