After tonight, we’re down to 6, so let’s recap how we got there.
To start the show, Simon explained the apparent smirk that immediately followed Chris expressing his best wishes to the families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. The show took the time to show that Simon was having a conversation with Paula at exactly the time that Chris was talking, and the smirk and following comment of “I don’t get it” was directed to Paula and no disrespect was meant.
Having cleared that up, the group performed “I’m Alright” by Jo Dee Messina.
Then they did a piece on the music that everyone listens to:
Melinda— Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin
Sanjaya— some country and blues
Blake— Incubus (I think— it was hard to hear)
Jordin— Fergie
Chris— Maroon 5, Jason Mraz (again, it was hard to hear)
Phil— Willie Nelson
LaKisha— Yolanda Adams
There was a second performer again tonight. This time it was Fergie, performing “Big Girls Don’t Cry”.
The Ford commercial tonight was A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran”. Sanjaya should consider using the all black Matrix look more often.
There was more information about Idol Gives Back, which is next week. It looks like there will be a ton of stars, so it should definitely be fun to watch. Hopefully, it earns a ton of money, as well.
Then, it was time to reveal the bottom three. This is the time when, historically, the group is split into two groups of three, and one person chooses which group is the bottom three. (My husband and I had a long discussion about whether it’s been done that way every year— I think they do it sometimes, but not always, but I can’t remember for sure. Anyone else have a better memory?) Anyway, that is what they did this year. Sanjaya to the right, Phil to the left. Jordin to the left, LaKisha to the right (about this time I’m thinking you definitely want to go to the left). Chris to the left, BLAKE to the right!! What?!? Tell me it ain’t so. About this time, I really started to sweat the elimination. After all, this is about the point in time when Anthony Federov took out Constantine, when the three divas were the bottom three… it’s not unusual for there to be a “surprise” elimination at this point. Melinda was asked to pick which group was the bottom three, but she refused sitting squarely in the middle. Ryan moved her to the left, confirming Sanjaya, LaKisha and Blake as the bottom three.
Then, there was a brief segment with the top seven visiting DreamWorks to see Shrek the Third and meeting Antonio Banderas before Martina McBride sang “Anyway”, a really appropriate song.
After the commercial, Blake was declared safe. (Oh, thank goodness!) And Sanjaya was (finally) sent home. I kind of wish he’d gone home four weeks ago when more people would have been sad to see him go. As it is, I think everyone was a bit relieved (perhaps even Sanjaya). He sang “Something to Talk About”, changing “how about love” to “instead of hair”, which was really funny.
So, next week is Idol Gives Back. The theme is “Inspirational songs”— I hope that doesn’t mean anyone will be singing “Wind Beneath My Wings”. It’s a two hour show, so lots more writing for me 
By the way, Simon will be on Oprah tomorrow, if anyone is interested. The Final 6 are supposed to be on, as well.
