Top 36

As Hollywood Week comes to a close, the Idol producers decide to switch things up on the contestants and instead of the dreaded elevator ride up to a board room, the judges felt the need to have them walk through a mansion and face them as they sat on big red thrones. It was a little bizarre, like some weird soap opera, only you can see the camera men. Let’s get to it, and in the interest of speed, I will place a number by your top 36.

1. Anoop Desai started us off, and was barely seated when they welcomed him to season 8.

2. Von Smith was one big hive before they finally let him off the hook and welcomed him aboard. He has been way too much for me, but in this setting I saw a side of him that I really liked. Unfortunately for him, we will always be able to tell when he is upset. Poor fair skinned boy.
Cody Sheldon, the androgynous scary film kid had to sing off with
3.Alex Wagner-Trugman. (sorry, if you haven’t watched the show, this method of mine will be very anticlimactic).This was some idol brain child’s great idea about how to make the top 36 selection even more stress filled and horrible than it already is. I guess crushing someone’s dreams isn’t quite dramatic and awkward enough for viewers. Needless to say, Alex, who looks like a sweet kid, probably has some humiliation of his own around the bend in a week or two. He has a nice voice, but seems way to sweet and everyday kid to be a superstar.
4. Adam Lambert was made to sweat for a couple of minutes, but we all knew this guy was going to be in it.
5.Taylor Vaifanua got through despite her lyric issues, and then we rolled out the welcome wagon for a bunch of girls.
6.Jasmine Murray (beautiful)
7.Arianna Afsar
8.Casey Carlson (funky and cute)
9.Megan Corkrey (long hair,darling)
10.Mishavonna Henson, and
11.Stevie Wright (16).
12.Joanna Pacitti, was welcomed despite singing in gibberish the night before, but if one is to believe the blogs, I heard that she was disqualified due to a previous recording contract. Didn’t we already know that? Anyway change that to
12.Felicia Barton who will take her place, even though I have no memory of this gal aside from her walk of shame.
Next up are some people who didn’t make it: T.K. Hash, Chris Chatman, and Reggi Beasley.
13.Kendall Beard our blonde Texan was teased about not getting in, but they didn’t string her out too long.
Jenn Korbee, in Simon’s words “the attractive one” sings off with
14.Kristen McNamara. Good singing wins the spot, but not before they rake poor Kristen over the coals for her terrible outfit.
15.Alexis Grace is the very young single mom who added pink to her hair just prior to Hollywood week. I love her voice, but the hair is awful.
16.Scott Macintyre gets through quickly, and he gets a slow-mo and a theme song to walk back to.
17.Lil Rounds, the mom whose apartment was destroyed by the tornado sails right on through. Simon says she is a good old fashioned singer. With a hard g.
I guess we had too much positivity because now we switch back to the No's: Felicia Barton (but I guess she got the last laugh), Ashley Hollister, and Frankie Jordan, who does a sing-off with
18. Jesse Langseth who despite a terrible song choice makes it, although Simon assures her she won’t get far.
19.Allison Iraheta, the 16-year-old sails through to season 8 and so does widower
20.Danny Gokey. His friend Jamar Rogers, despite a strong showing, goes home.
We quickly welcome
21. Ricky Braddy,
22. Matt Giraud (dueling piano player),
23.Ju'Not Joyner,
24.Jorge Nunez-Mendez,
25.Brent Keith (very cute), and
26.Stephen Fowler, who unlike Jamar, forgot his lyrics and stormed off the stage during his last performance.

27.Norman Gentle / Nick Mitchell yes friends, I put Norman first for a reason. They want him onstage. (Well not Simon-who gets a jab in before Nick leaves the room).
28. Jackie Tohn, the quirky girl with the guitar also gets a nod.

29. Tatiana del Toro. Yes idol fans, the worst has happened. Tatiana did not disappoint the crazy people who picked her either, as she wailed and screamed all the way out of the room. Vote for the worst.com is going to have a field day with her. Move over Sanjaya.

Jackie Midkiff does a sing-off with the very unstable
30. Nathaniel Marshall (head-banded cryer), who in Simon’s words wore the worst outfit in AI history.

It is all coming together quickly now folks, as
31. Jeanine Vailes,
32.Kai Kalama, (has the sick mom)
33.Anne Marie Boskovich, and
34.Kris Allen all get their welcome to Season 8.

We then had the average joe sing off, but if you had been counting you wouldn’t have fallen for this bit of hype as
35. Matt Breitzke, the welder, and
36. Michael Sarver, the oil-rigger both end up going through.

During the next three weeks, they'll perform in groups of 12 and it will be in America’s hands, with the exception of the wild card spots. I don’t know about you but I am ready for some singing. Enough with all the crying now and let’s have a competition!