The 12 final female contestants finally got to showcase their talents in front of America, who now gets to choose their fate. The ultimate goal is to slash the total number of girls by half, so there will be 6 girls and 6 guys in the final rounds. However, after all the telephone votes have been tallied only two girls will be dropped from the February 21st show. The boys get their turn tomorrow.

Speaking of the boys, the were all seated together near the stage in the DAWG pound, so they could whoop and holler for their favorite gal pal and basically show all their fellow contestants a little moral support. Before the girls got a chance to show their stuff, judge Randy Jackson predicted that this was the year that a boy would be crowned the American Idol. Well we'll just have to see about that.

Mandisa, age 29, started the show off with a bang. As you'll remember Simon made some comments about her weight, then they kissed and made up, and Simon even gave her a public apology. Mandisa did not let the prior controversy unnerve her. She donned a beautiful red camisole and a black sheer top and some flowing Capri pants and belted out her own soulful rendition of Heart's rock classic “Never”. I thought it was amazing and so did the judges. After she was done, Randy and Paula both said 'Wow' in unison. Then Randy said what a way to start of the show. Paula said Phenomenal. And Simon sez: “Wasn't a perfect vocal but thinks we'll see you thru the final shows”.

I sure hope Simon is right about Mandisa, because if that wasn't her best performance then I sure would love to here her at her best. When Mandisa spoke with Ryan Seacrest after her performance, she joked that she and Simon were practically dating. Well if they are, I sure hope she treats him nice, because I truly believe Simon got his heart broke by a fat girl and that is why he is so hard on voluptuous women like Mandisa.

During her interview with Ryan, Kellie managed to sneak in the catch phrase “Pick Pickler” Kellie was certainly not the worst singer of the night, but if I had only one vote (which thankfully I don't) I wouldn't waste it on her.

Randy told her that she had some notes here and there that were out of tune and that she was not the best singer, but that she looked great. Paula agreed, stating that Becky commanded the stage. Simon sez: Slightly better than I would have expected (speaking of her performance), then he add what we all were thinking “visually a 10 and vocally 6-7”. I think the Cha-Ching cash draw will come up short after the votes are totaled.

Basketball star in the making Ayla Brown, 17, was next up. She's so much taller than Ryan Seacrest that he stood on a box to interview her. Ayla chose the song “Reflections” by Christina Aguilera. The song was featured in the movie Mulan, which Ayla said she enjoyed watching while she was growing up (man I'm getting old). She said that as a female athlete she related to Mulan's struggles with being the only female in the army.

I was initially rather nervous for young Ayla when I heard what she was going to be singing. I mean you really have to bring it, if you are going to sing a Whitney Houston or Christina Aguilera song. But Ayla pulled it off. Randy was also shocked he said when he heard that she was singing the song he didn't expected it too be as good. Paula too was pleasantly surprised by Ayla's performance of the ambitious song. Simon on the other hand managed to both compliment as well as criticize her with the same remark. Simon sez: Probably a hard worker, however there is a limit to where your voice can go and we just seen it.

Then it was time for Granny's girl, little Paris Bennett. The tiny 17 year-old chose “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight. I was jotting down notes when she first started singing, but I'll tell you from the first note that came out of her mouth I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Baby girl gave a show. I loved her outfit too. She had on a strapless denim jumpsuit, with flair legged capris. It was too cute, but it might have also been a little too big at the top, because as Paula stated during her evaluation of Paris' performance, the youngun averted a major wardrobe malfunction. I'm not sure if it was the potential mishap with her top or her performance, but the DAWG Pound pounced to their feet while she performed. Seriously, though, I think that Paris Bennett gave the best performance of the night.

Randy said that she blew him away and Paula told Paris that she was her idol. Simon sez: she didn't play it safe and that she had a likeability factor. Then he summed it up with it is not about being good, it's about being great.

Stevie Scott (who I know was going by Stephanie last week) followed Paris, a spot I would not have wanted to have. Stevie is an opera singer, who decided to sing an opera song, in a popular music competition. Not the smartest move in my mind. She picked the song “To Where You Are” by Josh Groban. Stevie even said she wants to be the female Josh Groban. I tell you that song almost lulled me to sleep. I mean if I wanted to hear that kind of singing I would have been watching my local PBS station not American Idol.

Randy was at a lost for words, probably because he found himself daydreaming during her performance. Paula applauded Stevie for picking a song that may have not been the most popular choice and then she added that Stevie did all the right things with the (wrong) song. I added the wrong. Simon sez: a complete and utter mess. No matter how you spin it Paula, Stevie should be the other contestant to go.

Brenna Gethers, 25, Simon's soul mate (hey they even have the same birthday), decided to go all mild on us. I take it she has been reading her bad press. She should have taken a page from her mentor Simon, after all some people love outspoken and confident people. I really think that Brenna should have stuck with what she does best, the big dramatic, I know I'm all that, performances. She even wore a demure yellow blouse. She sang Stevie Wonder's “You are the Sunshine of My Life”. It was a good performance, but it was not a Brenna performance. It was like going to see Jay-Z in concert and the he up and decides to sing a bunch of show tunes, instead of rapping.

Randy agrees with me. He told her that she picked a safe song, but that he needed o see the girl with all the attitude and that she should forget about trying to show all those other sides. Paula said it was a safe song that showed some humility and then added that maybe she should eat some humble pie. Big Daddy Simon told his baby girl that she did not need to eat humble pie, but that her performance was horrible. He added that she took everything about herself that we loved and muzzled it. I hope America gives Brenna another chance and if she gets it I hope she shows us her sassy side, not this new and improved sappy side.

Heather Cox, 22, was next. I tell you she and Kellie Pickler should have worn different colored shirts because initially I thought Kellie was getting a second opportunity to perform. Anyway Heather had laryngitis and the stomach flu during the first round of Hollywood auditions, so the judges took her condition into account and voted her through to the public voting rounds. Heather chose the song “When You Tell Me You Love Me”, as song by the former American Idol contestants. I absolutely hated it and wondered what her excuse would be this time.

Randy, said her thought she was going to bring it because she had not been able to before, because she had been ill. Randy added that he thought the performance was kind of boring and that the key was too low. Simon sez: forgettable, horrible, a actually.

Melissa McGhee, 21, a former beauty pageant contestant from Tampa, FL who took her first plane flight to the Denver auditions ws next. Melissa chose Faith Hill's “When The Lights Go Down”. Melissa started off bad with some pitchy notes, but the middle was very soulful. I think she relaxed a little bit when she realized the crowd was cheering and totally digging her voice.

I write down my opinions of the performances before the judges voice theirs, so I was shocked when Randy said pretty much the exact same thing I wrote. He said it started off rocky, was pitchy in the middle of the song, and then she laid it out in the end. Paula said it was her shining moment and that she had a sexy, sultry voice. Simon sez; before this time I would not have remembered you.

Lisa Tucker, 16, drew the number 10 spot. She picked the song “I Am Changing” by former dream girl and my home girl Jennifer Holiday. Watch out Beyonce (my other home girl), little Lisa might steal your role in the upcoming Dream Girls movie. The performance was powerful and evoking and it was amazing that such a big voice was coming out of such a small person.

Randy said she started rough, but worked it out. Paula called her a precious little gift. And Simon sez: You make girls 5 or 6 years older go wow.

Kinnik Sky was next to perform. This 28 year-old chose the Oleta Adams version of “Get Here”. I thought her performance was flawless. I can really see people in my age group going to see her in concert and even shelling out some money to buy one of her CD's.

I, of course, was in the minority because the judges were not as impressed as I was. Randy only rated her performance a 6 out of 10. Paula is around my age (not really but we are definitely in the same marketing group) so she thought that Kinnik performance was on point. She also mentioned how stunning Kinnik looked. Simon agreed that Kinnik appeared very regal and elegant. But he said that her performance was very cabaret like. He also told her that she was being overshadowed by the talent of the younger girls. To which Kinnik responded that I am willing to learn, even from the babies.

Before, 21 year-old, Katherine McPhee performed Ryan Seacrest asked did they save the best for last. I'm just wondering whether or not he was referring to the best voice. Because if you ask me the answer to that question is a big NO. Katherine chose Barbara Steisand's “Since I fell For You”. Now I really like Barbara Streisand, I mean what's not to like, but I was a little apprehensive about hearing Katherine sing this song, because she stated that Streisand is her idol. When I think of die-hard Streisand fans I tend to think of drag queens, not young girls. But Katherine gave a really good performance, but as I said before it was NOT the best (Paris was the best).

Randy said he loved her voice and that there were a couple of spots that were off, but overall he loved her performance. Paula said it was a great performance and that Katherine was going all the way (I could make a comment about Katherine's previous make out session with the judges, but I won't go there). And Simon paid her the ultimate compliment saying that there were 4 very good vocalists that performed on the show that night and that of them she was the best.

Well fortunately for the girls more than 4 will make it thru to the next round, so we'll just have to wait until Thursday to see who American votes for. Check back tomorrow for my recap of the boys show.

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