American Idol: Top 20 Revealed

(S07E13) Take a last look at that picture because a year from now you won't even remember four of their names. But which four? Tonight was the first viewer-voted elimination and we had to say goodbye to the bottom two boys and the bottom two girls. It's also the first really live show as the previous two were pre-recorded for time considerations.

Do I have to say SPOILER WARNING after the jump?

So how do you fill an hour of results show? It helps to have four eliminations to get through. They also played the photo shoot video that had originally been available exclusively online at AmericanIdol.com was played to Daughtry's "What About Now." Oh the Idol loves the Daughtry.

Ryan talked with Paula about the fact that some of the contestants have been in the industry already, which has been a big point of controversy this season. Paula, who I'm sure was coached to discuss this the way she did considering she virtually repeated what Nigel Lythgoe has said to the press, talked about how it's to be expected.

And there's always room for a '60s medley performed by the Top 24. Tonight's medley featured microphones that were set too low, so I found myself straining and leaning forward to hear them over the band. These medleys are always a disaster when there are so many contestants as so many of them just don't sound good in it, they have no idea how to harmonize together or move together. But the guys looked dapper in their MIB suits while the girls rocked various '60s women's styles. And how awkward was the ending where they tried to get into position? They looked around like they were lost and then threw their arms out for the final pose, which I'm sure was a photo op.

28 million votes later it was time to start thinning the herd. The guys, still decked out in their suits, were the first to get the news. Ryan started by bringing Garrett Haley up to chat, but instead cut him right there. And then there were 23. I can't say is this comes as a huge surprise. Garrett got no screen time prior to Tuesday night's show so that was our first chance to see him and he really failed to deliver a memorable performance. It's so tender and precious to see the family up in the red room looking down at the ousted contestant as they sing their swan song.

Need more American Idol? Get an inside look at Season 7's contestants and think back to these scathing (and hilarious) Simon Cowell quotes. Also: Who do you love? Rank the contestants!

Next it was time to bring up the girls. He brought up Kristy Lee Cook to give her a heart attack and talk about her bout with the flu. But it's not her. It's Amy Davis. This one I did call as she came across really poorly in her performance last night. Paula told her she was beautiful and talented. After her swan song while the girls huddled and hugged on stage, Kady Malloy (I think it was her) turned and gave an eye rolling tongue poking expression of boredom or disdain or mini-stroke; I have no idea what that was.

Another time-filler is Paula and Randy's "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" video. Of course, savvy TV Squad readers have already seen it, but this was my first chance to see it full-sized. Randy got his groove on and Paula got her move on. I thought the song every bit as good as Paula's prior tracks and actually think it will be cool if she does go through with making a new album after this as has been discussed. Again, what the hell are Ryan and Simon doing at the end of that?

Back to the eliminations, it's time to cut out one more and Ryan narrows it down to Amanda Overmyer and Joanne Borgella before doing his first "after the break" commercial cut. (You know he loves doing that.) Ultimately, it was the end of the road for Joanne Borgella. I didn't have her as picked to get cut but I did peg her as needing to be worried. Turned out she needed to be more worried than I thought. Joanne showed a little more personality and vocal ability in her encore performance. Have you ever noticed how many contestants are able to do so much better when the pressure is off. So apparently the girls eliminated the models in their midst.

The last guy removed from the competition was narrowed down to Chikezie and Colton DeGeneres--I mean Berry. This elimination was the first real shocker of the night as it was Colton Berry we said goodbye to. I don't think Colton necessarily had it in him to make the Top 12 but it was definitely time for Chikezie and his attitude to go. I hate to say it, but the guys who got thrown out were the "weirdest" looking ones.

Colton had to wait for the goodbye video montage before he got to sing his final song. This year's "goodbye" video montage song is Graham Colton's "Best Days." Wanna see the video? Who loves ya?


RESULTS
Boys Voted Out: Garrett Haley & Colton Berry
Girls Voted Out: Amy Davis & Joanne Borgella

MY PICKS
In the end I went 1-3 with my picks only getting Amy Davis right which tells you why I am not a betting man. My wife did me one better by going 3-1 only getting Chikezie wrong, so she was close.

YOUR PICKS
For the boys you guys picked Chikezie at the lowest, followed by Garrett and Colton. So you almost had it just right. I think we can all agree that Chikezie is an ass, though, and we don't like him. For the girls you had Joanne way at the bottom, followed by Kristy Lee Cook and then Amy Davis. So again you almost had it just right. Ultimately and officially you went 2-2 which is still better than I did.

None of these losses is shocking to the point that any of those four deserved to have gone very far in the competition, so it's all good. The remaining 20 finalists keep it going next week on another three-night extravaganza.