by Todd Betzold

It's that time of week again...Thursday, which means one thing...someone is going home on American Idol and I must predict who that person will be. I haven't been doing the greatest lately on these predictions, but I am feeling confident this week (fingers crossed).

With only four singers left in the competition, every time these singers hit the stage it is crucial for them to shine and shine bright. Some of them did that last night (Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips) and some of them didn't (Hollie Cavanagh and Joshua Ledet). I know you all hate on me for not liking Joshua, but we all have our own tastes and likes and he definitely doesn't fit into either one of those categories for me...I don't want to be brought to church on a Wednesday night every week, sorry.

We'll start with the good, or should I say amazing...Jessica and Phillip. Jessica has been criticized by the judges and Jimmy Iovine for singing songs that are too old for her...I can get on board with that (especially when she sings an Etta James song and a Jennifer Holliday song), the way she sang these songs you have to look past the age. The Etta song was amazing and she had spunk and sass and it was so fun to watch her work it out on that stage. Then she comes back with the Holliday song and shows so much emotion and her range is fantastic and her ability to hit the notes she hits and hold them like she does is flawless. This girl is in it to win it. I still feel the show where Jessica was the bottom singer was just a ploy for the judges to use the save and make drama...no way can this girl ever be the lowest vote-getter. Now to Phillip...I predicted he was going home last week...he has been boring me. This week, he won me back over. After his first song, he took on CCR and he chose a song that was so great for his vocals. He mixed up the song a little, but the song fit his vocals perfectly and it won me over just a little bit. He then took on a Damien Rice song...the stage was dark and simple...this song was so classy and beautiful. He didn't go and do anything over-the-top tonight, but he chose two songs that were perfect for him...I fell back in love...and the girls screaming in the audience hasn't stopped all season...he is good to go!

Now to the bad, or should I say lacking compared to the first two...Hollie and Joshua. It is blatantly obvious that the judges are in love with Joshua and want him to win it this season, which turns me off to him even more. They praised Phillip and said his second performance was brilliant...no standing ovation. Joshua sings his second song (which I was annoyed with...damn screaming) and it was the best performance ever on the show and he is amazing and of course, the standing ovation he gets every show (they did give Jessica a standing ovation on her second song, but that was a deserving one). I don't think he is a bad singer, I just am not entertained by him like others are, especially the judges. If I wanted to go to church, I would wake up on a Sunday morning and head down to mine...I wouldn't tune into American Idol on Wednesday nights. Now to Hollie...what can I say about her? I think she has an amazing and powerful voice, clearly, but I can never connect with her when she is singing...she is a blank face on the stage trying to take on a Bonnie Raitt song about love. Great vocals, but I need some emotion girl. She bored me through both of her performances tonight, but she usually does every week and yet, here she is in the Top 4 (I miss Skylar Laine).

So, who is getting sent home tonight? Despite all my thoughts and hopes, it never seems to go the way I plan...I am hoping tonight is different. Jessica and Phillip are clearly safe this week...I think they earned it with their performances and should not be in danger of going home. That leaves us with Hollie and Joshua in the bottom two. Yes, the judges beloved Joshua Ledet will be in the bottom two. In my mind, all the tween girls who vote for two straight hours are texting their votes for Phillip and Joshua can't pull any of those votes away from him. He will, however, have enough votes to make it into the Top 3 next week, which means we will finally say goodbye to Hollie. She has been in bottom two plenty of times and has survived, but not this time.After her fourth week in a row in the bottom two, she will finally have to say goodbye...great voice, but needs more connection with the song and the audience.

So, now it is your time to sound off...do you think I have it right this week? Will Hollie finally go home? If she is safe, who do you think will go home? Who are the bottom two? Leave some comments and let's get to chatting on this beautiful Thursday!

Find out if I am correct when American Idol airs tonight at 8/7c on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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