Things are getting hotter and hotter in “American Idol,” as the show revealed its Top 12 finalists Thursday. The show also gave away two shocking, unexpected eliminations.

First to hear the news was Lily Scott, who didn’t expect to leave the show right then and there.

“I thought I did really well. I thought I was appealing to a lot of people,” she says to host Ryan Seacrest after learning she was voted off.

“You know, I put my heart into every performance and I thought I really gave it my all every time,” she adds. “It’s surprising… a lot of incredible talent is going home and I don’t know what America wants to hear.”

Other contestants sent home were Katelyn Epperly, Todrick Hall, and Alex Lambert, who got rave reviews from the judges during his three consecutive live performances. His only criticism was when Simon Cowell pointed out his shaky aura brought about by nervousness.

“I had a lot of fun and I learned a lot of stuff and I wish I would have like, not been so nervous on stage because there’s a lot of things that American hasn’t seen me do yet, and a lot of things that I know I’m capable of, but the judges and America hasn’t seen it [yet],” Alex said. “I wish I coulda just broken out of my shell.”

Todrick meanwhile spent two weeks with rather shaky and problematic performances, and when he learned he was out, he thanked everybody for his time on the show.

“I came here to prove I’m not just a dancer, I can also sing and I think I’ve done that,” he said.

“I’m not stoppin’ now,” says Katelyn. “It’s just a push for me to do more stuff.”

In week three of the live “Idol” competition, it’s Crystal Bowersox who steals the show from her fellow female contestants and wowed the judges and audiences once again.

The 16 standing contestants took the stage to grab a place in the top 12, and it was the dreadlocked young mom-who was hospitalized last week for undisclosed medical issues, who had everybody going crazy.

“Love that, love you, love the song, love the honest,” says Randy Jackson after watching the contender’s performance of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” “I’m a fan, I’m a fan! That was hot.”

“You are one million, billion percent gonna be in the Top 12 next week,” says Simon, assuring Crystal. “The ‘Idol’ competition’s yours to lose.”

Also in the same night, the show opened with Ellen DeGeneres sitting on Simon’s lap, as a reference to what he said during his “Tonight” appearance on Monday, where, like Paula Abdul, Ellen would eventually end up on his lap during the season.

Now that he’s sent back home, eliminated “Idol” hopeful Jermaine Sellers plans to give judge Simon Cowell a surprising present: a bible.

“I’m gonna send him a Bible,” says the 27-year old church singer from Joliet, Ill.

He even suggested that Simon should come and join him at church after he received some heavy criticism for his rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” Tuesday night. And Jermaine wishes that the judge would really go to church sometime.

“Like I told him, he [needs] to go to church. If he had a little bit of Jesus in him, then he wouldn’t be so mean,” says Jermaine. “I’ve never known [anybody] that don’t smile.”

Thursday night was full of tears and goodbyes as four more contestants go home from “American Idol.”

Twenty-one year old John Park was the first to pack his bags, but he was rather positive and thankful of everything that has happened.

“The highlight is Shania, of course,” says John, recalling the incident when guest panelist Shania Twain gave him all compliments during his audition. “But really, like meeting these girls and these guys, I’ve really enjoyed my time here and working with the band and the crew… just everyone.”

Next to learn the news is Jermaine Sellers, who’s known not only for his singing prowess but also for his sharp tongue. Ryan Seacrest later asked him if it was his outspoken persona that got him “in trouble” on the show, but he said no.

“I don’t think my mouth got me in trouble,” Jermaine explains. “The only thing I can say is where I sing from- You can’t be taught how to riff and run and sing high notes,” he said. “I’m a church singer, that’s where my heart is. A lot of people study different singers, but you have to have your own style.”

On the women’s group, it was 22-year old Michelle Delamor who said goodbye to the pack.

“I’m gonna keep going and I know I was made to do this,” says the curly-haired Miami lass.

And the final hopeful to say farewell was Haely Vaughn, who belted out Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” on Wednesday’s show.

“I think I could definitely use some more experience,” she said.

She may have been hospitalized and nearly missed out on this week’s “Idol” performance night, but Crystal Bowersox made sure her comeback would definitely give the judges-and the audiences a big big WOW.

The 24-year old dreadlocked mom took it away with her guitar and sang “Long As I Can See The Light” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, leaving the four judges, Randy, Kara, Ellen and Simon in awe. With that performance she rose from being just a standout, but somebody to watch out for.

“You are the truth and you do what you do,” says Randy Jackson. “I just love that you’re not trying to be anybody else… I love that girl. That girl is hot.”

“Please stay healthy. We need you here. You’re amazing,” says Ellen DeGeneres.

Simon Cowell meanwhile saw someone else in Crystal’s performance that night-the original “American Idol.”

“The vocal was incredible and I promise you, this was like, the moment we realized with Kelly Clarkson that we’ve got a serious artist here,” he says. “I think we’ve got a really serious artist with you. Congratulations.”

It’s a battle of three guys during Tuesday’s performance night of “American Idol”.

Alex Lambert, Michael Lynche and Lee Dewyze were the three frontrunners on Tuesday’s show, getting not just the nods but praises from the judges who critiqued their performances last week.

The Top 10 male hopefuls were supposed to perform Wednesday, but due to the unexpected hospitalization of female contender Crystal Bowersox, the order of events this week was switched.

Regardless, almost all the men were in good shape upon doing their numbers. Lynche was the first to garner praise after doing a heartwarming version of the classic hit, “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

“This is how I feel about that dog, I gotta give it to you,” says Randy Jackson while giving Lynche a standing ovation. “Crazy, crazy, unbelievable. R&B star right there.”

Kara DioGuardi meanwhile also offered a seemingly odd comment for the new dad. “Tonight you went from being a singer to someone who could potentially be a great artist. You owned it tonight. I don’t know what you ate between last week and this week…”

Lambert, who confessed that he’s only did a performance in front of an audience three times, rose from “Idol” hopeful to “one to watch,” as he showed his skills of via John Legend’s “Everybody Knows.”

Ellen DeGeneres says, “Under that mullet there’s a little Sam Cooke’s voice. You’ve got a great voice and of everybody here, I think you have the most unique style… you are somebody I’ve never seen before. I like it.”

But it was Dewyze who bagged the top praise that night, which came from Simon Cowell. He did a rendition of Hinder’s “Lips Of an Angel.”

“Let me tell you, vocally… you are head and shoulders above everyone else in your side of the competition right now,” he said. “But… [you need] self belief, I mean, you look terrified right now.”

Too much stress? Or just too excited? Crystal Bowersox, one of the contenders of the current season of “American Idol,” was rushed to the hospital Tuesday, causing the show’s order of performances to be changed.

“’American Idol’s’ 10 guys and 10 gals are swapping nights this week due to medical issues afflicting one of the women semifinalists,” says a statement released by the show.

“Crystal, if you’re watching, we hope you feel better very, very soon.”

Bowersox’s exact condition has not yet revealed, but reports say she is “believed to be a diabetic.”

Regardless, she is still expected to perform this week.

Simon Fuller, the genius behind reality TV hits such as “American Idol” and the “X-Factor” franchise, is making yet another milestone in the world of entertainment: “If I Can Dream.”

The new drama is not hitting the TV screen, but rather the Web, and it follows the lives of five people all hoping to get their chance to make it big in the entertainment industry. Their lives will then be chronicled not only by the show itself, but also by a live stream on ificandream.com.

In addition, fans and viewers can participate and vote on their favorite contestant live on the dot via Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, thus bringing to live the real “24/7 real-time interactive access.”

“There was this conventional wisdom that said, ‘Well, the economics aren’t there to do high-quality TV on the Web,” says Andy Forsell, senior vice president of content and distribution at Hulu.com, the site where the new Web reality series can be viewed. “That may have been true a couple years ago, but we don’t think it’s true today.”

“The missing link for us has not been strong enough monetization,” he continues. “The missing link has been someone like Simon that says, ‘We’re going to do this.’”

Photos by Wenn.com

Simon Cowell’s getting married!

The news broke thanks to his fiancée, Mezhgan Hussainy, who showed off her engagement ring to the public.

Engagement rumors were also confirmed by David Mamane, celebrity jeweler and CEO of MyJewelryBox.com. “I never would have pegged Simon Cowell to be a guy that spends so much money on a woman. But he sure did well! The brilliant cut diamond engagement ring is approximately six carats and an estimated $750,000. You can see that the clarity and color is nothing less than perfect!”

An insider close to the “American Idol” judge leaked the news that he indeed popped the question to Hussainy. She later announced the news of their plans to marry on Saturday at RadarOnline.

Photos by Wenn.com

The public has decided, and after the gruesome “Hollywood Week,” four of the Top 24 “Idol” contestants were sent back home.

First was 24-year old Janell Wheeler, a Florida native who works as a wine saleswoman. “I had a feeling,” she says after host Ryan Seacrest revealed the news. “I really wanted a chance to play my guitar and do what I do best one more time.”

Next to pack her bags was Ashley Rodriguez, the Eva Longoria lookalike who hails from Chelsea, Mass. Her final song was “Happy,” a song from Simon Cowell’s protégé, Leona Lewis.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me from day one,” she told the audience.

The news was rather surprising for Joe Munoz, who got the judges’ not during the live competition in Wednesday. While the judges loved him, the public’s affection was not enough to make him stay on the show.

“America votes, so I wasn’t expecting anything,” he said. “I was just waiting for things to happen.”

And last to be sent home was Tyler Grady of Nazareth, Penn.

“All the judges, I really had a great time with them, but I feel like I didn’t get much constructive criticism during Hollywood Week,”  he says. “And I feel like what they told me [on] Wednesday, was a little bit too late.”