I was planning to give a big rundown and analysis of the Top 20 of the guys and gals on “American Idol” for the dwindling throngs who still care, but I was reminded in Thursday’s unveiling that we still have only seen a fraction of these performers actually sing more than once. Others have left little impression at all.
What’s strangest of all is that there might be a handful of singers whom we have never heard sing at all, they just keep being advanced to the next category. There’s a young woman named Jett who I’ve seen advance wordlessly but am dying to hear.
It may be a casualty of dealing with this many hopefuls — or as “Idol” will breathlessly tell you, the most talented they’ve ever seen — but editors are ony able to focus on a few, knowing perhaps that viewers can keep even fewer people in their heads (aren’t there women on “The Bachelor” who only come into focus once the field is down to six?).
Anyway, the wrap up of the female contingent on Hollywood Week that wrapped up Thursday put the spotlight on some people who will be going on to another big stop before the live shows — a concert setting in Las Vegas meant to be a boot camp and further trimming area.
Among them were
- Angela Miller, 18, Beverly, Mass. – Who got a standing ovation from judges for her original song on piano that opened the Thursday show.
- Candice Glover, 23, St. Helena Island, S.C. – Consistent big voice who ignited “This Girl is on Fire.
- Janelle Arthur, 23, Oliver Springs, Tenn., – Third season was the charm for the blonde country singer
- Zoanette Johnson, 20, Tulsa – The wild haired singer took to the drumset for her memorable final performance. with an impromptu salute to judges from a drumset, but lost her stick. Amazingly, she was picked to continue what Nicki was already calling “The Zoanette era.”
- Shubha Vedula, 17, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., whose name is the most fun to say. Bravely sang a Mariah song in her final round and got props from the originator.
- Juliana Chahayed, 15, Woodland Hills, Calif. who did the requisite “Landslide” despite its odd lyrics for her (“and I’m getting older too”).
- Melinda Ademi, 19, Yonkers, N.Y., whose upbeat selection of Jessie J’s “Price Tag” briefly halted more maudlin song choices.
- Rachel Hale, 21, Prescott, Ariz., “the happiest contestant” who won a final singoff against Kewpie doll lookalike Stephanie Schmiel.
Among those not continuing on were the loopy but entertaining Kez Ban, who was angling for a job in the “Idol” production crew before it was over; and Ashlee Feliciano, who wowed judges in the initial show.
Others going to Vegas are Cristabel Clack, 23, of San Antonio; Aubrey Cleland, 19, West Linn, Ore.; Kree Harrison, 22, Nashville; Amber Holcomb, 18, of Houston; Brandy Hotard, 26, of Port Allen, La.; Isabelle, 22, of Duluth, Ga.; Adriana Latonio, 18 of Anchorage; Kamaria Ousley, 29, of Oakland; Breanna Steer, 18, of Laplace, La.; Tenna Torres, 28, of Queens, N.Y.; Jenny Beth Willis, 17, of Owensboro, Ky.; and the ever-mysterious Jett Hermano, 25, of Seattle.
There was little chance to create the same kind of drama among the guys, 28 of whom were left from their Hollywood Week round last week. Eight had to be cut, and there was one showdown between the chubby diva kid from San Antonio, Adam Sanders, and a white gospel singer named Josh Holiday, 24, of Celeste, Texas. Sanders, who had wowed judges earlier, had lately become screechy and off key, lost to Holiday who sang a broad “Georgia on My Mind” and split his pants in the process.
The other 19 advancing to Las Vegas are: Lazaro Arbos, 21, of Naples, Fla.; Charlie Askew, 17, of Little Rock; Nick boddington, 27, of Memphis; Curtis Finch Jr., 24, of St. Louis; Kevin Harris, 28, of Montgomery, Ala.; J’DA, 27, of Chicago; Paul Jolley, 22, of Palmersville, Tenn.; Johnny Keyser, 24, of Pompano Beach, Fla,; Elijah Liu, 18, of Rowland Heights, Calif.; Vincent Powell, 29, of Austin; Cortez Shaw, 21, of Dallas; Gupreet Singh Sarin, 22, of North Potomac, Md — The Turbinator!.; Jimmy Smith, 25, of Waynesboro, Tenn; Bryant Tadeo, 23, of Hilo, Hawaii; Burnell Taylor, 19, of New Orleans; Mathenee Treco, 26, of Aurora, Colo.; Devin Velez, 18, Chicago; Chris Watson, 25, Fords, N.J.; and David Willis, 21, of Mount Dora, Fla.
AMong those not advancing was young David Leathers Jr., who was cut during Vegas week last season and didn’t even get that far this time. But it doesn’t matter about the boys, supposedly, since this is supposed to be the year of the girl. (That’s what they all say, until the female voters start calling in for the cute boys to win).