(NOTE: If you're looking for 2008's Top 24, go here)(S06E10) It's "FINAL JUDGMENT" time, Ryan says, hoping to charge us up for tonight's episode. The singing is done, and now those who survived the Hollywood Week hazing, will find out if they've made the final cut.
I can't believe they build an entire episode around "announcing" the Top 24. It's really just a list of names that could have been posted online after last night's episode. Better yet, they should announce the list of names online with links to video of each and every performance to date, so the curious can check out the Top 24 contestants in more depth, if they wish.
Instead, they try to build suspense in this episode and it just isn't happening. We haven't really made strong attachments yet, so we're not heartbroken when cuts are made. And the only real surprise is where they've been hiding SEVEN out of the Top 24. Before tonight, we've never laid eyes on 5 out of the Top 12 Girls, and 2 out of the Top 12 Boys.
Throughout the show, we see snippets of Hollywood final performances, and get just a small glimpse of what the judges based their final decisions on. We also watch as each contestant enters the room, and sits on "THE CHAIR" to find out their fate. It's not that interesting (unless you're there, I imagine). The pressure doesn't translate well on TV. And drawing it out (with the elevator ride and long walk into the room) only has me wanting to yell "cut to the freaking chase" at my TV. But then again, patience is not one of my strong points.
The judges try to scare those who made the Top 24 by pulling the old, "I'm sorry....BUT you're going to be seeing a lot more of us!" They fool me the first time, but not the second, third, or 24th. The judges' comments aren't worth transcribing verbatim, so that saves me a lot of typing tonight. Whew.
The only real drama comes towards the end of the episode, when there's only ONE girl slot and ONE boy slot left and four contestants remaining in an otherwise empty room.
For the girls, it comes down to ANTONELLA BARBA vs. MARISA RHODES. Marisa is already at a disadvantage because we've seen loads of footage of Antonella (including her jumping in the surf in her bikini) and we were given only a quick peek at Marisa last night. I like Antonella, especially without her snippy cohort, Amanda. And she's a Jersey Girl (as am I), so I have to root for her. But they show their final performances, and Simon calls Marisa's the "best we've heard today." Meanwhile, Antonella struggles with her final song. So I admit I'm surprised when Antonella is chosen, and Marisa is sent home. Marisa is more shocked than me though, because she truly thought she was a "sure thing."
For the boys, it comes down to SUNDANCE HEAD vs. TOMMY DANIELS. Sundance has an advantage because the judges loooove him to death, even though he did a crappy job during Hollywood Week. Tommy is also at a disadvantage because he has an arrest record and is just too darn cocky (for my personal taste). Still, I thought the real shock was going to be Sundance "Head-ing" home. But no, it's Tommy! He actually earns some brownie points with me when he flips a double bird to the Idol Elevator-Cam.
And without further fuss, the Top 24 follows:
TOP 12 GIRLS
1. Gina Glocksen
2. Melinda Doolittle
3. Haley Scarnato
4. Alaina Alexander
5. Antonella Barba
6. Jordin Sparks
7. Lakisha Jones
8. Stephanie Edwards
9. Leslie Hunt
10. Sabrina Sloan
11. Nicole Tranquillo
12. Amy Krebs
Top 12 Boys:
1. Chris Sligh
2. Sundance Head
3. Blake Lewis
4. Brandon Rogers
5. Rudy Cardenas
6. Sanjaya Malakar
7. Phil Stacy
8. Chris Richardson
9. Nick Pedro
10. Paul Kim
11. A.J. Tabaldo
12. Jared Cotter
Those sent home:
A bunch of people we were vaguely aware of:
Anna Kearns
Tami Gosnell
Tatiana McConnico
Marisa Rhodes
Matthew Buckstein
Thomas Daniels
Tom Lowe
Jimmy McNeal
Bernard Williams
As well as people we've never seen before tonight:
Eric Davis
Erick Johnson
Olivia Quiba-Hurst
Monique Vieras
Jerome Chism
Joelle James
Princess Johnson
I hope Stephanie, Leslie, Sabrina, Nicole, Amy, Jared, and A.J. are ready to make a huge impression next week because we really don't know who they are, and I bet a lot of you already have your FAVORITES picked out. The unknown finalists are going to have to wow us with their songs, or they'll be going home very soon. They also need some free publicity. Personal controversy is one way to create a buzz on the internet. Although that hasn't worked well so far. All the contestants with buzz -- Sean Michel, Tom Lowe, Tommy Daniels, Ashlyn Carr, Jamie Lynn Ward, Jory Steinberg -- have gone home.
Next Week: There's a lot of Idol -- five hours worth!
Tuesday (8-10 ET) -- The Top 12 Boys perform
Wednesday (8-10 ET) -- The Top 12 Girls perform
Thursday (8-9 ET)-- The First Live Results Show
Get ready to vote, because as Ryan Seacrest said, "Now it's up to YOU, America."
* Final Note: Not sure who the Top 24 Contestants are? Click on the links above. Most of them lead back to Reality TV Magazine because I like the easy links they've set up to individual posts about individual contestants.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)
2-15-2007 @ 12:41AM
Porchland said...
Simon: You're not going to not be in the top 24.
Me: Huh?
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2-15-2007 @ 12:56AM
mac said...
This time the judges made a huge error when they sent Baily Brown home . Not only should she be there , but she should be in the top 10 minimum . Out of all those in america that have seen her only a fool would not get her signed up . If I had the ways and means I assure you I would be doing it right now . Surely we haven't herd the last of this gal.
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2-15-2007 @ 1:01AM
BigTed said...
Either there was a lot to these performances that we never saw, or pure singing ability is about fourth on the list of the reasons some contestants were kept on and others weren't. Because a lot of the choices were completely inexplicable -- especially, as you pointed out, to keep Antonella but not Marisa, whose four-second singing snippet was amazing.
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2-15-2007 @ 1:03AM
David said...
Wow... Just wow... They picked some bad people.
On a side note does anyone know the name of the guy that went yesterday "My mom never says she loves me"?
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2-15-2007 @ 1:07AM
Music fan said...
At the end of the 2/14/07 announcing the top 24 contestants, who is the artist singing the song playing in the background when recapping the top 12 women? The beginning lyrics are:
"I'm not your girl, just because you see me looking at you. I'm not your girl just because you ask me to. I know you want me but it's just too late..."
Didn't catch any more of the song.
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2-15-2007 @ 2:04AM
Melissa said...
David: his name is Matt Sato and he's from Minnesota.
I agree about Baily Brown, I really liked her.
I liked Gina Glocksen last year, but she seems a little cocky this time around.
Sundance and Antonella definitely should not be in the top 24.
I really like Chris Sligh, but I would hate to see him get all commercialized.
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2-15-2007 @ 5:44AM
Carnie D said...
Jeff's not the only one who loves her recaps!
http://dontgetmestarted-lindasharp.typepad.com/
Give them a try, and when you're done laughing, share the link with your AI friends!
I have to agree that many of the contestants don't seem very compelling right now. But hopefully ten will start to stand out soon. Otherwise it's goin to be a snoozefest till May!
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2-15-2007 @ 7:35AM
Theresa S. said...
The name of the guy that went yesterday "My mom never says she loves me"?
His name is Matt Sato, 16, Maplewood, MN
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2-15-2007 @ 8:05AM
joshuaje said...
Write in campaign for Bailey Brown. The two Jersey girls really put it to her.
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2-15-2007 @ 8:48AM
LYNN said...
Would everyone please stop saying that Bailey should not have been sent home. She did not know the words to the song. Furthermore, she just stood there and did not sing anything. The judges did make the right decision by getting rid of her. Remember the expression "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen." She has no one else to blame but herself, not the two Jersey girls.
I was also surprised with the judges picking Antonella over Marisa. I don't remember seeing Marisa's audition, but I did see Antonella's and thought she was good. But, after seeing the show last night, Marissa's performance was better then Antonella's and she should not have been sent home.
I think it will come down to Lakisha Jones and Chris Sligh. These two have great voices and seem to be grounded better then all the rest. But only time will tell. Hopefully the voters will remember to cast their vote based on talent, and these two so far seem to be the most talented.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:52AM
nancy said...
How could they put Bailey through when she couldn't even sing a word?? I liked her too but that would be ridiculous. SHE FROZE, why blame others for her own mistake. I think someone will pick her up soon tho...maybe A.I. isn't right for her now...
I also really liked Lakisha her voice was amazing...any other Lakisha fans.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:23AM
Aly said...
The song playing during the girls' footage is "Not Ur Girl" by Katharine McPhee.
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2-15-2007 @ 8:55AM
Tiffany said...
All I want to know is....Where the heck is Ebony?!! She was the African-American on rollerskates, that not only blew me away, but blew the judges away too. But where is she? We never saw her in Hollywood week, and she certainly wasn't there last night (and I haven't noticed any mug shots up on smokinggun). I guess that maybe she didn't do too well in Hollywood, but how would we know? This year's editing sucked! Not only did they concentrate on a bunch of back stories for people that didn't make it, but then they didn't follow through with a lot of them in Hollywood so we know what happened to our front-runners. The only thing I can think of is that they are trying to quiet their critics that say America votes for those with a back story, and are just trying to give the final 24 an equal footing.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:23AM
Mary N said...
What happened to Ebony? I don't rememeber seeing her get cut but I did miss one show. She was great.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:06AM
B Ernst said...
They just lost more than half their audidance....NO COUNTRY SINGERS!!!!!!Why not Baily Brown???
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2-15-2007 @ 8:54AM
David Thomas said...
Was Marisa Rhodes the last one cut? She was teh real big mistake. Every time they showed her she was belting it out. Anyone that forgets the words like the jersey girl that did make it, need to get cut.
Reply
2-15-2007 @ 9:07AM
Chris said...
Yes, it could have been just a list of names instead of a hour show. But that would be like having sex without foreplay. The whole world gets off on a tease.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:03AM
Dmeje said...
I thought they let go of some good talent. I was quite surprised that some people made it to the top 24.
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2-15-2007 @ 9:34AM
jenny said...
Where the heck is Ebony????? allformee @aol.com
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2-15-2007 @ 9:38AM
Kym said...
Music Man
Not UR Girl is one of Katharine McPhee's new songs on her new album!! Her entire ablum is good!!!
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