E.K. NATION

E.K. Nation Senior American Idol Correspondent "Smooth" has the day off.

I had high hopes for Kristy Lee Cook, based on her original audition and her Hollywood Week efforts, but as the first girl to sing live this season she fell incredibly flat. It just seemed like she was going through the motions, trying very hard not to miss a note, and even though she didn't miss any, it was just dull and lifeless. A very disappointing dropoff.

As for Joanne Borgella, she too showed a lot of promise based on all the audition rounds, but here she just sucked. She sounded whiny this time and had pitch problems throughout. I can't figure out what happened to her between her audition and last night.

Before she sang, I was concerned that Alaina Whitaker was showing so little confidence in her "pre-interview" that she wouldn't be able to rise to the occasion. Plus, she'd had so little face time prior to last night that I wasn't even sure what she could do anyway. But she took hold of "More Today Than Yesterday," starting it off with a ballad pace that she hit with a sultry vocal, and then the song's tempo picked up and she kept pace and really did well. I was surprised, although not as surpirsed as I was when Simon told us he didn't know what song that was. Isn't he, like, a music executive or something?

Now we come to Amanda Overmyer, and I was afraid this Janis Joplin wannabe was just going to be one-note throughout this competition, and last night she did not show signs that I would be wrong. Her rendition of "Please Don't Go" was a screechy mess, and I thoroughly detested it. But since I never liked her singing to begin with, I was not disappointed. She's a likeable person, but I don't think she should even go near a karaoke bar. It's just way too obnoxious for me.

Up next was Amy Davis, who was pitchy right from the start and it never got any better. I didn't know what song she was doing, but that really doesn't matter because she left no impression on me anyway. Except for all the out-of-tune-ness, there's no way she stands out in this group.

Here's my first real letdown of the season. The delightfully charming and extremely pretty Brooke White came out to do "Happy Together", and it was just a weird performance. She was a bit off key in spots, and she was doing these odd movements on stage that just kind of made the whole thing a bit off-putting. I liked her the second we the TV audience met her (she's the girl who's so wholesome she's never seen an R-rated movie) but she didn't get off to a good start in the live shows.

The next song belonged to Alexandrea Lushington, who definitely had some choerography in mind, starting on the staircase and sauntering down to the stage and putting on a Show. I wasn't too enthralled by her vocal performance but I did like her energy and I think she has the potential to steal a show or two if the other girls don't watch out.

I'll start by saying that I love impressions. Anyone who can do a really good impression of somebody else is automatically cool. And Kady Malloy's take on Britney Spears is hilarious. Now, Kady is the girl who intentionally did Britney at her first audition and then unintentionally did Carrie Underwood for her actual song, and the judges rightfully called her on it. I wasn't sure what to expect, but last night she took on "A Groovy Kind Of Love" and I thought she did great and certainly didn't sound like anyone else in particular. She hit pretty much all the notes and had a great tone. Her one problem is that she didn't show a whole lot of charisma, although she certainly has previously. And she looked stunning. The judges were unnecessarily harsh on her, though. I'm not sure what performance they saw.

Right about now I would like to salute the background singers. They consistently do a fantastic job assisting the contestants and sometimes making them sound better than they really are. They certainly didn't hurt Asia'h Epperson, who attempted some Janis and came close to matching her (relatively speaking, of course...no one will ever actually match Janis). To borrow a Randy Jackson phrase, she "worked it out." And god, that smile! One of the best on planet Earth.

Now to the darling of this year's competition, Ramiele Malubay. She's tiny, gorgeous, and has a voice that sounds way too powerful to be coming out of her. And her rendition of "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" actually made me rewind it and watch it again. That was a first for me this year. It was a very mature performance that stands in contrast to her regular pipsqueak self (and I say "pipsqueak" with all good intentions; she's just too adorable for words). That performance is the kind that vaults people into the top four, the top three, etc. I fully expect to see this girl do many songs in the weeks to come. She is a delight.

I have not been a fan of Syesha Mercado. And she didn't improve last night. She was all over the place with her attempt at "Tobacco Road," although the judges liked it. I didn't. I dunno.

Finally, we have the Irish girl Carly Smithson, my pick to be the last female standing. She definitely looks the part of a polished pro; even those who didn't know she's already had a recording contract might guess that she did. I had a problem with her outfit; she just kind of looked frumpy, but that's all the negatives I have to say about her. She's a seasoned vet in this business and that will no doubt have her sailing along, even if the song she sang last night "Shadow Of Your Smile" didn't particularly match her rogue-ish (and brogue-ish) personality. She's good and will have even better weeks soon enough.

E.K. would vote out: Amy Davis and Amanda Overmyer.

E.K.'s predicted casualties: Amy Davis and Brooke White.