Wow, what a difference a TV mix can make. Watching last night's broadcast of "American Idol's" Top 12 guys was a good reminder of the stark contrast between how the performances feel in the studio and how they actually sound to the viewer at home. It may be something Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler will have to address on Thursday's show, once they've had the chance to watch the episodes back. They, in turn, might want to take a few of their comments back. Randy Jackson is, of course, well aware of the disparity, but also wasn't nearly as fawning over the Top 12 guys as his fellow judges.

And with that disclaimer, the Top 12 girls had their work cut out for them on Monday afternoon (when the show taped Wednesday's episode), while the guys looked decidedly more relaxed in T-shirts and jeans. They all started in one big circle, with Ryan Seacrest making his way around for the dramatic show opener, after which all 24 galloped to sidestage, only to have to come right back for a redo. Apparently, something was amiss with the rotating American Idol logo over stage left, a mishap which brough Nigel Lythgoe out from the wings. Said Ryan: "Uh oh, Nigel only goes up to the stage when he's pissed."

Hardly. Everyone was in a chipper mood for round two of the Top 24. Ryan, especially, who was going in and out of his KIIS-FM persona, offering to pay random audience members' bills and some such. Clearly, he had already taken his happy pills. "This will be a fun couple hours," he promised.

The judges agreed, with Steven making a point of mentioning that there was "a full moon coming on." His advice to the nervous contestants? "Take it to the moon today, that's where we're going."

The first to try would be Ta-tynisa Wilson, who chose Rihanna's "Only Girl in the World" as her song for the week (the finalists had their pick of any song already cleared for use on "Idol") with weak results. It's a recurring problem with shows like "Idol" which strive to be current, but when you try to translate today's pop hits in a singing competition, they often fall short. This effort certainly did. Rihanna has performed on the show before but that doesn't make this song particularly "Idol"-friendly and the judges took notice. Randy said her performance was "just OK" and there there was "nothing special or different about it." Jennifer was more PC, but advising Ta-tynisa that part of "being a good performer is moving the crowd."  

This audience was moving on -- to Naima Adedapo who wore a yellow dress that she designed herself for the classic "Summertime." Giving the song a sultry sway, she slowly strutted up to the judges' table, which, as most "Idol" enthusiasts know, has a tendency to backfire -- there's something about that sort of presumptuousness that doesn't always sit well with the voter at home. We'll see how this one plays out, but on first impressions, it's safe to classify Naima as a solid performer with good pitch, but it's going to take more than that to impress Randy who called her performance "a little lounge act," and, in no uncertain terms, declared that it didn't hold up to Fantasia's version. Steven disagreed on the first part, comparing Naima to Ella Fitzgerald, while Jennifer said, "you bring color and something different… you're like an exotic flower."

Kendra Chantelle came next and delivered the sort of stage-ready goodness that "Idol" can get behind. A stunner in black leather pants and a frilly rock-n-roll top, she had all the makings of a future Carrie Underwood. But where the season 4 winner had to find her stage confidence (vocal coach Debra Byrd once commented that it took her all season just to get Carrie to lift her arms), Kendra had it from the get-go. Her version of Christina Aguilera's "Impossible" had strength and charisma, and while the embellishments at the end weren't necessary, you can't blame a girl for trying a big finish. Said Jennifer: "You have heart. You fought your way into this Top 12."

Rachel Zevita, like Brett Loewenstern, is the kind of contestant the folks over at Vote For the Worst die for. Not that either is a terrible singer. To the contrary, both possess a unique style that some might call kooky even laughable, but there is talent behind the shtick. Rachel's eyebrow raising moments were in her song choice, a barely recognizable version of Fiona Apple's "Criminal," and the cape she so dramatically dropped to the floor at the start (her microphone stand followed suit not long after). Turns out over-emoting and accessorizing didn't sit well with the judges who deemed her performance too "Broadway." Said Jennifer: "You obviously belong on stage, you have amazing range, wish we'd seen more of that." Randy was more blunt: "It wasn't good," he said.

The memory of Rachel faded soon enough once Karen Rodriguez took the stage. Wearing an elegant, flowing forest green gown, the New York native sang Mariah Carey's "Hero" half in English and half in Spanish and, with a squint of the eye, looked like the Statue of Liberty herself standing gracefully at center stage. In the studio, Karen sounded absolutely brilliant. She can belt, emote, jump into her falsetto, and back down to earth. The performance impressed so much that she got the first mid-song standing ovation of the night. At least one of the judges (Jennifer) had no words: "Wow. That says it all." Steven's take: he called Karen a "one of a kind singer" and encouraged her to get together with Jacob Lusk, who very enthusiastically agreed from the peanut gallery (a shot they'd have to recreate on the spot). "Don't speak too soon," Nigel taunted.

NEXT: Pia Toscano, Thia Megia and Lauren Alana Wow the Judges