So let’s recap: I now hate a show I used to love. Where’s the joy? Why has “American Idol” fallen so far from my favor?

These are questions for another post, my friends, but I will say that if I am to ever enjoy this show again, producers will have to make a few changes:

1. Change the format so the public votes count for half and the judges votes count for the other half (like they did after the first season of “Dancing With the Stars” when those results came under fire). That way, we won’t have the travesty of Jason Castro lasting longer than Carly Smithson or Michael Johns.

2. Make the vote totals public. I don’t believe anything these folks say and if they won’t tell us how many votes each contestant got, I don’t really believe they’re even telling us the truth about who got the most.

Where’s Fantasia singing “Summertime”? Where’s Clay singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water”? Where’s Bo singing “Vehicle”? Where’s Taylor singing “Takin’ it to the Streets”? It seems like every season we get someone bringing it home with a fantastic performance and this season has seen none of that. The closest we came was in the tryouts when Michael Johns sang Queen.

Now onto my reviews for tonight. It’s judges’ choice so here it goes:

David (Sleestak) Archuleta: He sang one of my all-time favorite songs, “And So It Goes,” chosen for him by Paula. I listen to this Billy Joel gem over and over. And now I weep because the Sleestak ruined it with his gigantically breathy nasty voice. Why don’t the judges call him on that? Why? Did you like how he ended it by convulsively licking his lips like the lizard Sleestak he is? Gah! This guy is driving me to new heights of horrifying hatred.

For his second song (Idol’s choice), the Sleestak messes up the lyrics again. I don’t even know what song he was singing but he mumbled his way through a line. And it’s obvious why he doesn’t sing songs even the slightest bit upbeat — he can’t move to the music. And was he wearing plaid pants? Yeah, this guy can’t do anything right, except to get the heck off the stage.

For his third song, he emoted his way through Dan Fogleberg’s “Longer.” His closed lizard eyes and lizard tongue were working overtime as was his Sleestak breathing. And if Randy doesn’t quit telling this guy he can sing the phone book, I’m gonna puke.

Syesha Mercado: She sings a song by Alicia Keyes chosen for her by Randy. She’s not knocking my socks off by she’s the most polished of all of them and deserves to win but won’t.

She chose “Fever” for her second song, which is hotter than hot. This is a brave choice because it’s an ancient song but she pulled it off. She has got the performing part down, beating the Davids hands down in that department. Neither of them look particularly comfortable and Syesha has got it goin’ on. The judges do not like old songs. I remember them ripping on someone a few seasons back for doing “Orange Colored Sky.” But I thought it was great.

Her third song was “Hit Me Up,” and I thought it was fantastic. The judges obviously have their orders to do everything they can to ensure the Davids are in the final, and so we know Syesha goes home tomorrow. She doesn’t deserve it but there it is.

David Cook: Simon chose “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” a great song sung by the great Roberta Flack. I think this was one of his best performances. We got a chance to hear the sweet side of Cook and he kept the cheese factor (always a problem with him) to a minimum. We finally got a chance to hear him go to his upper register in a sweet ballad and he knocked it out of the park. I hope this is what it takes to topple the Sleestak from his perch.

For his second song, he was back in cheese mode and he just did not do well with this song, whatever it was, especially during the first verse. At this late date, he shouldn’t be wandering off key but he was. Ick.

He sang “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for his third choice. He was still falling flat in places, which is just strange. This song was in his wheelhouse, though, and he did OK. He changed it up suitably from the Aerosmith classic, though all the violins were really kind of overpowering. And he just really needs to turn off the cheesiness. Holy cow.

Three songs tonight for each of them was six songs too many. They should have each done one and been done with this farce in 30 minutes. I can’t wait until this season is over.

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