Digital Brainwaves

The results of Neil Diamond week. Who survives to the top four, and what do they sing next week?

• Over 45 million votes this week!
• Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield are each in the house tonight.
• The top 5 Idols perform a Neil Diamond medley: “Cracklin’ Rose”, “Song Sung Blue” and “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show.”
• Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glockson plug their new Fox Reality show, “American Idol Extra.”
• Last night’s show recapped.
• After propping up Paula and shooting down Internet rumors, Ryan calls Jason Castro to the stage…
• …and apparently misreads the card, as he accidentally calls Jason safe.
• Wait, he wasn’t joking. Crap.
• Unsurprisingly, though, David Archuleta is also safe. There would be riots if David Cook were eliminated, so the bottom two have to be Brooke and Syesha. Between those two, I’d predict Brooke goes home.
• Nice, next week is Rock and Roll Hall of Fame week.
• Plug for “So You Think You Can Dance?” season four.
• Randy Jackson models the fan-designed Coca-Cola cup.
• David Cook comes to the stage and is safe.
• The remaining ladies, Syesha Mercado and Brooke White are brought out on stage. Obviously, they’re the bottom two, but they can’t be doing an elimination this early in the show — lots of stuff yet to get to.
• Natasha Bedingfield performs “Pocketful of Sunshine.”
• Haha, Natasha gives David Archuleta a smooch on the cheek. Ryan asks her to the prom on David’s behalf (with the warning that she does have a boyfriend).
• Phone call time! Michael, 10 of Lancaster, PA asks, “Why does Paula always give contestants a break?” Paula: “Somebody has to…” She continues that the contestants all do a lot of hard work, and she wants to reinforce that.
• Myranda, 14 of Houma, LA asks Paula, “Are you going to do another music video with Randy anytime soon?” Ryan: “I hope so!” Randy: “For life!” Paula: “Especially when Randy becomes an animated cat.”
• Ryan is embarrased that they’re posting Tara’s age (46) for the world to see. She asks Simon, from Petaluma, CA, “I kissed you in the garden when you were 9. Was it better kissing Paula?” Simon: “This is Tara Miller, right?” Yep. “Wow, this is going back, like, 17 years…” Paula: “Are you over the rabies yet?” Tara: “I’ve had a lot of therapy…”
• PSA from Ryan: “To all the kids watching, 9 years old is too young to kiss.”
• Ford music video: “Catch The Wind”
• Neil Diamond performs “Pretty Amazing Grace.”
• Syesha and Brooke are called back to center stage. Given last night’s performances, I’d presume it would be Brooke leaving…
• …and I’d be right. Brooke White comes to the end of her stay on Idol, and sings her way out.

Tune in next week for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week!