Preview for Next Week's American Idol Episodes; Blake Lewis Performs Thursday

Preview for Next Week's American Idol Episodes; Blake Lewis Performs Thursday 3/1/08

ROBBIE CARRICO, ALEXANDRÉA LUSHINGTON, ALAINA WHITAKER AND JASON YEAGER ARE ELIMINATED FROM THE “AMERICAN IDOL” COMPETITION

TOP 8 GUYS PERFORM NEXT TUESDAY, MARCH 4, FOLLOWED BY THE TOP 8 GIRLS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5; FOUR MORE GO HOME AND TOP 12 ARE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY, MARCH 6, ON FOX

Blake Lewis to Perform New Single Next Week

The amazing seventh season of AMERICAN IDOL hit another high note, with almost 31 million votes cast after Tuesday and Wednesday’s performance shows featuring songs from the ‘70s. Tonight on the results show, the four semifinalists – two girls and two guys – who received the fewest votes were eliminated from the competition. It was revealed that the AMERICAN IDOL journey ended for Robbie Carrico, Alexandréa Lushington, Alaina Whitaker and Jason Yeager. During the performance shows, Carrico, 26, from Melbourne, FL, sang “Hot Blooded;” Lushington, 17, of Douglasville, GA, sang “If You Leave Me Now;” Whitaker, 16, who hails from Tulsa, OK, sang “Hopelessly Devoted To You;” and Yeager, 28, from Grand Prairie, TX, sang “Long Train Runnin’.”

Next week, the Top 8 guys (David Archuleta, Jason Castro, David Cook, Chikezie, David Hernandez, Michael Johns, Luke Menard, Danny Noriega) will take the stage once again, singing hits from the ‘80s for America on Tuesday, March 4 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Then it’s the ladies’ turn, as the Top 8 girls (Kristy Lee Cook, Asia’h Epperson, Kady Malloy, Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Amanda Overmyer, Carly Smithson and Brooke White) perform in hopes of winning America’s vote on Wednesday, March 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed). Tune in the following night to see who receives enough votes to stay in the competition and who goes home. Another two guys and two girls will be eliminated and the Top 12 finalists are announced on the live results show Thursday, March 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

On next Thursday’s results show, season six finalist Blake Lewis will return to the IDOL stage to debut his new single “How Many Words,” a fan-favorite off of Lewis’ debut album “Audio Day Dream.” Lewis was born in Redmond, WA, and started singing at age five. He competed in statewide talent contests while in high school and became a beat-boxer at 17, inspired by the then-Seattle-based a cappella group M-Pact. Lewis was also a member of the Pacific Northwest a cappella group Kickshaw for four years.

AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder and CEO of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.; Nigel Lythgoe, President, 19 Television; and Ken Warwick, Executive Producer, FremantleMedia North America, Inc.

- FOX -