It's Looking a Lot like the Grand Ole Opry on 'American Idol' on Elimination Night, May 12, 2011

Fox, Thursday, May 12, 2011, 8 PM (ET) "American Idol," following in the footsteps of "Dancing with the Stars," which seems to make a habit of kicking off the best dancers and retaining those whose hoofing is inferior to their organized voters, collected 72 million votes to kick off the best candidate for "American Idol" left.

James Durbin, the rocker with the truly compelling back story (high-functioning autism, Tourette's Syndrome) and the rags-to-riches life was booted in favor of Mr. Country, Scotty McReery, Haley Reinhardt from Wheeling, Illinois, and Lauren Alaina from Rossville, Georgia.

I've been a fan of Lauren's since seeing the 15-year-old duet with Steven Tyler at the very first auditions, and I have dubbed Scotty "bulletproof," but it is still surprising that James was the one sent home. He was the only one on Wednesday night's show that sang two very well known songs and performed like a seasoned veteran. He was also the contestant who displayed the most versatility each and every week and truly held my attention, when songs I had never heard (nor had anyone else, in the case of "You and I") were trotted out for public consumption. It was really sad to see him go, and a miscarriage of judging justice. It was bad when Pia Toscano was cut. It was worse when Casey Abrams was sent home. James was my last hope for the show.

An announcement was made that, for next season, auditions would be held in Charleston, St. Louis, San Diego, Pittsburgh, and Houston, among other American cities and Lady Gaga performed the very same song that Haley Reinhart premiered ("You and I") in an earlier week's performance night. Enrique Iglesias, complete with many lasers and Usher in the background, displayed his extremely weak voice amidst green lasers. (I heard Enrique sing "live" as Cher's opening act. Not good then, either.)

Jordin Sparks, "American Idol" season six winner performed and displayed a slimmed-down Jennifer Hudson-ized body, clad in a black dress under a silver lame raincoat. Ryan Seacrest jumped offstage while trying to catch a giant beach ball and nearly hurt himself. (*An aside: whatever happened to the Beat Box guy who placed second, Blake? He seems to have disappeared completely from the performance scene.)

Now we are left with Three Little Indians, of whom one (Scotty, the country boy) seems unable to do anything that the fans of C&W don't love to bits. Get ready, Folks. It's going to be a bumpy finale, but, first, all the finalists will make a return to their hometowns. (Yee Haw!)