A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

GIRL IF IT LASTS FOR AN HOUR, THAT'S ALRIGHT -- WE'VE GOT ALL NIGHT: Before we get to the results, can I just comment on how amused I was that they gave YDA a solo on a song about the joys of cheap wine? And that they basically skipped over the whole controversy of Paula's comments last night, other than having Ryan say that The Rumors Weren't True, whatever they were.

Okay, the results. Had you told me a month ago that Carly, Brooke, and Kristy Lee would all go before Syesha, I would not have believed you ... but then again, it's that thing about sheer competence I said. Her sin on the show has been excessive ambition (trying to out-Fantasia Fantasia and out-Whitney Whitney), but she's never been bad. Still six times in the at-risk group without being eliminated* is a record -- not even Nikki McKibbin had been threatened that many times. [*Recognizing that others have noted that Seacrest never actually said "you are the bottom two" last night, but I'm struggling for a good reason why they'd have manipulated the ordering last night.]

I originally pegged her for final three, and while I obviously underestimated David Cook's staying power, that prediction would have me feeling good now ... except for the fact that Clifford wasn't even in the bottom two this week. Indeed, he's only been in the bottom group once -- when he did "Fragile" in Year You Were Born Week. Neither of the Davids, mind you, have been in the bottom group even once. In other words, based on voting patterns, it's hard imagining Syesha surviving next week -- which apparently will be based on the practically themeless theme of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".

Re Brooke: I mean, it was over -- either this week or next. She was too boxed in by her stylistic limitations -- which means that she wasn't going to win this show, but could have an interesting career on the WXPN/"adult album alternative" circuit where she is not asked to stretch. I have to say, it was so appropriate that she messed up a song opening one last time on her emotional farewell ...

(this post was edited Thursday morning to include the actual results.)