I know so many secret things...

I have no comment right now on many things. But I can tell you that in no fashion showdown should a man, even if he is Steven Tyler, wear a poet blouse. Has no one watched Seinfeld?

Ryan is trying out a new hairstyle which is very reminiscent of David Beckham's new hair style from the new Pepsi commercial. So many synergies in this crazy world. Ryan, I like it.

The Idols attend a Brit week party. Fun bits but weird actual party.

Carole King medley. Lauren and Haley rocked and James once again soared.

To recap my reaction from last night, Jacob and Scotty should be in bottom 3. Casey would join them because James was by far best and Haley and Lauren did so well. Many of my readers are commenting that they don't see the breakout star. I disagree. With the changes in the themes, judges, addition of Jimmy Iovine and because I think Jimmy and the AI executive team will take a lot more control over the talent, this year's contestants have been able to clearly sing their style and identify themselves. So now, half of the figuring out is done. And as much as we thought the past winners could become stars, right after winning, only those that developed their image, committed themselves to a genre and created real hits (Kelly, Carrie, Daughtry) became stars. I always wanted Carrie to win in her season, but in no way, shape or form, did she actually seem destined for the super stardom she has now when she won.

Results: Haley to the center of the stage. Ryan now introduces Jimmy's take on the night's performances. Jimmy thinks Haley has one of the best voices on the stage but she doesn't really know who she is as an artist. Haley is not happy with that comment. I do think she knows who she is. She is safe.

Scotty. One of his finest showings for Scotty range. Jimmy saya he is a phenom, and compares him to Johnny Cash, but is worried he might be too subtle. THERE IS NOTHING SUBTLE about him. He just does not have the range to sing with power. Ryan stalls in his result.

Lauren. Man she is gorgeous. Agree with Jimmy that Lauren's confident poise is winning. Last night she felt like a winner. She needs to hang tight.

Casey. He is a talent, but last night may have been one too many stylized performances. Jimmy is spot on that Casey growled too much last night but that he is safe. Casey needs to hang tight.

James. Last night was amazing. Jimmy thinks James is better with a melody than a heav metal song. He is a contender to win. Agreed. James is safe.

Jacob. Jimmy hated the outfit and thinks he could go home. Jimmy thinks they need to be compared against each other.

Lauren is safe. Jacob, Scotty and Casey in the bottom 3. Yeah, I called it.

This new Bruno Mars is my summer song. Done. If you see me this summer, this song will be on. Of course I never do nothing, but I can dream.

As Ryan says, the results are in random order, Jacob is safe (so he was actually the bottom 2, not Scotty). Casey is going home.

In my opinion, Jacob and Scotty could have gond before him, but Casey got an opportunity to share his voice,talent and stardom with all. There is nothing to be sad about. What a clever guy going out to hug and kiss everyone. Joy. This season has been joy.

Interesting fact. Last night's episode was up 12% from this time last year. Who needs Simon Cowell?

Enjoy this weekend of pop culture mania. I can't wait to see the dress, and I do think it will be THE DRESS, my friends. AMAZING JOY!!!!!!!!!

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...they bring joy.

Carole King, Really?

No I didn't watch The Voice, yes it sounds good, yes Blake Shelton is really that hot and charming. Yes I wish my DVR was not exploding from the last 25 episodes of Oprah or I would try a new show. Yes it sounds like Simon Cowell may be shaking in his boots a bit with this competitive coaching talent search.

There, it's said.

Now for the JLo / Sty Fashion Showdown. Look JLo: Gold and nude mixed materials mini dress with long straight hair. Look STy: It looks like grey rubberized pants with a light gold metallic button down shirt and a burnished metallic leather jacket. Metal on metal on metal. JLo wins for not doing what Sty did.

As you might be able to tell from my title, I am scared of this week's theme. After having wide themes like songs from the movies, post 2000, etc, forcing a specific singer songwriter's songs who in my opinion sounds a lot older than the songs of Elton John scares me. Why not just do singer songwriter theme? That works for all!

Wow Babyface joins Jimmy to mentor. And the contestants are dueting as well as performing solo.

Jacob -- "Oh No, Not my Baby" He seems really beaten down and Jimmy thinks he is in jeopardy. Cute preppy outfit. Fun, good energy. Goes wild on the riffs. I wish I knew the song. Steven liked that he shook his tailfeather. Agree with JLo that the vocal wasn't perfect but the performance was strong. Randy liked how he sang. He's trying which is great. B

Lauren -- "Where you Lead" (Otherwise known as the amazing Gilmore Girls theme song). Last week she was told by the judges to stretch herself, I don't feel she has played it safe per se. Babyface helped her stretch. I can't explain but this girl is my soul mate. I am always worried about hitting the high note. Really. Jimmy brings in Miley as a surprise for Lauren. Miley gives her a great talking to about getting over the negativity. Smart confidence booster. I thought she seemed super polished in this performance and comfortable performing. Sweet arrangement. JLo tells everyone to clap because she pushed her voice. Randy liked her swagger and said she threw down the gauntlet even though he didn't love the song choice. Steven made her cry with his words of encouragement and pride in the break in her voice. This girl is for realz. A-

Duet between Haley and Casey. "I Feel the Earth Move" AI is banking on these combos. I hope they duet on the tour. They really compliment each other. Haley looks great. Love their jam. So much energy and the style of Casey's voice was exactly how he should record music. Steven called out Casey for showing how in love with Haley he is.

Scotty -- Had a rough week last week. "You Got a Friend" Jimmy and Babyface tell him to pull away from the twang a bit. He is going for the emotional button. Smart stripped down opening. Look I love this song, but it sounds old no matter who sings it. Better focus on his vocals made me realize his vocals are weaker than they come across in a fast song. His best vocal showing, but too little too late for me? Why did he have to raise his eyebrows before the last line? So hokey! Randy thought it was practically flawless. What? Steven thought his voice was at its best. JLo complimented his storytelling. He is a ham. Loved Ryan making fun of his eyebrow raise. B-

James -- "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" James takes on a love song. Babyface was blown away. Jimmy was blown away. This is a moment. Do you hear the power of this guy's voice? How can you compliment Scotty when you hear this? His range, his talent is remarkable. I want to be as cool as JLo when she dances along. She is so gorgeous. I can't wait for the James Durbin / Steven Tyler duet in the finale. Look if he could stay on key in that on his breaking point range of his voice -- INCREDIBLE. I was blown away. Steven let us know he made out with a girl to this song. JLo thought it was magical and pointed out his consistency. Randy loved his versatility and called him out as the winner. That might have been a bit too far, but I agree that this guy is a star. A

Sweet touching moment backstage with James dedicating his performance to his wife.

Scotty and Lauren duet (surprise!) "Up on the Roof" Country singers love a duet. Lauren is so great at adding her style to a song. She blew Scotty away. He was flat and could not compete with her. JLo said she sang her brains off. I don't think she wanted to compliment Scotty.

Who was the little girl on Steven's lap?

Casey sings "Hidey Ho" No idea how to spell that. Very stylistic, fun staging. Many times I am not a fan of the dramatic on this show, but Casey has managed to sing with a lot of drama, perform with a lot of drama, and still over the weeks has also shown me enough of his voice and talent (especially in the duets with Haley) that I now understand he won't record with melodrama, just with spunk. He is an entertainer. Steven loved the performance. "You make my scalp itch it was so good." B+

Haley -- "Beautiful" Babyface called her a good artist. Almost a technical snafu. Ed thinks she doesn't "get" the songs she is singing. You know what? She has a joy in her face, a smile when she sings because she is so at ease that I think it makes it seem like she doesn't have the gravitas. She is happy. She sang this with such ease and comfort and she does not choose an easy path to sing with. Her vocal choices are challenging. Great song choice for her. If the judges criticize her after the compliments they gave Scotty, I don't even know what to say anymore. Steven says he saw God while she sang. JLo said she has one of the best voices in this competition. Randy said he didn't love the beginning. Shut it Randy. Excellent job Haley!!!!!! A

Duet from Jacob and James. "I'm into something good" They did not want to duet. Cute but so corny. I could not stop staring at JLo's legs. Love the diva ending.

James won the night with Haley barely a half step behind. Lauren and Casey were strong. Jacob and Scotty are in the bottom, I think, with may Jacob headed home though I am ready to kick Scotty to the backroom of Tootsie's (a fine Nashville establishment).

Jacob B
Lauren A-
Scotty B-
James A
Casey B+
Haley A

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...or being so good that you make Steven Tyler's scalp itch.

Someone is bye bye

Wow last night had a lot going on right? To re-cap, I definitely want Lauren, Casey and James to stay. I got some more insight into Jacob's botched performance from EW -- read below:

The mystery of Jacob’s botched cue: On TV, it looked like Jacob was perhaps overcome with emotion at the outset of “Dance with My Father”; but, for what it’s worth, it was clear to everyone in the studio that something had gone seriously wrong musically. As Jacob began singing, the strings section situated behind Jacob began plunking to a drum beat at odds with the song; mere seconds later, the strings and pretty much the whole band stopped playing at all, save for a piano emphatically delivering the song’s melody line. Finally, for a brief second, Jacob stopped singing and shot a quick glance at band director Ray Chew — as if to say “what the heck is going on?” — and the air kinda left the room. But Jacob soldiered on, and when he hit the chorus, the audience spontaneously began applauding him, pretty much willing him to make it through.

Therefore, I also want Jacob to stay another week. And I like Haley, so as always, I am fine with Stefano leaving. Scotty gets one more shot in my book. Last shot.

So night opens with the JLo / STy Fashion Showdown. Look JLo: Black sequin mini dress. Look STy: Black leather pants, black long sleeve shirt. Winner: STy looked slick and Randy definitely did not win with his American flag t-shirt.

Lauren, Haley, Jacob and Stefano sing Train's Hey Soul Sister. Fun, easy performance.

Casey, Scotty and James get to perform Coldplay's Viva La Vida. They loved the cheesy hand movements. Was it just me or was this Scotty's best performance? Him not overdoing the accent was excellent. It was good but also so funny.

So now, results. Casey stands. He is a lot skinnier than his large head makes him appear. Jacob stands. Loved Ryan making sure everyone knew Jacob's situation last night. Casey is safe and Jacob is in the bottom 3. Not surprised but I do hope it isn't because of the botch but because of the old feeling song choice.

David Cook takes the stage wit ha brand new song entitled "The Last Goodbye." This song could grow on me. I liked his first album, so let's see. He is still the most poised, best personality contestant the show has had.

Cute video of the gang going to a baseball game, bowling and spa. Cute bit.

Lauren, James and Stefano head to the center. Stefano is in the bottom 3 again. Lauren and James are safe. So my wishes so far have come true.

Scotty and Haley to the center. Wow the audience went nuts over Haley. Ryan fakes out like Scotty was in the bottom 3. Haley is in he bottom 3 but then Ryan send her right back to safety. Wow, Stefano and Jacob. Stefano has been here almost every week, right?

Katy Perry performance of ET. Nice hologram appearance of Kanye. She sang well. Crazy dance / light show. Boring song. Oh wait, Kanye was really there! I guess he was invited so it was good they let him in.

Ryan goes to Jennifer for her thoughts. She loved Jacobs moments and remarked on Stefano the wild card still being in it. Forgot he was the wild card. Steven reminds them how many people have gotten to see them perform. It is finally Stefano's time to go.

Ryan reminded us of his life threatening accident that we learned of in the auditions. Umm I totally forgot that too. I will give him props for trying hard. He was not complacent. Nice ending performance by Stefano of Stevie Wonder's Lately. He went out like a pro. James was crying a lot.

Next week is songs of Caroel King -- really? YIKES. Way to kill the modern streak.

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...unless you wear an American Flag shirt not on the 4th of July.

Top 7 Post Millenium

First of all, all I am doing is scanning the crowd looking for Ed and Mark who are there, which is making blogging terribly difficult. Second of all, the montage to Firework is making me cry. Third of all, JLo is so beautiful. Seriously, she has 10,000 hairstyles and I loved the bronzey sequin top and shorts she was rocking. JLo / STy Fahsion Showdown? Winner JLo for looking amazing. Side note that I used ot wear my hair in two hair pins like that as a girl. Thank you JLo for bringing it back.

So the Top 7 come out, but then Ryan brings back the girls who have been voted out so far to perform Pink's So What? Can I tell you? I totally forgot about Ashton and Karen! Naima was super aggressive. Ummm Paul came out in his crazy rose suit and did a terrible, terrible job and Pia tried to save it. By the way, I'm totally ok Pia is gone. I thought it was all over the place, but the judges liked it. Then again, what don't they like? Why does Steven Tyler need to lean over and speak out of JLo's mic instead of his own?

Quick side note about ex-judge Kara DioGuardi. She revealed in her book that she left Idol because she had gone through 3 unsuccessful rounds of IVF during the last season and wanted to be stress-free to try to have a baby. I can't say for sure that she was asked to stay, but if that was her reason for going, gotta give her props. Also explains the erratic crying when Big Mike sang This Woman's Work. Really sad.

Contestants make fun of each other in the pre-videos. Cute. They all make fun of how Scotty holds his mic sideways.

Scotty sings "Swingin'" by Leann Rimes. Came out this past year. Terrible song that was not a hit. Come on Scotty! I've realized what it is about Scotty that bothers me. I do not think he is original at all. He may seem original to those that don't know country, but if you do, it doesn't feel like Scotty is bringing anything new to the table (and I can't get over how he copies Josh Turner's style). I know he has tons of votes though so I might as well shut it. His voice sounds pretty good, but corny to switch octaves like that. Steven Tyler wants him to dance on the stage. JLo thinks he is a storyteller, BUT she says he should have stepped it up and pushed himself more. Randy AGREES that it was too safe and boring. YES! Finally the judges are critiquing. B-

Nice cutaway to the other contestants checking in with Scotty after his performance. They seem to think everyone votes for him anyway.

James Durbin -- His fellow contestants make fun of his scarf tail and backbends. Singing "Uprising" by Muse an Jimmy thought it was great to move away from cliche of James as heavy metal god. James gets a marching band and wears a crazy post-apocalyptic coat with tails. Another excellent showing of his voice and range. Can't wait to hear how it sounded in person. I thought it was super smart. JLo says the theatricality was amazing. Randy loves Muse (good to know, Randy). And supposedly Muse singer (and Kate Hudson baby daddy) Matt Bellamy told James to sing this. Randy called it best of the night even though he is second to go. A

Haley - Stefano admits they have a love/hate relationship (Haley says hate). Gossip is that Stefano went after Haley but then dumped her to go after Pia. Neither worked out. Haley chooses Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." Very wise decision, but risky because it is on the radio right now. Jimmy wants her to bring more emotion to it. I agree she needs to keep it serious and angry, no smiling but she doesn't get that and I think misses the mark on a performance level. A little shaky singing to start but then...fantastic change up in the middle adding more jazzy elements. Come on, great build. Ed explained his issue with her -- that she doesn't seem to understand what she is singing about. I think I am blinded by what she does with her voice and the ease she sings with. But maybe her jazzy inflections make it too upbeat? I really liked it because I like listening to her sing. Randy thought her choice was perfect to show her direction but that she went sharp. Steven thought it was well done. JLo said there were moments that she surpassed Adele. Umm did anyone notice how underwhelmed they all acted? I think she was just gypped. She deserved more enthusiasm. A-

Jacob gets made fun of for his "diva" act. He is finally singing Luther -- "Dance with My Father" Jacob breaks down in rehearsal and Jimmy sympathizes because he lost his Dad young. I am now crying. Can we give a shout out to Richard Marx (yes that Richard Marx) who wrote this song? Special note that there was a serious technical problem for Jacob. Ed says they could hear the band was off in the beginning and Jacob obviously looked thrown. Despite that, I thought the emotional build was great. Judges thought emotionally it was a great performance, but they weren't jumping up and down on the vocals. Randy wants him to go over the top and bring back the church kid. Jacob says drums in the track threw him off not emotions. Interesting to see reactions now that they contestants are getting criticism. I am worried for him. This was supposed to be modern week with songs from after 2000 and he picks Luther who will always feel 1990. I wish he had done Adele, that would have been a risk. Thank you Ryan for acknowledging the technical glitch! Judges just glossed it over. B

Mark Ballas from Dancing with the Stars and current boyfriend of Pia Toscano is in the audience and says Casey is his favorite. He is a tool.

Loved Casey's bit with the contestants making fun of his beard. Casey picks Maroon 5's "Harder to Breathe." He rocks it up. He is an original and always adds his twist to it, but it felt a bit aggressive to me. He cutes it up at the end by singing directly into JLo's face and giving her a peck on the cheek. She is embarrassed and cute. JLo loved the performance. Randy loved the surprise element that Casey throws in by taking chances which is what he criticizes Jacob for. Steven drops the F bomb telling Casey how good he was. A-

**Important note from Ed and Mark -- during the commercial break, Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe comes out to talk to judges and in this case, Nigel gets on his knees and begs Steven not to swear. WOW.

Ryan came out with Casey's beard on, funny. Another fun behind the scenes tidbit -- glam is the key word with this judges panel. During the commercial breaks, each judge gets a glam squad applying make-up, fixing hair (Randy, really?) Literally 3 people attending to each judge. Crazy!

Stefano's bit confirms that he is a ladies man (but I think in actuality he appeals more to the men, you know?). Picks Neyo's "Closer." Jimmy tells him not to whine or beg or plead but to be sexy and strut. He hit the nail on the head! That is one of Stefano's annoying qualities. This guy is scrappy. He is fighting with all he's got. Great song choice, great start. Oh, but then, why mix choreography with shaking hands of the audience? He lost me by the end. It was too spastic and unfocused. I wanted to love it. Something fell short. Randy thought it would be too jerky but thought he took his time an smoothed it out. Steven liked the dancing. JLo liked the swag. Lacking some enthusiasm from the judges again, maybe that is their way of being critical? B

Lauren -- I can't wait to hear what she sings!! "Born to Fly" by Sara Evans, not a great pick. Jimmy challenges her with Rock Mafia, Miley's producers and Lauren holds back. She has a fear of not being able to hit the high notes. Interesting. Great change up in second verse. But it didn't win me like she has in the past. Steven says "Anybody who doesn't know that they can fail is bound to win." Huh? Steven wishes she had picked Alison Krauss, Faith Hill, Shania for him. Agree with Alison and Faith, but no Shania for her in my opinion. Judges are so encouraging! JLo tells her not to be afraid - that she can hit the high notes and to just do it. Randy tells her to believe, she can do it. I believe in this girl but she needs to believe in herself more. B+

So what did this week boil down to? When contestants are this talented, the ones who stand out take risks and connect to the audience with unbridled energy. James performs like no other, Casey challenges himself every time. They are fearless. Lauren's fear may cripple her, but I'm hoping she can get out from under it. For me, James, Casey and Lauren must stay in. Scotty is playing it too safe, but most likely has a lot of votes. Stefano was smart about song choice and pushing his limits, so the audience may react well to that. So unfortunately this week might be between Jacob and Haley. Haley doesn't connect and Jacob doesn't take risks. I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Scotty B-
James A
Haley A-
Jacob B
Casey A-
Stefano B
Lauren B+

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...and Lauren Alaina -- stop being afraid!!

Results America

As JLo has said, it is America's choice. And this year is the toughest ever. There are at least 6 contestants who are so talented, but they are not all competing in the same genre. So in normal world, they would not have to compete against each other. They would have different radio stations, itunes categories, music video channels, etc.

Really , Scotty and Lauren sing country together? Again? One of my favorite Lady A songs. Lauren was natural, Scotty seemed awkward. I spent a night this weekend singing this song like crazy so I understand exactly what they are doing. Oh Simon Fuller, if I meet you I will tell you exactly how smart I think you are. America is made up of country fans and you know it. So smart. I am now convinced that Lauren and Scotty are the top vote getters this season. I know it because I know Simon knows it.

Okay, but my point was that Idol is trying to show that all genres count. But in showcasing Lauren and Scotty that way, they also know who makes the show a success. Country fans.

Yes, we celebrate all, but country, we also cater to you. Let me explain what makes country fans relevant. Country is about the voice. Not a beat hiding a voice, no auto tune, no electric guitar even. So if you love country, you aqppreciate voice, and therefore, you appreciate Idol.

Ford Zombie nonsense.

Hayley and Casey, the couple supposedly sing Moaning. WOW what a great pairing. If Hayley survives tonight, she is now in a magical place because the pairing of the two of them is phenomenal. WOW WOW WOW. Fantastic. Standing O from the judges. They loved it. I loved it. I loved her. I want them to get married and live happily ever after too.

What? Ryan gives them results right away. Casey, Hayley, Scotty and Lauren on the stage. Scotty is safe, Lauren is safe, Casey is safe, Hayley is bottom 3. Makes sense from last night. Okay. OMG I can't wait for you all to hear this song from Kelly and Jason Aldean. It is awesome.

Can I ask any of my fellow country fans something? I love country. Old, new, classic, fusion. Do you like Scotty? If you know what George Strait and Josh Turner and Randy Travis sound like, is he enough for you? Is he not an also ran? Please give me your comments.

Rob Reiner gave a speech to the contestants about acting. Funny bit.

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson. He is a huge star in country. Her voice is beyond. She can sing anything, but please god let her accept the help of a stylist. I listen to all of her albums all of the time. This song has been number one on the country charts for weeks. God I love country music. Cute bit with Ryan reminding all of Kelly's love for Casey.

Preview of Cowboys and Aliens. No idea what this movie is, but it stars Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Harrison Ford, directed by Jon Favreau of Iron Man. OK, works for me.

Jacob, Paul, Stefano and James sing the Song of Silence. 2 of them are in the bottom 2. Paul and Stefano ideally. Paul, why did you ever wear those kitschy suits? You could have won me over. But now I want you to go home.

Results, James is safe, Stefano is in the bottom 3, Paul is in the bottom 3 and Jacobs is safe. Perfect results so far. Paul, Stefano and Hayley in bottom 3. Paul or Stefano should go for me.

Rihanna is up singing the song she sang with Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland at the ACM's. California King Bed is a fantastic song. She sings it so well. Breaks my heart this song.

Ummm but no Ronald McDonald hair with a nude colored dress, thanks.

Results. Since the top 13, only girls have left this season. WOW, I did not realize that. Hayley is safe. Paul is going home, Stefano is safe. No shock. He is fun, but it is his time to go. He is now a known name. Paul McDonald. He sings Maggie May as his swan song.

All is good in Idol world.

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...but everyone should be obsessed with Kelly Clarkson's voice.

Top 8 sing the movies...

So Pia is no longer with Idol. As the week passed, I came to realize that her slightly robotic and cold personality plus her choice of diva songs probably kept kids from voting for her. And then when Nigel Lythgoe said that she was not actually a front runner in the votes, but a middle sitter, it seemed that it wasn't as big of a shock as I thought. In the end it will be better for her career that she is now an underdog and her rabid fans will want to support every move to prove the haters were wrong. I'm not sure I agree that she should have gotten voted off for lack of personality because I will say Carrie did not have a personality when she was on the show, but look at her now. Then again, Carrie sang country and country fans will help you win this show. Me included. Okay, analysis done. Time to move forward.

JLo / STy fashion showdown. Look JLo: a taupe colored silk mini dress with some weird tulle poof coming of her left thigh. Look STy: White skinny bootcut jeans with another floral blouse. I'm sick of STy's florals, but the poof is all wrong so STy wins again!

Ryan calls out JLo's People Magazine cover for World's Most Beautiful Woman. I will say that seeing her back in the spotlight, I have to agree she is a contender for that spot.

Paul -- He is wearing a crazy red rose vine embroidered black suit. Crazy. Sings "Old TIme Rock and ROll" from Risky Business. Good energy choice, but then the dancing begins. Oh and a blonde girl comes out to play the sax. Weird. Look he will be great on the tour, but this felt too kitschy for me. Steven hit on the sax player. B-

As the judges give their feedback, want to point out some thoughts on the judges. They need to be a bit more critical of the contestants so that we (or some voters at home) can differentiate between the contestants and decide who isn't doing a good job. America needs help especially with such a good group of contestants.

Lauren -- Smart girl picks Miley Cyrus by Hannah Montana. Jimmy says she is going to bury Miley on this song. And that with this song, she could steal all of Pia's votes (true). WillIam is back to mentor by the way and funny too. Loved the slide up on The Climb! Fantastic arrangement, great vocals. I loved it. JLo loved it. Randy loved it. No brainer Steven loved it. It is a little uncomfortable when he says "You move me beyond tears." He loves this girl. She is 16 people, what a voice. A

Stefano -- End of the Road by Boyz to Men. I love this song. I was okay with it, not wild about it. But when he started killing it at the end, and by killing it I mean going off and hitting crazy notes, he pulled me back in. He didn't win the night, but he did good. Randy named dropped that he knows the Boyz to Men singer. Steven said this is not the End of the Road for him. JLo said that was the sh**. Umm watch your language Miss Beautiful Woman of the World. B+

Scotty -- Country Classic "I Cross My Heart" by George Strait. He also called Jimmy Iovine "Dude" which did not bode well. Smart move once again, Scotty. Every country lover knows this song either themselves or from their Grandma's. But it did not impress me much. Felt a little old for me. And he needs to stop bending his head to one side. I don't know how I feel about this -- judges, can you help me? I know it wasn't perfect, so help me by telling me what was wrong. Steven says he loves his voice and he picked the just right song. JLo admits that America wants them to be tougher (is she reading my mind?) But she says they are all so damn good. So she gives some criticism and says it was not her favorite song choice for him. Randy went off the rails. His motto is "if it ain't broke don't even consider fixing it." Umm then why tell Pia to sing an uptempo song? Randy then declares that with Scotty "A Star is Born." What? This is too much praise! Forget it, I don't want your help. B

Casey -- Has he lost a lot of weight? Ummm he is wearing an ascot. He sings Nat King Cole's Nature Boy. Jimmy wants him to go with Phil Collins's I Can Feel It In The Air Tonight. Jimmy strongly disagrees with Casey's choice. I hope there are a lot of Moulin Rouge fans out there because this is creepy. He is making weird faces. Yikes Casey - is this too weird? I get the musicianship, totally and think he is incredible. But he needs to be careful. Steven and Randy give it a standing ovation. JLo reluctantly joins them it seems. JLo hopes America gets that he is special. Randy thinks he is an artist. Steven said he is sophisticated. Okay, Casey, let's see how sophisticated America is. C+ from me. Too much artistry doesn't work for me I want to be entertained. A for artistry though if there was a separate vote. Oh my god, he is crying in the off stage interview. He is so cute.

Haley -- "Call Me" by Blondie. Good song choice. Still think she has the most modern, easy singing style. A bit weird in her performance, which really makes it hard to not mock her. She does have a seriously good voice, but it felt a bit amateurish. Randy didn't love it, it felt karaoke. Steven agreed with Randy that it wasn't her best. JLo made a plea to everyone to keep Haley in so there isn't just one girl left. Song choice. B

Jacob -- He should not have been in the bottom 3 last week. Jimmy thinks it was because of his preaching comment - he says that Jacob hasn't won and should not preach to America yet. True dat. Jacob wanted to sing To Dream the Impossible Dream -- corny said Jimmy and WillIam. Agreed. So they suggest Bridge Over Troubled Water. Is Jacob wearing blush and lip gloss? Miss Diva was in full effect, but the voice is just so incredible. Wowzers on the end. Steven said crechendos instead of crescendos and innuendos instead of diminuendos. The judges loved it. A-

James -- AAACCCKK I have no sound. Time Warner Cable, this is a problem! Once again, Jimmy disagrees with song choice. He argues that Jimmy can't tell a hit song from just hearing it on the piano and Jimmy STRONGLY disagrees with that. Umm let's have some respect people! James wants us all to give metal a chance. Okay, James, let's hear it. I don't know what song this is because I had no sound but I think it is called heavy metal. I appreciate heavy metal if the singer is actually singing. I even appreciate a scream if it is sung. James does that which is great. Not my favorite performance but just like with Casey, I know this guy is super talented. B

Before you re-read my rankings, let me explain who I voted for. I do have a feeling about certain performances being off tonight (Casey, James) but not because the contestants didn't do a great job. It is because I felt the style they were singing was off - maybe I don't love their true selves, maybe I love their Idol selves. But I voted based on who I want to keep in this competition. So Lauren got 4 votes, and then Casey, James and Jacob 3 each. And I gave Haley 2 because I want another girl still there too. Scotty is getting enough from others, so I didn't bother. So basically I would be fine with Paul or Stefano going. Stefano was not terrible tonight, but I just don't need to see more from him.

Here are tonight's grades: Paul B-

Lauren A

Stefano B+

Scotty B

Casey C+

Haley B

Jacob A-

James B

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...or a poof on a dress.

I have no idea what will happen tonight

First off, shout out to my fellow Friday Night Lights fans -- first episode of last season airs next Friday. Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose! And now to the JLo/STy Fashion Showdown. Look JLo: Grey silk harem pants with a cummerbund waist and a red silk v-neck blouse and a teeny tiny tight high bun on her head. Look STy: Skinny python or python printed pants, black tank and white leather jkt. STy wins because I don't like teeny tiny tight buns. To re-cap, I felt like Scotty should go, but Haley may because she has been in the bottom before and didn't blow it out of the water. James did not have a great week either. However, I really don't think I agreed with America, zeitgeist was that Pia and Scotty ruled the night. So we'll see. Night opens with a rock medley. They are all good and cool, so tonight's group number doesn't feel as contrived. Russell Brand visited the gang to help them with stage presence. I just saw Arthur and I liked it a lot. I think he is funny and now shows this charming side as well. Cute segment. Casey, Stefano and Lauren head to center of stage. Kelly Clarkson tweeted that she is in love with Casey. How great is that. Lauren is safe, Casey is safe, Stefano is bottom 3. Constantine performs. He has been starring in Broadway's Rock of Ages and is great in it. Unfortunately he has not been asked to be in the movie version -- guess he can't compete with Tom Cruise and Julianne Hough as a singer? Tonight he does an awkward version of Unchained Melody. Not his best. He shows great singing, but bad arrangement. Now they show Gwen's segment of dressing the contestants or maybe just the girls. Good plug for her. Paul, Scotty and Pia head to center. Scotty is safe, is he the dorky kid that little girls vote for? I actually don't think he is super dorky, but that must have something to do with it. Paul is safe and Pia is in the bottom 3. WOW. That is crazy. Absolutely crazy. Judges are stunned, audience is stunned. Thanks Randy for making her do something up tempo. She better not be gone. Segment at TMZ that I had to forward because TMZ is against my morals. It is against my morals but I watched it. Was actually clever. James, Haley and Jacob to the center. Jacob is so cute. He is like a little adorable boy. James is safe, Haley is safe and Jacob is in the bottom 3. THIS IS INSANITY. JLo's jaw dropped to the floor. Stefano better be going or this will be a disaster. AAAAACCCKKKK. An 80 year old shirtless man just started singing on the stage. Seriously, despite the spray tan, makeup and 8 pack, he is 80 and this is crazy. I know he is a legend but a legend can retire or keep his shirt on. Results. It HAS to be Stefano. Jacob is safe even though Ryan really played with his words. PIA is going home. This is insanity. Absolutely insane. Jennifer says, "I have no idea what just happened here. I'm shocked, I'm angry." Randy says, "He is gutted." Steven says "A mistake is one thing, but lack of passion is unforgivable. They're wrong." This is a HUGE mistake. Should Casey have been saved? Yes. But if America knew how to vote, the judges would not have had to use it then and could have used it now. She has nothing to regret. She did everything she should have. Ryan asks her to sing. You know what? Daughtry got eliminated too. Come on Pia, become a star and show these losers who did not vote for you they were wrong. Have to go, can't believe this. Don't be ashamed of your obsessions, but be ashamed if you did not vote last night. You could have saved Pia.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame meets Fashion?

JLo / STy Fashion showdown: It ended after I saw STy's python printed blazer. Done, he wins for outrageous. SO many new factors / players this week. Surprise of the week, Gwen Stefani and her LAMB line are styling the contestants -- how much did they pay for this product placement? But in all honesty, broad theme with lots of options. However, this time, the show is a commercial for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame museum and the costumes that are at the Hall of Fame are put on display for Steven Tyler to do a demo video about the looks and the people who make up the Hall of Fame. WEIRD. Then Ryan tells us that willIam was brought in by Jimmy Iovine to help coach the contestants. One twist after another. Jacob is up first. He was going to sing Let's Get It On. However, he felt the song was too vulgar for his values -- he can't sing a song about doing the "nasty." So he switched to Man In the Mirror by Michael Jackson. Okay, sexual innuendo versus crotch grabbing? I do think the gospel undertones of MJ song will help him. Jacob then says if he ends up in the bottom three, it won't be because he sang the song bad or wrong, but because "America wasn't ready to look at themselves in the mirror." Wow. Was that Naima dueting with Jacob? Jacob was in full diva mode. Oh wait, that was Saidah (sp?) Garrett singing with him - amazing! She wrote that song! Wow, what an honor for Jacob. I thought he blew it out of the park, but the diva was in full mode tonight which can also feel over the top for me. B+ Haley finally sings Joplin. Piece of My Heart. A little too much growl for me. She needs to do the lesson where she stands in the mirror and watches herself sing. Stand still for a second. Oh this is going to be a problem for her. Haley, I'll always remember your Benny and the Jets but not sure what is going to happen to you this week. JLo says she is showing she is a contender. Randy liked it. Steven said nothing was wrong with it. Hmmm B- Casey was going to do "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" but switches to "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" by CCR. I say good choice. The bass is back out. Great mix of Casey singing and growling. He is such a musician. Randy reminded us that he played the bass. Steven totally backed me up that he is a true musician. Casey says he does feel added pressure because the judges saved him. I mean this guy is so cute. I love him. A- Lauren does Natural Woman by Aretha. Woah, tough pick. willIam says "Do you know what happens when you combine country and soul? C-O-U-N-T-R-O-U-L." Lauren is doing Gwen's mohawk look. I forgot to comment on the clothes! I like the sultry feel of this. She isn't screaming. But is the energy high enough? Steven called her "grow-ned up" JLo thought it was amazing. Randy thought it was solid. Agree, it was good, not great. B WHAT? Christian Slater is the house? James decides to slow it down. On Rock and Roll Hall of Fame week? Really? The title of this song is too long for me to write. George Harrison something. This is a miss for me. Boring. Of course he sings well, but his ears look really big and I am noticing them a lot because the song is boring. The judges see it as a risk. I don't think he will be voted off for this, but not my favorite. B- Scotty sings Elvis. This is a mimicry. Cute, like the denim on denim look but I can't take him seriously any more. If he was a huge star and he added this onto his show as an encore, I'd think it was clever. He is competing to be a big star. Umm little girls were allowed to run up onto the stage. Randy loved it. Steven said he is not "all hat, no cattle." Yes it was fun, but it was not a showcase for his voice. C+ WHAT? Christian Slater has a daughter. I am old. Pia does River Deep Mountain High by Tina Turner. Superbly difficult song to sing. And it did seem harder for her. She needed to intensely focus on singing. Yes she moved around but it felt premeditated. Not with ease. Steven called her a murderer, she killed it. "Pia you've got to know there are a million guys in a million bars having a million drinks about you tonight." Vocally she was still strong but something is lacking in movement. But not at all bad. B Stefano sings When a Man Loves a Woman and Ryan Tedder from One Republic produces it. The guy brought it. Lots of runs and oversinging, but somehow, he knows how to keep it modern? It doesn't sound like a mimicry. An artist of today would do an old standard this way. Agree with Randy that it was a bit jerky, and too quickly phrased. I can see that. In my mind, though he saved himself this week in my book. B+ Paul singing Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash. Jimmy and willIam tell him to do it crazy. I loved it. Instead of a mimicry, it was a musician going at it. Very stylistic. But the jam was major. Loved it. A- Jacob B+ Haley B- Casey A- Lauren B James B- Scotty C+ Pia B Stefano B+ Paul A- So Casey and Paul (surprise) rocked my world and Stefano surprised me again. So it may be time for Scotty to hit the road although Haley who has not been a fave may not have done enough to save herself. We'll see tomorrow with surprise performances! Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...and don't be all hat, no cattle.

It's Country Night Folks!

All my friends are in Vegas tonight and I am excited to watch via TV at least. I started by watching the red carpet show on GAC (Great American Country) channel which is being hosted by a guy named Stormy Warren, yep, Stormy. Country tends to have serious issues on red carpet fashion so it should be a riot. First off, a fashion round up.

Best dressed: Jennifer Nettles wearing Doo-Ri!! I had a little something to do with that happening and if I must say so myself, she looks amazing.

Carrie Underwood - not sure whose dress this is, but it is fresh, purple color and easy style.

Julianne Hough -- I know, she is cheesy, but the girl looks good tonight in this coral number. Hey, I'm crossing my fingers about her turn in Rock of Ages the movie, plus she is practically Mrs Ryan Seacrest, so I gotta give her props.

And now for worst -- I could go on and on with this, but I'm not going to even put a picture of the Judds with their red kool aid colored matching hair. Unfortunately many great designers will not loan dresses to country music stars, so it is a difficult situation from the get go, but still, when its bad, it is bad.

Miranda Lambert in a white grecian dress that is not flattering her at all. Oh hon, please have someone help you! Adore her talent, cringe at her style. Reba, meanwhile is wearing a rust colored silk shantung dress, not good. Lady Antebellum's Hilary Scott is wearing George Chakra, another usual on the country carpet. She looks fine, but so old for her age and is wrapped like a sausage in that dress! And finally Taylor Swift -- what is she 55? Terrible color, old school style, she probably can get real designers to dress her, come on!

Now onto the show...I heard that a lot of tonight's performances feature surprise duets -- Brad Paisley and Alabama open with an okay performance. Hosts for tonight are Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton. Reba is totally cheesy when she does this. But Blake is very handsome, engaged to Miranda Lambert, has a great voice and is actually funny. Umm but this script is tailored for hicktown USA and the jokes are super lame.

Sugarland is doing a show all night alongside this one over at Mandalay Bay. The big news is the duet with Rihanna, but we may see some more of my favorite friends.

Carrie comes out in a rocker chick look with pink hair and starts singing Undo It when out comes Steven Tyler to join her. Wow, wonder what Kara DioGuardi thinks of her song being sung by her replacement. Irony. Then they go into Walk This Way. Oh did I mention STy was wearing a white sateen suit with a duster coat? Carrie really held her own. Wow. She is a powerhouse.

Sugarland on stage singing their newest hit, Tonight. Jennifer's hair long is amazing. God that voice is unreal.

Is this an awards show? There have not been any awards yet. Hottie Dierks Bentley just hit the stage. Keith sings another love song for Nicole. Say it together...awww! "The traveling, the singing, it don't mean nothing without you." If I didn't love him, I would gag. Poor Nicole is sitting next to a lame seat filler.

Love Eric Church singing Drink a little Drink, Smoke a little Smoke. That's right people, that is what the song is called. Nashville, can't wait to hear this!

Song of the Year goes to Miranda Lambert's House That Built Me. Fantastic.

Taylor Swift sings Mean, a new single which I love. It's a banjo number all about someone calling her out for not being able to sing. And she can sing it. Very cute.

The Band Perry sings If I Die Young. Her voice is angelic. Best New Artist goes to The Band Perry. Record of the Year goes to The House the Built Me by Miranda. Now I know why they aren't showing a lot of awards - she is winning them all.

Miranda hands out Album of the Year since she is won this last year and she gets to give the award to Lady Antebellum whom she has beaten in basically every category this year. Wow Hillary Scott is really shoved into that dress. Yuck.

Sara Evans sings a song from Country Strong. Leighton sang it in the movie, thank god otherwise Gwyneth would have come out again. The audience loved it.

Donny and Marie Osmond came out to present. I just watched her on Oprah about her son's suicide and I bawled. She has had so much botox though, that her upper lip did not move the whole time. So scary. They present group of the year - I'd give it to Zac Brown, but Lady A win. I like Lady A, but Zac is awesome.

Nice Miranda comes out and sings A Heart Like Mine. Awesome song. "My Daddy cried when he saw my tattoo but said he loved me anyway..."

Here it is. Jennifer Nettles with Rihanna singing Rihanna's California King Bed. Speechless. Never heard Rihanna sound better. Jennifer can sing with anyone. OUTSTANDING. OUTSTANDING. Sugarland wins vocal duo of the year. Big surprise.

Male vocalist of the year - Brad Paisley. Martina and Reba sing not good songs.

Reese and Robert Pattinson come out to present Female Vocalist of the Year. Miranda and some others are nominated. Miranda wins! I'm going to see Water for Elephants.

Zac Brown Band performs with James Taylor. One of the best songs ever written. Wow, James Taylor is amazing. This song makes me cry. "I wanna see you again, but I'm stuck in colder weather. Maybe tomorrow will be better, can I call you then?" "You're a lover, I'm a runner and we go round and round." Keith Urban is literally on theedge of his seat, he is so into this performance. They end the song by phasing into Sweet Baby James by James Taylor. Gorgeous.

Ryan Seacrest comes out to hand out Entertainer of The Year which is fan voted. Taylor Swift wins. It is fan voted and she has a lot of fans. And she is a lot taller than Ryan Seacrest.

For those who don't appreciate country music, please watch four performances from tonight. Carrie Underwood with Steven Tyler, Sugarland with Rihanna and Zac Brown with James Taylor and Miranda Lambert. Then tell me what's not to love. I dare you.

Don't be ashamed of your obsessions...prove them right.