Idol: Vote for the Worst

Now look what you've done, America: You've gone and made Paula mad. The Mistress of Nice, who went out of her way on Tuesday to say something positive about Sanjaya ("At least you can't say you were pitchy") seemed positively irked that A.J. and Leslie got the boot, and that Antonella and Jiminy Cricket get to stay. All hail the power of sentimental grandmas and dirty old (and young) men.

Alaina was much less of a surprise, though it's clear that the other contestants really liked her, and it was genuinely tough to watch her break down during her sendoff song. I've always thought that was one of the cruellest "Idol" traditions: Could you please reprise that performance America hated so much?

In other news, Nick Pedro of Taunton turned his kiss-off into his best performance yet. Sundance Head showed us he's a man who's not afraid to cry. And Kellie Pickler looks to be channeling Dolly Parton, in, um, more ways than one. That haircut and makeup job made her look about 60, and the song wasn't doing her any favors, either.

And one last snarky observation, held over from last night: I know that Melinda has America's heart, not just because she's a spectacular singer, but because she's supposedly the humblest creature to ever grace the planet. So why, in a week when everyone was thanking their grandmas and cute little brothers, did she dedicate her song to her vocal coach and stylist -- and then decline to name either one of them? She just called them "my Gayles," as in Oprah's Gayle. And Oprah is many, many things, but humble isn't one of them.