The Top 36: An In-Depth Look

We "Idol" fans have been anticipating this for a month. After the never-ending auditions and Hollywood drama, we finally know who we're voting on. Here's my take on each the Top 36. I'm basing these on what I've read about each one on the internet, my impression of each from TV screentime, and the video interviews on the "American Idol" website.


Arianna Afsar
Age: 16
Home: San Diego, CA

She's cute, she's sweet and has a pretty good voice. It's not a great voice, but she probably won't embarrass herself. She's always smiling, so it's hard to dislike her. That said, I can live without her. She says she likes to sing jazz and R&B, but I don't get the impression that she has the chops to give us anything we haven't seen before from either of those genres.

I wouldn't be be shocked if she sneaked into the Top 12, but if she does get there I predict she'll be gone within a few weeks.


Kris Allen
Age: 23
Home: Conway, AR

This guy's gotten some screentime in sporadic snippets, but it's nothing that'll help him build a fanbase. I couldn't even tell you what he sounds like, since I've never heard him long enough to commit it to memory. He seems like a funny guy based on his interviews, but I doubt it'll be enough to overcome his fodder-ness.

What are the chances of him making the Finals? About one in a hundred? I'd say more like one in a million. So you're saying there's a chance! Yes!!!


Felicia Barton
Age: 26
Home: Virginia Beach, VA

It turns out she's...a...a...parent! She's been married seven years and has a young son. My regular readers (both of them) know I've gotten annoyed with all the people on the show this year who have kids. Still, she seems really nice, and judging by her now-famous YouTube clip, she has the talent to excel on this show. My biggest complaint is that that nose piercing has got to go. I know, I know. I'm too picky about little things. Maybe that's why I can't find a girlfriend (of course, I couldn't afford a girlfriend in this economy, but that's another story). Seriously though, I really find those nose studs ugly. Felicia's a pretty woman, and the thing only detracts from her beauty.

Anyway, we all know that Felicia's the girl who replaced Joanna Pacitti in the Top 36. I've already pledged to vote for her because I know someone who knows her. In a way, I think replacing Joanna might give her a boost. The fact that she was nearly cut gives her some underdog appeal. Viewers may become enamored with the possibility of a girl making the Finals after not even originally making the Semifinals. EJay Day, Carmen Rasmusen and George Huff all did it. Why not Felicia?

I already have her as one of my official predictions to make the Top 12 (replacing Joanna, of course). Do I think she could win? I have a feeling this is a guy's year, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Felicia go deep into the competition. Maybe even Top 5 or so.


Kendall Beard
Age: 23
Home: Austin, TX

This girl seems like she could be cute and funny based on her interviews and the "happy dance" they showed her doing, but...there's just something missing. She's momentarily entertaining, but not in a way that leaves me wanting more. I think they showed a brief clip of her singing, but it didn't make an impression with me, since I can't even recall for sure.

She was sort of semi-pimped in a minimalist way, so that leads me to think she could be a dark horse for the Finals. Still, I wouldn't put money on it.


Anne Marie Boskovich
Age: 22
Home: Nashville, TN

She's the all-American girl next door. She's pretty, seems nice, has a voice as clear as a bell and there's not much to complain about. There's just one thing: she doesn't really stand out much. I like her whenever I see her, but there's nothing about her that says "Vote for me! I'll keep you entertained each week!" She's just another pretty girl with a nice voice. OK, OK, she does do a good Britney Spears impression in the interview video, but so did Kady Malloy last year, and we all know how exciting she was.

She's gotten a good deal of screentime, so I could see her making the Top 12. I didn't make her one of my official picks because of the previously-stated problem, though. When the object is to be one of the top vote-getters in a group of 12, you either need to give a great performance or stand out significantly. If Anne Marie does get through it'll likely be for the former reason. I currently don't see her finishing much higher than about 9th Place, though.


Ricky Braddy
Age: 25
Home: Nashville, TN

This guy is about as foddery as they come. He was briefly mentioned when the judges were shuffling the contestants between rooms, but that's about all we saw of him before the "chair" episode. We don't even know what his singing is like, other than an opera singer imitation he does in the interview video.

He seems like he might be a cool guy with a good sense of humor based on the interview videos, but that probably won't be enough. His odds of making the Top 12 are virtually nil. I might vote for him though. He tells us in both interview vids that he quit a restaurant management job he hated to try out for "Idol," and as a fellow guy stuck in a soul-sucking job he hates while constantly dreaming of bigger things, I can empathize.


Matt Breitzke
Age: 27
Home: Bixby, OK

The first burly, white, blue-collar, family man soul singer. He actually says in his interview video that he sings everything, but it seems that soul is his specialty from what we've seen on TV. Like Michael Sarver, it's hard to dislike him, since he's just an average Joe trying to reach for the stars, but I don't think he's a good enough singer or personality that I'd want to vote for him.

I think his likability could get him into the Top 12, but I don't see him as a threat to win. He apparently has the experience as a performer, but for some reason I don't see him as anything better than an early-Finals boot.


Casey Carlson
Age: 20
Home: Minneapolis, MN

She may be the best-looking girl in this year's bunch. I believe she and Jesse Langseth are the first two contestants from Minnesota in "American Idol" history, so that's a noteworthy distinction. Other than that, there's not much about her that stands out. She seems like she has brains to go with her beauty based on the interviews, but her voice doesn't strike me as anything special.

I don't see her making the Top 12. If she does, she probably won't last very long.


Megan Corkrey
Age: 22
Home: Sandy, UT

The judges adored her at her audition. They were having a dull day full of underwhelming singers until Megan came in and lifted their spirits with her quirkiness! I like quirky and different, but I can't get past her annoying arm that's covered with tattoos. It's ugly and reminds me of Carly Smithson. What happened to the lost art of pure, beautiful, unaltered skin? Even without the tattoo, I'm not all that impressed with her.

If the judges still love her as much as they did at her audition, I could see her making the Top 12 based on the judges' response to her. After that I don't think she'd be well-rounded enough to go too far. Her "quirky" vocal stylings will probably get annoying quickly. I say mid-Finals is the farthest she could make it.


Tatiana Del Toro
Age: 23
Home: San Juan, PR

We all know Tatiana. She's the most hated person on "Idol" right now due to her histrionics and at times self-centered attitude. I feel like I'm one of the few viewers who really wants to give her a chance. I'll admit she can be annoying sometimes, but she's an attractive girl who seems like she sincerely wants this. Besides, I find her laugh intoxicating. Seriously though, she might not be as bad a person as we think. We all know about the concept of "creative editing," so it's possible we're only seeing Tatiana the character that's been created by the producers.

Despite her "most hated" status, I predicted she'd make the Top 12 thanks to viewers' familiarity with her. Besides, she can actually sing, lest we forget. It's quite possible she could make it based on talent. There's almost no way she could possibly win though, since too many people are dead-set against her. I'd say the highest she could finish is about 11th Place.


Anoop Desai
Age: 21
Home: Chapel Hill, NC

I like this guy. He's got an incredible voice, he seems humble, and he brings a little bit of geekiness too. As a fellow geek, I'm all for geekiness on "Idol." He shouldn't have trouble standing out, since it'll be hard to forget the Indian guy who likes old-school R&B. I believe he's the second Indian contestant in the history of this show, but I have a hunch he'll end up being a little more highly-regarded than Sanjaya Malakar.

Anoop seems to have a big fanbase, and I've already predicted he'll make the Top 12. Can he win? I think it's possible, but I'm thinking a middle-of-the-Finals elimination seems more likely. Maybe somewhere between 4th and 8th. All I know is that I'm rooting for him and currently plan to give him some votes.


Stephen Fowler
Age: 26
Home: Beachwood, OH

Randy thought he was incredible in Hollywood, and he made the Top 36 despite everything falling apart in his final Hollywood performance. He seems to have some fans based on what I've seen on the internet. I don't think he's as incredible as some others do, but I do think he's good. Black male singers on this show are often generalized as Stevie Wonder/Luther Vandross R&B types, but Stephen seems like a more well-rounded artist who plays the piano and stuff.

I predicted he'd make the Top 12 as a Wild Card. Group 1 is pretty strong, but the judges seem to like him enough to give him a chance without the public vote. If he does make the Finals he might have an outside shot at winning, but if he has another meltdown (AKA Fowl-up) his run might be shorter than it deserves to be based on his talent.


Matt Giraud
Age: 23
Home: Kalamazoo, MI

I've said several times on this blog that I don't like this guy. There's just something about him that bugs me. In every clip he strikes me as smarmy at worst and lacking a personality at best. Simon compared him to Elliott Yamin, but...let's just say better comparisons have been made between "Idol" contestants. Based on his interviews I can't tell if he's gay, one of those white guys who talks like he's black, or if that's just a Michigan accent. The fact that he can muddle each of those ways of speaking is rather impressive.

Matt suddenly gained a ton of fans after a clip of him singing "Georgia" in Hollywood aired, which made me pick him for the Top 12. If he can keep giving performances as good as "Georgia" he may end up getting pretty far, perhaps even win. It'll probably take me some time to warm up to him if he does get that far, but hey, I eventually warmed up to David Cook. Maybe it can happen again. Just don't ask me to vote for him.


Danny Gokey
Age: 28
Home: Milwaukee, WI

This guy has gotten more pimping than anyone else so far. We know that his wife passed away a few months before he auditioned for "Idol," and then there was the ongoing storyline during Hollywood of him and his buddy Jamar taking the "Idol" journey together. He's definitely a talented, likable guy, so it'd be a shocker if he didn't make the Top 12.

While he's currently the early favorite to win, I have a feeling he won't. First of all, there seems to be some backlash setting in from all the people who are tired of the pimping. Second, how would he be marketed if he won? Blue-eyed soul? He auditioned with "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and has that straining quality to his voice, so I'm just guessing that's how he sees himself artistically. After Taylor Hicks' lack of commercial success I doubt the powers that be are going to want to encourage the voters in that direction. Still, even if he doesn't win he's definitely Top 12, probably even Top 3.


Alexis Grace
Age: 20
Home: Memphis, TN

Another parent who brings out the kid and hopes for a collective "awwwwww" from America. I don't know if that's actually her strategy or if her daughter is just that much of an inspiration to her, but either way it's kind of annoying how much Alexis talks about her. Cute kids always seem to be an instant spike in votes, so she may have an unfair advantage.

I have nothing against her personally, but I find her kind of boring. I guess she's a decent talent, but no one will confuse her with her hero, Aretha Franklin. The constant pimping of her kid might be enough to get her to the Top 12, but I don't think she's good enough to win. I think the main question with her is how far a kid will get you.


Mishavonna Henson
Age: 18
Home: Irvine, CA

I don't have much to say about her except that I wasn't impressed by the clips they've shown of her singing. We know she made it to Hollywood last year, but that's about it. The judges must like her if they put her through twice.

Does she stand out? Well, her name is unusual, and...she says her favorite type of music to sing is "a mix between country, folk and indie," and ...other than that she's just another cute teenage girl who hasn't gotten tons of screentime. It'll probably take a fortuitous set of circumstances for her to make the Top 12.


Allison Iraheta
Age: 16
Home: Los Angeles, CA

She has the same initials as "American Idol"! Is it a sign? Of course, she also has the same initials as Allen Iverson, Andre Iguodala and artificial intelligence, so maybe it's just a coincidence.

From what little we've heard of her singing, I'm not that impressed. She sort of reminds me of Camile Velasco for some reason, though I imagine if I went back and compared them they'd probably be nothing alike. I'm known to make associations that have no rhyme or reason to them. I'm not a big fan of her look, either. Her bright red dyed hair combined with a face reminiscent of David Johansen from the New York Dolls is just...bizarre. She seems like a nice girl, I guess, but nothing about her so far makes me want to vote for her.

We never saw her until the "chair" episode, but the judges seemed pretty high on her "raw natural talent" there. If they really had high hopes for her though, I imagine we would've seen more of her in Hollywood or the auditions. As it stands, I don't think she has much chance of making the Top 12.


Ju'Not Joyner
Age: 26
Home: Bowie, MD

He's gotten a little bit of screentime, but we don't know a whole lot about him other than that he made it to Hollywood last year and that he has a kid. If I were to stereotype based on his race I'd assume he was just another R&B guy, but I won't. As Chikezie showed us last year, those who appear to be just R&B guys can be so much more. If he is just an R&B guy he probably won't make it very far. If he's not, well, he'd better use that Semifinal performance to show us. It's his only hope.

He must be pretty good if he made it all the way to Hollywood twice, so I'd say he has an outside chance of making the Finals right now. Still, he has an uphill battle without the fanbase other contestants have.


Kai Kalama
Age: 26
Home: San Clemente, CA

He takes care of his mother because she has a medical condition, so right away we know he's a good, dutiful son. As far as his singing and personality goes, he's one big bowl of blah. He's good, but nothing about him so far has made me think I'd be missing anything if he were eliminated. He likes "soul-rock," so that could be interesting. I guess I could give him a chance, but right now my expectations aren't particularly high.

If he talks about his mother before his Semifinal performance he's probably guaranteed the sympathy vote and a spot in the Finals. If not, he'll probably have to put his best foot forward. He may have the potential to make it to the second half of the Finals, but we'll have to see how he does on stage with his voice at full strength before we can start talking about him as a potential winner.


Brent Keith
Age: 28
Home: Blanchester, OH

The guy's kind of a country-rocker, which makes him stand out somewhat. We haven't seen much of him since his audition. He was previously a contestant on "Nashville Star," which makes him a plant by some people's standards, but I don't think it's a big deal. They're both shows for amateurs trying to break into the industry, so I don't think it gives him any extra advantages. He seems like a nice guy, but I don't find him all that interesting.

He's a possibility for the Top 12, but he's in Group 1, which has some tough competition. So far he hasn't impressed me enough to think he'll make it as a Wild Card, but the judges (or producers) could decide to select him for demographic purposes. If he makes the Top 12 he'll probably stick around for a few weeks at least.


Adam Lambert
Age: 26
Home: Los Angeles, CA

Vote For the Worst fell in love with him when they discovered he was a flamboyant, campy, makeup-wearing wild man. He was sure to rankle the fans who love their "Idol" simple and non-controversial. Then they showed his audition and we found out that...he was actually a fairly regular dude. There are still several gay aspects to his persona, but they're more subtle and non-threatening. Someone like Nate Marshall, whose gayness is more blatant, is more likely to annoy viewers the way Danny Noriega did last year. Adam comes across as a cool, charismatic guy who, oh by the way, just happens to be gay. Vote For the Worst isn't as high on him as they used to be.

I remember not liking him very much at first, but he's kind of grown on me to the point where I don't mind him sticking around, even if he's not one of my favorites. I've picked him for the Top 12, since he's got the right combination of talent, charisma and screentime to make it. I have a hard time seeing him as a winner, since I don't think his appeal is broad enough, but I can definitely see him making it to the second half of the Finals.


Jesse Langseth
Age: 25
Home: Minneapolis, MN

This girl seems fairly talented, but her personality is also fairly...what's the word? Grating? Not exactly. Odd? Well, that may be a stretch. I don't know. She comes across as someone with a personality that you have to connect with to appreciate, and I guess I just don't connect with it. The weird druggie eyes don't add to her appeal either. We internet fans know she's Jonny Lang's sister, but I guess she hopes to make it on her own merits, since she's never mentioned it. Good for her.

Simon told her she had no chance of winning based on her sing-off, and I agree that there's little chance she will. I do, however, think she's a sleeper to make the Top 12 despite being underpimped. Maybe being the only natural redhead will help her cause. I've proposed a theory that distinctive hair is an advantage on "Idol," so she's got that going for her.


Scott MacIntyre
Age: 23
Home: Scottsdale, AZ

You may know him better as the legally blind guy. "American Idol" has been accused of insensitivity to those with disabilities in the past, so perhaps this is an attempt to atone for it. Not that Scott isn't talented, but I don't think he'd stand out much were it not for his visual impairment. Since most people with disabilities want to be treated the same as anyone else, I'll give Scott an honest assessment: I don't find him that interesting, nor do I plan to vote for him. I've compared him to Theo Tams from "Canadian Idol," as he's another piano-based guy, but I think Theo had a better voice.

I'm guessing Scott's going to make the Top 12. A lot of people will vote for him because they think (wow!) it's so inspiring that a legally blind guy is doing something like this. Of course, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Roy Orbison, etc. were all more compelling for their talent than their lack of vision. Once the novelty of a blind guy wears off, I don't think Scott's going to be all that captivating to most viewers. I say he probably finishes around 6th Place.


Nathaniel Marshall
Age: 18
Home: Malone, NY

He's got piercings all over his face, tattoos all over his arms, wears crazy outfits and is very obviously gay. At the last minute though, he got some pimping. We learned that he's been shuffled between relatives his whole life because his mother was an imprisoned drug addict. I'm not sure if he's being set up as an anti-hero because of how non-mainstream he is or if the producers think he has potential. While the tattoos and piercings are unquestionably nasty, Nathaniel's soul-baring in Hollywood made me at least not hate him. I don't expect to vote for him, but I'm willing to give him a chance.

That said, I think he only has a slim chance of making the Top 12. I wouldn't say he has no chance, as I would with a few of these contestants, but I'd say it's more likely that he doesn't than he does. If he does, I say he's 10th Place, tops.


Kristen McNamara
Age: 22
Home: Napa Valley, CA

Kristen is known mainly for the Hollywood drama she was caught in the middle of. Singing-wise she's remembered for both the big note she hit in the middle of her group performance and her solo performance of "Because of You." That "Because of You" is kind of polarizing. Some people thought she completely butchered it, and others (like me) thought it was incredible. I don't know what it is about Kristen, but I kind of like her. She was on "Nashville Star" like Brent Keith, but as I said above, I don't think that qualifies her as a plant.

I have her as one of my picks for the Top 12. I think she's displayed more talent than any of the other girls they've shown us, and I think she's capable of a Semifinal performance that'll bring the votes. The screentime she's gotten probably won't hurt, either. She only made it to 6th Place on "Nashville Star," but I could see her possibly going farther than that on "Idol." I still think this is a guy's year, but I wouldn't be surprised if she made it to the finale.


Nick Mitchell
Age: 27
Home: Brookfield, CT

Perhaps the most unlikely Semifinalist ever. His audition appeared to be one of the million "joke" auditions we see every year where wannabe comedians attempt to get on TV by acting like fools. It turns out that underneath it all, Nick takes his "Norman Gentle" character very seriously and wants "Idol" to open the door to a career as an entertainer. He's not as bad a singer as you'd expect, either. Joke auditioner makes good? What a story!

I have to admit, there's something devilishly enticing about the idea that this guy could end up winning the whole thing. Winning the whole thing? Well, I've already picked him to make the Top 12 just because he stands out so much. I don't realistically think he will win the whole thing, since it would pretty much require America to stick it to the manipulative producers and judges en masse. The Norman Gentle character will get old after a while, and Nick's singing isn't strong enough by itself to help him advance week after week. Still, he may be good for a few weeks of laughs. I could see him making it as far as mid-Finals. Maybe 7th Place or so.


Jasmine Murray
Age: 16
Home: Starkville, MS

She's only 16 (or "OMG 16!" as anything below 18 has come to be known among AI fans since Jordin Sparks was on the show), and she's pretty good. She's gotten a good deal of screentime, even if she's not showing us anything we haven't seen before. I don't have much else to say about her except that she's a black girl with a white-sounding southern accent. That may be the most distinctive thing about her.

I don't have anything against her, but I don't plan to vote for her. She claims to have a wide range of musical tastes, so perhaps she might be a more interesting performer than she seems, but as of right now I'm not a fan. I think her pimping could get her into the Top 12, since they need someone to appeal to younger voters. I think it'll be either her or Taylor Vaifanua in the Finals.


Jorge Nunez
Age: 20
Home: Carolina, PR

I theorized early on that they could be looking for a Latin Idol this year, and that they're going to pimp Jorge in hopes of getting one. I do think he's a great singer who could probably be successful in that genre, but I honestly don't know how popular "American Idol" is with fans of that style. Three of last year's Top 4 had some sort of Hispanic/Latino heritage, but Jason Castro was the only one who ever sang anything in Spanish.

I didn't pick Jorge to make the Top 12, but I do think he has a good shot. I'm not sure about him winning though. You know they'll push him in a Latin direction if he does make it far, and I don't think that particular style is very popular among those without a Spanish-speaking heritage. Most Americans are fans of specific Latin songs or artists, but not the genre itself. To sum up, I don't think a Latin Idol is something we'll be seeing anytime soon. I could see Jorge making the Top 5, though.


Lil Rounds
Age: 23
Home: Memphis, TN

Another parent to add to the list. She's only 23 and a mom of three. They've pimped her a ton, but I'll probably never cast a single vote for her. She's just this year's token "diva." Yeah, she's a powerful vocalist, but...I mean...zzzzzzzzzz.

Lil seemed really humble at her first audition, and I thought she could possibly be another Melinda Doolittle type, but I don't think so anymore. Melinda had the voice to be considered a "diva," but stylistically she really wasn't. Melinda was a great, well-rounded singer who didn't overdo it or underdo it. She knew the exact treatment each song needed and executed it perfectly. Despite this immense talent, she always seemed sincerely humble about where she was. Lil talks about how she "won't be defeated," and her belting ability is about all we've seen from her. She reminds me more of Fantasia than Melinda. Fantasia's my least favorite winner so...yeah.

She's pretty much a lock for the Top 12, as the powers that be have made it a point to drill into us how great she is. She can do it with someone else's votes though; she doesn't need mine. I think most "Idol" fans have moved on from looking for the next Whitney Houston and now expect this show to produce a true artist. While Lil's talent and backstory will probably carry her deep into the competition, she's too "been there, done that" to win.


Michael Sarver
Age: 27
Home: Jasper, TX

He joins Matt Breitzke as the other burly, white soul singer with a blue-collar job. The judges seem to like him a lot, but I find him kind of boring and don't think his voice is especially great. He's another family man, and he's doing this competition because he wants to make a better life for them. Can't say I blame him there. He doesn't have a very expressive face, so it's hard to connect with him emotionally.

I think he could make the Top 12 because of his family and screentime, but I don't think he has any chance of winning. For some reason he seems like a possible Josh Gracin. He's not talented enough to succeed week after week, but doggone it, he's a family man and a guy whose sensitivity belies his outward appearance. If he makes the Top 12 he could be this year's contestant who sticks around too long.


Von Smith
Age: 22
Home: Kansas City, MO

He's the first contestant in the history of this show that I'd already heard of before tryouts. What's there to say about this guy that I haven't said already? That YouTube video was impressive, since he was singing a song that requires a lot of screaming. Of course, he does that to every song he sings, and Simon (rightfully) called him out as being overindulgent with his performances. The sledgehammer treatment he gives every song and his weird facial expressions make him more entertaining as a sideshow than as a serious contestant.

I think too many people view Von as a joke, but he's gotten enough screentime (and seems like a nice enough fellow to boot) that the Top 12 is a possibility. Still, I don't see him getting very far in the Finals if he makes it there.


Jackie Tohn
Age: 27
Home: Silver Lake, CA

I've liked Jackie since her audition. She's got a fun, quirky personality and a cool, raspy voice. The raspy voice has drawn some comparisons to Amanda Overmyer, but I think she's a much better singer. Amanda was really more of a shouter (in a rockin' way!). Jackie's a Jewish New York girl with a nasal speaking voice who seems to have more of an acoustic pop bent, and she most definitely has a good sense of humor. Heck, she's even kind of cute.

I think her screentime and personality might be enough to get her into the Top 12, but she's not one of my official picks. She seems like she'd be a love-her-or-hate-her type, and that's a sword that can cut both ways. I'm rooting for her though, and I plan to vote accordingly.


Taylor Vaifanua
Age: 16
Home: Hurricane, UT

Vote For the Worst reported a while back that the word out of Hollywood had Taylor as the judges' favorite. When I finally saw her audition I thought she'd be really good but...I wasn't impressed. That's not to say she was bad, just that she was nothing special. Her mannerisms remind me of Jordin Sparks. She's certainly a very pretty girl like Jordin was, but the talent is another story.

I predicted she'd make the Top 12 as a Wild Card due to the previous report of her as the judges' favorite. I don't think she's good enough to rake in the votes with her singing alone, but the producers will probably want someone to appeal to the younger crowd. Jasmine Murray could also possibly fill this role if not Taylor. Taylor seems very proud of her Polynesian heritage, so if there's a large voting bloc of Polynesians who want one of their own to succeed (I have no idea if such a bloc exists) she could make it far if she plays up that angle. She'll have to perform well though, because we saw how far Ramiele Malubay got last year by playing up her ethnic heritage early on and subsequently not singing well enough. I mean, 9th Place isn't bad, but most contestants hope to get a little farther.


Jeanine Vailes
Age: 27
Home: Sherman Oaks, CA

She's one of the few contestants we've never heard sing. In fact, I think it's just her and Ricky Braddy. Ricky's name was briefly mentioned in the "three rooms" episode, and some of the contestants who were introduced in the "chair" episode had clips of them singing to go along with the announcement. Jeanine didn't get any of that, which makes her the least pimped contestant of them all. Translation: She has to give us a show-stopper to have any chance of making the Top 12. Several contestants already have fanbases in their corner, so she needs to get votes based on talent. Hey, it can be done. Look at LaToya London.

Based on the online interviews she seems like a fun person. She reminds me of a non-heavy-set version of Mandisa looks-wise. Although I have some fodder sympathy for her, I get the impression she's another gospel-type singer who I wouldn't want to listen to even if she'd gotten some screentime. I wish her good luck, but I don't think she'll ever be heard from again after her Semifinal performance.


Alex Wagner-Trugman
Age: 19
Home: Studio City, CA

I love this guy. Not so much as a singer, since he's clearly "just OK," but as a personality. He reminds me of myself: a somewhat shy dork with a cheesy sense of humor. Besides that, he says his favorite music to sing is "poppish-rockish stuff" and "music from anybody who has a soul muscle." That sounds similar to what I like! How can I not vote for him? He vicariously represents me!

Sadly, I'd say he has almost no chance of making the Top 12. He's clearly one of the less-talented Semifinalists, and he always seemed to get through each round of the preliminary process by the skin of his teeth. It won't stop me from supporting him, though. Dork power!


Stevie Wright
Age: 16
Home: Phelan, CA

Stevie's an interesting girl. She's only 16, but she comes off as having a maturity beyond her years. She appears very focused and poised, and I thought her audition with "At Last" was one of the most impressive we saw. Of course, she's a huge Jonas Brothers fan too, so I guess she's not completely free of teenage girl-ness.

I didn't pick Stevie for the Top 12, but I think she could surprise us. She has a great voice, and a good song choice and performance could make her an early contender. I can't say right now that I'm interested in voting for her, but I could see her developing a fanbase. She's one to watch. Top 5 doesn't seem unreasonable for her.



Whew! If you actually read all that, you rock. I think I'm comfortable with my picks, but as we all know, dark horses can become favorites and favorites can fall by the wayside, so a lot of these predictions will probably end up being horribly wrong. Still, they'll be fun to look back on. Let's get this competition started!