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My take on the list...

4. David Cook. I don't, as a rule, like all the post-grunge grunters who have flooded the show's ranks in the wake of Bo Bice. But Cook seems to be having some fun playing that position, reworking songs rather than shooting for accuracy; this week's "Hello" was passionately hammy. I also like that he's a self-described word nerd, if only because that means he's not all that wrapped up in playing the rock-dude stereotype that so many past contestants have embraced wholeheartedly.
Should have been number 1 in my opinion.

2. Chikeze. Two of the three songs he's done so far have been kinda-boring lite-soul ballads, but his take on Donny Hathaway's "I Believe to My Soul" last week was some serious old-school showmanship. Plus he's quick-witted enough to trade barbs with Simon Cowell without coming off like a deluded ass, and he carries himself like an actual human being rather than a stage-mannered mannequin. Once Idol gets deeper into the goofy theme-shows, he's only going to get better; I'm eager to see what he does when the inevitable disco show rolls around.
One good week does not forgive two horrible ones. Way down on the list.

5. Kristy Lee Cook. For whatever reason, this year's roster is jammed with semi-pro ringers with industry connections and backgrounds that the show's producers tenaciously refuse to grant more than a passing acknowledgment. Of that lot, Cook is my favorite because she fucks up the most, if that even makes sense. She makes ill-advised choices and reaches way outside her comfort zone, just like the show's non-pro contestants, and that story she told this week about pretending to be a dog and riding her pet rats around on her back was borderline-disgusting. She embarrassed herself with soul songs she couldn't handle during the first two shows, but I really liked her take on Journey's "Faithfully" this week, and she might yet hit a powerful stride if she keeps vaguely countrying up soft-rock jams like that. For some reason, it's always fun to watch country singers on this show; they seem to roll with the punches better than anyone.
Number 5 my ass, way down on the list in fact she's dead last in mine. Her Grace hasn't Amazed me.

7. David Archuleta. So his "Imagine" actually was a really nice moment, Eva Cassidy arrangement-bite or no. But his other two performances were totally unmemorable, and I haven't been able to shake the impression that he's a super-advanced robot specifically programmed to shoot sincerity-rays in all directions. Also, did you see the clip of all the top twelve contestants dancing at the end of last week's show? Archuleta was hopping up and down, and he looked like a gnome or a gremlin or some shit. It was scary.
Die demon spawn.

11. Amanda Overmyer. What I said earlier about embracing and playing up rocker stereotypes? That's this chick summed up completely. She's a cartoon character, and I've spent too much time watching Rock Star: Supernova to ever waste any more brainpower paying attention to clowns like this one. Her "I Hate Myself for Loving You" was pretty good and all, but I still found myself irrationally hating it. That's probably going to keep happening until she finally disappears.
Number 2 for me.

9. David Hernandez. I wonder if this guy will get better tips back in Phoenix after the DJ announces him as American Idol's tenth runner-up. I hope so. He seems like a nice guy, and his "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" was pretty good. But I'd feel a lot worse about making stripped-it-down jokes if his backstory wasn't the most interesting thing about him.
Woopie his a stripper what a shock *yawns*