Idol would do well to adopt the elimination night routine of my new guilty pleasure, So You Think You Can Dance? Announce a Bottom 3 and make 'em fight for it.

Fighting, though, couldn't help Raven and Jaime as they were the first couple sent packing from Season 4's Top 20. However, they weren't the surprise of the Bottom 3.

First, Courtney Galliano and Gev survived. Didn't even make the Bottom 3. And, equally surprising, Will Wingfield and Jessica did fall into contention for elimination.

In a move of foreshadowing perhaps, Nigel Lythgoe said Will was good enough to be in the finale for the show, meaning I seriously doubt he'll be eliminated at least until we get to the Top 10. Kourtni Lind and Matt were also put on the chopping block, but the blonde Uma Thurman look-alike was spared unanimously by the judges. Wingfield was also spared unanimously, and as long as he and Lind do what the judges told them to do, they shouldn't fall into much danger any time soon.

For those of you who don't know the format of SYTYCD, a Bottom 3 is picked, and then each individual solos for his or her life. It makes an hour-long results show go by fast, and it gives the judges some tangible say in the process, beyond their opinions on performance night.

While I liked Raven and Jaime's routine to "American Boy" by Estelle and Kanye West, I didn't like their solos. Raven's more of a ballerina, and while I appreciated that she was the oldest chick in the competition, Nigel said her solo effort was merely on demi-point. Initially, I thought it meant she half-assed it, but a quick bit of research indicates she performed on the balls of her feet instead of on the tips of her toes.

So much for me pretending to know what I'm talking about.

On the other hand, Jaime tried to save himself with personality. The West Coast swinger couldn't match Matt's technique, and Nigel said it would be the only week he'd pick technique over personality, needing to make a big point with Matt, an obviously talented dancer technically.

It's funny. The hour-long results show for Idol is chock-full of filler, just a bore to watch until crunch time. The results show for SYTYCD, outside of the Pussycat Dolls, was immensely entertaining. And that the Bottom 3 couples have to dance for their lives only makes the hour go by faster.

In the end, it wasn't a stunner or a big disappointment to see Raven or Jaime go. I don't think they were long for this reality world, whether it was this week or next.

If you want more, check out my video report: