To find out whether the long-predicted Lee and Crystal finale would finally come to pass next week -- or whether the cougar and teenybopper alliance had cobbled together enough power to keep Casey in it yet again -- we sat through performances by Travis Garland and Justin Beiber; a brief appearance by blogger Perez Hilton, establishing his music-spotting bona fides in a way that can only make us wonder if he really will be tapped to replace Simon next season; and lots of footage from the contestants' triumphant returns to their hometowns last week.

The homecoming recaps were admittedly sweet and suspense building. All three contestants clearly had a blast.

During his visit, Casey got to thank the doctors that saved him after an accident six years ago -- and he signed some woman's dachshund and incited more than a few young girls to scream as if they were seeing the Beatles at Shea. "Incredible story. Incredible story," Ryan said as Casey's package wrapped.

Crystal finally got her song "Holy Toledo," which has apparently become an anthem in Northwest Ohio, on the air. It ran under footage of her playfully popping out of a limo sunroof like a prairie dog, signing her name on the chest of a guy who informed her halfway through that he planned to have her signature made into a tattoo, and singing at an event dubbed "Bowerstock." Recalling the day and what it meant to her and her town, she was moved to tears.

Lee, for his part, seemed to have spent his entire homecoming day in tears -- as the crowds swarmed around the paint store where he once worked, as he met with children at his old elementary school, as he sang before his hometown crowd with his parents looking proudly on. But when Ryan tried to elicit some post-package waterworks, Lee, clearly feeling confident, declined to provide them.

 Anyhow, eventually, one contestant was sent home, and that contestant was …