There would be no “shocking twist” on Thursday night’s (May 8) “American Idol.” The “big cut” would determine who faded into history and who earned the coveted home visit.

And when the beignet dust settled and the final four were cut down to the top three, it was a pretty straight line to the semi-finals… which ran right through (and over) one of the season’s most unpredictable finalists.

We’ll tell you who went home… after, well, this sentence. Here’s how it went down.

No Surprises

Jena Irene and presumptive champion Caleb Johnson were ushered through pretty early in the episode. No shocker there. But when it came down to split up the final two contenders, it was no surprise when Jessica Meuse’s number came up. That meant that sensitive crooner Alex Preston would get his shot at the title.

Meuse was sent packing after going 1-for-3 on Wednesday night, striking out on her first two songs and finally connecting on Lady Gaga’s “You & I,” at which point America might have already made up their minds.

P-P-P-Poker Face

Meuse, who got dinged repeatedly this season for not showing enough emotion, went down after failing to ignite a cover of original “Idol” Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You Been Gone” and Pink’s “So What” on Wednesday. “It wasn’t right for you,” Jennifer Lopez said, echoing Harry Connick Jr.’s sentiment about both of Meuse’s first two selections.

The Slapout, Alabama, singer/songwriter with the pink streaks in her hair and her heart on her sleeve had a solid run on the show. ...

Robin Thicke has made his feelings abundantly clear from the stage: He wants Paula Patton back. Like, now.

But up until recently, his estranged wife has kept quiet about her feelings after the former high-school sweethearts’ break-up earlier this year. In a new Vanity Fair profile, though, Patton breaks her silence and (kind of) talks about what might be next for the couple.

“We’ve known each other since we were teenagers,” she told the magazine. “All I can tell you is there’s a deep love there — always was, and always will be.” The actress, who is busy filming “Warcraft” in Vancouver with Dominic Cooper and Travis Fimmel also opened up about the former couple’s meet-cute story.

According to Patton, 38, they met at a Hollywood 18-and-under club when she was 15 and Thicke was 14, and before they had their first kiss, Robin serenaded her with Jodeci’s “Forever My Lady” in his dad Alan’s living room. Awww. Who wouldn’t go for that move?

“He wasn’t my first kiss,” Patton said. “But he was my first lots of other things.” The couple, who have a 3-year-old son together, Julian Fuego, announced that they were separating in February.

Gil Kaufman

First, the Black Keys took us to church in the holler-if-you-hear-me video for “Fever.”

And now, in the equally grainy announcement video for their mega-North American fall tour in support of the Turn Blue album, the boys set up a fake press conference to announce the dates for the outing that will feature support from Jake Bugg, Cage the Elephant and St. Vincent. The tour kicks off on September 5 in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently slated to run through a December 21 date in Kansas City.

The Keys are the musical guests on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” and will kick off their 2014 dates with a headline appearance on May 16 at this year’s Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

The Turn Blue Tour dates:

9/5 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
9/6 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
9/7 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
9/9 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Bradley Center
9/10 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
9/12 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Louis Arena
9/13 – Pittsburgh, PA @ CONSOL Energy Center
9/14 – Rochester, NY @ Blue Cross Arena
9/16 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
9/18 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
9/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
9/21 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
9/24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
9/25 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
9/27 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/24 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
10/25 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
10/27 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
10/28 – Edmonton, AB ...

If “Thriller” gave you the chills, wait til you get a shot of Michael Jackson’s “Blue Gangsta.” The song, which is available exclusively now at michaeljackson.mtv.com will appear on the upcoming posthumous King of Pop album, Xscape, and it is a classic slice of cinematic MJ pop magic.

Opening with a movie score-like wash of strings and the urgent refrain, “What cha gonna do/You ain’t the friend of mine/Look what you put me through/Now that I’m the blue gangsta,” the Timbaland-produced tune features an spare, skittering beat and Jackson singing over the eerie multi-tracked chorus.

Like the other eight songs on the Xscape (due out May 13), “Blue Gangsta” was put together based on full vocal takes recorded by the late singer between 1983 and 1999. Unlike the first released track — the disco-leaning “Love Never Felt So Good” — the darker “Gangsta” has an icier, more modern sound.

Get More: Michael Jackson,
Michael Jackson videos

Jackson’s MTV artist page features a treasure trove of classic material, including a performance of “Bad” from the 1988 MTV Video Music Awards, “Will You Be There” from the MTV10 anniversary special and a 1996 interview in which MJ talks about the inspiration for his landmark hit “Thriller.”

Gil Kaufman

Sometimes it’s just the little things you do. Take, for instance, a small gesture Justin Bieber made Thursday morning (May 8) when he reposted a cartoon image a fan made of him shirtless holding a skateboard.

The flattering pen and ink portrait was made by a tattoo artist who goes by ifirstdance and it was based on a shot Bieber posted a day earlier from Venice Beach.

And let’s just say that the artist was completely freaking out all morning about the unexpected shout-out.

Check Out Our Interactive Justin Bieber Tat Map.

The freak-out just went on and on and it was pretty cute. A few of our favorites:

Gil Kaufman

After last week’s “Hunger Games”-style “shocking surprise,” in which the final five said “no thanks” to saving one of their own from elimination, “American Idol”‘s final four had a lot on the line Wednesday night (May 7).

In a season that has seen as much controversy as this, (i.e. none at all), front-runner Caleb Johnson might have opened the door this week thanks to his unfortunate slam against the “Idol” fans who picked his songs last week. He apologized, but would America forgive him on “Love: Break-Ups and Make-Ups” night?

And, more importantly would those footsteps from teen queen Jena Irene get louder?

Caleb Stays In The Pocket
Rocking a white denim jacket, Johnson took no chances in his show opener, growling through a serviceable take on Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Keith Urban called it “killer, man” and a “Caleb Slayer,” which is good, right?

Dedicating it to his band back home, Johnson then motored full-throttle through Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Travelin’ Band” like he was born to sing the swamp boogie classic. Jennifer Lopez was right, there’s really nothing left to say about it. “You killed it again, you’re gonna be tough to beat,” she shrugged.

His make-up song was Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed,” and the soft-focus piano-ballad power vocals completed his flawless trifecta.

Jessica Gets Gone, And Might Be Gone
Jessica Meuse is still looking for that performance that will show that she’s got a spark behind those thousand-yard-stare eyes. Her wobbly, rocked-up take on original “Idol” Kelly ...

It’s another boy for Kristin Cavallari and husband Jay Cutler. The former “Hills” star and Chicago Bears quarterback, 31, welcomed their second son, Jaxon Wyatt Cutler, on Wednesday (May 7).

The 7 lbs. 11 oz. bundle of joy was announced in, what else? An Instagram from Kristin, 27, with a photo of a striped beanie and some tiny fuzzy suede slippers.

Was it really just five days ago that Kristin was showing off her bump and cover story in “Fit Pregnancy?”

After some ups and downs, Cutler and Cavallari got married in June. And now 20-month-old brother Camden has a play buddy!

Gil Kaufman

When Miley Cyrus gets obsessed with something, she doesn’t hold back. Whether it’s honking on Amazon Ashley’s boobs during her shows or overusing that star filter on her Instagram photos — when Miley’s in, she’s all in.

And for the past few days she has been all about Lil Jon and DJ Snake’s hit single “Turn Down For What.” Need proof? OKKKAAAAYYYYY.

Sunday Fun Day

Monday Two Play

Tuesday Boat Cray

Wednesday Flower Spray

Gil Kaufman

Katy Perry is about to make a lot of KatyCats’ dreams come true with the launch of her Prismatic World Tour.

But first, the Make-A-Wish foundation helped 5-year-old stage IV cancer patient Addy’s fantasy come to life by making her a pop star for a day in a video where she gets to sing Perry’s “Roar.”

Set hearts to melt.

Gil Kaufman

A judge in Washington, D.C., has approved the release of five pictures taken on the night Chris Brown and his bodyguard are alleged to have assaulted a man outside the singer’s hotel.

The bodyguard, Christopher Hollosy, was convicted of assault in the case last month and Brown is still awaiting trial in the matter. The images were entered into evidence in Hollosy’s trial.

One image shows Brown posing with two women outside a Washington hotel before the alleged assault, while another features Hollosy in custody. Several depict the alleged victim, Parker Adams, with a bloody, swollen nose and blood-stained shirt. A post-arrest image of Brown is also included in the group of photos.

Hollosy is planning an appeal of his conviction and Brown’s trial has been delayed as a result, leaving the singer behind bars in California until a new trial date is set.

Hollosy reportedly told police that he was the one who punched Adams, though Brown remains in custody because of probation issues related to his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Gil Kaufman