American Idol Cleans House With Double Elimination

At least one kinda had it coming, but did America get it right with tonight's double elimination?

By Natalie Finn Apr 15, 2010 5:10 AMTags

Now we're getting down to business.

Andrew Garcia was quickly sacrificed Wednesday on American Idol, with Ryan Seacrest & Co. determining that there was no use in waiting for the likable young dad to be dismissed, considering there was another elimination coming at the end of the hour.

"Thank you, guys, I appreciate everything," Andrew said after closing things out with James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." "I'm glad I'm here. I'm glad I've been through what I've been through."

And with the once-promising Andrew out of the way, it was time to focus on the ones who had to sit there suffering while Brooke White, Justin Gaston and this week's mentor, Adam Lambert, took the stage.

While maybe it would behoove these contestants to just call it a draw at this point after watching Lambert (oozing charisma as always) perform, they're gonna keep going. Well, seven of them are...

Katie Stevens was the other contestant forced to say her goodbyes tonight, concluding an up-and-down run on the show that included the great pop-R&B vs. country battle waged by Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell.

But aside from all the talk about pitch problems and not sounding young enough, she hit plenty of high notes and, most important, will be around for the American Idols Live tour.

When asked what stories she would tell when she returned to her "real life" (i.e., high school), Katie said she'd talk "about all the amazing people [she] met and the amazing experience that this was."

And heeding the advice of John and Paul, she sang "Let It Be."

Meanwhile, it turns out the judges' save was a savvy move, because last week's almost-castoff, Michael Lynche, wasn't even in the bottom three tonight after turning in a pretty great version of Elvis Presley's "In the Ghetto" yesterday.

In honor of next week's Idol Gives Back special, the African-and-U.S. poverty-aiding charity event that took the year off in '09, the top seven will perform inspirational songs Tuesday with the help of guest mentor Alicia Keys.

So it looks like there won't be much drama on Wednesday, just heart-tugging stories and good tunes from the likes of Elton John, Carrie Underwood, Joss Stone, Mary J. Blige, Jeff Beck, Annie Lennox and the Black Eyed Peas.

Did America get it right this week? Whose days do you think are numbered, now that Katie and Andrew are gone?

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