And Now For The Fun Part..

It's been a long time coming... but I know.. a change is gonna come.

By change I mean from mostly agonizing auditions and some good ones to simply pure talent. Hopefully. I mean, that was the goal here.

First of all I want to say Randy, Paula and Simon shame on you for cutting Bernard Williams and Tatiana McConnico. Shame.

Secondly, was it just me, but I don't remember seeing Jenry Benjarano anywhere during Hollywood week. I'm sure he was there, but I had the dude pegged as Top 24 for sure so to not see him at all was depressing. He's 16. He can come back next year with Baylie Brown. And where was Sarah Krueger?

So after all of that we have narrowed it down to the Top 24. Most I know. Some I don't. Hard to pass judgment on the newbies because I haven't actually seen them really perform, but I'll give it my best shot. I'm going to comment on the ones I know first and then hopefully come up with something to say about the others.

ALAINA ALEXANDER - I liked her throughout the audition process. She's not the best singer on the show from what I've seen anyways, but I would have put her in the Top 24. She's cute, bubbly and probably won't be the first voted out, but she hasn't shown me yet that she can win.

BLAKE LEWIS - My Blake! Granted, he likes to beat box and that isn't singing. No matter. He can sing too. And he's friends with Chris Sligh! You simply cannot get cooler than that. I mean, seriously. I heart Blake so very, very much. Almost as much as Chris, but that's another matter. Blake will make Top 12. I still don't know how to take his answer about the lucky charms in his pants though.

ANTONELLA BARBA - It's the friend that's not trained. Apparently training doesn't mean everything. Just ask the consumers who picked up Randy and Paula's learn to sing DVD. I'm sure Antonella is missing Tommy Daniels, but I am sure Tommy would want her to move on. "I'll never let go Tommy. I'll never let go." I always did like Antonella and she's pretty enough and can sing, but again, she has to prove to me she can win. And if she wins she'll thank God because God likes good people.

GINA GLOCKSEN - I mainly remembered Gina from last year because so many people were in an uproar that she didn't make it. Well, those people can bask in satisfaction because she is here now. I like Gina. I like her personality and that she's different in a good way. With the fan support she'll probably make Top 12.

BRANDON ROGERS - Mr. Backup is now Mr. Center Stage. I always did like Brandon. When you think about it though, to sing backup for someone like Christina Aguilera you have to be a good singer. You really do. Brandon could go fairly far I think.

CHRIS RICHARDSON - He's bringin' sexy back. The J. Timb comparison is either going to hurt Chris or help Chris. I tend to think as long as he can bring the charisma it is going to help him. I do like this kid a lot, but if it ever were to come down to him or the other Chris - I'm sorry but I have allegiances.

HALEY SCARNATO - Haley is the Clarkson/McPhee type "golden girl". She will get P I M P ed a lot. In the context of the show of course. I'm not calling her a hussie. :) She seems like a very nice girl and she definitely can sing, but as it goes with most of the other girls this year, she hasn't shown me she can win. Yet.

JORDIN SPARKS - This girl will definitely one up Lisa Tucker. I hope. Nah. She will. And she's a Larry Fitzgerald fan. Football. Just in case ya didn't know. Jordin is a definite Top 12er.

CHRIS SLIGH - Most. Awesome. AI. Contestant. Ever. Come on. He listed Gina Glocksen as one of his favorite female pop artists. How is that not cool? I love Chris because he's different and talented and if he's as popular with the fans as he is with the other contestants he may be unstoppable.

NICHOLAS PEDRO - As a former obsessed Survivor fan, I think its funny how much Nick reminds me of Boston Rob. Myabe they're related. I really do like him and will be curious to see how he comes out of the gates the first week.

MELINDA DOOLITTLE - Come on. Who didn't know she was makin' it? One of the most impressive ones throughout the auditions and probably one of the only girls at this point who I feel has the potential to win. She kind of reminds me of Jennifer Hudson. That's a huge compliment by the way.

PHIL STACEY - All I know is that Phil better make his time on Idol worth it. It's funny. In the initial audition I didn't feel really impressed with Phil. I think he sounded a lot better in Hollywood. He's going to be this year's Chris Daughtry, but without the rocker edge and oozing charisma. Sorry. I just love Daughtry.

RUDY CARDENAS - The third member of the SlighLewis juggernaut. I hate to call Rudy the third wheel because he is talented. I was hella impressed with him in the initial audition. BUT... he won't last as long as the other two.

SANJAYA MALAKAR - You knew from Day 1 he would make it farther than his sister. He's like an Indian Will Makar. The young girls will eat him up. Only bad thing is Will Makar didn't make Top 12. Can Sanjaya do him one better?

SUNDANCE HEAD - Picked as one of the early favorites. Hollywood wasn't kind to him apparently. Sundance can blow. There's no question about that. Hopefully he'll go back to what he did in Memphis and bring the house down.

And now for the people that I only really sorta kinda know.....

AJ TABALDO & JARED COTTER - If they are not amazing singers they will not last. The other ten guys got decent screen time and it will be hard enough for THEM to duke it out for the 6 spots.

AMY KREBS, LAKISHA JONES, LESLIE HUNT, NICOLE TRANQUILLO, SABRINA SLOAN, STEPHANIE EDWARDS - There are 6 spots in the Top 12. These 6 have the job of outshining the more well known girls in order to win one of those 6 spots. Good luck ladies. I'm sure at least a couple of you can do it. Jordin, Melinda and Gina pretty much have 3 of them locked.

Next week we'll see what the jury (America) thinks.