Next "Idol" Finalists: High Schooler, Theater Guy And No Comedian

LOS ANGELES — Out of the first six finalists, "American Idol" viewers have seen the least of Kris Allen this season. The soulful 23-year-old crooner who left the judges feeling mixed after his rendition of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" said Friday that he isn't upset about his lack of screen time on the popular Fox singing competition.

"I wasn't looking for the cameras and trying to put my face in there," Allen said during a teleconference.

Despite his not-so-starring role, the twangy University of Central Arkansas student from Conway, Ark., was selected by viewer votes Thursday alongside Los Angeles natives Allison Iraheta, a 16-year-old high school student, and Adam Lambert, a 26-year-old theater actor.

Simon Cowell told Allen that the "chicks are gonna love you." But sorry, ladies: Allen's taken.

"I've been with the same woman for the past seven years," he said.

Lambert, who wailed the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" and would love to tackle Led Zeppelin in the future, was thankful that "Idol" producers featured him during the audition and Hollywood Week episodes. He thought his inclusion gave the audience the "feeling like they know me."

However, he doesn't want them feeling like he's strictly a theater performer.

"I don't listen to show tunes on my downtime," he said.

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Iraheta, this season's youngest finalist so far, also comes equipped with prior show business experience. She won the 2006 Telemundo contest titled "Quinceanera" after singing in both English and Spanish. Iraheta, who wowed the judges Wednesday with Heart's "Alone," said competing on the Telemundo competition only moderately prepared her for the "Idol" spotlight.

"It helped me out with being on the stage in front of cameras a little," she said. "It's nothing compared to this."

Allen, Lambert and Iraheta join 28-year-old church music director Danny Gokey from Milwaukee, 21-year-old musician Alexis Grace from Memphis, Tenn., and 27-year-old oil rig worker Michael Sarver from Jasper, Texas, who were selected as the first three finalists last week.

Next Tuesday, 12 more semifinalists will vie for three other spots in the competition's top 12. Then, previously dismissed semifinalists will get a second chance at stardom. After the first nine finalists are selected by viewer votes next Wednesday, the judges will pick the last three finalists at the end of a special wild card round next Thursday.

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On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com

Comments

[mlrlmsw]

What is the deal with all of the poor song choices? Don't the vocal coaches know anything about choosing good songs? I feel badly for some of the contestants who have misguided reasons for choosing a song they like and have apparently, no coaching or guidance about that choice. Why have vocal coaches if they are going to send contestants out to sing bad songs? So far, I'm not that impressed with this season's contestants.

In terms of the wild card pics, I think they'll bring back the young woman with the long blond hair and the guy from Kalamazoo, MI, who sang the Coldplay song.

[RickRaff]

This season is not going well. I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Ryan Seacrest and the fact that he is trying to ad-lib more. It is causing some awkward moments that are almost unwatchable. The singers this year seem to be a pretty weak crop.

The new judge is very good, and makes constructive comments. Simon seems to have toned things down. Perhaps, it is because of the woman who committed suicide?

Randy is the same...Pau­la is useless...

This program may have run its course.

[Fletch17C]

I think the "Idol" folks should have hoped for Normund to get through rather than Adam. In the main competition, Adam will probably be the one who beats the stuffing out of the judges' beloved Danny. Danny seems like a nice guy. I've got nothing against him as a person, but compared to Adam, he looks and sounds like...wel­l...a small-town church music director. He was really only ok last week. I thought Ricky Baddy outsang him by a mile. When he sang on the results show, he flat out sucked.

I think I could get behind Danny more if he were to lay off the cheesy songs. "I Hope You Dance" and "Hero" are pretty schmaltzy. For his sake and ours, I hope he doesn't choose to croon his way through Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All." I've accepted the fact that it's only a matter of time before we hear his version of "God Bless the U.S.A." That's too bad because his version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was pretty cool.

As for Normund, he was legitimately funny this week. I'd rather see him again than the oil rigger. You can bet he will get a nice showcase spot on the finale in the spring.

[stella8]

American Idol is turning into that old country song - if my wife died, my dog died, I'm a homeless POS, or I'm a veteran of Bush's faux war and I can barely wail on tune, I might have a chance on American Idol. I thought this show was about "normal" people getting their break. Seems like almost everybody has been in dinner theater or working Six Flags or something. What about those peeps that have singing in front of the mirror all their lives waiting for the big break? That's who I want to see.

[redsongia]

Norman is the only thing even remotely good about the show this year. His whole act is a comment on how lame even a "good" contestant is. The fact that he laughs in the face of stage fright and engages the audience and the judges, who take themselves and their own advice so seriously that they are ruining the show, is the shows only light and entertaining moments.

The format is going to further impose the tastes of the "judges" on the public by chosing to put losing contestants, who the public has already not voted for, back on the stage.

The constant bickering that comes from a fourth judge, the shows insistence on ratcheting up the "suspense" as if it were a game show like "weakest link" instead of a talent show, ruins the fun of this formerly guilty pleasure of mine.

This is the season they jumped the shark. Say goodbye to idol.

[Charity]

i tend to agree. cue fonzi.

[MisterSlippery]

Actually Nick Mitchells Comedy persona is "Normund Gentle" not Norman.
I suspect he got what he wanted out of the AI competition which was exposure.

[1sparrow]

i heard something in allisons voice i haven't heard since rod stewart or roger daltry. kris is a piece of fraud. adam lambert is probably digging his own grave if he dares do zepplin-- we will see. this show is produced to perpetuate the judges-- which are -inarticulate -ignorant -possibly drugged.

[DeloresT]

Which one was Jamarr? I have really been disappointed this year and think that this might be the last year. ( If they bring back that del Toro kid, I know that I won't watch). I still remember the show when Simon told Jennifer Hudson that she wouldn't make it in show business..­..I couldn't believe it.

[Charity]

it's truly amazing each year that some singers actually sing on key, emote, look good but the "judges" consistently will slam them this always has me thinking "agenda." which girl was it that sang really well, and the "judges" said that while she sang well, she just didn't have it - was that mishavonna? geez, she's pretty, looked current, confident, sang really well - but noooo, the "judges" have to swooooon over that 16 year old girl who looks so-five-years-ago as she screeches into a mike, thus influencing millions of young kids to call in and vote for her - under the mistaken assumption that she is 'singing."

sigh. this season is turning out to be a crashing bore.

[masha2008]

lets see if they slate the blind guy to sing last. seems like idol is pushing certain contestants to its audience. they want this guy in for the ratings. otherwise, there were so many more who sang better than he did.

[Charity]

i bet the first person voted out of the top 12 is the oil rig guy, michael. how he was let thru is mystifying to me. and i'm with the person who is upset that jamar didn't make it to the 36 - he's a great singer.

[fame]

This season is so bad. Why are the judges in love with Adam Lambert? He's over the top and shrieky and basically has no chance of becoming a viable recording artist when the show is over. A white, male rock singer won last season and now they're pushing the exact same kind of contestant down our throats. How about something different this time around?

[Haupialani]

Just like them shoving Gokey and his deceased wife down our throats. He'll probably win from the sympathy votes so don't you fret. As for Adam, I hope he gets out early so some label can pick him up. He reminds me of the singers of Led Zeppelin, Rush, Guns n Roses, Mika.....a­ll platinum album bands/ singers. So, yeah, he's a viable artist in the rock world. And a white, male rocker like David?? Please. There's a difference between David Cook and Adam Lambert. Guess you haven't heard any of their stuff to figure that out. And if this show is such crap then why are you watching it?

[MadamRoma]

Adam Lambert just might be the most talented singer ever on American Idol, get a hearing aid.

[trisha08]

I hate the format they are using this season. It seems like those kids should have more than one opportunity to sing before they are sent home. I don't like seeing only three remaining out of each group.

You don't get to know them well enough to decide who you really like---and poof they are gone.

[redsongia]

I agree, the format is all about compelling life stories, the judges lame bickering and creating a phoney sense of "suspense.­"

They've gone the way of MTV, all "reality" no music.

[bsc]

It is painful to watch Paula try to compete with Kara who is a million times smarter and the only judge who makes any sense.

[kadene]

American Idol has lost its fizz, zip, zing or whatever it had before. It all seems so contrived now; the jokes, the judges remarks, everything seems scripted. And it has just fallen flat. Gokey's friend was a very good singer and he got trashed, for whom, Nick?

It has so become a farce, and they need to trade-in the coach, whoever that is. This week's performances were totally uninspiring.

[libwingoflibwing]

I'm not worried about Jamarr. When he's a star Simon won't be able to do what he did with Jennifer Hudson and blame the fans for voting her out.

Danny is in the top 12. I'm sure he'll survive into the top 6. He definitely will get a recording contract afterwards. Jamarr will go with him all the way and his talent and personality will insure he has his own career.

[JohnKevari]

KEVARI SNOWFLAKES

ONE MORE THING.....­...

We should start a internet-movement to get at least one contestant this year to sing the theme from "Fall Guy." The 80's TV show with Lee Majors.

"It's true I hire my body out for pay---- HEY! HEY!"

[JohnKevari]

KEVARI SNOWFLAKES

No one likes seeing losing.

Do they show the losers at the end of the Super Bowl? No. They concentrate on the winners.

The trouble with the recent shows of "AI" is that too many people are going home losers.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE 9 PEOPLE OUT OF 12 GO HOME!!!!!