'American Idol' recap: Octo Fuss

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING TEEN:

Katie Stevens fights back tears after another well-earned bashing by the judges

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Which has me very, very scared for Katelyn Epperly, so solid with ''Oh Darlin''' in Week 1, and so spectacular with ''The Scientist'' in Week 2. True, her cover of ''I Feel the Earth Move'' was so exceedingly flat that you kind of felt like Katelyn was back in Medieval times — where, in fact, no one would've believed Carole King's outrageous lyrics about a round, orbiting planet! — but how come none of the judges bothered to point out that based on her prior works, KATELYN IS A CONTESTANT WORTH SAVING? I mean, it's not as if she was caterwauling or out of tune tonight. She was just going through the motions, as Kara pointed out, like a woman in the cockpit who realizes that flying a 747 is a lot different from a single-engine Cessna, and automatically switches to auto-pilot. Honestly, I feel that Katelyn has earned a right to be in the top 12 not only ahead of Paige and Katie, but also Didi and Lacey, even if the latter two ladies outshone her tonight.

Speaking of the red-headed Texan, I'm just glad she managed to remind the judges that, yes, actually, they weren't daft for giving her a semifinal birth, even if her sweet, tuneful rendition of ''The Story'' came two weeks too late to make her a viable contender for season 9 dark horse. I'm not sure how Randy could've ''forgotten'' Lacey has an addictively tissue-papery head-voice — was he or was he not one of the four persons charged with naming this year's Top 24? — but Lacey used it to fine effect on Brandi Carlile's wisp of a ditty. If Lacey is lucky enough to overtake both Paige and Katie next week, however, I hope she'll reconsider dressing like a Boca Raton senior headed to the rec room for cosmos and mahjong. I mean, seriously? A leopard and metallic cardigan over a hot-pink tank? Even Blanche Devereaux would be offended.

Ultimately, though, I'm pleased to see the season 9 women showing flashes of creativity, and beginning to understand the idea that every number should be performed as if it's one's last time on stage. In other words, bringing things back to ''What Have You Done For Me Lately'' and another lyric Miss Jackson delivers in that song: ''Soap opera says you've got one life to live. Who's right? Who's wrong?'' Guess we'll find out Thursday night.

And finally, my grades for this evening:
Siobhan Magnus: A
Crystal Bowersox: A
Didi Benami: A-
Lacey Brown: B+
Lilly Scott: B-
Katelyn Epperly: B-
Paige Miles: C-
Katie Stevens: C-

What did you think of the top 8 women? Which six deserve to advance? Who will and should go home? Share your joy, your outrage, and your conspiracy Theris in the comments below! And if you want up-to-the-second updates on all my Idol coverage, don't forget to follow me on Twitter @EWMichaelSlezak!