Author: Fred Bronson

Michael Becker / Fox

Kree Harrison performs

The season 12 top three show of American Idol offered nine outstanding performances, but if you watched it at home, you missed a lot by not being part of the live studio audience. Here’s what The Hollywood Reporter observed from a reserved seat…

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1.  If audience members walking into Stage 36 at CBS Television City looked around to spot a star in the audience, they would have recognized seven familiar faces. Seated audience left in one row were Amber Holcomb, Lazaro Arbus, Janelle Arthur and Paul Jolley, while right behind them in another row were Curtis Finch, Jr., Burnell Taylor and Devin Velez. The seven finalists from this year’s top 10 were back in town to begin rehearsals for the finale.

2.  Barbra Streisand in the house: No, the diva wasn’t there. Warm-up comedian Jay had control of the house music heard in the studio before the live show began, and he encouraged everyone to get up and dance to his iPod selection, “Barbra Streisand” by Duck Sauce.

3.  On the first commercial break, stage manager Debbie Williams called for quiet so Ryan Seacrest could pre-tape an introduction to be used later. When Ray Chew’s musicians continued to play, she silenced them — for a moment. Just as Seacrest was about to tape is segment, the band started up again and this time Williams had to shout, “Stop playing music!”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: The Top 10 Finalists

4.  Everyone loves a good shout-out, but warm-up guy Jay had special instructions for the audience tonight: “Do not yell out ‘I love you’ to a judge during the show.” No one did, though people were encouraged to do their shout-outs on the breaks (except for the one noted above).

5.  Jay had more instructions for the audience, reminding them to hold their signs up every time the show came back from commercial breaks and later, telling them not to forget to applaud going into commercials.

6.  An audience member named Sonia was offered a prize if she could name all of the series’ winners, season by season. She started with Kelly Clarkson and went right though to Phillip Phillips without missing a single one, earning herself — wait for it — a coupon for a free pizza.

7. Audience members were clearly moved by the home stories of the top three finalists – so much so that executive producer Nigel Lythgoe had to tell them it was fine to cry during the video packages, but when the Idols were performing, he wanted to see more energy… happy energy.

STORY: The Best Thing About Season 12 of ‘American Idol’: Guitarist Brady Cohan

8. This one might come under the heading of things you didn’t hear. One of the songs performed Wednesday night was written by a top 10 Idol finalist. Kree Harrison sang Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye,” composed by season six’s Chris Sligh. There was no acknowledgment for Sligh on air, but THR let Harrison know about the Idol connection after the show.

9. When Randy Jackson said this year’s top three was one of the best top threes ever, season 12 finalist Curtis Finch, Jr. leapt to his feet and began to applaud quickly.

10. On the next break, Randy headed up to the audience and joined THR in a chat with the seven visiting finalists. One break later, Keith Urban ran up to the same section and hugged Amber, Lazaro, Janelle, Paul, Curtis, Burnell and Devin.

11. When Simon Cowell was on the judging panel, he would dash outside on commercial breaks — almost always for a smoke. Eventually, Paula Abdul and Randy would also take off, but just for some fresh air. This season, the judges usually stay in place during the breaks, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. On one of the last commercial breaks, Keith bolted from the studio. Where did he go? Let’s just say that we have a eyewitness account that while he’s standing at the urinal. He sings, by the way.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker / Fox

Kree Harrison’s hometown trip might be the saddest in American Idol history. Both of the 22-year-old’s parents died while she was still in her teens — her father in a place crash. Talk about overcoming tragedy. But as is Kree Harrison’s nature, she’s someone who perseveres, as she certainly did on top 3 night. She talked to reporters after the show…

On her Texas-sized homecoming…

It’s safe to say Kree Harrison didn’t know what to expect. “I thought my family and friends were gonna show up and give me a party, but there was like thousands of people chanting,” she said. “More than anything, it was humbling — to think you have to go back and make these fans proud of you. This is not just something that’s yours this is something you have to give back.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: The Top 10 Finalists

On the week’s emotional roller-coaster …

“That’s life. I’m no stranger to it,” said Harrison, adding of her video segment, “The sweet was definitely after the bitter.” As for the house where she was filmed with her sister, Harrison’s grandfather built it. “It’s special for so many reasons, not the least of which this is the last place we were with our parents,” she said, promising to “rebuild one day.”

VIDEO: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: Top 10 Finalist Red Carpet Interviews

On her competitors…

“They killed it!” said Harrison, the ultimate cheerleader. “Angie, she’s flawless and that Elton John song is one of my favorite songs. Then she did, ‘Try’ – like, ‘Hello, rock star! I’ve arrived.’ Candy — can we just talk about that performance? She killed it. We all looked at each other at the end of the night and were like, ‘We did it, whatever happens.’”

On what happens next…

“We’re exhausted — drained more than anything — but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else right now. It’s pretty incredible and I just hope that I can stay another week.”

Twitter: @Idol_Worship

Michael Becker / Fox

Candice Glover’s hometown visit, like that of her fellow finalists Angie Miller and Kree Harrison, brought out both tears and inspiration. But in the end, she was stronger for it, as she explained to reporters after the show.

On having “a moment” despite the nerves…

Glover said the hometown visit got in the way of properly rehearsing her three songs from the week. “You come back and you’re not prepared, so I thought that I was gonna mess up on all three songs.” But because she was able to dig into the words to “One” by U2, “Next to Me” by Emili Sande and the classic “Somewhere,” she had more than one moment. “I live in a place where music is not that big of a deal, so American Idol is a good way of getting out there — somewhere where my music career can happen… like next week.”

PHOTOS: ‘American Idol’ Season 12: The Top 10 Finalists

On the fatigue factor…

“I was extremely tired and I agree with what the judges said about me being sharp,” Glover explained. Another challenge: watching all that hometown footage of friends, family and fans. Said Glover: “I’m watching that, so I’m crying and the cameraman is trying to make funny faces in front of me, so I won’t cry. But seeing your hometown visit, it gives you the boost that you need. Still, my voice was tired.”

On Nicki Minaj getting emotional…

The tears were flowing at the judges table, too, where the usually unflappable Nicki Minaj was clearly moved. “I think Nicki knows better than anyone what it’s like to come from nowhere and to have your career be so big,” said Glover, who was brought back to that place when visiting her small South Carolina island. “I remember driving down the same road that I used to just stand on, with my cousins and not have anything to do,” she recalled.

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On losing two rounds to her competitors…

“At first, it hurt my feelings,” Glover confided, adding that it also “amped” her up. “I was, like, I can either mope about not winning a round or I could go out there and show them why I made it to top 3 in the first place,” she said.

On Thursday’s results…

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or at the finale because we’re in a season where everyone is so good,” said Glover, echoing her competitors’ sentiments.

Twitter: @Idol_Worship