Down to the sweet 16

Ryan starts off saying Carrie Underwood is performing tonight, kindof an odd performance slot, she really hasn't made it yet unlike Kelly Clarkson. Group song is Love the One You're With. Some very pitchy solos on it. Paris and Lisa and Ayla give it a solid middle, but some very cheesy parts. Pickler does well, in gorgeous peach top. Bucky totally invisible, in the background; Mandisa does her thing.

Recap of performances; odd, women get twice as much recap time as men since they get recapped Wednesday night too. Mandisa and Chris are officially annoited the two top performers of the week; I'd agree, although all things being equal I will always like Paris and Taylor more.

Carrie comes out, dressed to the 9s. Hmm, she talks a bit like Kelie Pickler, or vice versa. Ugh, she's singing Jesus Take the Wheel, which spent six weeks at #1 on the country singles chart Ryan says. Interesting seeing which of the contestants sing along. It's an okay song, pretty melodic, but she oversings it. Good stage presence though. Funny, if she were in competition this year, no way she'd win, may not ever make final six. Assuming, of course, people don't break under the pressure. I wish they'd cut to the listening contestants more, you really get a sense of them, music is obviously important to them in different ways. Unlike when Fantasia visited judges don't say yo, everyone watch and take notes, that's what it takes.

Funny watching everyone's reactions as Ryan tells them they're not in the bottom three, so far Lisa, Ayla, Katharine, Mandisa all obviously safe, then Kinnik, who I don't ever really remember, she's one of the three worst. Hopefully Brenna and Heather join her. Brenna indeed is. Kelie's safe, of course; Paris of course too, she hugs Kelie, my two female favorites. Heather indeed in bottom three, Melissa safe. Randy says surprised Kinnik there, but other two got right.

And it's goodbye to Brenna, says she's ready to make some money, call Nigel--I assume the AI guy. I liked her different personality, will miss having someone like her on the show. Lets loose for her performance a bit, her voice still sounds a bit like she's sick, not that enjoyable yet again, out-of-tune.

They come back, right away eliminate another girl. As soon as Paula talks about them; she says Simon says one of them ate pizza, the other ate salad. Okay... she says that's what Simon whispered in her ear. Heather looks really not happy up there. Simon thinks it's Heather who's out, and he's right. She says she's going home to her goats, then I think she must be addressing her I love you guys and can't wait to see you again to them. She definitely has a good look, just not the voice or really personality to back it up. Totally straining on the repeat performance. She does a nice thing, finishes by turning to the other contestants and singing to them.

We're getting close to the point where I'm happy with people staying, it's a good group. Bucky stays after Ryan jerks him around a bit, Ace is obviously staying, Eliott too, Sway is one of three lowest, Taylor hopefully not in bottom... and he's safe too, David I'd like to see go--and he is in bottom, Chris not going nowhere for a long time, Gedeon says he doesn't think he's in the bottom and he isn't, Will and Kevin last, and Kevin is down there too. Interesting, three of my bottom four, Randy says he's shocked, didn't think Kevin and Sway would be down there. David is gone, first. Nice guy though. All the contestants stand for the final performances, it's a nice thing. He doesn't sing with much energy, obviously disappointed, but tries to put on a good show. They come out and surround him halfway through the song, that's interesting, they didn't do that for everyone else, I guess it's to give him some support, he does seem a bit lost. Paris has tears in her eyes, hugs him at the end. Yo, FOX--it's really these little social interactions that we like best about the show, it should be a bigger part of it.

Back, Kevin says he doesn't want it to be the end; Sway says if so it's been a fun ride. Paula makes some truly bizarre comment based on what Simon told her again, Simon predicts Sway's gone, and he's right. Hmm, show is now officially black and white. He's got a good attitude, and says hopefully you guys will see me again. How come FOX doesn't do the MTV Real World thing with this group, it'd be interesting seeing Kelie and Ace interact, or Sway and Paris, Mandisa and Taylor.

This has been a really good year so far, more into into than ever before. Go Paris! Go Taylor!

Frame grab of Carrie Underwood by C. Gomez via Flickr.