Musical Chairs

Since there is no singing tonight we’ll say goodbye to the recap format and just give you the highlights and lowlights of this final broadcast before America Decides.

The show began with a promo for the new movie Slider, featuring Darth Vader (pre-mask) and Ryan doing some male bonding while pretending to be in Egypt. Young Skywalker popped up quite a bit on tonight’s show, including during a Serena Williams commercial for HP. The initial bit ends when Seacrest invites Christensen to his place to watch some home movies, but I guess Hayden doesn’t swing that way and he pops away. Now even the producers are getting in on the “Is Ryan gay?” gag.

Tonight’s show, just like last night’s, is billed to be from “Hollywood”, yet both the Hollywood Week auditions and tonight’s chair show are actually in Pasadena, about 15 miles or so away. Hollywood Week used to be in the Pantages Theater, which actually is in Hollywood, but I guess the Idol producers decided to make the locale change along with other revisions to the format. Either that or the Pantages kicked them out. Perhaps it’s no surprise that Ryan never bothered to mention where the auditions were really being held. The Tournament of Roses Parade folks would probably sue if Ryan were to use the term “Pasadena Week”.

Unlike most shows when it has been all Simon all the time, tonight Paula does most of the talking, and talking, and talking. She went on for what seemed like several minutes with one contestant before finally saying that she was through. Simon thought that Paula was torturing the contestants, and for the second time in two nights I find myself agreeing with him.

I don’t know which we heard more of, promos for the Slider movie or Ryan talking up the level of talent in this year’s competition. I think he’s trying too hard to make us all forget about the phenomenon known as Sanjaya Malakar. Good luck with that, buddy.

I noticed that no one featured in the Charleston auditions made it into the Top 24. The only one from Charleston who did make it is a guy who wasn’t shown in Charleston and was seen for only a few seconds during Hollywood Week, and as it turns out he was the last one into the finals. On the opposite side of the coin 7 out of the Top 24 came from the San Diego audition, the most from any of the 7 audition sites. I must say as a former San Diego resident I feel like puffing my chest out a little bit… Oww, that hurt.

So, without any more ado, here is your Season 7 Top 24 in order for how they were presented tonight:

Carly Smithson, 23, originally from Ireland and now living in San Diego (San Diego audition) – the “ringer” that the anti-Idol crowd hates. No surprise that she is in. Honestly, I find it hard to dislike this woman.

David Cook, 24, from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Omaha audition) – the bartender who studied Chris Daughtry videos before auditioning. He’s ditched the spiky hair for more of a messy mod look. Snappiest dresser of the night, with a grey suit and a pink tie.

Amanda Overmyer, 22, from Millbury, Indiana (Atlanta audition) – the rock and roll nurse who rides a Harley and survived a car accident. She has the most distinctive voice and look in the competition. There will be songs that only she can sing, but the teeny bopper crowd that put Blake Lewis into the final last year probably won’t care for her much. I must confess, though, that she is the one that I am rooting for.

David Archuleta, 16, from Murray, Utah (San Diego audition) – the Star Search winner who recovered from vocal paralysis to make it to Hollywood. He has the mature voice that blew Randy away and brought out Paula’s motherly instincts.

Kristy Lee Cook, 24, from Selma, Oregon (Philadelphia audition) – the girl who lives in a log cabin and wrestles in mixed martial arts competitions as a hobby. Every time we see her she has a new hair style.

Brooke White, 24, from Van Nuys, California (Philadelphia audition) – the nanny who has never seen an R-rated movie even though she’s been married for 3 years. She is an emotional wreck in the elevator going up but manages to survive the Chair even after Simon suggested that her singing career was over. She still reminds me of someone that I work with.

Danny Noriega, 17, from Azusa, California (San Diego audition) – the kid who auditioned last year and didn’t make it came back and is in the finals. He’s got a lot of potential.

Jason Castro, 20, from Rockwall, Texas (Dallas audition) – one of 5 finalists that we never saw or heard from until now. Since he’s from Texas I would assume he was a country singer, but his full head of dreadlocks might suggest otherwise. It’s rumored that he was once on a show on MTV.

Luke Menard, 29, from Crawfordsville, Indiana (Omaha audition) – another of the ones who made their first appearance on the Chair show.

Alexandra Lushington, 16, from Douglasville, Georgia (Atlanta audition) – she was the one who brought her 93 year old great-grandma to her audition. Great-grandma still has more accumulated screen time.

Ramiele Malabay, 19, from Miramar, Florida (Miami audition) – the little girl with the big voice and the built-in fan base. Everyone in the Philippines will be voting for her.

Michael Johns, 29, originally from Australia and now living in Los Angeles, California (San Diego audition) – he’s got a cocky cool thing going on as he saunters up to the Chair, befitting his reputation. He’s the other “ringer” that has got the whiners upset. He is a lot easier to dislike than Smithson is though.

Syesha Mercado, 20, from Miami, Florida (Miami audition) – she survived a father with a drug problem and losing her voice during Hollywood Week to make it into the finals, with a smile on her face the whole time. Paula confuses us all by breaking the news to Mercado this way: “What’s your name? S-yes-sha!”

Robbie Carrico, 25, from Melbourne, Florida (Miami audition) – the former boy bander who turned to the rock side. Simon and Randy shout out that they are on his side. Paula apparently voted no but then tries to deny it as Carrico walks away.

Garrett Haley, 17, from Elida, Ohio (San Diego audition) – another newcomer. All I can say about him is that he looks like Leif Garrett back when he was on the cover of teen magazines, long before Haley was born.

Kady Malloy, 18. from Houston, Texas (Dallas audition) – you knew this Jessica Alba look alike who could imitate Britney Spears and the lead singer of Rascal Flatts was going to make it to the Top 24 from the moment she stepped into the audition room.

Chekese Ezze, 22, from Inglewood, California (San Diego audition) – like Noriega he is a second time auditioner that was so good it makes me wonder why he was rejected before, especially since this year’s talent pool is supposed to be the best ever.

Amy Davis, 25, from Lowell, Indiana (Dallas audition) – she proclaimed to be from a working class background and promised Randy at her audition that she would work hard. I guess she did.

Alena Whitaker, 16, from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Dallas audition) – the country singer that was one of the throng of people that Simon thought was “not as good as you think you are.” I think she’s the only country singer in the Top 24 so she could go far.

Jason Yeager, 28, from Branson, Missouri (Dallas audition) – another unknown unseen or heard from until now. He had the best reaction of the night though, jumping for joy and shaking everyone’s hand. Being from Branson it’s possible that Whitaker may not be the only country singer in the Top 24.

Asia’h Epperson, 18, from Joplin, Missouri (Atlanta audition) – a small town girl with a raspy, sassy voice, she was the one whose father died as she was traveling to the audition. Her bravery got her this far, we’ll see where she goes from here.

David Hernandez, 24, from Glendale, Arizona (San Diego audition) – we didn’t see his audition but he was one of the stars of Hollywood/Pasadena Week with his original rendition of “Love the One Your With”. Simon reveals that he voted no. Hernandez was one of the few who learned that it was a split decision to send him though.

Colton Berry, 18, from Staunton, Virginia (Charleston audition) – he had about 5 seconds of screen time during Hollywood week but still beat out Kyle Ensley, the wanna-be politician from Oklahoma who had a roller coaster Hollywood Week and had about an hour of screen time. Simon reveals that he voted for Kyle and was upset that he didn’t make it to the Top 24.

Joanne Borgella, 25, from Hoboken, New Jersey (Philadelphia audition) – the plus size model with the Queen Latifah look and who sang the Anthem at MSG. She just beat out Cardin McKinney, the singing waitress from Nashville, for the last girl slot. Both of them look like they could make a living as a model.

Those sent home include Josiah Leming, the kid from Tennessee who lives in his car and sounded like he was from England; Drew Poppelreiter, the farm boy from Mississippi who sounded like Brett Favre and was ready to go turkey hunting after being told no; and a bunch of other people we never saw or heard of until their 5 seconds of TV time getting psychological advice from Paula.

Next week, we change sets and start judging!