American Idol Down to a Pretty Fine Nine

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The tables have turned on American Idol, as R&B night produced more rhythm and less blues than we'd seen in awhile this season.

Sure, Crystal Bowersox remained the gold standard, Siobhan Magnus the wild card (too wild last night) and Tim Urban the lucky loser whose unlikely run has extended all the way to a spot on the Idols Live tour this summer.

But the overall quality of the performances ticked up a notch, with Andrew Garcia finally not sucking, Casey James rocking the house and Lee Dewyze having a potentially life-changing night, according to Simon Cowell.

We at least thought Michael Lynche had a great night, too, so why was the frustrated personal trainer poised to throw Ryan Seacrest off the stage?

Maybe because Ryan was messing with him, implying the beefy personal trainer was in the bottom three when he was really safe as a savings bond.

Meanwhile, America got it exactly right (based solely on Tuesday's performances, at least), voting Tim, Katie Stevens and Didi Benami into the bottom three.

Frank Micelotta / FOX

It was ultimately the increasingly morose and combative Didi who was sent packing, her pitchy encore of Fleetwood Mac's "Rihannon" not doing enough to save her.

"Didi, it's bad news, sweetheart. We're not going to save you, sorry," Simon broke the news.

So the smiley Tim train chugs on, just as the Brit predicted. And Katie, who remains caught in a country vs. pop-R&B war being waged by Simon and Kara DioGuardi, got her reprieve before the final commercial break, instead getting to enjoy the world-premiere Diddy-Dirty Money performance of "Hello Good Morning."

Ruben Studdard, who's heading off on tour with Clay Aiken this summer, sang tonight, as did R&B week mentor Usher, who performed "OMG" with  Will.i.am.

Next Tuesday, the top nine get to dip into the infinitely deep Lennon-McCartney songbook for your voting pleasure.

Did the voters get it right this week? Are you happy to see Didi go, or steamed that your least favorite didn't get the boot?

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Sandra Bullock Makes a House Call in Hollywood

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Thar she goes!

A Mercedes-Benz carrying Sandra Bullock, who hasn't been seen in public since reportedly moving out of the Orange County home she'd been sharing with Herr Husband, was spotted Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills.

E! News has learned that the actress was leaving the home of Beverly Hills-based investment manager and longtime Bullock family friend Gabriel Brener.

But though the paparazzi were out in force, no one got a clear shot of the Blind Side star as she deftly avoided the flashbulbs and settled into the Benz's backseat.

"Everyone was crowding around the car and being very aggressive," an eyewitness tells E!. "The car even went back inside of the gate at one point because they couldn't leave without hitting the paps."

This probably isn't the way Bullock planned to celebrate her Oscar win...

GEVA JSGS/GSI Media, Hector Vallenilla/PacificCoastNews.com

The 45-year-old star has been left unable, P.R.-wise, to sit for interviews or even go out in public in the wake of reports that hubby Jesse James philandered Tiger-style and, even more bizarrely perhaps, once posed for photos while making the Nazi salute and miming a Hitler mustache.

James' rep revealed yesterday that the Monster Garage star has checked into a treatment facility to deal with "personal issues," and TMZ placed the motorcycle builder on his way to Tuscon, Ariz. (where we hear there are places to rehab) last week.

But at least Bullock is in the company of friends.

Gabriel Brener and his family were guests at Bullock and James' 2005 wedding and Bullock has been friends with the Brener International Group founder for years.

—Additional reporting by Daniel Ramos

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