Dialin' down the road...

What a difference a week makes!

A while back, with two rather daunting themes in the rear view mirror, we rewarded Bucky's ability to face the challenges of Stevie Wonder and 50s Night with a serious power-dialing show of support. Last week, Bucky finally got a chance to let some of his own style shine through...and while the show's judges didn't seem overwhelmed, a whole lot of people at home in front of their TV sets were entertained enough to join us in keeping him safe on the sofas last Wednesday night.

This week, we've got a truly Bucky-friendly theme, and a bit of momentum from that fun and flirtatious "Real Good Man" performance. But while things are looking better than ever, we must keep the Law of Idol in mind at all times:

Never assume anyone is safe, no matter how well they've performed, or what the judges say.

Always assume your next vote is the one that's going to make the difference.

You know you want to see Bucky next week, and the week after that, and for as many weeks as possible. The only power any of us might have to make that happen is located in a button marked redial.

But beyond that, there's an even bigger goal. The longer he gets to sing to a national audience, and the more chances he has to show off that beautiful tone so many of us enjoyed in his original songs, the more likely it is that we'll be able to enjoy Bucky Covington for years--for concert tours, for CDs, for many, many melodies and memories in the making. I'd like that a lot, and I think you would, too.

Stay up and vote, y'all. It's worth it.

As always, if you'd like specific dialing tips, check out our old "Why Tuesday means everything" post in the archives, or feel free to leave your own strategies in the comments section.

Back later today with pre-show news and a recap after Idol airs. See you then!