I started out the hour thinking that someone needs to remind the producers of AI that this is a singing competition. I ended the hour of Part 2 of the Hollywood Rounds – Group Round if you will – convinced of it.

I put an interplanetary clock to it and came up with 18 minutes, yes nearly 33 percent of the show, devoted to … well, I don’t know what it was devoted to. It was basically an attempt to explain how the 96 remaining contestents approached performing as a group.

The entire segment should have been aborted. It just didn’t work. And if I have to hear Mary Powers whine about her group’s negatives one more time then I’m just gonna have to vote 10 more times for Kris Allen (oops, he already won, didn’t he).

In the end it was as if Tiny Tim had decided to join the Black Eyed Peas and they were going to sing Inna Gadda Da Vida. Now go tiptoe through those tulips.

So, in minute No. 19 after the rubbish was hauled away and we learned once and for all that “Big Mike” had become a father, we finally heard some singing.

A group calling itself Faith (Charity Vance, Ashley Rodriguez, Michelle Dellamore) sang “Irreplaceable” by Beyonce and they all made it through. Ellen said: “Front row, back row, you are all through.” It was an attempt at shock humor I guess and it was the first not-so-funny line Ellen delivered in two days.

Next up was Team Awesome (Michael (yep, Big Mike himself) Lynche, Seth Rollins, Tim Urban, Michael Castro) doing “Get Ready” by the Temptations. Rollins and Castro are in one line, Lynche and Urban in another. This time we go to a commercial break before it is revealed which two stay and which two go. Pretty caddy.

Rollins and Castro are eliminated.

From there on we get sketchy glimpses at some of the talent left on the table…

Neopolitan (Liz, Paige, Jessica, Thaddeus) does  “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga and all four advance.

Destiny’s Wilde (Todrick Hall, Theri, Jareb Liewer, Siobhan) does the same song and all four also advance.

A group consisting of Tori Kelly, Maddie Penrose, Mark Labriola and Kimberly Kerbow attempt “Closer” by Ne-Yo. Kimberly is the sole survivor. Mark pleads for another chance and Simon tells him he isn’t being cool. Once again, Simon was right on the money.

The Phoenix (Moorea Masa, Ben Honeycutt, Jeffery Goldford, Jermaine Sellers and Kat Nestel) tries to do “Carry On” by Styx. Kat bows out before the performance saying, “I knew I’d mess up”;  Moorea forgets the words. Masa and Honeycutt are gone.

Big Dreams (Amanda Schectman, Allen Burton, Matthew Lawrence, Bryce Larson) goes for “Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani. This one was easy – off with their heads, they were all gone.

And in the end, the final performance of the night, Mary Powers and Hope Johnson make it through.

By the numbers: 85 went home on Tuesday night and 96 were left. After Wednesday’s group hug, 71 are left as we head to next week and try to get to the final 24.

So much talent we didn’t see Wednesday, so little time.

I’m still looking for Carrie or David or Adam or Kelly. Haven’t heard or seen them just yet.