It's a tight race to the "American Idol" finale finish line. There's no Syesha Mercado easy target here in season eight's top three. Nope, all three contestants have viable fanbases and oodles of talent. And after watching the top three perform judges' choice/ contestants' choice numbers, it's even harder to predict.

My terrible batting average hasn't stopped me from predicting in the past (I'm 0-3 right now, aren't I?), so let's break down the performance show and predict whose "Idol" journey will end tomorrow night.

Going Home: Kris Allen
Kris delivered my favorite performance of the show. His acoustic take on Kanye West's "Heartless" is exactly the kind of memorable, buzzworthy showstopper that has America reaching for its collective TiVo remote. However, his first performance was a depressingly average paint-by-numbers "Apologize" by OneRepublic. Kara hoped he would flip it on its head, but instead he sat behind the piano and sang it like he was reading sheet music for the first time. His piano playing was shaky. His vocals were weak. His confidence was non-existent. His chances at making it to the finale ... flushed down the toilet. Read more...

Tonight's "American Idol" live-blog is dedicated to Allison Iraheta, my personal Idol. In honor of the recent oustee, I expect all of you to refuse to give me any credit I might deserve in this live-blog. Your comments should be comprised of backhanded compliments, faint praise and "that ones" while you over-praise other bloggers who are lazy and aren't deserving of their unstoppable success. Deal?

Check out Jim Cantiello's video recap of the show below!

We now resume with our regularly scheduled live-blog.

And then there were two...with a third wheel.

Yes, in a season that's felt as endless as "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons", the finale is approaching faster than Kara can say "Here's the thing..."

The three remaining contestants had their hometown visits last week, which I imagine was a great morale booster. Although we all know one contestant doesn't need any more help in the ego department. (I'm refraining from typing His name tonight unless I absolutely positively have to. Still bitter about His inexplicable survival despite squawking one of the worst, insultingly dismissive performances in "Idol" history last week. But I'm glad He thought it was SO FUNNY!)

Don't worry, His fans. I'm taking a chill pill. This isn't the Bash The Guy Who Delivered A Subpar Performance For His Hometown Fans Live-blog. This is the "American Idol" Live-blog. And if He performs well tonight, I'll be a big boy and give him props. He will, after all, probably win this thing next week. (His fanbase is more rabid than Old Yeller. Pun intended.)

So let's get right to it! The live-blogging begins...now.

7:51 pm - Miss last week's Rockfest? Check out the latest "Idol in 60 Seconds" here.

7:58 pm - Almost there... Why do I get so nervous before every "Idol" episode? I need a life.

7:59 pm - Sigh. Paula just tweeted about Danny Gokey's song choices tonight. She didn't tweet any of the other contestants' song choices. FAVORITISM ALERT!

8:00 pm - 15 seconds in and Seacrest already spouts a grammar error. "These are your bottom 3!" Shouldn't it be "This is your bottom 3?"

8:01 pm - Groan. Seacrest just called the top three "The Three Amigos." Adam is definitely Steve Martin, the genius. Kris the teacup is definitely Martin Short. And Voldemort is DEFINITELY Chevy Chase.

8:03 pm - Danny Gokey is up first - in the death spot! Paula picked Terence Trent Darby's "Dance Little Sister." I have newfound respect for Paula. Terence Trent D'Arby is a guy who ruined his career by his massive ego. (Dude actually said his debut album was better than "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Uh-huh.)

8:04 pm - Oof. This is rough. He is shouting, and he keeps going sharp.

8:05 pm - Stanley from "The Office" is now on stage laying out a saxophone solo. Remember when pop music featured saxophone solos? Ah, the good old days.

8:06 pm - This song sucks. I feel bad that Paula saddled Gokey with this clunker.
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I often eat popcorn while I watch “American Idol,” but tonight it’s even more appropriate because “Idol’s” headed to the big screen! Don’t worry, “From Justin To Kelly 2: Electric Boogaloo” wasn’t green-lit. Nope, tonight the theme is “Songs From The Movies!”

Even better? “Idol” fanatic Quentin Tarantino is joining the party, acting as guest mentor this week. He made quite the splash as a guest judge in Season Three, where his brutal honesty was a welcome change of pace to that season’s endless parade of celebs too polite to say anything bad to anyone. (Ahem, Ashford and Simpson.) QT’s shining moment came when he ripped Diana DeGarmo a new one for picking Celine Dion’s “Titanic” hit. “You pulled off the song, but so what? There couldn’t be a song we’re more sick of hearing. You pulled off the notes and stuff, but I don’t care.” Genius. I can’t wait to hear what Quentin has to say to Lil Rounds. Or Anoop. Or Danny Gokey. Or Matt Giraud. Or…wow, this season blows, doesn’t it?

The popcorn’s ready and my sound system is blasting. (Sorry, neighbors!) I’m ready to live-blog “American Idol!”

7:50 pm – Yikes. I’m looking at the song spoilers MJ just posted and it looks like tonight’s gonna be a rough one. Aerosmith? Bryan Adams? TWICE?! The predictions I made earlier today are way off. What a shame. I really wanted to hear Matt do Prince tonight.

7:52 pm – Did you miss last week’s “Idol?” There’s still time to catch up. All you need is a minute thanks to my “Idol in 60 Seconds” recaps. Watch here now!

7:53 pm – Hell, and when you’re done with that, check out my review of the new “American Idol Experience” attraction at Disney World here. (Spoiler alert: I loved it!)

7:56 pm - Watching the end of "Seinfeld," I just realized that "Seinfeld" the TV show is 3 years older than Allison Iraheta. Seriously.

8:00 pm - "This is Quentin Tarantino...and this is American Idol!" Quentin Tarantino is my American Idol. Way to be an eccentric millionaire, dude! It's like how Andy Warhol used to hang out at WWE matches. Love it.

8:01 pm - Gasp! Ricky Minor and the band is on stage this week. I bet he finally hired an agent who was like "You mean they moved you to the top of the stage and you're not on screen anymore? No no no no no. I'll fix that."

8:03 pm - Paula looks like she's being choked by a diamond-encrusted hand.

8:04 pm - Say what?! In order to keep the show under an hour, only two judges will be critiquing each performance. Not fair!

8:04 pm - Little Stevie van Zandt's in the audience, and it looks as though he's on the James Gandolfini diet of Haagen Daas and butter.

8:05 pm - Who wants to bet Quentin cut this reel of his career himself? Also, fun fact: "Reservoir Dogs" is the same age as Allison Iraheta. (I know, she's young. I'm old. I'll get over it.)

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It's all over.

South By Southwest 2009 wrapped on Sunday, and we're back in New York, picking through the hours of tape we shot, reminiscing about the good times (check out our favorite SXSW moments) and trying very hard not to fall asleep on our keyboards. This is proving more difficult than I had imagined.

Because after the week-long party that is SXSW, there's the inevitable hangover. And, well, right now, that hangover is fierce — and I don't even drink!

I slept 10 hours last week. On Saturday night, I didn't sleep at all, as we wrapped production at 4:30 a.m., then headed right to the airport for our 7 a.m. flight. The scene at Austin-Bergstrom International was like something out of "Dawn of the Dead," with bands, publicists and hipsters wandering around the terminal like zombies, shoveling breakfast tacos into their mouths. There were bodies sprawled on the floor, heads buried in hooded sweatshirts, sunglasses covering bloodshot eyes. It was like one gigantic commercial for Promises. And it's only gotten worse since then!
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I don't know what celebrating Yom Kippur entails, but apparently recapping "Project Runway" isn't part of it, which is why I'm your humble substitute for Rya Backer today. Rya could probably use a break anyway, what with her severe Stella withdrawal (symptoms: mood swings, the shakes, incessant grommet-hammering).

Just as Rya immediately latched onto the leatha goddess, I've been rooting for Leanne since the very first episode. I've always been one to back whatever reality-TV contestant I felt was most like me, which means that goodwill for quiet wallflower types emanates from my living room. So, of course, I think Leanne and I could hang out — exchanging awkward smiles without speaking, listening to nonthreatening indie rock (do you think she likes the Shins?) and creeping around pretending we were spies. And when that got old, we could venture out for some eco-friendly recreation.
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