What you missed in the first half-hour...

It’s a big, big night, ladies and gentlemen…

But first, of course, there was some stalling…

If you're just joining us, here's what you missed...

Homer Simpson introduced the show, asking if it was too late to vote for Fantasia…

Melinda seemed a little out of it from the get-go. Maybe she was dreading watching those hometown videos…

We got the same “Idols Live” tour promo they showed us last week. Remember that tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m…

The Idols went home Thursday and left Saturday morning, and then had to come back, learn three songs and shoot the Ford video. Yikes!...

Jordin went back to her school and reunited with her best friend, got a parade through town, performed for 10,000 people and then got back in the limo and cried her eyes out. She, of course, performed “(I Who Have) Nothing” for the crowd…

Ryan faked out everyone—including me—by dimming the lights and recapping Jordin’s performances…

We saw Haley Scarnato sitting in the audience, as well as Brandon Rogers and LaKisha Jones sitting together…

Ryan once again tried to sing, this time “This Love” with Blake providing the beats. Ryan’s getting gutsy, I guess…

In Blake’s video, he held up a sign for a huge crowd that said “Simon was wrong. Seattle rocks!” He went to visit his family, who joined him for a parade. He is SO sweet and SO great in front of the cameras. Blake did “Somewhere Only We Know” for the crowd and then he went to the Seattle Mariners game to do the Anthem. Back in the studio, Blake’s dad joined him on stage and then Ryan chased him away and did the fake-out with Blake…

Elliott Yamin performed “Wait For You.” Ryan joked that he didn’t recognize him anymore. I hope this performance helps this song on the charts. It is fantastic. And his performance was beyond flawless. Even Simon liked it…

Am I the only one that finds it interesting that Elliott performed on the show before Taylor did?...

Now, enough stalling. Let’s get on with the actual show…