Cast: Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez
Network: Fox, Airs Wednesday and Thursday
Original Telecast: March 30, 2011

Last week, Casey Abrams was saved by the judges on the world’s greatest karaoke competition, AMERICAN IDOL.

While that’s good for Casey, that means we are deep-sixing two this week. Hopefully the voters will get out and vote for the right person to go home. As much as some people (especially TV critics) seem to jump all over Casey for his choices, the dude is a performer and one of the better singers on the show.

We got yet another theme this week … Elton John. While I am no fan of the artist, it will be interesting to see what the karaoke kids do tonight.

So let’s put on some multi-colored sunglasses and wear them indoors, wear some crazy vests, get some No. 1 hits, become one of the Billboard’s hottest artists of all time and let’s get this piano-planning party started.

Scotty McCreery – I keep on saying that Scotty keeps picking the right songs and that’s half the battle with IDOL. You pick a song that doesn’t suit you or someone doesn’t know. You can be the one gone. While not a lot of people probably know John’s “Country Comfort,” it simply does not matter because Scotty is doing his thing. He’s hardcore country and he’s not changing it regardless of what theme night is happening. Plus, the dude can sing. He’s not stellar or exciting, but he’s solid and Middle America loves the country stuff. Grade: B

Naima Adedapo – So is this really what Naima is striving to be? A reggae artist? Didn’t she shine as a soul singer and doing R&B now she is up there dancing to crazy beats and now taking “I’m Still Standing” by John and turning it into something that you’d find at one of those specialty Las Vegas bars. Listen, I know you weren’t in the bottom three after doing your little dance last week and appealing to your African roots, but really, I think you have a better chance sticking with the soul stuff. I don’t see this registering … of course, I picked her to leave last week. So what do I know? Grade: C

Paul McDonald – I keep expecting something else from Paul. Instead we get milquetoast and sheer boredom. Week after week this guy does absolutely nothing for me and while his voice is different, is that enough to keep him around if he’s boring us to tears? I don’t think so. His rendition of “Rocket Man” by John was so dull, so monotonous, I kept thinking what the tweens out there voting thought of it. Because I gotta think they are the reason he hasn’t been in the bottom in the first three weeks. Is this the type of music that kids like these days? Or are they just voting cause they think he’s cute. I literally couldn’t wait until it was over. And when it was, I wanted to tear my eyes out. Oh by the way, Steven Tyler is totally the new Paula Abdul … I don’t think he’s capable of giving a negative review. Grade: D+

Pia Toscano – Have I mentioned lately that Pia is totally hot? I don’t think I need to say it given that photo shoot she had, nor that excellent outfit she wore on stage. She knows it too, which isn’t a bad thing at all. I do, however, think she needs to do something more upbeat. I need to be woken up sometimes after some of these performances. Oops, she did it again. “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by John wasn’t very upbeat, in fact, I got a bit sleepy (if not for that dress I’d be asleep) but as long as she doesn’t falter in terms of her singing, she’s gonna be the last chick standing. Grade: B

Stefano Langone – While Steven Tyler may be crying inside from good notes from Pia. I’m crying inside because of the sheer boredom from Stefano. Why doesn’t anyone rail on this dude for singing nothing but ballads? I have been saying it week after week and yet they get all over Pia about it. Whatever. Once again, Stefano’s problem isn’t that he can’t sing. It’s how he sings and how he performs. “Tiny Dancer” didn’t give us anything new, it was just more of Stefano trying to hook up with an IDOL groupie at the end of the night. Meanwhile, I just took some “No-Doze”. Grade: B-

Lauren Alaina – Sigh. Is it just me? Does anyone else not want to hear another freaking ballad? I know that John has a ton of them, but he’s also got a ton of non-slow songs that people could choose. Singing “Candle in the Wind” is totally a cop out. Everyone knows the song, so those that actually fluctuate their votes will turn to this song because they know it and will remember it. And someone remind me to replay this episode when I go to bed because I’ll sleep like a baby. Grade: B-

James Durbin – Thank the Gods for James in this competition. He brings it every time. The time he does a ballad hopefully I’ll be sick that week – and, yes, that may be the first time I have ever wished to be sick. James sang John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright” and once again proved why he’s one of the front-runners. Sure, it was more about the performance than it was the singing as he was literally all over the stage, but given what we’ve seen until this point, we needed this. I needed this, and I hate Elton John. It was like going from a baby bed into a towering inferno. And that’s a good thing. Grade: B+

Thia Megia – I thought Thia should have been in the bottom since we got to the Top 13. Yet, last week was her first time so someone out there likes her. I’m not one of them. Sure, she’s a cute kid, but going from James’ blowout to passing out listening to her sing John’s “Daniel” was like jumping out of that towering inferno to my death. As all I wanted to do was kill myself I was so depressed after it No more ballads tonight, seriously. When your audience wants to kill themselves, maybe not the best impression to leave the voters. Grade: C-

Casey Abrams – So Casey got a makeover. Yippie skippy. I don’t know if his look was the reason that he ended up with the lowest amount of votes last week (and ended up getting saved by the judges). Maybe it was song choice. I’m not sure, I don’t understand it myself as he’s got an awesome voice. However, once again, another freaking ballad in “Your Song”. It would OK if the rest of the night wasn’t jam-packed with ballads but tonight is ballad night obviously and he might get lost in the shuffle. Or maybe those that voted for him the first few weeks will return. I do think he has a chance to stay this week. Grade: B

Jacob Lusk – Dear Lord, really? Maybe I was wrong about John and all he has are ballads (with a few rock tunes here or there) because more than half of the songs tonight have made me want to punch a wall. Jacob is a great talent but I’m not sure that John’s “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word” was the best pick for him. Yeah, it showed off his talents but not like we have seen in the past. He’s in no danger of going home, but damn man, can a brother get an upbeat song here? Grade: B

Haley Reinhart – Haley did really well last week and she did an awesome job flaunting her, uh, assets. This week she chose “Bennie and the Jets” and other than James, she was pretty much the only one this week to not do a ballad (OK, Naima didn’t either). I liked the little thing she kept doing with her voice and she definitely can sing and really owned the song. Is it enough to secure her place on the show for another week? I think it will be. Grade: B+

So who goes home? Well, I was totally wrong last week – for the first time this year. I had been pretty constant in guessing who would be in the bottom (not with who would go home), but this week I think Thia Megia, Naima Adedapo and Stefano Langone will be in the bottom. Since we are losing two … I think Thia and Naima go home.

Who do you think will go home?

UPDATE: FIND OUT WHO GOT ELIMINATED (SPOILERS) – CLICK HERE

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CLICK HERE for a rundown and  review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 11 PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 12 PERFORM

CLICK HERE for a rundown and review of AMERICAN IDOL – Season 10 – THE TOP 13 PERFORM

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