Top 8 Power Rankings

The field shrinks a bit more, and outside of Scott everyone remaining has some potential to do something impressive on any given night. Here's how I think they stand in the public's mind.

Smooth Sailing
1. Danny Gokey
2. Adam Lambert
3. Kris Allen

Treading Water
4. Lil Rounds
5. Scott MacIntyre
6. Allison Iraheta

Drowning
7. Matt Giraud
8. Anoop Desai

It pains me to put Scott above Allison, but his popularity/sympathy vote coupled with what truly was his best performance yet last week puts him in relatively safe territory for the time being. Eventually the similarity and monotony of his performances will catch up with him, but it hasn't yet.

I think Allison would be in fine shape if the judges had actually addressed her good performance instead of just taking shots at her outfit, but at this point it is what it is, and she landed in the bottom three. However, I think the raw deal she got last week will be noted, and I expect positive comments will be bestowed upon her next week in order to make amends.