Idol voters, you didn't do what Simon says

Preface: In our joint posting Tuesday night, Erin insisted on a more succinct recap/analysis of the night's competition. But on results show nights, many viewers just tune in to the end of the show.

Wednesday's results show was more entertaining than recent weeks', but watching closely, I felt compelled to share what many saw:

(Yes, Erin, even the preface is wordy; but bear with me.)

In a departure from results show protocol, a contestant was eliminated a whopping 27 minutes before the end of the show Wednesday night.

What you say?

At that point, just after Elliot Yamin — who was eliminated at this point in last year's competition — performed, host Ryan Seacrest says the following just before cutting to commercial:

"More music coming up from Maroon 5. Plus, more emotional results. And Melinda goes home."

The camera quickly cuts to the final three contestants, where we see Blake clapping and mugging for the camera; Jordin clapping and looking at Seacrest and Yamin; and a perlexed Melinda sitting between the two.

I wasn't the only to say, Huh? Wait a minute! It was only after replaying those few seconds that I realized Seacrest was promoting the upcoming taped segment of Melinda's trip back home to Nashville last week. (Following last week's show, each of the final three returned to their hometowns for heavily choreographed — and documented — emotional homecomings that were aired on Wednesday's episode.)

He wasn't announcing her departure from the competition. But it appeared to Melinda, like it did to me, that she wasn't sure what he was talking about initially.

Twenty-seven minutes later that moment looked prophetic as Melinda — standing at center stage, evoking a rocker image in a black dress with the words "death cheater" across the chest — was told that tonight "was the end of the road" for her by Seacrest.

With Jordin already declared a finalist, Melinda stood there expressionless. Blake, too, initially, as if he didn't realize what had just happened.

Before hearing the booing crowd, we see Simon — elbows on table, with his hands over his nose and mouth — expressing the first sign of disappointment. (And boy, did he look disappointed.) Simon all but begged Idolnation to do the right thing last night, saying he's like to see Melinder in next week's finals. (And, if you remember, he had a negative comment for each of Jordin's three performances last night.)

Simon must have sensed his Melinder's fate a minute earlier, when Seacrest asked Jordin to join him in revealing the fate of the first contestant. At that point, everyone but perhaps Jordin herself, realized she was indeed safe.

Cutting to the judges, viewers saw Randy Jackson clapping while looking blankly at the stage; Paula smiling and clapping like a seal waiting for a fish; and Simon clapping obligatorily while refusing to look up at the stage in that shot as well as a follow-up shot from behind the judges. (Perhaps he was saying a little prayer for Mindy-do.)

Following the usual retrospective of the departing contestant, Seacrest polled the judges as TV lawyers often do of the TV juries in TV legal dramas. Randy and Paula offered their compliments to Melinda, but it Simon who expressed what many watching felt: respectful congratulations to the two finalists, but sympathy for Melinda.

(End of Part 1.)

Gary T. Mills/The Times-Union