It seems like the eliminations are a really draconian aspect of the show. It's probably supposed to up the tension/drama but I'm not sure it works in this country -- we don't get much of a chance with the people.

Oooh--love Dia's dress in this group number! Poor Xenia is not comfy or working it though.

OMG I can't believe Blake just made a "that's what she said"

The country boy is just boring me, but partly because I kinda hate the song.

Sigh. I'm not really a Frenchie fan....but she is pretty good at the performing. It's obvious she's had a lot of practice...but part of it is I feel like she's kinda TOO polished. (holy crap, I just caught a glimpse of her earrings, those are huge!)

OMG I can't believe Blake just made a "that's what she said"

I loved Adam's reaction to that.

Overall, I think most people did pretty well, but the only two I care about keeping are Beverly and Dia.

"above-average breath control"
"something so beautiful about you"
"you created a party in here, and that's hard to do"

-- non-compliment compliments for Frenchie Davis

Review of Sam Talbot (season 2 Top Chef)'s restaurant.

I liked Dia's performance but I am compelled to point out that Kris Allen did it first (and better, imho) on Idol. It just annoyed me that the judges were falling all over themselves about how unique and groundbreaking her take on Heartless was when there are many, many versions deconstructing that song out there. So Cee-Lo, when you talk to Kanye, I believe he is going to be a lot less blown away than you think he'll be. That said, she did a great job with the song and it was my favorite performance of the night.

I loved Bev, too, and hope she makes it to next week. She is just fun to watch up on that stage. I was actually more impressed with Raquel (Jersey Girl) this week than I have been in the past. I don't enjoy that Ke-dollar sign-ha song but she managed to sing it fairly well. Xenia has a much better, more interesting voice (although she also chose a song that I'm not a huge fan of) but she just looked sooo uncomfortable up there on that stage.

I didn't really care for anyone else. Not that I thought they did poorly. I was just kind of bored. Frenchie sang well, but I hate that song and she's not a star. The bald rocker dude on Blake's team, ditto. Lily had pitch problems. On a Fergie song. That's automatic fail. And I don't want to see men writhe around to Big Girls Don't Cry unless their names are Peter Petrelli and they are all tatted up running around in their underwear in some Chino backyard. The country dude was boring and somewhat off key on a played out singing contest song. If there were other people last night, I can't remember them so that's not a good sign.

Random thoughts:

Christina Aguilera, look into pants. Please.

Cee-Lo is really unpleasant to look at without glasses. The eyes. They are slightly buggy, no?

Christina Aguilera, stop talking up under people's clothes. Really all the judges need to take the dirty sex talk down about a thousand notches. And do some actual judging.

The texting lounge is supremely stupid. Please make it stop.

Christina turned her contestants into back up singers on Lady Marmalade and it was still better than whatever Blake and his group did to This Love. The harmonies were painful.

I think Adam's team is going to destroy Cee-Lo's group next week.

I still like this show.

Mostly I agree with what you all said, but I'll add my two cents. I liked pretty much everyone except Lily. She was this one, right?

My favorite is now "that was really good because I know where you started with that song" (for the first truly terrible performance).

The country guy was no great shakes either, obviously. I think Xenia could really get a lot better over the next few years, poor noodle.

The elimination by team thing is really unfortunate.

And I really like Blake and want to hang out with him.

Nigel really is a lech, isn't he?

Country Padalecki, I'm sayin'.