Carly Smithson
The Shadow of Your Smile
It's official: I miss Lakeisha. Last season's first week darling stormed on stage like someone stole her car, killed I Am Telling You I'm Not Going and didn't have to stretch to impress the voters for weeks. Carly, like the bulk of this season's first week contestants, takes it slow and safe. She's better than most—hitting the notes cleanly and comprehending the emotions behind the lyrics—but I'm still bored 10 seconds in. "Everything about it for me was a letdown," says Simon. I just hope we can blame tonight's dismal showing on a scourge of cold and flu, and not a crop of terrible finalists.