Hey, gang! I hope you played along with last night’s over/under “American Idol” game. I had a good time compiling all the data—or at least as much as I could while still paying attention to the actual show content.

Later today, I’ll rank and break down the contestants’ performances and talk a little more about the Chris Sligh-Simon Cowell showdown, which resulted in quite possibly the first time on camera we’ve ever seen Cowell close to tears after an insult/joke. As Prince once sang: “CONTROVERSY!”

Anyway, on to the over/under game results:

•Number of times Simon Cowell is booed: 10. [Under? 8?] Due to a lack of booing in the early going (maybe the lethargic audience was asleep at the start?), I didn’t really start counting until it was too late. The jeers didn’t really kick in until a few contestants into the show, but really picked up toward the end. I’m guessing under, though.

•Number of times Simon Cowell uses the word “dreadfulâ€?: 3. [Under: 0.] “Dreary” and its variations left his lips, but alliteration counts for naught in this game.

•Number of times Randy Jackson references his “dog poundâ€? or someone as “dogâ€?: 5 (or 35, if you’re canine). [Lost track.] At 8:03 EST, Jackson busted out his first “dog” of the night, and then I stopped paying attention to this category. Still, I should have remembered that the “dog pound” is usually reserved for when the women compete and the woof-woof-woofing guys are sitting in the chairs to Randy’s right.

•Number of times Paula Abdul touches Simon while on camera: 7. [Under: 1?] Paula was surprisingly hands-off tonight, unless you count the time that she rubbed her own chest. (Not as dirty as it sounds, but don’t bother asking.)

•Number of times Paula Abdul touches a male contestant while on camera: 2. [Under: 0.] Paula probably shed a tear upon realizing that, yet again, Corey Clark is no longer a part of the competition.

•Number of Ford Edge commercials: 5. [Under: 1.] “I like to live on the eh-hedge!” And drive on a front and back wheel along the railings of tall buildings, evidently.

•Number of times I throw a sock, pillow or crumpled napkin at the TV because of said commercials: 2. [Under: 0.] Not even Chris Richardson’s nasal performance warranted the launching of soft objects at the telly.

•Number of references to former “American Idol� finalists by first name, last name or both (i.e. Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken): 5. [Lost track.] Simon hearkened back to the days of Chris Daughtry, name-dropping him a couple of times and proclaiming him superior to the last singer, Phil Stacey. My colleague tells me there was a name-drop fest that I forgot about, so no penalty here.

•Number of seconds Blake Lewis uses to demonstrate his beat-box skills (old footage doesn’t count): 6. [Under: 0.] Cowell said it was smart of Lewis to bail on the vocal percussion for his first semifinal song. I agree.

•Number of judges approving of Sundance Head’s performance: 2. [Under: 0.] Randy and Paula sugar-coated it, but none of the three judges was too enthused by Head’s song choice or delivery.

•Number of jokes made by Chris Sligh: 2. [Over: 6-ish.] I think it’s safe to say that, no matter what we’re talking about if Sligh is involved, always take the over.

•Number of close-ups on Paul Kim’s bare feet: 2. [Over: 9-plus!] If my prediction is accurate, at least next week’s screen won’t have more than 90 toes protruding into my living room.

•Number of guys removing an article of clothing during song to evoke squeals from crowd: 1. [Under: 0.] Thankfully.

•Number of songs in which words are forgotten: 3. [Under: 0.] I thought I put this too high, but I was almost positive one person would mess up the words. Flubbed notes, however, were the norm.

•Number of times a contestant slips or falls: 1. [Under: 0.] Sadly.

•Number of minutes that pass before I stop counting all of these items: 80. [Over, for the most part: 120.] Hey, give me credit. I managed to keep track of most of these with some semblance of accuracy. You don’t need me to tell you that Simon is booed often.

(Photo by Michael Becker/FOX)