February
28 'American Idol': Don't leave me this way

"Idol" starts off with the usual singalong, where the producers attempt to pair up singers into possible couples. The "Sounds of the '70s" medley is every bit as crappy as the previous two nights have been. Honestly it's like advertising a "Classics of the '70s" film festival and then screening "Roller Boogie" and "Ben."

And can I just say that Amanda looks fab. She look off about 30 pounds of makeup, but still looks like she can kick ass. Yay. Except that means she took Paula's advice. Don't do it again Mandy. And apparently, Ramiele's haircut is either addictive or contagious, 'cause now Paula is afflicted with it.

After revisiting Tuesday's "high"lights, it's time to send a boy home. For the first round of boy cuts, it was down to Jason Y. or Danny, who looked like a deer caught in headlights for the most part. But he missed becoming this week's roadkill as Jason was sacrificed to the "Idol" gods. Since I can't remember a single song he sang without the help of clips, it's difficult for me to feel his pain.

Recap of Wednesday night and it's even worse than I remember. The first chick elimination comes down to Amanda or Alexandrea, and sadly it was Lushy that had to go. Figures, since I just gave her a cool nickname. But she forever endeared me to her by calling Ryan a freak for depriving her great grandmother the chance to take a spin on Big Thunder Mountain. The whole thing ended with a Kodak moment between Lushy and David A., where they embraced and cried. Had the camera stayed on them longer, animated birds would have appeared along with unicorns and rainbows to cement the occasion as the most adorable bit ever captured on television.

The second round of girl cuts comes down to Alaina or Kady and I swear I still can't tell them apart, Alaina got the ax and, in a moment of unrehearsed emotion, actually began bawling. Now I feel bad about making fun of her. No, wait. I don't. But it was still pretty sad. Even before Ryan said her name she looked on the verge of a meltdown. I have to admit at times like this that Seacrest is damn good at his job. He managed to talk Alaina off the ledge. At first, Alaina wasn't going to warble the final goodbye. For one dreadful moment I thought they might play Paula Adbul's new video again instead of making Alaina sing. But never fear, the girls of "Idol" gathered around and joined their chunky plastic rings together to summon the enough power to get Alaina to sing her Walk of Shame song.

We're down to the last cut for the the gents, and everyone named David is safe; it's either Luke or Robbie. Fake rocker boy Robbie said goodbye with little fanfare, but not before one last "authenticity" dig from Simon. Robbie's girlfriend is incredulously hot, so he'll be OK. Robbie's now off to share living quarters with K-Fed in a new VH1 reality show.

We then get a short video recap of the four castoffs' "Idol" journey where we see them say painfully misguided things like "I'll never have a 9-5 job," "Singing is what I wake up in the morning for" and "I will never stop chasing my dreams." One can only hope reality sets in shortly.

In Idol news: April's "Idol Gives Back" guests will include Mariah Carey, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus and Snoop Dogg. Kady seemed especially thrilled by the Brad Pitt announcement. Too bad she'll be watching from home like the rest of us. And yes, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry return to the roost, gracing the would-be stars and also-rans with their presence. Also Ruben Studdard will supply the weekly exit song for the top 12 this season. At least the big guy will finally have something to do.

Until next week, Erin and Kathy: out.

- Erin Maxwell and Kathy Lyford