Michael Becker / FOXRyan Seacrest started up with his "you stand to the right of the stage and you stand to the left" antics again tonight on American Idol.
With only seven contestants left, it was time to stretch out the drama, this time by grouping the finalists by levels of safety and making them sweat it out.
So, what did it mean when Phillip Phillips, Hollie Cavanagh and Colton Dixon were standing on one side and Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone, Joshua Ledet were on the other—and safe little Skylar Laine was asked to choose which group she belonged with?!
"They got it so wrong tonight, baby," Randy Jackson said, shaking his head at the bottom three—Jessica, Joshua and Elise!
"First thing I'm going to do is get a new flat screen," said Jimmy Iovine, who had predicted that Phillip and Hollie would both be in danger.
And Steven Tyler, referring to the judges' one save, promised, "We're going to use our card tonight, especially with an outcome like this."
And sure enough, just seconds into Jessica Sanchez's(!) for-the-save performance, Jennifer Lopez ran onto the stage and grabbed the microphone out of her hand.
"This is crazy! Yes, we're using the save!" she cried. "You ain't going home. Go sit down, go sit down!"
"This is one of the best singers in America!" Randy chimed in. "Are you kidding me?! Vote for the best!"
So...whew!
"I thought they were coming up to sing with me," a still-stunned Jessica, around for at least another week, said afterward.
But you know what this means—two go home next week!