Don't worry, dawg. The show is coming back. It's still a massive cash cow. So instead of scrapping the whole thing, it sounds like Fox is planning to fill those empty slots with some very famous faces.

According to TMZ, the show will go back to its three-judge format, with Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler rounding out the panel.

Are we excited? Have other butts you'd rather see in those seats? Fox has yet to confirm the additions, so sound off with your selections below.

American Idol is scheduled to return in January 2011 on Fox.

Here’s how tonight’s two-hour spectacular went down:

8:01- This is “American Idol!”
8:02- Jordin Sparks sighting!
8:02:30- Ryan Seacrest tells us the two finalists’ vote counts only differed by 2 percent!
8:03- Oh no, we’ve just been reminded that this is the last night for Simon Cowell!! What will we do without him? Who will insult all the untalented singers now?
8:04- Lee and Crystal show up in Harry Potter uniforms. What’s up with that?
8:04:30- Live from Toledo, Ohio- it’s Crystal’s hometown fans!
8:05- Live from Mt. Prospect, Illinois- it’s Lee’s hometown fans!
8:05:30- The Top 12 are back for the return of the group number! Oh, how I’ve missed the corniness! And apparently school’s out for summer!
8:06- Cue the zombie children’s choir!
8:06:30- Cue zombie Alice Cooper! Oh, wait, that’s what Alice Cooper always looks like? Never mind.
8:07- At first I was afraid, I was petrified by Alice Cooper and his riding crop. Then, I remembered he’s actually a nice guy (“Wayne’s World” anybody?).
8:08- Cue zombie fireworks!
8:12- Last year’s Idol, Kris Allen, returns to the stage to sing his new single “The Truth.” And after the sound guys remembered to turn Seacrest’s mic off, we were good to go.
8:13- Allen sounds great, the song suits his voice and seems to be having lots of fun!
8:15- Simon offers Ryan a mint.
8:16- The Simon Cowell highlight reel, where we see Cowell’s reaction to William Hung (thank goodness that guy’s gone!), Simon laughing till he cried and Ryan and Randy cheering that he’s leaving.
8:18- Siobhan and Aaron (better known by their duo name “Glassblower and Rascal Flatts Junior”) ask us how deep is our love. I answer silently: “Not this deep.”
8:19- The Bee Gees are back! Why didn’t anyone introduce them?
8:20- This show is so weird. Do the producers visit the Old Singers Retirement Home each year and bring back whoever’s available?
8:22- A Hoff sighting!
8:26- Michael Lynche returns! (He so got robbed of his Final Three status.) He sings a few bars and introduces Michael McDonald (a.k.a. Kenny Rogers Lookalike Part 1).
8:29- Dane Cook sings the “Simon Says” insult song. Some of my favorites: “you look like the Hulk’s wife” and “you have the honor of Abe Lincoln and the charm of the guy who shot him.”
8:31- The annual parade of weirdos makes it way on stage, including that guy with the pimp hat and feather boa from last year. Oh, and some guy I don’t remember takes the microphone hostage and I think the producers cut to commercial a little early. I bet Dane Cook was none too happy.
8:34- This year’s Top 6 Women take the stage to sing “Beautiful” and “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera. Wow, they are killing these songs (and not in a good way). Good thing Christina isn’t here to hear this!
8:37- And here comes Christina Aguilera. Rocking a Judy Jetson hairdo. And a bootylicious outfit. But her singing sounds great.
8:42- Ricky Gervais roasts Simon via satellite. Too long and not very funny.
8:47- Lee and the rest of the Top 6 Guys sing Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That.” They sound way better than the ladies.
8:48- Please welcome Hall & Oates! (and look, it’s Kenny Rogers Lookalike Part 2)
8:52- Former Idol contestant Janell Wheeler reports live from Toledo, Ohio.
8:53- Crystal sings Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic.” What a perfect song choice for her!
8:54- Alanis is in the house! The two sing a duet of “You Oughta Know,” while bouncing off each other like they’re trapped in a pinball machine. This was a really good duet!
9:00- Five years ago Carrie Underwood was crowned an American Idol. Now she’s back to sing her new single “Undo It.” She sure has come a long way! She’s the most polished of all the former contestants and I love that she always comes back to where she started! (Oh, and side note, Kara and Carrie co-wrote that song!)
9:04- In the most chillax moment ever recorded in the history of “American Idol,” last year’s superchill winner Kris Allen presents this year’s super-relaxed finalists with their very own, custom-designed Ford Fiestas. A sample from the conversation: Kris: Hey guys, here’s some keys to some cars or something. It’s all cool man; Lee: Wow, thanks for the car. This is cool; Crystal: Let’s all chill and jam together. Or whatever.
9:05- A recap of all of this year’s Ford Music Videos, set to the tune of “My Wish.” My favorite parts: the ball pits, Casey as a waiter, the Matrix moments, Siobhan as a vampire and Aaron riding a bike. Classic!
9:06- Casey shows up again, this time singing “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” But wait, that doesn’t mean, he can’t be here, waitadarnminute!!!!! Bret Michaels is in the house!
9:07- Casey’s internal monologue: “I’m playing guitar with Bret Freaking Michaels. This guy has a hole in his heart and he’s playing guitar with me!”
9:14- The Chicago medley. Lee tries his hand at Chicago’s “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” And then he sings a little bit of “If You Leave Me Now.” It all sounds good, though you can’t go wrong with a band that has a horn section!
9:18- Aunt Becky (Lori Loughlin) sighting!
9:18:30- Former contestant Matt Rogers is in Illinois with Lee’s fans!
9:19- The kiss heard round the world: when Paula fake-kissed Simon.
9:21- The return of General Larry Platt and “Pants on the Ground.” It’s so catchy! “Looking like a cool cat….”
9:22- Oh no, it’s William Hung again. I think that’s one of the signs of the apocalypse!
9:30- Paula Abdul makes her long-awaited return! She seems very close to snapping, tells Simon his illegitimate baby is backstage and congratulates him and tells him he’s totally replaceable all in one sentence.
9:35- The coolest moment in all of “Idol” history! Former winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, Taylor Hicks and Kris Allen all take the stage together! Awe-some! The only part that sucked was that David Cook wasn’t there with them! What happened to Cook?
9:36- Some of the other memorable contestants from the last 9 seasons joined together in song onstage as well, including David Archuleta, Michael Johns, Jason Castro, Ace Young, Alison Iraheta, Justin Guarini, Diana Degarmo, Elliot Yamin, Bo Bice, Blake Lewis and Matt Giraud.
9:38- Simon takes the stage and admits to being emotional, before complimenting the true judge of “Idol”- the audience!
9:45- Janet Jackson turns the rest of the night into the Janet Jackson concert.
9:52- A recap of Lee and Crystal’s journey, which started with the two of them in line together way back in Chicago!
9:54- Lee and Crystal sing “The Wonder Years” theme song with Joe Cocker. All three sound awesome and Crystal seems to be in her glory next to Cocker.
10:01- So, who will win “American Idol?” Crystal is anxious, but Lee looks like he is about to pass out!
10:02- Lee Dewyze wins “American Idol!!!!” And then he almost walks off stage out of sheer surprise!
10:03- Ryan asks him how he feels, to which he responds: “I’m so happy right now!”

And with that, Lee Dewyze takes the title! So, here’s to you Lee, you hung in there even though you were too humble to think you could win! You’ve come a long way from that paint store! And here’s another shoutout to Crystal Bowersox! Your vocals are awesome, your style is unique and even though you came in second, you and your dreadlocks will still be making some great music!

Well, that about wraps it up for this season! What did you think of the final vote? Did Lee deserve to win or was Crystal robbed of her crown? Will you buy Lee’s first album? Were you happy to see so many former Idols return to the stage, and were you disappointed David Cook wasn’t among them? Shouldn’t Carrie Underwood be crowned the Ultimate Idol? What did you think of Paula’s return to the Idol stage? And are you bawling your eyes out because you’ll never see Simon on “Idol” again? Post your comments one more time, get ready for this summer’s live Idol tour and we’ll see you next January for Season 10 of “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli

Tonight was memorable for several reasons. First, it’s the last chance us voters had to hear Crystal and Lee belt their best for a record contract and the title of American Idol. But other than that, people will always remember this episode as the last time our eternal t-shirt wearing, cranky Brit Simon Cowell would critique contestants on the show. That’s right, we’re only two hours of show and one winner away from losing Simon forever! (Well, not forever. The Grumpasaurus will be back in fall 2011 for his new show, The X Factor. But until then, we’ll all be suffering from Cowell Withdrawal!)

So, this was it, only three songs each for our dueling 24-year-old singers to prove themselves worthy of the title. Tonight both singers would tackle one of their favorite songs from the season, plus a selection from executive producer Simon Fuller and the single they will release if they win. Here’s how the three rounds played out:

ROUND 1- Contestant’s Choice

Part 1: Lee- Based on Lee’s performance during Frank Sinatra week, I figured it was a safe bet that he would pick “That’s Life.” He seemed to have his best moment on the show so far after Harry Connick Jr. brought out Lee’s inner Rat Packer. So imagine my surprise when the humble rocker instead chose his selection from Inspiration Week, “The Boxer.” I thought his vocals sounded on point as usual, but for some reason his confidence wasn’t there tonight. His nerves did not help him, and those background musicians were really overpowering him. Simon said it should have felt like a kiss on the lips instead of just a kiss on the cheek.

Part 2: Crystal- This one was a no-brainer. The minute I heard Crystal sing “Me and Bobby McGee” during Billboard No. 1 Hits Week, I knew it suited her voice. And it makes sense she’d pick it again to spotlight her unique sound, which even Simon admitted has gotten lost over the last few weeks. Kara declared that Crystal had found “the fire in her belly,” while Simon said she had returned.

And the winner of this matchup is….Crystal! Though she only won this round by a hair.

ROUND 2- Exec Producer Simon Fuller’s Choice

Part 1: Lee- This was an interesting choice, coming off his slightly melancholy first song. Fuller decided what Lee needed tonight were TWO melancholy songs in a row (because that doesn’t kill the momentum or anything) and gave Lee “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M. After hearing it, though, Lee did a really good job. I think the sound guys forgot to show up tonight, because it was really hard to hear the singers over all those instruments, but if you listened carefully, you could hear Lee’s awesome vocals. He seemed more in tune with the audience this time around, as Kara correctly noticed (what? who keeps agreeing with that woman? oh my gosh, it’s me!). And even though Simon liked the song choice, he still felt Lee was lacking some confidence and gave him a little pep talk.

Part 2: Crystal- I was intrigued to hear that Fuller’s choice for Crystal was Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet.” After mulling that over for a few seconds, it made sense what Fuller was trying to do here. By giving her a more recognizable song that blurs genres, Fuller was trying to make Crystal more accessible. And though she sounded pretty good on the chorus, I think she lost her voice on some of those later notes, not to mention that awkward screeching at the end. The judges thought she was hot (as Randy said, no surprise there) and Ellen gave her a standing ovation (really? now that’s a surprise! maybe Ellen has just been dying to stand like Randy and decided to finally play her standing ovation card!) I’d say she was good, but not great.

And the winner of the second matchup is….Lee! He won this one by the skin of his teeth (which never really made sense to me, but, alas, I digress). I thought more of Lee’s consistency and personality shone through on this song. Crystal was too much out of her element, which lost her some points in my book.

ROUND 3- The Future Singles

Part 1: Lee- In an interesting twist, the producers have decided not to saddle our souls this year with yet another weepy nothing ballad (remember “No Boundaries?” Yah, me neither). Nope, instead our singers were going to get the chance to do some covers of already famous songs. Lee’s single will be U2’s “Beautiful Day,” which has all the right elements for his type of performances. It has the electric guitars, the sweeping rock vocals and plenty of inspirational imagery. But while Bono can sing the heck out of this song, maybe it’s not fair to give Lee a song through which he’d be compared to him. Though Lee did seem to finally find his groove and looked the most comfortable he had all night.

Part 2: Crystal- Crystal’s song was called “Up to the Mountain,” which some people may have heard before. I am not one of those people. That’s why the Internet invented Google, so people like me could look up slightly recognizable, but mostly obscure songs sung by reality show contestants. As it turns out, this song is from none other than Susan Boyle, discovered by none other than Simon Cowell! What a coincidence! How embarrassing for the producers to have made such a mistake (and if you’re missing all the sarcasm here, please read that sentence again). This song totally suited Crystal and it’s the most emotional and “real” I’ve ever seen her on the stage, not to mention that she sounded pretty amazing. For Simon’s last critique ever, he called her performance “outstanding.” And while she did an impressive job, I wonder what types of radio stations would play that version of the song. Is she rock? Is she folk or country? The confusion could cost some votes.

And the winner of the last matchup of the night is….Crystal once again!

So, if we’re going strictly by voices, then Crystal has Lee at a slight disadvantage. But if we’re going off of general likeability and a more commercial sound, then Lee is your man. It should be interesting to see who earns more votes tomorrow night!

How did you feel about the penultimate episode of “American Idol?” Were you wowed by Lee’s voice or blown away by Crystal’s golden pipes? Do you think our final two singers gave their all tonight or was it a lopsided final competition? Are your fingers cramped from voting? Could you ever pick Mr. Pop Idol Will Young out of a lineup ever again? And are you getting misty about Simon’s final episode? Post your comments below and be back Wednesday as we crown another American Idol! –Chris Sardelli

But, before we learn the fate of our final three Idols, we do have an hour of fun and excitement. Now, most of the time I find the results shows mind-numbing, so I decided I was going to try to gain something from tonight’s show.

And so, I bring you the greatest lessons learned from tonight’s Idol show.

First lesson of the night: American Idol producers think America has the memory of a goldfish. It’s the usual routine with introductions of Ryan and the judges. You would think by now everyone watching the show knows who they are, but apparently the producers worry we don’t. Bring out the finalists, which should be the same case, but we’ll introduce them anyway.

Next lesson up: when in doubt, stall! We’ll sit the Idols down and ask them a long list of questions. What did we learn from this process? Well, even Casey didn’t think he would make it this far, and to be honest neither did the judges (or me for that matter).

Now a visit home with Casey James to Texas. There were some touching moments, as Casey said thank you to the doctors and nurses who cared for him after his accident six years ago. As for lessons …here’s what I learned:
-Yes, Casey’s fan base is all women, with a random dad who was dragged by his nine year-old daughter speckled in.
-In a pinch, when you don’t have any paper, you can autograph a dog.
-Ladies, you can rest easy tonight – Casey is single.

Up next, our first musical guest – Travis Garland. Apparently, Perez Hilton is now a talent scout, as he introduces us to his newest find Travis Garland who he claims is better than Justin Timberlake ! (J-Timb – I think you can keep your day job!) Not only that, but I learned a few tricks about producing television: If you’re worried the new talent on the show may not be understandable (did anyone pick out one work Travis Garland was singing?), try to distract the audience with split screen and lots of dancers. When that doesn’t work – add in some men banging on garbage cans.

Now we’re off to Ohio with Crystal Bowersox. It was apparent how happy she was to be home with her family, and we learned a lot about her life in Ohio including: Toledo is apparently not important enough to give Crystal Bowersox her own day, so it will be Crystal Bowersox Day in all of Northwestern Ohio; You can sign a human’s chest and that signature can then be tattooed to them; and Crystal’s got a pretty good arm, as she hit a girl in the head with a flower and can make it across home plate easily.

And so to round out our home visits it’s off to Chicago with Lee DeWyze. This one actually left me with more questions than lessons learned. Of everyone in the entire world, Lee is probably more surprised than anyone else he made it this far. Does he not know how good he is? Lee has a big following of first graders – who knew? Are Lee’s favorite colors teal and neon yellow? What was with the shirt color choices? He worked in a paint shop, shouldn’t he have a better eye for color than that?

Oh my goodness! It’s time for Justin Bieber! I know I can find great meaning in this. Ah, who am I kidding? I think he’s twelve, I don’t really get him, so let’s just enjoy the newest incarnation of teeny-bop pop and not look for the deeper meaning.

So finally, with about five minutes left we get to what we really came for. It’s time for the results. No results session would be complete without a recap of the songs and judges’ comments brought to you by Seacrest.

After the nationwide vote…the first person in the finale is Lee (yay – I’m a not-so-secret Lee fan!)

Joining Lee is Crystal! Time to say goodbye to Casey.

All in all, what did we learn from these results? To be quite honest, not much. The final two are Lee and Crystal who were pretty much the standouts from the beginning.

So here’s to you Casey James – with your flowing blonde locks and great guitar licks! Thanks for keeping your shirt on.

So, what did you think of the results? Were you happy to see Casey get the boot or was he robbed of a spot in the final two? Did you get teary when our Final Three visited home? And does anyone know why Perez Hilton is suddenly signing people to record contracts? Leave your comments/critiques/suggestions below and come on back next week for the finale of “American Idol!” –Chris Sardelli (and guest Katie)

That’s the question the voters get to decide now that we’re down to the Final Three on “Idol.” Will it be the bluegrass guitarist Casey James? Will it be this year’s resident rocker, Lee Dewyze? Or will odds-on favorite Crystal Bowersox blow them all away? I guess only time, a few more performances and some snarky comments, will tell. But until then, let’s see how our remaining contestants fared tonight.

First up, and ready to show everyone that he’s not just a one-trick jam artist, was Casey. Choosing “OK, It’s Alright with Me” by Eric Hutchinson, Casey leaned in close to the microphone, with his fingers flying over his guitar, and quickly proved that….he’s just a one-trick jam artist. Does Casey actually know he’s competing for a record deal and that he’s not some aging artist who’s been doing this for 25 years? All his performances are starting to blend together for me, sounding like a cross between CMT’s “Crossroads” and the movie “Groundhog Day.” I guess it’s better than the alternative, which we got during Sinatra week, where Casey performed sans microphone stand or guitar, and just made everyone, including himself, feel uncomfortable. The judges were mostly underwhelmed (Randy: “it was just alright for me too”) and Simon compared it to eating salad.

Crystal, with her trusty guitar and harmonica in hand, showed up next to perform the Melissa Etheridge classic, “Come to My Window.” It started out a little rough and it didn’t quite achieve the heights of greatness we’ve come to expect from Ms. Mamasox, but it was still miles above Casey. Once she hit her stride, it really worked, and despite Kara saying she doesn’t have as good a voice as Etheridge to make this song complete, I thought at times she sounded like the original artist. Both Ellen and Simon complimented our favorite modern-hippie for being true to herself and never compromising. I’m just glad Crystal didn’t mouth off to the judges again, which she’s taken to do lately, and just let things proceed smoothly. But if Crystal wants to compete against the ever-increasing-in-popularity Lee, she needs to finally have that “wow” moment.

Choosing a Lynyrd Skynyrd song could’ve gone either way for Lee, but I think he did an awesome job tonight. Lee sang “Simple Man,” and as Simon declared, he crushed his competition in Round 1. From his masterful handling of all the notes, to his newfound confidence, Lee definitely ruled the “Contestant’s Choice” portion of the evening. I’ve been saying it for awhile, but I think Lee is going to give Crystal a run for her money in the finals. And Crystal better bring her A-game because Lee has proven he can grow each week. Randy liked that Lee believed he could win, Kara handed round one to him and Ellen compared him to a “springy impala.” (Not sure about that last comment, but I think she liked him.)

Kicking off round 2, Casey performed the first judges’ pick of the night. Kara and Randy chose John Mayer’s “Daughters” hoping to not only highlight a new musical genre for him, but also show his sensitive singer-songwriter side. But after Casey strummed his first few notes of the song, I wondered, did somebody slip him an Ambien? Sounding almost nothing like Mayer, and for some reason forgoing the original arrangement, Casey sounded like he was sleep-singing. Both Randy and Kara said he did a great job, probably because they were too embarrassed that he sucked the life out of their song choice. Ellen also thought it was beautiful. But Simon brought everyone back to reality and said that while Casey sang it well, he delivered a “lazy” performance. Simon and I agreed on one thing, Casey didn’t have any “wow” moments tonight at all, and that could cost him his spot in the finals.

For Crystal’s second song of the night, Ellen texted her choice to the singer while Crystal was visiting her hometown in Ohio. I was as surprised as Simon apparently was that Ellen chose “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney. It seemed a little out of her comfort zone and it wasn’t as current as I was hoping someone would choose for Crystal, but in the end it didn’t matter. Proving that she doesn’t need a guitar, harmonica, back-up singer or piano, Crystal demonstrated her impressive range and belted the hell out of that song. All the judges were “amazed,” but Simon said she was “terrific” and proved she had soul.

Capping the night was Lee’s final performance with a selection from Simon, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. I’ve heard this song on “Idol” before, notably by Jason Castro a few seasons ago, so I wasn’t too sure how Lee would handle it. All those worries disappeared as I felt Mr. Dewyze pour all his emotion into the song. He hit the high notes, the low notes and even showed his sensitive side. If this was the final episode, I’m betting Lee would win. This guy just keeps getting better! Randy said he finally felt like someone threw down the gauntlet and Simon paid him two huge compliments saying he was a “fantastic singer and a great person.”

After listening to what the judges had to say and based on both the audience, and my, reaction, it’s looking very likely that both Lee and Crystal are making it into next week’s finale. That is, unless all those Casey supporters text like crazy to keep him in it!

How do you think the Final Three did tonight? Do you think we’re headed for a Lee/Crystal showdown, or will there be a surprise on Wednesday night? Were you disappointed by the lack of coverage at the singers’ hometown visits? And do you think Simon got what he wanted when he said he hoped Lee would show his “potential to be a great artist” tonight? Post your comments below and get ready as “Idol” reveals the Top 2 singers on Wednesday, along with a visit from guest performer Justin Bieber! –Chris Sardelli

ACT I: The former champ returns
As the first performance of the night, Season 3 champ Fantasia returned to the stage that made her famous, singing her new single “Bittersweet.” I’ve always thought she’s had a good voice, though I’ve never been her biggest fan. And her performance tonight did nothing to change my opinion. With a slow, boring song and a terrible arrangement, I don’t think this was the best song to unveil from her new CD.

ACT II: Fiesta Time
There was no group sing-along tonight, but that’s OK, because we still had that other corny feature, the Ford Music Video! Singing “Put the Message in the Box” by World Party (neither of which I’ve ever heard before), our top contestants took a spin around the world in a Ford Fiesta. This was one of the more boring videos, though I did like all the outfits the singers were sporting at the end (including Casey’s German-inspired ensemble).

ACT III: Families are great, but will I be here next week?
Ryan unveils four groups of people in the Couches of Safety, which are normally reserved for the singers who make it through to the next week. Who are these people you ask? Well, they’re the families of the Final Four singers, that’s who! But despite having their loved ones close by, these four singers wanted to know who’d be back to visit their hometowns during next week’s episode. To calm their nerves, Ryan dimmed the lights and first gave us the comments for last night’s duet partners. Up first were Mike and Casey, followed by Lee and Crystal. Mike said he thought their duet song “would really speak to us as men,” while Crystal said she picked her song because it’s from her favorite movie. After all that, which one of these four would be the first to make it to the Top 3? Well, it’s a good thing I’m not a betting man, because I would’ve lost a lot of money on this one. Casey was the first contestant safe! That’s when the real drama started to set it! Was it possible that either Lee or Crystal would be going home tonight? Say it ain’t so!

ACT IV: Fourth place isn’t a bad thing
Continuing to show the world that leaving in fourth place isn’t all bad, and with a conveniently timed performance, was rock band Daughtry. This guy is always good. I think he could have the flu and need his tonsils out and he’d still sound better than most of the singers who made it to the Top 12 this year. He sounded great on his new single “September,” and did an impressive job sounding humble in his interview with Ryan.

ACT V: Is anyone else safe?
Ryan doled out a little more of the results, lining up Mike, Lee and Crystal to find out who would be joining Casey in safety. Turns out the audience really likes Lee, as they voted him through, meaning we’ll get to see him next week! But, what does this mean for Crystal??!!!

ACT VI: Will you be my Superman?
Taking the slot for the last performance of the night was the always entertaining Bon Jovi. Ryan said they are the number one touring band in the world and they’ve become popular for several different generations. I have to admit, their new single “Superman Tonight” was pretty catchy.

ACT VII: Big Mike vs. Mamasox
It was the showdown of the century, as heavyweight hitters Mike Lynche and Crystal Bowersox battled it out for that coveted final slot in the Top 3. But who would it be? With his impressive vocal runs and the mutant power to make all the ladies cry tears of joy, Mike is quite the contender. But with her golden pipes and the impressive ability to make everyone else sound like a warm-up act, Crystal definitely has an edge. Then Ryan read the card, delivering the final blow to Mike, as Crystal earned a spot in the semi-finals. Unfortunately that meant Mike’s time on the show was over!

EPILOGUE:
So here’s to you Michael Lynche! You made it five weeks past the infamous Judges’ Save, delivering crushing bear hugs and bench pressing anyone who got in your way (or stood next to you, or was human). Not only did you become a father in Hollywood, you were also one of the only contestants to make Kara cry! Keep up the good work and make sure there’s a cover of “This Woman’s Work” on your eventual album!

Were you crushed by tonight’s vote or did you think Mike lasted five weeks too long? Does Casey deserve his Final Three spot or is he just a pretty face with a somewhat-good voice? Were you at all worried that Lee or Crystal could’ve gone home tonight (because I sure was)? And did you feel bad for Big Mike’s wife? Post your comments below and come on back next Tuesday as the Top Three gear up for their hometown visits! –Chris Sardelli

After last week’s awesome outing with the hysterical Harry Connick, Jr., who motivated the remaining singers while also being funny, Foxx’s second turn at the mentor’s table was a little underwhelming. It’s also hard to see how sticking your face uncomfortably into people’s personal space is really the best way to teach them how to sing. And yes, I understand WHY he did that, but it all seemed a little off-putting and not quite so helpful.

And don’t get me started about those “Choose your own adventure” T-shirts. Was it really necessary to make those things? Couldn’t he have just told them they needed to work harder? Isn’t handing them one that says “contestant” pretty much like handing them one emblazoned with the word “loser?” Just sayin.’

Anyways, there was still plenty to like about tonight’s episode, in which our Fearsome Foursome tackled Movie Songs! Going into tonight, the thing that made me most excited was the fact that Aaron Kelly had already used up “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” so I knew no one would be screeching that tonight! (Don’t get me wrong. I like the song. I like the movie “Armageddon” as well. And I even like the Aerosmith music video, corny Liv Tyler and all. But I’m so sick of hearing it on the “Idol” stage!)

First up on stage was Lee “I Hope People Like Me” Dewyze. Foxx pulled a similar stunt to the one he tried on Danny Gokey last year, standing so close to Lee that they probably both needed breath mints before they continued. Despite that weird maneuver, Foxx did correctly point out that Lee needs to get in touch with his confidence. Lee seemed to exude a little more of that much-needed confidence while he sang Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose,” from ‘Batman Forever.’ Unfortunately, he lost a little bit of his cool factor by playing the song too closely to the original. At points he even sounded a little like Seal. He also did something uncharacteristic of his usual performances- he was out of tune! Randy and Kara picked up on all the awkward notes, while Simon said it sounded too much like karaoke.

Next on stage was Big Mike who sang Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There” from the ‘Free Willy’ soundtrack. I’m not sure what was accomplished during the mentoring session for Mike, with Jamie Foxx alternating between telling him to dance and fake boxing with him. I guess he was trying to calm his nerves and get him to focus on the material. Listening to his performance, I’m not sure nerves were the problem. I think Randy said it best when he wondered why Mike picked this song, which showed Mike’s pitch problems in his lower register and took him out of his happy R&B zone. Ellen called it predictable, while Kara said he played it safe. I agree that it was not one of Mike’s best performances, though the best part of the critiques was when Simon asked what exactly ‘Free Willy’ was all about. Priceless.

Switching things up, tonight we were introduced to this season’s first duets! Tackling this tricky maneuver first were Lee and Crystal, singing “Falling Slowly” from the movie “Once.” Let me just say, I loved this song when the original performers sang it on the Oscars a few years ago. I also loved it when Kris Allen tackled it, and succeeded with it, last season. So, these two had some pretty big shoes to fill. And man, did they fill them!!! Continuing the night’s tradition of having Lee stare into people’s faces, he faced Crystal as they alternated between lines of the song. Their chemistry seemed great (watch out Crystal’s boyfriend! She called Lee her “musical crush!”) and the voices really melded together. The performance really seemed to energize each singer as it continued and we heard some awesome vocals from these two! It was also good enough for Simon to call “fantastic.” Let’s hope one of them, or both, cuts this as a single and puts it on their future album. (Which, by the way, will totally happen once this season is over. These two are going to do great things, no matter who wins.)

After a quick commercial break, and returning to the solo songs, Casey was next at bat (I couldn’t resist another baseball pun) singing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” from ‘The Graduate.’ He really toned down his performance and tried out his vulnerable side again, much like he did two weeks ago on Shania Twain night. This effort didn’t wow me as much, just because it seemed a tad boring. His vocals were OK, and as Randy would say “I just wasn’t feeling it, dawg.” Unfortunately, Randy also made some uncomfortable comments comparing Casey and Kara to the characters from ‘The Graduate,’ which was just plain creepy. Thank goodness for the change in topic when Ellen quipped “Too bad they wouldn’t let you have the big boy guitar.”

Crystal was up next, ready to show the world her interpretation of a song from a beloved movie classic. That’s right, she sang Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright,” better known as the song that crazy gopher dances to in the Bill Murray golfing movie, ‘Caddyshack.’ This was a bit of a surprise, but Crystal did the song justice. Somehow she turned it into a nice little folksy song, though I could’ve done without the backup singers. Randy, Ellen and Kara called her an “artist,” while Simon declared that Crystal was “back in the game.”

Taking the last slot of the night, it was time for the second duet, this time from Mike and Casey. I wondered what they would sing and figured it would be alright as long as it wasn’t anything by Bryan Adams, because that sure would get awkward! Then I heard what song they were singing- Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” from ‘Don Juan DeMarco.’ Well, I guess there’s egg on my face, huh? Actually, this wasn’t completely awkward, mostly because they kept their faces on the crowd and their guitars, and not on each other. And while both did a decent job, Mike definitely out-sang his partner. The best part of this performance was Ellen’s comments, for which she only said one sentence: “I have loved a woman.”

What did you think of the Final Four? Did any of them wow you with their vocal acrobatics, or did somebody make you hit the mute button? Who would you nominate to bring back if you could? And what did you think of tonight’s duets? Post your comments below and come back Wednesday night for performances from Daughtry, Fantasia and Bon Jovi! –Chris Sardelli

After a pretty awesome set list last night which featured five Frank Sinatra originals, plus some stellar mentoring by Harry Connick, Jr., it was time to find out who was walking the plank. But before we learned this week’s castoff, we’d get a chance to hear some Sinatra tunes from our singers, a performance from Mr. Connick and of course, some weird antics from Lady Gaga. (And really, where else are you going to get Sinatra and Gaga all in the same night?)

As is tradition during results nights, up first was the ever-inconsistent but always corny group number! Cue the lights, get the matching Sinatra outfits ready and press play on the recorded lyrics! This week’s lip-synch-fest of course featured the songs of Sinatra, and here are some notes I jotted down as the Top 5 snapped their fingers on stage: I like Crystal’s Frankie suit, very cool look; Aaron needs to stop shaking his head, it’s distracting!; who told Casey he should improvise? stop acting so dramatic!; and why is Kara sitting in Randy’s lap? Awkward!

Continuing the awkward theme was this week’s Ford Music Video, in which our Fearsome Fivesome sang “1,2,3,4” from the Plain White T’s. The best parts of this week’s video: Aaron randomly riding a bike, Mike walking some dogs, and what’s this? Are Crystal and Lee in love? Nope, he’s just looking fondly at his new Ford Fiesta.

Before Ryan dimmed the lights to get to the results, he took everyone on a backstage look at how our Top 5’s lives have changed since they started on “Idol.” It’s impressive to see how only a few months ago, Lee worked in a paint store, Aaron was just a student and Mike and Crystal were just parents trying to get by. And judging by how some past Idols have succeeded, this is the just the first step for several of them.

Then, in order to make sure we had two sets of two contestants, Ryan put Lee’s mind at ease and told him he was safe. We’d have to wait to find out about everyone else.

That meant it was time for the night’s first performer, Lady Gaga. If you were wondering “why Lady Gaga on Sinatra night,” then we’re on the same wavelength, because I couldn’t figure it out either. Singing her new song “Alejandro,” Gaga showed up with her typical bag of weird tricks, which included a full-body veil/body stocking, smog, a gang of half-naked men, shooting flames and some charred trees. This lady has a great voice, and her songs are pretty catchy (though I am sick of hearing people sing “Poker Face”), but man is she odd. But that’s the look she’s going for, and I think it’s working for her.

After Gaga and her minions exited stage left, Ryan came back from commercial to show a blooper reel of all the funny comments Harry Connick, Jr. said as he worked with the contestants. Here’s some of my favorites: telling Crystal she has a bird in her ear; telling the camera that instead of a mentor he’s going to be a “centaur;” telling Casey’s mom over the phone that Casey is ugly and then being told by the mom that she thought he was Chris Isaak; scolding the judges for making up the word “pitchy;” and having a staring contest with Lee. This guy should come on every week! He may be the funniest person to grace the “Idol” stage (at least intentionally funny, that is. Sorry Sanjaya!).

It was Connick’s turn next, as he took the stage to sing his new song “And I Love Her.” There’s no doubt he has an amazing voice, and many similarities to Sinatra, but what was up with the pained look on his face? Was it something we said? (And to whichever producer allows that mosh pit full of people near the stage to sway their arms back and forth, you’re fired!) Harry’s song was followed by another group medley, this time of Connick’s own songs.

Finally it was time to reveal some results. After his customary recaps, Ryan sent Crystal and Casey to the far side of the stage, while keeping Mike and Aaron on the near side. Immediately he revealed that Mike and Aaron were this week’s Bottom Two, which meant Crystal and Casey could take a seat. See you for movie music night!

But who would be heading home this week? Would Mike’s luck finally run out, or would Aaron be sent packing? It looks like the audience is done with all the youngsters, as they ousted Aaron from the competition. As he sang to the closing credits, Aaron delivered his best and most emotion-packed vocals of the whole season. Too bad he didn’t sing like that last night!

So, here’s to you Aaron Kelly! You were this year’s David Archuleta, and even though your Justin Bieber-like transformation over the last few months was pretty amazing, your country crooning wasn’t enough to win.

Did you agree with tonight’s result? Do you wish the Judges’ Save was still an option so they could have saved Aaron? Does Casey still deserve to be on stage after his performance on Tuesday? And could Lady Gaga be any weirder? Post your comments below and tune in next week as the Top 4 tackle Songs of the Cinema with guest mentor Jamie Foxx! –Chris Sardelli

At first, I questioned the combination of Harry Connick, Jr. and Frank Sinatra songs, mostly worrying none of it would be relevant to the hordes of text-savvy teens that love this show. But as it turns out, not only is Harry a great musician, he’s also one funny guy! When he wasn’t trading barbs with Ellen, he was picking fake fights with Aaron or Lee. And let’s not forget the time he spent arranging songs for these kids and then actually playing with them on stage. If there was an award for ‘most dedicated “Idol” guest mentor,’ then I think Mr. Connick would win two.

With the “Idol” stage taking on a true nightclub feel tonight, complete with dim lights and a full big band orchestra, each of the Top 5 tackled one of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ many famous Rat Pack songs. (Although it was a bit strange when two of Sinatra’s daughters showed up to hand Simon one of their dad’s hankies. Not so sure what that was about. Maybe Simon’s a big fan?)

Anyway, up first tonight was Aaron Kelly, singing “Fly Me to the Moon.” Harry liked his voice and encouraged him to turn his notes around so they weren’t so jarring. And while Aaron seemed to heed his advice as much as he could, his voice was still too shaky for this material. As Simon said, Sinatra was the “king of cool,” so you really need personality to deliver these types of songs. Aaron definitely hit some power notes during that performance, but his voice just isn’t big enough to rise above a full band. (Or maybe the band was just swallowing him up? I’m not really sure who’s to blame here.) I think Simon also called it when he said the audience loves seeing him, so he will definitely rack up some votes. But will they be enough to keep him out of the Bottom Three (or Two)? Probably not.
Best part of this performance: During the judges’ comments, when Ellen said she thought the piano part was a little pitchy! Anyone else think she and Harry have known each other for awhile?

America’s favorite blues guitarist contestant Casey James took the second spot of the night. Casey has been delivering some awesome performances over the last few weeks, especially last week on Shania night with his cover of “Don’t.” Unfortunately all that positive momentum came to a screeching halt as Casey sang the most self-conscious version of “Blue Skies” I’ve ever heard. I figured this would happen once he was forced out of his comfort zone and prohibited from picking up his guitar. Casey awkwardly smiled and shuffled around the stage, delivering vocals which Kara compared to “a lamb.” The rest of the judges didn’t have any better comments for Casey, who ended up taking a big step backward this week.
Best part of this performance: When Casey told Ryan that one of his friends, who doesn’t watch “Idol,” asked him to play a $50 gig with him (including a free meal!). Casey very nicely explained his current situation to his clueless friend.

Wearing a full-length dress and rocking a giant back tattoo (who knew that was there?!), Crystal sang “Summer Wind.” Harry immediately noticed that the song meant something special to Crystal, but told her to keep the reasons to herself because that makes her performance even more intriguing to the audience. I thought her vocals were great, though I agree with Randy (who said that??!!) that it all seemed a little too sleepy. Where was the energy? Where was the oomph? I get what Crystal was trying to say to the judges at the end, that she shouldn’t sing big notes just because she’s on “Idol,” but I think she needs to sing a few of them if she wants to win. Just sayin’.
Best part of this performance: At the beginning of the song, when Crystal tickled a few keys on the piano, patted Harry on the back like they were good friends and then sauntered over to the mic. Suddenly she’s become way more relaxed on stage.

Four weeks after tempting fate with that Judges’ Save, Mike almost guaranteed his status as a Top 4 contender with his performance of “The Way You Look Tonight.” Up until that point, all the songs seemed a little restrained and almost boring. But when Big Mike took the stage, that all changed. Wearing his best Sinatra outfit, Mike nailed all the notes, while the band played a great arrangement of the song. And all it took was for Harry to give him a little sage advice about how to sing the song to his woman, and he made the audience feel that emotion. Surprisingly I have to agree with Kara (who said THAT??!!) that he still put his signature Mike touches on the song, especially with that small vocal run near the end. As Simon said, “you put yourself in the game.”
Best part of this performance: I’m just glad he left poor Harry Connick, Jr. alone and didn’t try to bear hug him. After watching Mike almost put Ryan Seacrest into traction, and flailing almost all of the guest mentors around the room, I think Harry lucked out.

Last, but definitely not least, was Lee. What would this year’s resident rocker do with “That’s Life?” Apparently he’d find a way to rock out, that’s what! Melding some classic Sinatra mannerisms with that gruff voice and some kickin’ melodies from Connick on his organ, Lee delivered the performance of the night. I liked everything, from his start on the stool to that emotion he packed into some of those power notes. Somewhere between the beginning and the end I started thinking, could Lee be the Dark Horse of this competition who could sweep past Crystal when no one’s looking and win this whole thing? It’s really possible, actually. Just look at what Kris Allen did last year! I think Ellen and Simon’s comments really summed it up, though. Ellen told him that if this was the finale, then he’d already have won, while Simon said he gave it 110 percent.
Best part of this performance: When Harry Connick, Jr. looked at Lee when they first met and said “My wife thinks he’s cute and after meeting him, he’s like a new and improved version of me.” Awesome! I was laughing so hard I cried.

My predictions after tonight’s show? It’s looking more and more like Lee, Crystal and Mike will be duking it out for the two slots in the finale, while it’s only a matter of time before Aaron and Casey take the long walk home.

So did every singer rise to the challenge of Sinatra night, or were some contestants clearly better than others? Did Crystal take a misstep this week and is Lee the new contestant to beat? Was Harry Connick, Jr. one of the best guest mentors the show’s ever had? And did anyone else know that Harry was so funny? Post your Idol-tastic comments and questions below, then be back here again on Wednesday as the Top 4 are revealed! –Chris Sardelli

Everyone pretty much stepped up their game last night, making it hard to come up with a definitive Bottom Three. Would it be Casey, who delivered his best performance of the season? Would Big Mike prove those judges wrong and be sent packing? Could this be Aaron’s night to leave? How about Lee, who seems to get better with each passing week? Or would another woman, either Siobhan or Crystal, be going home in a season that was billed as the one where a woman would win? I guess we’d just have to sit tight and find out.

With four musical performances to get through, tonight’s results show was going to go very, very quickly. First up on stage, and opening the show, was country super group Rascal Flatts, singing their newest ditty “Unstoppable.” First, let me say I love everything these guys sing. It’s always good. But man, these guys sure are better on the radio! I did like lead singer Gary LeVox’s signature vocal runs on the song, and I was really intrigued when Ryan said they’d be back near the end of the show to sing with…Shakira! What the? That’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard. There’s no way I’m missing that!

Up next, we got to see behind the scenes of the always hokey Ford Music Video. This week our Top 6 were transformed into rejects from the movie “Twilight” (or maybe just a bad episode of “Angel”). As usual, I tried to jot down the funniest or strangest moments as I saw them. Here’s some things I noticed: Crystal says they will be “eating” Mike and that “there’s plenty to go around;” is Andrew trying to be hard core?; why is Mike driving his convertible through the woods?; and smart choice on that garlic pizza.

Before Ryan could split the singers up and start whittling down our Bottom Three, we got to see their trip to a private screening of “Shrek Forever After.” They even had a chance to meet with the director and dub their own voices against the characters. My favorite two moments- Siobhan turning into Yoda and Big Mike channeling Ahnold. Then, for no good reason at all, Antonio Banderas and Cameron Diaz stopped by to say hi and to dim the lights. So glad you came.

After all that craziness died down, Ryan started announcing our results. He quickly separated the Top 6 into three groups of two. Siobhan and Lee went to the far side of the stage, Aaron joined Crystal at center stage and Mike stood with Casey on the right side. But which two would be the Bottom Two? And would there be a Bottom Three? Ryan quickly answered those questions when he dragged Siobhan across the stage to Mike and Casey’s group, creating this week’s Bottom Three.

But you know the drill. The results are never that simple on “American Idol.” The producers always like to make the contestants sweat it out, so that meant it was time for another musical guest. This time former “Idol” champ Carrie Underwood introduced a group of guys who have been touring with her. I’d never heard of Sons of Sylvia, but they did a really good job. I was a little scared by their lead singer who seemed really intent on looking gloomy as he angrily played his violin. Plus, the band kinda reminded me of a cross between My Chemical Romance and a random 80s group. But overall these guys did a really good job.

After them was the best performance of the night by far, as country crooners Lady Antebellum took the stage. This trio has been ruling the country charts for about a year and their songs keep getting better. Even cooler was that their performance of “Need You Now” was just as good as it is on their CD. Their voices were amazing and I can’t wait to see these guys in concert one day, though maybe without some of those corny facial expressions.

That left one more performance before the night came to a close and our bottom contestant was revealed. Ryan teased it at the beginning of the show that Shakira would be taking the stage with Rascal Flatts. I figured this was a train wreck waiting to happen (unless somehow she found a really cool way to countrify “Hips Don’t Lie), but their performance of “Gypsy” was really interesting. And Shakira and LeVox’s voices actually suited each other. All in all, I liked the melody and was surprised that I wanted to hear more!

Finally, Ryan came to the end of the episode. Immediately he spared Big Mike and sent him back to the Couches of Safety. That just left Casey the construction worker versus Siobhan the glass-blower. Who would prevail? It could’ve gone either way, but I guess the audience liked Casey’s standout performance better than Siobhan’s, and she was sent home.

So, here’s to you Siobhan Magnus! You like screaming your notes, making Chewbacca noises and adorning your shoulder in butterflies, but you still made it pretty far in the competition. You weathered tons of criticism, but I’m sure there’s an Adam Lambert duet just waiting to be made for your eventual CD.

What did you think of the results night? Are you sad that the glass-blower went home or was it time for Siobhan to exit stage right? Were you surprised that Aaron was safe this week? Is it looking like the final two will be a showdown between Lee and Crystal? And how did the duet between Shakira and Rascal Flatts stack up with other weird musical pairings? Post your comments below and come on back next week as Harry Connick, Jr. mentors the Top 5 during Sinatra Night! –Chris Sardelli

After I heard that the country superstar would not only be this week’s theme, but also its guest mentor, I was extremely skeptical. Does Shania have enough songs to service an entire theme week? Would four male singers be able to handle songs written for a woman? And did this mean someone would have to sing “Man, I Feel Like a Woman?”

Well, let me first answer those questions- yes, yes and no. As it turns out, Ms. Twain is a super-bubbly, informative guest mentor who has an impressive track record for doling out hit records and catchy pop-country tunes. And her songs had an amazing effect on the Top 6 singers, bringing out voices and personalities we haven’t seen before.

Starting off the night was resident rocker Lee Dewyze, singing “You’re Still the One.” Tackling her first contestant critique, Shania told Lee not to rush the guitar and really put emotion into this one. Lee took her advice and started the song with a slow rock vibe and very little accompaniment. Then he cranked up his inner David Cook (outfit included) and lent some gruffness to the arrangement, somehow turning yet another song into something I could hear on the radio tomorrow. And while he started the whole thing off a little pitchy, he really put his own spin on this. All the judges liked his take on the song, though Simon wishes he’d quit making those weird faces.

For the 50th straight week, Mike delivered another R&B/soul/love song take on another theme. This week he transformed Shania’s already emotion-filled “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing” into his best Luther Vandross imitation (which Ellen and Simon both pointed out). But, to his credit, he did follow Shania’s advice to pack the song full of emotion. Love him or hate him, Mike is consistent and he delivers what his fans want to see. I’m guessing no matter what happens to him for the rest of this season, he’ll definitely put out a semi-successful R&B/soul/love song record.

What can I say about Casey’s turn at the bat tonight? How about “amazing?” What about “impressive?” Or maybe “surprising?” Whatever you call it, Casey really hit one out of the park on “Don’t.” (What’s with all my baseball metaphors tonight? I’m not really sure. Just go with it.) Shania told Casey to really show confidence on this song, which he definitely did, as well as tons of emotion. His voice was on point and this song perfectly showcased his voice. I was surprised to hear that he even made the song sound relevant. I never thought I’d say it, especially with Lee and Crystal around, but I think Casey was the best of the night.

We all know Crystal is a good singer. She always hits her notes, her personality has really been shining lately and no matter what she does this season, this lady is going to make an album. So it doesn’t really matter what anyone says about her singing tonight does it? Putting a bluegrass/folk spin on “No One Needs to Know,” Crystal sounded awesome as she hit her power notes. And those high notes she threw in there were a welcome (and surprising) addition. Randy actually threw out an insightful comment, comparing the performance to acoustic bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. Simon didn’t like it at all, saying it was like sitting in a coffeehouse while having to endure a band house band. I don’t think it was that bad, but it wasn’t one of her best performances.

Aaron was another one that surprised me this week. Over the last few episodes Aaron had been steadily declining, mostly due to nerves, but he made up for it tonight with his take on “You’ve Got a Way.” Sitting on a stool, we got to see the softer side of Aaron, as he showed lots more emotion and plenty of that country tone he sometimes hides. I don’t think this was his strongest performance, but it was a strong effort.

Singing in the last spot of the night was Siobhan, our kooky and inconsistent glass-blower. She performed one of Shania’s first hits “Any Man of Mine,” for which Shania suggested she let her inner “character” come out. After listening to her take on the song, I have to say I’m a little confused about what the judges were hearing. They heaped praise on her such as “fantastic” (that was Ellen), “you’re back” (that’s Miss Kara) and “that was fun” (the last comment was from Simon). All I know is that when her voice came out of the speakers on my television, it sounded too low, behind the beat, pitchy and screechy. I guess the acoustics in that place are awesome.

My pick for bottom of the night is Siobhan, followed by either Aaron or Mike (though that’s only because everyone else was that much better). Top three for the night were definitely Casey, Lee and Crystal.

How did Shania Twain night go? Do you think Shania ranks as one of the better mentors this season? Do you think Casey had a break-out performance, or did one of the other singers blow you away? And does anyone have any idea what Simon meant when he called Mike’s performance “wet?” Post your comments below and come on back Wednesday night as Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sons of Sylvia and Shakira (how does she fit in?) perform!–Chris Sardelli

8:00- The Obamas make a surprise visit! And the President gives a shout out to “all his dawgs” Randy-style!
8:03- We meet our co-host for the night- Queen Latifah, who’s broadcasting from Pasadena, along with 2,000 of her closest friends.
8:04- The Top 12 unveil their new white outfits. The song’s called “Keep the Dream Alive,” but it’s a snoozefest. It picks up near the end, though it sounds more like a Broadway musical.
8:07- Jennifer Garner travels to Kentucky to promote the Save the Children charity.
8:11- Victoria Beckham returns to educate people about poverty in the U.S.
8:17- Captain Sully Sullenberger, from the famous landing on the Hudson, asks America to save thousands of lives around the world.
8:18- Russell “Bed Head” Brand and Jonah “Superbad” Hill drop by to ask for donations. Oh and to make fun of “that pale boy from Twilight” while dropping Viagra jokes.
8:19- Ryan talks to Tim Urban. Cue the Muppets!
8:20- The Black Eyed Peas stop at the “Idol” stage to show off Fergie’s new She-Ra look. (Seriously, just hand that woman a sword!) Singing “Rock That Body,” the Peas look utterly bored as they perform what can only be called bad spoken word.
8:25- Ryan reminds us this is still a results show. It’s so weird!
8:32- George Lopez dims the lights and then roasts the judges. He tells Randy “you’re the only brother on the show, so you’re safe,” calls Kara “Carla DeGuido,” asks why Ellen isn’t dancing and tells Simon to get a large t-shirt and go back to England.
8:40- The Ford Music Video shows us flying fruit, Matrix moments and Big Mike in a fireman outfit.
8:41- Ryan reads some of our results. In a showdown between Crystal and Casey, Casey is sent to the bottom three and Crystal safe. Then it’s Aaron and Lee’s turn, and Aaron is sent to the bottom three.
8:44- Jeff Beck plays guitar as Joss Stone sings “I Put a Spell on You.”
8:47- Quick guest spots from David “Mulder” Duchovny, Chris Rock, Jane “Glee” Lynch and Justin Bieber.
8:52- A few words from the United Nations Secretary General.
8:52- Ryan morphs into Morgan Freeman! Not really, it’s just Morgan Freeman talking about his trip to Mississippi with Randy to support literacy.
8:58- Alicia Keys sings “Unthinkable” and “Empire State of Mind Part II.” The first song was blah, the second song was much better.
9:04- Josh Groban wants you to donate! Do it already!
9:08- Russell and Jonah are back with a Woody Allen clone and two Tom Cruises (though only the “Risky Business” Tom looks believable. Sorta. OK, not really). We also meet Justin Bieber’s cousin and Octomom! Then the comedy (?) duo insults last year’s contestant Tatiana Del Toro by calling her Clay Aiken, before hanging up Slash’s phone. No wonder Jim Carey runs away!
9:11- Back in Pasadena, Carrie Underwood sings “Change.”
9:16- Ellen and David Arquette go to California.
9:25- Ryan sits down for a chat about global healthcare with Bill and Melinda Gates.
9:29- Wanda Sykes roasts Simon, laughs about how each week the loser has to sing before they get kicked off and accurately asks how anyone will get up the nerve to kick Big Mike off the show!!
9:31- More Results! Ryan calls Siobhan, Mike and Tim down to center stage.
9:32- Cut to Ellen looking morose! Cheer up Ellen!
9:33- Siobhan is safe! Mike is safe! Tim is in the bottom three! (Thank goodness!)
9:34- David Cook travels to Ethiopia to shed light on girls in servitude.
9:43- A video of Annie Lennox’s trip to Africa, plus a prerecorded performance because she got stuck in England due to the Icelandic volcano.
9:56- Mary J. Blige’s all-star band! Including Travis Barker, Orianthi and Randy Jackson! How could this get stranger? How about by making them sing “Stairway to Heaven!” Actually, this wasn’t bad. Randy and Orianthi rocked on guitar, Mary had the best vocals of the night and Travis was rockin those drums!
10:01- Simon travels to Arizona to meet Dr. John and his mobile hospital which treats 5,000 children a year!
10:04- Ben Affleck wants you to donate! What are you waiting for?
10:09- Elton John sings “Your Song.”
10:20- “Idol Gives Back” is over. Did you donate yet? Now, it’s time for the dreaded results. Would someone be going home tonight? It’s looking like Ryan is actually going to give someone the boot during a telethon. Wow! First, he sends Aaron to safety, leaving Tim and Casey in the bottom two. Which would it be? Well, Tim’s luck finally ran out and he was sent home!

So, here’s to you Tim Urban, the contestant most likely to end up on Sesame Street. You smiled even when the judges criticized you, proving that you’re the Energizer Bunny of Criticism (or at least the second coming of Sanjaya minus the crying girl). Good job getting this far and we’ll see you on the Idol tour.

What did you think of tonight’s extravaganza? Do you think “Idol” succeeded in raising awareness about a host of charities, or do you think they should have saved this for its own special? Did Tim deserve to go home tonight, should it have been another singer, or should the producers have spared the singers an elimination? And was I the only one finding it hard to take Ryan seriously on any of this? Post below and be back next week as the Top 6 tackles Shania Twain’s songs (what the?!). –Chris Sardelli

What was meant to be an inspirational seven-song set list, instead turned into the Whitney Houston/R.Kelly Karaoke night. For every high note, like Lee’s shining moment on a Simon and Garfunkel song, there was a low moment, such as most of Tim’s performance. For everything Crystal did right (the a cappella, the emotional finish), there was everything Siobhan did wrong (the oddly placed butterflies, the peculiar rambling at the end). Yes folks, it was another inconsistent outing from the strangest season of “Idol” yet.

Tonight’s theme was “Inspirational Songs” with our newest guest mentor, Alicia Keys. And while she has some great songs, and I don’t doubt she’s pretty inspirational, I got the feeling she may have been holding back on critiquing our Top 7.

I guess we should look at what went right tonight first. And how can we have that conversation without first looking at the Mamasox herself, Crystal. Singing “People Get Ready,” she really took a chance this week, deciding to sing without an instrument. It was almost as if she’s trying to prove something to all those naysayers who are certain she’s hiding behind that guitar. Well, there was no hiding tonight as Mamasox belted out the entire first part of the song a cappella. As if that wasn’t enough, Crystal matched her backup singers note for note, and delivered a very genuine performance. To top it all off, as if she hasn’t already sealed her appearance in the final two, Crystal began to cry at the end. People should have no problem relating to her this week and she will definitely be back for the Top 6.

Also good tonight were Lee, Casey and Mike. All three have really grown over the last few weeks and seem to be really coming into their respective voices. I would say Casey is the most improved vocally, sounding almost like Huey Lewis tonight as he sang Bill Clinton’s favorite song “Don’t Stop Believing.” The only problem I have with Casey is that he sounds too much like a singer from a different era, making me wonder what kind of contemporary record he’d be able to release after “Idol” is over.

Michael “Big Mike” Lynche showed last week that he was worth using the Judges’ Save on. Tonight, he had more to prove, to show if he was going to last even longer. So I wasn’t sure what he was thinking when he chose the Chad Kroeger song “Hero.” It’s a good song, and just like Simon said, it was a kickin’ choice for the “Spider Man” soundtrack. But was it worthy of Mike’s R&B-infused sound? Actually, yes it was. Mike demonstrated the force of his voice, rising above the backup band, but he probably should have picked a better song. I will deduct points for that totally clichéd point at the crowd, but overall he did well. I predict that he’ll join Lee and Crystal in the top three.

And speaking of Lee, this guy just gets better and better. Tonight he sounded great on his first slowed down rock tune, “The Boxer.” Not only did it show his range, but it showed his versatility. Alicia Keys offered some good advice when she told him to make sure he connected on the song, something he’s been missing over the last few weeks. I agree with Simon that it was sincere and emotional and that he made the song sound current. Hurry up and make an album so I can buy it already Lee!

And then there was our Bottom Three of the night (or at least the three I think will land there on Wednesday night). First, let’s look at the best of the worst, Aaron Kelly. I like the kid, I really do. He seems polite, he calls Ellen “ma’am” and he’s slowly turning into Justin Bieber. Plus, when he’s good, he’s amazing. Unfortunately, I think the producers picked the apple a little too early when they chose Aaron for “Idol.” He started off a little shaky tonight, but he really nailed some of those final notes on “I Believe I Can Fly.” I think once he gets over his nerves, gains a little more life experience and becomes more comfortable on stage, this kid is gonna be really good.

Fighting for the last spot of the night are Tim and Siobhan. Now before you start complaining about how I could put Siobhan, who can sing, in the same category as Tim, who dances with Muppets, let me explain. I’m solely judging these two based on their performances tonight. Tim’s rendition of “Better Days” just fell flat, even though he’s drastically improved since the beginning of the season. And Siobhan’s tackling of “When You Believe” was all over the place, alternating between off-key notes and those awkward butterflies.

So, were you inspired by tonight’s performances or did the Top 7 just make you want to flip the channel? Is this Tim’s week to go home or will someone else be shipped off the show? Did Alicia Keys actually offer any advice? And do you think the producers will follow suit with past “Idol Gives Back” episodes and not send anyone home? (I mean, it’s not very inspirational to kick someone off “Idol” is it?) Leave your comments below and come on back Wednesday for the “Idol Gives Back” extravaganza! –Chris Sardelli

Somehow I completely let Seacrest’s antics slip by me in my recap, so I figured we’d take a quick moment to examine what he did. Ryan was all over the place Tuesday night, from dancing with some random dude during Tim’s performance, to commenting on guest mentor Adam Lambert’s tongue (right in front of their moms!) to grabbing that “Glee” guy’s hat and wearing it to making that somewhat shocking and completely out-of-nowhere-eight-years-too-late diss at Brian Dunkleman. I think Ryan may have gone off the deep end. And if life were like a comic book, I’m sure the pop-up thought bubble around Simon’s head probably read: “Only two more months to go. Maybe Susan Boyle will fill in for me next week? I’ll have to give her a call….”

Looking at Ryan during the results show, everything seemed back to normal. So, either the producers had a nice little chat with him last night, or someone shot a blow dart full of tranquilizers at him. Either way, it was business as usual for double-elimination night. Well, everything except that double elimination. Because Michael “Big Mike” Lynche was spared elimination last week, that meant the “Idol” gods were unhappy and the scales needed to be adjusted before the show could continue. Thus, the double elimination was born. (And for all you people who say the double cut is cruel, it’s not like we made them fight Gladiator style. The two singers are still going on the road this summer! They are going to be OK, trust me.)

In Elvis speak, the opening segment of tonight’s episode can only be known as “The King of all that is Cheesy.” Yup, it was time once again for the group sing-along! Tonight it was a medley of Elvis numbers, sung by our lip-synching, but still solid, Top 9. Here’s some random thoughts I had as the singers bounced awkwardly about the stage: What’s up with Katie’s noodle legs?; Tim singing “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” = yikes!; since when does Lee sound like Michael Buble?; could Crystal be any more uncomfortable in the group numbers?; Simon doesn’t seem to dig Siobhan, though Randy seems to dig Casey; and does this corny medley remind anyone of a bad Vegas revue/$2 all-you-can-eat buffet show?

It seemed that time was of the essence tonight, since the producers decided to air the Ford music video immediately after the group number. Tonight’s video had the singers performing “Light and Day/Reach For the Sun,” as they avoided randomly sprouting Redwoods in the middle of the street. This was “Idol’s” take on “going green,” but it left me confused. Does this mean Ford cars are biodegradable and can be turned into mulch? If so, I am totally buying a Toyota. I don’t want my ride to melt in the rain.

After a quick commercial break, it was time for part one of the results. Who would be the first of two singers to get the boot tonight? Ryan immediately plucked Casey, Aaron and Andrew from the couches of safety and dragged them to the middle of the stage. And with the least amount of suspense ever given on an “Idol” stage, Ryan quickly announced Andrew was leaving the competition. Just like the rest of the audience, I think it took a few seconds to dawn on Andrew too. Ryan then told Casey and Aaron they were safe.

Up next were the night’s first musical guests, Season 7 finalist Brooke White and Justin Gaston. Now Brooke I knew, but Gaston, he was a mystery. So I typed his name into the interweb and found out who he is. Apparently, he’s one of several performers who will be documented on a web series called “If I Can Dream,” created by none other than Simon Fuller. What a coincidence! Other interesting facts about Mr. Gaston: He was a contestant on country-singing competition “Nashville Star’s” sixth season, he was an underwear model and he used to date Miley Cyrus.

At first I didn’t get this match-up, but then they sang the Elvis song “If I Can Dream.” And I still didn’t get it. While Brooke sounded as good as she always does (she’s like Carly Simon 2.0: The Next Generation), Gaston sounded like he’d just woken up, alternating from periods of screams to mumbles. (And what was up with that Antonio Banderas hairstyle? It was so distracting!) At the end of their odd performance, Ryan told the audience the pair had just met about a week ago. Well, it totally showed. Maybe Brooke needs to go back to singing solo. And Gaston needs to seriously rethink the hair.

Pretty soon we were back to results and Ryan was dragging the rest of the contestants on to the stage. First to be led back to safety was Crystal, followed quickly by Siobhan and Lee. That left Katie, Michael and Tim to duke it out for that final bottom spot.

But before we could find out who was making the long trip home, it was time for the last guest performer of the night, the King of Scream himself, Adam Lambert. Singing his new single “Whataya Want From Me,” Mr. Lambert started the song out slow, doing his best Bono impression while clouds of green mist and lasers danced around him. It took forever for the song to finally get going, and when I expected the lights to finally come up, we were still left trying to figure out where he was on stage. (Thank goodness he was wearing that glittery jacket or we would never have found him!) Apparently the crew was a little too heavy on the smoke machines, and it looked like a scene from “Phantom of the Opera.” This was all probably for the best, though, since it didn’t seem as if Glambert moved around the stage at all! Oh well, at least his voice was good.

Back to the eliminations, Ryan called the last three back on stage. Would it be Katie, Mike or Tim? He immediately granted amnesty to Tim, who has now surprisingly shot his way into the Top 7! Wow, I’d like to say I didn’t see that coming, but I’ve become jaded and I had a feeling a legion of tween speed-texters had probably saved the dude again. That left just Katie and Michael. How horrible would it have been if the audience sent Michael home anyway? Well, not to worry, because it was time for Katie to head home. And Ryan said Michael wasn’t even in the Bottom Three!

So here’s to you Andrew and Katie! Andrew, you never lived “Straight Up” down, though your cover of “Forever” was amazing. Here’s hoping you pick a better bunch of songs for your first album. And Katie, try to remember, you are only 17. Try to down your old soul and put that big voice to work on some current songs!

Were you shocked by tonight’s double elimination? Were you worried that Michael was about to go home, taking the only judges’ save with him? Did Andrew and Katie deserve to go home, or do you wish one of those spots was taken by Tim? And was I the only one who couldn’t see Glambert through all that haze? Post your Idol-tastic comments and remarks below and then set your DVRs because next week isn’t just about Inspirational Songs. Nope, next week marks the return of Idol Gives Back! See you then! –Chris Sardelli

With two singers on the line this week, I was interested to see how motivated they were to sing their hearts out during Elvis Week! Even more interesting was the revelation that this week’s guest mentor was none other than the King of Scream himself, last year’s “Idol” runner-up, Adam Lambert. This is an interesting choice on the producers’ part, choosing a former contestant as a mentor. It’s never happened before and I’m surprised the first honor went to Adam. Was Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood or Chris Daughtry busy? (Heck, I probably would’ve even settled for Fantasia or Taylor Hicks. Maybe somebody with a little more experience?)

To help me gauge this week’s performances, I did a little recon and recruited a panel of “Idol” experts to give me a little of their insight about each of the Top 9 singers. Meet tonight’s “Idol” panel:
Chris L. “The Idol Expert”- He knows every name for every contestant that’s ever been on the show (yes, even that red-haired guy who sang Frank Sinatra songs). Plus, he guessed last year during the Hollywood Round that Adam Lambert would be in the Top 2. So I’d listen to him if I were you.
Katie G. “The Fiancé”- As in my fiancé, who has been watching this show with me for all 9 seasons. I think she’s ready for the Idol madness to end.
Lori “The Simultaneous Lost/Idol Watcher” – One of my coworkers who harbors the same love of television that I do. If they show it on TV, there’s a good chance one of us has seen it.
Katie H. “Loves Tim Urban” – Another one of my coworkers, she loves “Idol” and Tim Urban. And when she doesn’t like a contestant, she lets me know. (And I’m sure she’ll let you know too.)

Using what they’ve seen throughout the season, my guest panel offered their predictions for how Elvis Night would go and who has the best shot at sticking around. So check out what they thought would happen, followed by how it actually went down:

Crystal Bowersox

The predictions:
Chris L.: As usual, Crystal will do well - so far she's been able to mold her sultry voice into each genre very nicely. I can't see her messing up Elvis too much.
Katie G.: I think she’ll do great as usual. She’ll pick something more bluesy Elvis and make it her own.
Lori: She will rock out as always!
Katie H.: Perfect week for her! I’m still waiting on something more current!
How it actually went down: In what we’ll call Missed Opportunity Part 1, Crystal chose “Saved” to start off the night. Adam Lambert said her voice is authentic, Randy compared her to Bonnie Raitt and Simon said it sounded original. I’d say that even though her voice was on point once again, this wasn’t Crystal’s best showing. At points it sounded a little Wayne Newton-esque (which fits with the Elvis theme), and I worry voters may forget her since she was in slot #1.

Andrew Garcia

The predictions:
Chris L.: Andrew should do well if he is able to find the right song he is able to make his own. (or change up a song enough to get a comparison to "Straight Up").
Katie G.: I hope he’s not so scared of Elvis that he doesn’t make one of these songs his own.
Lori: He has the ability and style to make this his night.
Katie H.: Andrew has potential; however I doubt he’ll pull through.
How it actually went down: Ignoring Adam Lambert’s advice on how to punch up “Hound Dog,” Andrew fell back into lounge singer mode. His voice sounded great but that wasn’t enough to rise over the boring arrangement and too-slow melody. The judges seemed to want a little swagger too, so unfortunately it looks like Andrew definitely failed at making this song his own. It looks like the Katies pegged this performance.

Tim Urban

The predictions:
Chris L.: I think luck has been on his side lately. I can't hear him doing Elvis at all and I think his time is near.
Katie G.: If Elvis was ever on Sesame Street, this is how it would’ve looked like. Just add Muppets!
Lori: Cute guy, but not feeling it. Elvis in High School Musical? Not!
Katie H.: Such a doll baby! He actually may surprise us again this week!
How it actually went down: Katie H. was right, he did surprise us! I’m still not a Tim fan, but his stripped down version of “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” was, as Kara said, one of the better Tim performances. He should’ve stuck with Adam’s advice for singing in a higher octave at the end and it would’ve completely sold the performance. Though you know you had a good performance when Simon tells you that you’ve gone from “zero to hero.” I can’t help but agree with Katie G. though, that one of two things needs to happen. Either vote this guy out or get some Muppets from Sesame Street. Seriously, this guy needs to duet with Kermit.

Lee Dewyze

The predictions:
Chris L.: I think rocker Lee Dewyze will be the best. I can easily see him doing some top Elvis rock numbers - Hound Dog or Heartbreak Hotel would be my picks for Lee.
Katie G.: This theme could work for him.
Lori: Lee will kill it! This is right up his alley!
Katie H.: Lee is amazing regardless! He will definitely rock out this week! Hottie!
How it actually went down: The guest panel was right, Lee rocked out tonight. His version of “A Little Less Conversation” was amazing. His voice showed a lot of strength and he made the song sound more current. He even showed more personality! All in all, this guy just keeps getting better.

Aaron Kelly

The predictions:
Chris L.: To me, Aaron sounds like Rascal Flats. Elvis did some country - if Aaron is able to find the right "Elvis-country-song-that-sounds-like-a-Rascal-Flats-soundalike" he'll do just fine. I'm sure all the little girls will vote for him, even if he only gets on stage and burps.
Katie G.: Poor little Aaron Kelly, he’s as far away from hip-shaking Elvis as you can get!
Lori: I don’t think he is strong enough to do Elvis.
Katie H.: I’m over this year’s David Archuleta- Boo!
How it actually went down: “Blue Suede Shoes?” Really? Out of all 800 Elvis songs, and out of all of the King’s country catalog you pick this song? I figured he’d pick a lesser known country tune and modernize it. But this is what we got instead. I give him points for showing some more swagger, hitting all his notes and finally settling on a more current (and dare I say, Justin Bieber-esque) outfit. But the guest panelists said it best: Aaron Kelly is no Elvis.

Siobhan Magnus

The predictions:
Chris L.: Adam Lambert will probably figure out a way to get a SCREAM from Siobhan doing an Elvis song. Didn't Adam do that last year with Ring of Fire?
Katie G.: I think it’ll be a match made in heaven, but not between her and Elvis, but her and Adam Lambert- they both love to scream their songs.
Lori: She gets on my nerves, so I don’t think she’ll do good.
Katie H.: As long as she doesn’t scream- hopefully I can become a fan again!
How it actually went down: I was excited to hear somebody sing “Suspicious Minds,” but I’m pretty sure Siobhan killed that dream. I’m not sure if it was her weird 1980s Star Search outfit (or as Katie G. called it: “she’s like a character from ‘Dallas’”), or if it’s her weird whisper-scream-whisper-scream tendencies, but this performance was not very good. I figured she’d do well with an oddball mentor like Lambert, but things just didn’t click for her this week. Lori called this one.

Michael Lynche

The predictions:
Chris L.: Elvis had tons of soul and so does this guy. After tempting elimination last week, I'm sure he'll "bring it" with a great Elvis soul classic.
Katie G.: I’m intrigued to see how Big Mike turns Elvis into an R&B love song.
Lori: The judges love him, so whatever he does they will like it.
Katie H.: Ehh…Big Mike and Elvis…Idk?!?!
How it actually went down: This had the potential to be the worst of the night and I’m happy to say it was actually one of the best. Singing “In the Ghetto,” Big Mike did what our guest panelist Katie G. thought he might- turn an Elvis song into a cool, R&B sorta-love song. His voice sounded the best it has in weeks and he sounded very heartfelt. I think Big Mike redeemed himself and should garner enough votes to stay in the competition. Randy said his vocals were hot and Simon said it was a terrific choice.

Katie Stevens

The predictions:
Chris L.: I think Katie will do well with a slower Elvis number - Suspicious Minds, Can't help Falling in Love or Are You Lonesome Tonight would be good for her. I think she would mess it up with an upbeat Elvis number. If she tries that, she's gone. No doubt.
Katie G.: Big voice, big song- could be hit or miss, but it’ll probably sound like a 30-year-old sang it.
Lori: If she sings a slow song like “Love Me Tender,” she’ll be OK.
Katie H.: Song choice will be key- she has an amazing voice!
How it actually went down: Katie decided to channel her frustration at all those confusing judges’ comments into “Baby, What Do You Want Me To Do.” It only sorta worked. Her voice was crystal clear as usual and she always hits her notes, but the arrangement left me feeling like something was missing. The guest panel said song choice would be key here, and I think she sang the wrong song.

Casey James

The predictions:
Chris L.: Casey should fare well with his guitar. In other words, his guitar should do well. For some reason, I can't hear Casey doing an Elvis number. His guitar playing should easily outshine his singing.
Katie G.: He will probably do “Jailhouse Rock.” He’s probably salivating over this theme.
Lori: Oh yeah…hot guy that sings great- he will be awesome!
Katie H.: He should do well. I’m still wanting a little more though.
How it actually went down: And we’ll call this performance Missed Opportunity Part 2. Singing a song I’ve never heard of, “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” Casey’s performance sounded like a jam session we would’ve heard on CMT’s “Crossroads.” Once again, like many of his fellow contestants before him, Casey didn’t take Adam’s advice. Adam suggested creating a more interesting arc with the song, but instead it all fell flat. On the plus side, this guy’s voice has never sounded better! And just like Chris L. said, this performance was all about Casey’s guitar.

Based on all we heard tonight, I’d say the best of the night have to be Crystal, Lee and Michael. And the Bottom Three will most likely be Katie, Aaron and Andrew.

What did you think of the return of the Top 9? Were you impressed with their takes on the King’s music, or are you looking forward to seeing two contestants get the boot? Did you agree with tonight’s blog guest panel? Is there any chance Adam Lambert will duet with cooky glass-blower Siobhan? And did you think it was a low blow when Ryan Seacrest openly dissed his former TV partner Brian Dunkleman? Leave your comments below and tune in Wednesday as we say goodbye to two more Idols! –Chris Sardelli