LOS ANGELES -- The party got started long before the [article id="1640036"]final "American Idol" performance show[/article] kicked off. "Idol" contestants from seasons past were right at home and accepted cheers and catcalling from the 7,000 fans inside the Nokia Theatre.

About an hour before the show started, season-one runner-up Justin Guarini held court. The curly-haired singer was outside near the talent check-in, taking cell phone shots with fans, shaking hands and laughing with friends he called out to.

Scott MacIntyre, the blind piano-playing contestant from season eight, was taken aback when the crowd whistled and applauded his arrival. Megan Joy -- who got rid of the long, lush locks we remember from the same season -- ran her fingers through her cropped blond 'do and smiled when a fan complimented her on the new look as she tried to scurry to her seat before the lights went up and the show began. Oh, and she was barefoot!

An ear-busting scream went out when Simon Cowell was introduced, especially when the crowd was reminded that this was his [article id="1640001"]second-to-last day as an "Idol" judge[/article]. "You getting emotional already?" the warm-up comic asked a fan who was bawling during a commercial break. "It's not even the results show!"

Over another break, Michael "Big Mike" Lynche was razzed by the warm-up guy, who claimed the personal trainer/ singer was an over-exuberant Justin Bieber fan. "You had the Bieber fever," he joked with Lynche. "You couldn't sleep the night before [article id="1639633"]he performed here[/article]. OK, I need to be careful. You might crush me."

Host Ryan Seacrest cruised the aisles before the finalists' second songs of the night, slapping high-fives with fans and holding hands with a show producer as they ran back down toward the stage.

While the crowd's signs are typically meant to cheer on the contestants, most of Tuesday night's (May 25) posters were aimed at Cowell. "Please don't go, Simon!" one sign read.

Who are you rooting for to win this season of "American Idol": Crystal or Lee? Let us know in the comments!

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