That was exciting.  Jackie Tohn, rocker chick, deserves to make it.  She is annoying, but not unbearable.  Mostly, she's a good singer, unique.  Jackie thinks she did well in Hollywood Week.  We see her final performance where she played guitar - very good stuff.  No way she doesn't make it. Randy draws it out...

Top 36: Jackie Tohn

Jackie freaks out after getting the good news, shakes uncontrollably.

No.  No.  No.  No.  No.  Tatiana del Toro is up next.  We watch her greatest hits from the season.  I hate you, Tatiana.  You will haunt my dreams. 

(Slamming my head against my desk)

"Just try, for once, not to be annoying."  - Simon.

(Punching myself in the face)

Tatiana is wearing Paula's jewelry line or something.  It's not unanimous. And the verdict...

No. No.

Top 36: Tatiana del Toro

(Stabbing my eyes repeatedly with a mechanical pencil)

Nathaniel Mitchell and a dude Jackie Midkiff who we don't know will have a sing-off.  Jackie goes first and sings “When a Man Loves a Woman.”  Has a strong voice, but somewhat abrasive, not much subtlety.  Kara thinks he's great.  The other judges disagree.  Nathaniel goes up next, and he's just below Tatiana on the annoying level.  He has a sad story, but he's also wearing skin-tight red pants tonight and a too-tight white t-shirt.  He stole this outfit from Jack White.  He sings and, if you were closing your eyes while listening, you'd think it was pretty good.  But, the faces and the hand movements – completely obnoxious.  He leaves, joins Jackie, awaits his fate.  He cries outside with Ryan and Jackie.  They arrive for the verdict, there's the typical judge babble, and it looks like they want us all to suffer...

Top 36: Nathaniel Mitchell

Montage time...

Top 36: Jeanine Vailes

Top 36: Kai Kalama

Top 36: Anne Marie Boskovich

Top 36: Kris Allen

The final sing-off with the final two contestants.  Mechanic Matt Breitzke versus Oil Rig Guy Michael Sarver.  Battle of the big dudes.  Neither have a chance in hell at making it to the Top 12.  They'll have one final chance to impress the judges.  Matt sings his piece in front of the judges.  He's pretty good.  I'm not sure there's a ton of potential, but he's got a OK blues voice.  Michael Sarver walks in, sits down, acts all modest.  The, he sings.  He's good, in control, definitely better than Matt.  He's sent away, the judges do their thing, and the men are brought back in.  It's a pretty easy decision...

Top 36: Michael Sarver

Top 36: Matt Breitzke

They both make it, which is kind of lame.  Why put both guys through the ringer like that?  To make interesting TV, I suppose.  The Top 36 gather and congratulate each other. 

OK.  The first group of 12 in the Top 36 performs next week.  That first group is:

Casey Carlson

Stephen Fowler

Jackie Tohn

Ricky Braddy

Anne Marie Boskovich

Brent Keith

Alexis Grace

Michael Sarver

Stevie Wright

Danny Gokey

Tatiana Del Toro

Anoop Desai 

Out of those 12, the top man and woman with the most votes automatically makes it to the Top 12, as well as the next highest vote getter.  The fourth highest vote getter makes it to the Wild Card round.

That is it for the first part of the season.  Thank goodness.  Be ready for a bunch more American Idol content over the next week as we get ready for the Top 36 performances, including some initial power rankings and an Idol podcast coming tomorrow afternoon. 


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-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of FOX)