The screening of “American Idol’s Top 24” this year was a long and tedious process, split into 2 days which eventually revealed whether my earlier selections had made it into the list. At the same time, new faces or should I say new “voices” caught my fancy which resulted in them finding their way into my 2nd level “AI Favorite List”.

On my recent postings on this year’s “American Idol”, I had selected both Paris Tassin and James Durbin as my early favorites. Unfortunately, Paris Tassin had to make an unexpected exit during the Group Round in “Hollywood Week”. I was hoping for a miracle in an announcement-of-sorts stating that it had been a COLOISSAL mistake on the part of the “AI” judges. But this was not to be, obviously. If that fateful day had fallen on April 1, they could pass it off as an “April Fool’s Day” joke, right? Yah, right! Wishful-thinking on my part, as always!! Don’t I ever learn??

Anyhow, after hours and hours of tension, it was revealed that my top favorite James Durbin was still on board. I definitely sighed a sigh of relief. Phew!! As talent goes, I knew he was a shoe-in. But the footage they revealed was not encouraging. I guess the editing of the whole process of the performances and the behind-the-scenes clips was aimed at building up the tension and perhaps giving me a “coronary”? Yes, those rascals!! They would just do that to me. Anyone noticed the different look he spotted when he made his way along the “Green Mile”? And the facial gestures he displayed while listening to the judges’ speech on their verdict? He looked like a “little boy lost” – he’s so adorable. I wish I had “voting rights”!!

And when it dawned upon him that he made it to the “Top 24”, he took it all in stride with no exaggerated physical or vocal acts as others had done before him, that is not until he stepped down from the stage. That’s when he raised his hand in triumph! Man, right out from a “Rocky” movie. Lol!!! Any movie moguls out there scouting for new leading men? Huh, huh??

Well, now that Paris Tassin is no longer around (am I repeating myself here?), I’m relegating a step up in my top favorite list for Thia Megia, the 15-year-old semi-finalist from “America’s Got Talent”. From now on, I’ll be rooting for both James Durbin and Thia Megia.

In spite of her youth, she displayed a very mature disposition. During the very dramatic scene when the singing coach was a little bit “out of sorts” (what’s up, mamma?) and yelling her head off for whatever reasons (didn’t quite figure out what’s happening there), Thia just stayed very calm, collected and composed. And when it was time for her to sing in the duet (camera zooms in on the coach in the audience), she displayed her “professionalism” by not indicating if anything was wrong. In the last act when she did her solo, she clinched it – lock, stock and barrel!! Only 15 and she’s got the whole package – the looks, the voice and the stage presence!! Go girl, go!!!

But it was still touch and go during decision time between her and another female contestant who was shamelessly pleading her case by quoting the fact that it was her birthday and that she had tried out so many times for “AI”, bla-bla-bla!! You can just feel the “helplessness” and “fear” in Thia’s expression as she sat there so quietly, just listening to her rival going on and on and not a whisper or protest from her. Looking like the “underdog” as she did at that very moment, it is no wonder that she’s the most highly searched “American Idol” contestant on Yahoo search engine although it was reported that the buzz came primarily from The Philippines which would not earn her any votes but I’m sure will go a long way to popularise her worldwide in “cyberspace”. And while I was clutching the edge of my seat, it was finally revealed by the judges that between the final 2 “girls”, Thia was the one who had made it. Again, I let out all the air that I had held under my breath.

Year after year, “American Idol” will be the death of me yet!!

While I’ll still be holding my breath for these 2 favorites of mine in the weeks and the months to come, let’s not forget my 2nd level favorites. Some have made it and some have not. Uppermost in my mind is Hollie Cavanagh, the 17-year-old who did not make the cut. I will miss her dearly but then again, the judges only had placings for 24. The other is Chris Medina who I personally felt that just on his solo rendition of Coldplay’s “Fix You” was outstanding
enough to be worthy of a place among the 24 although I did not think much of his earlier efforts. His departure of course brought “buckets of tears” to J.Lo. But then again, she did that for Paris Tassin and where is Paris today? I still can’t believe they let Paris go. Sigh…

Back to my 2nd level favorites. The following in no particular order are the contestants that I think deserve to be in the “Top 24”, a mix-hash of some names I had mentioned earlier in my other posts and some new ones which I’d just noticed in the last few instalments.

Firstly, there’s Lauren Alaina. Although she has been going downhill ever since her duet with Steven Tyler in her 1st audition, I’m sure she’ll pick it up as she goes along. She might look more mature than her age, but she is still after all just a kid so I guess we’ll have to forgive her for her decline in her overall performance.

Naima Adedapo, the soulful singer cum cleaner certainly has the singing “chops” to qualify for the “Top 24”.

Karen Rodriguez from the MySpace audition gets my vote as well.

Stefano Langone’s original take on the piano (with his own composition??) was indeed an improvement from his earlier efforts if not he probably would not have stood out among so many talents.

But it was Tim Halperin crooning The Beatles’ romantic ballad “Something” in a piano duet with Julie Zorrilla that got me sitting up and noticing him. I’m sure most of the ladies will also take note when he takes the stage during the “Men’s Segment”. That’s when the public opinion of all Americans are taken into account when they assert their voting privileges on “American Idol”. Man, it’s the time of the year when it’s “hotter” than any political campaign!!

Next we have Julie Zorrilla, the Colombian refugee who possessed all the ingredients required in a female singer – the looks, the voice and the personality. And to top it all, she’s got the story to go with it as well. What more can a girl ask, I say! I’ll bet she’ll be the one to attract the male votes. Or perhaps, the votes might be split between her and Karen Rodriguez? We do have quite a few “Latino” beauties and hunks in this season, don’t we?

Have I mentioned Paul McDonald from the Nashville audition yet? Didn’t notice him much then or did he even appear on my tele during the auditions? Anyhow, he certainly got my attention now when he did a duet with Kendra Chantelle (not in my list of favorites, sorry!!) singing “Blackbird”. The duet itself was one of the more memorable clips but I only had “ears” for Paul. Sorry, girl!!

Casey Abrams and Robbie Rosen had some of the best tender vocals among the men but I’m not exactly drawn to them. Neither am I inclined towards Scotty McCreery, potential country-singer who ousted his cowboy rival in John Wayne Schulz who was a little more appealing. But they did deserve to be in the “Top 24” just on their voices alone.

At this stage of the contest and looking at the names of the “Top 24”, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that Rob Bolin had apparently given up trying during rehearsals with his ex-girlfriend Chelsee Oaks together with Jacqueline Dunford (who’d earlier lost his “better half” in Nick Fink who didn’t make it past the first round in Hollywood Week) in an earlier episode when they formed the group “Three’s Company”. It was as though he could not stand being in the same room as his “ex” anymore. Understandably, the emotional toll was too much for the poor guy and he obviously did a “singing hara-kiri” and so we bid an early goodbye to a potential winner as well. The two ladies after losing their “men” followed suit with a bad run right after. Jacqueline fell sick and did not compete in the next stage while Chelsee completely lost her will to sing or so it seems. So, it’s goodbye to both of them as well. What rotten luck!!

I personally felt that these 4 “love-birds” could have added a very interesting angle to this year’s “American Idol” but it was not to be. Sigh…

To end this very long “Green Mile” post, I just have to say that for those who appeared onscreen proudly proclaiming that they don’t know who “THE BEATLES” are and having never heard of their songs, their respective parents ought to be taken to task. I would like to say to them: How on earth do you raise your musically-inclined kids to “never experience the genius of THE BEATLES”???

Geez…!!!

Oh, one final note: There’s no better way to end this post than with 2 videoclips from Thia Megia and James Durbin. So, here goes: