American Idol

This week the Top 20 American Idol contestants were faced with the hottest tunes from the 1970s — a decade when they weren’t even alive. So, after a week of Amanda Overmyer looking like a skunk and David Archuleta blowing away his competition, who’s going home?

Jason Yeager never really had a strong performance this season, even during the weeks leading up to the live competition.

First to go tonight is Jason Yeager. The Texan, who is used to singing for his supper (or while other people have their supper), definitely was an obvious choice for elimination. He never really stood out in the crowd, and this week just wasn’t enough. So far, things are going the way you’d expect.

Alexandrea Lushington was eliminated far too soon in this year’s competition. She had an original sound — and a personality — which is what many contestants seem to be lacking.

The first girl to go home is Alexandrea Lushington. This, unlike Jason, is a complete disappointment. This girl had some true, raw talent. Tonight was far too soon for Alexandrea to leave this competition. Who in the world is voting for Amanda Overmyer? This mistake is about as big as Ruben Studdard beating Clay Aiken for the Season 2 title.

Even in her goodbye performance, Alexandrea shows she has an interesting voice? So, why is she going home? It certainly is the age-old mistake of wrong song at this point in the competition. Nobody is too emotionally tied to any of these contestants, so one little slip up can really ruin their chances.

From the sidelines, it appears as though the one contestant people really are favoring this season — David Archuleta — is quite upset. In fact, he was the first to give Alexandrea a hug after she finished her performance.

Alaina Whitaker, the teenager from Oklahoma, broke down in tears after her somewhat shocking boot from the Season 7 Top 20.

Kady Malloy and Alaina Whitaker are in the bottom two, and either could go. It’s obvious Kady is in more danger, but American disagrees. In another slightly shocking moment early in Season 7, the Carrie Underwood-esque contestant of the year says goodbye.

“I can’t sing,” Alaina said, as she started to cry. This may be the most emotional breakdown of any season.

But Alaina did sing, after Ryan Seacrest gave her a choice on whether or not to take the microphone. “It’s going to sound horrible,” she said. The other female finalists rallied behind her, and she performed Hopelessly Devoted to You one last time.

On March 11, this season’s Top 12 will perform from the Lennon/McCarthy songbook on a new stage with a new set. It’s something that also will be celebrated with the Idol winner mentioned above, Ruben Studdard, who apparently has recorded a special “goodbye” song for the season.

And, after raising $76 million last year, Idol Gives Back also will return this season. Will it be as celebrity-driven as last season? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Now, back to the eliminations. There’s one guy left to go, and we’ll find out who it is … after the break.

With just six minutes left in the episode, Ryan mentioned Brad Pitt, Miley Cyrus, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and past Idol folks like Chris Daughtry and Carrie Underwood will be among those involved in this year’s Idol Gives Back. I guess that gives us the answer to that question.

Robbie Carrico was the eighth contestant eliminated from the Top 24 this season on American Idol.

Robbie Carrico and Luke Menard are in the bottom two, and one must go. That person is Robbie Carrico. Now I guess we’ll never see him tear that wig from his head as he performs later this season.

FINAL THOUGHTS: We’re down to the Top 16 now, and tonight’s episode had a couple of expected departures from the guys. But the girls? I think it’s safe to say Kady Malloy and Amanda Overmyer had to have entered tonight with some fear in their hearts about going home. Somehow, the shocking results kept them both safe. Not good, America. Not good.

American Idol, Robbie Carrico, Jason Yeager, Alaina Whitaker, Alexandrea Lushington, Idol Gives Back