Things to do in Sacramento

Now I get why "American Idol" producer Nigel Lythgoe wanted the live results show to go from 30 minutes to an hour. More time for Katharine McPhee to sing perhaps the longest, most affected version of George Harrison's "Something" - ever.

The "Kat Woman," runner-up in Season 5, returned to perform on the live results show tonight, accompanied by music icon David Foster on the piano, which probably gave contestant Brooke White a small seizure because, at that moment, there was still one spot left in the bottom three.

(FYI: Brooke played the piano for her rendition of "Let It Be" on Tuesday.)

Anyway, cut to the chase. After 29 million votes, Top 12 guy David Hernandez got the boot for his cruise-ship, cabaret, corny version of "I Saw Her Standing There." I nailed this one. My "Idol" colleagues at chez Bee thought it would be the other bottom feeder Kristy Lee Cook, whose country-crooning "Eight Days a Week" was a hot mess.

But I believe the country-music voters out there kept Kristy in the competition. The other bottom three vote-getter? Syesha Mercado, who was totally taken aback that she had to sing "Got To Get You Into My Life" again - without knowing she eventually would be safe.

So, how else did Nigel fill that extra 30 minutes?

* A Lennon/McCartney Top 12 medley. The new Top 11 will perform the songbook again next week because "Idol" fans loved it - and e-mailed in droves. No mentor, as previously discussed. Note to Amanda Overmyer: You're still scaring the children! Note to David Archuleta: Pick a better song, learn the lyrics.

* Actor Jim Carrey doing a major promo - in partial costume - for Friday's opening of the Fox animated film "Horton Hears a Who." (He's the voice of Horton, the elephant.) Jim also took the stage as a "contestant," saying he never should have sung "that REO Speedwagon song." By the way, the "Idol" Top 12 made their red-carpet debut at the movie's L.A. opening.

* The return of the "Idol" singers doing Ford commercials, this time to something called "The Distance," with a decidedly political bent. Point of interest: The song is by Cake, one of Sacramento's most successful bands. Good to know.

* Really, REALLY stupid on-air phone calls from "Idol" fans who asked lame questions like (to Jason Castro): "Which judge would you be?" "Well, I'm not a girl, like Paula," he responded.

* Did you look close at the audience? At the conclusion of the "Idol" medley, quick pan to Season 6 fiasco Sanjaya Malakar (and his sister), who was almost unrecognizable. Sanjaya - not his sister.

Back to Kat McPhee's performance - in a way-short dress with a giant wedding ring - was Ambien-esqe.

When it was time to finally say goodbye to David H., they played Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard's farewell song, a lovely version of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home."

Here's seeing the last of the guys go - for a while. Gals, you're about to get picked off (except for Carly) like ducks at a carnival. But hey, that's just my take. Let me know what YOU think!