It's pop week. And "pop" goes so many entries.

I mean, really people? This is a good idea? And this is better than Chris Sligh?!






Before we get into a recap of the shows, when something rocks the pool like the pool's #4 overall contestant going out 10th, it's time to put some things in perspective.

This time last year (when we had 51 contestants like we do this year), 46 people were still able to max out at 300 points or more.

After losing Chris Sligh tonight, there are only 8 people left who can max out at 300 or more!! So, congratulations to Lisa W. (333), Kendra (324), Marybeth (314), Meredith (310), Jennie (308), Will (306), Jen (305), and Missy (301).

Something tells me this is going to be all time low scoring season for us!



OK, back to the show, where ponytail mohawks are cool as are tie & apron combos....did anyone else see Paula tonight? Did she just come from a sous-chef interview?

Did anyone see this little tidbit about Gwen Stefani & her trying to get Sanjaya to not sing one of her songs? We saw the article here (under a great title called "Is Sanjaya Singing Making Gwen Stefani B-A-N-A-N-A-S?" although we would have chosen B-A-N-A-N-A-ANNAS instead).

Let me cut right to the point. Oh, but before I do that, you should know that "Spoiler" means the person who posted it didn't want to give out the name of the song, so instead of "Bathwater", he/she wrote "Spoiler" instead:

"Sanjaya Malakar - He wanted to sing "Spoiler". She tried to get him to sing some 80's song. He said he was a big fan and he really wanted to do one of her songs. Gwen was upfront with him and told him she didn't think he could pull it off but gave him the benefit of the doubt. Today after seeing how rehearsals were going, she didnt' see any progress. She went to Nigel immediately and told him she does not want Sanjaya singing one of her songs whatsoever. Sanjaya didn't have many options at that point. He kind of got stuck with "Spoiler". This caused a big scene at the studio and was the talk all afternoon."

Wow.

How awesome would it be to suck so bad that your master class instructor tried to forbid you from doing one of her songs the night the show airs?!

I'm trying to imagine what's going on inside Sanjaya's head right now.....it's got to be something like "I must really suck if Gwen forbids me to sing her song. But America is voting for me, so maybe I don't suck at all. I'm so confused....I wonder what I should do with my hair tonight. I like the number 7, and I like ponytails....I wish there was a way for those two things to work together...Chris Richardson sure is cute....I wish Mom-jaya was here...." I think I nailed it.

Sanjaya pretty much sucks at everything



By the way, all nasty comments about Sanjaya should also be directed towards Chris Serico, Lisa Wagner, Chris Fitzgerald, and Julie Rollauer. They are actually benefiting off Sanjaya as they are the only 4 people to still have him alive. They are moving higher and higher in the pool by rooting for the suckiest contestant in the history of Idol. For shame!

So, here we are with 9 contestants remaining, 3 of whom are our pool's #12, #15, and #16 picks overall. Yes, I'm talking about you Phil, Sanjaya, and Haley. I mean, how pitiful is it when Phil Stacey had one of the best performances of Tuesday night?

With so many unlikely contestants still in it, many peoples' pools suffer. The loss of Chris Sligh hurts a lot of people a lot, but nobody more so than Brooke and Matty. They were both Sanjaya-ed tonight as they had Chris S. #1 overall....They are the first two people to lose their #1 pick (and poor Brooke has been double Sanjaya-ed. She's now lost her #1 and her #2).

However, in this topsy-turvy pool, Brooke and Matty were so far up in the standings that they both actually forced a tie for first place overall. But at what cost, guys? At what cost?

And it would be unfair to point out just Matty and Brooke being hurt with Chris S.'s departure. Also hurt badly are Brian, Lisa W., Mike, Rich, and Team Zach & Sarah (they all had him at #2), and Amy Larsen, Serico, Jane, both Pauls, and Suzanne (they all had him at #3). Sanjayaed. All of you.


So, looking really quickly at the top 6 - not much has changed, but it probably will next week:

Lisa Wagner lost her #2 overall, but she's still in first place (mostly by reaping the rewards of having Sanjaya still alive). And not only is she still in 1st (with 80 points), she also has the highest max score out of all 51 contestants at a robust 333! Lisa is 7 for 9, but can go 7 for 8 next week if Haley or Phil leaves.

As mentioned earlier, Matty and Brooke are right there with Lisa. They also have 80 points, but their entries took a big hit with the loss of Chris Sligh. Matty can now max out at a still respectable 276 while Brooke can max out at 220.

In 4th place sits Kendra. She's lurking, and she's dangerous. Kendra has 76 points and can max out at 324 and has every contestant from #1 to #6 alive.

In 5th is Team Zach & Sarah also with 76 points and a max of 279. Team Z&S took a hit tonight when they lost their #2 overall, but at this point, 279 is right in the thick of things.

And in 6th and right on the heels of Kendra and Team Zach & Sarah is Jane LeBlanc. Jane also has 76 points and can max out at 272.



Finally, in the cutest incident in the standings this week, Grant and Martha Gosselin have ended up right next to each other in the pool! Martha's currently 43rd with 60 points and a 269 max, and Grant's in 44th with 60 points and a 264 max. You two are just adorable.

Oh, last thing - mad props go out to the Limericist, The poem form know-it-all, Limericky Bobby, The Idol Pool Laureate, Anonymous, Rainbows McGay, Legs Galore that I Adore, and Will for contributing such awesome limericks!!! Really, really well done! And we should also mention the efforts of Matty and I'm in Omaha Right Now and I Can't Sleep for writing those haikus! Poems are very very encouraged!

See you next week when Melinda gets the Sanjaya. I mean, what if the top 3 are Phil, Sanjaya, and Haley? I know who I'll be voting for (and I'm not talking about Freaky McGee or Gollum).

The Master