The increasingly incomprehensible Paula Abdul keeps telling us that this year's "American Idol" Top 12 are the best field the show has ever had, culled from the strongest ever crop of wannabes. Excuse me, are her ears as messed up as her mind?

Tuesday night's show was a slipshod affair. Forget the prior weeks' embarrassments (male stripper, vile videos, failed recording contracts and previous contest wins). We finally got the Top 12 performing on a new, gargantuan stage. Apparently, that stage and the Lennon/McCartney songs must have been intimidating.

Front-runner David Archuleta stumbled badly and even forgot some words. David Hernandez, the former male stripper, morphed into a weak-voiced milquetoast. And Kristy Lee Cook (pictured here) ... Egads, where do we start with her horrifying version of "Eight Days a Week"?!

Donald Munro and I break down the Tuesday clutter and predict who's going home tonight. Tell us what you thought.

Overall impressions?

Donald says: Sort of an underwhelming show overall for me considering that this night was the big move onto the gynormous set, which with its swirling graphics and swooping lines looks like a stage version of a FOX News "special report" animated intro. Most of the performances I thought were just so-so. As far as the "Idol" personnel goes, I know we always beat up on Paula's mangling of the English language -- you always kind of wince when she first opens her mouth, wondering if this will be one of those episodes where she's been inhabited by a space alien -- but last night it was Ryan Seacrest who acted truly bizarre. Was he on something? Bopping around the stage like a middle-aged dad trying to dance, pawing the guy contestants, barreling through his introductions, cracking slightly weird jokes -- it was all very odd. And the sniping thing with Simon Cowell is getting simultaneously boring (like it's a planned attempt to get folks talking) and yet uncomfortable, as if they're this close to cussing each other out. It makes me want to walk out of the room.

Felicia says: I totally agree that Ryan was annoying to the nth degree. Why is he there? He adds nothing. He's not charming. He has no real apparent talent. He's not even that cute. Is he related to someone in the FOX hierarchy? As for the show, I was surprised at the mediocrity. I thought these folks would have worked through their nerves by now. I'm not an Archuleta fan because I think he's a semi-polished pro but I really felt for the kid last night. That front-runner status is psyching him out. He stunk. The judges raved about a few others, such as Brooke White's version of "Let It Be," that I found unspectacular. I'm sensing some desperation to pump up this season's contestants.

Strongest performers?

Donald says: Chikezie really got the crowd going. And though I wasn't all that impressed with any of the women, I'd go with Amanda Overmyer, who really sparked.

Felicia says: The male standout for me was David Cook. He turned "Eleanor Rigby" into a driven, hard-edged ode with a big finish. His vocals were rocker superb. I'll go with Carly Smithson because she is the best among the women. She has a big voice but also possesses depth and texture. But I'll also add this: The men are much stronger this year than the women. I can see Carly as the only gal standing in just a few weeks.

Weakest performers?

Donald says: Kristy Lee Cook's cover of "Eight Days a Week," with a driving percussion line and frantic twang that sounded like the background music for a clown routine, was truly heinous. And David Archuleta (seen here from last week's show) really bombed -- not just because he forgot the lyrics, but because he seemed like the slight little boy that he is. (He's just too young to be on this show.)

Felicia says: Yes, Archuleta blundered badly and a few others were just plain lame. But nothing, nothing! was as awful as Kristy Lee. Simon called it "horrendous." I wrote down "TORTURE." I literally wanted them to cut her off, like in the old vaudeville days when the hook would come out. Or "The Gong Show" when they would smash the gong to stop someone in mid-performance. Seriously, she's not going to last trying to impersonate last year's clown, Sanjaya Malakar.

So who's going home?

Donald predicts: Kristy Lee Cook is out of there.

Felicia predicts: Ditto. It's time Kristy goes home to Oregon.