Anyway, I can’t wait until next week.

(But please note — I have already predicted Danny as the winner — several weeks ago. I want to go on record that my prediction still stands. big grin.)

Also quick note: I love the new judge Kara. She gives great feedback, is well-spoken and I like the fact that she can hold her own against Simon.

So here are the recaps and my thoughts about each contestants’ performance tonight:

Lil Rounds: I like her. I think she’ll have a good shot at success whether she wins American Idol or not. I think the only thing that might hurt her in this competition is that she seems too “put together” and at times America seems to vote for the underdog. However, the video about her life and the hardships she has experienced may help people connect to her. I thought she did a great job with her song “The Way She Makes Me Feel” by Michael Jackson. My guess is that she will make the top 5 at least. Simon’s comment about hating what she was wearing was actually right. Her outfit was not really flattering on her and I think she’ll get better at styling as time goes on.

Scott MacIntyre: “Keep the Faith”. It was nice to have Scott behind the piano. He’s a very talented piano player. Although the quality of his voice and tone is not as refined as many of the other contestants. I think he will continue on for a while as he is likeable and people will cheer for his success and overcoming his visual challenges.

Danny Gokey: “PYT”. He has the coolest voice. I didn’t love the jacket he was wearing but I LOVED his performance. He certainly knows how to get a crowd going. I think I had a perma-grin while he was performing. He is so likeable and already my favorite hands-down. I love his humility, and the joy he transmits while singing. The fact that he can be real about his dancing (admitting it’s hard to sing and dance together). LOVE HIM!!!

Michael Sarver: “You’re Not Alone”. I like Michael. I have from the beginning. But I was not blown away by the song or performance. Perhaps it’s coming from following Danny and the passion and energy, but it kind of fell flat for me, seeming to be at one level. He did a good job, but just not spectacular. The judges all seemed to like him, and he did sing well, but again, not my favorite. I think he runs the risk of having his performances not be as memorable as some of the others.

Jasmine Murray: “I’ll Be There”. It was nice for her to choose a song that Michael Jackson sang when he was young, as her voice fit the tone fairly well. She seemed to hit a few pitchy places and I found myself getting bored with the song. She’s a darling girl and can sing, but I am not sure she’ll get the following she needs to stay very long. The judges didn’t give her rave reviews either, they were almost half-hearted compliments.

Kris Allen: “Remember the Time”. The fact that he is married may hurt his popularity. He’s so cute and typically the young girls vote for the cute single guys. I did not like the song choice or the version he performed. It felt boring and slow. I don’t think it showcased his voice at all. I don’t know if dancing around and playing the guitar made him sound bad but it definitely was not my favorite. I think with him being married and with this performance he may be at risk for going home this week. Interesting that Simon mentioned “not bringing out the wife so early”.

Allison Iraheta: “Give In to Me”. She will get the rocker vote this year for sure. I like the quality of her voice. She is not my personal favorite but I think she’ll get pretty far. The only risk I see is that she seems a little too cocky and a bit immature (but she’s 16 and that’s kind of to be expected.) She reminds me of Miley Cyrus when she speaks and performs. That may convert into tons of votes for her. Time will tell.

Anoop Desai: “Beat It”. He is very likeable and cute. I am glad he is in the top 13. I think if he can get a cool hair cut and younger style, he’ll do well. The hair is going in the right direction, but not quite there yet. Honestly the song choice was the worst of the night so far. It did NOTHING to showcase his voice. I did not like anything about the choice. If people are going to vote based on tonight’s performance alone, I predict he will go home. There is a chance he will stay because people like him but I actually think he is at risk.

Jorge Nunez: “Never Can Say Goodbye” He is darling! He just exudes joy and delight. I didn’t like the song choice for him, but man that boy can sing! I think he’ll stick around as people connect to him, but it was not my favorite.

Megan Joy Corkrey: Wow what a perfect song for her. It completely fits her personality. “Rockin’ Robin”. She’s darling and I love that her son is her world. It’s obvious that she loves him. She’s kind of funny when she performs – a little ditsy and new-agey, but also a bit alternative. She can certainly sing and is really likeable. The cawing at the end was corny but I actually liked the song. Paula chose the right word “Quirky” for her. I think she’ll stay at least another week, but I’m not sure if she’ll end up being around very long. Simon said it was a mess (and it was, but I thought it fit her.)

Adam Lambert: “Black and White” Some of my friends and family absolutely love him. I am not sure what it is about him but I cannot connect with him. I think perhaps it’s the feeling that he’s hiding behind his hair, or the fact that I can’t tell if he’s acting feminine or trying to be “in”. But he goes from being kind of “rocker” to feeling a little “girly” for me. He is a really cute guy, but I have a hard time knowing what he is trying to be. He can sing for sure. I hate the black nail polish and the screaming performance (not my style). I predict he’ll get to the top 3 or 4 and people will either love him or hate him. But for sure he is not my favorite. The fact that Paula gets emotional while gushing about him, I just don’t understand it. I don’t think he’ll win because I think as time goes by, there will be a bit more of a disconnect and feeling of humility/sincerity that will come from him (as opposed to Danny).

Matt Giraud: “Human Nature”. I loved that he was behind the piano. I did have a hard time with the performance though. I didn’t like the song choice. It didn’t really stand out or really showcase him. I like him but I think his connection to American Idol fans is less than some of the others and he won’t get the votes he needs to continue on. Even the audience reaction was much less than many of the others.

Alexis Grace: “Dirty Diana”. She’s a cute girl. The only issue I have with her is that she’s forgettable. I honestly did not remember her from Hollywood week or auditions. She can sing but I did not like the song choice at all. I actually think will go home this week.

So after all is said and done – it was a great American Idol this week. I thought everyone did well. There are a few standouts including Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert. But several are at risk. I think possibly Alexis Grace and Kris Allen will go home. If Kris stays then either Matt Giraud or Anoop Desai will go home. It’s hard to tell at this stage — it really depends on their hometowns and how many people connected with them during the audition process. I guess we’ll all see tomorrow.