American Idol: Lose to Win

On tonight’s episode of American Idol we will find out which of the ladies will move on to the Final Four show next week. Will Janelle make it through? Will the judges use their save tonight? Will Nicki’s boobs be allowed to rest this evening? Let’s find out.

In keeping with the Idol homingcoming theme of each results show, Clay Aiken joins us this evening. Granted, he lost to Reuben in Season 2, but I challenge any one of you to come up with the titles of 2 songs Mr. Studdard has released since then. Probably sounds like I’m a Clay fan… probably sounds like I bought his Measure of a Man CD when it was released in 2003…probably also sounds like I still belt the words to “Invisible” when it comes on my iPod. I’ll never tell. Annnnyway, Clay doesn’t seem to have any new songs/albums in the works so he joins us tonight to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Water” which is a song he pretty much owned as an Idol competitor. Nicely done, but it seems like all of the other Idol alumns have performed new music and promoted new albums on these results shows. Wonder how he feels about that...

Paula is also in the house! As Ryan kills 40 minutes of the show talking to each contestant about last night’s performances, Paula shows up during Candice’s portion. She gets a gets a standing ovation (straight up) and she tells Candice she was really moved that Candice would choose to share her vocals on a song that’s been a best friend to Paula for so long. Aw…. I love Paula. Bring her back!

Also getting some surprise praise from a diva? Janelle. Seems Dolly Parton was watching her performance of “Dumb Blonde” and sent in a note telling Janelle not to feel about the judges’ comments on her rendition.  Dolly goes on to say that Janelle is very talented and special and signs off by saying “I will always love you.” That’s just fantastic. So happy that Janelle received that message. I'm sure she really needed to hear that.

The final performance of the evening comes from Season 3 winner, Fantasia. Now the last time I saw her on Idol was during last year’s finale with Joshua Ledet...and she scared the hell out of me. Tonight however, she is very scaled back (for Fantasia) as she performs her new song “Lose to Win.” Good for her – I think this is her most powerful televised performance in a long time.

Results! Finally! Candice is the first contestant revealed safe (duh). She is followed immediately to the stools of safety by Angie and Amber. Whoa. That puts my beloved Janelle in the bottom 2, which I unfortunately expected, but Kree joining her? Outrageous! Shocking! Scandalous even! It’s pretty much safe to say that the judges won’t let Kree go home tonight…she is other worldly after all.

After a commercial break Ryan announces that Janelle has received the lowest number of votes. She sings “You Keep Me Hanging On” with emotion and conviction, but we know she’s not staying. To the judges’ credit, they do actually look like they are debating during the performance, but when the song ends Randy says the vote was not unanimous…and we say goodbye to Janelle. Sad face.

Next week our Final Four ladies continue what I expect to be a very close battle as we make our way closer to the finale. Now that Janelle has been eliminated, and Kree has been in the bottom 2, will the judges stop shoving Amber down our throats? Does Angie have a shot of joining Candice in the finale? Will we get a Nicki/Mariah duet before the season is over? Fat chance, but we’ll find out for sure soon. Til then!