In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« The Great American Idol Blog
American Idol's Top 24: Our Take!
American Idol contestant David Archuleta courtesy Fox
On Wednesday night's American Idol, the judges narrowed down the remaining 50 contestants to 12 guys and 12 girls, many of whom we're sure to get to know pretty well in the weeks to come. But for now, here are the basics on this year's batch of Idol hopefuls. — Nina Hämmerling Smith
The Top 12 Guys
David Archuleta, 17, born in Miami and grew up in Murray, Utah: It's sweet that he worried that other people were tone-deaf and that's why they told him he could sing; plus, those dimples could set a thousand girls crying (à la Sanjaya).
Colton Berry, 18, currently living in Staunton, Virginia: The polished performer who was competing with cute, nerdy Kyle Ensley for the final spot. I'll try to get over the fact that he took the tie-wearing would-be politician's place (I know, I know, not really).
Robbie Carrico, 26, currently living in Melbourne, Florida: The onetime boy-bander has scruffed up his act to good effect. I was a little surprised he made it through, but I'm curious to see what he can do.
Jason Castro, 20, born in Dallas and currently living in Rockwall, Texas: Dunno yet what he sounds like, but gotta love those dreads!
David Cook, 25, grew up in Blue Springs, Missouri, and currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma: He of the blue tongue and the rocker attitude had perhaps the night's best line: "I don't have to get a job now."
Chikezie Eze, 22, currently living in Inglewood, California: He really impressed in the "best of the rest" episode; plus he's got a disarming smile and some endearing dance moves.
Garrett Haley, 17, grew up in Alamosa, Colorado, and currently living in Elida, Ohio: Again, no idea what he sounds like. But I'm digging the '70s hair!
David Hernandez, 24, born and raised in Glendale, Arizona: I really liked this guy after his Hollywood audition, in which he sang "Love the One You're With." Simon's unconvinced, but we shall see.
Michael Johns, 29, from Perth, Australia, and currently living in Los Angeles: If anything, the weirdly geeky dance he did at the end actually made me like this season's standout sex symbol even more, because it showed a less perfect side of him.
Luke Menard, 29, born and raised in Crawfordsville, Indiana: Who?
Danny Noriega, 18, currently living in Azusa, California: Makeover time apparently came early for Danny, who has a whole Brit-rock thing going on with his hair now. The main thing about him, though, is that his voice is big and powerful — and very surprising, coming from him.
Jason Yeager, from Grand Prairie, Texas, and currently living in Branson, Missouri: Again, someone we don't know from earlier auditions. It's nice to have a little mystery, though, no?
The Top 12 Gals
Joanne Borgella, 25, from New York and currently living in Hoboken, New Jersey: We didn't see much of the gorgeous plus-size model in Hollywood, but I'm glad she's still in the mix.
Kristy Lee Cook, 24, born in Seattle and currently living in Selma, Oregon: The horse trainer made it, after a close call in Hollywood. If she keeps up those body-bending dance moves, she's guaranteed to have at least the male fans on her side.
Amy Davis, 25, from Lowell, Indiana, and currently living in Cedar Lake, Indiana: I barely recall her from her original audition (she sang "Blue Bayou"). Let's see if she does something more memorable next week.
Asia'h Epperson, 19, born and raised in Joplin, Missouri: I'm not surprised she made it, given her performance in Hollywood, though I stand by my comment in the show blog that her breathing is going to be a problem. (Even if it sounds cool, you can't sing breathless all the time. Among other things, it's just not healthy.)
Alexandréa Lushington, 17, currently living in Douglasville, Georgia: Imagine how proud her 93-year-old great-grandmother (whom we met in her original audition) must be!
Kady Malloy, 18, born and raised in Houston, Texas: The vocal impressionist should have fun tackling the different artists and genres later in the season (if she makes it that far).
Ramiele Malubay, 20, currently living in Miramar, Florida: The female Danny Noriega: She's tiny, has a giant voice, and she, too, got a jump-start on her makeover.
Syesha Mercado, 21, grew up in Sarasota, Florida, and currently living in Miami: Paula Abdul was so weird with her last night; she had Syesha do this whole thing about spelling out her name to get the secret "yes" message... oy. Anyway, her "Chain of Fools" during Hollywood week absolutely blew me away, so she definitely deserves to show what she can do.
Amanda Overmyer, 23, raised and currently living in Mulberry, Indiana: She had maybe the most understated reaction to making it through, but I'm glad we'll be seeing more of the rock-n'-roll nurse.
Carly Smithson, 24, from Dublin, Ireland, and currently living in San Diego: I'm starting to worry that Carly is going to turn into this year's Katharine McPhee for me, aka someone with genuine talent who ends up grating on my nerves (and getting tons of votes week after week).
Alaina Whitaker, 16, born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma: This is the girl who said in her original audition that Carrie Underwood looked like her (and that's about all I remember about her).
Brooke White, 24, grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and currently living in Van Nuys, California: Funny, they didn't show the Carly Simon-ish frontrunner messing up the piano part in "Beautiful" during Hollywood week. If she can keep it together, she should go far.
What's your take? Who were you thrilled to see make the cut, and who do you think was unjustly jettisoned?
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 12:07 PM
|
|
I feel like Turkey farm boy and jossiah (is that his name) were robbed. If this cast is not the best, it is the judges fault -- do Randy, Paula and Simon really have final say or are producers involved in the decision as well.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 12:26 PM
|
|
I agree with filmkr27 that Josiah should have been included.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 1:44 PM
|
|
The only person I really wanted to make it through was Josiah Lemming. What a talent.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 1:46 PM
|
The one I don't understand is Kristy Lee Cook. I mean, yes, she is insanely hot, and as a man I will admit that that body-bending dance was... mesmerizing (I will admit to my own carnal desires), but she wasn't really all that talented. I mean, she could sing, but she wasn't near great.
Easily my favorite so far is Amanda Overmyer. She's so good, and so unique. I mean, the rest of them are all very talented, but most of them are just like, your standard pop-star. Unlike Amanda.
Also, it's a shame Future President Kyle Ensley didn't make it. He wasn't all that good, but he had personality and character.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 1:47 PM
|
|
Shouldn't you have to be an American to be an American Idol?
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 2:02 PM
|
|
Josiah Leming was not THAT good. His last audition - Stand By Me - was HORRIBLE! And he was way too over-confident. I'm glad he didn't make it.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 2:14 PM
|
|
I was shocked with the judge's decision to let Josiah go. Yes, he pretty much blew the last performance, but so what. And Simon's comment about being too confident--well that's one of the traits they look for. Perhaps Josiah could have been a little more humble, but I give him a lot of credit for his courage. He would have been such an asset to the show and a think they judges made a huge mistake in letting him go. I hope his talent is discovered by someone else.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 2:31 PM
|
I agree with TVfreakazoid. I thought this guy was really annoying.
I'm a little bit shocked, that they didn't show more of Drew Poppelreiter, and was even more shocked, that he didn't made it.
I mean, listen to his voice. he could be big in country music (myspace.com/drewpoppelreitersmusic).
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 2:38 PM
|
|
I agree that Josiah's last audition was horrible and I am glad he did not make it. Brave? Give me a break. Unable to work with the band - that was his issue. He sent them away because he could not figure out how to work with them and was unprepared.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 2:52 PM
|
|
Wonder why no one mentions that David Archuleta won the Junior Singer category of Star Search in 2003 when he was 12 years old. Seems like he is a professional TV contestant! Makes him less appealing to me although he is undeniably talented.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 4:00 PM
|
|
I think Kyle Ensley was robbed out of a spot. My favorites are Michael Johns and Carly Smithson. Also, Amanda has the most annoying voice I ever heard!
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 4:28 PM
|
I thought the judges missed a couple of close calls, but overall I am impressed with the final 24. Very, very strong...especially compared to last year. I don't even have all the names and faces connected yet, but this should -- finally -- be a big season after two disappointing seasons in a row. My early favorite is the singing nurse, but there's a long, long way to go yet. -- Paul
--
Edited by Paul58 at 02/14/2008 2:20 PM
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 5:19 PM
|
It's interesting how much more invested the show is in the top 12 girls than the top 12 guys so far this season. All of the girls that made it had a lot of screen time throughout the auditions and hollywood and most of them have really solid, established backstories. We haven't even seen some of the guys before at all, and even those who we have seen don't have backstories like the girls do, we just know that they sing really well. It seems almost unfair that they showed so much of Kyle and Josiah and got us so invested in those guys that didn't make it and completely neglected so many of the guys that did end up making it.
The Josiah thing was a shame, his last audition sucked but I did think he deserved a spot. I was actually really pleasantly surprised that Kyle didn't make it through though. It's not that I didn't like him, I did, he just reminded me a lot of Sanjaya and Kevin Covais at this stage. You know, the judges like to put through these sweet, well-meaning guys that simply don't measure up, just so they can make a punching bag of them as soon as they get to the performance shows. I'm glad they resisted the urge to continue the tradition!
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 5:38 PM
|
I agree with AshyLarry. Kyle was robbed; Simon even agrees with this. I guess Randy and Paula didn't like his "look".
That wannabe boy-bander who took his spot shouldn't still be here.
|
|
Feb 14, 2008 7:52 PM
|
|
|
