American Idol’s Top 12 is a big milestone for the show. It marks the beginning of Ford commercials, brings contestants one step closer to the summer-long Idol tour, and usually symbolizes the cutting away of dead wood. But I’ll go ahead and say it - I’m not pleased with the way it all went down. Let’s re-cap.

The night kicked off with a fantastic performance from Season 6 runner-up Blake Lewis, who saucily performed “How Many Words.” He shared a few comments with host Ryan Seacrest before he quickly departed, so that everyone could turn their attentions to twelve empty chairs lined up on the stage.

Idol took a quick minute to plug Paula Abdul’s video, which is currently the number one download on iTunes. Yeah…bad press works wonders, doesn’t it? Simon Cowell wouldn’t congratulate Paula, but he did say “well done, well done” very flippantly.

Rocker David Cook was called front and center first. Ryan Seacrest told Cook that Lionel Richie loved his rendition on Tuesday, and Cook was told to take a seat to solidify his Top 12 position. David Archuleta and Jason Castro, who both delivered exceptional Tuesday performances, quickly followed.

Brooke White, who slaughtered a Benatar song, and Syesha Mercado who beautifully sang Whitney Houston, were next told to take their coveted seats. I just can’t stand that Brooke White. Kady Malloy was called on stage next, and there was no doubt she was about to be eliminated. With so many seats full, it was time for someone to be told to go.

Kady met her end and had to step forward to sing. I actually almost felt bad for a her for a moment, because when she started to sing she sounded absolutely horrible. I’ve a bad feeling that singing is all over for Kady Malloy.

The show took another break from the elimination action to make a startling announcement: for the first time, American Idol will talk to viewers via phone. Live. On the air. There’s a phone number you can call (find it on the official site). This is, without a doubt, an astoundingly bad idea. The FCC won’t have time to keep up, and I can’t imagine anything more tedious than listening to other Idol viewers when all I really want is to listen to Simon Cowell.

I was surprised with the next person who made it to the Top 12 - David Hernandez, whom I’ve never liked. My heart started to pound. With David Hernandez in, I knew that I would soon lose one of the guys I actually like (someone who is a better singer, too). Michael Johns was next told to take his chair, no surprise after his ace delivery on The Breakfast Club song Tuesday.

Luke Menard was unceremoniously kicked to the curb - an elimination I’ve been waiting on for three weeks. He sang his Wham tune and was quickly ushered off the stage (not soon enough for me). Next, attention was turned once more to the remaining girls.

Ramiele and Carly, and their huge voices, were both sent to safety. Throaty-voiced Amanda Overmyer was told to follow suit, and I cheered. I just knew she had the staying power to make it.

These three winners left only one chair open for a female, leaving Asia’h Epperson and Kristy Lee Cook standing on stage. Asia’h has spunk, beauty and a great voice. Kristy Lee is blonde and countrified. I should have seen it coming, because Carrie Underwood threw me for a loop in Season 4, but I was adamantly convinced America would get rid of Kristy before Asia’h. Sometimes, it just doesn’t come down to who can sing better, and Kristy was sent to the Top 12 while Asia’h was sent home. This is a huge disappointment. I would rather hear Asia’h sing the TV schedule than listen to Kristy Lee pain my ears with another countrified Journey rendition. Like a true pro, Asia’h delivered her last song with conviction and a fun she surely didn’t feel. Seacrest even took a minute to let Asia’h address her fans, an honor the other eliminates didn’t receive.

This left adorable Danny Noriega and poor dresser Chikezie on the guy’s side, and I felt like I wanted to cry. Both have great voices - better, in fact, than some men who remain in the contest (cough, Hernandez, cough). Danny was eliminated, I screamed, and tears flowed. Ramiele seemed to have the hardest time with his elimination - taking it even worse than he did. This was, plain and simply, a horrible decision. There are eighty thousand Joes out there just like David Hernandez…there’s only one Danny Noriega. He pulled it together very quickly to deliver “Tainted Love” with his usual enthusiastic aplomb, giving a final scintillating performance.

“It’s a singing competition,” the judges of Idol often like to parrot. This is blatantly untrue. American Idol is, will be, and always has been a popularity contest. And at the end of Thursday’s elimination night, we’ve got our Top 12 - for better, or for worse.