If you thought the 45 million votes last week was a lot, this week there were 51 million votes cast. Apparently the Top 3 were all within a million votes of each other. Oh dear for Mr Castro?

The Top 4 perform Steely Dan's Reelin' In The Years.

David Archuleta is SAFE!

David Cook is SAFE!

Maroon 5 perform their single If I Never See Your Face Again.

Bo Bice then performs Witness

Being ejected from the American Idol stage this week for shooting the Tambourine Man is: Jason Castro

We're getting down to the skinny end of the competition where no matter what happens from here on out, there are going to be a lot of upset people. With 45 million votes cast last week, that's a fair few tears that are going to get shed when one of the favorites of the competition is finally cut tonight.

So lets take a look at the polls from around the web to see what things look like - even though we all know what tonight's result will be, right?

Firstly, Idolblog.com. Our polls have David Archuleta on 43%, David Cook on 30%, Syesha on 16% and Jason Castro on 11% in the popularity stakes. When it comes to who you all want to see sent home, Jason Castro by a resounding 69%.

David Archuleta owned the night as far as most popular songs go while David Cook scored with Baba O'Reily. Jason barely managed double digits on his second song while Syesha got lost in the middle of the pack as she has done with her performances for this entire season of American Idol.

Rickey.org has David Archuleta's combined total at 50% with David Cook on 29% with most of that coming from one song. Syesha scrapes through ahead of Jason Castro.

Dialidol.com has green lights for everyone except Jason.

So, it's pretty unanimous and ominous looking for Jason tonight. May his wish be granted and his bags not be lost during his connecting flight home.

Results next!

Can you believe there are only 4 contestants left? Not far to the Grand Finale now!

Tonight the Top 4 are performing classics from the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Can Syesha pull out another miracle performance to save herself from elimination again? Can David Archuleta keep the tempo up again this week? Can Jason Castro earn a spot in the Top 3? Will David Cook blitz everyone again?

If you haven't already, why not join one of our Office Pools on the right and see if you can pick who is going and who is staying.

Also, If you need the voting numbers, they can be found here.

Here is tonight's recap:

David Cook

Original: Hungry Like The Wolf
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-05

What a terrible vocal performance that was. Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck, YUCK! I hope his next performance is better than that!

Randy: "I'm interested to see which songs you guys choose. It was an ok choice and an ok performance but it wasn't amazing."
Paula: "You've left me with a big appetite. It makes me realize why I tolerate being the only girl in the boys club."
Simon: "It was good and I kind of agree with Randy that it was copycat. Do I think it was good enough to make it through to next week? Yes."

---

Syesha Mercado

Original: Proud Mary
Buy all off Syesha's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-06

I'm a little over Syesha's predictability. She seems to be cruising through American Idol by not taking any risks.

Randy: "I'm laughing because this is the third week in a row that Syesha has showed up and is in the zone. Very nice."
Paula: "You look like a star. You have started this competition as a big girl with a big voice and when you feel it, magic happens."
Simon: "I'm sorry to put a slight damper on this but I thought it was a bad, shrieky version. It was a bad impression of Tina Turner."

---

Jason Castro

Original: I Shot the Sheriff
Buy all off Jason's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-07

Good Lord, are we back to the auditions tonight? Round one sucks this week!

Randy: "Man, dude. OK, look for me that was a really karaoke Bob Marley. There was nothing special about it. It's not about just having fun. I didn't get it."
Paula: "I never saw you perform this much to the audience. I wasn't crazy about the song or performance but your true artistry shines through."
Simon: "Stand back... That was utterly atrocious. This was like honestly a first round audition massacre. I don't know what you're thinking."

---

David Archuleta

Original: Stand By Me
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-08

If tonight's performances were to result in the winner of American Idol being named, it would unequivocally be David Archuleta

Randy: "I'm happy about the fact that at least one guy always hits the stage ready to win. He brought the hot mad vocals Paula, that was hot!"
Paula: "We forget you're only 17, it's hard. I admire that you're communicating with your eyes. You're taking in everything we're saying. You're seasoned."
Simon: "You could have whistled a song and it would have sounded better than the last song. Very good choice of song, I thought you struggled at the end of it. But in the grand scheme of things I'm gonna call that as the best performance so far."

---

David Cook

Original: Baba O'Riley
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-05

All I can say is "who was the person who sang in David Cook's place during the first song?"

Randy: "Check it out, I mean, I dunno there's something different going on tonight but that's the David Cook I've grown to love. Just be you cause you were great."
Paula: "I want more, more, more, more David Cook. I'm really humbled."
Simon: "Welcome back David Cook."

---

Syesha Mercado

Original: Change Is Gonna Come
Buy all off Syesha's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-06

Again, a good safe song for Syesha. Perhaps her plan is to play it safe and hope no one else screws up. I'd be worried though, at this point, screwing up makes your fans more intent on voting to keep you. Flying under the radar may ultimately cost her this week.

Randy: "I did not love this one as much. I didn't like the arrangement and I thought you pushed out for things and didn't make it. It felt all disconnected to me and it fell flat."
Paula: "I want you to know how you orchestrated your vocals. It was beautiful. You turned this into a beautiful performance. You have come."
Simon: "Syesha, I have to be fair. I'm going to agree with Paula"

---

Jason Castro

Original: Mr Tambourine Man
Buy all off Jason's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-07

How can anyone in the Top 4 forget their lyrics? As if the pressure isn't already enough, he's blown it. It'll be a real miracle if he's here next week.

Randy: "You're not in the zone tonight"
Paula: "It is what it is. Obviously it didn't blow us away but you blow me away."
Simon: "Jason, I'd pack your suitcase."

---

David Archuleta

Original: Love Me Tender
Buy all off David's performances from iTunes here
1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-08

Outstanding night from David A. Untouchable!

Randy: "Dude you got it going on right now the hot vocals of the night!"
Paula: "I felt your heart it was fantastic and beautiful."
Simon: "You didn't beat the competition tonight, you crushed the competition tonight"

---

As far as the bottom two is concerned, it has to be Jason and Syesha. Has to be.

See you tomorrow for the elimination.

45 million votes were cast last night which is what, a 50% increase on what it has been normally? That's quite significant and shouldn't leave any contestant feeling too comfortable.

The polls are all suggesting that it's Brooke's turn to vanish. How will it all play out? Let's find out!

First to learn their fate is Jason Castro - who is SAFE

David Archuleta is also SAFE

Big promos for So You Think You Can Dance which starts the day after the American Idol finale.

David Cook is SAFE meaning Brooke and Syesha are the Final Two

My girl Natasha Bedingfield performs Pocketful of Sunshine

Neil Diamond sings Pretty Amazing Grace. How much can they drag this out? The results show is the same length as the performance show and there is nothing to it!

The American Idol journey is all over for Brooke White

Sorry! I've lost count at how many contestants VFTW is now up to at failing to keep in the competition.

Next week it's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That should be good!

Again this week I'm going to be brief:

Our polls have Brooke White looking like she's the one going home with Syesha joining her in the bottom two. David Cook dominates on 43% with Archuleta on 25%.

Rickey includes Paula Abdul in his poll of best performances of the night. She brings in 4% which is still 2 more than Brooke White on 4% followed by Jason Castro on 10%.

Dialidol has both Syesha and David Cook as statistically safe while Brooke White looks like she's the one going home. Jason Castro is there in second spot.

So, is this finally going to be Brooke's week? It seems pretty unanimous this week. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

It was a great week last week. Carly Smithson was sent packing and all those folk who were adamant she was a plant by the producers to win American Idol in 2008 were proved wrong.

Tonight the Top 5 are performing songs from the Neil Diamand Songbook

Everyone will be crooning tonight wont they? Or will someone be mixing it up a little and putting some new spin on a Neil Diamond classic. I guess we're about to find outn.

If you haven't already, why not join one of our Office Pools on the right and see if you can pick who is going and who is staying.

Also, If you need the voting numbers, they can be found here.

Here is tonight's recap:

Jason Castro

Original: Forever in Blue Jeans
Pre-Order Jason's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-06

Not a bad performance from Jason but really, he needs to put his stamp on American Idol and be identifiable.

---

David Cook

Original: I'm Alive
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-07

This was the first performance of David's in a long time that I haven't liked. Thankfully there are two songs tonight.

---

Brooke White

Original: I'm A Believer
Pre-Order Brooke's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-08

If ever anyone needed a song to be the final nail in the coffin to send them packing from American Idol then that was it. Someone else is going to have to majorly screw up in order for Brooke to stick around for another week.

---

David Archuleta

Original: Sweet Caroline
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-09

Finally Mr Archuleta pulls out a successful upbeat performance. Congratulations David! Well done! Finally!

---

Syesha Mercado

Original: Hello Again
Pre-Order Syesha's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-05 OR 1-866-43657-10

No, no, no. Not a great start for Syesha tonight. I hope her second song is better.

---

So the judges are weird tonight. Not making comments after the first performances. When it comes to the the end of the first round of performances, Paula totally messes it up by critiquing Jason's second song. Um.. say what? Yup, that's right. Obviously not paying attention and reading notes that she took from the dress rehearsal. Simon quickly interrupted to try and stop her from talking further but really, she'd already made a meal of it!

Jason Castro

Original: September Mom
Pre-Order Jason's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-01 OR 1-866-43657-06

Is it just me or has Jason Castro become an even more boring version of Jack Johnson

Randy: "Dude, I dunno what's happening tonight but it was just ok. That was just another ok whatever performance."
Paula: "I thought you took the same liberty on both songs."
Simon: "We don't recognize you at the moment. No attempt to make the arrangement your own. Both were forgettable."

---

David Cook

Original: All I Really Need Is You
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-02 OR 1-866-43657-07

A much better performance second time around. In fact, it's really good. This could almost be a single

Randy: "I'm a huge David fan right now because you rocked the house again tonight."
Paula: "I'm so proud of you, you picked two of Neil Diamon'd less familar songs and pulled them off. I feel like I'm looking at the next American Idol"
Simon: "I thought the first song was ok, the second song was brilliant. You made the arrangement your own. That was smart."

---

Brooke White

Original: I am...I said
Pre-Order Brooke's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-03 OR 1-866-43657-08

The second song was better than the first but I just don't see her as Idol material. It's time for her to go.

Randy: "Very vulnerable. That Neil Diamond song is one of the tougher ones but nice job."
Paula: "I think that what you did was you had fun and it shows your vulnerability and everyone loves who you are."
Simon: "I really hated the first song but this is the Brooke we like. It wasn't incredible but it was a million times better than the first one."

---

David Archuleta

Original: America
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-04 OR 1-866-43657-09

Two in a row? What has happened to David Archuleta this week? Is he building towards something here? This is the best he's been as far as I'm concerned as he's finally proved he can do more than simply put people to sleep.

Randy: "For a young man you are definitely in the zone right now."
Paula: "Perfect song to sing, voice is on point."
Simon: "That was a smart choice of song. That was clever. It ticked all the boxes. It was absolutely the right choice. Check, check, check."

---

Syesha Mercado

Original: Thank the Lord for the Night Time
Pre-Order Syesha's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-05 OR 1-866-43657-10

I'm not sure about Syesha tonight. She's been improving a lot but I don't feel tonight was very strong for her at all.

Randy: "I think you're finally realizing who you are. That is also in the zone. This is where I like you."
Paula: "Your first song showed a vulnerable side that is beautiful and magic. The second song showed a whole different side and that's your theatrical place and your pop side is like Corrine Bailey Ray."
Simon: "This is officially the strangest show we've ever done. I think what you demonstrated is that you're a very good actress/singer. I think you might be in trouble tonight because there are five of you left and you didn't have a memorable second song."

---

A mixed bag for me tonight.

Tonight's bottom two for me would have to be Brooke White and Syesha.

I guess we'll see what happens with the results tomorrow night. Till then...

One more contestant will bid farewell to Hollywood tonight and be sent home giving the remaining contestants a little more hope that they're going to be crowned the next American Idol. Unfortunately for them though, the majority are going to be left majorly disappointed.

One of the biggest new comers to pop is performing tonight, the winner of UK's The X Factor - Leona Lewis.

38 million votes were cast tonight but as the final 6 perform All I ask of You you can't help feeling that this is a complete waste of time for one of them so they'd better be enjoying every final second of performing on that stage.

Both David Archuleta and David Cook are safe!

Leona Lewis sings her World Wide smash single Bleeding Love

Brooke is SAFE! Syesha in the bottom two

Jason is SAFE! Carly is in the bottom two

BOTTOM TWO
Syesha and Carly

There is a God! Carly is out!

Next week the Idol's get some crooning lessons from Neil Diamond

I'm running a little behind today so I'll make this brief.

Idolblog.com
Top 3: David Cook (38%), David Archuleta (21%) & Syesha Mercado (15%)
Bottom 3: Jason Castro (11%), Carly Smithson (10%) & Brooke White (6%)
And you all most want Brooke White to go home on 44%.

Rickey.org
Top 3: David Cook (40%), David Archuleta (32%), Syesha (11%)
Bottom 3: Carly (9%), Jason (6% & Brooke (2%).

Dialidol.com

Top 3: David Cook, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado
Bottom 3: Jason Castro, Brooke & Carly

So the bottom three is a general consensus but who is going home? Brooke or Carly? Brooke probably deserves to go a little more than Carly but there will be no tears shed here if Carly goes instead.

After weeks of wanting her gone, no one was expecting it would be Kristy Lee Cook that would be sent. Alas, it was.

Tonight the Top 6 are performing songs from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Songbook

Again, this is an interesting theme. It's has the potential to be great or a complete disastor and at this point in the competition, that's not exactly what you need as one false move could very weel be your last.

If you haven't already, why not join one of our Office Pools on the right and see if you can pick who is going and who is staying.

Also, If you need the voting numbers, they can be found here.

Here is tonight's recap:

Syesha Mercado

Original: One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many
Pre-Order Syesha's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-01

Syesha continues to prove that she has the chops to be in the competition and is finally showing some personality.

Randy: "This may surprise you but I feel tonight that not only is this your element I think this was your best performance to date."

Paula: "This is your happy place. You're real good at it. You brought the house down right at the beginning."

Simon: "That was very sexy. I actually agree with Randy. I thought you showed massive personality. Randy's right, you definitely are more comfortable in this area."

---

Jason Castro

Original: Memory
Pre-Order Jason's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-02

It seems as though Jason Castro has found his new niche. Sitting alongside sleepy Archuleta singing dull songs well and making the young girls swoon.

Randy: "Vocally it was a trainwreck, but I do like the fact that you singing the song with the dreads...it's not your thing, dude. Too big of a song."

Paula: "Everyone's so used to hearing this song by a female. It was a wise choise to do this song and it further identifies your uniquenes. In many ways it sounds like a pop ballad. Like "You Are So Beautiful" this is how I think it came off."

Simon: "It felt like the longest two minutes of my life. It came over as a young boy singing a song at a wedding that your parents made you sing. I was miserable throughout. It's not your music. It was a struggle."

---

Brooke White

Original: You Must Love Me
Pre-Order Brooke's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-03

How many times is Brooke going to commit performance suicide on American Idol before people realise she's not cut out for this. This wasn't the first time she's stopped and restarted her performance and it's simply unforgivable.

Randy: "There were parts that were good. At least you listened to Andrew Lloyd Webber because you need to believe. Vocally it was a bit tough."

Paula: "You must never start and stop. What I did love is you didn't overreact. Vocally it was an emotional strength."

Simon: "The trouble is it completely threw you. Your voice was so straining that it became uncomfortable. I think you're going to be very disappointed when you watch this back."

---

David Archuleta

Original: Think of Me
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-04

I wonder if David Archuleta's plan is to put all the other voters to sleep as part of his tactic to win American Idol. Enjoyable, but still incredibly sleepy.

Randy: "What is really cool is that you can sing anything, you even put your own personality with the Stevie riffs. This boy's the one to beat!"

Paula: "I thought it was absolutely perfect. You turned it into a pop ballad."

Simon: "I thought it was pleasant but one of your weakest performances. Not one you'll remember. Absolutely gonna get you through to next week but it was forgettable. Sorry."

---

Carly Smithson

Original: Jesus Christ Superstar
Pre-Order Carly's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-05

Good Lord! Please may this be the week the wailing stops!

Randy: "It's no surpise to me that the bigger voices are doing better tonight. Not your best but it was definitely good. Like the outfit."

Paula: "It was so unexpected. I thought it might be too high but I love what you did in the chorus."

Simon: "It got a little bit shouty in the middle but it was actually one of my favorite performances of the night."

---

David Cook

Original: Music Of The Night
Pre-Order David's version here
or the video here
1-866-43657-06

No one will be saying anything about David Cook not having diversity after this week. I'm not sure it was something his fans will get into but we'll see tomorrow I guess.

Randy: "I've said it before, if you can really sing you can sing anything. Dude, that was an amazing vocal performance."

Paula: "This song proved you are so well rounded. I thought it was fantastic."

Simon: "This is not the side of you I like at all. I prefer the grittier rock but you made the most of what you were given."

---

A very interesting show.

Tonight's bottom three for me would have to be all girls Carly Smithson, David Cook and Brooke White.

I guess we'll see what happens with the results tomorrow night. Till then...

Can Syesha Mercado stay safe again this week? Will the plastic Carly Smithson finally find her way to the exit? Or will Brooke White be swept out of the competition? They're they expected bottom three so let's find out. This is American Idol!

36 million votes were cast last night! That has to be good incentive to perform as the Top 7 sing One Sweet Day

Elliott Yamin performs Free

Which of the two groups will be the bottom three? Which group will David Archuleta be in?

Ironically, Mariah Carey sings Bye Bye before the results.

GROUP ONE IS SAFE!
Jason Castro
Carly Smithson
David Cook

GROUP TWO IS THE BOTTOM THREE
Kristy Lee Cook
Brooke White
Syesha Mercado

SAFE
David Archuleta
Syesha Mercado

GOING HOME: Kristy Lee Cook

Yet again, VFTW fails to inspire a result.