We are done with the first week of the elimination process in American Idol, and we have some stand-outs - and leave-outs. Chico went over the guys yesterday, as I think that some of them took a major step forward - and others took a major step back. Will the same thing happen for the women? We'll find out right now...

Ryan talks about building towards the Top 12 - and how the guys put on the best show yet (well since they have only had 2 shows, that's not that hard). He says that the women get the opportunity to shine this week, and he labels the judges as guidance counselors.

Singer #1 - Aloha Mischeaux talks about chicken wings and then sings Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name".

If this is the start of the women's group, then the women are in deep doodoo. She is consistently flat and she looks like a deer caught in the headlights. You can't hear her half of the time and this is a HUGE drop from last week, which I didn't find too enthralling, either. The audience cheers for her, but Randy and Paula agree with me, saying that she shouldn't go after an Alicia Keys song if she can't match her vocals. Simon says that her vocals were affected, and that effect may result in her leaving the competition.

Singer #2 - Lindsey Cardinale talks about the strawberry festivals - and then gets festive with her song. She was much better than last week - when I could understand her, which was not often, as she slurred her words. I'll give her the exact same critique I gave her last week. Perfect on the pitch. Good song. No spark. Not great. Exit in the first 2-3 weeks in the Top 12 if she makes it that far. Randy thought it was good - but not great. Paula enjoyed her versatility, but Simon says that he didn't like the song - which, after some prompting, gets him booed.

Singer #3 - Jessica Sierra doesn't talk about food - but she talks about line dancing and animals. She enters Carrie Underwood territory as she gets into the country twang with "Broken Wing". Much, much better than last week and we FINALLY get a good song from someone not named Carrie or Nadia. Randy says that she returned, and Paula loved how she made the song her own. Simon says that it's the best female vocal performance so far, and while I disagree (I thought last week's 'Could Have Been' by Carrie was better), it's definitely one of the best so far and Jessica may have made a huge step forward.

Singer #4 - Mikalah Gordon says that she can't cook, clean or walk her own dog (well, at 16, you should be able to walk your own dog), but she sings a VERY mature "G-d Bless the Child" which makes you wonder what happened between last week's perkiness and this week's maturity. We have our second straight great vocal performance as the channeled the music through her. Randy calls out the Dog Pound for the win, while Paula was amazed with her versatility. Simon says that she showed her talent without being annoying - because she's not talking. Mikalah does a finger movement of zipping her lips, and it appears that she did indeed listen to Simon. Her performance was great and she is one of my favorites - BUT - she needs to get younger and more contemporary if she wants to have a legitimate shot at first.

Singer #5 - Celena Rae doesn't need the fame - but would love to have a designer make her some clothes. It is really tough to go after what both Mikalah Gordon and Jessica Sierra just did. She does an OK "When the Lights Go Down", but when you get performers like you got from Jessica and Mikalah, just OK is not nearly good enough. Randy calls her on the fact that she didn't take any risks and Paula says that she doesn't have an 'It' Factor. Simon? "There is a very thin line between being a pop star and singing in a hotel. I think you're going to end up in the latter." That's harsh - but he's right on the money.

We spend a moment with Janay Castine, who talks about being herself and getting over her nerves. Then we go to someone who has had no problems with nerves - Singer #6 - Nadia Turner. She says that all 24 singers have their own look, then she sings "My Love Does It Good", which consists of singing the same line and singing 'whoa whoa' a bunch of times. Wha? She sings it well, and I think she gets some points for taking a risk and should get a reprieve due to last week, but if she didn't have last week's effort, I would think she would be in trouble. Randy said that although it wasn't her best, it was good. Paula liked that she took a risk while Simon did not like the choice of song, adding that it was cabaret. "I liked the way you sang the last part. I don't think you should sing it again though."

Singer #7 - Amanda Avila. She talks about this being her third time she auditioned on the show, adding that perseverance pays off. She sings "Turn the Beat Around". Now, if you ARE going to sing a song that's been around longer than you have been, then you had better make sure that 1. It's at least current and known and 2. You make it your own. Amanda succeeds in both categories, and although the start was shaky, she interacts very well with the camera and her performance was a better rendition than when Gloria Estefan sang it. Randy and Paula thought that she improved her game and picked a great song, while Simon thought that she had a great performance. I think this song helps her get a fan base, since her singing and gyrating would be a big hit with horny males like Joe Van Ginkel everywhere.

Singer #8 - The aforementioned Janay Castine, who has learned not to make excuses. She desperately needs a great performance, as she sings "Hit 'Em Up Style". She picks a very good song, but she was pitchy and has that same 'deer in the headlights' look as Aloha did. She has a good ending, and if she survives this week, it will be barely. Randy doesn't call it very good - which gets the Dog Pound booing him. Paula says that it wasn't bad - just disconnected. Simon calls her on her facial movements, adding that she looks like she was in a horror movie and calls her too young.

Singer #9 - Carrie Underwood likes to be called a farmgirl and a sweet innocent girl from Oklahoma. She tries a different country song ("Take Another Little Piece of My Heart"), but I will criticize her the same was I criticized Nadia - the song was good, but way too safe and she didn't hit the high notes at the end of the piece that are asking to be hit. She gets through - but it was because of last week and not this week. Randy says that it's just OK, wondering why she selected Janis Joplin (memo to Randy - that song was remade for Faith Hill, so it's not just rock). Paula wanted to see diversification, while Simon calls her stiff and reminiscent of a cover band. I think the biggest problem is because of her excellent problem, they wanted more out of her - and they didn't get it. We didn't get it, either.

Last one...Singer #10 - Vonzell Solomon talks about the craziness of being on American Idol. I wonder about the craziness of her picking Alicia Keyes 'Nothing At All'. Granted, it was better than Aloha Mischeaux's rendition of an Alicia Keyes song, but her voice isn't Alicia's and she doesn't have that range without straining her voice and being pitchy. Still, I give her points for taking a risk and trying to take that step to be a front--runner - and she may be one song away from doing that. Randy gives her a 10 for ambition but a 4 for performance. Paula agrees with that and Simon calls the effort overcooked and oversung. Next week for Vonzell (if she does get to next week) is critical. A good song will make her an underdog threat when we start the Top Twelve competition. A bad song will ensure that she doesn't get there.

We get the recaps before Ryan signs us off for the day. Here is Chico and my recaps on our predictions -

Chico -

After seeing Jessica's show (as opposed to Nadia's show last week) and not really being as moved as I was last time, I maintain that the winner will have a Y-chromosome this year.

Standing O and curtain call: Scott, Bo, Anwar, Mario, Nikko, Jessica, Amanda.
Just a standing O: Anthony, Mikalah, Nadia, Carrie (grew too much too fast), Vonzell.
Puzzled face: Joseph, Lindsey, Travis.
The Hook: Constantine, Aloha, David, Celena, Janay (as an aside, I NEVER liked that song)

Me -

I think that unlike the men, the women regressed. Only Jessica, Mikalah and Amanda improved their stocks while Nadia and Carrie went backwards. Vonzell has potential, but needs to get her act together. As for the other 4...who cares? They will all be gone in 2 weeks or if Vonzell doesn't get her act together, either her, or the other person in the group of 'Who Cares' 4 will be the first victim when we get to the Top 12. This is a crucial time to start getting a fan base for votes when you get to that magical Top 12, and for the most part, the women are foolishly squandering that opportunity and giving it to the guys.

Here are my picks -

Excellent - Anwar, Mario, Nikko, Anthony, Mikalah (Notice it's almost all guys. If there is ANY season where we could see an all male final four, it could very well be this one if the women can't show consistency.)
Good - Bo, Scott, Jessica, Nadia, Carrie, Amanda
Not Wonderful, but Safe - Lindsey, Vonzell, Travis
Trouble - Constantine, Aloha, Celena, Janay, Joseph, David Brown

This week saw who stepped up their game. Tomorrow, me, Anthony Rojas and whoever else pops in the door will be finding out together who steps out the door.

CONTINUE TO THE RESULTS