AI 7.4 Eliminations - You Will Never Cross My Mind

One more Idol is going home tonight - but not until after a bad production number by the ensemble cast. The only thing that made this really bad version of 9 to 5 even a little bit tolerable is the look on Simon's face when they all came and swarmed the judge's stand. I think he rather enjoyed Carly sitting on his end of the table and wouldn't mind if she just stayed there for the rest of the night.

After the usual recap Ryan starts handing out safe seats on the couch.

Michael Johns is safe.
David Archuleta is safe.
Carly Smithson is safe - but only after some teasing by Ryan.

Time to fast forward past the stupid call-in show.

Then the winners of The Next Great American Band get the chance to perform. I only watched a few episodes of that show, but I was pretty impressed with what the Clark Brothers could do on just a 6-string, steel guitar, and mandolin. I'm not a huge fan of country, but these guys fairly cook on This Little Light of Mine. Cool.

David Cook is safe. Duh.
Ramiele Malubay is the first contestant on the uncomfortable loser stools.
Kristy Lee Cook has a note from her mother saying please let her sit on a stool. Not really, but she gets to sit on one anyway.

Now there's a retrospective on Bucky Covington, Phil Stacey, and Bo Bice, all currently residing and musicing in Nashville.

Syesha Mercado is safe.
Jason Castro is safe.
That leaves Brook White in the bottom three which should not be.

And it's nearly a miracle - Brook gets Simon to apologize for being Simon.

The good news is that Brook never has to go sit on the world's most uncomfortable stool.

They wrap up the non-idol part of the show with an 'Idol Gives Back' video and a performance by Dolly Parton. Dolly is not as on her game as she once was. She looks unhealthy because she's lost so much weight. She was always tiny (most of her was anyway) but now she looks emaciated. But it's interesting to me that for the second time tonight there's a song about Jesus on a show about Idols. Oh the irony. Dolly sounds only kinda fair-to-middling on Jesus and Gravity. What a weird song.

Ryan ends up sending Brook back to the couch first. That leaves just Kristy and Ramiele up for elimination which makes me very happy, but Ramiele is pouting like a two-year-old who wants a lollypop.

And finally!!! it's time to say goodbye to Ramiele Malubay. I think it's a pity that she stayed this long with better singers going home before she did, but I still wish her all the best. She seems like a very nice girl and will probably make a great waitress at her local Denny's. (I know - that wasn't nice. She should just keep her singing to family parties and karaoke from now on. She is not a professional quality singer.)

That's it for tonight - I'll opt for shutting off my Tivo before Ramiele sings her swan song.