GOOD PERFORMANCES BY GUYS LIKELY MEANS ONE WILL WALK

The good news is that the guys were much better this week. The bad news is that this means a singer who was good Tuesday night is probably going home. Why? The youth and Southern voting blocs won't allow their singers to go home, even if they were bad (i.e. the youth vote will save a subpar Sanjaya Malakar this week). Ask Jennifer Hudson how this works. She was good enough for an Oscar win Sunday for her acting and singing talent. But America didn't see fit to keep her around for the Season 3 finale; the youth bloc was too busy boosting Diana DeGarmo that year. And where is she today?

-- The golden boy: Local guy Phil Stacey should be safe, though. He did a nice job with his tone on Missing You in the tough leadoff spot. And as Simon told Stacey, "You will be back here next week, trust me." Stacey cited 9/11 as his reason for enlisting. The music minister also dedicated Tuesday's song to his Navy Band Southeast mates. God and country? Someone's building a nice bloc of his own.

-- Cowellism of the night: "I will bow to the god of Paula Abdul. I won't have an opinion." Simon popped off after disagreeing with Paula and Randy over Blake Lewis. Lewis squeezed beat box, falsetto, ska and a little break dancing into Virtual Insanity. Simon was wound too tight, which may explain ...

-- Simon says be nasty: When Brandon Rogers defended his so-so Time After Time as a heartfelt dedication to his grandma, Simon ripped into him, saying, "And I like puppies." On a spit, I'll bet.

-- Predictions: DialIdol.com said Nicholas Pedro and Rogers were most in danger as of 11 p.m. They were both better than Malakar.