It's down to Kristy Lee Cook and Jason Castro. Let's see...a cute as a button country music singer who performed "God Bless the U.S.A." and a guy who shares a last name with a certain former Cuban dictator.
Kristy Lee Cook is, of course, safe.
And so is Castro. He could barely join Eze and Mercado in the bottom three before Ryan told him he was safe.
Is is me, or was Naperville's Gina Glocksen (from last season) in the audience tonight?
Kimberley Locke (the third place winner from Season 2) talked about life post-Idol. She put out a couple albums, she owns a restaurant and she went on "Celebrity Fit Club"
She's sang "Fall," a single released in February. It was in the top 25 on the adult contemporary charts.
David Archuleta smiled the entire time while waiting for Ryan to tell him he was safe.
David Cook looked nervous (as of he didn't know if he was safe). We agree with you, Cook. You don't want to come off cocky this early in the competition.
Fox News was apparently wrong when it reported she was with child.
In other news, people liked her performance of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and she's safe this week.
Brooke White likes it both ways (performing The Police's "Every Breath You Take" with the band and without). She's safe.
Chikezie Eze was pointing to the three stools and not the sofa before Ryan Seacrest could even read his name. He was right. Eze is in the bottom three this week.
Another shamless plug for the songs on iTunes. They actually go into the studio and record the entire song instead of the one and a half minutes of it they perform on the show.
Anyone else wondering how much Apple is paying for this?
Things I could be watching instead of the filler before we get to the votes: At the top of the list is the Oscar-winning animated short "Peter & The Wolf" on PBS.
After schilling for entries in their Idol song contest, we get to tonight's group sing Talk about theme park performances (to borrow a criticism from Simon Cowell from last night), these things always come off so cheesy in my book. "Right Back to Where We Started From" is no different.
To the caller who took issue with my comments regarding Kristy Lee Cook last night:
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." -Sinclair Lewis
It should be possible to critique someone's performance of a patriotic song like "God Bless the U.S.A" without being told you are un-American for doing so. In my opinion Kristy has been the weakest performer on the show up until now. She frequently if off-pitch and the country arrangement of "Eight Days a Week" was a disaster. While her song choice of "God Bless the U.S.A." was a shrewd one, I found her performance schmaltzy.
And the greatest thing about this country: I'm entitled to my opinion.
David Archuleta picked David Foster and Jeff Pescetto's cover of "You're the Voice." Ok, he's stretching things on a technicality. The song was originally released in 1987. Foster and Pescetto released a cover of it in 1990.
"You know what, it was a strange song choice for me. It proves if you can sing, you can sing whatever," Jackson said.
"I actually didn't like the performance at all," Cowell said. "I thought it was reminiscent of a theme park performances. It's one of those ghastly songs you sing when you have animated creatures dancing with you."
Despite being harshly criticized the last time he attempted a ballad, Chikezie Eze took Luther Vandross' "If Only For One Night." for a spin.
"For [Syesha], she moved it around and made it younger feeling," Jackson said, "This was very old school. It wasn't hip and cool."
"I think you sang it well," Cowell said. " Having said that, I thought the performance was cheesy. You have to show originality."
Brooke White messed up on the first note of the Police's "Every Breath You Take." Fortunately, she was accompanying herself on the piano and could just start over.
God, do I feel old. I'm remembering hearing some of these songs from when they were first played on the radio. Oy!
Ramiele Malubay is out front and center all alone on Heart's "Alone."
You really need the vocal chops to pull a Heart song off. Malubay gave an underwhelming performance.
"It wasn't the right song choice," Randy Jackson said.
"I don't think it was as bad as Randy said," Simon Cowell replied. "The truth is, Ramiele...that you're going to get through to next week based on that performance."
We'll see if the folks at TMZ were right. Here's what they posted:
Syesha - "If I Was Your Woman" by Stephanie Mills
David Cook - "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
Carly - "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
Chikeze - "If Only For One Night" by Luther Vandross
Brooke - "Every Breath You Take" by the Police
Jason - "Fragile" by Sting
Ramiele - "Alone" by Heart
Michael - "We Are The Champions" by Queen
Kristy - "God Bless The USA" by Lee Greenwood
David A. - "You're The Voice" by David Foster
It's the second week of "American Idol" to feature Beatles music.
Amanda Overmyer had the dreaded first slot. She picked "Back in the U.S.S.R." The crowd seemed really into her and she has definitely found her groove.
"it was the perfect song choice for you. It was a ittle pitchy in the beginning. It was cool at the end. I gotta give you a 7 out of 10," Randy Jackson said.
"It was what it was. It was predictable. You are in danger of actually becoming a bit boring," Simon Cowell said.
"Ballads are boring," she said in response to a suggestion that she try a ballad one week.
Brooke White played piano on the Beatles' last single released, "Let It Be." It's a bit boring, but the judged dug it.
"It was one of the best performances of the night," Cowell said.
David Hernandez apparently put himself through college working...in a pizza parlor. He performed "I Saw Her Standing There." Jackson thought Hernandez put too much vocal flourish in it. Cowell was even more blunt.
"That was corny version bordering on desperate," Cowell said. "It just wasn't very cool."
Syesha Mercado is first up. Her new look is so Janet Jackson circa "Rhythm Nation." She picks "Got to Get You into My Life," a song the Fab Four recorded in 1966, but didn't release as a single until until 1976. It's filled with horns and a lot of brass from Mercado.
" It was a nice arrangement. It started a little rough, but by the middle you got into it," Randy Jackson said.
Chikezie Eze tackled "She's a Woman." It was a song he hoped to "put my own funk on it." The arrangement began very jug band-ish before Eze began to channel the late James Brown and actually rocked out.
"I was thoroughly entertained. Who knew?" Jackson said. "I'm really surprised I actually agree with these two," and exasperated Simon Cowell said. "I thought you were terrific."
Host Ryan Seacrest said the "Idol" producers have waited seven seasons for this to happen, and tonight's the night: "Idol" contestants have the chance to sing from the Lennon-McCartney songbook.
But what songs should they tackle?
And which classic would pair up best with which wanna-be?
We await your input in the comments below.
David Archuleta already cooed his way through "Imagine" by John Lennon — a taste of what's to come...
Last season's runner-up Blake Lewis started off. He was never the strongest of singers on the show, but his personality and style come through on the song (wish I could say the same about "Idol" winner Jordin Sparks; she was molded into a Brittney clone on her debut release).
36 million votes. David Cook was the first to secure a spot. David Archuleta got slot two. Jason Castro was also safe.
Brooke White was the first female into the top 12. Syesha Mercado was also safe.
Kady Malloy was the first to be ejected tonight. She was off key in her swan song reprise of "Who Wants to Live Forever."
David Hernandez and Michael Johns are both in the top 12 as well. Luke Menard is a goner.
So with more attention being paid to "American Idol" contestants' private lives — both on the show in the form of personal questions and off the air in blogs and videos — there's a good chance someone might be outed as gay during competition. We've got black and female presidential candidates, but is America ready to vote for its first gay "Idol"?
Much speculation has been the result of this seemingly impromptu online video by contestant Danny Noriega, in which — after belting a melismatic verse and chorus of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools" — he freestyle raps a little song ...
"Idol" has been pretty good at defusing any scandals the minute they pop up. They had Carley Smithson talk about her previous record deal. David Archuleta mentioned his "Star Search" title and previously performing in front of first season "Idol" contestants including Kelly Clarkson.
Think they'll be talking about David Hernandez's previous gig as a stripper allegedly not afraid of going "the full Monty"?
Luke Menard's falsetto actually sounded pretty good on the Wham!" hit Waking Me Up and Go-Go."
Randy Jackson thought it was a little bit corny. Paula Abdul was surprised about the song choice. Simon Cowell thought it was weak and a bit girlie. "You're not going to make it into the final 12," Cowell predicted
The scandals are already piling up for this season's contestants on "American Idol." It now appears David Hernandez was a stripper for "mostly male" clientele in Phoenix before he quit to pursue the televised singing competition. That's after two other contestants may have some nude photos somewhere out there ...
The second ‘‘American Idol’’ charity event is set for April 9, with a lineup that includes Bono, Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood.
Last season's runner-up Blake Lewis started off. He was never the strongest of singers on the show, but his personality and style come through on the song (wish I could say the same about "Idol" winner Jordin Sparks; she was molded into a Brittney clone on her debut release). 
