With the American Idol finale just two weeks away, Wednesday (May 7) night's hour saw the show cut its talent pool down to the Top Three. Would the most logical suspect (Jason Castro) go home, or did Idol have another surprise in store?

9:00 p.m. ET. This is American Idol, a show so confident in its place in the ratings firmament that they can fill the crowd with stars from other networks -- Hi, Howie Mandel -- since obviously there aren't any civilians in the Los Angeles area who would want to attend a taping.

9:01 p.m. Nearly 51 million votes were cast after last night's show.

9:02 p.m. Randy Jackson didn't make Syesha Mercado cry last night by insulting her otherwise adored rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come." No, Syesha was tearing up because of Paula Abdul's sage, cogent, clearly articulated words of praise. Yeah, that makes sense.

9:03 p.m. The Group Sing, which starts with Jason Castro nearly sliding off the stage in his cowboy boots and Presumptive American Idol Finalist David Archuleta mumbling in a whole slew of lyrics that he started at least a beat too late, is set to Steely Dan's "Reeling in the Years. That's the best song they could come up with for this group of ill-matched vocalists? Ugh.

9:05 p.m. Poor Kim Caldwell. The second the camera cuts to her beaming visage, cheering on this season's contestants who went further than she did, the lights go out and they cut to commercial. Back to TV Guide Channel for you, Kim. Heck, she got less screentime than Judge Judy.

9:09 p.m. Mmmm... A taste of last night's show.

9:10 p.m. "I was thinkin' Bob Marley!"

9:11 p.m. "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me... In that bah bah bah bah bah mmm mmm... I'll come following you."

9:12 p.m. There aren't many places available on the Fluffy Chair of Yummy Happy Feelings (translated from the original Japanese) this week. Up first to face the results is Li'l' Archie, who says "Yeah, um, I'd love to," when Ryan Seacrest asks if he'd like to be the next American Idol. He expresses an enthusiasm similar to the way I respond when waiters ask me if I'd like some decaf after a big meal. He may not know how to tell American that he'd sure as heckfire love to be the next American Idol, but America knows how to show its appreciation for Li'l' Archie. He's the first member of the Top Three.

9:15 p.m. Now that I've safely ignored Maid of Honor, I couldn't possibly be less excited for a movie than I am for the Sex and the City feature.

9:19 p.m. This past week, the Top Four went to Las Vegas in a private jet (complete with a bed that makes Clifford the Muppet say, "Sleepin' in the sky? Oooh. Cool.") to film an advertorial commercial for the Beatles musical Love! Was that part of the deal for the rights to all of those Beatles songs?

9:21 p.m. Ever since I was a young boy, I've been afraid of Cirque du Soleil. I like my circuses a little bit less pretentious and with more monkeys.

9:22 p.m. Presumptive American Idol Finalist David Cook is brought on stage next. David says his head was in the wrong place last night, but at least America's heart was in the right place. Once again, the Two Davids are sitting pretty.

9:24 p.m. And, once again, Syesha is facing elimination, paired with Jason this time. As Ryan starts reading the results, poor clueless Jason gives a look of genuine bafflement -- Sorry, Jason fans, he's not quick enough to have been acting -- and whispers, "You're gonna tell us right now?" Ryan reassures him that he won't be eliminated for another 30 minutes.

9:28 p.m. Our Top Four contestants are bullfighters in this week's "Ring of Fire"-set Ford commercial. A plague on the houses of all who decided to put David Archuleta in tights and then put that image on my TV screen.

9:30 p.m. Phone call time! A woman from Pittsburgh asks if David will go out on a date with her when the Idol Tour gets to town. Don't do it, David! Hold out for a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Girl! Asked about overcoming obstacles, Li'l' Archie can't think of any and Jason admits to being brain-dead. Simon makes a plea to be knighted. Syesha talks about the awkward position of being the Last Woman Left Standing.

9:34 p.m. As Simon half-heartedly plays along with a gag suggesting he should be the next James Bond, I turn my attention to pondering just how long the Red Sox are going to be able to survive with David Aardsma as their most reliable middle reliever.

9:36 p.m. Within three years, Maroon 5 is going to become the Idol house band.

9:41 p.m. Musing on what it says about our electoral process that American Idol will have crowned a winner in significantly less time than the Democratic Party... I'm sure David Archuleta's wishing his competition would just step aside so that he could concentrate on his eventual showdown with John McCain.

9:44 p.m. Serious question: If Idol had allowed contestants to use instruments earlier, would Bo Bice have beaten Carrie Underwood?

9:49 p.m. Bo makes a joke about how he and David Archuleta could be twins. Li'l' Archie picks his nose.

9:54 p.m. Jason's a good sport as he listens to the harsh judges' comments on his Tuesday performances. He's such an easy target that even Ryan makes a joke about his lyrical fumblings. Jason blames his inexperience.

9:56 p.m. Oh, Syesha. Don't talk politics. It doesn't suit you. Fortunately, she's in the Top Three.

9:58 p.m. That means Jason Castro's going home. He says he's relieved.

9:59 p.m. Rarely has anybody smiled so broadly when singing about killing a law enforcement official. Bye, Jason.

Are you sad to see Jason go? Or was this just his time?