Idol Gives Back was nice and all, but it's time to get back to the business of selecting America's Next Top Idol!

It's getting a bit hairy, because, no matter who leaves, somebody out there is losing a favorite. The remaining singers are pretty much all popular and talented enough to stick around...or, at least in Kristy Lee Cook's case, lucky enough to have ducked that sniper fire to this point.

So, who went home and left the other 7 behind?

The Bottom 3, rather shockingly to some, consisted of Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson and Michael Johns. Kristy Lee Cook was the last to be led to safety, before the others...and was FULLY prepared to be in the Bottom 3, again. But, you loyal Chatterheads knew that wasn't going to happen...and it didn't.

In the end...directionless wonder (and Aussie) Michael Johns was thrown to the dingoes. His attempt at Aerosmith's "Dream On" wasn't good enough to keep him around, and Syesha and Carly live to sing another day.

Crikey!

FOX43 Idol Expert Artie put David Cook, Michael Johns and Syesha Mercado in his Bottom 3...for a very respectable 2 for 3 finish. He thought Syesha would go home this week, but we're sure he's glad he was wrong on that call! Artie?

Funk: I predict Michael Johns will be the Bucky Covington of Australia...we might accidentally hear his name again, maybe. I'll still probably never buy anything he puts out. Unless it's an INXS cover song. Syesha seemed to be a popular choice to pick to leave this week, but I guess her vocal and the comparisons to Fantasia weren't bad enough to cost her a lot of votes. Maybe people still have more faith in her than we give her credit for? Carly's slipping...and maybe KLC will hang herself next week. Song-wise. Of course. Dogg.

FOX43 Idol Expert Julie Heart was a total baby about it and decided not to pick a Bottom 3 or guess who would go home this week. Julie, explain yourself.

Heart: OK, I’m not anti-Jesus or anything, but I have a real problem with making the top 8 singing “Shout to the Lord” on American Idol. Aren’t American values freedom of religion? What if one of them doesn’t believe in Jesus and doesn’t really want to sing about him, do they have to anyways? Alright, that’s all I’m gonna say, inspiring or not, I just didn’t think that was right. Brooke and Cook safe of course…and who ever would think little David wouldn’t be safe? Jordan’s duet with Chris Brown was cool, I haven’t really heard a lot that she’s done since she won last year. I think I might actually download that. I really would have been surprised if Jason wasn’t safe after singing "Over the Rainbow," it really was a great performance….I have a sinking feeling the next person is going to be safe as well…NOOOOOOOO KRISTY IS SAFE AGAIN!!! What is wrong with you people?! She needs to go home! Yeah ok she sang well last night, but she doesn’t deserve to be here! She IS the Sanjaya this year! I’m starting to get the feeling everybody is going to be safe this week because of Idol Gives Back…but maybe not. Holy crap Michael’s going home?!? Are you serious? Kristy Lee is safe and he’s going home? You could tell Carly and Syesha were shocked to be safe. Michael’s got such a great voice and personality, he has that “it” factor –I think he’ll be fine with his career, and now that people actually know his name he’ll be able to sell some music!

FOX43 Idol Expert Clyde Collins was perfect on his Bottom 3 predictions! He put Carly, Syesha and Michael with the bottom-feeders, this week...and went 3 for 3! However, like his pal Artie, he got this week's castaway completely wrong. Mr. Collins thought Carly Smithson would take the plunge, and she was safe. Clyde? You haven't been wrong in a while. Is everything okay?

Collins: Glad to shed the dead weight that was Michael Johns, and glad we're well on our way to never hearing anything out of him ever again. Carly will fall at some point, and Syesha's on borrowed time, as well. I overestimated the amount of fans Johns had, and I'm not unhappy at all...or even all that surprised. Johns was just filling a seat, as I've said many times. He had no direction, clearly didn't fit in...so long, mate. It was an easy choice this week, really. When you consider that David Archuleta, the Cooks and Jason Castro were guaranteed to be safe, that only left Brooke on the possible chopping block. I took a chance and went with Johns over her based on the order in which both performed, and it paid off. Glad that inspirational garbage is over, it was giving me cavities. Back to the competition!

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
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