There was much talk earlier this week about the ever-shrinking ratings for American Idol and how over the past seven years—this season in particular—they've gradually been reduced from competition-trouncing proportions into the kinder, gentler "hit TV show" realm. It has to do with not living up to the hype. Remember the beginning of the season, when Idol host Ryan Seacrest promised us the best group of AI singers ever? Notice how that statement morphed into last night's much lamer claim that this is the "closest competition yet?" That's because of the three remaining singers, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, and David Cook, one should have been capable of blowing their competition out of the water, but none did. Considering the show auditions close to 100,000 people each season, it's justifiable why the Idol nation may be losing interest.

That said, based on the fact that Mercado received the most negative feedback from judges (see Alicia Keys karaoke clip above) and doesn't have the backing of millions of teen girls as "the Davids" do, expect her swan song tonight.

Here's how it played out.

Contestants rotated through three rounds of songs—one chosen for them by an Idol judge, one of their own choosing, and then one picked for them by AI producers.

First up, David Archuleta, who had a difficult week leading into the semi-finals. He sang Billy Joel's "And So It Goes" as picked by Paula Abdul, which the judge's unanimously agreed was done well. Next, Archuleta tried to prove he could be contemporary and bopped his way through Chris Brown's "With You." With lyrics like "my boo," "lil' mama," and "hot little figure," all three of the judges agreed that out of Archuleta's innocent face the words were not believable, but all applauded his effort. It's worth noting that this late in the competition, and based on historical evidence, the judge's were extremely lenient with their assessment of Archuleta's song choice. Naturally, the harshest criticism came from Simon Cowell, who said it "was like a chihuahua trying to be a tiger." His accented "chihuahua" made it funny, to be sure, but not especially mean. For his third song, producers inexplicably chose the unofficial wedding song of 1980, "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg. Though he called it "gooey," Cowell said Archuleta "did enough to get into the finals next week."

Syesha Mercado followed Archuleta each round and opened with Randy Jackson's pick, "If I Ain't Got You," by Alicia Keyes. Though all three judges were in agreement that Mercado was "gorgeous" in her gold gown, she was criticized for sticking too close to the song. Mercado missed her chance to give a seductive and powerful performance with her own pick, Peggy Lee's "Fever." Same went for her producer-chosen "Hit Me Up," by Gina Farrell from the Happy Feet soundtrack. Mercado, though she looked like she was having fun, could have taken the opportunity to visit Beyoncé or Rihanna territory, but instead played it safe. In her defense, given that her strength has clearly been the Broadway-esque hits, it's curious producers would choose something so pop. Just sayin'.

That leaves David Cook, who was poised to run away with it but ultimately failed to gift wrap the competition for himself. Given room to run on Cowell's choice of Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," Cook stuck close to the original arrangement and didn't put his "rock" spin on the song—something only Randy Jackson seemed to notice. He then took out his electric guitar for his own pick, "Dare You to Move," by Switchfoot, and all three judges deemed it okay. Finally, on his producer-picked rock staple, "Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith, only Randy Jackson offered criticism, saying Cook was "predictable."Both Abdul and Cowell said they'd see Cook in the finals.

And that they should, along with David Archuleta. Tonight, we learn the final two and next week, those two will battle it out as "the most exciting season ever!" comes to a possibly not-so-exciting close.