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American Idol 8: Eliminated Top 13 Contestants

Jasmine MurrayJorge Nunez

“The most rewarding thing for me has been to perform,” said Jasmine Murray, 16, the first Top 13 contestant to be eliminated from 8. “That is what this competition is all about: singing and getting up and showing everybody what you can do.”

“I am so happy,” she said, highly cheerful words on what was surely a low night for the young diva.

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American Idol 8: Top 13 Results


The Top 13 results show of 8 began with a dire warning: only 11 would remain once the night was all said and done. More than 33 million votes were logged to bring us this first - and perhaps only - Top 13 elimination round.

Idol again referred to a “twist,” one of several times it’s been mentioned. then brought up three very well-known Idol names: Michael Johns, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. The latter two have already gone on to great post-Idol success, and Johns seems well on track to do the same. All three were favored contestants among judges and fans, and many feel that all three left the competition early (each during different seasons, of course). Seacrest spoke of the “uproar” that accompanied the departure of each one.

It was as this point the host introduced “the judges’ save,” which exempts a single contestant from elimination - but only once. Once a save is used, it cannot be used again…not for the whole season. When the save is used, it’ll work for a week. After the save, however, the next week will see two contestants eliminated.

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American Idol 8: Top 13 Perform

American Idol 8 Top 13

Randy Jackson advised ’s Top 13 to “bring it hard” for their Tuesday night performance round. They would each have to do just that if they want to survive on the show - Simon Cowell made the not-so-unexpected announcement that on the following elimination night, two contestants would be sent home.

This shouldn’t be a shock. Do the math: ten weeks left in the show, thirteen contestants. At some point, we’re going to have to lose two at once…so it might as well be now.

The Idols chose Michael Jackson songs for the evening, which gave them plenty of room to succeed or fail. Let the chips fall where they may…

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American Idol 8: Third Group Results


The third group of Top 36 performers had to wait the longest to find out whether they would be moving on…or going home. At the top of the Wednesday hour, they all gathered to - finally - learn their fate.

“I think we have an amazing start of a Top 12 going on. I’m very proud of all of them,” said of the contestants. Speaking of the Top 12, the first half (the six contenders who were voted in over the preceding two weeks) looked on from the sidelines as they, too, waited to hear who would join them in places of Idol honor.

The twelve performers of the week performed an upbeat version of “Hot and Cold,” yet another unrecognizable song performed by the Top 36 over the last three weeks. Despite somewhat lackluster choreography, they delivered what is arguably the best of the three group performances we’ve seen from the 36 semifinalists.

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American Idol 8: Third Group Performs

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As the first half of 8’s Top 12 looked on, a dozen new hopefuls took to the stage to sing out their hearts - and hopefully, to win ours.

During the pre-performance banter, host talked about Simon Cowell’s penchant for picking on contestant song choices. Seacrest asked the judge why he doesn’t simply pick the songs himself. “Well, I will,” Cowell responded. “We’ll have a Simon Cowell week.”

I’m getting a vision of the greatest Idol week ever. But before that happens, we have to get through this last group of Top 36 contenders.

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American Idol 8: Three Left Standing in Second Group


Twenty-five million votes were tallied up to create Thursday’s live show, but did all the results go as expected? watchers were treated to montages, recaps and four performances - and at the end of the night, half of the Top 12 was firmly in place.

Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver waited through the group performance (it was a song I’ve never heard before and didn’t at all like…the best I can say is that it was better than last week’s group) and tons of other filler before real results were featured.

spent a few moments chatting with the current crop of competitors before getting down to business. When asked about his future, Nick Mitchell said, “I’m looking for employment, always.” Jesse Langseth finds selecting songs “awful” and “very hard.” Jeanine Vailes admitted that “less could have been more” with her performance.

But eventually, even the time for chitchatting was over.

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American Idol 8: Top 36 Announced

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Fifty-four sat in the holding room of a “mansion” - or set - in Los Angeles last night on . Only thirty-six would leave the judging area with smiles on their faces. A few would be made to sing one last time, but all would have to make the long walk through the gardens and down to the throne room where their fate would be decided.

Anoop Desai was the first to make the stroll. “Anoop is in the house,” cried, after Kara DioGuardi told Desai he’d made it into the competition.

Things started to move fairly quickly after that.

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American Idol 8: Hollywood Week Continues

American Idol Judges in Hollywood

Seventy-two hopefuls crowded the Kodak Theater for their solo performances in front of the judges. For this all-important audition, the very last they’ll have on Idol, the singers were allowed to sing with the band, their own back-up singers and instruments of their own choosing. The show began with the judge deliberation, showing them scattering photos around their table. The day’s events were re-told, flashback style, for our amusement.

The solo singing started with , who has already completely impressed me with his amazing voice. Lambert put so much power into “Believe,” a song choice which should have been terribly strange and awkward, I was absolutely stunned. I thought this guy was a David Cook rip-off in the beginning, but now I’m not so sure he isn’t a complete original.

Matt Giraud lovingly played piano as he sang “Georgia” by Ray Charles. He put a ton of soul into the performance, winning a standing ovation from the watching crowd.

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American Idol 8: The Beginning of Hollywood

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Out of many thousands, American Idol 8 chose just one hundred and forty-seven to go to Hollywood. As Simon Cowell told them at the start of the auditions, “all we’re looking for…is a star.”

Indeed.

This year, the show sent each hopeful to an intensive singing “boot camp” where they rehearsed with vocal coaches. Surprise mentor Barry Manilow showed up to offer his advice and encouragement. The one who wrote the songs told each Idol hopeful to prepare well and make each tune their own.

And thus, the first day at the opulent Kodak Theater began.

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American Idol 8: Island Auditions

American Idol 8 - New York crowd

tried something brand-new last night: two audition cities in the same episode. Using a West Side Story theme, the show featured try-outs in New York City and San Juan, two very different islands which are many, many miles apart.

The episode opened in New York with Adeola Adegoke, from the Bronx. This very pretty girl quit her job, confident that she would soon be starting a new life in Hollywood. She sang a Jennifer Hudson song in very accented English. Her voice was off key, and the audition was not good. Simon Cowell said “it was shockingly bad.” Kara DioGuardi kindly explained that “you have to keep your day job.” called Adegoke’s boss, put him on the phone with Simon Cowell, and between the two of them managed to get the girl’s job back for her.

How many more lives would be changed…or not changed as the days wore on?

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