SPOILER: American Idol Elimination Night Results

Ryan Seacrest, in his buoyantly sadistic way, meticulously assembled a bottom three before our very eyes. None of the names could have surprised anyone who’d watched Wednesday’s performances: Karen, Ashthon – one of the judges’ wildcard saves – and Haley were called out.

Ashthon, alas, had the unfortunate distinction of being the first season 10 finalist to leave the show.

When she was announced as one of the bottom three, Ashthon admitted it may have been a miscalculation to perform Diana Ross’s “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” – a better-known hit might have worked to her advantage. And yet she chose to sing the same exact song over for the judges. Ryan urged her to give it “everything you’ve got – all the heart, all the soul.” Actually, she’d sung it better Wednesday – she was trembling with nerves and tears.

Jennifer Lopez sighed and told her, “Not this time, baby.” And it was a unanimous decision.

Karen, perhaps, will have learned her lesson and avoid such a close call next week. Her performance of Selena’s “I Could Fall in Love” had struck all the judges as off. She wasn’t relaxed, she explained to Ryan, and there were a couple of minor technical glitches – so maybe it’s a matter of confidence?