Canadian Idol: 10 Remain

Wednesday's round of Canadian Idol eliminations brought forth some good old-fashioned shock and awe. Martin Kerr, Omar Lunan, Katelyn Dawn, Marie-Pierre Bellerose, first-ever online contestant Gary Morissette and Oliver Pigott were eliminated. Two women and eight men remain.

Idol's goal this year seems to be to try and introduce new and innovative aspects to each episode. Wednesday's eliminations fell right off that train. There were no extra performances, special guests or even entertainment. Instead, we sat through 30 minutes of straight-up eliminations that couldn't have been dragged out any longer. Between all the commercial breaks, boring banter and video montages meant to instill nostalgia, the half-hour show felt at least triple that length.

We also saw some predictably intense moments, especially when there was one vacant top 10 spot left and brothers Oliver and Sebastian Pigott were vying for it. After yet another commercial break, the older Oliver was finally cut loose.

When there were four remaining spots to vie for, I tried to anticipate who the lucky wannabes would be. My picks were Lunan and both Pigott brothers. I couldn't come up with a fourth guess and only Sebastian Pigott was right. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled this man made the cut, but I'm surprised his bother and Lunan were axed. I don't understand how contestants like Katherine St-Laurent and Mark Day (OK, he had all the Newfoundland fan votes wrapped up) received enough votes to remain in the competition, while talents like Oliver Pigott and Lunan didn't.

I'm happy that Earl Stevenson and Mookie Morris are moving forward. Even though Kerr and Morissette aren't, the former plugged his original songs "that you can get online" which he knows "you'll love," while the latter said, "I'm going to go do some shows, so you better come watch me." Citizens of Morissette's hometown of Fruitvale, B.C. are now obviously on high alert.

The remaining 10 contestants will move into a mansion together and be trained by what host Ben Mulroney called the "biggest names" in the business. I'm not sure if Toronto opera singer Measha Brueggergosman is included in that big name list, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a longer name.

The next Canadian Idol episode will air on July 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The 90-minute show will be broadcast live from Toronto's John Bassett Theatre and feature each hopeful performing a David Bowie song of their choice while backed by an eight-piece band, with occasional horns and strings added to the mix. The first top 10 elimination show will run the next night at the same time.

The final 10 Canadian Idol competitors are:

• Adam Castelli, 26, Hamilton, ON (carpenter, singer/songwriter)
• Mark Day, 20, Portugal Cove-St. Philips, NL (student, respite care worker)
• Mitch MacDonald, 22, Port Hood, NS (carpenter, musician)
• Mookie Morris, 18, Toronto, ON (musician)
• Sebastian Pigott, 25, Toronto, ON (actor, writer)
• Earl Stevenson, 23, Lloydminster, AB (swamper for backhoe operator)
• Katherine St-Laurent, 17, Otterburn Park, QC (student)
• Theo Tams, 22, Lethbridge, AB (student)
• Amberly Thiessen, 19, Seven Persons, AB (student)
• Drew Wright, 28, Collingwood, ON (musician, house painter)