The third group of Top 36 performers had to wait the longest to find out whether they would be moving on…or going home. At the top of the American Idol Wednesday hour, they all gathered to - finally - learn their fate.

“I think we have an amazing start of a Top 12 going on. I’m very proud of all of them,” Paula Abdul said of the contestants. Speaking of the Top 12, the first half (the six contenders who were voted in over the preceding two weeks) looked on from the sidelines as they, too, waited to hear who would join them in places of Idol honor.

The twelve performers of the week performed an upbeat version of “Hot and Cold,” yet another unrecognizable song performed by the Top 36 over the last three weeks. Despite somewhat lackluster choreography, they delivered what is arguably the best of the three group performances we’ve seen from the 36 semifinalists.

After a re-cap of the Tuesday performances, Ryan Seacrest spent a few minutes chatting up the contestants. He wanted to know how Nathaniel Marshall felt about the judges’ advice. “I took it with a grain of salt,” he answered. Felicia Barton was “really pleased” with her performance the night before. Ju’not Joyner suffered an asthma attack during his earlier group rehearsal, but apparently was in fine fettle for the live show. After enough time was wasted, it was finally time to get on with the program.

Lil Rounds was asked to stand first, and was almost instantly placed in the Top 12. No surprise there - hers was probably the best performance on Tuesday night. Kara DioGuardi believes Lil will bring “ridiculous vocals” to the Idol stage. The diva performed moments later to prove that very thing - she’s got an absolutely fantastic voice and strong stage presence. During Lil’s song, Paula Abdul - and in fact the entire theater - was up and dancing.

Arianna Afsar, Taylor Vaifanua, Alex Wagner-Trugman, Kendall Beard and Scott MacIntyre all stood - but only one would make it through to the Top 12. After the commercial break, they were finally ready to tell us which.

“Obviously, there’s regrets,” Arianna admitted when asked about her song choice. She was the first of the night to be dismissed. Taylor Vaifanua soon followed this sad fate. Alex Wagner-Trugman, the Vote for the Worst pick, was the next to face the music. The popular site failed for the third week in a row, and Wagner-Trugman sat right back down.

Kendall Beard and Scott MacIntyre were brought front and center. I felt that both had a good shot of getting into the Top 12, but it was Scott MacIntyre who carried the evening. Scott was hugged and taken to the front of the stage to sing his winning ditty once more. “Thank you guys so much. This means more to me than anything,” he told the crowd.

“I know he’s gonna blow up the stage every time,” Randy Jackson praised MacIntyre. The judge’s words were true, as Scott performed his song every bit as well as he did the night before. I’m still incredibly impressed with his singing ability.

Nathaniel Marshall and Kristen McNamara were asked to stand in place - usually a bad sign. Both were dismissed from the competition. Felicia Barton and Von Smith were the next to stand, and both were also told no.

This left only Ju’not Joyner and Jorge Nuñez, who were brought out to center stage to find out what their own results would be. I was rooting for Ju’not, but it was Jorge of the large eyebrows who made it through. He does bring a certain Latin flavor to the competition. Jorge’s performance, however, would have to wait for a little later in the show.

First, it was time to talk about the Wildcard round. These performers will take the stage tonight, but not to sing for our votes - they’ll sing for the judges. Those in the running for the Wildcard are all of those who have been eliminated from the Top 36 already. The performers who are picked by the judges will be featured Thursday night at 8.

First, the audience was reintroduced to the 9 members of the Top 12 who were voted in by viewers. They filled their chairs, safe and secure, while many others waited on pins and needles.

Only eight would be chosen to move into the Wildcard singing round. Notable Wildcard picks from the past include Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken, as Simon Cowell pointed out. “One of these Wildcard picks could actually win the show,” he said. According to the show, the judges decided which of the eliminated contestants would make it to this compensation round.

The first pick, announced by Randy Jackson, was Von Smith. I really found his Group 3 performance to be highly lackluster, but it’s the judges who decide. Kara introduced the next contender as having “a lot of commercial appeal.” The choice was Jasmine Murray, who likewise had a terrible performance during her round - but she can sing, and she is adorable. Paula Abdul introduced the next Wildcard entrant - Ricky Braddy from round one.

Ryan Seacrest moved on to Simon Cowell. “This person was one of our favorites,” Cowell introduced Megan Corkery, who I also thought presented a terrible performance during her round. She plans to sing her “heart out” to win, though some say the last three places in the Top 12 have long been filled by the judges.

The next pick was a no-brainer - Tatiana Del Toro, one of the most entertaining Idol contestants in the history of the show. “One of the bluesiest, soulful singers,” as Kara DioGuardi described him, followed her. This was Matt Giraud, whom I absolutely don’t like at all. “This was a last-minute change,” Paula Abdul offerws - Jesse Langseth was the next to win a spot in the Wildcard competition.

And only one spot was left. Simon Cowell had the honors of the announcing the one who would fill it. He said this was “one of the easiest decisions,” calling the contender “original” and “talented.” It was, of course, Anoop Desai.

The show closed with Jorge Nuñez in what was truly an anticlimaxal two minutes. I still like Ju’not Joyner better. 

At any rate, the Wildcard contenders take the stage tomorrow. Which three will be picked to round out the Top 12? We’ll soon find out.

(You can find all the American Idol 8 posts here.)