Forget about it, Melissa

The first pairing was Young and Kevin Covais. Covais was in the bottom three of his second semifinal heat, so it's a major upset that he's still around at all, much less that he's apparently among the top nine vote-getters.

It may be because he's become more combative in recent weeks, or because some Web campaigns to vote for the "worst" have targeted Covais, but either way it makes his fate a lot less predictable. Fox can't object too much, because he sparred with Simon this week and that always makes for good TV.

McGhee and Elliott Yamin were the next pair. McGhee was the obvious pick, but Yamin has had a hard time getting much of a fanbase so far. Paula Abdul may think he'll be around for a long time, but she also thinks every contestant in the history of the program has a future in music, so she isn't exactly Nostradamus. He needs to be strong each week to stay in the competition.

The final pairing was Tucker and Bucky Covington. That was also the most surprising result; Covington was the lowest vote-getter among the six men in the final 12, and while he did fine singing "Superstition," Tucker outsang him with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours." It's hard to see where Covington's votes are coming from, but he'll be back next week.

Craig Berman is a writer in Washington, D.C.

MORE FROM AMERICAN IDOL

Happy birthday, Simon, the best mean Brit ever

Happy birthday, Simon, the best mean Brit ever ‘Idol Gives Back’ returns to ‘American Idol’ Ellen brings EveryFan sensibility to ‘Idol’ Paula Abdul wishes Ellen luck on ‘Idol’   Add American Idol headlines to your news reader: