Well, there's no last-minute schedule swap, so everything is back to normal! Hooray, I guess.

I guess, since we're dealing with the guys again. Yes, I said this before, but I'll say this again (and yes, I said that line before, but I'll say it again): the guys have been disappointing on American Idol this year. Over the past two weeks I never really looked forward to the performances of the guys. I know, some will do good, and some have done good, but they haven't really caught my attention. I think it speaks a lot when I say that last night's lady snoozefest would be much better than tonight.

Yeah, I know, I'm being too cruel. Anyway, the guys--two of them will leave tomorrow, along with two girls, forming the Top 12 in the process. But, unlike the girls, I wouldn't feel particularly bad when one of the eight men performing tonight gets the boot. I have at least two contestants who I think don't deserve to stay, and I have a couple more who are in deep danger unless they either snap out of their complacency... or give their fans a subtle nudge. (Hello there, Andrew Garcia.)

Tonight, the guys get one more chance to show their mettle and convince us, the viewer, to bring them to the Top 12. Easy transition to my watchlist: the people you should keep an eye on in the show. And no, I'm not including Tim Urban and his abdomen, unless they could sing better.

Lee Dewyze. I'm not exactly a fan, but I understand that he's perhaps one of the guys' best hopes this season. I mean, listen to that rasp, and imagine the places it could go! He makes my list because of this one feature that sets him apart from the rest: the ability to admit that he's pitchy. His first two performances haven't been perfect pitch-wise, but he knows they're there, and maybe tonight we can expect a less jumpy number?

Andrew Garcia. Once upon a time, there was this bespectacled boy named Andrew. Armed with his magic guitar, he took every song he found and made it something worth listening to again and again. But little did he know that his supply of magic juice is depleted, and now that he's in Hollywood, he can't go to the Magic House owned by "Um from Umbridge" to replenish... okay, that last part is obviously outrageous, but you know where I'm going, right? He'll be safe another week, that's for sure, but will he be actually worth watching? For once, he didn't last on Twitter's trending topics last week, and that isn't exactly a good sign.

Todrick Hall. Will he actually start singing (and dancing) or will he take another song and sap it of its soul to serve his purpose? Yes, some of you think he should go this week, but personally he's a bit of a wild card--he could stay because of his fans, and because he's got something good in him. Well, something kept under layers and layers of tissue paper.

Kara DioGuardi. Remember, tonight's performance show is an hour long, and judging from yesterday's show, it's going to fly so fast you don't know what's happening when. I guess that means she's got to make the most of her time with Casey James. Or she just won't have any time. Last night they were rushing through Lilly Scott's critiques--they were running out of time!

There isn't much at this point, I know, but my fingers are crossed that something good--anything really good--will come out of this. I do not need a Wednesday night downer. That sucks more.

Okay, I'm being cruel again, I know.





(Image courtesy of Fox)