On May 26th, we will have our 3rd American Idol. One thing is certain. The winner of this year's show will be a woman. Tonight, four remaining divas, ranging in age from 16 to 25, brought us eight disco hits from the 70's. Guest judge, "The Official Queen of Disco" Donna Summer came looking for uniqueness, self possession and star quality, and witnessed all three.

Ryan Seacrest kicked off the evening stating that we were being taken back to "the golden days when a man wore an afro on his head, platforms on his feet and stuffed himself into a spandex bodysuit."

Introducing Judge Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest said, "You can't tell by the way he wears his walk, he's a woman's man, no time to talk."

Paula Abdul liked Seacrest's "She's a dancing queen only seventeen'ish'." Having just seen the live performance of Mama Mia his introduction prompted the sixish and eightish girls in the house to start singing to one of their favorite new songs by Swedish band, Abba.

Upon introducing Randy Jackson, Seacrest said, "Forget the Disco Duck, we've got the Disco Dawg."

The only artist in history to have three consecutive Platinum albums, Donna Summer didn't offer a Platinum performance as tonight's guest judge. But she helped bring those of us who grew up booging to the beat of disco back to the days of great hit songs like Summer's "Love to Love You Baby."

The four people in the Red Room agreed that song selection is key. La Toya tried to choose something that she would have selected "back then." Fantasia told Ryan that she would not just "bring the BoBo" she would "re-mix it."

Simon seemed shocked to learn that he would be the first in the line-up to judge the contestants tonight.

Jasmine Trias' First Performance

Jasmine Trias started off the competition singing "Everlasting Love." Wearing her hair partially crimped and a black satiny halter dress, she looked the part but her voice didn't match.

Simon called Jasmine's "a weak performance." He said he is certain she will be gone now. He called it "an average karaoke performance."

Donna spoke about her pitch problems as did Paula. Paula also made note of her best choice of dress.

Randy said, "For once I have to agree with Simon. It was not that good." He told her she hit the high notes but that was about it.

La Toya London's First Performance

La Toya stepped up next wearing a tight hot pink 3/4 length dress with one revealing shoulder, and long silver dangling earrings. Her gorgeous presence was as powerful as her voice. She sang Love You Inside & Out.

From the first note to the last she was commanding.

Simon said, "Well done, La Toya. There isn't much more we can add. We know you are a great singer. And everyone knows it." His only piece of criticism was her choice of safe songs. He said he knows nothing more about her personality now than he did ten weeks ago. He was counting on the disco-theme to bring something new to the mix.

Donna told her she "emoted the song." She praised her for her great job.

Paula called "her a star from the beginning to the present." She told her she thinks "we're looking at an American Idol."

Randy didn't agree with Simon's safe comment. He found her performance to be "old." He said he was ready to be blown away, and was clearly disappointed. He called her choice of songs "weird."

In speaking with Ryan, he called La Toya "so very poised." He asked her whether or not she was nervous. Her response added to her confidence on stage. "It's all about having fun," she said. At this point in the competition, she affirmed that everyone is going to have a successful career.

Fantasia Barrino's First Performance

Fantasia's first song came with moves, swings and attitude.

Simon, who was caught off guard for being asked to speak first, addressed La Toya's earlier comment. He challenged her statement that four of the finalists are winners. He stressed that it's a winner's competition, and that in order to win, you've got to be different. He then gave Fantasia major kudos for being "different."

Donna told her she was self-possessed and excited. "It goes without saying that you have a great voice," she said. "What's there to say? You're fabulous!" she added.

Paula praised her for her choice of songs. She told she hit the karate board and broke through it.

Randy resonated with the spirit of the song in her voice. "Dude, you've got it goin' on," he proclaimed.

Diana DeGarmo First Performance

Pretty in pink, Diana wore a chiffon floral dress for her first number. Singing This Is It she delivered an incredible performance.

Fully prepared to hear Simon say, "Diana, this is it" in other words, "this is your last performance. Instead he took back his previous comment that he thought she was too young for this competition. He praised her for showing the most progress over the past two weeks. He encouraged her to stay well away from La Toya and Fantasia. He said, "You are the one who could actually break-up what everyone was predicting who was going to be in the final."

Donna was very impressed with her performance. She empathized with her ability to get up there and sing like she did.

Paula said, "Something has broken through for you; it's unbelievable. You're playful with the audience. You're exuding such confidence." She also praised her for our great she looked tonight.

Previously in the competition, Randy challenged Diana's ability to stand apart from the rest.

Randy looked for an apology from Simon, which he got, and then reaffirmed what he has said all along, "Diana, you are not too young." He told her that she worked it out and did her thing.

Jasmine Trias' Second Performance

Jasmine came out with a hot pink slinky top and jeans for her second performance of the night. Singing It's Rainin' Men she reached down into the crowd.

Simon told her she'd better hope that every household in Hawaii had five telephones tonight.

Donna wasn't crazy about her choice of songs. He called her performance "o.k."

Paula called her on forgetting her lyrics. She told her she covered it well but she thinks it effected her confidence. She said that nonetheless "All of Hawaii loves you and all of America loves you; I think everyone will forgive you for this."

Randy again resonated with Simon's comments. "Wasn't your best," he said.

The moment Jasmine started to cry you've got to believe she received at least another few thousand votes. Her vulnerability touched everyone. Ryan hugged her and said, "So many people love watching you."

Unfortunately, it didn't change the quality of her performance relative to the other contenders.

La Toya London's Second Performance

Singing Don't Leave Me This Way she heeded Simon's call to show more of herself. Fortunately, it worked. At the very least, she exuded more soul than her previous song. Simon asked for it, and she gave it.

A little more spirit, or a lot, a few more moves; she had it goin' on.

Simon said, "Well, that was more like it."

Our house erupted in agreement when he added, "That was as good as the original!"

Donna called her "fabulous."

Paula called her "stunning."

Randy said, "Props to you. You brought it back with this one."

Fantasia Barrino's Second Performance

Wearing a black camisole and black pants, she sang Holding On For A Hero. Where Fantasia had it going on in her first song, there was something lacking in the second performance.

Simon admitted it wouldn't make him very popular but he said he didn't like it. Most of it was her choice of songs. He told her she could do better.

As a way of justifying her choice, Fantasia chimed in by saying "I'm looking for a good man, Simon."

Donna told her "You could sing the newspaper to me and I would love because you're great."

Paula concurred with Simon that it wasn't her favorite choice of songs. "But I love you," she said.

Randy said, "It doesn't matter what song you choose, you can sing it."

Diana DeGarmo's Second Performance

Singing Donna Summers No More Tears, a song that Donna took to the top with Barbra Streisand in 1979, Diana started out seated on the stage and got to her feet as she belted out the title of the song.

Mid-way through her performance the camera panned across the judges. Paula was on her feet wavin' her arms, and her bandaged thumb.

Close to the end, Randy joined Paula to disco down.

Our collective reaction: "That may have been the song of the night."

Simon said it, "Undoubtedly the best song of the night." "But where I have to compliment you," he added "is how you can go up to down, and I have to give you total respect tonight."

Donna said "It was your song."

Paula said, "This was your week."

Randy said, "You chose the best song of the night."

Best Smile, Best Tears, Best Black Dress - Jasmine Trias
Best Dressed For Head-to-Toe, Best Moves - La Toya London
Best Sparkle in Her Eye - Fantasia Barrino
Best Performance of the Night - Diana DeGarmo

The Rankings, Top to Bottom

45 Year-Old B-day Boy, Tim - Diana, La Toya, Fantasia, Jasmine
43 Year-Old Ex Dot Com Diva - La Toya, Diana, Fantasia, Jasmine
19 Year-Old Authentic Dancing Queen Lisa - Diana, Fantasia, La Toya, Jasmine
8 Going On 9 Year-Old, Jessie - ditto Lisa
6 Year-Old Voter of One, Niki - Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana

Ryan praised the energy of the audience, tonight. We praise the courage, tenacity and soul of these four young women.

So, will Jasmine's fan club in Hawaii and throughout America come through? Will La Toya benefit from all of Oakland, led by Mayor Jerry Brown, teaming up to proclaim last Tuesday "La Toya London Day?"

We'll be tuning in to the same Fox Channel tomorrow night to find out, and we'll do our best to give you the play-by-play thereafter.

Inspire & Be Inspired.

~Jennifer King

P.S. Even though we had TiVo in action tonight, we still noticed how "tame" the commercials were. Thank you!