Twin tantrum

Bad day for cowboys
The human interest story came in the final group: singing cowboys Michael Evans, Matthew Buckstein and Garet Layne Johnson. Johnson looked to be one of the favorites of the other contestants, judging by the ovations he typically received after he performed, but it was more because of his personality and his effort than his abilities.

Johnson has a nice voice, but was much rawer than anyone else in the competition and had no rhythm at all. After a mediocre performance — and an unfortunate hip-thrust joke by Buckstein, particularly given the whole Cory Clark-Paula Abdul drama that took up much of last season — all three were cut.

"Sorry I let you down," Johnson said outside in the lobby.

Buckstein was having none of it. "You didn't let me down. You did the best you could, and that's all you can ask of anyone out of life," he said.

Weirdly, a show that does so well in the ratings and usually tries to eke every ounce of usable footage (and the accompanying commercial time and product placement opportunities) brushed through the final acapella performances in about 30 seconds of airtime. In a flash, the remaining contestants were spilt into four rooms to await their fate.

Lackluster finale
Usually the producers milk this portion for all its worth, letting the audience do a few minutes of analysis before revealing the results.

Not this time. The whole process took less than five minutes. After all the buildup, the ending was a letdown — like being told "Oh, yeah, Darth Vadar is Luke Skywalker's father" an hour into "Star Wars."

Group one had Gina Glockman, who forgot the lyrics to her song in the acapella, and Tyra Juliette “Benedict Arnold” Schwartz. That was a bad sign for everyone else in the group, and indeed they all were cut.

Group two had Chris Daughtry, who was among the best of the first day's auditioners, and Mandisa Hundley, the performer who Simon made the "do we have a big enough stage" crack about that comes up tomorrow, judging from the preview. They made it.

Group three had Terrell Brittenum, Paris Bennett and Taylor Hicks. It would have been a moderate surprise had Hicks not made the cut, but Bennett was a mortal lock based on everything the 17-year-old has shown so far. They got the good news as well.

Judging from their faces as they heard the second group cheer, the contestants in the fourth room knew the odds were against them. Of course, it also had some of the more talented voices in the competition. There was Kellie Pickler, this season's early Carrie Underwood clone, and Brett "Ace" Young, who was so good in his individual song early in the week. It also had 16-year-old Kevin Covais and … oh yeah, the other Brittenum twin. Did this seem like a group destined to be sent home?

It did not, and the members were among the 44 who advanced to the final stage of the auditions. But as everyone went out into the main room and celebrated, one person was silent. Terrell Brittenum did not see his brother, and was clearly a wreck.

But in the end, the two reunited, and hugged each other. Even backstabbing blabbermouths can be happy. At least for a little while. Twenty people who were celebrating at the end of this episode will be sent home on tomorrow's show, when the final 24 performers are named.

Craig Berman lives in Washington, D.C. and is a regular contributor to MSNBC.com.

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