Down to the final 12 on ‘American Idol’

Getting voted off on “American Idol” is never a fun experience, but the last of the three semifinal rounds is always particularly cruel. Each of the four contestants voted off the show on Thursday was one week away from being one of the 12 finalists. They came within a few moments of a huge chance to develop a fan base, and then had it snatched away while hearing Simon Cowell talk about how they really weren’t all that good anyway. More.