This is why I and more than 30 million of my
closest friends watch this crazy show. This is why we are addicted from
mid-January to almost Memorial Day.

And this is why we occasionally get our viewing heart ripped right from our chest.

The
first major — and unexpected — casualty of American Idol VII came
Thursday night when Alexandrea Lushington, the 17-year-old from
Douglasville, Ga., was voted off the show with Alaina Whitaker, Robbie
Carrico and Jason Yeager. Carrico was a mild surprise, but nothing of
the magnitude of Lushington.

Lushington was ranked No. 4 among
the girls and No. 7 overall in the competition by this blog. She was
outstanding in week one, and while missing out on the “wow” factor
Wednesday when she sang “If You leave Me Now” by Chicago, she hardly
seemed to be a legitimate candidate to be bounced.

But fans of
the disappointing Kady Malloy, the up-and-down Carly Smithson, lukewarm
Brooke White and the struggling Amanda Overmyer obviously phoned in
more votes for their girls than those who were backing Lushington. More
than 31 million votes were cast this week.

While there is no way
to statistically measure a claim such as this, I would venture to say
the exit of someone at the talent level of Lushington this early in the
competition is a first for Idol. I cannot emphasize what an upset this
was.

Whitaker and Yeager were in way over their heads and will
not be missed. They never had a chance for the final 12, but I thought
Carrico did, mostly because six guys HAVE to make it and he appeared to
be the best of the rest following frontrunners Michael Johns and David
Archuleta.

Here’s my overall rankings with 16 contestants remaining. Last week’s ranking is in parentheses.

1. (1.) Michael Johns — there’s a teen sensation in his rear-view mirror.

2.
(5.) David Archuleta — word of his Tuesday night performance spread
like wildfire across the Internet, and anything close to another
performance like his take on “Imagine” and Johns is in trouble. Simon
Cowell already considers The Kid the favorite to be the next American
Idol.

3. (3.) Ramiele Malubay — Ballads look to be her strength.

4.
(1) Asia’h Epperson — We’ll give her a mulligan for picking “All By
Myself” and wearing those silly hair extensions. Geez, Asia’h, let’s
get your act back on track.

5. (8.) Syesha Mercado — Can you
imagine when this year’s competition gets down to the final six or so
how difficult this will be? Any of these top five are as good as any of
the previous Idol champs, including Carrie Underwood. You read it here
first.

6. (NR) Kristy Lee Cook — This is where the drop-ff starts, and where the departed Lushington should be.

7. (NR) David Cook — One of the week’s top comebacks.

8. (NR) Chikezie — the only soul singer left in the field, but he’s no Ruben Studdard or George Huff.

9. (4.) Jason Castro — If he bombs again next week, he’s toast. Burnt toast.

10.
(NR) David Hernandez — he definitely has a future, but I think it’s on
Broadway. He is definitely not a rocker, although he seems to think he
is.

Best bets to go next week: Mulloy, Overmyer, Whitaker, Danny Noriega, Luke Menard, Castro.

Who saw this train derailment coming?

The
girls’ overall Wednesday night performance was incredibly lame. Maybe
the expectations were too high after the previous week’s opening round
of eliminations, maybe it was the 1970s song selections or possibly it
was the lingering effect of David Archuleta’s spellbinding performance
on Tuesday.

I don’t have a clue, and neither did most of the girls.

I
kept waiting to be wowed, and it just never happened. The closest was
Syesha Mercado’s "Me and Mr(s). Jones," a song I detested more than 30
years ago when Billy Paul had his first — and only — mainstream hit.

Surprisingly,
Mercado was panned by the judges, but I felt she nailed the effort,
which was her own interpretaion on what was considered a highly
seductive song at the time of its initial release.

Mercado’s
electric smile and great hair accented what might wind up being her
"moment" during American Idol VII. For me, there was no performance
that was close to her on this night.

I have to give Carly
Smithson some props, too. I’ve been on her pretty hard the last couple
of weeks. She was effective with Ann and Nancy Wilson’s "Crazy on You."
She’s still overhyped and overrated — despite what Simon says — but
on this night she worked it out. She was almost likable. Almost.

Kristy
Lee Cook, another woeful performer from the previous week, mounted a
comeback with Linda Ronstadt’s "You’re No Good." She still seemed
rather structured, but the curly hair and some added movement
definitely helped her cause.

Ramiele Malubay, the Filpino
phenomenon, was solid but unspectacular with "Don’t Leave me This Way"
by Thelma Houston. The disco era smash is one of my all-time
favorites
from the 1970s and Malubay’s effort was credible, but she needs to
prove she’s more than a one-trick pony. She has to liven up her
on-stage persona.

Arguably the biggest disappointment was Asia’h
Epperson, my pick to win the competition a week ago. Her choice of "All
By Myself" by post-Raspberries Eric
Carmen (and later Celine Dion)
was not a wise one, and neither were the hair extensions. What WAS she
thinking? Epperson’s performance was not a major bomb, but there was
significant collateral damage to her title bid.

The night’s
biggest disasters — complete and otherwise — included Brooke White,
Amanda Overmyer, Alaina Whitaker, Alexandrea Lushington and Kady Malloy.

Overmyer
entered the round of 24 as one of the favorites and has struggled
significantly two straight weeks. She might be lucky to survive. Malloy
is simply awful.

GIRLS RANKINGS

1. Ramiele Malubay — she came the closest to having two banner weeks.
2. Asia’h Epperson — look for a big comeback next week.
3. Syesha Mercado — if she had not chosen that awful "Tobacco Road" song during 1960s week she might be No. 1
4. Alexandrea Lushington — here’s where the great separation begins from that top three.
5. Kristy Lee Cook — co-worker Kevin Murphy thinks this girl can win it all. Kevin’s crazy.
6. Amanda Overmyer — either she goes back to sounding like Janis Joplin or she’s going home.
7. Carly Smithson — I’m still having trouble getting past all of those tattoos.
8. Brooke White — the judges thought her take on Carly Simon’s "You’re So Vaib" was superb. I didn’t.
9. Alaina Whitaker — a big nosedive this week that will make it tough for her to escape elimination.
10. Kady Malloy — kiss her good-bye.

Go ahead, admit it. You had tears forming as
David Archuleta worked his way through that incredible rendition of
John Lennon’s haunting "Imagine."

In the American Idol VII
performance of the year to date, Archuleta shot himself into serious
title contention (see below) Tuesday night. The 17-year-old blew away
the other nine singers in overwhelming fashion as the guys provided
their takes on a 1970s theme.

Judges Randy, Paula and Simon
could not bestow enough praise on the the diminutive Archuleta. Randy
categorized Archuleta as "brilliant," Paula wept and Simon said there
should be 19 other contestants extremely worried.

Michael Johns
remains the frontrunner among the guys, but barely. Johns was
satisfying, but hardly formidable in his "Go Your Own Way" effort by
Fleetwood Mac. He needs to bounce back next week or could be in danger
of being swept away like Hillary Clinton.

The most improved –
hands down — was Chikezie, thanks to a I’m-having-fun-now version of
"I Believe to My Soul" by Donny Hathaway. I thought he had boarded the
train to nowhere last week, but he’s back in the game. Way to go, big
guy.

Runner-up for most improved might be whipping boy Danny
Noriega, whose "Superstar" performance was somewhere between the
original by Karen Carpenter and Chris Farley’s hilarious version in
"Tommy Boy." If Noriega would simply keep quiet and not offer his
smart-aleck comments, he would not be so annoying.

The
most disappointing performance? It had to be Jason Castro and his
pitiful "I Just Want to be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb. The song was
terrible in the ’70s and Castro contributed a Butcher Block effort.
What was he possible thinking? Even Paula questioned his song-choice
sanity.

Better than the previous week: David Cook, David Hernandez, Danny Noriega, Robbie Carrico.

Fell off a cliff: Jason Yeager, Luke Menard.

GUYS RANKINGS:

1. Michael Johns — he came back to the pack.
2.
David Archuleta — if you saw Tuesday night’s performance, you know
what it was like for those who saw LeBron James play basketball for the
first time.
3. Robbie Carrico — he is a distant, distant third.
4. David Cook — nice comeback, but he needs some Rogaine. Hey, I’m just bein’ real.
5. Chikezie — he might wind up being the third-best on this side of the competition.
6. Jason Castro — he fell faster than the Timberwolves after they traded Kevin Garnett.
7. David Hernandez — I was not as taken by his "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by the Temptations as Simon was.
8. Danny Noriega — if week one had not been so hideous, he would be higher.
9.
Luke Menard — a week from now he should be back in Crawfordsville,
Ind. And when he gets back, I hope he stops at the BP station just off
the I-74 exit and ask why they went to a pay-inside-first policy.
10. Jason Yeager — he is so gone.

No real surprises in the first round of
eliminations, other than I thought the second coming of Leif
Garrett/Peter Frampton (Garrett Haley) might have deserved another week.

I
am totally shocked — and at least mildly dismayed — that Danny Noriega
is still around. The Pacific Rim’s lates hope for Idol immortaility may
be destined to be the 2008 whipping boy of this contest, a sort of
Sanjaya Malakar lite.

Chikezie should also be counting his
blessings today. I can’t see him making it past next week unless he
becomes a reincarnation of David Ruffin, which is not going to happen.

The
other guy eliminated, Colton Berry, will not be missed. The Ellen
DeGeneres lookalike (his words, not mine) should never have made the
round of 24.

The cuts of Amy Davis and Joanne Borgella were
hardly unexpected either. Davis’ brutal rendition of "Where the Boys
Are" by Connie Francis was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

And when Plus Size (her words, not mine) murdered the Dionne Warwick hit, "I
Say A Little Prayer," she was in need of divine inervention to save her spot on the show.

Next
likely to go on the guys’ side? Based on this week’s performance,
Noriega (please) and Chikezie (double please). On the ropes: Jason
Yeager, Luke Menard and David Hernandez.

Next in line on the
girls’ unemployment line? Kristy Lee Cook and — hold on to your
keyboards — the overhyped and overrated Carly Smithson. Amanda
Overmyer, she of the weird hair andJanis Joplin/Maggie Bell voice,
needs to pick it up or she’ll be ousted much earlier than originally
anticipated.

While awaiting tonight’s results to see who
the first two girls and guys are who will be heading home, it is
quickly becoming evident that this could be the most incredible season
of American Idol to date. Or maybe the law of percentages has finally
tipped the other way after back-to-back years of winners such as Jordin
Sparks and Taylor Hicks.

We are due for another true breakout artist. Not since 2005 and Carrie Underwood has such a buzz surrounded this competition.

For
me, the top four after round of eliminations are: 1. Ramiele Malubay,
2. Asia’h Jefferson, 3. Michael Johns and 4. Jason Castro. And believe
me, if you said Michael should be No. 1 right now, or Jason or Asia’h
… I would have no argument. Those four are THAT good and THAT close.

This is going to be an amazing stretch run.

The girls were hot, dawg! I didn’t think it
possible for the ladies to outshine the guys in the round of 24, but
holy Simon Cowell!

Pre-Wednesday night faves Ramiele Malubay,
Asia’h Epperson and Syesha Mercado, plus previously unheralded
Alexandrea Lushington, not only stole the spotlight but ran away and
hid with it.

Malubay, 20, absolutely nailed the 1966 Dusty
Springfield classic "You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me" and officially
became a championship contender. I underestimated her overall range and
abilities from the snippets we saw from auditions and Hollywood week.
This girl is a bona fide ace, bay-bee!

Epperson,
19, who hails from Joplin, Mo., was (and remains) my pre-round of 24
pick to win the girls’ division. Her effervescent personality, coupled
with a voice that is some wacky combination of Shirley Bassey, Rod
Stewart and Dusty Springfield (there’s
that name again) is
addicting. I’d buy one of her CDs right now. And don’t you just love
how she spells her first name? Oh, and her rendition of Janis Joplin’s
"Take Another Piece of My Heart" was outstanding. Asia’h remains the
continent of choice.

Mercado, 21, reminds me quite a bit of
Epperson, only with a little more sass. I’m not totally sold on her
voice — when compared to Asia’h and Ramiele — but her stage presence
commands the attention she will receive. She sang the Nashville Teens’
1964 hit
"Tobacco Road," a song I have hated for more than 40 years. I’m anxious to hear her sing a song I like.

Lushington,
17, was tremendous with her tribute to Blood, Sweat and Tears. I
usually appreciate what Simon has to say, but he was totally off base
about this girl. I just wanted to yell "you moron" at the TV set.
Alexandrea could be the sleeper on the girls side.

OK, but not
great, but good enough to survive week one: Amanda Overmyer (the
rocker, Harley-riding nurse whose car was hit by a semi-truck before
Hollywood week),
Alaina Whitaker (she of the George Brett smile),
Brooke White and Kady Malloy. Simon thought Kady was horrible, but I
liked her rendition of "Groovy Kind of Love" by Wanye Fontana and the
Mindbenders.

Should get the boot this week, or next week at the
latest: Amy Davis, Kristy Lee Cook, Joanne Borgella, Carly Smithson.
The first three were awful, especially Borgella. Smithson has been
much-hyped, but after Wednesday’s performance I would say a better term
is overhyped.

Wow. Simply, wow.

The first appearance
for the guys who made the round of 24 was one of the finest early round
shows in recent years. For the most part, the 1960s theme was a
tremendous choice.

Michael Johns, the 29-year-old Australian who
bears an uncanny presence to some sort of combination of late rock
icons Michael Hutchence and Jim Morrison, was amazing — again. He’s my
first prediction to reach the eventual finals in May. I can’t imagine
him stumbling enough to be eliminated before very late in the
competition, if then. Jason Castro (the one with the Bob Marley-ish
dredlocks) might have offered the night’s second-best performance,
choosing the Lovin’ Spoonful’s "Daydream." I absolutely love those old
Lovin’ Spoonful songs and his interpretation was right on. I liked this
guy even better when I watched the show a second time. Maybe it was
because he had a lot of that old Milli Vanilli flavor and charisma.

A
third singer who deserves mention is teenager David Archuleta, the
17-year-old who made a big splash during Hollywood week when he sang
Bryan Adams’ "Heaven." Tuesday night’s "Shop Around" was arguably
forgettable, but still showcased his skills and stage presence. Keep an
eye on him in weeks to come.

Luke Menard, who installs carpet in
Crawfordsville, Ind., was better than than Randy and Simon’s trashings,
but not nearly on the same level as Michael, Jason and David.

Other
lukewarm performances went to Robbie Carrico, Garrett Haley, David
Hernandez, David Cook and Jason Yeager. Carrico wants to be the next
Daughtry (not going to happen), Haley thinks he is a modern-day Peter
Frampton (he’s not), Cook is just a little too strange and Yeager chose
the weirdest song of the night —- Andy Williams’ "Moon River."

Among the night’s worst were Danny Noriega, Colton Berry and Chikezie. All three of these need to be eliminated — and quickly.