'Idol' Narrows Competition to 24 Singers

NEW YORK — The tears flowed on "American Idol" Wednesday night as the show trimmed the competition to 24 semifinalists. They were mostly happy tears for the 12 guys and 12 gals who made the cut on the final night of Hollywood week. The winners included teen singing prodigy David Archuleta and Janis Joplin soundalike/respiratory nurse Amanda Overmyer.

Brooke White, who claimed in her audition to have never seen a rated-R movie, was beside herself with emotion before learning her fate from Simon Cowell and company. The verdict: Yes! Cue more crying.

One of the biggest upsets of the night was the elimination of 18-year-old Josiah Leming, who seemed to be a judge favorite until his shaky rendition of "Stand By Me." Cowell said Tuesday that Leming _ who lives in his car and sings with a faux British accent _ was too confident for his own good.

Leming said he thought he was a shoo-in to make it to the finalists' ranks; in keeping with the night's theme, he too cried after the judges delivered the bad news.

Next Tuesday, the top 12 male singers are in the hot seat on the Fox talent contest, and, on Wednesday, the women follow.

The men are: Archuleta, 17, Murray, Utah; Colton Berry, 18, Staunton, Va.; Robbie Carrico, 26, Melbourne, Fla.; Jason Castro, 20, Rockwall, Texas; David Cook, 25, Tulsa, Okla.; Chikezie Eze, 22, Inglewood, Calif.; Garrett Haley, 17, Elida, Ohio; David Hernandez, 24, Glendale, Ariz.; Luke Menard, 29, Crawfordsville, Ind.; Danny Noriega, 18, Azusa, Calif.; Jason Yeager, 28, Branson, Mo., and Michael Johns, 29, Los Angeles by way of Australia.

And the ladies: Overmyer, 23, Mulberry, Ind.; White, 24, Van Nuys, Calif.; Joanne Borgella, 25, Hoboken, N.J.; Kristy Lee Cook, 24, Selma, Ore.; Amy Davis, 25, Cedar Lake, Ind.; Asia'h Epperson, 19, Joplin, Mo.; Alexandrea Lushington, 17, Douglasville, Ga.; Kady Malloy, 18, Houston; Ramiele Malubay, 20, Miramar, Fla.; Syesha Mercado, 21, Miami; Alaina Whitaker, 16, Tulsa, Okla., and Carly Smithson, San Diego by way of Dublin, Ireland.

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Fox is owned by News Corp.

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On the Net:

Fox:

http://www.americanidol.com/

Comments

[GeoNorth]

04:36 PM on 02/14/2008

When AI first hit the air, it was an offense to my sensibilities. The music is way to Adult Contemporary, stuff you hear on stations that play Billy Joel, Celine Dion and Rod Stewart 'til you puke. But the talent of most contestants is undeniable (yes, I remember Sanjaya). Some of the rejects have done pretty good such as Chris Daughtry and Jennefer Hudson. Some winners are fading. Welcome to life. I now watch regularly. I have found the perspective: It's Showbiz Boot Camp.

[calgary]

12:36 PM on 02/14/2008

I use the show to tell my kids that this is what you will have to do if you do not have a good education.

[Ramirez]

11:19 AM on 02/14/2008

I like the show. It's got heroes, villains, drama, suspense, and a continuing parade of jaw-dropping talent. It can get tedious sometimes but these kids can SING.

Best TV talent show since Ed Sullivan.

[jadez]

11:31 AM on 02/14/2008

lol...well i have to take your word for all that since i have never seen the show..but i do keep up on things..and i am wondering why i have missed all the jaw dropping talent that has emerged from that show.

btw....comparing the talent on that show to the
Ed Sullivan show..is about as silly a statement that can ever be made.

[GarysDiscardedCaps]

12:07 PM on 02/14/2008

jadez,
your statement: "I have never seen the show" then
"btw....comparing the talent on that show to the
Ed Sullivan show..is about as silly a statement that can ever be made."
Seems you made the ultimate silly statement. If you've never seen the show then how can you make your last statement.

BTW ever hear of Carrie Underwood (millions in CD sales, just won some Grammys)
Maybe you've heard of Kelly Clarkson or Jennifer Hundson- (Oscar winner) Maybe even Chris Daughtry

Yeah you're right there's been no talent come out of this show. Let's just stick to Ed and his spinning plates and remember watching Topo Ji Jo.

[FadeIn]

09:43 AM on 02/14/2008

I have to admit, I like the show best for those participants who are as hopelessly tone deaf as they are hopelessly deluded, that they're not. When it comes to the actual competition, things can get pretty boring, the way they drag out the show to fill the time slot.

But my main problem with the show is that once again, it has been turned into a battle of the sexes, as if talent is distributed evenly among males and females. Why must there be an equal number? All that happens, by dividing up the sides equally is, that you end up with another Sanjia (or however that wing-nut's name is spelled), who makes it almost to the finish.

Talent has nothing to do with being male or female. Unless they want to make it American Male Idol and American Female Idol. In which case, Sanjia still wouldn't qualify.

[tinkaboutit]

02:46 AM on 02/14/2008

I'm proud to say I've never watched that show even ONCE in my life.