Another Thursday, another elimination on American Idol -- where one unlucky loser will be drained of their blood to fill Jimmy Iovine's rapidly deteriorating half-corpse.

Wednesday's show was hailed by everyone who happened to be near a microphone as one of the best batches of performances this season. Our favorite judge Steven Tyler, who remained unusually quiet for most of the night, proclaimed, "At first we tried to understand you guys and name it, but now we're experiencing it and feeling it, and you all are so great. The top five has never been better than this. Thank you for letting us feel your music."

A touching speech by Tyler, but we still prefer last week's gem, "The bigger the cushion... the bigger the cushion."

Joshua Ledet was revealed as "safe" early on in the show for his masterful performances of 'Ain't Too Proud to Beg' by the Temptations and 'To Love Somebody' by the Bee Gees. Jessica Sanchez quickly followed Ledet after a stunning rendition of 'You Are So Beautiful' by Billy Preston and Phillip Phillips also was declared as "safe" after picking up a guitar and being handsome.

Although Holly Cavanaugh made her billionth trip to the bottom however-many, it eventually was Skylar Laine, who had performed 'Fortunate Son' by Creedence Clearwater Revival the previous night, that went home.

Tough luck Skylar, but there's no shame in nabbing fifth place. You're now side-by-side with iconic 'Idol' fourth-runners-up such as the great Michael Lynche, George Huff and the incomparable R.J. Helton.

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