Semifinal Performances: Girls Recap

See the posts below for my detailed comments on each contestant, but overall I'd say this was, if not the triumph of the first week of semfinals, a very strong night for the girls. The usual suspects (Melinda Doolittle and LaKisha Jones) delivered first-rate performances, while Stephanie Edwards and Sabrina Sloan filled out the second tier quite nicely. Going the rock route proved smart for both Jordin Sparks, who redeemed herself this week with a fiery performance of "Heartbreaker," and Gina Glocksen, who finally got her head-banging on with a cover of Evanescence's most recent hit. Bringing up the back of the pack, then, are the entirely forgettable Haley Scarnato and the utterly horrible Antonella Barba.

Looking at the list of the girls, it seems excitingly possible that we could have a reprise of the Three (or four, or five) Divas from Season 3, but I worry about the Antonella factor. If there's any justice in the world, she and Haley will be sent packin' tomorrow night, but if Antonella's notoriety proves more compelling to voters than the comparatively boring backstories of Sabrina or Stephanie, I won't be entirely surprised.

Here's hoping America knows what's what.