At the top of tonight's hour long show Ryan Seacrest tells us we are in for a shock, and promises that he will stretch out the show "further than Kirstie Alley's cycling shorts" !

Over 34 million votes are in, and yes, it is another non-finale record.

Ryan begins stretching Kirstie's shorts with some Idol therapy on the sofas.

He wants to know more about the 'Constantine (Maroulis) tongue-move'. The very mention of it elicits high pitched squeals from the audience! Constantine explains he must have been channeling some 'Kiss', a la Gene Simmons.

Ryan turns his attentions to an anxious Anthony Fedorov, who admits to feeling nervous. It probably doesn't help much when Ryan tells him he looks as though he is going to puke!

Vonzell Solomon must be relieved that Seacrest appears to be 'out' of embarrassing comments by the time he gets to her! She enthuses about the time spent at the 'Record Plant' recording studio where the Idols recorded their American Red Cross single 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me', due out on April 19.

Top producer Desmond Child has been guiding them in the studio. Hopefully he is guiding them all on their way to the first major hit of their careers!

All 12 finalists contributed to the recording, but tonight only the remaining 8 hit the stage to sing it. Tonight's arrangement sounds a lot better than their previous effort on the final 12 results show!

The next segment of the show gives us a behind the scenes glimpse of a week in the life of the American Idol finalists.

Anthony tells us "I think the life of an American Idol contestant is a lot tougher than it looks on TV", as he intros the day by day account. Here are some of the highlights...

Thursday	Pick A Song	Nadia: We listen to a bunch of different songs. Then we go to the vocal coach and pianist.. Constantine: Once we get that song... we feel really good about it. We cut it up.... It's really difficult to cut it down to around a minute-thirty.
Friday	Interviews And Shopping	Vonzell: Fridays are more relaxing for me... Producers interview us for the pre-song packages for the next show. Then we get time to go shopping for our performance outfits. Constantine: It's kind of fun, you know, spending other people's money! Vonzell: The show has a stylist, but it's completely up to us what we wear. Carrie: I have no sense of fashion. Sometimes I actually wear my pajamas.
Saturday	Record Album / Possibly Time Off	Scott: Saturday we do some recording during the day... We go to the Record Plant studio in Hollywood where we're recording our album and the upcoming single. It's the only day when we do something that isn't directly related to the next show. Carrie: It's pretty rare but occasionally on Saturday we get some time off... But even when we do it's organized. And we stay together as a group. (Idols are shown goofing around at the bowling alley)  Anthony: I'm not going to lie to you, I didn't get a lot of strikes.  Nadia: That is definitely right up my alley!... Get it? 'Alley'! (laughs)
Sunday	Shoot Ford Promo	Anwar: Sunday is a work day... Ford is a big sponsor of American Idol and every Sunday we record a promotional spot for Wednesday's show... Pretty exhausting day.  Carrie: Got some new wheels. Check 'em out.  Anwar: When I see the Ford promo every week it makes it worth it. It's like oh, my God, I'm in a commercial!
Monday	Rehearse With The Band	Bo: Monday is another long day. It's the first time we get to actually spend some time with the band. And that's everybody in to mode of "all right, tomorrow is show day."   Scott: This is our day to make sure If there's any problems we can work them out because we don't want to have to work them out tomorrow at 5 o'clock.
Tuesday	Show Day	Anthony: Of course, Tuesday is when everything comes together. In the morning we walk through the show for the cameras...We get one dress rehearsal...    Carrie: You've got to do it like you're going to do it for the real thing.    Anthony: ...then on to hair and make-up for the final touches.      Scott: You won't find me at home in my bathroom putting foundation on my face. Anthony: ...let me tell you something, it's pretty nerve-racking... We go on live at 5:00 p.m. in Hollywood.
Wednesday	Results!!!	Bo: Well, it's Wednesday morning. It's the 'hurry up and wait to see who goes home' day.      Scott: The worst day of the week is Wednesday. Result day. Anthony: I hate Wednesdays! Bo: It's the day everybody goes totally in a cocoon and just kind of says all right, is it gonna be me? Anthony: Got to wait around all day long to see who gets cut. It's not a good feelin'! Nadia: Whoever it is, whether it's you or someone else, you will be saying bye to someone that day. Constantine: (Shaking Bo's hand) Someone's got to go!

Ryan whets our appetite for the results, "you won't believe who is in our bottom three." he says mysteriously. After another ad-break and the regular performance recaps, Ryan chats with the Idols on the sofas.

It turns out that Carrie Underwood wasn't 100% well during yesterday's performance. She tells Ryan "I don't know what it was. Allergies or what? But you know, I gave it my all. I got up there and I really did. I was exhausted after I got off stage."

Ryan asks Nadia Turner about the pressures of being on Idol. Her reply is long and interesting..

"Well there is definitely a lot of pressure with being on American Idol. I mean, your fellow contestants, the competition, the judges and what they have to say. But when I first got into this competition, I pretty much said, I just want to do whatever God's will is for me. And at the end of the day, whatever that is...  I'm happy to be here and I'm blessed... and I deal with the pressure the best way I know how and that's through prayer and just knowing that God has a plan for me."

Ryan tells Anwar Robinson "you were very strong last night" and asks "what made the difference for you?". The New Jersey schoolteacher replies...

"Well, you know, during the interim of this whole experience I was intellectualizing everything and just kind of overthinking it, I believe, and not letting myself, allowing myself to live the song. And now that I'm allowing myself to like become a part of the music and actually give myself permission to experience it, and be elated about it, I think that makes a whole world of difference as opposed to just having it all up in here (the head) and not in here (the heart)."

Ryan wants to know if Anwar thinks about all the people watching at home, when he's onstage. Anwar replies...

"No, no. I just... I just sing, and I really, as much as I love to touch the audience in the room, I've got to remember to touch the audience in the television, as well. So it's a mix of both. But I don't think about all of that. I think about the messages and getting it across."

Ryan reminds us that the bottom 3 will all be asked to sing their season favorite tonight. He asks Scott Savol what his would be. Scott tells him it's a toss between 'Against All Odds' and 'She's Gone', but it probably will be 'Against All Odds'. 

Ryan then surprises Scott, telling him "I'm going to ask you to perform that right now. Scott you are in the bottom three tonight."

After another ad-break Ryan tells Carrie and Anwar they are safe. It's "over to Bo", who isn't. There are lots of boos from the audience. Bo's inclusion in the bottom 3 is definitely part of the shock Ryan mentioned as this program started.

Ryan milks as much emotion as he can out of the drama. He addresses Bo "Let me ask you, I mean, you started this competition on top. Rave reviews from the judges. What do you think has happened in the last week or two?"

Bo gives Ryan the best answer " I think I've had a great time. That's what happened man. You know, this is all started as a bet for me and my mom. Man, I mean... (laughter) ...you know what I'm saying?  (Cheers) Well what's the worst... what's the worst thing that's going to happen to me? I go back home, I play gigs and I have a blast doing what I've done my whole life, man. I'm not worried about it, dude, it's good. (Cheers)"

Randy Jackson looks a lot more bothered by the situation than Bo. He tells Ryan "I think Bo's the bomb. I think he's probably lost a little confidence the last couple weeks. Hasn't been his stellar weeks. But I still think he's the bomb dude."

Paula on the other hand seems even less worried than Bo "I have no worries in the world. Trust me! You will see him in the final!"

Bo hits the stage, his chosen reprise song is The Black Crowes' 'Remedy' and Bo rocks it! He skips over and greets Scott whilst singing, and he doesn't miss a beat.

An ad-break later and Ryan is now looking for the 3rd member of the bottom 3.

He spotlights Constantine and asks Simon about when he called last night's rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' "astonishing", was that good or bad? Simon addresses Constantine as he answers...

"Well, you know, everything about you was astonishing. You know taking on a song like that is incredibly risky. I mean it really is one of those songs you normally don't touch. And if I had known in advance you were going to record that or sing that song, I would have probably said I wouldn't try that. And everything from the performance, through the tongue, everything about it was astonishing. But what was more astonishing was it works. It was good." (Cheers)

Constantine is safe. It would be astonishing if he wasn't!

The third bottom placer is between Vonzell, Anthony and Nadia.

Nadia fidgets uncomfortably while Ryan speaks to Vonzell and Anthony. Maybe she's wondering why she's the only one left holding a mike. Ryan catches up with her, "Nadia, what song are you going to sing? You are in the bottom three tonight?"

She's reprising Dusty Springfield's 'You Don't Have To Say You Love Me'. It's a great job, just like first time around.

Simon was right last week when he told us that the public see things his way. He continues to be the most influential cog in the Idol machinery. Here's what he said yesterday evening about tonight's bottom 3...

After the final ad-break Scott, Bo and Nadia are lined up center stage. Ryan wants more words from the judges. Randy reminds the three that both Ruben and Fantasia were in the same position in their Idol seasons and they went on to win. He tells the Idols "...build up your confidence, go out there, you've got to want this."

Paula echoes Randy's sentiments "you've always got to remember the passion and why you came here in the first place and what you possess inside. It's a gift that you have. You've got to always remember that and come out there and perform like it's the last time you're performing."

Simon agrees that song choice plays a big part in determining who goes. He tells Nadia "If you had sung that song last night you would not be standing there now. You wouldn't!"

Simon also states "I know more than you guys, because I've been doing this for 30 years", which would make him 15 when he started! Paula makes some funny faces to indicate she thinks Simon's head may be a little swollen!

Ryan asks Nadia if she regrets her song choice. Nadia doesn't, "I actually don't. In all honesty, because as I said from day one, I know I pick the little songs that were a little offbeat to some and that were a little unfamiliar. But it was things that I felt my fans and you know people at home really loved about me. And unfortunately, maybe that's just not working out. (Nadia laughs)"

Scott is the first to be let of the hook."Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he cries out intensely, as he looks skyward.

Nadia and Bo still sweat it out. Paula is asked whether she is still sure Bo will make it to the final. From her effusive reaction it seems like she does. Maybe she has wind of something, because it is Bo who hears that happy 'safe' word and Nadia who must leave tonight.

Nadia is emotional, but also kind of composed. She takes over Ryan's microphone for a moment. "I just want to say thank you to everyone at home, and in Miami that supported me. My family. My fans. This has been an incredible journey. I mean, beyond anything anyone could comprehend."

The narrative to her Idol journey VT is interesting...

"The whole American Idol experience has been just incredible... I think it's affected me emotionally in a positive way... I'd want to be remembered that I kept it real the whole time. Like no matter what I said. No matter what the song choice was. That I don't leave here having any regrets and knowing that at the end of the day, Nadia was Nadia, and I stayed true to myself."

As she watches the tape roll, she uses Ryan's tie to mop-up a few tears, it's a touching sight.

Top marks to Nadia for a gracious exit. "Thank you, American Idol for this opportunity, and the journey has just begun. So watch out, baby, hoo-hoo!"

Nadia hugs farewell to her Idol buddies. Hopefully she will also get to hug the 2 young girls (we think family) who are shown sobbing inconsolably as tonight's credits roll!

It feels far too early for Nadia, the girl with the big hair and the bigger talent, to leave this contest. Suddenly it all sinks in, 'Nadia Turner is ousted'... and we're beginning to feel those shock waves all over again.