American Idol

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?

Vote for your favorite Idol in our Power Ranking poll.

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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.


Who's your Idol now? Vote for your fave here.

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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 crying!

Jason Castro, "I Don't Want to Cry": I think he's a lot like Brooke with the singer/songwriter thing going on, and I like that vibe a lot. But he's just not David Cook. Randy thinks it sounded like a weird beach luau, Paula says that she could listen to him all night and Simon actually agrees with Paula! I think a pig just flew past my window. He also says that the guys totally won the night. I have to agree.

What did you think? Is Simon right about the guys winning the night? How impressed were you by Mariah Carey?

Paula Watch: A little babble-y tonight, no?

My prediction: Syesha, Carly and Kristy Lee will be in the bottom three.

For another take on "Mariah Carey Week," read Cheers & Jeers.

Use our Online Video Guide to watch clips of American Idol.

Hi guys, it's Erin Fox for the third night in a row. I'm exhausted! Imagine the poor Idols and their schedules! So, did you guys watch last night's Idol Gives Back? What did you think?

I'm going to make this quick tonight because I think we have a lot to discuss!

The Idol Gives Back theme continues throughout the episode. The Idols sing "Shout to the Lord," again with the gospel choir in the background. They sound lovely again. We are also treated to a silly music video (like last year) with a bunch of celebrities lip-synching to "I'm a Believer." Totally random group, right? Everyone from Dr. Phil to Emily Procter (CSI: Miami), Michael Chiklis (The Shield), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Baby Spice and Kobe! I can't believe they got them all to do silly dance moves and lip-synch to The Monkees. But it's all for a good cause, so I'm going with it.

The first results: Brooke, David C. and David A. are all safe. Duh!

Keisha and Forest Whitaker share more of their trip to Angola, and it's so moving. They're both crying after spending time with a family whose children sleep together on dirty foam padding on a mud floor.

Now we're treated to a duet with the awesome Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks. What's up with the pink streaks in her hair? I heart Chris Brown. He's such an amazing dancer. As a pair, their performance sounds good, but their chemistry is a little off. They're mismatched I think, or maybe it's just because I'm not used to Chris singing without a huge production number behind him. After the song, Ryan presents Jordin with two platinum-record awards and one gold-album award. This is a shameless ploy by producers to show America how well Idol "works." Gross. Seriously, get over yourselves.

The Idols do a cool Ford commercial tonight: They spill buckets of paint on the road and spin out in their cars, which creates a huge painting of Earth at the end. Very cool.

More results: Jason Castro and Kristy Lee Cook are safe! I think Kristy Lee might pass out, she's so surprised. I might, too! That means our bottom three are Michael Johns, Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado. Yikes. I don't like this bunch in the bottom. I think Syesha deserves to go home next, but I'm afraid that won't happen....

Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama all tape separate messages to America about giving back to Idol. McCain is the only one who tries to be funny… but he fails miserably. I'm kind of annoyed they're on Idol. Not sure this is the place for your stumping!

The final results! Holy moly! I know I'm not supposed to yell via words, but holy frickin' moly! Ryan, in his most a--hole move this season, tells Syesha and Carly that they are both safe! We were expecting that they would be in the bottom, but it's Michael Johns who gets voted off! In his next a--hole move, Ryan makes us think that since no one was sent home last year after Idol gave back, maybe Michael will be spared. But then he says, "But tonight, we're saying goodbye to Michael Johns." Seriously, that was cruel.

What do you think? We must discuss! How did this happen?

Do you think Ryan was too cruel to Michael? Vote now.

Vote for your favorite of the Top 7 now.

Read recaps of Idol Gives Back and Tuesday's performances.

Watch clips of American Idol in our Online Video Guide.

Hey guys, it's Erin Fox again. Sick of me yet? Don't answer that. Seriously. It'll just cost me more in therapy. This is going to be a little different tonight.... It's two and a half hours long, so this is going to be more of a "quick observations" format instead of a recap. Why? Cuz there are three Idols this week, and cuz I'm the boss of this blog! (Until Nina returns, that is.)

Did you notice a bunch of the finalists from So You Think You Can Dance? They are bustin' some moves to a track of Paula's new song (at least I think it is... ).

George Lopez does his bit in Spanish. It's like 20 seconds long. Is this what the producers call a "guest appearance"? Pretaped messages by celebs in front of American Idol logos? Boo. Forgive me, I didn't watch the special last year, so I thought it would be different.

Maria Shriver, the first lady of California and Mrs. Schwarzenegger, is welcomed out by "Maria" from West Side Story (oh, brother). But, I know her from my charity work and know that her message is truly genuine, and I applaud her for it. Go, girl! Ooh! There's a Best Buddies (the charity I was involved in for years) shirt in the front row onstage! Aww, that makes me smile.

Ben Stiller, however, does not make me smile. He's lame. PS. The Heartbreak Kid sucked. Better luck next time.

Jennifer Connelly does a digital short about dragging a bucket of water up the stairs of her brownstone and serving some kids really dirty water. A screen says 1.1 billion people don't have access to clean water. Point taken.

Yeeeeeahhhhh! Snoop is in the house! I'm sorry, I just L to the O to the V to the E Snoop! He's so dope. How cute are the kids behind him!? I'm in a cute coma right now.

Randy and Paula visit a school in Goshen, California, which is only 150 miles from Los Angeles. It's mostly a farming community where the average income is $9K a year. There's also a huge gang problem, and little Christian, who is showing Randy and Paula around the neighborhood, is adorable and heartbreaking.

Ugh, a ridiculous Desperate Housewives bit introduces Teri Hatcher singing Carrie Underwood's hit "Before He Cheats." She starts out OK but I quickly realize how really pathetic it is. Seriously, I'm embarrassed for her. I'm more excited to see Band from TV: James Denton (Housewives), Greg Grunberg (Heroes), Jesse Spencer (House), Bonnie Somerville (Cashmere Mafia) and Bachelor Bob Guiney. The only one missing from the usual group is Hugh Laurie. Boo! I want Hugh!

Billy Crystal is onstage talking about Idol and keeping up with pop culture. He's so un-hip to pop culture, he calls the next guest "Milly Seerus." Now I guess we're supposed to think it's shtick because he's asking if she's ever made an album or movie. She, of course, says she's done both and they're all No. 1. Then she asks Billy if he's in showbiz... ugh.

Miley begins her song well enough, then it looks like she runs out of steam and lets the backup singers pick up her slack. She also turns away from the camera to head-bang with the band so we can't see her not singing. I'm on to you, Miley!

Bono does a piece about a woman who has dedicated her life in Africa to helping her neighbors who have AIDS. It's very moving, and I wish it had been longer.

Julianne Moore is on for a nano-second, and is clearly reading cue cards. My pet peeve, grrrr.

Ew. Here's Fergie looking like a hot tranny mess... or maybe just a tranny. How did you bewitch Josh Duhamel? What are your magical powers? Tell me! OK, she has an awesome voice. But John Legend played the piano for her and didn't get to sing? WTF! I heart John.

Speaking of heart, Fergie introduces the band Heart (like what I did with that?). They may be older, but they know how to rock! Now I know who Amanda Overmyer was trying to sound like. Fergie joins Heart onstage, struttin' her Fergaliciousness all over the stage. This is the best number of the night so far.

Peyton and Eli Manning introduce a piece about Katrina and how New Orleans is doing three years later; specifically, how the children are coping. Eli and Peyton play with kids at a local school. Oh god, now they're playing "Fix You" by Coldplay. Damn you for making me choked up! That's right, underneath all the snark is a heart!

Posh and Becks can read? Is it wrong that I want to feed Posh a cheeseburger?

Wait, did you guys just see that? Ramiele and David H. are answering phones! They let the castoffs back!

Bono is back and introduces Annie Lennox, who interviews orphans in Africa. It's so ridiculously heartbreaking, I can barely stand it. She speaks to a family of brothers who have lost their entire family to AIDS. The oldest brother is only 15 and tests HIV-positive. She takes the rest of the boys to be tested and they're all negative. The little guy counting ("one, two, three, nine") breaks the cute meter. As Annie leaves the brothers for the day, she weeps, and so do I... sniff, sniff. Annie sings a cool bluesy song. She's awesome.

Celine Dion is talking about how some of the money from last year was spent in South Africa on orphans in need. Thank god the kids around her are so endearing because her cue-card reading (with ridiculous dramatic pauses) peeves me, too.

Jimmy Kimmel comes out onstage to introduce Simon Cowell and rips on him, which is awesome! Go, Jimmy! OMG, the talk about the nipples is killing me. It's like a Simon roast, and we're all invited! Paula can barely handle herself, she's laughing so hard. I've never been a fan of Kimmel's, but I think he's just changed my mind.

Simon's filmed piece is about doctors in New York who operate mobile clinics to provide health care to poor children and families. The family they visit is in crisis: The mom has lupus, the daughter has rheumatoid arthritis, and the son has four pins in his knee from surgery. Holy moly, this is too much. I love these doctors! I love the family!

Simon introduces Carrie Underwood, who, based on how she's dressed, apparently thinks this is a Disney parade. Of course, she's quite lovely, and she sounds fantastic. I'm just teasing about the Disney parade, so calm down already! No hate mail! Clearly, I'm joking around because it's such a serious subject that if I don't laugh, I'll burst into tears.

Ellen makes an appearance (pretaped) before Gloria Estefan and Sheila E. perform "Get on Your Feet." Toe-tappin' fun!

Sarah Silverman is in the house. Hold on to your... everything! Hey, there's Elliott Yamin in the audience. Sarah introduces a piece about Forest Whitaker in Angola investigating the malaria crisis. A little girl has the disease and is close to death — it's so shocking that this preventable disease can't be stopped. A $10 dollar net could save their lives.

Reese Witherspoon walks onstage looking fabulous. She speaks about education and the Children's Defense Fund. She travels to New Orleans to check out a "Freedom School," which is an after-school program to keep kids out of trouble and develop leadership skills. The family she speaks to lives in a rough neighborhood, and they have nine family members under one roof. I think I've gone through a whole box of Kleenex now.

The Idols sing "Seasons of Love" from Rent. They sound great, except for some weird microphone issue. But by the end, I have goosebumps.

Alicia Keys travels to Africa, and you can download her journey on iTunes and the proceeds will go to Idol Gives Back.

Miley Cyrus follows a message by Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale. She's quite the performer, but I'm shocked that at 15 she's gyrating around while 5-year-olds and their moms sing along. After the song, a film about Miley and her dad traveling to Kentucky begins. They visit severely impoverished families and find that there's a great after-school program that has raised literacy at to 79 percent. The poverty in this area is frightening and palpable.

Robin Williams comes out onstage as the winner of "Russian Idol." Awesomely, and ignoring sensors, he says his name is "Ivan Yakinov." Say that slowly and phonetically (I've [been] yah-king off... see how I tricked my censors by not saying the J-word?). I'm laughing my ass off that he snuck it in there. By the end of the bit, Robin ends up grabbing Simon's ass. Heh.

Brad Pitt does a film on Katrina victims. He makes the point that houses weren't lost in the storm: Homes were lost, including memories and experiences and lifetimes. Brad and Make It Right are raising money to build houses to bring New Orleans back to life, and give families a place to call home. Brad comes out onstage and the crowd goes insane! Even the dudes have a crush on him. His microphone isn't working and the stage manager comes out to the rescue. She says perfectly, "I just wanted a reason to touch him." Hee. Brad introduces Daughtry, who also visited Africa. He sings a song called, "What About Now," and the message is clear. I heart Daughtry.

Mariah Carey saunters in singing while Randy plays bass for her. I think Mariah sounds pitchy tonight, and I hate her arm and hand movements. So annoying! Luckily a choir joins her and sounds wicked awesome.

The Idols close out the show, all in white, singing "Shout to the Lord." They sound great, especially when the choir joins them. Nice work, everyone! I hope you raise bazillions of dollars for all of these amazing and worthwhile charities.

Stiller comes onto an empty stage pretending that Ryan told him to go to the wrong theater. The best part is that he starts swearing and even though they're "bleeped," it's so awesomely clear that he's saying naughty words. Gotta love those loose Fox censors!

What did you think of the show tonight? What was your favorite performance? Which story moved you the most?

Good night! See you tomorrow for the results show.

Watch American Idol clips in our Online Video Guide.

Hey guys, it's Erin Fox! Are you excited to have three nights of Idol this week?
Ryan begins the evening by reminding America that tomorrow night is Idol Gives Back, and that Thursday will be the results show. Does this mean that no one will get axed like last year? I'm hoping they move forward and say goodbye to Kristy Lee— ooh, did I just say that out loud? My bad.

Tonight's theme is inspirational songs, and with that announcement, my eyes have already rolled back into my head. Please, don't sing, "You Light up My Life," I beg of you!

Michael Johns, "Dream On:" The beginning of this song doesn't work for me, and the electric guitar totally upstages him. It's better during the "Dream On" part, but it's not his strongest performance. But, whoa! Did you hear that ending? That sounded painful! Randy thought it was a pretty good song choice, but had some pitch problems. Randy doesn't buy him as Aerosmith, and Michael starts sassing Randy about doing the song because "Dreams do come true in America." But Randy gets pissy and says "Out of all the songs, you pick that one? This is a singing competition." Is it me, or has Randy been kind of an ass the last few shows? Paula "couldn't disagree more." She thought it was the perfect song choice, and that he sounded awesome. Simon thought it was a very good performance, but is slightly with Randy because it was "wannabe-ish."

(Side note: Were you all as frightened as I was that Paula's boobs were going to pop out of that dress and join the idols on stage for a song? Those things have a life of their own!)

Syesha Mercado, "I Believe:" This is Fantasia's big Idol song from her win in Season 3. Pretty brave song choice, and she actually does a really good job with it. And, the back up gospel singers sound wicked cool. She also has a crazy high note at the end and she nails it. Randy thought she took on another tiger, but that the song was just alright. He thought Fantasia's version was filled with emotion, and Syesha didn't connect with the song. Paula thought it was her shining night, and that she made the song her own. Simon said, of course there would be comparisons to Fantasia since she's singing her song. And although Syesha sang it well, he thought she missed the emotional connection as well.

Jason Castro, "Somewhere over the Rainbow:" The Ukulele version— or as I like to call it, the Jack-Johnson-y sounding one. Heh. I think this is the perfect song for him, and he's adorable singing it. Yay, Jason. He's connected to the song, he hits some cool high notes, and I'm digging it. Randy said, "That was blazing molten hot!" and that he's back tonight. Paula thought it was the perfect song, and he did a great job with it, and Simon thought it was "Fantastic!" He's in a good mood tonight.

Kristy Lee Cook, "Anyway:" Kristy Lee is super sparkly again tonight. She's connecting more tonight as well... she's not the robot she usually looks like. I bet the boys out there are lovin' her messy bed hair too. Paula is standing and dancing which means she'll say it was great. Randy thought there were a few pitch problems, but overall he thought it was great for her. Paula told Randy to leave her pitch alone, and that it was her best performance ever on the show. Simon thought that she chose a fantastic song and sang it very well. Also, he thought she looked like a star tonight. Told you the dudes would like the hair.

David Cook, "Innocent:" The beginning of the song is weird, and I'm not feeling it at all which is weird, because I'm a David C. fan. He also looks like he's wearing a chef's jacket. Randy said it wasn't his strongest week. Paula said he's well defined as "the whole package." Simon thought it was a bit pompous (really?) and not memorable. Paula practically had a conniption fit while Simon explained his reasoning. She clearly thought he was the bees knees.

Carly Smithson, "The Show Must Go On:" Carly looks hot tonight! Her makeup is pretty and feminine, and I'm diggin' her gold belt. This is a huge song, and she sounds great as always. Her voice reminds me of the belty-ness that Kelly Clarkson has in her music now. Randy thought it was pitchy and that she didn't feel a connection to the song. Paula agreed with Randy about the connection aspect. Simon thought she chose the wrong song, lost control of it at the end, but looked great. He also said, and I hate when he does this because I think it taints voting, "I think you'll be in some trouble next week." Shut up, Simon. OK, it wasn't her best performance by far, but she's not allowed in the bottom three this soon again!

David Archuleta, "Angel:" He's just so goody-goody sitting there with Ryan, it makes me want to hurl. I'm sorry, I know that's mean. He's a sweet kid, with a lovely voice. But seriously, don't you just want him to swear or something? Back to the song... the beginning isn't great, but the middle and end are much better. Randy thought it was his hottest moment all season. (Huh? No way). Paula agreed. Simon thought it wasn't his best vocal, but it was the best song choice of the night.

Brooke White, "You've Got a Friend:" This is the Carole King version (yay!). She looks like a flower child on acid (her crazy pink mini dress)... all she needs is the ring of daisies in her blonde locks. I think she does a lovely job with the song. Does she seems a little nervous? I'm not sure. But I did like it. Randy thought it was just OK, Paula said she's definitive and she loves Brooke and Simon thought it was like a lovely walk in the park. Oh, brother!

What did you think of your idols tonight? Did you find any of these performances inspirational?

My prediction: I think Syesha, Carly and Kristy Lee will be in the bottom three.

Paula watch: She was coherent and bustin' out (so to speak).

Watch Idol clips on our Online Video Guide.

Hey guys, sorry I didn't announce myself as Idol blogger last night! It's me, Erin Fox, at your blogging service once again for the results show. Ryan promises an action-packed hour, and the Idols start right off with their group number, "9 to 5." Not to sound completely ancient, but this is such a toe-tapper, how could they mess it up? Oh wait, they're making them line dance in the background! That's how to ruin a great song. Boo. Am I just cranky tonight, or did they butcher this song? Now they are surrounding and pouncing on the judges.... It's kinda cute actually. Is Simon actually smiling? He must have taken some happy pills after his PMS attack last night (I can say that because I'm a chick. No hate mail, please).

(Side note: Did you see creepy Dr. Phil's wife in the audience? How about Chikezie?)

We get to see some highlights from last night, and then it's straight to the results! First up is Michael Johns, who is safe. David Archuleta and Carly Smithson are also safe (after Ryan tortures Carly a little first, the bastard). Oh no, now we're "going to the phones." Why won't they get rid of this segment? It's just awkward and hasn't ever worked out well.

The Clark Brothers (help me out here, Country fans) perform "This Little Light of Mine." If I was into Country music, I think I would really like them. They really rocked out on their cool guitars. The second