Dammit, she auditioned in Seattle. Can't we claim her?

It probably wouldn't be fair, since she's from Arizona, but last night it was the closest Seattle got to blowing minds on American Idol. Sparks gave us chills and goosebumps, proving that she has what it takes to be the runner up for this year's show. She still hasn't quite shut MindyDoo down, but chances are nobody really will.

MD came out and rocked it with some song she claimed was a country hit. Bill Lamb purports the song made the Country Top 40 in 1999, but nobody else has ever heard of it. Not that it matters. A performance that brings the house down is a performance that brings the house down, whether that song was a country hit, or whether MindyDoo made it up as she went along. The woman is the next Tina Turner any way you slice it, whether she wins AI or not.

But this post is supposed to be dedicated to our local heroes Weirdjaya and Blake "Confused Face" Lewis. We really genuinely dig Blake and all the innovative spunk he brings to the otherwise cookie-cutter show. We get the feeling he actually does a lot to dictate the arrangements that back him up, which is more artistry than just getting out there and belting it. Forget that he's often off key and needs some new choreography. He's hot, he has stage presence, and he can sing well enough to pull it off. Last night, for some reason, the judges felt the need to praise his Tim McGraw tune, but we thought it was DULL (all caps intended). Naturally, though, we're ready to forgive Blakeypoo because there is no way in hell he belongs singing country music.

But then again, there was no way in hell that our Gina-bear belonged singing lounge songs, and that's what got her booted off.

Meanwhile, Manjaya continues to boggle our minds. We get what he's doing, and we give him props for having such grande cajones at the age of 17. But enough already. He's not going to win. America may have been stupid enough to elect George W. Bush twice in a row, but there's a line we won't cross. There's no way in hell Sanjaya is going to beat both the Sparksinator and Melinda "Queen of the World" Doolittle to win American Idol. Let him come back in five years, and we may have a different opinion of him then, but this is not the right time.

We'd love to see him come home to Federal Way and put in a year or two on the Seattle club circuit. Join an indie rock band, vie for a gig at Neumos. Do it the old fashioned way, Jaya. Come on, now. If he doesn't get kicked off for singing Bonnie Raitt, we won't really be surprised, but we'll continue to be disappointed.

Our bet on who leaves this week: Phil Stacey. Sorry, bro. You're way out of your league.