According to USA Today, the popular contestant, who just made it into the Top Two on last night’s broadcast, will be flying solo in his rehearsals from here on out. Apparently, his father Jeff Archuleta, who was a consistent influence on his son behind the scenes, has been banned from rehearsals for the rest of the season.

It was his meddling in David’s lyrics for “Stand by Me” that had producers reaching the breaking point. When David performed the song last week, his father encouraged him to include additional lyrics from Sean Kingston’s remake of that song, “Beautiful Girls.” Unfortunately, that meant the show had to pay further song-clearance fees, and producers had enough. Now, it looks like David will be making the majority of the song decisions by himself.

Critics at USA Today suggest the banishment was really intended to show that if David becomes successful, he’ll be in the hands of professionals, and not his father. Any way you look at it, though, David has a pretty good chance of winning the “Idol” crown next week. –Chris Sardelli

8:59 pm: In the first wide shot of the crowd, we get to view all the celebrities in attendance. Wait, the only celebrities they could find were the former contestants and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Geez, couldn’t they at least get somebody like Fantasia to show up?

9:00 pm: Ryan announces Fantasia will be performing tonight. Hmm, it’s like they read our minds.

9:02 pm: The final idols begin the show with a rousing edition of “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now.” Katie: While the disco song is a fun concept, all I can hope for is that they break out into the John Travolta move and I wonder which of the Davids would look more awkward doing it. I’m betting David Archuleta who would feel so self-conscious he might start giggling while singing.
Chris: Yikes, the choreography is awful as usual. And now they’re walking into the audience. I hate when they do this. They all seem so out of breath after marching through the crowds of fans. As they returned to the stage, the camera quickly catches Paula twirling like a ballerina. Yup, that seems about right.

9:06 pm: Katie: Yay! My favorite part of the evening – the Ford Music video. What’s with the giant mosaic of David A’s face in the pool?

9:07 pm: Katie: And now for the review of last night’s show – is this just filler? For someone who didn’t watch it last night, it was a nice review of what I missed.

9:10 pm: Katie: Fantasia’s been on Broadway? Who knew? My guess is she didn’t have highlighter hair in The Color Purple. Does anyone have any clue what she’s saying? And what’s up with the gyrating back-up singers? Between the hair, the lights, the sparkly clothes and the sudden movements by Fantasia and her back-up singers, I feel like I could have a seizure at any minute.
Chris: What. The. Heck. Is. Going. On? Is this for real? Did Fantasia just hijack the “Idol” stage?

9:12 pm: Katie: Oh good, now we’ve added some random man who is also completely incomprehensible.
Chris: Who is that guy? Should I know him?

9:13 pm: Chris: Well, that was a whole lotta crazy. That might be the craziest thing I’ve ever seen on “American Idol.”
Katie: I’m left wondering what I just witnessed. And apparently so is Simon. Did anyone else catch his absolutely stunned look when they panned to him about 15 seconds before the end of the song? And then of course there’s the look he gave to Randy right after, which pretty much summed up what I was thinking – “What the hell was that?”

9:14 pm: You know something is awkwardly bad when the best Ryan Seacrest can say is “great energy.” I don’t know what to make of what I just saw, but I do have some advice for Fantasia and here we go:
1. Change the hair color
2. Please enunciate – I don’t understand the words coming out of your mouth
3. Never ever ever dance again
And to sum up – Fantasia, you frighten me.

9:18 pm: And we’re back. I really do wonder what the remaining contestants thought of that. I imagine that David Cook is sitting there thinking, if this is what winning will get me, I hope I get voted out tonight. While David Archuleta probably just sat there hoping he was invisible and praying she didn’t try to make out with him like she did with Ryan.

9:19 pm: Let’s travel to Utah, shall we viewers?
Katie: This entire montage can be summed up with one word: uncomfortable. It would make an awesome children’s book – David’s Uncomfortable Trip Back Home. Between the screaming ‘tween girls, the crying American Idol contestant, the mayor’s mustache and the excessive use of the word “gosh,” I can see it as a bestseller now. Maybe we just need to toss in a talking duck, or something similar. Now I understand this has got to be overwhelming for a 17 year-old, but is his biggest concern really “where did they park?”
Chris: I think the expression on his face when the high school cheerleaders mobbed him sums up the whole experience.

9:23 pm: Can someone tell me why after going through all of his songs in the previous re-cap they have to go through them again. I’m sure all little David wants is for Ryan just to tell him the verdict.

9:25 pm: Katie: Ryan announces this could be David A.’s last time on Idol. The sheer look of panic that came over his face made me worry he was going to pass out right then and there. Yet, can anyone really think that he’s going home – being the first on stage and showing nothing but clips stating, “Dude, you’re the bomb”?
Chris: Yeah, there’s no way this kid is going home. Like I said last night, the only way Syesha is getting through to the Top Two is if she kidnaps little David and holds him ransom. Which did not happen, because here he is looking like a deer in the headlights.

9:30 pm: Apparently little David will have to await his fate. So, now it’s Syesha’s turn. Let’s travel to Sarasota, FL, shall we?
Katie: Syesha’s fans are much tamer than David A.’s – I guess that’s to be expected without the screaming tweens. But, unlike David A., Syesha did get to kiss a baby – you would think she’s running for president instead of American Idol. But, keeping true to the theme – she too started crying. It was very touching to see her reconnect with her family. And what trip home would be complete without a helicopter ride?
Chris: I laughed when the lady thrust her baby into Syesha’s arms. Later on, while Syesha was riding in her stretch limo, I half expected to see her holding that snow globe somebody gave her in one hand, and the baby in the other!

9:34 pm: And to fill even more time – we go through all of Syesha’s songs, again. Blah blah blah.

9:35 pm: Katie: Now for Syesha’s montage. She really is a great role model for young women, and I really like her clothes. But that’s all I’ve got on her – anyone else think she really hasn’t showcased her personality as much as the others?
Chris: Yup, I call her the mystery contestant, because we still don’t know much about her.

9:40 pm: Katie: David Cook’s turn now. I’m left to wonder if there’s some sort of psychological costuming going on with the AI stylists – why are Syesha and David A. in a white shirt, while David Cook is in a black shirt?
Chris: Chew on that one, conspiracy theorists!

9:41 pm: Chris: I had no idea David Cook never intended to audition on the show! Apparently he only showed up to the auditions in Omaha to support his brother Andrew!
Katie: So what we’ve learned is that David Cook is living his brother’s dream? I’m not sure how I feel about that. He never wanted to do it and beat his brother out for his spot. Hmmm…

9:42 pm: Off to Kansas City, MO.
Katie: As David Cook sings to a large crowd, one has to wonder why his family was stuck in the back. While David Cook may not have cried, he did make his music teacher cry. David does seem to have a unique portion of the vote locked up – lots of children, moms and of course, Colonel Sanders.

9:45 pm: Katie: I take it back – we’ve reached the American Idol homecoming trifecta – David Cook cried! (And on a float no less!)

9:46 pm: Katie: So, Ryan asks David Cook’s brother if he’ll see him on the stage next year. You’ve got to feel bad for the kid – not only did his brother steal his dream, but his mom responded to Ryan by shaking her head no – what a confidence killer. It’s okay Andrew – we still love you – you got to ride in the parade with your brother.
Chris: You’ve got to give the kid credit for showing up! Ryan cracked me up when he asked Andrew if he made a deal with his brother that if he wins, his baby brother gets half!

9:47 pm: Chris: After watching his montage, I’m reminded how bad Cook’s hair was in the beginning. It started out as this weird pinkish-red mohawk thing, and has slowly evolved into that tamer Flock of Seagulls thing he’s sporting now.
Katie: American Idol has had a good influence on his hair. Buck up David, even if you don’t make it, your hair is my American Idol!

9:49 pm: And we’ve lined them up. And we’re making them wait….shocker. Oh how you toy with our emotions Ryan Seacrest.

9:54 pm: Katie: And now it’s time for the Hallmark commercial – oh wait, it’s Paula. And don’t worry folks, according to Simon, next week’s show may be a “humdinger!” I can hardly wait.

9:55 pm: Katie: Why do they need to dim the lights to make a decision? And how does Ryan Seacrest read the results in the dark?
Chris: At least Seacrest has kept the fake-outs to a minimum this year. Taunting people is a little exhausting, for them and for me!

9:56 pm: Chris: Look at David A.’s face! He’s actually worried! I figured that by this point he would actually think he could win it all. Don’t worry about it David, you’re my “boo.”
Katie: They just announced it. Syesha’s going home. It will be a battle of the Davids. What a surprise. I can hardly contain my shock. Oh my. I think Syesha’s at the exact same place – she knew she was going home and had prepped herself for it – you’ve got to give her credit for doing it so gracefully.

9:57 pm: David A. is still in shock.

9:58 pm: Farewell Syesha! It’s been real! Congratulations! Group hug.

Thus ends our penultimate results show. And there were absolutely no surprises here at all. The Battle of the Davids has been a certainty for weeks, ever since stronger contestants like Michael Johns, Carly Smithson and Brooke White all got the boot. So, let’s raise our glasses high for “Idol’s” latest casualty, Syesha Mercado, girl of many hairstyles, who loved Whitney Houston songs and can sing while she has laryngitis. See ya on Broadway, Syesha!

Is anyone surprised by the Final Two? If you could rewind back to the Top Twelve, who would you have loved to see make it to the final? And who do you think will claim the “Idol” crown in next week’s Battle of the Davids? Before we go, I want to say thanks to my guest critic Katie who helped spice up this long, drawn-out results show. That’s all for tonight, but post below and I’ll see you all next week for the finale! -- Chris Sardelli

ROUND 1: Judge’s Choice

David Archuleta: Starting the show was little David, who sang Paula’s choice of Billy Joel’s “And So it Goes.” Paula said she chose the song because of its difficult melodies, but really it was a snooze fest. There’s no denying David sang the heck out of it, but it was still very boring. I did like the fact that he sang the first part a cappella, something he should’ve been doing a lot more. Randy and Paula loved it, but Simon said it was predictable.

Syesha Mercado: Randy chose Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” for the last woman standing. I thought she did a great job hitting both the high and low notes, and her last note was amazing. Unfortunately, she fell into the trap of singing a song by a very well-known singer, which just made her sound copycat. I’m not sure what Randy was thinking on this one. What really would have worked is if she had sung a song originally performed by a man, so as to ensure no comparisons, kind of like what David Cook did next.

David Cook: Simon picked the strange choice of “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. He insisted it was to force Cook into doing something completely different. And different it was! This song strayed so far out of David’s comfort level, I expected him to slap Simon once it was over. But he managed to push through, even though at points I cringed at how high his voice was going. I side with Randy on this one that it needed more rock.

VERDICT: Simon says David C. won the first round, but I’m going to say Syesha had the better performance.

ROUND 2: Contestant’s Choice

David Archuleta: There were so many ways this could have gone. David A. could’ve picked yet another ballad and hit one out of the park, but he didn’t. Instead, he decided to do a song that was not only current but showcased his younger side. And while I agree that this is the correct direction he should be moving in, since he’ll eventually have to woo the masses of tween girls that vote for him and old-fashioned ballads aren’t going to cut it, but he chose the wrong song. For some strange reason he went with Chris Brown’s “With You,” which you can currently hear 5,688 times a day on your local radio station. You’ve heard it, the one that says “boo” over and over. Talk about a song that doesn’t match the singer. For awhile there it sounded like a Disney sing-along, but eventually he seemed to loosen up and start to work the audience. He seemed to struggle with the tempo a bit, probably because he was too busy bobbing up and down on stage. This one was Archuleta’s only real misfire all season (except for those times he forgot the lyrics).

Syesha Mercado: Earning the “What the Heck Were You Thinking” Award is Syesha for her choice of “Fever” by Peggy Lee. Clad in a sparkly tube top with no matching pants (wait, you’re trying to tell me that was a dress? Oh, all right, never mind…), Syesha sang her song and danced around a chair. And to show you how risqué the performance was, even the chair was blushing! I can’t fault her vocals, because they were spot-on, but this was the performance that sealed her fate. As Simon said, “you will probably regret that decision.”

David Cook: David C.’s second performance seemed a little lackluster. He chose rock band Switchfoot’s “Dare You to Move,” which is a pretty cool song that I think Cook could’ve done well with. Unfortunately, he didn’t. Instead, his performance never got going. I understand they have to cut the song down, but he played way too much of the beginning. By the time came for him to finish up, he was just getting started. I also felt his voice was gravelly tonight and missing some of his spark.

VERDICT: Simon said it was just an OK middle round for everyone. I’m calling Round 2 a three-way draw for bad performances.

ROUND 3: Producer’s Choice

David Archuleta: For his last song, the producer’s picked “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg. Because, apparently the producers are excited at the prospect of sinking David’s chances by throwing him yet another sappy, old-fashioned ballad-esque song. That being said, I think this was his best performance of the night and his vocals were very pure. I think it proved this kid can sing anything he wants (except Chris Brown songs, please stay away from those.)

Syesha Mercado: Yikes, they chose Gia Farrell’s “Hit Me Up.” Really? A bazillion songs in existence and they choose this forgettable thing off the “Happy Feet” soundtrack? Maybe if there had been dancing penguins on stage with her, it would’ve been fun. Alas, there was no tap-dancing penguin and there was no fun. Even Syesha looked bored while she sang it.

David Cook: For the last song of the night, Cook was handed the keys to one of the most well-known rock songs ever to be featured in a movie about giant asteroids. Yup, you guessed it, Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” This was probably the best choice for any contestant tonight, and by far the best performance from the Top Three as well. And despite Cook slowly turning into Steven Tyler by the end of the song, I think it was pretty cool.

VERDICT: Paula told Cook she’d see him in the finals and Simon said Cook wins the night. I’m not so sure he won the night, but I’m pretty sure he won the final round.

What did you think of the Top 3? Did Syesha sing her swan song? Is there any doubt that the two Davids will be in the finals? And do you think the producers were freaking out over Syesha’s “Fever” outfit? Post your comments below and make sure you tune in tomorrow night to find out who’s going to the finals! –Chris Sardelli

First up was the usual group performance. Tonight our Final Four sang Steely Dan’s “Reeling in the Years.” And because there’s usually a plethora of fun things to talk about from these crazy, choreographed performances, here’s some comments I jotted down while I watched: “It sounds like everyone is off key,” “Whoops, Syesha just forgot her choreography,” “David Cook has the best vocals” and “Man, this is a strange Top 4!”

Soon after, Ryan got right down to business with the eliminations. He called nervous David Archuleta out to center stage and asked him what he thought of Simon’s declaration that he had “crushed the competition.” David just giggled and said he’d love to win (which I’m sure just gained him about a million more votes). Ryan ended the suspense, of which there was very little, and told David he was safe. To the Couch of Safety, young man!

Then, as an interlude, the producers had prepared a video of our Final Four’s trip to Las Vegas last week. And man, did they get the red carpet treatment! Not only did they fly in style, onboard a personal plane, but they got to play with dolphins and received a four-star makeover. (At one point Syesha had a team of six stylists working on her, kind of like her own personal pit crew.) To top it all off, they had front row seats to the Cirque du Soleil “Love” show featuring Beatles music. Afterwards, they went backstage to meet the cast, and received a standing ovation from the performers! How surreal is your life when you go to meet Cirque du Soleil, and THEY clap for YOU!

Then it was back to the eliminations, as David Cook walked out on stage. Ryan quickly told him he was safe and directed him towards the couches. It looks like we’re inching ever closer to an all-David finale. So, then it was just Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado left backstage. Ryan called them front and center and then pretended he was about to reveal the cast-off. Yeah right, it was only 9:30. The producers would never waste the chance to drag out the drama!

Filling up the half-hour stretch to the eliminations was the rest of tonight’s filler. First was a hilarious music video featuring the Fab Four dressed as bull fighters, singing Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Following that was my all-time favorite part of the show, the viewer call-ins (I’m being sarcastic, I hate this part). Tonight’s callers had some interesting things to say, though. One caller asked David Cook to go on a date with her, while another asked if any of the contestants had spoken to anyone famous (only David Cook had, and it was with the lead singer for Our Lady Peace). Another asked Simon if he would like to be the next James Bond (to which Ryan said “I thought with that haircut your head got smaller, but it just got bigger didn’t it?). But the funniest moments of the segment were when one caller asked Paula what it was like to be the only girl (her answer, with a smirk: “Fantastic”), and when another caller asked the contestants what their biggest challenge has been (Castro’s answer: “Um...my brain being dead?”).

Closing out the final parts of the filler were two musical guests. Singing first was Maroon 5 with their new single, “If I Never See Your Face Again.” It’s supposed to be a duet with Rihanna, but since she wasn’t there, lead singer Adam Levine sang all the high notes himself. Ouch, my ears! I hate to say it, but I really liked their old stuff better. The second musical guest was former Season 4 “Idol” contestant, Bo Bice. This guy had a hard time over the last few years, first with medical problems, and then with trying to get his record made, so I was pretty happy he could show his new stuff on the show. He sang his new single “Witness” and it sounded like a perfect example of 1970s Southern rock. Of course, the crazy vocoder was a strange touch.

Ultimately, there was no more filler left and Ryan had to get on with the eliminations. He brought Jason and Syesha back to center stage and dimmed the lights. He reviewed both of their songs again, to which Jason said his “inexperience is coming out.” Syesha rambled about how she was emotional because either an African-American or a Woman could become President. Or something like that. I’m not really sure what she was talking about. Regardless, I was pretty sure who was going home. So when Ryan announced Jason’s name, it came as no surprise. During his video montage, I was reminded of some of his funnier moments from the past season: during the auditions when he jammed with that weird guy clad in a funky white suit; his comment from Andrew Lloyd Webber night about his song, “I didn’t know a cat sang it!.” But it was his comment at the end that had me rolling, as he said, “There are three songs next week. I don’t know what I would have done!” So, as he flings his crazy dreads over his shoulder for the last time, let’s raise our glasses to Jason Castro, the slacker hippie who introduced “Idol” to unkempt dreadlocks, vacant stares and ukuleles.

What did you think of this week’s elimination? Was it time for Mr. Castro to leave? What did you think when Ryan said that each of the Top 3 were only 1 million votes between each other? Do you think this is going to be the closest race yet? Post your comments below and remember to tune in for next week’s episode of “American Idol!”–Chris Sardelli

Anyways, tonight’s theme included songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which covers a pretty wide range of decades and styles. I was expecting big things from tonight’s performances, especially from David Cook, but in the end only a few could be considered great. So, here’s the rundown on your Final Four, who each performed two songs tonight.

Singing in the first slot was David Cook. I guess this means all you conspiracy theorists who were wondering why Cook had yet to sing in the Slot of Doom can rest easy. He first sang Duran Duran’s ‘80s hit “Hungry Like the Wolf,” which was an interesting choice for him. His voice was pretty decent, and he ditched his guitar to shake things up, but he didn’t really do anything different with the song. It was kind of like watching him do his best Duran Duran impression. What happened to that trademark Cook-ness that he usually brings to each performance? Simon agreed that it was a bit copycat, but Paula just creeped everyone out when she said it left her “with a big appetite.” Yikes, moving on… For his second song he performed The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” And for all you TV junkies who are wondering where they’ve heard that before, it’s the theme song for “CSI:NY.” This was the David Cook I was waiting for, with his slow, slightly altered intro, followed by his cool, gruff vocals as he sped it up. It impressed all three judges too; who all agreed that this was the David they remembered. FINAL WORD: It looks like the pressure of carrying Rock night by himself caused Cook to fumble, probably because he didn’t know exactly which rock songs to pick. He has a loyal fan base, though, and will make it through to the Top 3.

Syesha Mercado filled the second slot, first singing Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.” Dressed in a classic Turner-esque sparkly dress, Mercado shook her hips so vigorously that I figured she was going to knock over some of the band members (and give Shakira a run for her money). Her big voice really shined through here, and she also proved how successfully she can take on the guise of someone else (in this case, Tina Turner). Which, I’m sorry to say, will make her better on Broadway than as a pop star. For her second performance, Syesha chose “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, switching from her bedazzled outfit to a more glamorous dress. I thought her vocals were very good on the second song, but that the performance overall was kind of a downer. What was most interesting, though, was listening to the judges flip-flop on their critiques of each performance. (Except for Paula, who loved both songs.) Randy loved her first song, but Simon thought it was a bad, shrieky impression of Tina Turner. It was funny, then, that Randy completely disliked her second song, while Simon thought it was wonderful. During the second song’s critiques, tears started falling from Syesha’s face, to which Simon said: “Randy, you made her cry.” FINAL WORD: Overall, Syesha had a very good night. She’s progressed steadily over the past month, turning in several awesome performances, including both of her songs tonight. Unfortunately, if there’s a Bottom Two tomorrow, she’s going to be in it. That’s just how it goes here on “American David Idol.”

Third to hit the stage was Jason Castro who, as I discussed earlier, completely ruined the Bob Marley classic “I Shot the Sheriff.” It was off-pitch, dull, screechy and just plain wrong. All I could think while I was watching it was “make the pain end!” Randy called it karaoke, Paula grasped at straws to say something nice (“I’ve never seen you perform so well for the audience. But I wasn’t crazy about it.”), and then Simon told Jason to stand back, because the criticism was going to be rough. Here are some fun words from his verbal beat-down: “utterly atrocious” and “massacre.” For his second song, “Mr. I Don’t Seem to Care about American Idol” performed another Bob song, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan. And while it was miles better than the first song, it was still pretty bad. It didn’t help that dread-head forgot his lyrics either. FINAL WORD: I think Simon summed it up when he told Jason to pack his suitcase. Flubbing one performance is bad, but messing both of them up is poison on “Idol.” Unless his loyal fans pressed the redial button all night, I think we’ll see Jason as the other member of the Bottom Two.

Last but not least was burgeoning tween heartthrob, David Archuleta. Several of the writers for USA Today have been critiquing the contestants all season, and usually offer some suggestions for songs the singers should choose. One of the writers picked “Stand By Me” for David Archuleta, which surprisingly (out of a choice of 500 songs) is exactly what little David picked. Aside from some weird things going on with his hair (did he let Ryan Seacrest style it?) and a shaky last note, David’s performance of the Ben E. King song was truly cool. He was made for songs like this. I see him eventually filling the shoes of people like Clay Aiken and Josh Groban, singers who have pure voices and sing mature songs. As for his second song, I was a little worried. When he announced in his video package that he had chosen Elvis Presley’s “Love Me Tender,” I flinched. Hardly anyone can touch an Elvis song and make it sound as good as the original, so I worried we were in for some pretty awful karaoke. But David surprised me! He took a cue from David Cook and changed the melody around, turning it into a contemporary pop ballad, which completely suited his voice. Thankfully there was no hip swiveling or lip curling to speak of. My girlfriend summed up the second song best, though, when she turned to me and said it reminded her of that song from “The Lion King,” the one where the two lions fall in love, called “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” And after listening to it again on the recap, I did find myself wondering if he was going to pull a lion cub from back stage and hold it up for the audience to see. FINAL WORD: Elvis covers and “Lion King” similarities aside, this guy has a great voice, a ton of fans, plenty of support from the producers (check out the multiple camera close-ups) and rave reviews from the judges. The real shocker would be if somehow all his fans forgot to vote and he was sent home tomorrow. (And just so I don’t get a bunch of crazed Archulunatics leaving me angry messages at the bottom of the review, I’m not saying he’s going home! I’m confident he’s sticking around, so don’t worry. You can now go back to stitching those “I Heart David A.” t-shirts.)

So, what did you think of the Top 4? Who do you think is making it to the Top 3? Were the judges overly harsh of Jason, or did he deserve the critical tongue-lashing that he got? Do you think the contestants chose the right songs? And if not, what rock and roll songs from the past 50 years do you wish they had performed? Post your comments below and make sure you tune in for the results show tomorrow night! –Chris Sardelli

Actually, it went more like this. During a frantic episode packed so tightly it threatened to explode and launch poor David Archuleta out the nearest window, Ryan Seacrest initially told the audience that there would be no judges’ comments after the first round of songs. Then the producers changed their minds and asked Seacrest to get a roundup critique from each judge at the end of the first half hour.

It turns out this change threw Paula Abdul for a loop, because when she commented on Jason Castro’s songs, she reviewed two of them. Unfortunately, Jason had only performed once, thus making it look like Paula could see into the future. According to a recent New York Times article, though, the mishap revealed that Paula and the rest of the judges watch the rehearsals before the show. (Rehearsals take place two hours prior to the live broadcast.)

But the real question is, does it matter? Isn’t their critique of a contestant obviously going to be based on other factors besides the actual performance? I’m guessing there’s some good will thrown to contestants who hit their notes every week, which probably taints the judges’ comments. So, should anyone really be worried that the judges saw a preview? If the contestant does well live, then I’m guessing it will override a bad rehearsal. And if a singer stinks up the stage during the live show, then the judges and America probably won’t let them get away with it.

The New York Times article says that accidents like these could damage the credibility of the show, making it look less like a live event. But seeing as how I already thought they watched the rehearsals, it doesn’t faze me. How about you? Does this news make you worried for the integrity of the show, or does it have no bearing whatsoever? Post below! –Chris Sardelli

According to MSNBC, a new online market research survey was issued about “Idol,” to gauge viewer interest and criticisms during Season 7. The survey, which was probably issued as a reaction to this season’s slight decline in ratings, asked participants several questions about the show, regarding everything from the audition stages to their feelings on the judges. But it’s the multiple questions about Seacrest that make it appear his job may be on the line. In fact, the survey asks several questions pertaining to the host, such as how much viewers like his conversations with both the judges and contestants. When asked about the focus on Seacrest, though, spokespeople for the show said it was more about being thorough and left it at that.

The MSNBC report says Seacrest leaving may only be a matter of time, seeing as how he has quickly become this century’s version of Dick Clark, and may want to strike out on his own. And while this news might be making Seacrest fans a little sad, I’m betting former co-host Brian Dunkleman is sitting on the edge of his seat! –Chris Sardelli

Anyways, on with the review. The group performance left me almost as bewildered as little David Archuleta after Ryan delivered his fate (but more on that later). Here’s some comments I jotted down as the Final Five crooned to the tunes of Neil Diamond: “Sounds like Jason is doing his best Neil Diamond impression,” “David A. is having a hard time hitting those low notes,” “When did Brooke and Syesha turn into go-go dancers” and “Brooke and Castro should never perform together again!”

Before Ryan started the eliminations, he felt it was important to address what happened with Paula last night. If you don’t remember, it was during the first judges’ critiques, which were uncomfortably sandwiched in between a rushed performance and a commercial. As Ryan asked Paula to quickly comment on the contestant’s first performance, she stumbled through Jason Castro’s review. But all was going pretty well until she started reviewing his second song…you know, the one he had yet to sing! As a result, the Internet was buzzing with theories about her sudden development of ESP. Some said she was reading from a script, others said she was spaced out (gee, that’s a new one), but Ryan set the record straight and said none of the rumors were true.

After that was all cleared up, it was once again time to begin the dreaded eliminations. First out to the stage was Mr. Slacker, Jason Castro. With his trademark smirk and a “Am I on TV?” expression, Jason waited anxiously to hear his fate. I hoped this might be his week to go, so I was pretty shocked when Ryan said he was safe. That is one lucky dread-head.

Next was David Archuleta who looked so nervous, that I half expected him to curl up into the fetal position. How is it that everyone BUT David can see that he has nothing to worry about? So it was no surprise that Ryan declared him safe and sent him to the couches. But even that didn’t sit well with little David, as he sat down looking more bewildered than ever. It’s OK David, you made it through another elimination. And it gets better; just wait until Natasha Bedingfield finishes her song tonight!

The next contestant out to center stage was David Cook who also looked extremely jumpy. He started making me nervous, and then I started to wonder, what exactly would happen if America somehow sent him to the Bottom Two tonight? As my mind raced and Seacrest babbled on I became increasingly worried! But it was all for nothing, and Cook was secure in knowing he had at least made it to the Final Four. So you know what that means, Brooke White and Syesha Mercado had once again fallen into the bottom. Neither one seemed too surprised as they walked out on stage.

As usual, before Ryan sent someone packing, it was time to lighten the mood with the first performance of the night. This week we were treated to Natasha Bedingfield singing her new song “Pocketful of Sunshine.” The performance was a lot of fun, and Bedingfield’s voice is actually very nice. But it was her performance after the song that was the real highlight. After speaking with Ryan, she politely asked if she could approach the contestants. Before Ryan could say “sure, go ahead” the singer raced right over to David A., gave him a hug and then a peck on the cheek. See, I told you David, your night was definitely looking up! She even offered to go to his prom with him! Now that’s a fan.

Then it was time for my favorite part of “Idol” (sarcasm alert!!!!), the viewer call-ins. The first few calls were, as usual, kind of lame, directing questions at Paula who never quite answers them. Example, Q: Will Paula and Randy make more music videos together? A: “We’re going to keep dancing like there’s no tomorrow.” Gee, thanks. That cleared it all up. It wasn’t until the last call that we finally came to the juicy stuff. On the line was a British woman in her 40s who had a question for Simon. She asked who was a better kisser, Paula or the girl he first kissed when he was nine years old. Turns out, she was that girl. Not only did Simon look surprised to be reunited with his first crush, but I think I saw him blush for the first time on network television. Nice work, Mystery British Lady!

In the final performance of the night before the elimination, Neil Diamond took to the stage to sing a new ditty off his new album. Unfortunately, it sounded a little too old for this crowd. And despite the cheers he got from the studio audience, I’m betting most of the viewing audience just shrugged their shoulders and switched the station for five minutes. I kept waiting for him to break out, but it just didn’t happen.

With only minutes left to spare, Mr. Seacrest brought the two remaining women back to center stage to find out who was going home. I thought maybe Syesha would be cut tonight, but alas, it was poor Brooke’s turn. At the mere mention of her name, she broke down in tears. And since she usually starts crying on a good night, you can imagine how tonight’s elimination was affecting her. She gallantly tried to pull it together for her final song, but couldn’t hold back the tears and had to walk away. So as Brooke goes looking for another box of tissues, let’s salute her, the Happy Nanny with a fondness for smiling, crying and restarting her performances.

What did you think of this week’s elimination? Should Brooke have lasted until the Final Three? Was it time for Syesha to sign off? And are we headed for the first ever all male Final Three? Post your comments below and remember to tune in for next week’s rock themed episode of “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli

Since each of the Top 5 sang two songs tonight, I’ll review both songs at the same time. Up first was Jason Castro, a guy who probably hadn’t even heard of Neil Diamond until tonight. And man, did it show. His performance of “Forever in Blue Jeans” was strange, as Castro tried to infuse his slacker style into the song, which just didn’t work. His second song “September Morn” was slightly better, which was surprising since he hardly does well when he ditches his guitar. I thought it was one of his more solid vocals, but the judges thought he was playing it safe. In the end, I’m not really sure why people keep voting for him. He doesn’t seem to care if he does well or if he stinks up the stage, and the judges comments just don’t seem to stick to him. Oh well, he’ll probably survive for one more week; two weeks if he breaks out the ukulele.

David Cook stepped up next to sing Diamond’s lesser known 1983 single, “I’m Alive.” Clad in his black and red rocker jacket and brandishing an electric guitar, Cook once again infused his song with plenty of moody rock tones. His voice sounded a little rougher this time around, but I thought it was a good song choice for him. His second song, “All I Really Need Is You,” is my pick for best song of the night. His vocals were very pure and the rock version was awesome. Randy said it was “blazin” and Simon called it “brilliant.” It even gave Neil Diamond goose bumps! But before everyone starts saying that I’ve caught Cook Fever, I have to say that a few of the rocker’s competitors also stepped up their game tonight.

Brooke White’s performances were certainly a mixed bag. Her first performance of “I’m a Believer” was a great example of bad song choice. First of all, after having already been played during the “Idol Gives Back” show, Brooke should’ve picked a different song. And second, despite Brooke’ reputation for being Mrs. Happy, I don’t quite believe her when she’s bobbing along to happy songs. (Remember “Here Comes the Sun” during Beatles week? Ugh.) And while she did a much better job in the second half of the song, it was still pretty dull. But then she brought some of her old charm back during her second performance, as she sat at the piano and played “I Am…I Said.” Her voice sounded very nice and I was as impressed as the judges by the way she successfully tackled the note changes throughout the song. Paula said she showed vulnerability and that’s how she connects with the voters, but I’m guessing she’ll fall in the Bottom Two tomorrow night.

Next up was rising tween sensation David Archuleta. Neil Diamond called him a “prodigy,” and said he still needs some guidance before he can really shine. His first performance of “Sweet Caroline” sounded pretty good, as he gave the song an R&B/Pop kind of vibe while working the cameras. But it was his rendition of “America” that will keep him in the competition. We’ve already seen how performances of patriotic songs can be good for an “Idol” singer’s longevity (see former contestant Kristy Lee Cook), and it doesn’t hurt that he sang it really well either. All three judges liked him and so will America. (As a side note, has anyone noticed how confident this kid is while he’s singing, but how easily that confidence disappears once he’s finished?)

The final singer of the night for both sets was Syesha Mercado. She has definitely been one of the more inconsistent singers this season, but overall she’s an awesome performer.
She proved it during both of her performances, first with “Hello Again” and second with “I Thank the Lord for the Night Time.” Her smooth vocals once again shone through in her first song, minus a few times where she over-sang it. And on her second song, she clapped, strutted and hit the notes just like a seasoned Broadway star. I’m guessing this is probably the avenue she’ll take, seeing as how she loves acting on stage. I don’t think she’s found the same loyal audience as some of her competitors and will probably fall into the Bottom Two again.

What did you think of the Top 5? Was the episode a little too fast for you? Did you miss the usual judges’ critiques in the first part of the show? And do you think voters are making up for past mistakes with Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry by speed dialing for the two Davids? Post your comments below and make sure you tune in for the results show tomorrow night! –Chris Sardelli

A recent article in USA Today says those contestants that sing first on a performance night have a greater chance of being sent home the following episode. According to WhatNotToSing.com, which analyzes “Idol” data, the leadoff slot seems to have “death wish” written all over it. Over the last seven seasons (which equates to 69 results episodes), 20 contestants from the first spot have been eliminated. Apparently what’s surprising about that number is that statistically only 12 people should have been voted off. It’s already happened twice this season, first with Amanda Overmyer and more recently with Michael Johns.

As for the rest of the spots, only slot number seven seems to be a good place for a contestant to land, as only one singer has ever been bumped from that position. Other interesting facts from the study: no singer from the 11th or 12th position has ever gone home, and only one has landed in the bottom three (that would be this season’s Kristy Lee Cook).

USA Today gives several reasons for why the number one spot may be so unlucky. It may have something to do with viewers tuning in later and missing the start of the show. Also, voters may be comparing singers to who performs before them. If someone is first, they may be held to higher expectations. Finally, even the producers admit singing later in the show has more of an impact on voters.

Could this be why this season’s David Cook has yet to start the show? Discuss amongst yourselves conspiracy theorists.–Chris Sardelli

It all started out calmly enough with a group performance of “All I Ask of You” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.” In fact, Mr. Webber himself was sitting at the grand piano, accompanying the Top 6. Usually the group songs are a wild ride full of crazy choreography, but tonight’s routine was incredibly sedate. The boys sang first, then the girls sang, then they all stood like robots behind Lord Webber’s piano and watched the fools in the mosh pit wave their arms. I know the group songs are supposed to be cheesy, but they sure as heck aren’t supposed to be boring. Yawn.

Most often the guest mentor gets their own time to shine later on in the episode, performing a song from their most recent CD. But Andrew Lloyd Webber instead sat on stage and chatted with Ryan Seacrest, discussing the singers’ performances. Ryan decided that Brooke didn’t feel bad enough about stopping and starting her song, so he had to ask Webber what he thought about it. The composer was extremely kind, saying Brooke is very talented and he wished she had done as well as she had during the dress rehearsal (during which she was apparently “flawless”). In regards to Jason’s performance, he still looked flabbergasted that the dread-head would choose that song. Then, in an effort to shoehorn the topic of Paula and Simon into any conversation, Ryan asked Webber to name a song about their ‘love.’ Without missing a beat he responded, ‘Time to Say Goodbye.’

After a quick commercial, it was time for this week’s Ford music video. This one was actually pretty cool, showcasing our Top 6 as they sang “Tainted Love.” I laughed my head off when I saw that everyone (minus David Archuleta) looked like a reject from a Mad Max movie. David Cook looked at ease with his highlighter red hair and Jason just looked scary, but it was Brooke that had the biggest transformation. I’m betting this is the first time Brooke had ever worn leather or teased her hair out Whitesnake-style.

Then it was finally down to business. The first contestants out on stage to find out if they had been eliminated were the two Davids- Cook and Archuleta. When asked why he performed the way he did last night, David C. said “what could be more unpredictable than singing the song the way it was written.” Well put Mr. Cook! Ryan finally revealed their fates, and (no surprise here) both were safe. Unless something drastic happens, these guys are sailing to the finals.

As an intermission between elimination news, the producers put together a nice video package about past “Idol” contestants that are now starring on Broadway. We got to see Season 1’s Tamyra Gray as she performed in “Rent,” and Clay Aiken (creepy blond hair and all) as he sang in “Spamalot.” Neither one of these is a real surprise, since both were very expressive singers with giant voices. And speaking of giant voices, the musical guest tonight was Simon Cowell’s newest sensation, Leona Lewis, who sang her number one hit “Bleeding Love.” If you don’t know this girl yet, then you haven’t been watching morning news shows, late night talk shows or listening to the radio, because she’s everywhere! It was only a matter of time before she graced the “Idol” stage, seeing as how Simon discovered her on the British version of “Idol,” “The X Factor.” I’ll go so far as to compare her to Mariah Carey, because she seems to have a very similar range. (Just a side note, but how much do you think it cost to install those four flamethrowers on the stage behind Leona Lewis and then fire those puppies near the end of the song? My guess, it was equal to one of Randy Jackson’s paychecks.)

Pretty soon it was time to head back into the eliminations. Up next were Syesha Mercado and Brooke White. They made an interesting pair; one was last night’s most confident singer (Syesha), while the other was the least (Brooke). I thought I knew where this was going. I figured Brooke would get some sympathy votes, but that she’d still land in the bottom. It was funny then that Syesha instead graced the first Stool of Doom. I guess it pays to screw up sometimes, because maybe the audience votes for you even more! I feel bad for Syesha though. She just can’t catch a break!

As Ryan brought out the last pair of contestants, Carly Smithson and Jason Castro, I thought Slacker Jason would be joining Syesha. (And I’ve never been more convinced that Castro doesn’t take the show seriously as he stared out into space and started mumbling to himself.) But it turned out that Carly was in the bottom again, unfortunately.

So now we had two of the best performers from Webber night, Carly and Syesha, sitting in the Bottom Two. As usual Simon summed it up when he said the show had switched into a popularity contest. His reasoning for why Brooke and Jason were safe this week? In Brooke’s case he said she made herself seem more human, while for Jason he said it’s because he’s charming.

After making both Carly and Syesha sing their respective songs again, it was time for the moment of truth. No, not that obnoxious lie detector show on Fox! I’m talking about the results! After more than 30 million votes, America decided to keep Syesha for another week and send Carly packing. Sheesh, I felt bad for her. No one has worked harder to get this far than she has, and let’s hope she gets some sort of record deal out of this. This was a wild elimination, especially if you look at how things stood a few months ago, when I was sure it would be David A. and Carly in the finals. Oh well, I guess all good things come to an end. So raise a glass of Guinness to our favorite former bar maid Carly, the girl with a big voice, a good sense of humor and a husband with a giant tattoo on his face.

What did you think of this week’s elimination? Do you see big things in Carly’s future? Was it time for her to go, or have Syesha, Jason or Brooke worn out their welcome? How would you predict the next four eliminations? My pick is 5) Syesha, 4) Jason 3) Brooke, 2)David Cook and 1) David Archuleta. Well, that’s all for this week, but make sure you tune in next Tuesday for Neil Diamond night on “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli

Singing first tonight was Miss Syesha Mercado, the big singer who, despite some early momentum, has recently failed to impress the judges. Well all that changed tonight after she performed “One Rock ‘N Roll Too Many” from “Starlight Express.” Finally we were seeing the Syesha we all loved from the Hollywood round. As she strutted around stage, danced with the band leader and hit all her notes, she proved why she was still on the show. Ironically, she also proved why she won’t win the show. While I agree with Randy that this was her best performance to date, I think it definitively proved why Syesha should try her hand at Broadway instead of the pop music world. She was totally in her element here, and judging by how much Webber liked her, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw her in one of his productions sometime in the future.

My opinion of the next singer has flip-flopped so much over the last few months that pretty soon he’ll have me reaching for the Dramamine. Of course I’m talking about everyone’s favorite dread-head, Jason Castro. First I liked him, then I couldn’t stand him, then he impressed me with some Jack Johnson-esque performances, then he played the ukulele…I can’t keep up with this kid. Tonight my opinion of him is back in the negative column. I mean, yikes! Just because he was singing a song from “Cats” (“Memory”), doesn’t mean he should screech like he was one. I understand it’s hard to bring his hippie, slacker, Dude Where’s My Guitar persona into the Broadway musical world, but wasn’t there a better song for him than this? (My favorite quote from him definitely has to be “I didn’t realize a cat sings that song.”) Randy said it best when he called it a “train wreck” and Simon concurred when he said “that probably felt like the longest two minutes of your life.” It’s going to take a lot of votes to keep him in the game, but I know for sure he’ll be in the bottom group tomorrow.

Up next was Brooke White in what will probably go down as the most uncomfortable performance ever on an “Idol” stage (unless you count William Hung, but he sang in an audition room and I guess that doesn’t count). I think Andrew Lloyd Webber summed it up when he noticed Brooke had no idea what her song meant. (She performed “You Must Love Me” from “Evita.”) It’s too bad she overcame that hurdle just to hit another wall during her live performance. Apparently Brooke has been listening to a little too much of that OneRepublic song “Stop and Stare,” as she killed her song five seconds in, gaped at the audience and then pleaded with the band to start over. Wow, what a momentum killer! I would say it’s just a fluke, but she’s already pulled this trick earlier in the competition. Even though I like her singing style and despite Simon and Randy defending her choice to stop and start, I have to agree with Paula on this one. (Hey, there’s a first time for everything!) Ms. Abdul appeared to be both disappointed and irked that Brooke chose to halt her performance and told her as much in her critique. I was also irked because all it did was make her nervous and ruined what could have been a solid performance from her. (Side note: watching the recap at the end of the show, her vocals were actually pretty good.) Seeing as how she’s already been in the Bottom Three a number of times, this slip-up could really cost her.

Transitioning from the awkwardness of Brooke, we got to hear David Archuleta sing in a style we all knew he’d be good at. Did anyone question that the kid with the golden voice was going to hit a homerun tonight? He sang “Think of Me” from “Phantom of the Opera” and proved he could still step up his game. After Webber criticized that David closes his eyes when he’s singing, Archuleta made a conscious effort to keep his peepers open for the crowd, working the camera a little in the process. I think he’s also become much more confident over the last few weeks, which has definitely contributed to the performances. (Hey, it probably doesn’t hurt that girls like to come on stage and hug him during the show. Talk about a confidence booster!) Judging by the Scream-o-Meter I installed on my television to gauge audience reaction, Archuleta has firmly locked up the tween vote and will be back for more singing next week.

Next on stage was Carly Smithson who had to learn a whole new song once Webber was done with her. After hearing her first choice, he immediately cut her off and told her to sing “Jesus Christ Superstar,” preferring to hear her utilize her big voice. Dressed in a funky-cool outfit and using the lightshow once reserved only for Michael Johns, the Irish singer rocked the stage. And for once she looked like she was having fun doing it. I agree with Simon that it was a tad shouty, but he still picked it as one of his favorite performances of the night. Clearly elated, Carly quickly displayed a bright blue t-shirt that read “Simon Loves Me (this week).” She proved she’s good enough to at least make it to next week.

Last, but definitely not least, was rocker David Cook. If somebody had bet me last week that David C. would do well without his usual rock influences, I would’ve lost big time. I was predicting he’d have the worst night, simply because it would be hard to transform any of Webber’s songs into rock classics. Singing “Music of the Night” from “Phantom of the Opera,” Cook revealed a whole new side of himself. Staying true to the song, he still managed to pack it full of emotion while also adding a touch of his rock flair to some of the big notes. And then for him to slow the song down, then speed it up, hit a high note and then a low note…it was very impressive. I don’t think his critics can blast him this week for borrowing another rock star’s arrangement. This was all about Cook using his great voice to sing the song. I still say it’s going to be a battle of the Davids when the finale comes around.

What did you think of the Top 6? Did the contestants with big voices have a distinct advantage? Was Andrew Lloyd Webber the first mentor to actually criticize the contestants? And were you reaching for your earplugs when Jason was painfully attempting a song from “Cats?” Post your comments below and make sure you tune in for the results show tomorrow night! –Chris Sardelli

Opening the show with the aforementioned “One Sweet Day,” a duet Mariah recorded with Boyz II Men, some of the contestants shined, will others hit some bad notes. There’s no doubt, though, that the group songs are getting better each week, probably due to less contestants getting in the way. As I often like to do, here’s some notes I jotted down while watching their performance: “Castro is making my ears hurt,” “Kristy really does have a good voice,” “What’s up with the choreographed hand movements?” and “Wow, David A. was born to sing these types of songs!”

After a quick plug for this year’s songwriting competition, Ryan got down to business. But instead of placing contestants either on the Couch of Safety or on the Stools of Doom, he (and the producers) decided to mess with the contestants’ heads. So, when Jason Castro walked out first to find out his fate, Seacrest instructed him to form a group on stage right. Next up was David Cook, whom Seacrest asked why he cried after last night’s performance. Cook said he had a rough week, probably because of his brother who has cancer, and that he became overwhelmed at the end of his song. Ryan didn’t make it any easier by leaving Cook in doubt, as he told him to form a group on stage left. In quick succession, Ryan brought out Carly Smithson and stuck her on stage right, while Kristy Lee Cook joined David C. at stage left.

As soon as this week’s Ford music video was over (this one had the contestants pretending to be marionettes as they sang “I Want to Break Free”), it was time to listen to the first of tonight’s musical guests, Elliott Yamin. You may remember Mr. Yamin from his time on the “Idol” stage during Season 5, where he came in third place behind Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Listening to him sing, though, I’m surprised he didn’t win! His vocals are smooth and perfect for the R&B/soul style he’s singing in. After performing his song “Free,” it was sad to hear that his mom had just recently passed away. He flashed his palm for the camera, on which he had written “We Miss You Mom.”

It was soon time for more eliminations, and Ryan called Syesha Mercado to the stage. He quickly placed her in the group on stage right. Following her was Brooke White who was directed to the other side of the stage to join the two Cooks. So now we had three people on stage right (Jason, Carly and Syesha) and three people on stage left (Kristy, David C., and Brooke). That meant that whichever side David Archuleta landed on was the safe group, also revealing the Bottom Three. Of course Seacrest likes to leave us hanging and he cut to a commercial.

As usual, before we could find out who was sent home, it was time for those increasingly pesky viewer call-ins. I was hoping we’d skip them again, like last week, but I was obviously grasping at false hope. The questions were slightly interesting tonight, beginning with a revelation about Kristy’s horse. For those of you that don’t remember, Kristy sold her favorite horse to get money to travel to the “Idol” auditions. The first caller asked if she got her horse back and Kristy revealed that the man who bought it won’t sell it back. Seems a little cold, doesn’t it? Other calls enlightened us on what albums each of the judges first owned (Simon’s answer: “Paula Abdul’s Straight Up”), what the difference is when Simon calls a performance “theme park,” “piano bar” or “Karaoke” (Simon’s answer: “they’re all horrible”), and whether or not David Cook is single (answer: Yes).

Soon after it was time for the night’s second musical guest, this week’s guest mentor Mariah Carey. Singing her new single “Bye Bye,” Mariah gave a very subdued performance with very little of her usual flair. I’m guessing she wasn’t allowed to sing her first single “Touch My Body” to a crowd of screaming tweens and their parents.

Finally it was time to find out who was going home. Since David Archuleta was the deciding factor, Ryan called him out on stage. Wearing a red leather jacket that looked stolen from the “Thriller” music video, David A. listened as Ryan declared him safe. Ryan reaffirmed that whoever David joined would also be safe. But Seacrest wasn’t done with the head games yet, as he swapped David Cook and Syesha into each other’s groups.

Then in his meanest moment of the night, Ryan told David A. to join whichever group he felt was safe. He pondered it for a quick second and then wisely sat down on the stage, refusing to choose. That’s when Ryan chose for him and told the group with Jason, Carly and David Cook that they were safe as well. As they were all walking to the couches, Carly grabbed David A. and shook him like a rag doll in celebration.

So, we were down to Brooke, Syesha and Kristy. Ryan surprisingly sent Syesha to safety, leaving just Brooke and Kristy Lee. I’m kind of shocked that Brooke was even in the Bottom Two, but maybe all her crying is annoying the fans. Anyways, Ryan took a look at both of them before telling Brooke she was safe. Yup, Kristy Lee is finally heading home, ending her amazingly long winning streak on “American Idol.” Despite taking the loss hard, she powered through and gave a great last performance as she sat on Simon’s side of the table and serenaded him. Kristy, we’ll never forget you, the country crooner with the blank stare. But now it’s time for you to get your horse back and kiss that genie who got you into seventh place!

What did you think of tonight’s elimination? Do you agree that it was finally time for Kristy to go? What do you think of the remaining six contestants? And were you surprised that Brooke landed in the Bottom Two? Post below and be back next Tuesday for another week of “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli

P.S. I just want to give a shout out to the Haiku Guy who posts a new poem in the comments section every week. Keep posting Haiku Guy, you rock!

First up was everyone’s favorite teen sensation, David Archuleta. His rabid Arch Angels were in full force tonight, as the audience once again delivered some powerful screams when he walked out on stage. This week David chose the Mariah song “When You Believe,” which was originally a duet between Mariah and Whitney Houston for the animated movie “The Prince of Egypt” back in 1998. Simon said he could’ve predicted David would pick this song, probably because it’s inspirational and that seems to be Mr. Archuleta’s “wheelhouse” (which is “Randy-speak” for a genre of music he is comfortable in). I think David did a great job by actually using the suggestions from Mariah and breaking into his hidden falsetto. The only criticism for David A., and I mean the only criticism, would be to work on his confidence level after he’s done singing. He looks like a star when he’s performing, but he reverts back to Shy Guy after he sings the last note. Although, this may be in his favor since his fans might actually prefer seeing him vulnerable. None of this matters though, since he’ll be part of the Top 2 singing this May.

Up next was Irish lass Carly Smithson, who sang the Mariah hit “Without You.” I was expecting the usual “I really want to win and I’ll step up over anyone named David to get it!” stare, but that wasn’t the case tonight. Instead, Carly softened her tone a bit, probably realizing how stern she was coming across. Despite the improved demeanor and her usual technical flare for hitting all her notes, I wasn’t blown away by this version of the song. I think the judges were right in saying she was holding back a little. Months ago I predicted she would be in the final two with David A., but now I’m starting to think the fans are going to get tired of her within the next couple of weeks. However, my Magic 8 Ball has been wrong so many times in the last few weeks (Kristy escaping elimination week after week; Michael Johns’ surprising exit) that it’s in the shop being repaired. So, really, anything could happen.

Syesha Mercado followed next with her version of “Vanishing,” one of Mariah’s older songs. Carey called Syesha “cool and composed,” and for the most part the judges agreed. Randy said she did a good job at a difficult song, while Simon was worried she picked a song no one knows. I’m more worried by the fact that besides a few interesting performances, Syesha has yet to do anything unique in this competition. Every week she sings a new song and somehow they all sound the same, mostly because she isn’t connecting with the song like many of her fellow contestants already have. I think she’ll be in the Bottom Three this week.

Singing fourth tonight was Brooke White, who performed “Hero” while playing the piano. So let’s address her performance in good news-bad news-worse news style. First, the good news, her take on this song was fun. She took the judges’ advice and tried to inject some power in the performance, hitting the higher notes during the chorus of the song and also near the end. She also steered clear of any Mariah-like dolphin notes, which definitely helped her performance. Now for the bad news, this rendition was almost a carbon-copy of her cover of “Every Breath You Take” from a few weeks ago. From the piano playing, to the intense emotion, I felt like I was watching a rerun. That’s a big no-no in Idol Land. I’ve seen it a million times, those that don’t change it up on “American Idol” are doomed. And as for that worse news I was talking about, why haven’t the producers paired this girl up with a Muppet yet? It’s the perfect way to appeal to her younger fans and keep her in the competition. I won’t rest until Kermie joins her in a rousing duet of “It Ain’t Easy Bein Green.” And if this cheerful nanny can’t pull it off, who can?

Kristy Lee Cook hit the stage next with Mariah’s 1996 single “Forever.” I haven’t been a fan of Kristy’s, although she has been rallying from behind lately with some pretty good performances. Tonight’s was no exception as Cook hit some pretty awesome notes during the chorus and end of the song. In fact, Mariah Carey said Kristy’s rendition gave her goose bumps. Now, I never take what these guest mentors say as fact, since these people know it’s in their best interest not to alienate fans by delivering harsh criticism. On the other hand, Carey could’ve lied and just said it was “good,” so she may have actually liked our country crooner. In the end, though, Kristy can’t win “Idol” with her patented Blank Stare performances, so she’ll leave us soon enough. It was funny, however, when Simon said her performance was like “ordering a hamburger and only getting the bun,” which led to varied discussions among the judges about hamburger condiments.

Following her was resident rocker David Cook. If ever there was a song theme that threatened to tear down the ‘House that David C. Built,’ it would be Mariah Carey week. Amazingly, though, Cook surprised everyone and put together the edgiest and riskiest arrangement of the night, singing Carey’s monumental hit “Always Be My Baby.” Anyone who knows this song can tell you what emotions it stirs in you- love, happiness, world peace (whatever, it’s a happy song!). But David flipped the song around and turned it into a stalker’s moody love letter, complete with haunting melodies and a rocking chorus. Once again, he could have a hit single right now with the song he chose tonight. He could even package all the covers he’s done up until now, slap them on a CD, call up Daughtry’s record label and start selling some albums! He’s that good! Randy celebrated by giving his first standing ovation this season, Paula said he was “it” and Simon said he was a “breath of fresh air” in the competition. After hearing that, Cook broke into tears, probably partly due to his sick brother sitting in the audience.

The last performance of the night belonged to Jason Castro, heir apparent to the throne of modern hippy music currently held by warbler Jack Johnson. Singing “I Don’t Wanna Cry” from Carey’s self-titled 1990 album, Castro wisely ditched the guitar this week and hit some impressive notes in both his low and high range. As much as I’ve criticized him for being one of the weaker performers, I genuinely think he’s grown the most out of any of the contestants. If you remember, only a few short months ago, he couldn’t focus during those interview segments and he sure as heck wasn’t making eye contact with the audience. Now he’s actually expressing emotion and gazing into the crowd. I hate to say it, but he gave a pretty good performance this week and is on a two-week hot streak. We’ll see if this momentum keeps him out of the Bottom Three.

So, how did the Top 7 do tonight? Did the guys really rule the night or did one of the remaining women strike a chord? Has Randy replaced Simon as the resident Grump at the judges table? And what did you think of guest mentor Mariah Carey- did she deliver some good advice to the contestants or was she all show? Post your comments below and make sure you tune in for the results show tomorrow night! –Chris Sardelli

The night started with a long recap of “Idol Gives Back.” Apparently, the show has already raised $60 million, which is not too shabby. Ryan Seacrest then gave his 400th shout-out of the week to iTunes, where fans can buy recordings of the week’s performances. (Does anyone think the producers might have sold their soul to those iTunes people? That is, if anything was left after they sold their souls to Ford and Coca-Cola!) Then it was on to the group sing-along, where our Top 8 reprised their performance of “Shout To the Lord” from last night. Once again, it was pretty cool.

After a fun karaoke moment where stars like Nicole Scherzinger, Rob Schneider, Kobe Bryant, Michael Chiklis, Dr. Phil and a bunch of people I don’t recognize lip-synched to “I’m a Believer,” it was time for the results. First up tonight was Brooke White. When Ryan asked her why she was so emotional on Tuesday night, she said it was basically because her sister’s wedding was coming up and she was going to miss it. Then she corrected herself and said: “I don’t want to be presumptuous, maybe I WILL be there.” After a big laugh, Ryan told her she was safe (which I guess mean’s no wedding for Brooke! That’s kind of harsh, don’t you think? Can’t Simon Cowell buy her a round-trip ticket?)

Next up was David Cook, who looked pretty worried he would land a spot on the Stools of Doom. After joking that Simon called him every name in the book, including “arrogant,” Ryan countered saying that’s what he calls Simon. Then Mr. Cowell, who has become more of a comedian in the last few weeks, started booing him. When did Simon start having fun? Then Ryan brought out David Archuleta, who obviously was safe. I think the mystery of the Top Two has been solved, because both Cook and Archuleta are now the only remaining contestants never to have been in the Bottom Three.

The producers decided to skip the viewer call-ins this week (oh darn!), instead playing more clips from celebrities who want you to donate your money. Tonight they showed another video from Forest Whitaker and his wife, who both went to Africa to raise awareness about malaria.

Following that was a performance from Chris Brown and last year’s American Idol Jordin Sparks. I’ve been hearing her new song, “No Air,” on the radio for weeks, so I wasn’t surprised she sang it tonight. I’m not a huge fan of the song, but it’s been slowly growing on me. I have to admit, though, that their duet was pretty good. And are those two dating, or are they just really good actors? Ryan capped off the performance by having the Jordin fan club present her with awards for her album going gold and for her new song hitting the top of the download charts. As Seacrest said: “See, Idol really does work.”

Then it was back to the eliminations as Jason Castro came to the stage. After discussing his newfound ukulele talent, Ryan gave him the green light for the Couch of Safety. Next up to bat was Kristy Lee Cook who just earned the Sanjaya Award for sticking around way past her prime. Who is voting for this girl? I heard a news report that her hometown has been voting like crazy, but unless her hometown is the state of California, I can’t imagine where she’s getting the votes! This is crazy!

So if you do the math (The Top 8 minus 5 safe contestants = Bottom Three), that meant everyone who hadn’t traveled to the stage was in danger of leaving. Syesha and Carly have both been here before, but this is Michael’s first time and he was clearly worried.

But before we could find out their fates, the producers decided to air those “Idol Gives Back” messages from Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama that we’d heard so much about. The two Democrats were pretty serious, while McCain tossed a immigration joke at Simon.

With no more fundraising messages or Ford music videos left to play, it was time for Ryan to reveal who was going home. As he said Carly and Syesha’s names, I was so sure that Michael was going to be safe. But since when have I been able to accurately predict who was going home! Thus, it was a shocker to hear that Michael Johns was headed home. But instead of just letting him leave, Ryan started to tell him how no one had been kicked off “Idol Gives Back” last year. Everyone’s spirits started to lift, including Michael’s! Yay, they were going to give him a second chance! Then Ryan pulled the rug out from under him and told him that this year they were sending someone home…and it was him. That’s a pretty dirty trick Seacrest. Let’s hope Johns is a forgiving guy, or you might have to sleep with one eye open. Despite it all, Michael went out into the audience and sang an awesome version of “Dream On.” So here’s to you Michael, the Rockin Aussie whose love for Queen songs and hideous scarves will never be forgotten!

What did you think of tonight’s elimination? Are you as amazed as I am that both Kristy Lee and Syesha have somehow outlasted Michael? How would you rank the Top 7? And do you think it’s still possible that there will be an all-male Top 3, or is Castro just living on borrowed time? Post below and be back next Tuesday for another crazy week of “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli