Idol Results Show - Final Five - Neil Night

The medley salute to Neil starts with Cracklin'Rosie, making me wonder why Jason didn't do this one last night. Next the girls do song sung blue and together they do Brother Love's Travelin' Salvation Show. The best part of that was Castro's singing which was better than it has been in weeks.

Reports on-line tell us that last night's show was the ratings winner of the season. Also, from talking to others who watched the show for the first time, they thought Syesha was the best of the night and many of them voted. Maybe I, like so many others, am jaded about her because of her past performances but based on this informal survey I want to say again that a woman- Syesha in this case- could win it all.

Constantine and Gina are in the audience. Big woop!

Then a two and a half minute recap of the shlock fest that was last night. I have to say that- as much as I looked forward to this night, it was not great. And I simply do not like the style of one David Cook.

Jason Castro is first on stage and is safe. This could be a shocker ending. The good news about this is that he gets another week to redeem himself, and more importantly I never need to hear him sing Neil again. The kid is teflon.

David A takes the stage. He is also safe.

Then a break. But there is an extended preview of "So You Think You Can Dance."

David Cook takes the stage- I thought it would be one of the women. He is also safe.

That puts the two women together. But I do not know if it is fair to assume these are the bottom two. If we get to hear Brooke do 'I Am I Said' and Syesha do "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime", I can live with that if I have to.

Then Natasha Benningfield (?) took the stage. What would Simon say of that performance if he was asked? Ryan Seacrest called her 'a pocketful of sunshine.'

Then the pre-recorded questions:

Why is Paula always nice? (because what they do is hard)

Will Paula do anymore music videos with Randy? (no serious answer)

Which of these performances is most memorable- kiss with Paula or kiss with caller?
(no serious answer but it was fun- this woman was Simon's first kiss)

Next up Neil Diamond :-)

Ford Video "Catch the Wind" boring

Neil sings "Pretty Amazing Grace"

Great performance in cluding Neil's complete band and back up singers. Neil tells the contextants not to listen to Simon- making indirect reference to a small spat between he and Simon in one of the earlier seasons. Simon said something like a singer such as Neil Diamond would never have survived American Idol. Neil said something like- AI produces singers by type according to what producers are looking for.

Brooke is going home- in a very sloppy sobbing kind of way.

At this point- like it or not Syesha has the greatest versatility. I will say again- she could win it all.