Next week's theme is: and the guest coach is: I'm SO excited about the guest coach!

That should be good next time

Haley will stay in due to the fan boy factor - the ultra shorts and no bra certainly helped that. To give her credit, she didn't sing that bad, either, but most of the comments on the net were about her other attributes.

I'm not a Sanjaya fan, but I thought that was the best he's done. Which may not be saying much, but it will keep him in because the tweenies will have called in multiple times for him.

I agree that Blake really had a harder time with the high notes in his song, as did Gina. I like her performance, but kicking it up a half octave may have pushed her too far out of her range.

Chris S - I thought the whole "let's commune with the crowd" was very artificial. He wasn't comfortable doing it and the fact that he didn't interact with the fans, just sort of marched through them (occasionally slapping hands to those people he really couldn't pass without walking into their hands) rather than sing to the crowd.

Still, it was lightyears better than last week's performance.

If I had to predict whom will be leaving tonight, I would say it would be Stephanie or Phil. I think Stephanie is just lost amongst all the other voices. Phil just seems to be struggling.

I'd love to see Chris R go, but for some strange reason, people seem to like his annoying voice. I think Peter pegged him quite well, and definitely fixed on the part of Chris' voice that I really find annoying.

Top three would have to be Melinda, Lakisha and Jordin for me. It was nice hearing Jordin do something different that didn't sound like a Disney tune. Props to her for doing that song.

Oh my Lord. What on earth was going on with that crying girl? What was wrong with her?

I so want to see crying girl

Tell me about it! At first I thought she was like a Sanjaya groupie who was just in love with him and crying in joy because he was singing near her.

But when it showed her crying in Melinda's performance I was just baffled! Must just be a really emotional person lol.

Just my opinion but I think that little girl has a very emotional personality. When she's happy and laughing she probably has tears in her eyes but if she loves music and loves to support live singers and this was a very special night just for her.....then she was just over the top emotionally and express that as crying. I wish the camera could have left her alone and let her enjoy herself but it was nice when they had Sanjaya hug her and the ending was really special too.

I just had a horrible thought. Cat Deeley probably interviewed Crying Girl and made things even worse!

Or maybe she heard Cat Deeley Wanted to interview her

Apparently the story with the girl was that she and her mother were on the lot for a taping of another show (Are you smarter than a 5th grader) and their tickets allowed them to be at the rehearsal for Idol. When the producers saw her waterworks, they wanted her there for the live show.

Seeing her was very reminiscent of a Boyzone concert, for some strange reason. you can watch this clip of her on youtube during Sanjaya's performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nESoM1Zpmf8

crying girl is hilar, so helped him through

I haven't see the results (just to avoid any confusion like last week

Some really uneven performances again this week -- I think the worst ones were Stephanie, Phil & Sanjaya (even though it was his least awful performance for me).

I LOVED Jordin, I thought she was amazing -- I was a bit miffed that Simon didn't praise her more.

Sorry, but Melinda being outside her comfort zone? I'm not sure how another ballad from a musical is something new for her. Another good performance, but nothing new *shrug*

LaKisha has started to show her potential weakness during the themes, she was definitely out of her comfort zone. She seems to be on trajectory for a Mandisa style exit with each passing week.

Haley -- well at least she looked good I didn't think it was great, so I was surprised the judges softballed it as much as they did.

I think the worst thing about Gina was that she seemed to run out of breath and missed the best part of the song @ the end "I wanna see you paint it, paint it, paint it blaaaack". I didn't think she was any worse than normal for her -- shouty, pitchy, but good performer and nice personality. I felt bad when she was caught in the crossfire during the interview bit, Ryan just wouldn't let it go!

Blake was good, but I don't think it was as good as last week -- I didn't really like the beatboxing during the song, didn't work for me.

Chris R -- Wasn't feeling him this week either, quite controlled yes, but not really exciting.

Chris S -- *shrug* Not my cup of tea at all, didn't like the song or his performance. Plus his Pilsbury Doughboy chuckle really grates! (and that's not a dig @ his weight, he DOES chuckle like the Doughboy!)

Overall, lots of room to improve next week, but Jordin was head and shoulders above the rest for me.

I hope Stephanie goes home.