Digital Brainwaves

The results of Mariah Carey Week on Idol!

• Oh good lord, FOX has put up a “green” logo in their corner bug. Hopefully they don’t dedicate a ginormous segment to it during the show.
• 36 million votes, another season high.
• Tonight’s musical guests: Mariah Carey (of course) and Eliot Yamin.
• Idols perform: “One Sweet Day.” Jason sounds flat to start off.
• Syesha’s frizzy hair has come back.
• Tuesday night recapped.
• Jason Castro is called out to the stage and is declared… neither safe nor in danger. He’s asked to stand stage left.
• David Cook starts a second group, stage right.
• Carly Smithson, after standing up to Simon a little, joins Jason at stage left. Kristy joins David at the right.
• (Yes, the directions sound confusing, unless you’ve worked on stage in a production. Directions of “stage left” and “stage right” are given from the point of view of the performer, looking out at the audience.)
• Ford music video: “I Want To Break Free”
• Elliot Yamin sings “Free.” Isn’t it getting a little warm to be wearing a scarf?
• Elliot’s hand carries a message: “We miss you Mom.“
• Syesha Mercado joins Jason and Carly at stage left. Brooke White joins David and Kristy at stage right.
• David Archuleta looks a little lonely backstage… into which group does he fall? We’ll find out…
• …later. First, phone calls!
• Joan, 23 from Las Vegas, asks Kristy, “Were you ever able to buy your horse back — the one you sold to come to the auditions?” Kristy: “No, actually, the buyer doesn’t want to sell back.” Ryan tries to negotiate on her behalf.
• Jillian, from Cape Elizabeth, ME, asks the judges, “Saturday is National Record Store Day. What was the first record you remember buying?” Randy: “Led Zeppelin, Beatles, James Brown.” Paula: “Jackson Five’s I Want You Back, Earth Wind and Fire’s album, and Carole King’s Tapestry.” Simon jokes, “I was ten years old, and it was Paula Abdul’s Straight Up.”
• Megan, 15 from Long Valley, NJ, asks Paula, “Which one of your songs best describes your relationship with Simon?” Paula: “‘Coldhearted’ is obvious, ‘Opposites Attract,’ ‘Straight Up’? But I’ll never be ‘Forever Your Girl.’”
• Deniese, 50 from Cincinnat, OH asks Simon, “What’s the difference between ‘karaoke,’ ‘theme park’ and ‘piano bar’ performances?” Simon: “How long have we got? In a nutshell, those are all horrible.”
• Mallory, 21 from Deatsville, AL asks David Cook, “Are you single? Lots of ladies want to know.” David: “Yes.”
• Mariah Carey sings “Bye Bye.”
• David Archuleta is finally called out to the stage, and marked safe.
• “Too many Cooks in the kitchen,” Ryan says. David Cook swaps spots with Syesha. The groups now are Kristy, Syesha and Brooke at stage right, and David Cook, Carly and Jason at stage left. One group is safe, the other is the bottom three.
• David is asked to join the group he thinks is safe, and promptly sits down at center stage. Ryan tries to coax him over to David, Carly and Jason, and they all sit with him instead. They’re safe, and singing with Andrew Lloyd Webber next week.
• Tonight’s bottom three are Kristy, Syesha, and Brooke. Called that one!
• Saved first is Syesha. Bottom two are Kristy and Brooke. Staying with us is…
• …Brooke. Kristy Lee Cook’s time is up. She sings her farewell song practically in Simon’s lap.

Tune in next week for Andrew Lloyd Webber week!