After a couple rough numbers in the beginning, things got pretty good. We're almost certainly going to have six very strong male singers in the Top 12, and I don't think that has ever happened on this show. There's almost always a joke contestant or two that get through. It was 70s night, which makes me wonder if we'll conclude this hellish triptych with 80s night next week. By burning off these three themes, what will they do for the rest of the season? Polka night? Novelty song night? An evening with Pat Boone? The mind reels.

Also, the judges were way, way off last night. Even Simon for most of the night. I don't know what happened, but praising Luke and thrashing the Jasons? Was it Bizarro Idol and I missed the memo?

Michael Johns "Go Your Own Way" He said it was a dream for him to sing a Fleetwood Mac song. I wonder if that dream included him butchering it. He was SO KARAOKE! God. And way off pitch, too. Shrieky. Just terrible. I'm pretty sure he dropped some lyrics in the middle. Why pick a song that's out of your range in the chorus? Interestingly, while he sounded like Jim Morrison last week, this week it was straight-up Eddie Vedder. His on-stage performance was like something out of a Blind Melon video. Of course, the judges love him. I wait with baited breath for the day that they finally, inevitably turn on him.

Jason Castro "I Just Want to be Your Everything" So, OK -- I actually liked this performance. Jason made the song sound more intimate than it ever was; it was downright sweet. However, his voice is still too trembly and weak for me. And his whole pre-song interview about how he just wants to make music, man, and totally doesn't like all these interviews and photos and non-music stuff... Again: was on an MTV reality series. Pull the other leg. It plays "Yellow Rose of Texas."

Luke Menard "Killer Queen" GOD, HE'S SO TERRIBLE! The song didn't suit his voice at all; he sounded like Dame Edna. He had no stage presence. And he got all mumbly again. I literally couldn't understand a single word in the middle of the verse. And then he danced! Horrors. All of it. The judges loved him, except Simon. But even he didn't lash into him. How did nobody destroy him? I...don't understand. Seacrest made some comment about him looking like Dawson, and Luke does kind of look like a mix between Mr. Leary and his gay friend, Jack. If Luke plays his cards right Ryan Seacrest's 1995 masturbatory fantasies may finally come true....

Robbie Carico "Hot Blooded" Yikes. So I take it back: put the bandana back on, Robbie. Was that a wig he was wearing? Perhaps something from the Bret Michaels/Goldie Hawn collection? I think that was a wig. Robbie, darling, the more you argue about how authentically "rawk" you are, the less I believe you. Not that it matters. This was the most bland, half-assed performance I've seen on stage this season, and I watched every one of those awful girls last week. It was really terrible karaoke, with beyond-cheesy stage moves. The wallet chain! The leather cuff! He's like a walking Hot Topic catalogue. He phoned that sucker in.

Danny Noriega "Superstar" First the critique: He was flat in parts. He did the prissiest on-stage moves imaginable. But! He really does have a nice voice. Like most gay men, Danny believes he is a strong black woman, and I don't begrudge him for it. It wasn't really memorable, but to me at least, it was the only performance at that point of the evening I could see as part of the Top 12. When Simon told him he looks good on camera, Danny squealed "Thank you!" I love Danny Noriega.

David Hernandez "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" This...was such a weird song choice for him. I mean, he rocked it. When he got to the chorus it sounded amazing. But the verse just didn't show off his vocals, and it's not a terribly melodic song. But the judges all loved it. I really like him, and I wish he'd get his shit together in the song choice department.

Jason Yeager "Long Train Runnin'" I realized last night that Jason looks a little like Jim Halpert from "The Office" (OK, more like his chunky, shorter brother), and is super cute when he smiles. This is where the judges and I had the biggest difference of opinion. They savaged him for this song, saying that it wasn't a "singer" song and it didn't show off his range. I'm listening to it right now on my iPod - this song has range. Plenty of it. He was a funky little white boy, bopping around and having a good time. Total 180 from last week's somber affair. I'll give the judges that he remains very cruise ship still, and ending was, to quote Simon, "ghastly." But I really liked it! I think he's got a good voice, plus I have a soft spot for the Doobies. Randy called it pitchy. More pitchy than Michael? Get real. The judges clearly hate him.

Chikezie He sang song by Donny Hathaway. Donny Hathaway is one of those singers that every musician namedrops, but honestly, I doubt the average American can name a single one of his songs. I know I can't. That's not to impugn his legacy, but to me every time someone breaks out Hathaway on this show it seems like a desperate bid for cool points. Anyway, Chikezie sang the song really well. And he didn't wear that shiteous pimp suit. But his performance was as cheesy as it always is, with him pointing into the crowd, throwing his name in there, and all sorts of really cringe-worthy moments. How was that performance any better/different than Jason's? Answer: it was not. He takes absolutely no responsibility for how bad he was last week, and still blames it all on Simon, and then takes another potshot at Simon's wardrobe. Still dead to me.

David Cook "Alright Now" Looked a million times better from last week. I think some of the hair has been removed. He broke out the ax, and it kind of drowned him out for a bit. But ultimately he was good. Growly and screamy, but I guess that's how you modernize that song. It was still kind of boring, tho. I don' think he's quite connected yet. I'm eager to see what happens when he does.

David Archuleta "Imagine" Oh, I'm so sick of this song. I'd be happy if nobody ever covered it in the history of music again, and I bet the ghost of John Lennon would be to. However! David did a very good job with it, with a very interesting arrangement. His voice is soulful and rich, and way, way beyond his years. And I didn't even hate all the embellishments he gave it. It's a much different side of him than we saw last week. Smart move! The kid has got it. In. The bag. Whe he finished Archuletamania busted out in the studio! Before season's end he will be ripped to shreds by the acrylic-nailed, over-tanned teeny girls in the audience. I hope he has a 24/7 security detail.

BEST OF THE NIGHT: The Davids (Archuleta, Hernandez, Cook), and I'm sticking to my guns: Jason

WORST OF TE NIGHT: Luke, Robbie

IN TROUBLE: Luke, Jason