The 'American Idol' Top 24

LOS ANGELES — It's good news for Tim Urban and 23 other singers on "American Idol."

The 20-year-old college student from Duncanville, Texas, was among the 17 remaining semifinalists revealed Wednesday on the Fox singing competition after seven were unveiled Tuesday. "Idol" judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and newcomer Ellen DeGeneres delivered the news to the 36 contestants left standing at the conclusion of "Hollywood Week."

"This year it was a bit more tough," Cowell said of selecting the female semifinalists.

Observant viewers may have noticed that curly haired shoe salesman Chris Golightly, 25, of Los Angeles was among the semifinalists on stage at the end of Wednesday's episode, but it was Urban who was among the 12 dancing male semifinalists. A statement from Fox said Urban replaced Golightly because Golightly was "ineligible to continue in the competition." No further explanation was provided.

It's not the first semifinalist switcheroo on "Idol." Last season, Joanna Pacitti was shown advancing to the top 36 after "Hollywood Week" but was later replaced by Felicia Barton. Pacitti released an album in 2006 and had ties to 19 Entertainment, which produces "Idol" with FremantleMedia North America. She was also deemed "ineligible to continue" in a Fox press release.

The other male semifinalists revealed Wednesday were Andrew Garcia, 24, Moreno Valley, Calif.; Tyler Grady, 20, Nazareth, Pa.; Alex Lambert, 19, North Richland Hills, Texas; Joe Munoz, 20, Huntington Park, Calif.; John Park, 21, Evanston, Ill.; and Jermaine Sellers, 27, Joliet, Ill.

Janell Wheeler, a bubbly 24-year-old wine sales representative from Tampa, Fla., was the first crooner crowned with a spot Wednesday. Wheeler impressed the judges during her first solo "Hollywood Week" performance with an acoustic rendition of Estelle's "American Boy" but her group disappointed with Ne-Yo's "Closer" and she flubbed Taylor Swift's "Love Story."

"I just can't stop thinking about calling into work and saying I'm not coming in," Wheeler said.

The other female semifinalists were Crystal Bowersox, 24, Toledo, Ohio; Lacey Brown, 24, Amarillo, Texas; Michelle Delamor, 22, Miami; Siobhan Magnus, 20, Marstons Mills, Mass.; Paige Miles, 24, Houston, Texas; Ashley Rodriguez, 22, Chelsea, Mass.; Lilly Scott, 20, Denver; Katie Stevens, 17, Middlebury, Conn.; and Haeley Vaughn, 16, Fort Collins, Colo.

Among those cut was Angela Martin, the 28-year-old Chicago songstress who twice previously made it to "Hollywood Week." After earning her first golden ticket, she dropped out after her father was murdered. And she lost her second spot because of a traffic court summons over an outstanding ticket. DioGuardi joined her on the Kodak Theater stage to deliver the bad news.

"You know what, there are other ways to do it," DioGuardi told a weeping Martin.

The previously announced semifinalists were Didi Benami, 23, Los Angeles; Lee Dewyze, 23, Mount Prospect, Ill.; Katelyn Epperly, 19, West Des Moines, Iowa; Aaron Kelly, 16, Sonestown, Pa.; Casey James, 27, Fort Worth, Texas; Todrick Hall, 24, Arlington, Texas and Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, 26, Astoria, N.Y.

The top 12 women will perform live next Tuesday with the top 12 men taking the stage live Wednesday. Viewer votes will determine which two women and two men will be eliminated.

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Fox is a unit of News Corp.

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On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com/

Comments

[MNmommy]

03:50 PM on 02/18/2010

this stuff happens all the time on these shows

[catcancook]

02:37 PM on 02/18/2010

That was the first time I ever thought better of Simon when he regretted the decision to cut the girl with the facial paralysis. She was really beautiful with a lovely voice as well. I am not a fan of the show but happened to be channel surfing when I saw her and she got me hooked on that episode! So, I may have turned in to this season IF they had kept her but now I won't. (I cannot tolerate Kara or Randy so, I can't be an Idol watcher..they both make me cringe)

I am surprised that Ellen did not stand up for her because she is such a great person for the underdog having been one herself. I do not know the rules so, I am at a loss at how they get picked.

But SHAME on them to overlook this talented young lady. She looked so sad and I wonder if she thinks it's because of her face which would be horrible. Maybe Simon will call her about appearing on his new show.

[veritas88]

02:02 PM on 02/18/2010

*Angela Martin

[veritas88]

01:59 PM on 02/18/2010

i feel really bad for Angela Davis (the thin black woman who tried for the 3rd or 4th time this year and was cut again. her dad died the 1st time she tried out). maybe now that one of the 24, Michael Lynch is out, they can choose her for the top 24?

[rain33]

12:59 PM on 02/18/2010

if some of these young singers who have talent, they should be looking for a record executive than being picked on a show.

[lizmckenzie55]

01:57 PM on 02/18/2010

Recording executives watch the show. The winner, as well as many runners up, are given a recording contract. Many have also lost those same contracts, if they were not able to produce.

[pasko]

12:07 PM on 02/19/2010

I thank American Idol for Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Jordan Sparks and Carrie Underwood - they're amazing talent and I don't see anything wrong with them getting their start from the show. Why so uppity?

[rain33]

12:12 PM on 02/19/2010

i don't like american idol because the singers who won have to do the most work so they can stay in the music business. music business is really dirty yet they rather look for money sales instead of making good music. i don't like carrie, daughtry, clarkson or sparks at all. if you got strong talent, go to the record companies and ask for audition. some of these record executives don't count on them. look at jennifer hudson-simon made the biggest mistake to eliminate her and she's doing very well on her own! screw you coz i am not uppity-YOU ARE!

[saima kahn]

11:56 AM on 02/18/2010

here are few of the top perfromances http://bit.ly/cqNNYM

[KJLSanDiego]

11:26 AM on 02/18/2010

congrats to John Park!

[gavottes]

11:38 AM on 02/18/2010

I know! They did not feature him at all! They didn't talk him up, or down.

He sings well -- Let's hope he is charasmatic enough to get votes.

[KJLSanDiego]

11:46 AM on 02/18/2010

right? but I think we'll all remember him for being seduced by a miss Shania Twain!

[tedmore123]

11:24 AM on 02/18/2010

Should be called Americans; Idle.

I have a better idea: ditch the judges and rotate in legitimate musicians to judge. The current 'judges' are bafoons. Oh and get a mannequin to do Ryan Seacrest's job; just zoom in on it and have someone off camera do voice over. He's a waste of space and air.

[lizmckenzie55]

02:00 PM on 02/18/2010

Good things those folks are not listening to your "better idea" otherwise the show would have tanked long ago and Seacrest wouldn't be making $50 million a year. ROFL ... still ROFL ... still ROFL ... that was suppose to be funny, right? Thanks for the laugh!!! Still ROFL ...

[Megan Robbins]

11:11 AM on 02/18/2010

I always get a kick out of people who claim to be so uninterested in something yet take the time to read an article about it and then go even a step further and comment on it. Silly.

I for one love AI and I was upset after a few people got sent home, especially the girl with the facial paralysis. I loved her and her voice. Simon was right on that one when he said they made a mistake sending her home. I hope she comes back next year.

[KJLSanDiego]

11:27 AM on 02/18/2010

agreed. the mom lady just doesn't have the stuff for the biz. awkward, unattractive, bizarre.

[filmex]

11:48 AM on 02/18/2010

Sending Shelby home, she of the partial face paralysis, was jaw-droppingly stupid. Not only did she have a wonderful, unique voice, they instead gave slots to Katelyn Epperly, who was criticized for having no connection to the songs she sang. Not to mention Janell Wheeler, which this very piece notes she butchered two out of her three attempts.

But, oh well, they're cute blondes of the Carrie Underwood variety, which is apparently more important than having a unique singing ability. Too bad, it would have been great to see half of America unite behind Shelby and push her on. But, we were never given the chance.

Good for Simon for at least muttering out loud what we were thinking, "that's the wrong decision". He must have been outvoted by the other three, something that does Ellen, Kara and Randy no favor at all.

[transparent]

12:10 PM on 02/18/2010

Yup. Shelby should have stayed. America would have loved her because she represents what we all hope we have in us to do. Maybe they'll bring her back next week.

[lizmckenzie55]

10:59 AM on 02/18/2010

Never been much of a fan of Hollywood week and most times do not watch much of the show before the top 24 are selected, but now is when it gets good. People can bash Idol all they want but it has produced some amazing talent and I'm looking forward to seeing some of this new young talent grow. Good luck to all contestants!

[faith2hope]

12:06 PM on 02/18/2010

I agree with you I never watch idol until they get down to the final 24. I think the rest is just a waste of time. I do agree that some great talent has come from the show, but I also wish that there were actual musical talent doing the judging. I know we all know what we like but people who can't hold a tune tell others who can that they aren't good enough just seems all kinds of crazy to me, but.........that's entertainment and that is why we tune in.

[lizmckenzie55]

01:53 PM on 02/18/2010

Obviously, you do not know Kara's and Randy's history. Both have been in the business many, many years (remember Journey?). Kara was a roommate of Paula's early in their careers. Being a success in the music industry doesn't necessarily mean that you are a "performer." Simon has been in the business all of his adult life (probably more successful in England before Idol). And they threw Ellen in (I'm thinking) for the comic value. She said herself that she doesn't have any experience in the music so she will be much like us "judges" at home.

[JenniferEccles]

10:51 AM on 02/18/2010

Yawning here too. I have been unable to remain awake through any of the American Idol episodes thus far.

[BluesDogLefty]

10:14 AM on 02/18/2010

yawn