Carly Smithson, Michael Lee Johns, Kristy Lee Cook, Jason Castro, Robbie Carrico, Syesha Mercado, Joanne Borgella, Amy Davis, David Archuleta, Brooke White, Jason Yeager, and Kady Malloy were all planted in the competition by the producers and Randy, Simon, and Paula put them through.
That is HALF of the contestants in the final 24 who have either released albums that flopped, been on other television shows, or dated Britney Spears.  That is ridiculous to me.
Granted, not all of the producer's plants made it through (Lorena Pinot, Shaun Barrowes, and Samantha Sidley got cut), but it is just pointless to me this year because all of the above have had a chance at success before and lost (or won), so they aren't undiscovered talent like the show is supposed to be.
And Josiah Leming was awesome, even his last performance wasn't horrible.  I think it sounded alright, but I like that style of music A LOT!  I think most people are brainwashed because Simon said he hated it, plus it was not smart sending the band away, but it's ok, based on what I heard about the contract they sign, he's better off not making it to the final 24.