Is a shocking "American Idol" result still shocking when Nigel Lythgoe and Ryan Seacrest tweet about it hours in advance? Regardless of whether or not the outcome of this week's vote was technically a surprise, it's safe to assume that it'll be a conversation starter, since America's choices were undeniably baffling.
Without further ado, the next contestant to be eliminated was ...
No one.
In the bottom three were Jessica Sanchez, Elise Testone and Joshua Ledet. (WTF, America?) Jessica was the contestant with the lowest number of votes, and though she was entitled to sing for the judges' save, she only managed to get a few bars into the song before the judges took the stage, with Jennifer Lopez demanding that she hand over the mic. "This is crazy! Go sit down -- yes, we're using the save," she insisted.
After a brief huddle, Randy Jackson spoke for his fellow judges, and admonished America for their lack of votes for Jessica. "We are saving Jessica without any doubt," he reiterated, before adding, "Let me just say this ... This girl is one of the best singers in America, ever, are you kidding me? Please, everybody, please, vote for the best, it's about finding the best. C'mon!" You tell 'em, Randy.
I hate to say "I told you so" about the systemic racist and sexist voting patterns in relation to this show, but the results certainly proved that, without the judges' intervention, Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet probably had no chance of winning this season, while Colton and Phillip are likely to remain our final two.
The rest of the hour was padded by yet another awkward group number, with the Top 7 tackling Pink's "Raise Your Glass," before "Idol" alums James Durbin and Jennifer Hudson performed new songs. In Durbin's case, I use the term "performed" loosely, since he was mostly screeching like someone had given him a tonsillectomy with a chainsaw. (I was certainly tempted)
Do you think the judges were correct in using their save on Jessica? Do you agree with the America's choice of the bottom three? Weigh in below.
"American Idol" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.