For some peculiar reason, this season of American Idol has been very, very predictable.  Sure, there were a few surprises over the past few weeks—what the heck is Michael Sarver doing there?—but all throughout, we knew who was going in.  Sure, sure, Lil Rounds.  Sure, sure, Scott MacIntyre.  Sure, sure, Danny Gokey.  To make things worse, Ryan Seacrest wasn't as cooperative, leaving the most obvious shoo-in for the very last announcement in two out of three shows.  I was seriously considering not watching the result nights for that reason.  (But, of course, I still did.)

Then came the Wild Card.  I guess that worked, because we did not have a say on who gets in.  For once, we were slightly anxious.  Why the heck is Tatiana del Toro on stage?  Why the heck is Anoop Desai still on the sofa?  You know, that feeling of control that's slowly slipping away from us, at least until they give it back in its entirety?  We missed it, and we were thus at the edge of our seats.

American Idol 8: The Official Top 13
American Idol 8: Wild Card Show - Live Results
American Idol 8: Ranking the Wild Card Contenders Slideshow


Thankfully the performances last night were much better than their previous performances.  Indeed, as Simon put it two nights ago, it was a case of the really good singer picking the wrong song.  I had my bets—presuming they'll balance out the Top 12, I was going for Megan Corkrey, Jessica Langseth and, yes, Tatiana—but for once, this didn't feel so sure.  Will Megan miss out again?  Will Jasmine Murray, who isn't really that good, be thrown in for the sake of diversity?  Will Tats, for all she's known for, be thrown in for the sake of entertainment?  Will Noopie finally get the victory that's somewhat rudely eluded him during the first batch?  Why am I sweating?  Why?

Ryan brings out Jasmine and Ricky Braddy.  Bah, shoo-in, Jasmine.  Ding!  I was right.

Ryan brings out Tatiana and Megan.  By this time, I was turning my back on Tats, not because of the drama, but because she sang the same song she sang before, and I am no fan of repetition.  So Megan, it was.  Ding!  I was right.

Ryan brings out Jesse and Von Smith.  Bah, shoo-in, neither.  Ding!  I was right.

One more slot to go.  Oh, goodness. Noopie and Matt!  Someone will be disappointed, and someone will be scorned, and we all have to stick by the rules, because we've always had 12 finalists the way we've had freakishly long finales at the Kodak Theater.  And, to make things worse, I don't have a preference between the two.  Or maybe it made things easier.

It's Matt.  And Noopie.  Oh goodness.

They have broken the rules and gave us 13 finalists instead of 12.  By this time, I was starting to wonder whether this would mean an extra week of American Idol, or two singers will be eliminated in one week (which sounds suspiciously like other reality shows), or what the measurements should be for the slideshow cover I was going to work on.  But, for once, it was a very satisfying watch.  After weeks of utter predictability, I was at the edge of my seat, and the ending, well, I fell off my seat.  These guys have redeemed themselves, which is perhaps fitting, because in the next twelve (or thirteen, who knows?) weeks, they won't have (that much) control over the outcome of the show.  Ah, they must be feeling good right now.

American Idol 8: The Official Top 13
American Idol 8: Wild Card Show - Live Results
American Idol 8: Ranking the Wild Card Contenders Slideshow

American Idol 8: Top 36, Final 12 - Performance Rankings
American Idol 8: Top 36, Final 12 - Episode in Review
American Idol 8: Top 36, Second 12 - Performance Rankings
American Idol 8: Top 36, Second 12 - Episode in Review
American Idol 8: Top 36, First 12 - Performance Rankings
American Idol 8: Top 36, First 12 - Episode in Review
American Idol 8: Top 36 Power Rankings


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Images courtesy of Fox)