3/29 Results: "Phones Don't Lie"

(Technical difficulties tonight. We'll try to get some screencaps from Wednesday ASAP. Meanwhile, we thought you wouldn't mind a few more photos from Tuesday's performance...)

Tonight's jam-packed results show started off with a little behind-the-scenes look at a day or so in the life of the Idols--photoshoots (looking good there), photo-ops, a sneak preview of "Ice Age 2". (The film sounded cute enough, but some of this year's Idols are in the demographic group who'd take their kids to see that one, aren't they?)

After a break and a "Sunshine Day"-inspired Ford spot, with the singers hopping out of brand new cars to cheer up pseudo-random strangers on the street with ice cream and dancing (um...okay...), the show began in earnest. Shakira and Wyclef Jean, tonight's 21st Century Popstars, lip-synched and belly-danced to "Hips Don't Lie", while the Idols pretended to lose their tension in the rhythm and spectacle. (Does it ever occur to the performers that the eventual departing contestant will probably wince at the sound of the guest-artist's song for the rest of his or her natural life? Just asking.)

But I digress. Off to the Sofas of Doom we went, and the bottom row--Chris, Mandisa, Kellie, Taylor and Paris--were declared safe. That left Elliott, Ace, Lisa, Katherine and Bucky as bottom-three possibilities. (Yes, he was last in line again--mini-rant follows shortly.) Elliott was declared safe; Lisa and Ace were called to center stage; and Katherine was paired with Bucky, then told she was also a member of the bottom three. Much booing ensued, and Bucky looked genuinely stunned as Katherine left the sofa.

In the end, Ace was able to make a fast U-turn to the sofas, Katherine followed, and Lisa departed the show tonight.

First things first--Bucky was safe, y'all. Not even in the bottom three! The man has a devoted and passionate voting base; if there was ever any doubt, tonight dispelled it handily. We rock! (As many have pointed out, the fact that he was paired with Katherine in no way indicates that he was the next-lowest vote-getter--"safe" can mean anything from first to seventh.)

Which leads me to my mini rant-du-jour...what is with the highly unsubtle positioning on results night? People have noticed a trend here. (More and more people, as a matter of fact.) Maybe next week the producers can put someone else in the final pair, yes?

Ahem. Anyway, all's lovely in the end--he's safe, and maybe even a little bit more popular than the show is letting on. We don't know for sure, but we do know the Law of Idol still applies: never assume, and always keep those dialing fingers limber.

Next week the theme is Country Music. Expectations are running high--should be a lot of fun!