The Hollywood Reporter is saying that American Idol fans are pissed that James Durbin was sent home on last night’s show, but this Idol fan couldn’t be any happier.

James never really did it for me. I felt like his whole shtick was very one-note, and that his personality became less and less likable each time he took to the stage. There was something grandstand-y and cocky about him that I just couldn’t handle. On top of all of that and probably most importantly, I couldn’t imagine what a James Durbin album would sound like. Some artists can pull off a sound that’s a tribute to a time long ago, but I don’t see hair band-style wailing making a comeback any time soon. There’s really no place for it on today’s radio dial (except for 80s rock tribute stations.)

After Wednesday’s show I was fearful that Haley, who’d mouthed off to the judges over their harsh criticisms of her performance, was going to be the one to go, but she’s totally sticking around for the top three (and should take the whole thing, as far as I’m concerned.)

A Haley/Lauren/Scotty finale seems just about perfect to me (I would switch out Scotty for Emily’s future husband Casey, if I really had a choice,) but what do you think? Let me know in the poll and the comments how you feel about the large eared James hitting the bricks…

After a week of soul-searching and crying it out, I think I’ve finally come to terms with Casey Abrams‘ elimination.  I know some of you didn’t understand how amazing he was, and that’s all right, he was this special brand of next level awesome that not everyone can appreciate.  But it’s a brand new week on American Idol, which means that I have to find a new favorite.  And don’t worry, I definitely did.

I’m joining Molls in the Haley Reinhart love.  This girl blew everyone away with her rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” last night. I didn’t watch the show or anything because I was busy working magic with a hot glue gun, but I watched the clips and read the reviews and they’re all pretty clear:  Haley is almost certainly going to dark horse her way all the way to the finals.

What did you guys think about last night?

Well, I guess in my heart I knew that I couldn’t count on American Idol voters to recognize true talent, otherworldy beauty, and effortless grace, so I knew this was coming sooner or later. But that doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt when Casey Abrams was eliminated last night.  I didn’t even get to watch the show – I was too wrapped up in my Rocky Horror Picture Show sing-along with my dogs (side note: they were somehow way unimpressed by my rendition of “I’m Going Home”) – and the guilt over that gets me just as bad.

So what’s up, America? Why can’t you recognize this talent? Why are you still crying over Pia when she couldn’t even play an upright bass?!

Putting my disappointment aside, I suppose I’ll have to pick a new favorite.  Probably James or Haley, right?  I don’t know, it still feels too soon.

And I don’t mean that question in a bitchy way – I think Steven Tyler has been an excellent addition to American Idol - it’s just that he kind of seemed like too big a deal for the show.  But, lucky for us, Steven chatted up TMZ about his reasoning behind joining the show, and it’s a little bizarre, if you ask me:

Steven Tyler claims he took the gig on American Idol to show his Aerosmith bandmates that he wouldn’t be “held hostage” by them … after the band threatened to kick Tyler to the curb.

Tyler dropped a whole series of truth bombs during an interview with Rolling Stone … in which he explains, “Did I take this job to show the band? Fuck, yeah. Not to show them, but that I can’t be held hostage anymore. I will be my own hostage. The band can’t throw me out.”

He also goes on to talk about how he and Joe Perry tried to make a new album a few years ago, but they couldn’t because they were all hopped up on drugs, but that’s not news.  Really, I’m way more interested in the fact that Aerosmith thinks they could function without Steven Tyler.  That’s absurd, right? Would you listen to some old random up on stage, trying to pass off his sad rendition of “Walk This Way” as an Aerosmith performance?

Me freakin’ too!

I’ve told you before that I somehow accidentally got super wrapped up in American Idol early on this season and now it’s what I plan my weeks around. The competition this year doesn’t seem as fierce as it has other years, but I’ll be straight up lying if I said that the show doesn’t provide me with two of the most enjoyable hours of my week every week.

These are just my opinions, and while yes, my opinions are usually solid gold, I have no idea what’s going to happen on Idol tonight or any night. I was shocked when Pia got sent home (even though I hated her,) and I was pretty surprised when the judges saved Casey so early on in the season. I guess the thing I’m still learning is that you never know what’s going to happen on the show and the American public has pretty questionable taste as a whole.

I’m gonna throw this out there: I voted for a contestant for the very first time last night: Haley. I still think she has the most flavor of all the contestants and could put out an album that I’d really like to hear. Also, I’d hate to see her go home over someone like that flavorless Stefano (c’mon, he’s a sweetie, but totally flavorless) or Jakob, who may have the largest ass I’ve ever seen on a man in my life.

Vote in the poll and let me know who you think is going to go home tonight, and also drop in the comments and let me know who you think is going to wind up in the final two. I would love to see either a Lauren and Haley finale or a Casey and Haley finale. I would hate to see any of those three go home before they got to really duke it out.

I guess this story is aimed specifically for y’all teenyboppers. That’s the only demographic that strongly cares about both American Idol and Twilight, right?  Well, you guys are welcome.

So Paul McDonald?  Impossibly adorable.  He got eliminated this week, which was a tragic moment in my household, but it’s ok, because he’s got other things to do, like work on a new album and bang Nikki Reed, the lady who plays beautiful, bitchy Rosalie in the Twilight movies.  Here’s Paul’s characteristically charming statement about it:

“Yeah, well me and Nikki Reed are dating. It’s officially true. She’s super cool, man, she’s super smart, really cool girl. I’m happy about it. We’ve been hanging out, here and there, you know we’re both pretty busy, but it’s been fun so far.”

And here’s another statement where Paul describes how happy Nikki is that he got eliminated:

“She is actually pumped,” he said. “She said, ‘Dude, you finally get to do your thing and be yourself and be the artist you are.’ She is happy about the whole situation. She has been nothing but cool to me.”

I’m really excited about this couple, can you tell?  It hits on two things that I’m ashamed to be so in love with, which is a really special feeling.  And you guys, I’ve got to confess – I’ve been falling hard for Paul McDonald for the past couple days.  I mean, he’s no Casey Abrams, but he’s wonderful.  I just got his band’s album (The Grand Magnolias, check it out if you’re hipster enough), and it’s crazy good.  If you don’t pull any other glee out of this story, at least check out The Grand Magnolias and let them touch your heart, ok?