American Idol's Controversial New Format

Is this year's format fair?
Some fans are arguing that it's too brutal to send nine singers home each week, with only a few getting a last-ditch chance at the wild-card round.

David Cook wouldn't have won under this year's new format, they argue. David Archuleta, the judges' early favorite last year, would have cleaned up — and Cook might have been sent packing the first week, as he started slow and his fan base ballooned over time.

The producers/judges clearly have their favorites this season — Simon straight up told America to vote for Michael Sarver in spite of his mediocre singing — and the new format appears to favor those favorites.

And it does seem strange that Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert — both heavily praised by judges for weeks — snagged the final performance slot each week. Coincidence? Maybe. We'll see who gets the pimp spot this week (early bets are on Lil Rounds, another judges' pet).
Is it outrageous to suggest the judges and producers are using this format to manipulate the results? After all, they also get to pick the wild-card contestants that will perform Thursday night. From what I've heard, it's going to be 2 picks per judge (of which all of the Top 36 are eligible) who perform, and the three who advance to the Top 12 will be chosen during the hour-long show because there is no other show scheduled between Thursday, March 5th and next Tuesday's first Top 12 performance night on March 10th.