Vyk

While I agree with the many here who like this good version of Ward, I think that goodbye between him and Daisy was pretty final. I don't think he's coming back with them, no matter how much you all want him to. Just not happening. The past should be left where it is -- in the past. Tripp was as enjoyable as ever, and he made a good team with Simmons. Also did enjoy Daisy and May together, especially when Daisy used her powers on Aida the way she did. Even though I knew she wouldn't die. I really think this might be my favorite arc this show's given us. But I really wish Bobbi and Hunter had been here to be part of it, too. Would've been interesting to see whether they'd have been swapped with their own LMDs or hacked their way in with Daisy and Simmons.

She took her hat off just last week, during her Playoff performance.

. . . Who?

Um, he wasn't even good yesterday, and I think his low numbers prove that.

In fairness, Brad started the targeting of Hali, not Sierra. She just rolled with it. Nonetheless, glad to hear that Sierra is out of here next week. I don't hate her the way others here seem to, but I don't like her, either. I will say, though, that to have control of that alliance shows that she really was playing better and harder this time. Color me shocked, though, that Zeke manages to avoid the boot for the next two episodes in spite of being at the bottom of both alliances now. If Debbie's boot is a result of the move that Sarah wants to make with Zeke, this might put a feather in her cap for Final Tribal Council.

Really? I sure did. He had the lowest fanbase of everyone in the top twelve except for Mark and TSoul. I knew an early faceoff was possible for him. Also, apparently, Team Gwen was supposed to perform tonight instead of Team Blake. Something must've happened, though, because they got moved to next week at the last minute. Part of Team Blake's performance being so bad was probably because they were suddenly moved to tonight without much time to perfect their performance.

Ah, and one other thing to point out. With Troy eliminated, all of the four-chair-turns are gone. This season will be the first one since season four to not have any four-chair-turn in the finale.

Unfortunately.

See, Gwen? This is why you listen to your gut (and the audience), not Alicia. If JChosen or Johnny had been your choice last week instead of Troy, this wouldn't have happened. Your team would still be intact right now. Appreciated Team Adam's tribute to Christina Grimmie, even if it has been close to a year since it happened. But Jesse butchered what should've been a lovely song. Lilli sounded decent on it, and Mark at least sounded okay. I don't know who this G-Eazy is, but I'd rather not see him again. Team Blake's performance was just . . . tragic. TSoul was probably the worst. I could barely understand him. Shocked by Lilli being safe when she charted so low. Also surprised about TSoul and Aliyah making it through. Not surprised that Brennley and Lauren got through immediately. Really made me sweat with Chris, Hunter, Vanessa, and Stephanie. Jesse? He's clearly going to be that guy who sticks around longer than his performances warrant. Just count on it. Mark being in the bottom? No surprise at all. Troy being there? Mild surprise, given that he charted decently, but not completely given that last week revealed him having the lowest fan following of Team Gwen. Troy's performance was so much better than Mark's. I can't believe America didn't see that. But Mark appeals more to the teenyboppers, and he has the Team Adam benefit of going last, so that helped him. Twitter vote was surprisingly close to call, though. Oh, and the fact that the majority of the top twelve tweeted to save Troy -- and yes, Mark's own teammate, Lilli, is included in that -- tells me that Mark probably isn't respected or even liked by the others. Well, Gwen is a man down because she had to listen to Alicia last week. She had to. Now she'll perform with only two people next week when neither JChosen nor Johnny would've even been close to the chopping block this week. On the plus side, Team Alicia at least remains intact, ending the streak of black coaches losing members in the first week.

From TV Guide: Discuss the latest episode here.

Was that Coleman from GH with whom Lani was meeting?

Voting closed hours ago, but these were the final results upon closing: 7. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 11. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 15. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 28. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 40. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 42. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 46. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 60. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 67. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 76. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 120. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 209. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" So Lauren will not be getting the multiplier. In the eleventh hour, she got bumped out of the top ten. Only Brennley will be getting it. Meanwhile, it's just delicious that Alicia's entire team made the top half, as did two-thirds of Gwen's team. And even more delicious that everyone on Adam's team hit the bottom half.

Voting closes in less than three hours, but I'll throw out one more update before I call it a night (or morning): 7. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 10. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 16. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 27. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 40. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 43. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 46. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 55. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 67. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 77. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 118. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 212. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" Looks like drops are already starting for some of them. Only Jesse and Mark have moved up even a bit.

Yet another update: 7. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 10. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 16. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 26. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 37. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 42. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 47. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 55. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 64. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 76. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 115. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 215. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" The top four remain the same, plus Jesse and Troy. Everyone else either hops or noses up a bit. Mark might finally break the top 200 by tomorrow, but he sure as hell isn't breaking the top one-hundred.

Okay. Another update: 7. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 10. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 16. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 26. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 40. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 44. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 47. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 57. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 65. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 76. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 117. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 223. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" Brennley unquestionably has the multiplier. And congrats to Lauren, who has just earned it, as well! Hunter could probably get it, too, if he keeps on gaining throughout the night and into tomorrow morning. But I think it'll be tight. Meanwhile, Vanessa has passed up both Jesse and Stephanie and is now in the top forty, solidly nosing into fifth place. On the bottom, Mark is on the rise, but not enough for me to think that he can overtake any of the others before the voting window closes. If voting reflects the downloads, I still think he's singing for the save tomorrow.

From TV Guide: Discuss the results of the first elimination episode here.

Current results now: 7. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 12. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 20. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 29. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 45. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 46. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 47. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 62. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 66. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 77. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 120. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 231. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" Congrats to Brennley for getting the first iTunes multiplier of the season. I think Lauren's closing in on getting the second. Hunter is a longshot, but if he keeps going strong overnight, he could get it, as well. Either way, those three are safe. Chris is likely safe, as well. I'd say that Stephanie and Vanessa, having now passed up Jesse, will also be all right. Jesse will get through tomorrow, for sure, and maybe top eleven. Top ten? That's where his real test will be. But still thinking that any two of TSoul, Aliyah, Troy, Lilli, and Mark will be the ones singing for their lives tomorrow, unless something surprising happens.

That's . . . kind of his problem, though. Zeke is so desperate to make big moves, he moves too quickly. Nothing wrong with wanting to make a big move, but you've gotta weigh the costs vs. benefits first, and then properly gauge the timing. Zeke did neither. He thought it was more beneficial to work with an alliance that didn't even want or even need him, and it cost him the alliance who trusted him. And he moved way too soon in doing so. I like Zeke, too, but if this is his gameplay, he isn't winning this season by a longshot.

Good. Their teams are both stronger, so they deserve it.

Current results: 12. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 15. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" 29. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used To Know" 38. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 59. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 60. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 62. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song For You" 73. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 76. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave" 93. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin’" 152. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 265. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" Still looks like an all-Team Adam bottom two, but Troy or Aliyah or even TSoul still might hit it. On a side note, Brennley's almost breaking the top ten. Looks like she might be our first bonus-getter of the season.

Okay! Interesting results so far: 13. Brennley Brown - Team Gwen: "Long, Long Time" 16. Lauren Duski - Team Blake: "Lord, I Hope This Day is Good" 33. Hunter Plake - Team Gwen: "Somebody That I Used to Know" 39. Chris Blue - Team Alicia: "Love and Happiness" 59. Jesse Larson - Team Adam: "Make You Feel My Love" 62. Stephanie Rice - Team Alicia: "White Flag" 64. Vanessa Ferguson - Team Alicia: "A Song for You" 75. TSoul - Team Blake: "Always on My Mind" 77. Aliyah Moulden - Team Blake: "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" 96. Troy Ramey - Team Gwen: "Free Fallin'" 155. Lilli Passero - Team Adam: "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" 268. Mark Isaiah - Team Adam: "One Dance" If these don't change, some combination of Mark, Lilli, and Troy will be singing for their lives tomorrow. I think Troy can pick up some ground, but I'm not sure about Lilli or Mark. Actually shocked that TSoul is selling so well. I thought he'd been an easy sacrifice. Also, just heard whose teams are performing tomorrow. The fact that it's Adam and Blake first and Gwen and Alicia next week tells you everything about the producers' preferences. To know that they prefer the men over the women . . . ugh.

Hunter is at number thirty-six on iTunes right now. Clearly, and happily, America disagrees with you.:) Yeah, I think at least one member of the team is in trouble tomorrow night. Wouldn't be surprised about that. Stephanie was third. She didn't close out the show. Vanessa did.

That is I, and I will do just that this week.

Songs for tonight: Team Adam Jesse: "Make You Feel My Love" by Bob Dylan Lilli: "Man! I Feel Like A Woman" by Shania Twain Mark: "One Dance" by Drake Team Gwen Brennley: "Long, Long Time" by Linda Ronstadt Hunter: "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye Troy: "Free Fallin'" by Tom Petty Team Alicia Chris: "Love and Happiness" by Al Green Stephanie: "White Flag" by Dido Vanessa: "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway Team Blake Aliyah: "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vandellas Lauren: "Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good" by Don Williams TSoul: "Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson Make of these what you will. Jesse and Lilli might do anywhere from okay to very well on their songs. Mark is doing another heartthrob song, because he can't do anything different. The teenyboppers and soccer moms will love him, but I can see the older audience tiring of him PDQ. Linda Ronstadt is a decent choice for Brennley, but it might be a bit of a challenge for her, as well. We'll see. Hunter, I hope, will do better on his song than Sarah Simmons did in season four. Troy is taking a risk by doing the song that previously felled Kimberly Nichole in season eight. Chris picked the perfect song for his genre. But next week, or the week after, he should start challenging himself with something closer to current. I don't know Stephanie or Vanessa's songs, but I hope they're good. Aliyah seems to have a taste for older songs. Since it's not commonly used, that could be either good or bad for her. Lauren is doing a Christian song, so that'll automatically keep her safe this week. TSoul doing Willie Nelson, though? I hope that was his idea, because if it was Blake's, that sounds like bussing of the highest order. We'll see in a few hours, I guess.

He has made it more than clear that he was going to do it for Anna in Kaoh Rong, but Scot (who was trying to use him and his idol for the super idol possibility at the time) talked him out of it. And, of course, he let him do so.