​The wee small RySea stunned us all last night by announcing that 40 million votes had been entered for the 10 audience-selected spots in the American Idol finals. That's what we refer to in the industry as a pant-load, people. And, during the unnecessary two hours of last night's show, there were video montages that were "zany" (silly faces, jokes, flubs, etc.) for the dudes and relatively pathetic bits for the girls. You know, cuz boys are fun and girls are emotional. Way to progress, Idol.

Anyway.

I guessed five for five on the audience-selected guys -- because I am awesome, but that's so not important. They are Casey, Jacob, James, Scotty and Paul. The audience's girls are Lauren, Pia, Karen, Thia and Haley.

T-Halp was given the verdict with Casey and Jacob -- two shoo-ins who made it really obvious he was going to be disappointed, because producers weren't going to fill that many guys' spots in one fell swoop.

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​During last night's showing of the Top 12 gents, it bame abundantly clear: This competition is unbelievably tough.

And it's not just because there's a great deal of talent on this season of American Idol. Rather, it's because the judges and the show have included some niche performers who, in the past, probably wouldn't have seen air time.

Good on them. Bad for Fort Worth's Tim Halperin.

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Fort Worth singer-songwriter Tim Halperin, whose music we first shared with you back in July, had some ups and downs throughout his Hollywood Week auditions, according to the Idol judges. So, the challenge they'd presented him with this week was showing them who he really was. And, in his final audition before the Top 24 cuts, he showed them -- by performing an original piece.

At first, the song "When It's Over" seemed to prove true for T-Halp. Right after a trip down the too-long runway and a sit-down with the judges, Steven Tyler said, "I'm sorry to tell you..." and then the cameras cut to a contender exiting the doors to meet Ryan Seacrest. Only, once there, Halperin excitedly announced, "I'm in the Top 24!"

Those tricky editors...

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​Last night, this season's remaining 50 Idol contestants left the City of Angels for the City of Sin and began working on Beatles classics in pairs and trios. Vocal coaches were essentially flogging them with barbed critiques during rehearsal and in what I assume was meant to be a cute montage, and lots of young vocalists admitted on national television that they didn't know/had never heard/couldn't point out in a line up anything to do with the Fab Four.

Mop top says "What?"

Because he had worked with John Lennon in the past, and is a recurring featured player on this season of Idol, contestants ran through a casual audition for record guru Jimmy Iovine and his posse. Iovine -- and his scarf -- were unhappy with the varied results.

The reason for the Vegas trip? Cirque du Soleil's The Beatles LOVE show is there, so, uh... you know. Makes sense, right? Well, not really, but OK. The kids did get to see the show after their horrendous day, so we all get our product placement and adorable "Ah!" faces in the audience and everyone was marginally happy.

But when it came time for the contestants to perform for the actual judges, there was a lot of schlock, some quality talent, and serious camera time for Fort Worth's Tim Halperin, 23.

He sat behind the keys, opposite Los Angeles' Julie Zorrilla, 20, seated behind her own keys, and the two traded verses on "Something."

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​This is, essentially, a "closure" post.

I think we all have to come terms with the fact that Fort Worth/Cool's Casey James was let go in favor of the inferior Lee DeWyze.

Whether or not I think CJ should be the American Idol, I've blogged the finale because he and a couple of other North Texans were on it... and because I just can't help myself.

It was that much of a slow-moving clusterfuck. More >>

That small-town charm, camera-ready look and actual musical skill--though a little jam-bandy--couldn't win Casey James the title of American Idol...or get him into the finale.

Gotta say I would've traded Lee DeWyze for the CeeJer if only because both CJ and Crystal Bowersox incorporated their own original songs into their home trip video packages. Original material earns an Idol card in my book. I'm not even sure that Lee has original music because he's never really mentioned it.

I could be wrong, but if not, sounds like ol' LD's prime for molding by a record label.

Anyway, despite seeing Casey lose to the paint salesman, it was totally entertaining and sorta enjoyable to see him legitimately freaked out on his trip home by the screaming hoards of brace-faced teens and that one woman who had him sign... her... dachshund... puppy. He went from Fox morning show to AT&T store to Key's to Fort Worth Stockyards to Wildflower Festival, with a stop in the middle to thank the doctors and nurses that helped save his life after an accident several years ago. I gotta admit, that part was touching--he got so choked up, he couldn't even read aloud the inscription on his guitar, so he handed it to the good doctor to do it for him.

But anyway, in honor of his departure on last night's episode, after the jump, we've posted a few of Caseys' most well-regarded moments from his time on American Idol. Enjoy.

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​As the contest dwindles, it seems the contestants were hailing from more specific locations.

Casey James wasn't so much from Fort Worth, or Cowtown, as some folks call it. No, he's was from teensy Cool, Texas.

Looks like the producers acknowledged that viewers are more likely to tune in if they see a singer from big city they've heard of, but will feel more endeared to them if they come to know more about them and find they're just small town kids like the rest of us.

Kinda like how we all watch the Real Housewives of New York City but then watch them actually living in the removed community of the Hamptons half of the season. Or something.

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​Apparently, almost 37 million votes determined last night's Idol elimination and Seacrest said it was the most of the season... but, then again, on the season finale of Season Three, there were more than twice that many, propelling Fantasia to victory.More >>

​Jamie Foxx. He's an Oscar winner and has sold his fair amount of R&B records. He's also been a mentor on American Idol before. Last season, he got all up in people's grills. And he did it again this one. Foxx Face! More >>

​American Idol opened its results show with the Top Five performing a medley of Frank Sinatra classics and the announcement that, next week, the remaining contestants would get the guidance of Jamie Foxx.

Genre? Songs of the cinema. With Foxx, I would've expected vocal impersonations (what up, Faux Ray Charles!), but I digress.More >>