Did you find girls/guys to be a better way last year? I don't think I did but don't have any choice, I guess. It seems like them being mixed together offers a more accurate depicting for talent. Seems this is the producers' way of skewing the results and making sure more of one is not voted off first so they don't end up with (mostly) all girls or all guys. Or would you say this way gives them all a fair and second chance?

Thanx for the reminder.

I don't like them trying to have even amounts of guys and girls for the final 12. It does seem some good singers get sent home because of their sex when it gets close to the final cut for the top 12.

I do usually tend to like the male singers better. I just like the sound of a male voice better. I have lots of cds by male artists and only a few by women.

I wonder if they are going to limit votes this year (so many per email address or phone #)? I hope they do, then singers like Sanjaya won't make it as far with groups like "Vote for the Worst" encouraging people who don't care to skew the voting.

I'll be watching. I like the Austrailian guy and the young 15 year old. I can't remember any of the others.

I saw on a talk show that there are a few of the contestants who are not amateurs. They mentioned two male and two or three females. You would think they would do a back ground check on these people to keep it fair to the ones who are trying to break into show biz. I haven't decided yet if I;ll watch this time around. Dottie

I read today that they don't have to be amateurs to be on Idol. They just can't be on a record label during the show. They can have previously recorded an album and still be on Idol.
Donna

Here's the scoop on the ones who had previous contracts.
Interesting! David, the young 16 year old won on Star Search when he was 12!

Here is a link that might be useful: Previous contracts for Idol hopefulls

I've seen many contestants tell the judges they have been singing, such as the girl who sang background for a popular group. And, Seacrest always knows because they put it on their applications. I don't understand why this comes up every year about one contestant or another. It does not mean anything, does not increase their chances of winning, and does mean they should be disqualified either. We, the viewers/voters, don't make up the rules. The show has already done that and does not say every contestant has come straight from the shower. Seasoned singers are not necessarily better than those who never sang in front an audience. And, those who never did could have had more training than anyone else. The playing field and the chances are still even. Although, I really don't know why I am typing this. It's still going to keep being stated as if it makes a difference at all. It does not.

And really, if they all have to be amateurs as the word seems to be understood to mean, they'd be the idiots whose mama's should have told them they can't sing. They are the ones we laugh at and are inundated with the first two or three weeks of the show's auditions. Wouldn't be much of a show at all.

I don't think it makes a difference either. I actually think there are some artists who have big recording contracts now who wouldn't make it very far on the show if they were to compete with the rest. :-)

I like the last guy who sang tonight I hope he wins

Minnie, that was Michael Johns and he is awesome. From Australia now from Atlanta. He's my favorite.

Linda

Ok, David, the one I was thinking of must have been 16 during the auditions, not 15 like I thought, cause tonight he said he was 17. I still like him, though...but didn't much care for the song he picked. I liked the Australain guy the best tonight.

I also like the skinny kid who looks anorexic, didn't care for the song but I like his voice, it's different than the others.

I really don't like little blond headed kid, don't like his personality or the other young kid who sang the other Elvis song.

Linda, sorry I gotta do it. Gotta know your block off cuz I announced him first....last week....at confessional. hahahaha

Michael Johns is the best thing that ever happened to this show. For a couple weeks now, they have all been saying this year's competition is the stiffest, and they said it again tonight. I haven't seen it yet and have no idea what they are talking about. Viewership must be down this season, so they keep saying that as a marketing ploy. These guys are sorry. I haven't stopped yawning yet, and I'm afraid the girls aren't much better from what I recall. There were some really great songs in the 60s, so that cannot possibly be their excuse.

I loved Jason Castro - he seemed really neat and I thought his performance was great. He's my favourite, but he reminds me of a really good busker that we see often in downtown Toronto.

"Minnie, that was Michael Johns and he is awesome. From Australia now from Atlanta. He's my favorite.
Linda"

Thanks Linda. I thought he was the only one with any maturity in his voice and nice to look at and good stage presence.

I really like Michael Johns...He did such a good song with the song he sang last week. My goose bumps had goose bumps.

I love the smile of young David...He just makes you feel good watching him...and he does have a good voice.

I also like Jason Castro
But I think he looks like Minnie Driver...LOL

patti

Patti, I thought the same thing - Minnie Driver! A lot of the guys this year look rather feminine. He's still my favourite so far.

I think that David guys is absolutely adorable too - and definitely a good singer. I'd say he'll have the majority of young female fans.

I tuned in very late, just in time to see the last two performers. I know Michael Johns was the last one, but who was the other, the guy with the dreads and the guitar? Sweet!

Bestlawn, I had beat you actually. I started the Idol thread last week and said I really really like Michael Johns!. So HA!! Where's my prize?? lol

I did a lot of yawning too..though I liked a couple of the others too. Robbie, the Rocker was really good I thought as was the 17 year old David. I kind of like the blond haired kid too and David Cook (although he was a little creepy the way he looked at the camera).

Which one was David Cook? The one with the Leif Garrett looks? I thought what Simon said about that kid was just RUDE! Then when he asked about tanning Simon acted insulted! LOL

David Cook was the one who sang "So Happy Together." He turned it into a rock song. I hated it at the beginning but he really pulled it off. He was the 3rd singer tonight.

Yeah, Lydia, you beat me. I forgot about favorites last week. You have dibs when he wins cuz he's gonna.

This should help...putting a name to the face!

Here is a link that might be useful: Top 24

I liked David Archuleta the 17 year old, Jason Castro, and Michael Johns who is 29. Kinda hard for a 17 year old to compete with a 29 year old.

Some of the guys really did look rather feminine.

(I would love to put some hair clips in Paula's hair. And she always sounds a little drowsy.)

Sue

I don't know their names yet but this is one talented bunch.They were all good but I think the black guy with a name I forgot, is the one I think is the least talented altho even he was pretty good. Maybe because I liked the music..Mostly I don't know the songs.

I absolutely hated the "attitude" of Danny Noriega. He really REALLY came across very badly to me. I wanted to shut him up! He makes me wish we could vote to get RID of someone, I'd be sending all my votes to him!

Loved, loved Michael Johns, also the dreadlocks boy ... Jason somebody. And the rocker guy who used to have a red streak in his hair, was better than I thought he'd be.

I'm sure looking forward to the girls tonight.

I like Jason Castro, also.

The Guys are so effeminate this year!

Gayle

It's still too early for me to pick a fave yet, and I still don't know them by name, the australian guy was the best. I like that skinny kid with the mod hair, but he better watch his attitude if he wants to win votes.

Sue, I agree about Paula!!!! I was saying the same thing to Joe, get that girl a barette or a headband!! LOL!!

Rira

whoa, I guess it is early, can't even spell my own name!!!!

I wanted to shave some of those guys.

There were a couple of really good ones. Several that were not great. I do think some of the better personalities got left behind last week.

Maybe tonight will be a good show.

For the record, I have no faith in Joanne Borgella. I have no idea why she made the top 24. She's the one I was saying last week that between the last two girls, I felt the choice was unfair. Hope she either proves me wrong tonight or is the first to go home.

My Picks:
Front runners
Michael Johns, David Archuleta and Jason Castro

Contenders
Jason Yeager, Robbie Carrico and David Cook

History
David Hernandez, Chikezie, Luke Menard, Garrett Haley, Colton Berry, Danny Noriega

I didn't see them all sing but from what I saw, I like Jason Castro and Michael Johns. There sure are some cute guys on this season. Jason Castro is adorable but I wish he would cut his hair.

Lauren said Jason Castro (now I know the names a little better-lol), looked like a "modern" John Travolta only with a bigger nose. I hadn't realized it but she's right!

Kath - That's funny - I kind of thought that too.

Lydia!!!!!! start another thread so I can rag on that female.
Hurry up!!

I haven't had a chance to watch it yet. Robbie Carrico is from my town.