The 2008 American Idol Thread.....

[Caropooh]

Would someone tell me which of the 2 final girls made it Wed night? I taped it & watched it last night but just as they were about to announce which one, I think they were Cardin & Joanne, it had stopped taping - Simon in midsentence.

The African-American woman made it through.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

Would someone tell me which of the 2 final girls made it Wed night? I taped it & watched it last night but just as they were about to announce which one, I think they were Cardin & Joanne, it had stopped taping - Simon in midsentence.

Thats so weird...my parents had taped it too and said it cut off right at that exact part! They guessed JoAnne made it through and they were right!

 

[Disney Ron]

Joanne the model got in !

Mrs. disney Ron

 

[Virgo10]

Thats so weird...my parents had taped it too and said it cut off right at that exact part!

I think the show went over by 3 or 4 minutes. At least that's what the clock on my cable box said.

 

[wvrevy]

Fantastic article from the LA Times on the top 24:

Their official bios have been posted on Americanidol.com; their MySpace pages are turning private; their old, embarrassing videos will soon disappear from the ether. But for now, here’s the buzz and rumors we could gather about the Top 24 contestants, vying for the title of American Idol.

Twenty-nine-year-old Michael Johns must sound better in person, because when we watch him on TV, he always just seems OK. Of course, it doesn’t really matter what we think, because girls on the "AI" blogs are already crushing hard. Michael was born in Australia and now lives in Los Angeles. In the past, he fronted two bands, the Rising and Film, and went by the name Michael Lee.

For a mere 16-year-old, Alaina Whitaker seemed incredibly confident at her audition. According to the Greater Tulsa Reporter, Alaina, a Tulsa, Okla., native and self-proclaimed Carrie Underwood look-alike, has been performing with her sister Brittney since she was young. Anybody catch 'em at the Bixby Green Corn Festival?

Twenty-four-year-old Carly Smithson is the most controversial contestant to emerge this season. The Ireland native now lives in San Diego. She auditioned for "AI" during Season 5 under her maiden name, Hennessy, and made it through to Hollywood with rave reviews. Then she was forced to withdraw from the competition because the paperwork for her visa didn’t come through on time. She returned this season with a new, heavily tattooed hubby and is already getting more than her share of flak in the blogosphere. Whereas the ideal American Idol is pure and undiscovered, Carly has already been discovered –- and failed.

Carly spent her youth touring Europe as Cosette in "Les Misérables." By age 10, she had already released her debut album in Ireland: "Carly's Christmas Album.” Then, after dropping out of high school, Carly scored a record deal with Vivendi Universal SA's MCA Records. MCA poured $2.2 million into Carly and her album "Ultimate High." After three months on the market, however, Carly’s album had sold just 378 copies. No, that’s not a typo. Will “Idol” be the second chance Carly needs, or will viewers choose a true unknown instead?

Twenty-year-old Ramiele Malubay wants to be the first Asian American American Idol, riding on the tall shoulders of Jasmine Trias, who went on to become a star in the Philippines. We checked out Ramiele’s MySpace page, and from her sexy photo to some racy, unprintable quotes on her page, we’re thinking there’s more to Ramiele than the cute, innocent girl we've seen so far.

Singing competitions are nothing new for 21-year-old Syesha Mercado. In 2006, Syesha was a contestant on ABC’s “The One: Making a Music Star.” She is the daughter of a Motown backup singer, and she grew up singing in a church choir. Syesha attended Booker High School in Sarasota, Fla., and then went on to be a theater major in college. Syesha’s MySpace page includes commercials she has shot for KFC, Ford and everything in between. On her page, Syesha classifies herself as a “Singer/Actress/Dancer/Model/Writer/You Name It ... LOL.” Well, she certainly isn’t afraid of a little self-promotion.

We haven’t seen much of Kady Malloy since she wowed Simon Cowell with her vocal impressions at auditions. With Simon’s endorsement and “Team Malloy” T-shirts already selling online, the 18-year-old Houston stunner isn’t going anywhere any time soon. She’s getting a little flak in the blogosphere, however, because she isn’t the sort of undiscovered talent “Idol” aims to uncover; she released a self-titled debut album with Natalie Imbruglia and Mandy Moore producer Nick Treviseck.

Colton who? Seventeen-year-old Colton David Berry of Staunton, Va., isn’t one of the contestants we’ve gotten to know over the last few weeks, but he still managed to slide into the Top 24. He started singing at 5 years old in church and cites Usher and Kelly Clarkson as his favorite pop singers.

Twenty-six-year-old Robbie Carrico looks like a rock star today, but he hasn’t always been so scruffy and hip; he was once a member of the pop band Boyz N Girlz United! A quick Google search turns up pictures of Robbie sporting mesh shirts and frosted hair -– and even a photo of Robbie with his rumored ex-girlfriend, Britney Spears!

Brooke White, 24, has gotten more than her share of airtime this season, namely because nobody turns on the waterworks like she does. Hailing from Mesa, Ariz., Brooke was one of the only contestants who actually shone when she sang with her instrument: the keyboard. She got her start in high school plays and has a proclivity for “anything ‘artsy fartsy,’ drawing, decorating, music, doing hair ... beautifying.”

If 25-year-old David Cook doesn’t succeed on “Idol,” he might have trouble finding work. After all, when asked what his talents were, other than singing, David answered, “I am an expert television watcher. I can also sleep and eat like nobody's business.” David hails from Blue Springs, Mo.

When he’s not lifting weights or riding his motorcycle, 29-year-old Luke Menard makes time for some singing. He got his start late by “Idol” standards, since he didn’t start to sing until freshman year of high school. Luke’s favorite quote is, "Don't fight. But if you have to ... hit first and hit hard." So, watch your backs, wannabe Idols!

According to her audition video, 24-year-old Kristy Lee Cook lives in a log cabin in Oregon, the same one she’s been in since she was 9. She likes horses and cage fighting, and she had to sell one of her horses to make it to the audition. A bit of creeping on the Web reveals Kristy to be more than just the cage-fighter next door. She has appeared in commercials for Sprite, Pier 1 and more, and she is signed with the Kim Dawson Agency for modeling. “Idol” sleuths have already unearthed one of Kristy’s old music videos, in which she croons in front of a Confederate flag.

Where did 20-year-old Jason Castro come from, aside from Rowlett, Texas? We didn’t meet him until the Top 24 were named. With bright blue eyes and piles of dreadlocks, Jason will certainly stand out among his fellow contestants. When he’s not singing, Jason is pursuing other artistic endeavors, like drawing, painting and building.

She may be young, but Amanda Overmyer seems far more mature than the average 23-year-old. Hailing from Mulberry, Ind., Amanda works as a nurse, rides a Harley and loves to cook. With some Janis Joplin grit in her voice and an original look, Amanda is already enlivening the competition. She has been singing since she was a child, but unlike many of her fellow contestants, Amanda has never had formal training.

Not only is 25-year-old Joanne Borgella a plus-size model and a singer, but she’s also a reality star! Borgella was crowned Miss F.A.T. on the 2005 reality show “Mo'Nique's Fat Chance.” When asked about her experience on the show, Joanne told Plus Model magazine, “It changed me! I have always been confident in myself, but like everyone else I did have some insecurity … . It took being around other women that felt the same way for me to be at ease and be happy with myself.”

Hailing from Grand Prairie, Texas, 28-year-old Jason Yeager started out singing in church. According to Jason’s “Country Tonite” cast bio, he attended Dallas Baptist University. Also according to that bio, competing on TV is nothing new for Jason; he was a Top 25 finalist on "Making the Band."

Chikezie Eze of didn’t make the cut last year, but that didn’t dampen his spirits. The 22-year-old Inglewood resident came back for more this season -– and made it through to the Top 24. Here are some facts about Chikezie from his blog: “I'm a shameless flirt. … If you bore me enough ... I just might disappear. … I believe a day without a hug is a wasted day.” And, according to his MySpace page, the “shameless flirt” is single.

There were countless contestants with tough lives this season, but no sad story could compare to 19-year-old Asia'h Epperson’s. Just days before her Atlanta audition, Asia’h’s father died in a car accident. Despite her tragic circumstances, the self-professed “small-town country girl” from Joplin, Mo., made it into the Top 24.

Alexandrea Lushington is only 16, but that doesn’t mean she’s a newbie to the whole singing thing. Alexandrea has been crooning steadily ever since she was 2 years old, in her grandfather’s church. Alexandrea’s performance of “My Funny Valentine” wasn’t particularly memorable, but her 93-year-old great-grandmother was unforgettable. Alexandrea comes from Atlanta, and when she isn’t playing piano and singing, she’s writing scripts and stories.

It didn’t take long for “American Idol” fans to unearth pictures of Amy Jean Davis in her underwear. Just one day after her audition, Amy’s revealing photos are already making the rounds in the "AI" blogosphere. Here’s what we know about Amy so far, besides the fact that she looks great in a bikini: She was a contestant on “Nashville Star,” she’s 25 and she lives in Lowell, Ind.

Sweet, 18-year-old Danny Noriega of Azusa was given the honor of wrapping up the audition round. He tried out for “Idol” once before, but his journey was a short one. Now he’s back, and he’s in it to win. Danny’s gentle speaking voice is misleading, because his singing voice is massive. “You’ve got a very good voice, Danny,” observed Simon, in a rare moment of utter wonder and sincerity. Danny’s MySpace profile is set to private, but we can see his mood (“weird”) and his personal quote (“you wanna piece of me?”). He’s already being called the next Sanjaya in "AI" chat rooms. Like Sanjaya before him, Danny’s sexuality is inspiring plenty of curiosity. According to votefortheworst.com, Danny’s MySpace page reads, “Orientation: What do you think?”

Seventeen-year-old David Archuleta’s sob story about his battle with vocal paralysis didn’t elicit much sympathy from the judges, namely because they had never heard of the ailment. “I heard no signs of any vocal, whatever,” commented Randy after David’s audition. Even though David’s story didn’t register with the judges, his voice did, and he made it through to the Top 24. Despite his age, David, who lives in Murray, Utah, is hardly inexperienced. David won Star Search’s Junior Singer competition when he was 12. On his Star Search profile, the 12-year-old David said that he liked Bugs Bunny, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Lizzie McGuire.

Producers didn’t showcase 24-year-old David Hernandez from Glendale, Ariz., until the Top 24 show. “I loved it from note one,” commented Randy after his performance, and Simon noted how comfortable David looked on the Hollywood stage. Perhaps some of David’s confidence comes from being a Top 5 finalist on “Arizona Idol.” David attended Westview High School and worked as a server at the Cheesecake Factory.

Garrett Haley remains largely a mystery at this point. We didn’t meet him until the Top 24 episode, and now his MySpace is set to private … Drat! Here’s what we could amass from the "American Idol" website: Seventeen-year-old Garrett is a Backstreet Boys fan from Elida, Ohio, and his motto is "Go big or go home." When he’s not singing, Garrett is playing soccer and video games.

 

[Robinrs]

Thats so weird...my parents had taped it too and said it cut off right at that exact part! They guessed JoAnne made it through and they were right!

On my DVR that part was on my tape of Moment of Truth which followed right after! I was glad because I got a chance to check them out again, considering HALF of them are more than strangers!

 

[Virgo10]

Producers didn’t showcase 24-year-old David Hernandez from Glendale, Ariz., until the Top 24 show. “I loved it from note one,” commented Randy after his performance, and Simon noted how comfortable David looked on the Hollywood stage. Perhaps some of David’s confidence comes from being a Top 5 finalist on “Arizona Idol.” David attended Westview High School and worked as a server at the Cheesecake Factory.

I've listened to his Hollywood Week performance over and over. He's another one of my favorites.
David Hernandez
http://www.rickey.org/?p=7029

 

[Nynaeve]

This article was at the top of my Yahoo homepage today, with a title of "'Idol' uproar: Finalist already had record deal." This made me laugh, since I think she already had her chance, and I don't like her being forced at us, when there are so many good, really undiscovered singers out there. Now more people know about her past, and I can't say I'm sorry about that.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/13980/irish-idol-smithsons-secret-past

 

[Jennasis]

Geez Louise...can somebody PLEASE explain how THE SHOW is forcing Carly on us?? I just don't see it.

For the record, I don't think she "had her chance" or as the article quoted previously said "already had been discovered...and failed". Her Visa didn't come through. In my book, she never HAD the chance, on Idol, that she was due, regardless of what other deals she may have had outside of the show.

Just MHO of course.

 

[wvrevy]

This article was at the top of my Yahoo homepage today, with a title of "'Idol' uproar: Finalist already had record deal." This made me laugh, since I think she already had her chance, and I don't like her being forced at us, when there are so many good, really undiscovered singers out there. Now more people know about her past, and I can't say I'm sorry about that.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/realityrocks/13980/irish-idol-smithsons-secret-past

1 - I love your user name. BIG WoT fan!

2 - She's not the only one, nor should she be expected to be. The only rule for Idol is that the contestant not be signed to a current record contract. That's it. I know of at least three other contestants (the Australian...the Brett Michaels looking, former boy-bander...and the girl from Oregon that sang Amazing Grace....and sorry, but I don't remember all their names off the top of my head ) that have had record deals. So why is it just this one that VFTW seems to have such a problem with?

3 - Anything that improves the quality of contestants while minimizing the chance we get stuck with another Sanjaya is ok by me.

 

[babieemelly]

Geez Louise...can somebody PLEASE explain how THE SHOW is forcing Carly on us?? I just don't see it.

I think it's because she has so much exposure. They showed her (and a few other people) a LOT within the past few episodes, and some people who made it to the Top 24 we've never even heard sing. The air time definitely isn't fair but it's always been that way. The people who really are undiscovered (and haven't had any other deals before) never get a fair shot because people don't know who they are and they usually fall to the wayside. Not that I think people's votes actually count, but still.

 

[MA pigletfan]

I think it's because she has so much exposure. They showed her (and a few other people) a LOT within the past few episodes, and some people who made it to the Top 24 we've never even heard sing. The air time definitely isn't fair but it's always been that way. The people who really are undiscovered (and haven't had any other deals before) never get a fair shot because people don't know who they are and they usually fall to the wayside. Not that I think people's votes actually count, but still.

VERY good point indeed!
I am really not that upset about the whole semi-pro contestants this year..it was bound to happen after the horror that was last years show...i think i am still a bit shellshocked from Sanjaya myself..so this might be refreshing!

 

[babieemelly]

VERY good point indeed!
I am really not that upset about the whole semi-pro contestants this year..it was bound to happen after the horror that was last years show...i think i am still a bit shellshocked from Sanjaya myself..so this might be refreshing!

I never vote for people on these shows but I was rooting for Sanjaya last season! They were all so mediocre after an already mediocre season five that I thought it would have been HYSTERICAL for the AI producers to be stuck with Sanjaya as a winner! But like I said, that would never happen because the votes don't actually count

 

[wvrevy]

You guys do realize that this show, as a contest, is required by law to follow it's own rules, which means counting the votes as they say they will? Can they do things to manipulate the vote? Of course. They can give one person more air time, or give them favorable coverage in comparison to other contestants. But they have no choice about counting the vote. If they were to ever get caught "cheating", they would be hit by such huge lawsuits that it would actually bankrupt Rupert Murdoch.

I mean, come on...have you heard some of the crap they play on the radio these days? Why is it so hard to believe that the same people listening to Sean Kingston sing off key - and that's with studio manipulation of his voice - and buying his albums are also voting for some of these crappy contestants? Shoot...Jasmine Trias has a career in singing, so obviously somebody out there likes listening to cats fighting.

 

[Virgo10]

You guys do realize that this show, as a contest, is required by law to follow it's own rules, which means counting the votes as they say they will? Can they do things to manipulate the vote? Of course. They can give one person more air time, or give them favorable coverage in comparison to other contestants. But they have no choice about counting the vote. If they were to ever get caught "cheating", they would be hit by such huge lawsuits that it would actually bankrupt Rupert Murdoch.

I mean, come on...have you heard some of the crap they play on the radio these days? Why is it so hard to believe that the same people listening to Sean Kingston sing off key - and that's with studio manipulation of his voice - and buying his albums are also voting for some of these crappy contestants? Shoot...Jasmine Trias has a career in singing, so obviously somebody out there likes listening to cats fighting.

Thanks for saying what I was thinking. I'd like to think I didn't just fall of the banana boat yesterday but honestly I think they must count the votes. I wish that AI would put the rumors to rest though and state that _________ (<--- insert auditor's name there ) is actually counting every week.

I can't imagine the government or some other group wouldn't be on the lookout for fraud with a show that has this many viewers.

 

[damo]

I agree. If the voting was rigged, we would have seen Daughtry win.

 

[Nynaeve]

Geez Louise...can somebody PLEASE explain how THE SHOW is forcing Carly on us?? I just don't see it.

For the record, I don't think she "had her chance" or as the article quoted previously said "already had been discovered...and failed". Her Visa didn't come through. In my book, she never HAD the chance, on Idol, that she was due, regardless of what other deals she may have had outside of the show.

Just MHO of course.

1 - I love your user name. BIG WoT fan!

2 - She's not the only one, nor should she be expected to be. The only rule for Idol is that the contestant not be signed to a current record contract. That's it. I know of at least three other contestants (the Australian...the Brett Michaels looking, former boy-bander...and the girl from Oregon that sang Amazing Grace....and sorry, but I don't remember all their names off the top of my head ) that have had record deals. So why is it just this one that VFTW seems to have such a problem with?

3 - Anything that improves the quality of contestants while minimizing the chance we get stuck with another Sanjaya is ok by me.

Thanks. It's a great series.

I'll answer you both at the same time. I think she's the worst offender because she already had her chance, and given the biggest shot at it. And by chance, I'm not talking about her trying out for AI that year that she missed due to her visa. I'm talking about her chance at being signed to a major label, making a CD and getting lots of money spent on it. That's what AI is about, getting unknown people out there to the public, and them getting a chance to get signed to a label and make their music and live their dream. She had all that, and failed. Why should the the rest of the contestants who really are unknown miss the chance for that, just because the powers that be want a 'ringer' who's already done it all already? But that's just my opinion, and why I dislike it.

And by them forcing Carly on us, I mean her constant air time. They know that if we see the person more, like their voice, personality and story we'll start to root for them. Makes sense, that they show the singers that they want us to root for the most air time. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it.

I think it's because she has so much exposure. They showed her (and a few other people) a LOT within the past few episodes, and some people who made it to the Top 24 we've never even heard sing. The air time definitely isn't fair but it's always been that way. The people who really are undiscovered (and haven't had any other deals before) never get a fair shot because people don't know who they are and they usually fall to the wayside. Not that I think people's votes actually count, but still.

Exactly!

 

[agnes!]

Yes. This year it seems we saw more losers' weep-fest backstories than the actual winners' performances. I wanted to see (and hear!) more of the Top 24 contestants.

agnes!

 

[babieemelly]

You guys do realize that this show, as a contest, is required by law to follow it's own rules, which means counting the votes as they say they will? Can they do things to manipulate the vote? Of course. They can give one person more air time, or give them favorable coverage in comparison to other contestants. But they have no choice about counting the vote. If they were to ever get caught "cheating", they would be hit by such huge lawsuits that it would actually bankrupt Rupert Murdoch.

Right at the end of the show is a disclaimer that says that the producers have the right to do what they want with the votes. It specifically says that the votes are used "at the producer's discretion." It says that at the end of almost every single "vote for the contestants" show to avoid lawsuits. The producers are running the show and have been from the beginning.

But I agree about not getting why some crappy singers are as big as they are

 

[dturner]

And by them forcing Carly on us, I mean her constant air time. They know that if we see the person more, like their voice, personality and story we'll start to root for them. Makes sense, that they show the singers that they want us to root for the most air time. But that doesn't mean that I have to like it.

I totally agree with you. I really wished they would of showed us those that ended up in the top 24 performing at least once instead of showing the same few people over and over and over.