The final judgments conclude on American Idol, Top 24 revealed

I was going to continue my little voting experiment of yesterday, but decided to let it die. I was running out of steam. Hey … making monkey business over 24 contestants is a lot to ask. I said the same thing last year when this particular time came around. It’s tough going.

But now, as it was then, I’ll call out a few of the last picks for the Top 24 that went through I took notice of:

• Of course, the mini “cliffhanger” Idol pulled on us last night wasn’t much of a cliffhanger at all. How could you doubt Adam Brock made it onto the list going forward?
• I was surprised — but just a bit — DeAndre Brackensick went through. This was his second go ’round, so it should have been a given he would make it. But … you just never know sometimes on this show. We’ve seen some pretty strange things in years’ past, you know?
• I was under the impression David Leathers, Jr. would advance over the warbly-ish voice of Evan Frangkewitz. Evan’s voice just didn’t seem to be there yet, “puberty-ishly” speaking. But … it was the other way around: Evan makes it, David does not. That’s a tough one for David.

So once more, we’re ushered in to one of our favorite moments of the competition: The point where not only are the 24 revealed, but where the reigns of the competition are turned over to the viewers beginning next week. It will be a fun ride.

The Girls: Jen Hirsh, Haley Johnsen, Elise Testone, Erica Van Pelt, Chelsea Sorrell, Bailey Brown, Brielle Von Hugel, Shannon McGrain, Skylar Laine, Hallie Day. Holly Cavanaugh and Jessica Sanchez (who I erroneously stated didn’t make it on my last post. Whoops!)

The Guys: Creighton Fraker, Joshua Ledet, Reed Grimm, Heejun Han, Phillip Phillips. Colton Dixon, Adam Brock, Jeremy Rosado, Chase Likens, Aaron Marcellus, DeAndre Brackensick and Evan Frangkewitz.

But … there’s still a surprise Idol is throwing at us. One more guy is getting the nod. And one of them is either cowboy Richie Law, Jermaine Jones, Johnny Keyser or David Leathers, Jr. We’ll find out those results come next Tuesday …

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Feb 24, 2012 @ 08:48 EST5EDT