Last night we saw the American Idol Top 8 performances. Jennifer Lopez was there as a very excited musical coach and fan of the show. She was very impressed with the performers and said she wouldn’t reveal her favorites, but she did get rather giddy with Blake Lewis and, of course, Sanjaya Malakar. It was nice to see Lopez provide both musical guidance and performance guidance for the contestants as she helped them with a few dance moves. Considering some of the singers act like statues up there it was very useful mentoring.

Tonight we will get a performance from Jennifer Lopez, unless she got the flu too, likely from her latest album, Como Ama una Mujer. I read a lot of negative reviews of last night’s theme, but I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to another night of it. Also note that tonight’s Results Show will be a full hour instead of the usual 30 mins.

Best Male Performer last night for me was Blake Lewis. I hate to say it because I just don’t like him that much, but he had a pretty strong performance despite his silly hat. Overall I haven’t enjoyed most of his performances, but I suspect I’m in the minority there. Blake Lewis should be very safe this week.

Best Female Performer last night would have to be, of course, Melinda Doolittle. I continue to believe she is going to take the crown home at the end of this season and last night, just like every week before, she showed that she deserves it.

Worst Overall Performer, as much as I want to say Sanjaya Malakar, I’d have to go with Chris Richardson. It’s not that he’s really the worst performer here, but I don’t get anything out of his songs. Week after week he seems to be playing it as safe as possible. He doesn’t have that strong of a voice and I don’t believe he could really cut it in the industry. Last night was just the straw that broke the camel’s back for me.

My Prediction is that we’ll see the usual suspects, Nosferatu Phil Stacey and Haley Scarnato, down there in the final two, again. But who will join them? I really can’t decide. I’m hearing lots of rumbles about an upset with a top lady going home. I’m not sure if I’m totally convinced of that yet. I don’t see how Phil and Haley can continue to survive when week after week they’re in the bottom three. I would be scared to death if I was one of the other Top 8 and saw I was seated next to either of them. I’m having a really hard time choosing, but I think I’ll have to go with Phil Stacey finally seeing his numbers drop low enough to be the man on his way out of Dodge.

Come back tonight after the show for our American Idol April 11 Results Show recap.

Check out the rest of our American Idol coverage.

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