TVSquad

Welcome back to "AI Aftermath," where we explore Idol's past. Each week, as one more American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated in the same week. We'll examine how they did on the show and what they've been up to since their elimination. In honor of Chikezie's elimination last week we'll be looking at other tenthth place finishers.

And for the first time, we'll be able to look back at Season One as well. This week: 10th place finishers, featuring EJay Day (Season 1), Julia DeMato (Season 2), Amy Adams (Season 3), Jessica Sierra (Season 4), Lisa Tucker (Season 5) and Chris Sligh (Season 6).

American Idol's season six winner Jordin Sparks and first runner-up Blake Lewis are hitting the studios to record their individual debut albums. With possible release dates as early as Thanksgiving, America will learn soon enough if the latest batch of Idols are "turkeys" or not.

Jordin said, "I'm trying to mix everything together. I'm loving all the songs I'm recording, so hopefully that will come off the album when you listen to it and you'll be able to feel the emotion."

Welcome to TV Squad Lists, a feature where each blogger has a chance to list his or her own rundown of things in television that stand out from the rest, both good and bad.

When I was a kid, I learned a lot by watching TV with my parents. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I was still learning.

When your favorite gets voted off, you can pick a new one.
My kids and I love to watch American Idol and America's Next Top Model together and every season they pick their favorite early on. Usually that favorite -- whether it's Jael, Chris Sligh or Antonella Barba -- ends up being sent home early on. Without missing a beat, they will turn to me and inform me of their new favorite.

It's perfectly acceptable to aspire to be a model.
I used to think being a model was a shallow aspiration but after watching America's Next Top Model with my girls I realize that there are actually some strong, smart women who vie for Tyra's top honor. It may be glorious to be a top model but getting there doesn't look glamorous at all.

With 70 million votes pouring in after last week's American Idol, it's pretty safe to say that hardcore fans of the show do exist.

Luckily, the American Idols Live tour dates were released yesterday and should help to alleviate the fan depression that comes along with the shows looming finale.

The tour is slated to occur between July 6th and September 22nd and lands at 50 different locations across the country and includes a stint in Canada.

In his day-after exit interview, former 'American Idol' contestant Chris Sligh revealed he almost dropped out of the competition two weeks ago because of artistic differences.

"I never came into this wanting to win it. I come from an indie / alternative rock kind of background," Sligh told TV reporters during a conference call. "For me, I think winning would hurt what I was really going for."

After the judges criticized his arrangement of the Diana Ross classic "Endless Love," said Sligh: "I went to the guy from 19 [Entertainment] and said, 'If I drop out, can I still go on tour?' And they were like, 'No, you have to get voted out.' So I was like, 'Well, we'll see what happens.'"

I said Chris R. and some of you said Chris S. You were right and I was wrong. I guess "denial" ain't just a river in Egypt. (Sorry, I couldn't help it. I'm a sucker for bad puns) What I mean is that I was hoping Hurley would stick around a little longer, and I've been unwilling to admit his declining performance quality. He still may have done enough to have Hasselhoff shed some tears of joy, though.

The good news is that he's number ten. That means he's been getting at least AFTRA scale for the last two weeks and will get to make some loot on tour. An AI "work for hire" isn't exactly winning the Powerball lottery, but mini-bar debts won't be a problem anymore. I love the mini-bar.

Plus, playing arenas for 10-20,000 screaming fans is any singer's dream. It's the kind of opportunity that makes established indie acts loath and despise American Idols. I can't really blame them either. I'd be mad too if I watched someone do in nine months what I still hadn't achieved after years of work.

That lack of infrastructure eventually catches up to the Idols, though. Overnight celebrities are forgotten just as fast as they're made. Just wait, in a couple weeks time when we're still caught up on "When will what's-his-name finally be voted off the show" and "I wonder who will win the diva three-way throw-down," the guy with the curly hair will slip from our minds.

(S06E25) Two important questions will be answered tonight, Ryan says. "Who's going home, and how will Sanjaya wear his hair?"

Blake is safe. LaKisha is safe. Phil IS in the bottom three. Melinda is safe. Chris R rebounds from last week's bottom two and IS safe. Sanjaya (yawn) is safe AGAIN. Haley IS in the bottom three. And Jordin, of course, is safe. Which means, either Chris Sligh or Gina is in the bottom three, but we won't know who until the end of the show.

Fast Forward. Turns out CHRIS SLIGH joins PHIL and HALEY in the bottom three. But Philly is sent back to safety once again.

SLIGH vs. SCARNATO? Who's going home? Randy says it's a tough call. Paula says they both deserve "warmth" from the audience. Simon thinks it's "Bye, Bye Curly."

(S06E14) After last week's boring first impression, the guys needed to step it up this week and show us something big. Did they succeed?

Well, overall the guys were definitely better this week, but nobody even came close to Lakisha's show-stopping performance last Wednesday. In my mind, the ladies remain ahead, and this is still their race. However, at least the guys picked better songs, and showed a little personality tonight.

So who's going home?

(S06E11) Tonight we moved past the horrible auditions and the Hollywood meltdowns into the part of the competition that many of Idol's critics call "Karaoke Time." I think it's a given that all of the semifinalists are talented singers, having beat out thousands of others, and holding their own during Hollywood Hell Week in order to get to the Top 24. But staying in the competition is going to be tough. They're going to have to go beyond lame or even "safe" Karaoke renditions. They really need to kick some butt big time and shine.

The Top 24 semi-finalists have been announced which means it's time for the public to vote for their 2007 American Idol. It also means that many people will be "betting on" their American Idol, as well.

Payton O'Brien of Gambling911.com claims that the talent contest has become "one of the most significant betting events of the year." Last year, according to O'Brien, millions of dollars were bet on Idol, "across the globe, not just in America."

Now that we have a complete list of American Idol's Top 24, it's time to try to predict who will make the Top 12. I'll admit it's a bit early to make educated predictions. After all, how do we judge contestants we've never seen sing?

Honestly, this initial list is really just a compilation based on "gut feelings" or "first impressions." Let's face it, we're totally judging books by their covers.

(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.

Without Idol releasing a complete list of last night's Top 40 contestants, and with so few contestants getting airtime, it's difficult for me to even figure out who's who, let alone predict just who will make tonight's Top 24. I think that the Idol producers purposely keep things vague, otherwise we'd pretty much be able to compile our own list of 24 (based on who DID get airtime), and wouldn't need to tune in for tonight's episode.

From re-watching last night's episode, and searching other sites for their observations, I've been able to piece together a list of people who (probably) advanced to the Top 40. But I'm really not sure, so if you have definitive information, feel free to share.

(S06E09) After four long weeks of auditions, we've finally made it to the infamous "Hollywood Round." Ryan tells us that 172 contestants are just five days away from becoming finalists, but "those five days are going to be a nightmare."

It might be a nightmare for the contestants, but at home, we are spared most of the mayhem. In fact, Idol speeds through most of the singing completely and a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff, as well. Where's the emotional build-up? Where's the drama? Where's Simon's nasty comments? Where's the angry outbursts from exhausted rejects pushed to the brink of insanity? I can't get a handle on who's who or who's singing what. Before I blink, people are being sent home.

The rumors about a "curly-haired" boy have been circulating for weeks. According to the Idol judges, this curly-haired boy is "the one to beat" in this year's Idol competition.

And Tuesday night in Birmingham, we met Chris Sligh, a Jack Osbourne doppelganger, with a full head of "Justin Guarini" curls.
Could he be the "chosen one" they speak of?