CelebNews@Usmagazine.com! - Simon to Antonella: "I Just Wish You Could Sing Better"

As American Idol's top eight female contenders sang their hearts out last night to earn a coveted Top 12 spot, Simon certainly made his feelings known about who he feels should advance. Guess what? It's not Antonella!

Mr. Nasty brought out the big guns last night to break it down to Antonella and many of her gal pals that their vocal talents - relatively speaking, of course- just aren't cutting it.

Jordin Sparks kicked off the all-important evening with a jazzy rendition of Pat Benetar's "Heartbreaker," and while it wasn't her best vocal effort, she most likely cemented her top 12 spot. Sabrina Sloan followed suit with an unexpressive yet solid version of En Vogue's "Don't Let Go (Love)." It's a sure bet she'll stick around, too.

Perhaps Paula, who was mysteriously MIA at the top of the show, took some extra happy pills during her disappearing act (even though we know she never consumes drugs or alcohol), because while Simon and Randy thought Sabrina lacked emotion, perky Paula told the singer "You can sing, sing, sing!" Were we watching the same show, Paula?

Rather than holding Antonella's performance until the end of the night to boost ratings, Idol producers decided to send her to the wolves - er, judges - next. We say Nigel Lythgoe made the right call, because the Jersey girl's performance, followed by the peanut gallery's commentary, was nothing short of Emmy Award-winning.

During her taped intro piece, our Internet star revealed - as required by show producers this week - her hidden talent of playing the violin. However, the poor girl became a walking punchline once she told us that she hasn't practiced lately, because she was "busy doing other things." Oh, Antonella, you make our job so easy!

Once she started singing, we were hopeful her Corinne Bailey Rae tune would change our minds about her place in the competition. Sadly, our minds were quickly made up, and Simon took the words right out of our mouths.

The wise Sir Cowell so eloquently took the floor - and for once, we didn't mind - telling Antonella after a long pause, "you've gone as far as you can go.

"The reality is, and I think you know this yourself, that you're surrounded by some pretty amazing girl singers and I don't know how much more you can do," he flatly told her as the audience looked on, riveted by his prophetic verbage.

He did manage to mention her net nudie pics indirectly, applauding her, um, maturity, in handling the media scrutiny. His ultimate zinger though? Those seven sweet words Americans have been screaming at their TVs for weeks: "I just wish you could sing better."

The rest of the night was just a blur as clear cut finalists. Lakisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle, Stephanie Edwards and Gina Glocksen wowed us again with their divalicious vocals and larger than life personalities.

Tune in tonight as the top 12 are revealed along with an "earth shattering" Idol announcement that's "never been done on the show before." Our guess? Ryan will reveal that he's planning to revamp his normally stylish wardrobe to include nothing but J. Lindeberg $200 turtlenecks.

Talk to Us: What is tonight's "big announcement"?

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