Congratulations Carrie Underwood - American Idol 2005!

...Wiping tears from her eyes Vonzell watches the big screen and hears herself describing the experience, "My American Idol journey has been 'crazy', It's been a lot of emotions, balled up into one, but it's been all worth it". She graciously manages to smile through her sadness and blows kisses to her family in the audience...

It's semi-finals night and the stakes are high! The 3 remaining Idols, Bo, Carrie and Vonzell will sing for their ticket to next week's American Idol grand finale at Hollywood's Kodak Theater...

There's also a whiff of déjà vu in the air... Clive Davis, CEO of BMG USA sat as guest panelist last year .. Clive is back tonight doing the same job...

This evening 3 finalists join the jet set but one goes back to the coach instead of the couch!

The coach ticket turns out to be Anthony Fedorov's. He leaves on a high note this evening after two fine performances last night. It's an emotional night for Anthony... and for Carrie too!

...After last Wednesday's results show Ryan met up with the Idols to announce that they will have 2 themes again this week. Perhaps Ryan believes he is hosting American Idiot, because he took along a huge map of the USA and pointed out the locations of Nashville and Philadelphia to the final foursome! Huh! ...

Randy Jackson agrees with America's bottom two selection this week... Anthony Fedorov and Scott Savol. It turns out to be a happy-come-lucky birthday for Anthony today, because it is Scott who bows out this evening, 5th in a field of 100,000! ...

Hooray! It's double helpings of our favorite five Idols tonight. Our first course is served with lashings of Leiber and Stoller. To follow we'll have sweet Billboard surprise! ...

First there was Billy Idol... now there's another Idol rocker shocker, as Constantine Maroulis unexpectedly bows out of season 4 tonight.... Constantine remains philosophical and upbeat about his fate, "...crazier things have happened in my life and I'm just really blessed to have gotten this far and to have met all of you guys." ...

Idol has already given us 3 decade themes this season, this week they make it a whole millennium - the current one!

The Idols can sing any song from the years 2000 thru 2005... we also get a glimpse of the neighborhood and family life of each contestant...

Sadly 'September' turns out to be Anwar Robinson's Idol swan song.

Out of tonight's bottom 3, he was generally considered the least likely to go home, nevertheless he still accepts his ousting with a smile...

As well as hearing each of the remaining 7 Idols sing a '70s dance classic we also get to see them strutting their funky stuff on the dance floor... thank heavens this is a singing contest!...

At the top of tonight's hour long show Ryan Seacrest tells us we are in for a shock, and promises that he will stretch out the show "further than Kirstie Alley's cycling shorts" ! ...