Mariah Carey may have been the superstar guest on "American Idol" Tuesday, but contestant David Cook stole the show -- again.

Before the program, I had wondered how the men could possibly channel the 5-octave diva. But Cook and the guys shined, while the women seemed intimidated by the challenge. Cook took Carey's "Always Be My Baby," flipped it inside out and hurled it out of the AI stratosphere. The audience and judges raved it up.

It was already an emotional night for Cook, whose brother, Adam, was able to attend the show. Adam is fighting brain cancer and his fragile condition has been a constant concern for David.

As for Tuesday's production, I wish Carey (timing her appearance to coincide with the release of her new CD) had played up her fab diva-ness and laid down some diva law. She was far too nice and did the women no favors. Both Donald Munro and I agree: One of the gals is going home.

Overall impressions?

Donald says: Felicia, you and I talked yesterday before the competition about the challenges of Mariah Carey night -- particularly for the guys. It's interesting that it turned out to be much harder for the women, who collectively last night had the star power of those annoying new energy-efficient light bulbs that take a while to perk up. The guys seemed to fare better, because at least they were forced to take a few more risks. (Except David Archuleta, that is, who sang like he always does: as if he's the opening act at a Young Life rally.) I can't help but feel, however, that the show is getting a little more desperate as the weeks wear on as it tries to pump these singers up into superstars instead of mostly competent niche performers.

Felicia says: Until David Cook stepped on stage, Donald, I wasn't bowled over by the show. In fact, the performances were mostly falling into my too-often-penned category of "good, but not great." It wasn't a super idea to theme off Carey, whose voice is "unbelievably brilliant" (as Paula Abdul would say) and is far too strong a singing personality. Just too many traps to fall through, and the women mostly did. Like you, I was struck by the guys doing better with Carey's diva material than the gals. But I'm already shuddering to think what happens next week when the finalists must tackle songs by Broadway musical maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber. Scratch shuddering. I'm cringing.

Strongest performers?

Donald says: Yes, I'll jump on the bandwagon regarding Archuleta's silky voice. It's beautiful. But -- and this is a big but -- I cannot figure out why the judges are so easy on him when it comes to his stage presence. At this point in the competition, he still has the stiff-humble-little-boy thing going on, and I'm sorry, but if he doesn't find anything better to do with his right hand while singing than look as if he's directing traffic on an airport runway, I'm going to scream. Jason Castro once again played to his crowd and did it well. I liked David Cook, even though I didn't think he deserved Randy's standing ovation: Maybe it was my TV or something, but the vocals seemed subdued and somehow too meek. His arrangement and stage charisma were top-notch, however.

Felicia says: Donald, did we watch the same show? Cook wiped the competition off the floor Tuesday. I loved Cook's version of "Always Be My Baby." It's a pop/rhythm and blues song, and Cook boldly morphed it into a dramatic and haunting mini-rock epic. I'll just quote Simon Cowell the rest of the way: "It was original. It was daring. It stood out by a mile. This is the sign of a great potential artist -- Someone who takes risk." I would be remiss not to give two honorable mentions. Jason finally is starting to understand his strengths (breathy, quiet, heart throb warblings). And Kristy Lee Cook miraculously looked like a confident star for the second week in a row. She appealingly sang "Forever." In fact, she was the best of the women. I can't believe I just wrote that.

Weakest performers?

Donald says: Hands down, Brooke White did the worst of the evening, Felicia, with a performance that had the oomph of a desultory student recital. Instead of projecting confidence on stage, it's as if she does the reverse: She takes all the goodwill of the audience and hype of the show and somehow consumes it, like a fire sucking all the oxygen out of a room. A close second for weakest was Syesha Mercado, who had about as much impact as an adequate opera singer doing vocal runs.

Felicia says: I couldn't agree more about Brooke. Big mistake picking "Hero," one of Carey's most bombastic, vocally demanding songs. Brooke tried to pull the singer-at-the-piano pose, but it couldn't mask her flat-lining delivery. I've written this before: Did she have a bus to catch? It was bizarre: She was rushing through the song, but it felt like it was dragging on forever. I also found disturbing her reaction to Cowell's right-on criticism. It reminded me of Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction." You know, that "I will not be ignored" crazy look? As for the other women, Syesha fittingly sang "Vanishing." Carly Smithson's intense facial expressions are far too distracting to me now, and her vocals show no emotional connection.

So who goes home?

Donald says: So who goes home? Please let it be Brooke. Please. Pretty please?

Felicia says: I say Brooke and Carly are the Bottom 2 ... and that the hapless, talks-way-too-much Brooke is sent home.