In and around the feeling of "meh" that I had last night while watching American Idol's quadruple ouster (that kind of sounds like a figure skating jump, doesn't it? Like Plushenko could do a quadruple ouster and then definitely win the gold), I was reminded of two things: Good heavens I still love Kris Allen and my goodness what the corporate music machine has done to Allison Iraheta.

First, to the boots: I am sad that Janell Wheeler was sent home, because I do think she had lots of potential and just succumbed to nerves, inexperience, and really poor styling. Her song choice was a giant misstep, and she looked so different that I think viewers could not relate the Audition Janell to the Tuesday Janell, and so she fell victim to getting no calls or texts. I am sorry about that.

I have no feelings about Ashley Rodriguez going home whatsoever, except I do think that Lacey Brown was right to have heaved such enormous sighs of relief. And I think the paramedics were on high alert for reviving Katie Stevens, based on the poor thing's bug-eyed look as she stood briefly in a potential bottom two.

As for the boys, what could've been a long national nightmare of Tyler Grady will thankfully never materialize, and the fact that he then blamed the judges for not telling him sooner that he was a big D-bag simply underscored what we were all feeling about him anyway. As for Joe Munoz, well, we hardly knew ye, and thank God for that. Now if next week we can put a stake through John Park's heart, we will be heading down the right road. (Oh, and the loss of audio there was because Alex Lambert apparently expletively celebrated his non-loss.)

But really, the highlights of the hour were the appearance of last season's fourth-runner-up, Allison, and winner, Kris. Allison, the rocker chick, sang her new single Scars, and she has so completely been transformed into a Junior Pink that I found it somewhat disconcerting. I was glad at the end of the song (which was just OK for me for you, dawg) that she did a tiny little Allison giggle/smile, and that she was sufficiently awkward with Ryan so as to remind me why I liked her so much.

As for Kris, Idol (or maybe it was the United Nations, I get them confused) had sent him to Haiti after the earthquake and we were treated to video from that visit as well as a lovely rendition of Let It Be. It's a fund raiser, kids, and you know I've already downloaded it. My boy looked tired, though.

Watching Kris and Alison served to remind me, however, that we have a long way to go till we crown our winner, and that I cannot let this week's really dismal and depressing and awful performances get me down. Our Idol journey is all about watching these kids grow as performers, and we've certainly got lots of potential for that right now. See you next week.