Due to a Presidental Address, American Idol aired on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

After picking the first three of 12 finalists last week - Michael Starver, Alexis Grace and Danny Gokey - tonight's set of contestants would result in three more being chosen. The judges were flipped in their seating - from right to left, Simon, Paula, Kara and Randy - which Cowell intimated was done because of the lighting. Whatever… Paula looked and acted doped up.

The performers on tap were Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud, Jeanine Vailes, Allison Iraheta, Nick Mitchell, Kris Allen, Mishavonna Henson, Megan Joy Corkery, Matt Breitzke, Jesse Langseth, Kai Kalama and Adam Lambert. They were allowed to sing any song from the Billboard Top 100.

Jasmine started the night. She recalled that a year ago, her mother was saying that she'd be on the show, but Murray never believed it. She chose to see "Love Song" by Sara Bareilles. Randy thought the song was all wrong for her. Kara pointed out that the low register of the song really didn't suit her. Paula gave her credit for her confidence, but the song was wrong. Simon declared she had everything but a great voice. He suggested that she might be ready in a couple of years.

Matt Giraud did Cold Play's "Viva La Vida" - the one from all those iTunes commercials - and during his performance, he did some funky dance moves. Kara led off the criticism, saying that she thought he was a blues guy and that song was not right. Paula appreciated that he took a risk and he was better than his rehearsal, but she wasn't sure. Cowell called it a horrible performance, mentioning the jerky moves. Randy called him one of his favorites in the competition. He told him to do more Ray Charles if he remains. Matt said he picked Cold Play because that's the kind of music he wants to do. Simon said if that's the case, he won't win American Idol.

Jeanine Vailes admitted that she has been flying under the radar till now. The 28-year-old bartender was hoping to get through because she's been singing for 14 years and waiting to make it. She sang Maroon 5's "This Love." It was a disastrous choice. Paula led off with admiring her legs. Everyone agreed she had great legs. Simon called the performance terrible. The song was inappropriate. Randy said the only good part was the ending because it was over. Kara said it was overdone. Jeanine pleaded with America to give her another chance.

Nick Mitchell, a.k.a. Norman Gentle, did "I'm Telling You, I'm Not Going" and delivered the most entertaining performance ever - funny and dramatic and all over the stage. He wore a white tail jacket with khaki shorts and a sparkly shirt. He sang to the AI logo and ad libbed during the song. He got a rousing ovation. Simon was giggling and Randy told Cowell to go first. Simon said he prayed that Nick didn't go through to the next round. He said it was an atrocious performance, horrific comedy. Nick called Simon "Mr. Sassypants." Randy appreciated the comedy, but not the voice. Kara said he was memorable; he wore the same shirt every week like Simon. She enjoyed him. Paula - who seemed doped up to me - compared him to Olivia Newton John and Jerry Lewis. She said he was fun and memorable. Ryan didn't know what to say so he just stammered incoherently.

Ryan interviewed Allison Iraheta and she sounded like an idiot. She couldn't answer a question. Either she was a dumb 16-year-old or really goofy. She sang "Alone" by Heart. Wearing a short, black cocktail dress, she belted and rocked out in a very raw way. The judges loved her. Randy said she blew it out of the box. Kara said she doesn't know how good she is yet. Paula admired how she used the microphone. She compared her to Kelly Clarkson. Simon said she was the best of the night.

Kris Allen, performing without his guitar, chose the Michael Jackson song "The Man in the Mirror." Kara liked half the performance and thought he was better in Hollywood. She hated the song choice. Paula disagreed completely. She thought he nailed the song. Simon agreed with Paula. He felt Kris looked good and sounded confident. He thinks the girls will love him. Randy was proud of him and liked the performance.

Megan Joy Corkery revealed that she's a young mother and she wants to win. Wearing a short, white summery-looking dress, she sang "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. Paula liked the song and said the camera loved her. Thumbs up from Abdul. Simon liked the first part more than the second part of the song. He hoped that America votes for her. Randy also wants to see her in future rounds. Kara said she was a package artist and she could be a breakout artist if she gets the right video and song.

Professional welder Matt Breitzke was up next. He performed Tonic's "If You Can Only See." Simon said he hated the song. He was frustrated with that song choice and Simon was really sorry because he wanted him to do well. Matt defended his choice. Randy said the performance was boring. Kara wanted the song to show more. Paula liked his voice but she wanted a better song.

The next performer was Jesse Langseth. She chose Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes." Randy said it was a cool performance, but not exciting. He wanted her to stretch. Kara said she took some risks. Paula thought she was captivating. Simon thought Jesse was forgettable and it was "too cool for school."

Dressed in all black, Kai Kalama sang "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted?" by Jimmy Ruffin. Kara said she liked him but complained about pitch issues. She thought the song was old-fashioned. Paula admired his performance but she thinks he needs to work on it. Simon thought it was a corny performance, nothing distinctive. He said Kai could be a back up singer. Randy said it was too safe and not what he was looking for.

Mishavonna Henson, a student from Irvine, sang "Drops of Jupiter" by Train and promised not to let America down. Paula liked her singing, but not the song choice. Simon said the song is great, but her performance left him cold. He said she acted like a 50-year-old. Randy said the performance was too old and a soloist shouldn't sing a band song. Kara wanted her to shake it up and be looser. Mishavonna said she wanted to be different and that's why she chose the song.

The last singer was Adam Lambert of Hollywood. He's already a Broadway singer and very accomplished. He chose The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" and tried to give it his own spin. Paula clapped enthusiastically. She felt she was at an Adam Lambert concert and leaving the others in the rear view mirror. Simon found there were parts that were brilliant and parts awful. He predicted that Adam would get through. Randy loved it even though it was a bit manic. Kara liked his vocal range and thought it was very impressive.

Tomorrow night, the results of the vote.

P.S. I predict Adam, Nick and Allison will win the vote.

It was judgment night for the second group of 12 semi-finalists. After performing on Wednesday night, 25 million people voted and Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud, Jeanine Vailes, Allison Iraheta, Nick Mitchell, Kris Allen, Mishavonna Henson, Megan Joy Corkery, Matt Breitzke, Jesse Langseth, Kai Kalama and Adam Lambert, learned their fate.

After a video recap of the dozen - padding, padding, padding - the group performed an opening number. They sang Ne-Yo's "Closer" and at times it looked like some were mugging for the camera and some had no idea where to go on stage. Fortunately, nobody tripped or ran into each other. Whew, that was close.

Ryan asked Nick Mitchell what he would do if he doesn't get chosen. Nick answered that he'd be looking for a job. Matt Breitzke tried to make up with Simon for his snippy comment from the night before. Simon held fast to thinking Matt made the wrong choice of song. Jesse Langseth also believed her song, "Bette Davis' Eyes" was right for her. Jeanine Vailes felt she had overdone it the night before.

Allison Irehata was the first to face the results. Ryan reminded her of what the judges said, then did the same with Jesse and Matt. Randy projected that one of the two girls would make it through and predicted Allison was the choice. He was right. Allison was the girl of the night. She did a reprise of last night's song, "Alone" by Heart. Allison said she was freaking happy.

Kris Allen and Megan Corkery were bought to center stage. Megan admitted she was terrified to hear the results. Kris said he was freaking nervous. Then Matt Giraud and Jeanine Vailes were asked to step forward. Matt wasn't confident and Jeanine said she was scared. Of the four, only one made it into the next round. Paula was asked to predict. Jeanine was eliminated first; then Matt. Between Kris and Megan, Kara commented that she had higher expectations. Simon thought Kara was blathering on. (Clearly he didn't know that they were padding to fill the hour.) Kara asked Simon, "Do you ever shut up?" Back to the contestants, Kris was chosen to move on and Megan was rejected.

After thanking the voters, Kris sang Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" again.

Ryan introduced an American Idol retrospective video, to the tune of Louis Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World." It was it slow motion and filled with familiar faces from years gone by. A self-congratulatory pat on the back to AI, by AI.

Last season's competitor Brooke White was introduced at the piano. She said she was glad to be out of the line of fire and wished all the kids well. She sang her new single, which she co-wrote, "Hold Up My Heart." Catchy and sort of like a Carole King song, it was a good performance. It also helped fill the hour.

Ryan did a Ford Fusion promo before explaining their were five more to decide. All five were brought on song, Mishavonna Henson, Kai Kalama, Nick Mitchell, Adam Lambert and Jasmine Murray. Ryan spoke to Misha, Kai and Jasmine, reviewing the judges' comments. All three were eliminated and sent back to their seats.

Nick and Adam remained. Simon said he had prayed that Nick would not be chosen. After one more commercial break (s-t-r-e-t-c-h), Ryan announced that Nick was not going on. Adam admitted that he thought Nick was hilarious, so he was pleasantly surprised that he was voted in. He then sang "Satisfaction" like Mick Jagger again.

Ryan reminded that there was a Wild Card Show coming up in the weeks ahead and some of those eliminated would be back for a second chance.

Next week, the last group of semifinalists-Arianna Afsar, Felicia Barton, Kendall Beard, Ju'Not Joyner, Nathaniel Marshall, Kristen McNamara, Lil' Rounds, Scott MacIntyre, Jorge Nuñez, Von Smith, Taylor Vaifanua and Alex Wagner-Trugman-will have their chance to make it into the final 12.