This is getting tedious

WARNING. SPOILER. BLAH BLAH BLAH.

NEW YORK (AP) -- It's over for Chris Sligh.

Sligh, the curly-haired jokester who once claimed he was ''bringing chubby back,'' said goodbye to ''American Idol'' on Wednesday, becoming the latest singer bounced in viewer voting.

The sacking of Sligh, 28, who hails from Greenville, S.C., winnowed the number of ''Idol'' wannabes to nine. The winner will be chosen in May.

''I think it's bye-bye, curly,'' predicted Simon Cowell, before the results were announced.Cowell said on Tuesday's program that Sligh's rendition of the Police classic ''Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic'' was a ''mess.''

Haley Scarnato and Phil Stacey had the next-lowest vote tallies in the phone balloting, which drew more than 30 million calls and text messages.

Not that it wasn't deserved. And, America, I know he's an armed forces member, but stop voting for Phil.