Update: You can catch the results to tonight’s live show here.

Last night’s performances by the Top 3: Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, and Melinda Doolittle were definitely some of the bests we’ve had all season, and they should be. We’ve reached the point where the strongest singers have been established and the fat has been cut away. Each performer was very consistent with how they’ve shown their strengths and unique abilities.

Jordin Sparks continued to put a lot of energy into her three songs and I’m torn between her first and third performance for her best of the night. Her first performance, “Wishing On A Star”, was so well done but it was her third performance, “I, Who Have Nothing”, really got me. I’m wondering though if I liked the third song so much because I had already heard her perform this during the season. Either way, I’m confident that Jordin Sparks won’t be left standing in the center stage tonight. Just by judging from the votes placed here on our poll Jordin is holding a confident lead in this contest and while our vote is only a sampling it’s likely still indicative of a more national perspective.

Then there was Blake Lewis. Blake and I are not going to end up BFF’s like he is with ol’ departed Chris Richardson. I have not been a fan of Blake from the very start back when he first arrived in Hollywood. He snuck through the initial rounds by beat boxing while the rest of his group had to actually sing. That’s how I still see him, beat boxing to hide his vocals. Luckily, this week Blake really scaled back the “scratching” as Randy suggested last week, but it was still there. Of his three songs tonight I’d actually be able to pick one that I enjoyed. His second song, “This Love”, was selected by the producers and it was a great choice. It was definitely the right choice for him and it gave him a chance to shine with it. 1 for 3 isn’t going to cut it at this stage in the game though. I have very little confidence we’ll see more than one last song from Mr. Lewis.

Ah yes, Miss Melinda Doolittle, thank you for arriving tonight and giving us three solid performances. It’s just like I said in past weeks (even got featured on AOL.com for it) and tonight the judges echoed those thoughts. Simon said, “If I’m going to award the place in the final to the person who is consistently delivered week after week it’s you.” He’s so right. She continues to be right on the money every Tuesday night and has simply not faltered. Lots of people say she’s too boring, but I’m not looking for another Avril Lavigne to dress up in tattered clothes and wear heavy eye-liner, I want someone with great singing abilities and that is Melinda Doolittle. My favorite performance tonight from Melinda would have to be “I Believe In You and Me” simply because of the challenge this Whitney Houston song presented. Every season the judges say don’t try a Whitney song, but here they handed her one and she knocked it out of the park. Put Doolittle up there with Sparks, cause isn’t going anywhere this week.

So all of that should make my prediction for this week pretty obvious. Blake Lewis is finished. It was a great accomplishment for someone to get this far while only singing most the time. He had some fun performances, but I certainly won’t miss his scratching techniques anymore than I miss Chris Richardson’s “nasal style”. Sorry Paula (and Walt), but your boy is going home tonight. Se-seee-se-s-s-see ya!

And in case you missed it last night, 2 of the judges were actually willing to present their own predictions. Randy said, “I think it’s going to be two girls if it’s based on singing.” Paula blabbered on about everyone being wonderful, so she doesn’t count. Simon said, “I want to see my girl Melinda in the final.” Looks like I’ve got the judges in my corner. Ahh geez, someone get Paula a bucket she’s messing all over the carpet…

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