American Idol Season 9 Top 12: What were they thinking?!?

After the performances of the remaining 16 finalists, the top 12 American Idol hopefuls were revealed tonight and I guess I am not the only one who was shocked at the results.  Two of the better singers were dumped by the American voting public in favor of those who performed below par in the last two days.

Alex Lambert and Lilly Scott, are now out of the running.  What a tragedy,  Alex has one of the most unique voices in this year's competition.  He was just starting to show what he could offer but sadly, he won't be able to show more of what he's got.  Lilly is one of my favorites since Hollywood week.  I wanted her to be in this competition because of her Indie sounding style.  I guess that's what spelled her doom because the show does not attract the Indie music crowd.

But even more shocking was the fact that instead of these two performers making it to the top 12, two of the weakest ones got in.  Tim Urban, the replacement finalist who had to reshoot his reaction shot as a one of the top 24 guys will come back next week, and Paige Miles, whom Simon boldly predicted to leave tonight, miraculously survived.  Paige Miles! Believe it or not, after what she did to Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" and after making all judges simultaneously frown at her performance made it to the top 12.

 The guys behind votefortheworst.com are jumping in joy right now and congratulating themselves after their two picks made it.  They just couldn't believe their luck over their double victory.

If this would be the trend this season I can't blame those naysayers when they say that the Idol franchise has reached its breaking point.  The only bright spots I am seeing this season are Crystal Bowersox and Siobhan Magnus for the girls, and Casey James and Big Mike Lynche for the boys.  I can't even remember the name of the others who would soon be eliminated starting next week. Oh yes, there's Andrew Garcia, but he's become boring singing all those songs.  He's now even in the reserve list of votefortheworst.com.

To be fair to everybody I got from the official americanidol.com site the name of  the rest of the top 12.  They are Aaron Kelly, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, Lacey Brown, and Lee Dewyze.  Next week the lucky dozen will be doing songs from the Rolling Stones.  Let's see whose head will be the first to roll...

American Idol Season 9 Top 24

After screening thousands of young hopefuls, and sending home hundreds more during Hollywood week, the judges announced tonight the top 24 contestants for American Idol Season 9.  There were surprises, especially that one of those I expected to be in was not selected.

I am glad that the two men I am impressed with (Casey James and Andrew Garcia), as well as three girls I would want to vote for if I were allowed (Llli Scott, Haeley Vaughan and Siobhan Magnus) all made it to the top 24.  Of course Big Mike Lynche was also shortlisted though I came to know him more because of the birth of his baby on Group Day.

As usual, there were several contestants in this list who did not get good exposures during the winnowing process.  I hope their talents would help them remain in competition.  I really can't say much about John Park, Crystal Bowersox and Ashley Rodriguez because I don't remember seeing their performances during the auditions and the Hollywood week.  Perhaps because they were barely given airtime during the long elimination process.  Hopefully their lack of TV exposure won't harm them and make them exit the competition earlier than the rest of the 24.

Let's see how everybody would perform and how they would impress America.  It's ladies first again as the girls perform this coming Wednesday (Tuesday in the U.S.).  The boys follow suit on Thursday and we'd know who the first two contestants to leave on Friday,