The American Idol episode centering around the announcement of its top 24 contestants just ended, and in a sorta disheartening anticlimax, the spoilers that leaked to TV Squad at the end of January were 100% correct. Which means that we won’t be seeing any more of politico-in-training Kyle Ensley or car-living emo kid Josiah Leming, at least until they get picked up by Fox News Channel or Ultragrrrl’s label. (I’m pretty sure that either one could be signed by either entity.) The full list of finalists–in the order they were announced during the show, and with some supplemental details for those of you who have been following Idolator’s commentary on the show this season–after the jump.
THE LADIES
1. Carly “Hennessy” Smithson (the ex-poster child for the industry)
2. Amanda Overmeyer (the rock and roll nurse with the superdamaged hair)
3. Kristy Lee Cook (the girl who sang “Amazing Grace” twice)
4. Brooke White (the sheltered nanny)
5. Alex Lushington (the one with the very big family)
6. Ramiele Malubay
7. Syesha Mercado (the one from The One)
8. Kady Malloy (the ex-Avril wannabe)
9. Amy Davis
10. Alaina Whitaker
11. Asia’h Epperson (the one whose dad died the day before her audition)
12. Joanne Borgella (the woman who won the Mo’Nique reality show)
THE GUYS
1. David Cook (the guy with the red stripe in his hair)
2. David Archuleta (the ex-Star Search winner)
3. Danny Noriega (the repeat auditioner)
4. Jason Castro (the dude with the dreads)
5. Luke Menard (the guy with the a capella past)
6. Michael Johns (the former Aussie rock star)
7. Robbie Carrico (the ex-boybander who turned into Axl Rose)
8. Garrett Haley
9. Chikezie Eze
10. Jason Yaeger (the kid with the streaked spike hair)
11. David Hernandez
12. Colton Berry (the kinda-anonymous blonde kid who wasn’t as good as the politician-in-training Kyle Ensley in Simon’s eyes)
Maybe the producers wanted Kyle gone because they didn’t want another Clay Aiken. You know, someone who didn’t win but went one to become a huge success anyway. Ruins the whole system (even though the system was ruined anyway).
It seems like the producers and the judges are so bored with the process that they don’t know what they actually want any more. I want to be excited about this season, but I’m kinda ehhh.
@HONEYBFLY: If we’re shooting for Josh Groban levels of suck, no wonder this show is in so much trouble.
@katie_a_princess: HAAAAAAAAA!!!!
@JIM THOME’S SELF-CLEANING OVEN: Sorry holmes, I am with you on the Fergie hate, but Groban’s a champ…in the big-vocaled, nausea-inducing arena of all things “Adult Contemporary”, at least.
If the intention is to find the guy who can best hit all the notes, well, I’ll stick with the professional on this one.
After watching this ep of Idol I, like everybody else, was busy pondering the vocal abilities and potential star power of the contestants.
When it was over, I listened to a few tracks by Josh Groban (Easily the most talented male vocalist in recent modern pop music IMHO).
Hearing a voice like JG makes me wonder why I’d even bother with the next Gayken….he really shows how truly amateur these Idol vocalists are.
That said, the 16yo kid from Utah and the 29yo Aussie both stand out as the most talented guys of the group.
Kyle had Vote For The Worst written all over him. And I think Idol is more interested in getting its credibility back this year than in giving America another water cooler punching bag.
The Aussie has pipes, but he’s also got charisma. If Rock Star was still on, I don’t think we would’ve seen him on Idol. I say he definitely makes top three.
The Aussie (Michael Johns) also sounded remarkably like…Michael Bolton?
This is the first year where I wasn’t impressed by any of the finalists, they’re all so bland and underwhelming they make Carrie Underwood look like Wendy O Williams.
I just can’t get over that they cut Josiah. That kid is a self-taught musician who plays keyboards, guitar, bass, and drums. He writes his own lyrics and harmonies. He may not be a diva-style belter, but he sounds so contemporary. It just seems like he has way more potential to be a pop star than any of these people. I’m flabbergasted.
OK, I don’t care anymore. Whew, glad that passed.
colton v. four eyes was so, so sad. it was like comparing soggy french fries to a flat cup of coke
@extracrispy:
He may not be a diva-style belter, but he sure is a diva-style weeper.
Sorry for the hating. Happy Valentine’s Day.
@extracrispy: don’t worry, give him two years and he’ll be in Williamsburg playing Soundfix & all over Brooklyn Vegan.
Last year I worked at a start-up label called Beverly Martel Music and the Aussie contestant, Michael Johns was signed with us. We actually released his self-titled solo album. I went on iTunes to check out if more people have left comments for his album but it seems like someone took it down. Interesting. By the way he was also in a band called The Rising that was signed to Maverick some years back.
Check some info out here: [beverlymartelmusic.blogspot.com]