Yeah. F3 Cirie would have had it. But F2 is a different game. I was really hoping she'd win that immunity challenge, but it was over for her when she didn't.

(Again, I think the too subtle game bit her in the ass. Stabbing people in the back without them knowing it was you behind it is a great skill. Stabbing people in the back without anyone knowing it was you behind it leaves you way too vulnerable - people won't take you to F2 because you have no baggage, but you also wouldn't get the "I hated you but you played a hell of a game" vote that takes home the mil as often as not.

How many times have they done F3? What made them so sure?

Amanda did make bold moves but she once again tried to play the doe eyes/I'm a good person so I should win role and that is never going to win you votes.

Yep yep yep. I wonder how much of that (this time around) was just her being exhausted, though. Making it all the way to the end in two straight Survivors in a row has to take one hell of a toll.

Amanda did make bold moves but she once again tried to play the doe eyes/I'm a good person so I should win role and that is never going to win you votes.

Yep yep yep. I wonder how much of that (this time around) was just her being exhausted, though. Making it all the way to the end in two straight Survivors in a row has to take one hell of a toll.

Yes to both of these. I was actually rooting for Amanda to win. I thought she had a good case as to why she deserved the $1M, but that she just didn't make it.

And I think Jess hit it on the nose as to why she failed to make a convincing argument.

I thought Parvati had a good case for why she deserved the $1M, too, because she just played a really good, crafty game. I thought she was much more convincing in front of the jury.

I was really bummed Penner had to get yanked for medical reasons. I love that guy.

So I was going to have to watch the ANTM finale on tape-delay, because I was going to go watch an MST3K-style viewing of "Showgirls". But apparently that sold out. So, ANTM it is. I will have to provide my own MST3K narration.

And Amanda had another craptastic jury performance. It actually was amazingly similar to what happened with Todd.

It's interesting to think that she didn't even know - hadn't even seen her jury performance or reaction to it from China - if she had won or not the whole time she was in Micronesia. Had the final tribal, went home, three weeks off, back out to Micronesia, came home, lost China, then finally got the chance to cool her heels and then lost Fans v. Favorites. (as I recall, China was in the middle of airing when the survivors went off to Micronesia.)

Crazy times for Amanda. But knowing that she really had no way of assessing what went wrong with her first jury performance really did affect this one.

But knowing that she really had no way of assessing what went wrong with her first jury performance really did affect this one.

That's a good point too - do you think if she'd seen herself on TV the first time she would have changed her game?

I think if she had been more aware of how she really came across to the jury in China, she might have known to be more assertive in the final TC. I don't know if she would have changed her whole game, but I think that she could have used some feedback on the other final TC performance.

AI Top 3. Wish I were more excited.

So the opening is a skosh over the top, even for Ryan. And they have got to stop dressing Syesha from the Dynasty/Diahann Carrol collection.

Stage broken = show broken? Discuss.

The day Simon hits Randy in the face when he’s booing him will be a beautiful, beautiful day.

How many Member’s Only jackets does D’Archie have? It’s terrifying.

D’Archie’s from Utah? That explains sooo much.

And So It Goes – D’Archie (Paula’s choice)

OK, dude D’Archie is waaaayyy to young for this song. He is going to totally miss the point. Is this some sinister plot by P-dog? Also, Paula cannot pronounce timbre. Hee. Damn, y’all. This kid has a lovely instrument. In a couple of years, he is going to be ridiculous. He’s doing much better with this than I expected. And he remembered ALW’s advice to keep his eyes open, which helps a lot. It was beautifully sung. But when isn’t it? A storyteller, Paula? Simon is right, as ever. It was pretty and boring. He hasn’t known any thorny situations yet, so what could he really do with it?

SYCYTD. Yay!

Ok, Syesha’s spot was just sad. And the Mayor of Tampa? He couldn’t be assed? Poor Syesha.

If I Ain’t Got You – Syesha (Randy’s Choice)

Ugh, the daggone swayers. If Syesha had a gun to just mow them down right now, she’d have my vote forever. She has really gotten better and better and better in this competition. I am stunned. This is really beautiful and restrained. And different enough that it is not a total copycat of Alicia Keys. Y’all, I loved that. That was wicked good. She’s still annoying as all get out. And Randy brands her number three already. Damn. She’s sooo fake. Why? If she took it down about 1000 notches, she’d be so much more enjoyable.

D. Cook at least picked up his text message on his local morning show. Not in the back of a limo like some two bit Eliot Spitzer call girl on her way to a DC rendezvous.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – D.Cook (Simon’s Choice)

And he gets some pre-song pimpage. Why? He is already the front runner, show. Beautiful song. Wasted on this idjit. I still think I’ve heard quite a few karaoke performers who were his absolute equal (and many a one who was his better). And he goes sharp as soon as he takes it to the emo place. And you do not scream Roberta Flack. “The first time ever I saw your face . . . I wanted to punch you in it.” Well, do I even need to say I hated it? Let’s move it along.

Round One totally goes to Syesha. She cleaned these fools clocks. Not that the show would ever admit that.