'American Idol' results: Paul Jolley, Burnell Taylor first to make Top 10

In a milestone episode in Season 12 of "American Idol," half the contestants will be sent home tonight, leaving only the Top 10 finalists: five men and five women.

Thirty nine million votes were cast Wednesday -- 10 more than this time last year, Ryan Seacrest says at the show's opening. As Newsday has reported, there has been a big push for a female winner this season, for two reasons: They have been more commercially successful than male winners and a woman has not won since Jordin Sparks in 2007.

Kree Harrison and Burnell Taylor are our top picks for the women and men, respectively, but will they make it through tonight? More interstingly, Charlie Askew seemed like a prospective winner until last night, when his manic "Mama" performance definitely set him back. Will he be safe?

First up, the guys' results.

First through: Paul Jolley. His rendition of Heart's "Alone" is just okay, but Randy Jackson is grooving along, obviously content with the audience's decision. "For me, that was better than last night's that got you through," Keith Urban says.

Next to move on: Burnell Taylor. No surprise there.

He gives a flawless performance of India.Arie's "Ready for Love," which Mariah Carey calls "impeccable." "I felt you," she tells him.

More results after the break.