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Emotional episode: Jennifer Lopez wiped away a tear on American Idol on Wednesday night as the field narrowed to 30 singers who will compete in the live rounds
'Don't tell us how to feel for you - ever. For the rest of your performing careers,' he told them.
'This is show business. I don't care. Just suck it up and sing. It's entertainment,' he said.
This season the remaining 15 females and 15 males had to wait 'in agony' in a holding room for their name to be called, host Ryan Seacrest explained.
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Range of emotions: Jennifer was genuinely happy for the contestants who made it through
The previous day they had performed their 'solo' round before the judges.
They then had to get in a cramped elevator to head upstairs to the judges - Harry, Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban who sat at the end of a long room to give their 'final judgment'.
The first person to take the ride was Emily Piriz.
The 17-year-old wowed in her solo round with Grace Potter & The Nocturnals' Stars.
'Latinas in the house,' said Jennifer, as Emily said she was Cuban.
'This has been my dream since I was little,' she said as viewers saw footage of her as a child after she got through.
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First to advance: Emily Piriz impressed the judges and was the first to advance to the live rounds
Hunky Spencer Lloyd - dubbed 'pretty' by Jennifer at his first audition - was next.
The 19-year-old didn't impress the judges in his solo round with one of his own compositions.
'It's like a public service announcement,' said Harry.
Jennifer said it was a 'really tough' decision as he sweated it out.
'We still want you,' Jennifer told Spencer, who almost fell off his chair.
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Suck it up: Harry Connick Jr. told the contestants to stop complaining as Keith Urban and J-Lo prepared for the solo auditions
Jillian Jensen, 21, sang an original song for her solo round.
'I'm a writer,' she told them, saying it set her apart from those who just sing.
She looked terrified as she awkwardly sat down in the chair.
And she began to cry as Harry told her how hard it had been to single out the best.
She made it through and burst into tears and hugged the judges.
'I'm ecstatic! I'm just freaking out,' she said.
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Freaking out: Jillian Jensen burst into tears upon learning she advanced
Emotional contestant Madelyn Patterson belted out Up To The Mountain for her solo round.
She also fought back tears as she faced the judges, who told her it had been a 'difficult' decision.
'Unfortunately we have to say goodbye,' Keith told her as she became the first to be eliminated. Her fellow hopefuls applauded her and some cried as they heard the news, while she hugged her new pals.
Also out was shirt-and-tie wearing 19-year-old Michael Simeon, who tried out in Salt Lake City, as was minister LeBryant Crew, 24. Sabrina Lentini, 15, was also axed.
'This is not your year,' Keith told the youngster, who clutched a bouquet of flowers afterwards.
George Lovett, 24, who has tried out in previous years, sang I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz.
'I was worried about you in the beginning,' said Jennifer before inviting him to be in the top 15, while he burst into tears.
'Songwriting's a particular thing. You can either do it or you can't,' said Keith.
But when Sam Woolf, 17, sang his own song 'I Try, penned when his mother moved away when he was younger, the judges looked deeply moved.
Jennifer said they had struggled to decide 'who is the American Idol'.
'At the end of the day, we really believe that could be you,' she said.
'That makes me happy for him,' Jennifer said, fighting back tears of her own.
His grandfather, who helped raise him, was proudly waiting for him outside the room - also in tears.
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Tender moment: Sam Woolf was congratulated by the grandfather who helped raise him after advancing to the live rounds
Detroit auditioner Keri Lynn Roche, 24, did a soulful cover of Etta James' I'd Rather Go Blind in her solo turn.
But her voice was branded 'stylized' by Jennifer.
'It was so close, just so you know,' said Jennifer.
'It's a no,' Keith said.
Tuba-playing marching band member Malaya Watson, 16, had a rocky start in her solo round after she had to start again when she was out of key with the band.
Her second try at Fantasia's I Believe was good enough for her to get a standing ovation from Jennifer and Keith.
'I can see my little self being the next American Idol,' she announced before walking to the judges.
And she immediately corrected Harry on the pronunciation of her name.
'It's Malaya,' she said. 'It means freedom.'
'I'm glad you reminded me,' said Harry. 'That name has great potential to be a superstar at some point.
'You're going to be in the top 15.'
'She's like a cat burglar,' Keith said as she did a bizarre sideways celebration dance out of the room - before Harry copied her.
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She recovered: Malaya Watson had to start over but her second take impressed the judges enough for her to make it to the live round
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Exit move: Harry imitated Malaya's side skip out after learning she advanced
Minister Maurice Townsend, 26, sang Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball for his solo.
Keith said hopefuls had to have that 'undefinable thing' to make it.
'We need other things on top of that, but we'd like to see you in the top 30,' he said as Maurice, whose cute family melted the hearts of the judges at the auditions, punched the air in delight.
'He's a badass,' said Harry.
'This is INTENSE,' said Bria Anai Johnson as she ran into the large judges' room.
The 16-year-old did a stunning performance of James Brown's It's a Man's Man's Man's World.
'You know what's crazy? You made it,' said Jennifer, before she sprinted out of the room and kept her mother in suspense about her good news.
'Drama queen here,' said Ryan.
Pink-haired Jessica Meuse - who struggled in the group round and earned the wrath of an eliminated contestant's mother - picked an original track for her solo round.
The 23-year-old said the song was about 'an idiot' as Keith jokingly said: 'You wrote it for me.'
But she was forced to see the judges alongside fellow rock chick Jesse Roach.
She sang Wide Open Spaces by the Dixie Chicks in her solo round but struggled to remember the lyrics, ironically while singing: 'She knows the high stakes.'
'There's a limited amount of seats on the bus,' said Harry.
The pair had to sing a cappella against one another to determine who got through.
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Sing-off: Jessica Meuse, left, advanced after beating out Jesse Roach in an on-the-spot sing-off
'We need to know definitively,' he said.
Jessica went first, throatily singing Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Jesse did Do Ya by KT Oslin.
They were sent out as the judges conferred.
'Whatever happens it's OK,' the pair said as they hugged.
'This is the hardest decision of the competition,' said Jennifer.
Harry said they were both extremely talented but for Idol there could only be one winner - and that was Jessica.
She looked stunned as Jesse bravely held back the tears of disappointment.
The judges said Jessica had showed 'fighter' spirit by volunteering to go first.
'I'm real bad country,' said 22-year-old farmer Dexter Roberts as he made his bid for survival.
'I'm shaking,' he told the judges.
'You can't be phony,' said Keith before viewers learned he'd made it to the top 15.
'I'm ready to leave the farm work behind,' he admitted.
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Learning his fate: Dexter Roberts sat in a director's chair as he learned that he was advancing
Emmanuel Zidor, 24, sang Mary J. Blige's I'm Going Down and joked around as Harry said he wanted to see him and J-Lo have a 'walk-off' in heels.
'Get your heels on and we'll do it,' said Jennifer.
'You have to buy them,' he told her.
But his bad group round still haunted him. And he was already bawling as he met the judges.
'You can get to your dream,' he said as he told how he wanted to inspire others.
'It's been heartbreaking all day for us,' Jennifer said. 'But I guess next time I see you I'll bring you the shoes as you're in the top 15.'
'Oh my God!' he said before demanding a group hug, and picking up Ryan and spinning him around.
Ryan tried to repay the favor - with limited success - and he fell on top of him.
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Nailed his solo: Emmanuel Zidor impressed during his solo and gave a group hug when he made the top 30
Nurse Kristen O'Connor, 24, sang Katy Perry's Unconditionally.
She was almost too nervous to speak as she faced the judges as Jennifer told her she had to have a 'drive' to succeed.
But she made it through and burst into tears.
'This is nuts!' she said.
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Tough song: Kristen O'Connor sang a Katy Perry song for her solo and made it to the live rounds
Jordan Brisbane - who turned 16 on the day of the decision - impressed the judges with his confidence.
He sang Beyonce's Halo in his solo round.
'It's been yes, yes, yes,' said Keith, of Jordan's progress so far. 'And today's another yes.'
'Happy birthday,' the judges said.
Casey McQuillen, 21, insisted she was ready.
But the judges disagreed, sending her home.
The journey was also over for 24-year-old Nica Nashae, as Jennifer admitted she was 'one of the best'.
Leah Guerrero, 21, and Andrina Brodgen, 19, were called up TOGETHER.
'One of you are going through and one of you are not,' Jennifer told them as they sat nervously.
Leah had sung Etta James I'd Rather Go Blind while Andrina did Burn by Ella Goulding in the solos.
'It was brutal,' said Jennifer as she told Leah she was axed.
'Don't quit the fight,' Harry told Leah.
Andrina looked shellshocked while Leah broke down in tears.
'For this whole episode my nose is just going to be red,' joked Jennifer after crying again.
'F*** this man, seriously,' said Harry after the tough call.
Soulful singer Malcolm Allen, 21, did Mary J. Blige's I'm Going Down for the solo round.
'I'm wondering if he's really marketable,' Harry said as he sang.
He waited nervously to hear that he had made it through.
'You and your yellow sweater!' said Jennifer.
Alex Preston, 20, made another unconventional song choice for his solo round - another original composition.
'You're like Linus with his security blanket,' Keith joked as he walked out with his guitar strapped on.
Keith said he was an unusual choice for Idol.
'We just can't take everybody,' he said. 'But we'd like to see you in the top 30.'
'You know that thing comes off, right?' Keith said of the guitar.
'I thought it was just growing on me,' Alex joked.
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Constant companion: Alex Preston brought his guitar along with him as he learned he advanced
Casey Thrasher, 22, sang Lonestar's Amazed in the solo round, while CJ Harris, also 22, took on Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me.
And the country hopefuls, who live just 45 minutes away from one another in Alabama, and are both fathers, were called together in front of the judges.
'You have so much in common,' Harry said, saying the choice was 'exceedingly difficult'.
They were asked to sing a cappella for survival.
CJ went first, singing Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers Band - and made Casey look scared.
Casey took on Brett Eldredge's Don't Ya.
'It's so hard to pick,' said Harry.
'It's because we look - we're so much alike,' CJ laughed.
But fans will have to wait - because the decision won't be made until Thursday night's show.
'The dreaded eliminations continue,' Ryan said.
Meanwhile the judges got a visit from an old friend - former judge Randy Jackson.
'Judge us,' said Harry as he and Keith took to the stage to 'perform' as New Orleans native Harry sang a Mardi Gras song and Keith slapped percussion on his legs before Harry started shaking his backside for the cameras.
'You will not be going through,' said Jennifer.
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Nice try: Harry sang and danced while Keith provided percussion, but judges Randy and J-Lo weren't
It's down to the wire.
American Idol began narrowing the field on Wednesday night to the 30 contestants who will sing live on this season's talent competition show.
The episode opened with a stark warning from former nice guy judge Harry Connick Jr as he warned the hopefuls not to 'bitch' about feeling sick.
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