THE WORST: I think Brooke White will be voted off tonight. She forgot the words and had to start over. At this point, with only six contestants left, she deserves to be eliminated. But she did go on to perform "You Must Love Me" from the movie version of "Evita" admirably. The same cannot be said of Castro's "Memory" from "Cats." I thought it was a good song choice for him but he did not connect with the song and seemed to rush it.

THE BEST: Syesha was a revelation opening the show with “One Rock N’ Roll Too Many.” She was in a red dress, did a Michelle Pfeiffer atop the piano in "Fabulous Baker Boys" thing and was quite simply, sensational. Loved. This. Performance.

SOLID GOLD: Carly Smithson, David Archuleta and David Cook were all damned good and sang their way to a top five finish, I'm sure. Carly seemed relaxed and joyful singing "Jesus Christ Superstar" and had a terrific look going to boot. Archuleta was strong as ever on "Think of Me" as he learned to open his eyes while singing. He's already stopped constantly licking his lips, thankfully. David Cook, meanwhile, closed the show on a high note with “Music of the Night” from "Phantom of the Opera." He left the rocker persona at the door and was a real Broadway star. A very convincing transformation that I think should give him more momentum in what essentially is the battle of two Davids.