It's been fun to keep track of the producers' agendas and the judges' favoritism the past few seasons. This thread will comment on the blatant pimpage for AI 10. Nigel's back in the saddle as a producer so we should be able to recognize many of his moves.

Kicking it off for AI10: Who is the most uber pimped so far?

Choose from one of the top 13 (ten voted in and 3 wild cards)!

I'll select Lauren A...all the way, over the top pimped. The judges telling her on top 12 girls night that she is part Kelly Clarkson and part Kelly Pickler was the capper for me. Brought the big guns out early for Lauren, they did! Lauren got the near pimp spot on top 12 night, singing next to last.

Not far behind in terms of pimpage is Casey Abrams. From audition through top 12 night, Casey has been spotlighted, including having the pimp spot for the top 12 boys.

• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 12:30 PM, 03-09-11
  • Singing order,zazzy, 09:11 PM, 04-07-11
    • RE: Singing order,zazzy, 12:08 PM, 04-22-11
      • RE: Singing order,zazzy, 10:56 AM, 05-05-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 01:10 PM, 03-09-11
• AI10 Performance Order,zazzy, 01:12 PM, 03-09-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 06:52 PM, 03-09-11
• The Press,zazzy, 08:42 PM, 03-09-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 01:45 PM, 03-28-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 07:35 PM, 04-13-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 09:01 AM, 04-14-11
• Top 7 pimp spot,zazzy, 09:13 AM, 04-15-11
• RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 11:17 AM, 04-22-11
  • RE: AI10 Pimpage Report,zazzy, 12:31 PM, 04-23-11
• Top 7,zazzy, 12:03 PM, 04-22-11
• It's top 5 week but AI is planning for Lauren's top 3 homecoming,zazzy, 10:14 AM, 05-04-11
• Top 6,zazzy, 11:02 AM, 05-04-11
• Top 5,zazzy, 10:48 AM, 05-05-11

Idolwatcher 1 on idolforums has catalogued airtime prior to semifinals for the top 24 contestants:

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=662974

No surprise, the top airtime went to these seven--only Brett didn't make it to the top 10 voted by America:

Lauren Alaina - original Nashville audition with backstory, replay clip of original audition (LA-Ep.), replay clip of original audition (HW-R1-Ep.), 1st Hollywood round, HW group round, replay clip of original audition (HW-LR-Ep.), last HW round, LV group round, replay clip of original audition & LV group round, final solo performance.

Scotty McCreery - clip of original audition (1st Ep.), original Milwaukee audition with backstory, replay clip of original audition (M-Ep.), replay clip of original audition (HW-R1-Ep.), 1st Hollywood round, HW group round, last HW round, LV group round, replay clip of last HW round, final solo performance.

Casey Abrams - original Austin audition with backstory, replay clip of original audition (LA-Ep.), 1st Hollywood round, HW group round, last HW round, LV group round, final solo performance.

Brett Loewenstern - original New Orleans audition with backstory, replay clip of original audition (LA-Ep.), replay clip of backstory, 1st Hollywood round, HW group round, last HW round, final solo performance.

James Durbin - original San Francisco audition with backstory, replay clip of backstory, 1st Hollywood round, HW group round, LV group round, replay clip of backstory, final solo performance.

Thia Megia - original Milwaukee audition with backstory, replay clip of original audition (M-Ep.), 1st Hollywood round, last HW round, LV group round, replay clip of original audition, final solo performance.

Haley Reinhart - original Milwaukee audition, clip of 1st Hollywood round & HW group round, last HW round, LV group round, clip of backstory, replay clip of last HW round, final solo performance

For the full top 24 list, click on the link.

Here's the rest of the top 13:

Naima Adedapo - original Milwaukee audition with backstory, HW group round, LV group round, replay clip of backstory & original audition, final solo performance.

Stefano Langone - original San Francisco audition with backstory, last HW round, LV group round, replay clip of backstory, final solo performance.

Jacob Lusk - HW group round, last HW round, LV group round, clip of original audition & replay clip of last HW round, final solo performance.

Paul McDonald - 16-sec. clip of original Nashville audition, LV group round, replay clip of last HW round & LV group round, final solo performance.

Karen Rodriguez - original L.A. audition, HW group round, LV group round, replay clip of last HW round, final solo performance.

Ashthon Jones - HW group round, last HW round, clip of LV group round, replay clip of last HW round, final solo performance.

Pia Toscano - HW group round, LV group round, replay clip of HW group round & LV group round, final solo performance.

LAST EDITED ON 04-15-11 AT 09:10 AM (EST)

AI10

AI10 Top 12 Men performance order:
1.) Clint Jun Gamboa
2.) Jovany Barreto
3.) Jordan Dorsey
4.) Tim Halperin
5.) Brett Loewenstern
6.) James Durbin --top 10
7.) Robbie Rosen
8.) Scotty McCreery -- top 10
9.) Stefano Langone -- top 13 wildcard --
10.) Paul McDonald -- top 10
11.) Jacob Lusk -- top 10
12.) Casey Abrams -- top 10

AI0 Top 12 Women performance order:
1.) Ta-Tynisa Wilson
2.) Naima Adedapo --top 13 wildcard --
3.) Kendra Chantelle
4.) Rachel Zevita
5.) Karen Rodriguez -- top 10
6.) Lauren Turner
7.) Ashthon Jones --top 13 wildcard--
8.) Julie Zorrilla
9.) Haley Reinhart -- top 10
10.) Thia Megia --top 10
11.) Lauren Alaina --top 10
12.) Pia Toscano --top 10

**AI names the top 10 voted by America and then the "judges" picked three wildcards (reading the names off a teleprompter).

-----------------------------------

Top 13

1.) Lauren Alaina
2.) Casey Abrams
3.) Ashthon Jones --boot-- (judges don't save)
4.) Paul McDonald
5.) Pia Toscano
6.) James Durbin
7.) Haley Reinhart --Bottom 2 --
8.) Jacob Lusk
9.) Thia Megia
10.) Stefano Langone
11.) Karen Rodriguez --Bottom 3--
12.) Scotty McCreery
13.) Naima Adedapo

-----------------------------------

Top 12

1.) Naima Adedapo --Bottom 3--
2.) Paul McDonald
3.) Thia Megia
4.) James Durbin
5.) Haley Reinhart --Bottom 2--
6.) Stefano Langone
7.) Pia Toscano
8.) Scotty McCreery
9.) Karen Rodriguez --boot--(judges don't save)
10.) Casey Abrams
11.) Lauren Alaina
12.) Jacob Lusk

----------------------------------
In a change after 9 years, all remaining 11 make the AI tour.

Top 11 (Round One):

1.) Casey Abrams -the boot but *SAVED by judges* --
2.) Thia Megia --Bottom 3-
3.) Jacob Lusk
4.) Lauren Alaina
5.) Stefano Langone --Bottom 2--
6.) Haley Reinhart
7.) Scotty McCreery
8.) Pia Toscano
9.) Paul McDonald
10.) Naima Adedapo
11.) James Durbin

-----------------------------------

Top 11 (Round Two):

1.) Scotty McCreery
2.) Naima Adedapo --boot--either 10th or 11th place
3.) Paul McDonald -Bottom 3--
4.) Pia Toscano
5.) Stefano Langone
6.) Lauren Alaina
7.) James Durbin
8.) Thia Megia --boot-- either 10th or 11h place
9.) Casey Abrams
10.) Jacob Lusk
11.) Haley Reinhart

-----------------------------------

Top 9:

1.) Jacob Lusk --Bottom 3--
2.) Haley Reinhart
3.) Casey Abrams
4.) Lauren Alaina
5.) James Durbin
6.) Scotty McCreery
7.) Pia Toscano -- booted--
8.) Stefano Langone --Bottom 2--
9.) Paul McDonald

Top 8:

1. Paul --booted--
2. Lauren
3. Stefano -- Bottom 2--
4 Scotty
5. Casey
6 Haley -Bottom 3--
7. Jacob
8. James

Singing placement of the top 9 from top 13 through top 8 week:

Casey: 2/13, 10/12, 1/11, 9/11, 3/9, 5/8
Haley: 7/13, 5/12, 6/11, 11/11, 2/9, 6/8 (pimp spot top 11, round 2)
Jacob: 8/13, 12/12, 3/11, 10/11, 1/9, 7/8 (pimp spot top 12)
James: 6/13, 4/12, 11/11, 7/11, 5/9, 8/8 (pimp spot top 11, round 1 and pimp spot top 8)
Lauren: 1/13, 11/12, 4/11, 6/11, 4/9, 2/8
Scotty: 12/13, 8/12, 7/11, 1/11, 6/9, 4/8
Stefano: 10/13, 6/12, 5/11, 5/11, 8/9, 3/8

Paul: 4/13, 2/12, 9/11, 3/11, 9/9, 1/8 ( pimp spot top 9)--booted at 8th--
Pia: 5/13, 7/12, 8/11, 4/11, 7/9 -- booted at 9th --

LAST EDITED ON 05-04-11 AT 10:43 AM (EST)

Top 7

1. Scotty
2. James
3. Haley --bottom 3--
4. Jacob --bottom 2--
5. Casey
6. Stefano --boot--
7. Lauren

Top 6 -- solos and duets

Top 6:

1. Jacob --appearance of b3 but who knows?--
2. Lauren -first of the l4 to be told she was safe

** Haley/Casey duet **

3. Scotty --appearance of b2 but likely not b2--
4. James - second to be told he was safe

** Lauren/Scotty duet **

5. Casey ** booted**
6. Haley - first to be sold she was safe

** Jacob/James duet **

Instead of having each contestant sing two songs, AI went with the solo + duet format.

So who got the pimp spot? Haley, as a soloist? Or James and Jacob, with their duet? Either way, none of those three got the boot.

LAST EDITED ON 05-11-11 AT 08:14 PM (EST)

Top 5

Top 5--2 songs each

1. James
2. Jacob --boot--
3. Lauren --bottom 2--
4. Scotty
5. Haley

A great reference thread: Idolwatcher 1 has compiled the performance order of singing for the past 9 Idol seasons:

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=640765

Here is the thread for AI10 singing order by Idolwatcher 1 on idolforums:

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=662001

The show is doing a really good job of pimping itself this year.

First, the positivity message versus previous seasons; the end of the Simon Cowell negativity era.

Second, the judges are a boon to the show. Steven and Jennifer are really adding to the show in a way that Kara and Ellen never did.

Next, the show is putting out more effort to help us get to know the contestants and see behind the scenes:

Top 13 photo shoot video:

http://www.tvline.com/2011/03/american-idol-exclusive-video-top-13-season-10-finalists/

Everyone looked good in that shoot!

Top 13 performance behind the scenes with Ryan:

http://idolforums.com/index.php?showtopic=663035

Also, a shout out to Paul Macdonald for his self-pimpage: supposedly he spent $4500.00 on his rhinestone "rose" decorated suit. Looks like it has paid off for him so far!

http://tinyurl.com/5tap7dj

LAST EDITED ON 03-09-11 AT 08:45 PM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON 03-09-11 AT 08:43 PM (EST)

http://tinyurl.com/4hsddxy

US mag: "5 Things You Don't Know About American Idol's Lauren Alaina"

TV Guide: Top 13 Power Rankings

http://www.tvguide.com/PhotoGallery/American-Idol-Power-1030355

So, the pimp thread is slacking.

People have had 10 gospel/back up singers on stage with them...Jacob, Casey; special drummers for a dance--Naima, etc.

And some don't get much pimping production help and have a song shoved down their throat--uh, Stefano? Motown night, singing something from Motown = Lionel Richie's Hello? Hello, Idol? What gives? Especially when Stefano said he grew up eharing his parents play Motown and he'd never heard Hello before.

Haley had back up singers that were out of tune.

Yet, both Stefano and Haley survived these maneuvers and Casey, who sang first, was to get the boot and got the ultimate pimp, the Save. Heh. And 11 on tour, that's because they wanted Casey on tour, they know he may not perform so of the time so having 11 ready to go instead of 10 makes his missing nights here and there less of an issue. IMO, of course.

And now, after saying the idols wouldn't have to sing an individual artist's music...we are having Elton John night. Don't get me wrong, I like EJ a lot. So it's just the having the idols sing EJ is going to help some of them and not others. Who do they want out this week, now that 11 are on tour and it won't matter if they leave at 11,10,9,8, 7?

Performance order info later.

Pia got booted at 9th place. The fifth girl in a row to be booted.

Plenty of discussion about whether the judges are doing their jobs or whether the teen aged girl voters dictate all on the show on the blogs and message boards... but all of that discussion obscures the usual and customary pimpage by the producers that's been going on.

Pia got NO screen time prior to Hollywood. She got scant time in Hollywood but did get the pimp spot in the top 12 girls. There was not much done to develop a fan base for her.

Contrast that to Scotty, Lauren, Casey and James who were pimped and repimped throughout the auditions and Hollywood weeks (Scotty and the Jaycee storyline for example, and Scotty saying he didn't act like a man) through to the top 24.

Then when the show hit the top 13, right away Casey and Jacob got 10 back up singers on stage to boost their performances.

Then Casey got a save.

And James and Paul got Hulk Hogan spotlights. James got to show off his fan swag.

Scotty got to call out to his grandmother in the audience while singing and then later his grandmother was spotlighted again.

Scotty and Casey got girls rushing up on stage to clamor around them, and, in Scotty's case, at least twice so far.

Where's the girl's equivalent?

We even saw Scotty make a basket with a basketball shot from the window of the mansion where the idols were staying. He can do no wrong!

In contrast we got shots of Lauren falling down the steps. And they've milked that more than once.

We saw Haley have her work ethic questioned by Jimmy Iovine.

In many ways, the show has been pushing America towards the guys, pimping the guys, and even the one girl they uber pimped from the beginning they have been taking down a peg or two (Lauren).

When Paul got the pimp spot top 9 week and Stefano got the near pimp spot...after 4 girls in a row had exited ... it was clear that AI was just not supporting the girls this year.

Throw in forced styling by non stylist Gwen Stefano who dressed the girls in horrible outfits...in hindsight I can see how Pia got booted.

As for Nigel making a claim that Pia was not a front runner, I can look back at other seasons and say at top 9 week, many future winners were not the front runners. Jordin Sparks (Melinda, LaKisha), Kris Allen (Lambert, Gokey), David Cook (Archuletta), etc.

So Nigel, stuff your statement. The season sucks now because you have skewed the pimpage in favor of the guys and then try to act like it is America's fault and your plans got Pia booted. Maybe she was a foil to your plans for Scotty in the finale.

Instead, you had to swaddle Pia in an ugly outfit to help get her out the door.

Idoloonies link: second video: Michael Slezak calls it all out, too, including showing where Nigel rushes to the swaybot pit to get the girls to rush on the stage to swarm Scotty. Love it. Pimpage machinations caught in the act:

http://www.tvline.com/2011/04/idoloonies-pia-toscano-elimination-american-idol-top-8/

LAST EDITED ON 04-14-11 AT 09:09 AM (EST)

Top 8:

1. Paul
2. Lauren
3. Stefano
4 Scotty
5. Casey
6 Haley
7. Jacob
8. James

Singing placement of the top 9 from top 13 through top 8 week:

Casey: 2/13, 10/12, 1/11, 9/11, 3/9, 5/8
Haley: 7/13, 5/12, 6/11, 11/11, 2/9, 6/8 (pimp spot top 11, round 2)
Jacob: 8/13, 12/12, 3/11, 10/11, 1/9, 7/8 (pimp spot top 12)
James: 6/13, 4/12, 11/11, 7/11, 5/9, 8/8 (pimp spot top 11, round 1 and pimp spot top 8)
Lauren: 1/13, 11/12, 4/11, 6/11, 4/9, 2/8
Paul: 4/13, 2/12, 9/11, 3/11, 9/9, 1/8 ( pimp spot top 9)
Pia: 5/13, 7/12, 8/11, 4/11, 7/9 -- booted --
Scotty: 12/13, 8/12, 7/11, 1/11, 6/9, 4/8
Stefano: 10/13, 6/12, 5/11, 5/11, 8/9, 3/8

James got the first top 13 repeat pimp spot. That's before Scotty, Lauren, Casey or Stefano have had one (although Casey had one on top 12 guys night.

Jacob got the near pimp. Interesting to see who gets to sing in the back half of the show more often.

Jacob: 4/6 times
Scotty: 4/6 times
Haley: 4/6 times
James: 4/6 times
Casey 3/6 times
Stefano: 2/6 times
Lauren: 2/6 times
Paul: 2/6 times

A piece of trivia, the booted has not come from someone who sings 4th so far in the top 13. Who sang 4th last night? Scotty.

So let's call James, Jacob, and Scotty safe.

Lauren sang a popular Miley song...probably also safe.

The only one last night who really got critiqued was...Haley, a girl.

Are they trying for 6 in a row?

Will I Am and Jimmy Iovine looked like they were having a frat boy meeting last night in their "mentoring" bits.

Casey did a self pimp, with his cool jazz choice of song, "Nature Boy". Will it have impressed the voters?

Pia, you were missed.

Who gets the top 7 pimp spot?

Lauren, Scotty and Stefano have not had one.

James had it last week and Jacob got the near pimp spot slot. So I look for those two to be early in the show next week.

I'm guessing Lauren but the show could as easily have it be Scotty so they can repeat a pimp spot for him at top 4 or 3.

Stefano gets the pimp spot only if they want him to stay another week. And if he does get it, the who are they trying to push out?

LAST EDITED ON 04-22-11 AT 12:17 PM (EST)

AI cast photos.

No coincidences. Totally posed.

Notice how with the exception of one picture, Lauren and Scotty are always next to one another?

Notice, too, how Lauren has been the center of the photo the last 3 weeks?

And since Scotty is always near near her, that puts him in the center, too, the past three weeks.

AI is just not subtle.

Season 10 top 13:

Season 10 top 12:

Season 10 top 11:

Season 10 top 9:

Season 10 top 8:

Season 10 top 7:

Season 10 top 6:

Season 10 top 7 pic won't open the post above, so here it is:

Top 7, 21rst Century songs

Top 7:

1. Scotty McCreery: LeAnn Rimes’ “Swingin’”
2. James Durbin: Muse’s “Uprising”
3. Haley Reinhart: Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”
4. Jacob Lusk: Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father”
5. Casey Abrams: Maroon 5′s “Harder to Breathe”
6. Stefano Langone: Ne-Yo’s ”Closer”
7. Lauren Alaina: Sara Evans’ “Born to Fly”

Singing placement of the top 9 from top 13 through top 8 week:

Casey: 2/13, 10/12, 1/11, 9/11, 3/9, 5/8, 5/7
Haley: 7/13, 5/12, 6/11, 11/11, 2/9, 6/8, 3/7(pimp spot top 11, round 2)
Jacob: 8/13, 12/12, 3/11, 10/11, 1/9, 7/8, 4/7 (pimp spot top 12)
James: 6/13, 4/12, 11/11, 7/11, 5/9, 8/8, 2/7 (pimp spot top 11, round 1 and pimp spot top 8)
Lauren: 1/13, 11/12, 4/11, 6/11, 4/9, 2/8, 7/7 (pimp spot top 7)
Scotty: 12/13, 8/12, 7/11, 1/11, 6/9, 4/8, 1/7

Stefano: 10/13, 6/12, 5/11, 5/11, 8/9, 3/8, 6/7 --booted at 7th--
Paul: 4/13, 2/12, 9/11, 3/11, 9/9, 1/8 ( pimp spot top 9) --booted at 8th--
Pia: 5/13, 7/12, 8/11, 4/11, 7/9 -- booted at 9th --

Casey and Scotty have not yet had pimp spots in the top 13. Casey did have one back on top 12 men's night.

Will Idol have Lauren sing first next week since she had the pimp spot this week? Don't count on it.

Despite getting the "near pimp" spot, Stefano got the boot. Clearly, Paul fans did not clamor for Stefano. Did they move to Casey, as VFTW did? Casey wasn't even in the bottom 3.

Stefano's boot at 7th keeps alive the idol tradition of singer- carried- too- long- because- they- were- cute boot. Noteable 7th place past bootees have been Ace Young, Sanjaya, Kristy Lee Cook and Tim Urban.

Looking back on post #1 in this thread, note that 5 of the final 6 left in the competition were 5 of the 7 who got the most air time prior to the top 13.

And Jacob, the only one who wasn't in the top 7 airtime candidates, was not far behind in airtime, getting some spotlights Hollywood week.

Casey made his own pimp moment this week by kissing J Lo at the end of his Maroon Five song. Ryan also gave Casey a pimp on results night where Casey showed off fan swag, a portrait of him and his on a guitar front.

Haley sang a song that is near the top of the charts right now. Sometimes people vote for the song as much as they vote for the performance. She handled the song, though, adept at singing but still not adept at showing the emotion of the song.

James brought out drummers for his Muse song and did a "Matt Bellemy" encouraged falsetto on the chorus. He got to repimp that on results night with Ryan asking him how Matt Bellemy liked it. Matt tweeted (? ) it was great.

Jacob got to address his being called a diva on results night. Note that Lauren and Haley didn't get any special attention on results night the way Casey, Jacob and James did.

Jacob also had a production issue with his backing track on performance night. He started, stopped and pulled out his ear piece while continuing to sing. He later said he heard drums..and his piece did not call for drums. Was he sabotaged? If so, it would not be the first time AI did something to the performer to throw them off.

So to recap:

Scotty remains on a roll, despite singing first and getting a push from the judges to take on harder songs.

James brought it with Muse and drums

Haley picked one from the top of the charts.

Jacob had the production issues-and the near boot

Casey made his own pimp moment.

Stefano danced to Closer but did not get Closer to winning by being booted.

Lauren got the pimp spot and was safe once again.

Scotty, Lauren and James remain the three never to be in the bottom 3 so far.

Here is a total pimpage move by AI:

http://mjsbigblog.com/lauren-alaina-throwing-chattanooga-benefit-concert.htm

Lauren A doing a benefit concert when she makes top 3. When, not if. Oops. Now backtracking...they are saying if...but you know.

When.

Happy for the people who will reap the benefits of the concert, the victims of the April tornadoes.

Top 6 went with solos and duets, songs written by Carol King:

singing order:

1. Jacob “Oh No Not My Baby"

2. Lauren “Where You Lead”

**Casey and Haley “I Feel the Earth Move”**

3. Scotty “You’ve Got a Friend"

4. James “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”

**Lauren and Scotty “Up on the Roof”**

5. Casey “Hi-De-Ho That Old Sweet Roll”

6. Haley “Beautiful”

**Jacob and James “I’m Into Something Good”**

Jacob went first, with obscure song and overdone outfit too boot. They wanted him to go, perhaps, but it did not work.

Lauren got the confidence discussion. Does she still have any confidence? I think there is too much pressure on her, including the likely edict to lose weight. She looks trimmer than in her audition shots.

Casey and Haley's solo was an inside joke because there is a rumor that they are more than friends. Steven called Casey out on being in love with Haley.

Scotty got the most recognizable Carol King song. Wonder how that happens?

James did an acapella opening of "Will you love me tomorrow" that then segued into rocking it out. Many wished he would have stayed low key for the whole song, cementing that side of himself with the fans. Randy declared James a contender for the winner. Uber pimp for James!

Lauren stole the Lauren and Scotty duet.

Casey jazzed out on the BS and T's HDH. He talk growls more than he sings and fans finally caught on and booted him.

Haley had the solo pimp spot with Beautiful but once again did not get the tongue bath from the judges that Lauren has received.

James and Jacob's duet was fun but panned by critics. I thought it showed the musical plays side of James!

Results show gave us no definitive b3 or b2 but instead gave the appearance of the final b2 being Casey and Scotty. But Ryan said that the results were random...so Scotty was likely NOT the bottom 2. Instead, it was a photo moment, to rally fans. And it appears to have worked, with people posting on boards, "How could Scotty be the b2?" and friends calling with the same question.

There were really bad tornadoes in the south the night of the performance show with many power outages or severe weather reports replacing the primetime programming.

The damage from the storm was severe, and likely dampened the voting from the south, where AI support has been historically strong.

Lauren or Scotty may have been in the bottom 2 or bottom 3 so Ryan's order of revealing the results may have been to protect them.

Haley was told she was safe first.
Then James was told he was safe.

Lauren, Casey, Scotty and Jacob were toyed with, with the first three being brought to the stage and then told they would get their results later. AI filler ensued.

When Ryan brought the lst 4 to the stage, Lauren was the first told she was safe.

That left Jacob, Casey and Scotty standing. Jacob was told he was safe (and looked shocked); which left Scotty and Casey standing. Even though Ryan said results were random....it sure *looked* like Scotty was at risk. Casey got the boot.

LAST EDITED ON 05-05-11 AT 10:54 AM (EST)

In many ways this was like an AI concert Two performances from each contestant and no one was a total bust or blah but there were some issues that went overlooked.

Once again the judges stuck to a script and Jimmy Iovine had his hand in messing with some of the contestant's heads

1 James “Closer to the Edge"

6 James “Without You”

James was pitchy last night There are times when he is a remarkable singer and performer but last night he was an emotional singer and performer. The intro clip of the 70's song Without You showed he was overcome with emotion in rehearsal. He displayed that emotion again last night. The judges were kind about it, perhaps in deference to his Aspbergers and maybe they thought that was the best James could do.

Jimmy and the judges told James the first song was his "lane". Guess they think hard rock/heavy metal won't sell today. Randy declared James in it to win it. Pimped. Plus Cheryl Crow can't wait to work with him.

2 Jacob “No Air"

7 Jacob "Love Hurts"

Jacob has been messed with for weeks. Jimmy told him he needed to change up what he sang to broaden his appeal and pick up fans. The result was a horrible "No Air". How could they let him go out there and sing that, and sing both parts (Jordin and Chris's)? It just did not fit him or show off his prowess. And to top it off, he repeated the navy blazer with white trim. Where is his wardrobe budget going? For mani/pedis? (Jacob was shown earlier enjoying them).

I agreed with Randy. Jacob is more Luther and not Usher/Chris Brown/Jordin. Randy knows that Jacob is not being steered well and he is frustrated for him.

Love Hurts was an improvement. Jacob wore a nice loking suit and the whole performance was a step change better the first. Jacob is versatile but has not had a "God Bless the Child" moment for weeks. How hamstrung is he with his song choices? Why hasn't he brought out one of those type of songs?

One key judge moment: J Lo slips up and tells him he can be top 3. Then she catches herself and says top 2, or finale or something like that. But her message is clear Jacob, no way are you going further than top 3, the fix is in.

Cheryl Crow moment: she shows Jacob how to interpret the song. Take away: Jacob needs help.

3. Lauren “Flat on the Floor"

8. Lauren "Unchained Melody"

First song: totally forgettable. Second song: her flubs were totally overloked. The judges were uber kind to her. J Lo said of one of the songs something like beautiful song sung beautifully. That's all. She seemed like she was wanting to say more but was told not to critique Lauren. Al the judges seemed stifled when it came to Lauren.

Even Sheryl C played along.

4. Scotty “Gone”

9. Scotty “Always on My Mind”

Unlike Jacob, Scotty gets to pick songs that are his "lane" and JJmy even explains why that is right for Scotty. Okey dokey. However, the result was a fun night with Scotty and you can see why he will win. Both were good and Scotty showed he's been gettng coached on how to command the stage. He's a quick study and it worked last night on the first song.

Randy also proclaimed Scotty in it to win it. Sheryl hopes to ride Scotty's coattails.

5. Haley “The House of the Rising Sun”

10. Haley “You and I"

I'm totally confused with how the show treats Haley. FIrst, she's the one who gets the toughest critiques from the mushball judges who don't do critiques. Next, they mess with her and have her sing a song that few people know (unreleased Lady Gaga song) that does not have that memorable of a hook.

Seems like they are pushing her out the door.

But wait! She has the pimp spot, again! And she is singing HOTRS and it fits her style. Jimmy and Sheryl ooo and goo over it. The judges fawn over it.

Pimp spot at top 5 = they want her to stay.

She seems like she is the one to show growth. Is she the AI growth story? But the fans don't seem to have caught on to her the way they did Jordin Sparks in season 6. Jordin trailed Melinda and Blake and LaKisha for some time but the judges, especially Randy, uber pimped her ("she's only 16") and she rose. I thought that's what they were doing with Lauren, but maybe her future is set and they only need to make sure Lauren hits the top 3? Country + Disney awaits.

So, who is going home? It's not Scotty, and pimp spot should insure Haley. Show won't let Lauren go home.

So it's James or Jacob. How strong is Jacob's fan base anyway? They made sure not to appeal to it last night with the songs he chose.