Cowell Threatens to Quit, (Sigh) Again

This is an "American Idol" blog, and, as everybody knows, just hours before the pronouncement of America's newest idol, it should be leading with news about Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. So, in case you slept through last night's competition here it is: She'll win, he'll lose. Game over. (Call us when they force both contestants to do anything but a treacly ballad as the coronation song, then we'll call it a fair matchup). See more below ...

Far more interesting yesterday was Simon Cowell reopening his contract negotiations three years early by announcing that when his current Idol obligation ends he's quitting. Do we believe him? Is Blake gonna win?

Leave it to Cowell to try to steal the thunder from the Idol finale with his timing. On yesterday's edition of "Extra," he dropped this "exclusive bombshell confession" to correspondent Terri Seymour, who, oops, also just happens to be his girlfriend:

Cowell told Seymour that the clock on "Idol" is ticking for him, and that in a few years he'll be gone! What Cowell might quit? Why, he hasn't threatened to quit in, oh, 4 weeks, since Sanjaya Malakar was still a finalist.

"There comes a point where you've got to move on," Simon explained. "You've got to say when your time's up. This is the year I decided that on 'American Idol,' once I've done 10 series, your time's up. It's time to do something new," he told Seymour.

Then what? "I think it's time to bring in new people, because I think you know, 10 years is a long time." Hey, this season alone was a long time, sez us.

"And we've just got to make the next three great." Hopefully greater than this year ... yawnnnnnn.

Of course, Cowell doesn't plan to just kick back on some golf course in three years, telling Seymour, "I think I'd rather drop dead than retire."

So what will he do? Well, his "big plans" might include working with none other than Michael Jackson. (Talk about a career-killing move.)

"We were planning something with the record label maybe for 'Thriller,' but we'll see what happens," Cowell divulged. "I can't tell you more than that. A big, big tribute, but we'll see."

Hmmm, let's see, Simon. "Thriller" was released, um, 17 years ago. So, in three years ... could it be. Wait it is! A 20-year tribute! Holy Sherlock Holmes!

And Cowell said he already has an idea of who he wants to replace him on Idol ... Donald Trump. Oh yeah, we're ready for that. Check, please!

AND NOW, BACK TO THE FINALE


Last night might have been the strangest finale for Idol ever. It was The Balladeer vs. The Beat-Boxer, two wonderful entertainers who together formed a great bill, but who separately were incapable of performing each other's style of music. She soars on ballads, he rocks out beat-box, and never the twain shall meet. If she attempts anything fast, she fails. If he goes for the super sweet power songs, he stinks. And so it went last night.

The show was pretty much a neck-and-neck race until the final song, otherwise known as the deadly coronation killer. Unfortunately for Blake Lewis, it was, typically, the cheesy, smaltzy ballad that the producers love. It's hard to believe that "This Is My Now," an incredibly stupid title BTW, was the result of a nationwide contest. But, then again, the folks picking it were the same morons who always pick ballads so sickeningly and cloyingly sweet that you need an immediate insulin injection to recover from them.

A song worse than Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud"? We wouldn't have believed it. But "This Is My Now" will live on in the Idol Hall of Shame alongside "Proud" and "Inside Your Heaven," Carrie Underwood's unfortunate coronation song.

The evening started out with Ryan Seacrest introducing the judges, Randy Jackson, dressed in his version of the Sgt. Pepper's jacket, Paula Abdul and her unbandaged but swollen broken nose and Simon Cleavage, er Cowell. Ryan broached the subject of Abdul's broken nose, wanting to know if this is the new one (it did look slightly different, but it could be the swelling). Paula explained that she had tripped over her sleeping Chihuahua, Tulip, but then assured the awwwwwwing audience that the dog was unhurt. "So, the bitch is OK, we got it," offered Ryan. Depending on your opinion of Abdul, things went up- or downhill from there.

Watch Ryan Seacrest opening the show, including banter with judges and clips from the Seattle auditions, where both Blake and Jordin were put through to Hollywood:



Although Blake Lewis had won the coin toss for possession of performance order, he had let Jordin Sparks have her choice, and, as it turned out, she brilliantly chose to go last (although she would have won anyway). If you could chart the evening, it would look like an X, with Blake on the upper left and Jordin on the lower left. He started strong, with his best song and continually weakened. She started with her weakest selection and gradually rose to great strength. Strategically, from grabbing the second singing spot, to the way she placed her song choices, it was a brilliant plan. But, then, her father is a former pro football player. He knows all about the importance of game planning (as well as X's and O's, heh).

But you know what? Blake had a great time. We've never seen a contestant so relaxed on the finale performance show. To be sure, he took the challenge seriously and was well-prepared, but it was a lark for him -- he never expected to be there. Jordin on the other hand, also vigorously and seriously prepared, has wanted this crown badly for years. Now to feel it just within her grasp, well, you can almost she her frothing at the mouth for it. Ultimately, she'll get it and be thrilled, and he'll be thrilled for her. So it's all OK in the end. And they'll both land recording contracts anyway.


Blake's best number, was his opening, a reprise of "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi. He used his beat-boxing and performance style to great advantage, making it at least the equal to, if not better than his original go at it. Randy said, "I give you a 10 out of 10 on the beat-boxing, dawg. The beatboxing was hot, you had the triplets going on with the drum thing. The singing for me was just aight." Paula said she wanted to clean out Randy's ears and added, "I wish I could give you more than a 10," while Simon Cowell offered, "You're not the best singer in the competition, but you are the best performer I think we've had."

Watch video of Blake Lewis singing "You Give Love a Bad Name":



Probably because she has been accused by Simon of choosing material that is too old for her 17 years (really? Is she only 17?) and also because she hears Simon always complimenting Blake for not being afraid of taking risks, Jordin ventured outside her comfort zone for her first number, Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." And she carried it off with some success. But Sparks voice does not have the strength or power of Aguilera's growling vocals, and somehow her My Little Pony demeanor made it really hard for us to believe her singing lyrics such as:

After all of the fights and the lies
Yes you wanted to harm me but that won't work anymore
Uh, no more, oh no, it's over
'Cause if it wasn't for all of your torture
I wouldn't know how to be this way now, and never back down
So I wanna say thank you

But we knew the possibility of a train wreck existed and Sparks easily sidestepped that, so we give her extra credit for trying, but Blake easily won this round, even according to Cowell. Randy said "It wasn't your greatest entertainment thing, but your voice, you were stellar." Paula, unable to come up with her own compliment, said "You were stellar, awesome." Uh-huh. Simon, in contrast "thought the vocals actually were a bit shrieky in the middle," then called round one for Blake. But Lewis wouldn't be reveling in the glow of victory for long.

Watch video of Jordin Sparks singing Christina Aguilera's "Fighter":



Round 2 the contestants met somewhere in the middle before her ascent and his descent. First up, Blake sang a new song, "She Will Be Loved," one of our favorites by Maroon 5, a group that Blake also obviously favors. He handled it ably with smooth relaxed vocals that were occasionally off pitch, but overall it was a nice, if somewhat dull, performance. Surprisingly, Randy raved, "Great song and a very nice vocal" and Paula added, "You sounded great." Simon, much more on the money, said "It was good, it was safe, it wasn't as good as the first performance, and I actually wouldn't have chosen that song in the final, because I don't think it makes that much of an impact." We hated to hear it, but knew he was right.

Watch video of Blake Lewis singing Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved":



For her encore performance, Jordin chose Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing." We thought she should have sung this one last week and saved her true series powerhouse, "I Who Have Nothing" for the finale. The performance was good, but, in spite of the tongue bath Randy Jackson gave her, not nearly as good as her original performance of it. Wanting to not build the song too fast, she played the beginning low with her head held down, causing the words to sound mumbled and unintelligible. She untimately built to a satisfying climax, but it could have been a much stronger rendition had she started out better. Randy, incorrectly, called it flawless, adding "That was unbelievable, I think better than the original." Uh-uh, you better clean out those ears like Paula suggested, though even she told Jordin, "You are in great, great vocal voice tonight." Simon kept it simple with, "Now that was good," but didn't award Round 2 to anyone. We'd call it a tie.

Watch video of Jordin Sparks singing "A Broken Wing":



We knew the final round would be crucial for Blake, not only because he was going first, but because he would be competing in a genre so alien to him that he might as well be singing the song on Pluto. Ballads ain't his thing, especially Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody horrible "This Is My Now." Blake made a game attempt at it, starting the song out sitting inside the lower curve of the large monitor, looking small and childlike and reminding us of the Dreamworks logo of the boy sitting with a fishing pole in the curve of a new moon. but it was the train wreck that Jordin didn't have. Pitchy and pitiful. The judges bent over backwards to be charitable, knowing that Blake was stuck with a song he couldn't sing well. "You did a pretty good job with it. It was alright, you don't have to feel that bad about it," Randy said. Paula said "Even if it's not the genre of music that you like or enjoy, I think you were in great voice." Well, he tried, but ... Simon, who we thought would really trash Lewis said "I thought it was all a little odd to be honest with you, Blake," then very charitably added, that Blake needs to be judged on his first two songs.

Watch video of Blake Lewis singing "This Is My Now:



By contrast, and what a contrast it was -- Blake couldn't have faced a worse one -- Jordin got up there and belted that song out with emotion and feeling. How much emotion? Well she teared up, then choked up, barely able to finish, guaranteeing that every grandma and little girl in America ran to their phone to speed dial and text message her numbers until their digits were raw. As far as Sparks was concerned, THIS WAS HER NOW and she was going to milk it for everything it was worth. Was it real emotion? Possibly. But you'll see in the video comparison below that she didn't get nearly as choked up during the dress rehearsal. She saved it all for the voters. But the judges, rightly, couldn't pay her enough compliments. Randy enthused, "You were the best singer tonight. You deserve it all, baby," and Paula added, "You're an angel." Simon cut right to it with, "You just wiped the floor with Blake on that song." And well, she did.

Watch full video of Jordin Sparks singing "This Is My Now" live:



Now watch video of comparison of the end of song. Jordin Sparks turns on the waterworks and chokes up for the live finale performance of "This Is My Now." Strangely, she wasn't nearly as emotional during the dress rehearsal. Could it be because we weren't voting on that performance?



Undoubtedly, though, the best part of the evening was the return of Chris Daughtry to Idol's band, accompanied by his band. He's become such a hot rock property, fulfilling all the potential that Bo Bice never did, that it's hard to believe it's only been a year since he competed. He flawlessly and beautifully performed "Home," this year's "video journey" song. And he reminded us that as cheesy as this show can be, it does occasionally find real greatness and gives those performers the showcase they've been waiting for to rocket into stardom. But, YIKES, wassup with his massive makeup job? Mascara, shadow and guy liner?

Watch video of Chris Daughtry singing "Home" on "American Idol" Finale:



Simon, who after the Seattle auditions, declared that the city had "the worst bunch of miserable singers that I've ever met in my life. It was two days of total misery," closed the show humorously by saying, "I always said there was talent in Seattle, and I was right."

Tonight, Jordin gets crowned winner (c'mon, it's gonna happen) and Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks, among others entertain us for the two hour finale.

More tonight after the show, with the full recap with videos in the morning.

Bookmark us for after the season ends. We'll continue to report news and tour info throughout the year on all of your Idol favorites!

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© 2007

Jordin Beats the Plaid Pants Off Blake With Ballad

It took a Chihuahua to topple "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, who broke her nose over the weekend when she fell while trying to avoid stepping on her dog. But it was this year’s treacly coronation song that tripped up Idol finalist Blake Lewis just as badly.

Lewis and Jordin Sparks, the show's two remaining contestants, were at the top of their game for most of the evening on part one of show's season finale. Lewis won the coin toss to decide who would sing first, but in a moment of gallantry, offered Sparks the opportunity to choose the slot she preferred, and she quickly opted to go last.

Judge Simon Cowell declared the first round Lewis' after he reprised Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" with his trademark beat-boxing, while Sparks sang Christina Aguilera's "Fighter." For round two, Lewis performed Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved," and Sparks encored Martina McBride's "A Broken Wing."

But it was the final song that moved Sparks to the forefront and, more than likely, the Idol title. The two were each required to sing "This Is My Now," the winner of the American Idol Songwriter contest penned by Scott Krippayne and Jeff Peabody. The entry was a perfect fit for Sparks, who excels at ballads. Lewis, who has won acclaim as an entertainer rather than a great vocalist, suffered by comparison. The judges went easy on Lewis, but heaped unanimous and hearty praise on Sparks for the performance.

Also last night, Daughtry, the band headed by last season’s fourth-place finisher, Chris Daughtry, sang "Home," which has been featured this season during eliminated contestants' "journey video."

The winner of this year's competition will be announced on Wednesday's show, when three former champions -- Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Taylor Hicks -– are scheduled to perform.

More in the morning ...

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© 2007

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Let's not split hairs, Sanjaya Malakar's departure was long overdue (OK, we'll stop with the puns -- but they're so easy in his case). Only his clever attempts to morph into a different personality each week, accompanied by some help from VotefortheWorst.com and a horde of 10-year-old girls, kept his Idol dream alive. He never deserved to stay on that stage as long as he did. In fact, unless the judges were forced by the producers to include him in the 24 semi-finalists (which we think is largely possible) they made a huge mistake advancing him in the beginning.

So Sanjaya should be celebrating the fact that he far outstayed his talent. Much better singers -- Chris Sligh, Gina Glocksen, Stephanie Edwards, Sabrina Sloan -- left before they should have because of the phenomenon known as Sanjaya. His name is already more well-known than the eventual contest winner's will be. In fact, he could become a word in the next edition of Merriam-Webster:

San-jay-a
Function: noun, transitive verb
1. A person, object or thing with limited capabilities that far exceeds its expected usefulness.

We were surprised by Sanjaya's tearfest during his journey film, reverting back to his early Idol days when his eyes would well with tears during his awful critiques. Recently, he had seemed so inured to the bad remarks, standing with that smirk on his face, we were convinced that he had begun to believe he was either really good or invulnerable to the judge's criticism and invincible. Even standing with LaKisha last night, one of them about to be axed, he seemed confident that it wasn't him. Guess it was a rude and unexpected awakening.

It must have been a hard, even ironic, moment for LaKisha. Once considered one of, if not the, frontrunner of the competition, she had taken Sanjaya under her wing after the derision began. And although it is believed that some of the other contestants had come to resent Sanjaya's staying power, LaKisha continued to be his support system and inside mentor. Now, not only was the former frontrunner's continuance on the series in peril, standing beside her was the contestant she had been propping up for weeks. One could only wonder what was going through her mind and whose name she was hoping was on the card in Seacrest's hand. Sanjaya's tears were exceeded only by her weeping, face buried into Melinda Doolittle's supportive shoulder.

At the very least we have to give the San Man his props for changing the lyrics of "Something to Talk About" as he sang his way off the show: "Let's give them something to talk about, other than hair hair, hair." You really can't kill snarky, can you?

So let's not mourn Sanjaya's departure from Idol. This season is so imbued with his spirit that he will live on. Now we can really start paying attention to the singing while he's making a ton of $$$.

Other highights of the results show: Simon Cowell explained that the rolling of his eyes look the camera caught just as Chris Richardson finished his Virginia Tech shoutout had nothing to do with that statement. His was, at the time, involved in a conversation with Paula Abdul about the to-and-fro he and Richardson had just had about Richardson singing through his nose.

Cowell said, and we believe, that he might not be the nicest person in the world, but he would never disrespect the families or the victims like that and felt it was necessary to set the record straight. In fact, during an interview on Ryan Seacreast's radio show yesterday, he said he was horrified when he saw a playback of the show.

As promised by executive producer Nigel Lythgoe in an interview yesterday, film was presented that proved Cowell's point. Separate camera shots simultaneously shown onscreen, complete with audio, validated that while Richardson was paying his respects to the people of his home state, Simon was talking to Paula about how he didn't understand Richardson's statement that "nasally is a form of singing." A cameraman's unfortunate timing panning to Simon's face just as Richardson completed his sympathy statement, making it look as if Simon's eyeroll was directed at that instead of the nasally discussion that the home audience did not witness.

Much ado about nothing? Not really. Cowell was crucified online yesterday for his insensitivity, even though he made a statement during Blake's critique (recorded here and many other places) offering the judges' best wishes and support to the families involved in the tragedy. Hopefully that ends the misunderstanding. What we should all get out of this after watching the separate discussion is how much the judges don't pay attention to what's happening onstage during the show. It's been documented in many blogs and articles that the three talk through most of the performances, claiming that they've seen the dress rehearsals, so they know what to expect. Whatever.

The real surprise last night was Blake Lewis' appearance in the Bottom 3. DialIdol predicted it, but we just assumed it was another one of their way-off predictions this season. Scary that it was true and that Lewis could depart before Chris Richardson. We were greatly relieved when Blake was the first one released to safety, envisioning another Haley-Phil-Gina disaster, where everyone was sure that Gina was the safe one and she wound up eliminated. Similarly, in our rational mind we knew it had to be either Sanjaya or LaKisha, but that ache in the pit of our stomach, kept whispering "it could be Blake, it could be Blake." Shut up stomach!

We're actually hoping that Phil Stacey will be the next choice for VotefortheWorst.com. It might help him outlive Richardson. (Remember, the VFTW choices aren't always stinkers. Taylor Hicks was their final choice last season. And we didn't care what help we got as long as he beat Katharine McPhee.) Although DialIdol ranked Stacey an amazing No. 1 this week, we're nervous about his true longevitity. Not that we want him to win; but we'd love to see him outlast Richardson and Jones. The only three who deserve to be in the finals are Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis (we still can't narrow it down to two in our head).

Also on the show:

• Another Ryan Seacrest man-on-the-street clip, asking "regular people" their opinions of the show. At least this week they were able to remember the contestants' names.



• The group performance of "I'm Alright." Generally, these are abysmal, but we have to admit the group sounded good this week, the harmony excellent.



• The idiotic AI challenge, where the producers make mucho bucks on text-messaging.



• A clip of the finalists telling us what music they are currently listening too. Funniest? Chris Richardson who likes Maroon 5 and Jason Mraz, but said his favorite CD was Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits.



• Fergie (taped), sings "Big Girls Don't Cry." The ballad is a nice change up from her usual "I'm so sexy doncha wish you were me" songs.



• The Ford commercial, featuring "I Ran."



• In case we've (fat chance) forgotten, we sit through another promo of next week's IdolGivesBackPalooza, featuring, among others, Gwen Stefani, P!nk, Earth Wind and Fire, Il Divo, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. There will be a "duet with two of the biggest stars in history." Any guesses?



• Before the elimination, it's the old 7 finalists are left ploy: Ryan divides them into two groups of three, declares Melinda safe, then tells her to join the group she thinks is safe as well. She refuses and sits on the floor. Ryan tells her to slide over to Phil, Jordin Sparks and Chris.



• A shameless promo for "Shrek the Third" follows. The finalists go to Dreamsworks to screen the film, where they meet studio head Jeffrey Katezenberg and Antonio Banderas who voices Puss 'n Boots (they are also in the audience last night, along with Banderas' wife, actress Melanie Griffith, and their daughter).






• Martina McBride sings "Anyway." She is later joined by her daughter onstage. The kid was a natural and stole the show.

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© 2007

Something to Talk About

Well, maybe a number of things to talk about after last night's show:

1. "Heartfelt" shoutouts to the folks grieving in Virginia and around the country
2. Sanjaya taking giant steps backwards towards elimination
3. Phil taking giant steps forward toward staying in the competition
4. Chris Richardson mouthing off to Simon, defending nasally as a type of singing

It was a weird night filled with a mix of performances, a few disastrous, a couple remarkable and some just good. At this point in the competition, there should be more in the middle category.

The show started out with what felt like the first gratuitous remark about the tragedy at Virginia Tech. A somber, dark-suited Ryan Seacrest spent about 5 seconds sending the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Idol to those affected by the tragedy, jumping right into "This Is American Idol." It must have been a tough call for the producers. Do we mention the massacre? Will it bring down the show? For us, it was not the right time or place for a token remark when so many lives have been lost. The brief mention felt like an uncomfortably PC gesture, insincere and perhaps even a tad disrespectful: As in now that we've paid our dues, we can all have some fun.

Country great Martina McBride mentored the seven remaining finalists, and seems to have had great rapport with each one. In fact, she seemed more in awe of them than they were of her. McBride was more petite than we would've imagined, slender and not much taller than LaKisha. She also looked remarkably youthful for her 41 years, more as if she was perhaps 30.

First up was Phil Stacey, as the spoilers predicted. Would they be right? No. Only the performance order was correct. Everything else was dead wrong, including our prediction that country would be the cause of Stacey's Idol journey ending. In fact, after his rousing rendition of Keith Urban's "Where the Blacktop Ends," the judges decided that country comfort was perhaps what Phil needed all along, and he agreed! For the first time since the competition began, Phil was animated and really seemed to enjoy himself, walking through and working the audience, as well as the judges' table. He carried the song beginning to end, another rarity for Stacey. As Simon Cowell told him, "It's only taken 10 weeks, Phil." Randy seemed stunned. He told Phil that he would never have thought he would sound so good singing country and that it was hot, with Paula saying it was good from beginning to end. Simon added it was the first time that Phil had picked a good song, that the style of music suited him and that he had even showed some personality. But, Cowell also cautioned, he didn't know whether it was enough to save Phil. Well, not that it's been the most reliable source this season, but according to DialIdol, Phil came in No. 1 (even we don't believe that, but we'd happy to have him safe another week).

"Sparks Fly" read one of the audience signs and we couldn't agree more, especially after Jordin Sparks' beautifully crafted performance of Martina McBride's "Broken Wing." In rehearsal, even McBride held her breath as Jordin sang, then erupted with joy as she finished. It was a brave song choice, but the right one. Of course, it's a song the Sparks probably feels comfortable with, as she's been singing it since at least age 14, as this video of her warbling it during the America's Most Talented Kid competition in 2004 attests. Looking gorgeous in a slimming salmon-colored gown with gold adornment, gold strappy sandals and jewelry, Jordin let the song grow slowly and with expression to a dynamic ending. Randy, once again blown away by the fact that she's only 17, told her that it was a difficult song to take on because the original was so strong, but that she was da bomb. Paula, said she loved Jordin too, after an audience member shouted out to Sparks, that she looked gorgeous (she did) and that she did a great job building the song. Simon stunned Jordin when he told her "For the first time ... I actually believe that you could win American Idol."

After panning to a shot of Constantine Maroulis in the audience, Sanjaya Malakar started off the evening sassy, wearing a red bandana over a headful of curls (we couldn't decide whether he was trying to look like a gang member or was planning to work in the fields after the show) and slyly answered the viewer question, "If you could make one judge sing, what judge and what song would you pick," with he would make Simon sing "Shiny Happy People," so he could show his true personality. Even Cowell nodded and smiled at the clever retort. (Or was it actually too quick and clever -- perhaps prepared in advance?) Then Sanjaya became the evening's bona fide train wreck, and it was a real disappointment after the improvement he had shown over the past couple of weeks. He said he chose Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About" because he knows people are always talking about him. Well, he certainly gave us something to talk about this week -- how he got himself eliminated for reverting back to horrible pitchy and flat singing after proving that he knows how to do better. Bad move Malakar. Randy told him it was karaoke, bland and boring, while Paula, giggling, said, "You really thrive on adversity," then added the vocals weren't so great (they were laughably awful). Simon called it "utterly horrendous," and said it was as bad as anything they see at the beginning of the season (in fact we don't believe he'd have gotten through the auditions with this performance). With the audience booing, Ryan decided to jump in Sanjaya's defense with, "Was it the song, or you just don't like Sanjaya?" Simon hissed, "Excuse me, who rattled your cage?" Fed up, Cowell added, "I know this has been funny for awhile, but based on the fact that we are supposed to be finding an 'American Idol,' it was hideous." Determined not to give up, Ryan badgered Randy with, "If Sanjaya nailed it, would Simon really ever like it from him?" Simon shot back, "I liked him last week, Big Mouth." Can you feel the love?

Taking the stage in a somewhat matronly brown beaded dress (v-neck, but thankfully with much better support and not exposing her breasts) and hideous high-heeled metallic gold knee boots (maybe they'd look better with the right outfit), we were hoping LaKisha Jones would make us forget the lousy performance we had just witnessed, but she seemed intent on racing Sanjaya over who would be eliminated first. Lakisha said she chose Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" because as a single mother she related to the lyrics, that she has been through a lot in her life and sometimes you just need to say "Oh Jesus." We really love the way Underwood sings the heck out of this song. Even if the lyrics are manipulative, the emotion she brings to it makes us cry. In other words: She owns it. As soon as we heard LaKisha's choice we knew she was doomed. It was sacrilege to challenge Underwood on her former stamping grounds unless she was going to better her -- and she didn't, not even close. The opening explanatory part of the song was rushed, even mumbled, and the latter part shouted instead of plaintively sung. The crowd goes crazy, but we're numb: No chills, no goosebumps, not a tear shed. Randy automatically got Simon-like boos when he said there were pitch problems, and that considering her gospel background, he was disappointed that she hadn't made the song her own. Paula agreed and said the vocals felt shouted. The boos continued. Simon resorted to a food analogy: "It's like eating a hamburger for breakfast -- it doesn't go together," meaning she and the song weren't a good fit. As the crowd continued to boo (ah, the love continues), Simon shouted, "I'm right!" He also said that LaKisha blew everyone away when she sang the Jennifer Holliday song ("And I Am Telling You I"m Not Going"), and that she needed to find more songs like that. When LaKisha sang that song on Week 1 of the semi-finals, Simon wanted to end the competition and declare her the winner. Bet he's now glad that wasn't possible. Fact: LaKisha has got a great voice. Fact: LaKisha has never followed any of the advice proffered by the mentors (or the judges for that matter). Will her arrogance get her eliminated tonight? Perhaps.

In a reverse of how we felt last week, we didn't think Chris Richardson totally sucked singing Rascal Flatts' "Mayberry." Was he still nasally and pitchy? Yes. But we're not really familiar with the song. However, those who are say he just wrecked it. And the judges agreed. Randy complained about it being nasally, the pitch problems and Richardson's lack of connection to the lyrics. Paula agreed, and added, "The joy and the love that you feel on stage didn't come through." Simon said exactly what we felt about last week's performance, but which the judges were then deaf to: "I heard a very nondescript, nasally, tinny vocal which had no impact on me at all. It was completely and utterly insignificant." Yet, if we had been willing to give Richardson a pass last night, it totally ended when he decided to answer back. His defense? In case Simon didn't know it, "Nasally is a type of singing." So Simon asked whether he was doing it intentionally. Chris said it was not as if he was doing it every week (uh, yeah, you are). Realizing he was losing the argument, Richardson then totally sickened us by changing tactics and trying to garner sympathy by giving a shoutout to the people at Virginia Tech. Coming when it did, it felt like Richardson was pandering for votes. If he was so sincere about those feelings, why didn't he start out by dedicating the song to the folks of his home state? Simon's face registered total digust at what he, too, obviously felt was a gratuitous remark to gain support. Unfortunately, he chose to inappropriately respond to Richardson two contestants later.

How do you spell Melinda Doolittle? P-E-R-F-E-C-T. It is doubtful that anyone else could take a song that no one knew, including Martina McBride, and turn in such an inspired performance. It will probably turn Julie Reeves' "Trouble Is a Woman" into an instant hit. It is the sign of a consummate professional: Doolittle brilliantly picks the right songs nearly every week, tailors them to herself and executes them perfectly. She was just great and is looking better every week. Even though we doubt the hair was her own, the style suited her perfectly and the clothes -- green print cotton dress over bell-cut jeans and jingly bangle bracelets on both wrists -- were just right. Randy said it was "Another solid performance from our resident pro." Paula gushed "Once again a girl who knows how to pick the right song and sing her heart out and perform like there's no tomorrow." Simon, first warning Melinda not to act surprised by his praise, said, "It was fantastic" and that he saw a little Tina Turner attitude.

Up last, in the pimp spot was Blake Lewis. Don't know how to explain this, but we've really grown to like Team Plaid. His performances have been consistent throughout, but he's really grown on us in a way we didn't expect. This, perhaps, was not his best performance, but he did a fine job with Tim McGraw's "When the Stars Go Blue." And there was no pressure, tee-hee. In rehearsal, McBride tells him she has just spoken to McGraw an he was hoping one of the contestants would sing this song. It was a great fit for Blake's voice and we're confident that McGraw was pleased with Lewis' version. Randy said he loved Blake’s sweater, song choice and arrangement and that Blake knows himself very well. Paula tells him that he has the whole package and that it was a great song for him. Simon, not as effusive, says he's not jumping out of his chair -- it was okay -- and that Blake was wise not to do something that doesn't suit him. Suddenly, switching gears, he adds, that, on a serious note, the judges would like to offer their best wishes and support to the families of this tragedy and that he knows it's been a tricky week for you guys [the contestants]. He then finished Blake critique with , "Yeah, it was OK."

Our Top 2 in descending order: Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks (tie)

Our Bottom 3 in descending order: Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Richardson, LaKisha Jones

Our Middle, in descending order: Phil Stacey, Blake Lewis

America's Bottom 3: Sanjaya Malakar, Chris Richardson, LaKisha Jones
Voted off: Sanjaya Malakar

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