Simon Cowell, when alluding to the big shiny new twist that will be unveiled tonight, admitted that America might not be happy with the change in format, because it gives more power to the judges.  American Idol has, for all I know, stayed consistent with how they've eliminated singers since the beginning - America votes and that is that.  Doesn't matter what the judges think, doesn't matter if the person with the lowest votes has potential, or was sick, or had a bad night - they were gone, logic and reason be damned.  This has been one of American Idol's key characteristics - America acts as the judge, the jury and the executioner.  If American Idol changes into a So You Think You Can Dance type format, where the judges get to choose who goes home out of the bottom three, well, I don't think that's a good thing.  I'll give American Idol the benefit of the doubt, but I fear that the SYTYCD format will begin tonight.  Either way, two contestants are going home tonight, and they could come from any one of, by my count, seven singers - Scott MacIntyre, Megan Corkrey, Anoop Desai, Jasmine Murray, Kris Allen, Michael Sarver and Jorge Nunez. 

Keep your interweb dial tuned to BuddyTV tonight, because I'll be here throughout the live results show, squashing live thoughts like Mario squashes Goombas.

American Idol 8: Season in Review - Jasmine Murray
American Idol 8: Season in Review - Jorge Nuñez
American Idol 8: Top 13 Performance Rankings


In case you care, here are my elimination picks:

Lowest/Eliminated: Jorge Nunez
2nd Lowest/Eliminated: Jasmine Murray
3rd Lowest/Safe: Anoop Desai

OK - so, apparently the twist might look something like this: Once during the season, the American Idol judges can veto an elimination, bringing that person back for another week.  This could be used in an interesting manner, given the double elimination tonight.  Maybe they can put off the double elimination for a week or, later on down the line, create another double elimination by saving someone.  We'll find out soon.

Wow, I caught the end of FOX's !!!BRAND NEW SERIES!!!  Lie to Me.  It was quite horrid, but maybe it's just my predisposition to abhor all procedurals.  Tim Roth – you are better than this.  Apparently, he turned down a role in Tarantino's WWII movie to star on this TV show.

We see video of the Top 13 contestants seeing the house they'll be living in during the competition.  It's huge mansion.  Basketball court, pool, theater room, steam room, bowling alley.  They are living the life. 

Hey, it's the Group Song.  A medley of Jackson 5 hits.  It starts with “I Want You Back.”  The opening of “I Want You Back” is easily a top 10 song opening of all-time.  The group songs are still corny as hell. 

Danny Gokey does a terrible solo dance for reasons only Satan himself knows.

Ryan shows us what happened last night.  People sang, hearts swooned, loins gurgled, tween girls cried into their pillows, a middle-aged Michael Jackson paid no attention.

Time for results!  Or not.  We watch the first of the gawdawful Ford music videos. 

Now, some results.  Michael Sarver is brought to his feet.  Michael Sarver is safe. 

Allison stands up.  Allison Iraheta is safe.

Jasmine Murray stands up.  Jasmine is taken to the middle of the stage.  Matt Giraud stands up.  He mistakenly thinks he's been summoned to the middle of the stage.  Ryan tells him to sit back down.  Matt Giraud is safe.  Kris Allen and Megan Corkrey are told to stand.  Kris Allen is safe. 

Megan is taken to the middle of the stage.  Either Megan or Jasmine are going home. 

Megan Corkrey is safe.  Yes!

Jasmine Murray has been eliminated.

So, Jasmine sings her song one more time.  It's fine, just like it was last night.  The judges are smart enough to know that saving someone at this point would be completely asinine.  Goodbye, Jasmine.  After she sings, Ryan asks Randy whether they'll be saving Jasmine.  No, no they will not. Jasmine cries and Ryan does a nice, sweet job of consoling her.  We watch Jasmine's journey in video form.

I'm a big Kanye fan, but his recent use of the Auto-Tune plain sucks.  I hate Auto-Tune.  Stop it, Kanye.  Stop it, Lil Wayne.  I hope Kanye has some new song or something. Nope - he's singing "Heartless" and trying to sing.  This is stupid.  Excuse me while I fix myself a snack.

Time for some more results.  I'm one for one with my Jasmine pick.  Now, it's time for Jorge to get the boot.

Next - The Results>>