So, as an initial matter, what is up with the "PLEASE Welcome Your Judges..." followed by them strutting across the stage ... followed by the "And your host, RYAN SEACREST." It's so Vegas.  And I always felt like Ryan was supposed to be one of us (despite the $10M house and the fake dates with Teri Hatcher), but the "And your host..." sets him apart from us in a way I don't like.  Bring back Brian Dunkleman!

Smokey Robinson.  So talented. So scary looking.  Our newly acquired HDTV was not kind to Smokey. Was he on last year? I have a memory of noting his striking resemblance to Philip Michael Thomas at that time. If I didn't, let me note it now. He's like Philip Michael Thomas. With skin grafts.  

Matt:  I love Matt. He is the contestant I like the most this year. Still, he is a pale shadow of Elliot Yamin, isn't he?  There's style and likability. But the vocals are not special. I wish they were. I want them to be. But they're not. The fact that he is a "frontrunner" means it's a pretty talentless pool, doesn't it?   

Kris: Kris is the inverse of Matt in that the amount I dislike him has little relation to his talent.  He is just cheesy to me.  I guess I would be OK with him on a Disney TV show.  But not on American Idol.  And, Smokey, are you really impressed by "anyone who plays the guitar and sings"?  I guess I am too. But I'm not Smokey Robinson. 

Scott: I didn't want to make the 'did you get dressed in the dark' joke with Scott... but I also didn't want him to wear pink pants with a brown striped jacket and paisley shirt. I guess I never gave Phil Collins credit for how brave he was to be a man and sing "You Can't Hurry Love."  This was actually my favorite Scott performance of the competition. (If he had sang "Reach Out and Touch Someone You Love," I would have thrown up.) In contrast to Simon, this was the first time I actually saw a career for Scott. A career in Reno.  But, still, a career.  Let's face it, this guy would not be in this competition if he could see. There.  I said it. 

Paula, no you dinnt!! The crayons and coloring book to Simon?! No you dinnt!!

Megan: The session with Smokey gave me hope. Megan sounded different but good. (Though she was strangely slumped. Megan, you are in the presence of greatness, FYI).  Then Megan came on stage.  I saw her hair flower, her tattoo, her walking and bopping moves. And most importantly, I heard her.  It was awful. Truly awful. I know we say this every year, but I really want anyone who sucked and then says, "I had a good time" to get automatically eliminated. 

Anoop: I cannot believe I am writing these words, but here I go: Anoop was good tonight.  He still makes my skin crawl when I look at him. (And did he actually assert that he was a legend?!) But closing my eyes and listening, I have to say he was really good tonight.  I wish he weren't. But he was. 

Michael: Obama won.  Do we still have to kowtow to the Red State contingent?  I don't care where I put him in my pool, I don't really ever want to see Michael again.  And I know we say this every year too, but shouldn't Idol have a ban on any and all songs off "The Big Chill" soundtrack?!

Lil:  Was it just me or did you all think one of Lil's relatives had died when Ryan referred to her "emotional week"?  It turns out she was moved by visiting Motown's offices.  Let me repeat: Obama won. Not to take away from the accomplishments of Martha and the Vandellas, but isn't it fair to say that we now have a better example than Motown of the strides African Americans have made?!  And for her to say she wants to do this for Martha and Diana, etc? With respect, they don't need you, Lil.  They've had Mariah. And Beyonce. And Fantasia, Jennifer Hudson, Melinda Doolittle. To me, Lil sounded the same as she did every week.  But this week, Kara Digiggiwhat thought she was screaming.  There's a lot of talk about how she's an amazing singer. I still have not heard it. 

Adam: I was on the fence. But now it's official. I love Adam.  He's Sanjaya-- with talent and charisma. The Elvis-meets-Brandon Teena look?! And the Roy Orbison (in 'Blue Velvet') pipes?!  Every week, we tune in to see Adam-- not to watch the train wreck (like with Sanjaya) but to watch him actually pull it off.  He is a weird dude. In the best possible sense. And most importantly, he can siiiiiing!!!

Danny: So why can Danny go without his glasses in rehearsal, but not on stage?! Are the glasses some misguided schtick?! He can't compete with Adam on the charisma front, but Danny does have a great voice.  There is a texture and depth there that is missing from almost everyone else. He's not as good as Chris Daughtry, but he reminds me of him in that he is so solid. LIke Daughtry, he might end up getting boring.  But he doesn't seem quite as wedded to any particular style so he might do better on Idol (though worse on the charts). 

Alison: Do you love that Alison was supposedly so into "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" that she had to ask about it on the Motown tour...then it turns out she didn't know the words?! Alison's face and hair looked better than ever (I'll kindly overlook the black lace tights).  I accept she is a great singer--I've always thought that.  But tonight, she did nothing for me tonight.  What did I miss?!

 It's gotta be Michael and Megan in the bottom two, right? Of the two, I guess I'd rather see Michael go.  Unless he get some sympathy surge b/c he almost got the boot last week, I think he is toast.