Digital Brainwaves

Results blogged on the same night (roughly) as they air? Inconceivable!

•  Two guest performances upcoming tonight: Dolly Parton and The Clark Brothers
• “9 to 5″ performed by the top 9 finalists. Ramiele’s mic may not have been turned up at first.
• Last night recapped. I predicted Ramiele, Jason and Syesha in the bottom three, with Ramiele going home.
• Michael Johns is called out first. He should be fine, though coming out first, as evidenced last week, is no reassurance of that.
• Michael is safe, as are David Archuleta and (after some ambiguity on Ryan’s part) Carly Smithson.
• Time for the live viewer calls. Haley, 13 from Northville, MI asks Syesha, “What do you miss most about home?” Syesha: “Just being able to hang out with friends and family.”
• Robert, 13 from Belleville, NJ asks David Cook, “If you could have any other talent, what would it be?” David: “I wish I were more organized. I’m kinda a slob. Sorry [to my roommates] Michael and Jason.”
• Bill, 26 from Los Angeles, CA asks Randy, “It appears you have worked with everyone. Is there anyone you haven’t worked with?” Randy: “I’d love to do a song with whomever wins this season.”
• I see a call from Olean, NY, near where I grew up. I wonder if they’ll use it…
• Looks like not, as they pass on to the next page… though it initially appears as selected. They pulled the right number, just the wrong screen display.
• “Line 9″ never gets their name on the air, but asks Michael Johns and/or David Cook, “Is there a certain song you hope to sing on the Idols tour this summer?” Michael: “We were considering ‘Islands In The Stream’” but haven’t yet decided on such things yet, concentrating first on the competition.
• Mary, 52 of Saugus, CA asks Simon, “Why do you feel it necessary to apologize after a negative critique?” Simon: “Mary, I like you! You’re right, I’ll never ever apologize again!”
• Guest perfomance: The Clark Brothers with “This Little Light of Mine.” Holy bajebus that’s some wicked steel guitar. Reminds me of Carbon Leaf’s Carter Gravatt.
• Ford music video: “It’s Tricky”
• Ryan asks Carly, referring to her singing to Simon last night, if they have “made up” after his critique of her perfomance the week before. Carly: “No, he hasn’t said sorry, and apparently never will after that comment [regarding Mary's call earlier]!”
• David Cook is called on stage, walking very slowly. Ryan asks about yesterday’s post-performance hospital visit; David says it’s all been blown out of proportion — he just has high blood pressure. Ryan doesn’t raise it much more; he’s safe.
• Ramiele Malubay is the first in the bottom three tonight.
• Kristy Lee Cook brings a note to mark her stool. Ryan: “Well, that’s pessimistic.” Unfortunately accurate, though — she joins Ramiele in the bottom three.
• Video package about previous Idol contestants Bucky Covington and Phil Stacey, who’ve made their musical homes in Nashville with country music. Bucky: “You don’t need to win the show to succeed” in this industry. Rocker Bo Bice also now makes his home in Tennessee.
• Syesha Mercado comes to the stage, and is declared safe. Kristy must have replaced her in the bottom three; I’m still thinking Jason goes to the stools.
• Brooke White and Jason Castro are brought out as the final two contestants.
• Brooke somehow gets punted to the bottom three. I’m stunned.
• Heh, they’re all roommates; that room’s gonna get roomier tonight.
• Plug for next week’s Idol Gives Back show.
• Dolly Parton sings “Jesus & Gravity.”
• Back down to business. Randy thinks Ramiele is going home, and Simon is sure it won’t be Brooke.
• Simon’s right. Brooke is sent to safety.
• Kristy is saved from elimination, as Ramiele Malubay’s hourglass sands run out.
• After some pep talk from Ryan, Ramiele sings out the end of the show, with the top 8 standing behind her.