‘‘American Idol’’ season-two winner Ruben Studdard will perform the ‘‘farewell song’’ used to send off the losing contestants when they depart the show’s top 12.

This year, the song will be a cover of Kenny Loggins’ ‘‘Celebrate Me Home’’ in a new version produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam. ‘‘It’s very soulful, very heartfelt,’’ Lewis says. ‘‘Ruben is singing his pants off.’’

31 million votes cast, but before we got the results, the performers have to butcher a medley and bust some "Brady Bunch" moves.

Michael Lee, Chikezie Eze, Jason Castro, and Danny Noriega are safe. Jason Yeager is going home.

Total shock. Down to Alexandrea Lushington and Amanda L. Overmyer. Overmyer is safe.

Alaina Whitaker was also booted. So much for being Simon Cowell's pick for the underdog.

Robbie Carrico was also booted.

You guys are secretly voting for the people I think are going home, aren't you?

Those viewers ready to turn the show off and crown front-runner David Archuleta the winner may want to think back to last season. Melinda Doolittle was the one to beat and she ended up in third place. On to tonight's show:

Carly Smithson is first with Heart's "Crazy on You." We weren't crazy about it and it lacked heart.

"Beginning was a little rough for me," Jackson said. Cowell thought it was much better than last week, but still thinks she hasn't found the right song yet. "You haven't chosen that one song that will absolutely get you that moment."

Syesha Mercado was all R&B on Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones" (changing the gender of Jones, natch). Randy hated the song choice. He wants her to belt 100 percent of the time. Abdul like the interpretation. "I thought it was a bit indulgent," Cowell said.

Brooke White played guitar for half of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" (stopping for someone reason on the second verse). "It was a great song choice for you," Jackson said.

"Brooke, I absolutely loved it. It was the absolutely perfect song for you. Felt like the artist genuinely picked the song and it didn't sound old-fashion," Cowell said.

Cowell's remarks to "Extra" may have been premature. Chikezie Eze picked "I Believe to My Soul" (written by Ray Charles and made famous by Donny Hathaway) and knocked it out of the park. "You looked better, sounded better," Cowell said. "It was a clever choice in song."

David Cook picked Free's "All Right Now" and his performance was just all right. Cowell felt Cook was "solid, believable," but lacked charisma.

Archuleta sings us out with John Lennon's “Imagine.”

Paula comments were creepy: "I want to squeeze your head off and dangle you from my rearview mirror."

Cowell said the song choice was "risky, but it worked," adding "right now, you're the one to beat."

What'd you guys think?

Vote for the Worst.com's poster boy this season, Danny Noriega, took on The Carpenter's "Superstar." He did a decent job. Cowell thought it was better than last week, but not fantastic. Jackson thought he was over-concentrating.

David Hernandez left no stone unturned with Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong's "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Hernandez added a bit more flourish than I'd like, but the judges liked it. "This was the David Hernandez we fell in love with, " Jackson said. Cowell felt it was the best vocal of the night up until this point.

Jason Yeager abandoned the cabaret theatrics from last week and put in a decent peformance of The Doobie Brothers “Long Train Runnin’.” Cowell felt he looked like he was a drunk at a party.

Jason Castro came across as shy and genuine in the pre-performance interview. I liked his acoustic-tinged version of The Bee Gees' "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" better than the judges did. "[The vocals were] just ok without the guitar," Jackson said. Cowell found it too schmaltzy.

Luke Menard mystifies me. Second week of the competition and he picked "Killer Queen" by Queen as his choice. It's a difficult song to sing and not one that will exactly endear him to the typical "American Idol" voter. Cowell thinks it was a mistake. Abdul and Jackson both liked it.

Faux rocker Robbie Carrico lost the bandanna this week and makes a good song choice in Foreigner's "Hot Blooded." Randy didn't think it had enough "umph" and Abdul thought he played it too safe.

Going into tonight's show, I'm thinking about comments "Idol" judge Simon Cowell said to "Extra."

Cowell think's David Archuleta is the one to beat and Chikezie Eze doesn't stand a chance "unless the other 18 resign."

Ouch. Let us know your thoughts.

Onto the show after the bump.

Amy Davis gone.

And it's between Joanne Borgella and Amanda L. Overmyer? Wow.

Borgella sang "A Little Prayer For You" and there's no prayer.

Colton Berry sang “Suspicious Minds,” but America was skeptical and voted him off.

Not very accurate in predicting who was going home.

Garrett Haley is unceremoniously let go.

We're a bit surprised here. Your thoughts?

Syesha Mercado sang the hell out of John D. Loudermilk's "Tobacco Road."

"You're one of the most talented girls in this competition," Cowell said. "I thought it was terrific."

The coveted last spot went to Carly Smithson. Smithson came clean on this being her second chance (she was previously signed and dropped from a record label).

She selected Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster's "The Shadow of Your Smile. "

“Best vocal of the best 24 right here,” Jackson said.

“I didn’t get it. I didn’t think it was fantastic," Cowell said.

What'd you think?

Alexandrea Lushington put a little of her own blood, sweat and tears into Blood Sweat and Tears' "Spinning Wheel."

“You blew the doors off that,” Jackson said. Abdul said it was very relevant and you could play it on the radio today. Cowell didn't get it.

Kady Malloy performed a not-so-groovy version of Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager’s “A Groovy Kind of Love.”

“That was like ‘Night of the Living Dead’,” Cowell said.

Trade show model Amy Davis with "Where the Boys Are."

Apparently, the boys are all tone-deaf where ever where is.

"When you scoop up to the note, you gotta hit that note dead on," Jackson said.

Brooke White, the singing nanny not named 'Mary Poppins," gave a soulful version of The Turtles "So Happy Together."

“You chose the right song. It was very you,” Cowell said. “I’m struggling with it. I presume you’re going to be nice throughout this competition?”

Our early favorite, Amanda L. Overmyer was up next with Big Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go." She absolutely rocked it out.

Cowell thought when she was scatting that she forgot the words, but still praised her.

"I really like you. I genuinely think you're authentic."

16 year-old Alaina Whitaker warbled her way though Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday" and did a much better job with it than Chikezie Eze did last night.

"You are sailing through to the next round after that [performance]," Cowell said.

Kristy Lee Cook is the first up. She sold a horse to try out for "American Idol." She seems to need rescuing from her rather generic version of Aretha Franklin's "Rescue Me."

Randy Jackson said it was not her best performance. Paula Abdul said despite the bronchitis and flu Cook shouldn't "let it get in the way of your shine or what you emote" (whatever that means). Simon Cowell put it bluntly: "Bronchitis, flu, whatever. It was the wrong choice of song for you."

Plus size-model Joanne Borgella was next with Burt Bacharach's "I Say a Little Prayer For You." She seemed

Last night's episode of "American Idol" seemed to feature a lot of filler in the form of banter between the judges. Hopefully, tonight will be different as the ladies take the stage.

Ryan Seacrest just explained that flu season has hit the "Idol" contestants. I think this might have been an attempt to explain Carly Smithson's absence last night (she was missing from the crowd of 11 female singers watching their male counterparts perform).

Thoughts?

Garrett Haley re-christened Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” as a power ballad. Randy Jackson called it boring.

Jason Castro played guitar on Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Daydream,” but hit a few rank notes. Cowell thought it was in the top two performances of the night.

Michael Johns had the last slot of the night. He sang The Doors' "Light My Fire" without setting things ablaze. Cowell called it consistent.

Top of the night: Archuleta.

Bottom two in my book: Yeager and Eze

The gals have their shot 7-tomorrow night.

The two men and two women with the least amount of votes will be sent home with their dreams dashed on Thursday’s results show.

"American Idol" finally got down to business as the 12 male contestants performed Tuesday night.

The theme is music from the 1960s. First up was David Hernandez. . He gave a gospel-fueled version of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” Cowell said it was better than he expected, but Hernandez needed to loosen up.

Chikezie Eze sang Spiral Staircase’s “More Today Than Yesterday” in full Barry White mode. Cowell hated the suit, the wink and the old-fashioned performance.

While David Cook rocked out to "So Happy Together," the same could not be said for Jason Yeager.

Filling up fast:

Garrett Haley
Kady Malloy
Chikezie Eze
Amy Davis
Alaina Whitaker
Jason Yeager
Asia'h Epperson
David Hernandez

Josiah thinks he's going through, but he is sent packing.

Michael Johns is also through.

Syesha Mercado has great camera presence. Paula makes a bad joke about 'yes' being in the middle of her name.

Robbie Carrico also passed through.

Kristy Lee Cook takes spot number three. Nine girls left.

Brooke White is wearing a really unflattering dress. She cried. They missed with her head and passed her through. Eight girls left.

Danny Noriega take the third spot.

Jason Castro also in. Missed one. Think it was Asia'h Epperson.

Ramiele Malubay marks the half-way point.

David Cook is the first guy to secure a slot. Amanda L. Overmyer is also passed through

Why is Paula playing with people's heads this season?

David Archuleta makes it through. Big surprise. I expect to see him in the top five.

Shameless plug for "Jumper" starts things off on a cheesy note.

Carley Smithson is the first to win a place. Paula played some head games with her first, though.

"You tortured that poor girl," Simon says. Again, agreeing with Simon this season.

At the promo bump: Paula tells David Archuleta "We don't like saying no to people." Right. Like they're not saying 'yes' to him.

What do you guys think so far?

David Archuleta sings "Heaven" by Bryan Adams. Three yes votes. I'm guessing his fans are going to call themselves "Arch Angels," because this kids is top 10 material.

Simon apologized for walking out on Kyle. Kyle redeems himself and is passed onto the final round of cuts.

Syesha, who had been suffering with a throat ailment, comes back like a gale wind with "Chain of Fools."

Michael Johns sings "Bohemian Rhapsody. Three yes votes

Angela Martin sings "Lovely Day" and dedicates it to her daughter. She's cut. Chicago is out of "Idol" this season.

99 other singers were also rejected.

48 were passed onto the final round.

Groups of 10 are brought up to sing a cappella.

Chicago's Pia Easley is in the first group of 10. We don't hear her sing. She's sent home. So much for being one of Entertainment Weekly's picks to make it through.

David Cook is the second "Idol" wannabe to butcher "Everything I do." Simon wasn't crazy about it, but the other two were.

Robbie Carrico and a slew of other contestants also pick it.

Simon walks out on Kyle Ensley. Wow, I find myself agreeing with Simon more this season.

Rocks.

Despite a couple of cracked ribs from a car accident the week before Hollywood Week.

Randy says she could be big again. Paula adores her. Simon is glad she is here, but cautions her to learn some light and shade. Three yes votes.

Cracking under the pressure: Buck Smith forgets the words. As does Cardin McKinley, Natashia Blach.

Ghaleb Emachah butchers a Bryan Adams song. Simon says "it was incredibly corny." Three no votes.

With 160 contestants competing at the start of "American Idol" Hollywood week tonight, we can only hope that Paula, Randy and Simon will show a little love for the lone two Chicago contestants to make the trek: Pia Easley and Angela Martin.

Best of luck Pia and Angela!

No one ever accused Simon Cowell of being compassionate — until this year.

Three weeks into the new season, the resident ‘‘American Idol’’ grinch has been sugarcoating critiques of mediocre and helplessly tone-deaf wannabes.

‘‘He’s nice for three weeks, and then suddenly he’ll flip and he’ll turn out being [a] bloody horror again,’’ said ‘‘Idol’’ executive producer Ken Warwick. ‘‘Wait until we get into this next batch, you know, the top 12.’’