Conisdering this is the third time I've written this recap, losing the first two to my own stupidity, I will be brief.

- Diane Warren was the guest judge, and the kids sang her songs. Showing that the power of evil multiplies arithmetically when joined, Carmen has what was probably her best night so far. Which, on the objective show scale, is on par with Clay expectorating during an especially bad cold.

- Ruben and Clay were good as always. Kimberly Locke did better than last week and may be starting to push those two guys. Trenyce was good but unspectacular. Josh uncountrified, got reamed by Simon for getting out of his box, and wasn't that good. Carmen was Carmen, but perhaps only 95% so.

- Clairol became a new in-show product placement sponsor when the tonsorial equivalent of Steven Cojocaru went to the house to give the kids highlights or other colorings. Ruben, thanks to his closely-cropped hair, was spared the indignity.

- My bottom three: Carmen, Josh, and Trenyce. I'll guess that Josh goes off, pray that Carmen gets sent packing, and will probably see Trenyce go thanks to people using the method from The Weakest Link where you keep the lame and try to send off the competition.

- Idle musing during the show, when Simon told Carmen that she could not win the competition: what if she does? What the hell are they going to do with her? I can't think that there's enough studio magic in all of Hollywood to make her bleating sound good. I will say that someone is doing what they can to keep her around, as Seacrest continued to pimp for votes for Carmen, and made sure she was front and center (and given a softball question to answer) during the wrap up in the ready room.