Time to face the judges

This uncertainty was particularly apparent with some of the women.

Mandisa Hundley made it through in the Chicago tryouts, but after she left the room Simon mused about whether they'd need a bigger stage this season, referring to her weight. That's been the Simon comment that's struck perhaps the biggest negative chord this season, and she had her chance to vent on Simon before judgment was pronounced.

When Hundley opened with "You didn't need a bigger stage, but I could have used a bigger chair," it looked like viewers might get some Brittenum-esque drama. But instead she said that she forgave Simon, and Simon smiled and said "I'm just so appalling, aren't I?"

Even more shocking, he later actually apologized, and Hundley made it into the finals.

Brenna Gethers was another question mark, mainly because in a competition where it helps to be likable, she seems to be the kind of person that would cause most to take the stairs rather than share an elevator with her.

Gethers openly feuded with the rest of her group members in Hollywood, called Simon out for not being a comedian, and in general seemed to take it for granted that the competition was hers for the taking and that everyone else was wasting their time. When the producers said before the season started that there would be more contentious personalities, Brenna Gethers was likely who they were talking about.

Simon summed up what the contestants were feeling: "I think you could be a nightmare. I think you could be difficult, precocious, impossible to work with — some would say a nightmare."

And then she got the good news, and echoed what the producers must have been feeling: "Let's go, let's do it.  Let's make good TV."

Then there were the unknowns. Melissa McGhee, Stephanie Scott and Heather Cox haven't gotten a ton of airtime, but will get their chance to make an impression on the viewers in the finals.

The men had some similar question marks and "who's he?" moments, mainly because it seems like the only ones who got much on-screen time were those Brittenum twins.

Jose "Sway" Penala got to celebrate his 28^th birthday with some good news, and little-seen David "Bucky" Covington and Gedeon McKinney joined him. Patrick Hall, who has sounded good in his few seconds of TV time thus far, sailed through without much doubt.

Elliott Yamin, known mainly for turning in early instead of rehearsing during the group stage, thus causing Terrell Brittenum to melt down, attempt to throw him under the bus, and then play nice with him afterward, moved on as well.  Robert Bennett, Jr. had one of the best lines after getting the good news: "I can't breathe. This is not for fat people. You need to be in shape for this — I'm going into cardiac arrest."

Of course, this wouldn't be "American Idol" without a final bit of cruelty. When the men and women were each down to two contestants for one spot, both hopefuls had to go up and hear their fates together.

The final two girls were Kinnik Sky and Megan Bobo, with Bobo being told she … was going home. The guys were William Makar and Sid Harcourt with Makar being told he was … going onto the finals. The results in both cases were bittersweet for the winners, who couldn't really jump up and down cheering in front of someone who just got their dreams kicked in.

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

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