Kim's comments: Sorry this is so late everyone. Eddie had a pretty busy week and so did I. I hope to post my Top Chef Recap later today, as well as Survivor: Tocantins, and some news. I should have the Amazing Race recap for tomorrow!

OK American Idol fans.……TIME TO GET SERIOUS!!!! THE TOP 36 IS HERE! And YES…..the SPOILER LIST that was ‘leaked’ was pretty accurate…..aside from mystery Nick and Michael, which to many people’s surprise ended up being Nick Mitchell (aka Norman Gentle) and Jeremy Michael Sarver….and also Nate McGee, who shockingly is Nathanial Marshall, drama king for all the guys!! The other BIG SURPRISE….Joanna Pacitti, aka ‘the Ringer’, getting the boot AFTER the TOP 36 was announced, and being replaced by one of my early favorites, bar singer/mom Felicia Barton! Good for her! J

So….that being said, let’s look at the TOP 36 again, now that it’s OFFICIAL and we’ve seen many of the contestants perform more after Hollywood Hell Week……and some who I still haven’t seen…PLUS…who Eddie thinks SHOULD HAVE been here that isn’t….and WHO I THINK WILL MAKE UP THE TOP 12….in RED!!!


Adam Lambert—Picked this ‘Wickedly’ talented kid to go far….he will….TOP 12…possibly much deeper!!
Alexander Wagner-Trugman—I’m sorry….but NO WAY this kid should have been picked ahead of Cody Shelton! Cody….you got screwed!!
Alexis Grace—Did not think this girl was even good enough to get through Hollywood, but….I’ve become a believer!! TOP 12!!
*Allison Iraheta— Only 16 years old….first time I EVER saw her on the show was Wednesday night, so I’ll hold out judgment until I see more of her!
Ann Marie Boskovich—The BEST from Jacksonville’s auditions who I said would go DEEP in the competition, YES…she will!! Top 12!
Anoop Desai - Noop Dog INDEED makes it through! Won’t make it too much farther though….maybe Top 24, but that’s it!
Arianna Ayesha Afsar - 16-Year old ‘Adopt-A-Grandfriend’ from San Diego….Nice kid, very likeable, should do well, but not strong enough for Top 12.
Brent Keith- Another contestant with past experience who I said would make the Top 36! Top 24…..all bets are off after that!
Casey Carlson – I said EARLY on I really like this girl….and ‘ya gotta love her ‘Campus Girls’ Bikini Calendar!! TOP 24……dark-horse for TOP 12!
Danny Gokey – Wow…..I just CANNOT like this guy!! Paula loves him….maybe she’s sleeping with him!? :-0 Anyway….TOP 24…..another dark-horse for the TOP 12!
Jackie Tohn – Annoying personality, will get on America’s nerves!! TOP 24…..dare I say it….possibly TOP 12!!

Jasmine Murray—Very pretty 16-year old girl who I said she was a lock to make it through Hollywood! TOP 12!!
Jeanine Vailes— Who and where the hell did this girl come from?? I have nothing to say…never have even seen her perform?!
Jessica Langseth— I’m sorry….but this girl over Frankie Jordan!!?? Not on her BEST day!! No way! Frankie, ‘ya should be here babe, not Jessica!
Joanna Pacitti – Girl with all the past experience and record labels, which many expect to challenge for the AI 8 Title, and she was IN….then booted OUT of the competition for having an affair with someone at 19 Productions, a Fox affiliate associated with the show. Bye-Bye Pacetti! Read more about our Philly girl here: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/pacitti_disqualified_idol.html
Jorge Nunez – Spanish singing kid from San Juan…..still surprised that he’s on this list….but won’t be for long!
Junot Joyner— I’m not sold on this kid! Not a serious contender IMHO….
Kai Kalama—I said he was a LOCK for the TOP 24 early on….I still believe it…..TOP 12….maybe?!
Kendall Beard— Bubbly 23-year old blonde from TX who I said to WATCH OUT for early on, but....NOT TOP 12 after seeing her in Hollywood! TOP 24—YES!
Kristen McNamara— Put In by judges after the sing-off with Jenn Korbee….Hmmmmm……deep down, this girl has REAL talent, WORST-DRESSED for sure, but has talent! Personally…I would have been just as happy seeing Jenn Korbee move on. TOP 24….not too much farther!
Kris Allen—Kid from Arkansas who didn’t get a lot of face time, but had a nice voice in his audition….not sure how far he’ll go….he’s a mystery!

Lil Rounds – 23-Year old Memphis mom who I think, if you were placing bets in Vegas…..is the FRONT-RUNNER to win it all!! TOP 12….and possibly the AI SEASON 8 WINNER!!!!
Matt Breitzke- Didn’t have any confidence in this kid, too karaoke-like…..surprised he’s on the list. He was picked with Michael Sarver in the sing-off at the very end of the last show…he’s a nice guy, but will NOT last long!
Matt Giraud—Dueling Piano Player from Kalamazoo, MI who Simon said sounded like Elliott Yamin from AI Season 5. I said he was a lock to make it through Hollywood and to watch once he goy behind the piano!!! He did not let me down!! TOP 12 and possibly MUCH FARTHER!
Megan Corkrey –Young, divorced mom with the sassy, jazzy Broadway-type voice--who I said was a lock for the Top 36, maybe Top 24! Still believe it! TOP 12!!

Michael Sarver– The ‘Mystery Michael’ who makes it through like Matt Breitzke….but….he’ll go farther than Breitzke will!! Has to be the most polite contestant ever on AI….great guy who I hope goes far….TOP 24 for sure….another dark-horse for TOP 12!!
Mishavonna Henson—I’m not very impressed here, and don’t think she’s a very serious contestant.
Nathanial Marshall – The ‘Mystery Nate’ who made it through in a sing-off against Jackie Midkiff (WHO??!!)…Nate is the Drama King for guys and will not go very far……unless he learns to compose himself!
Nick Mitchell— Told you, told you, told you he’d surprise all and make it! He’s in….but unless he stays serious, for how long??
Ricky Braddy— WHO????? I know NOTHING about this kid! Jury is out on him….
Scott MacIntyre – As long as he’s behind the piano, he’ll be OK….TOP 24….and the sympathy vote comes through BIG and….YES>..gets him to the TOP 12!!
Stephen Fowler—I’m not a big fan of this kid….don’t think he’ll last long, possible TOP 24, but not sure he’ll even make it that far!
Stevie ‘Nick’s Wright – Named after Stevie Nicks. Super sweet girl with a great personality! I really like this girl! TOP 12!!!
Taylor Vaifanua—The BIG 5’11” girl who’s 16 going on 26…..I said she’d make it through Hollywood….TOP 24…all bets are off after that!
Tatiana Del Toro—Another BIG surprise here! Sooooo annoying, but wont make it past the TOP 24, if she even makes it that far!!!!
Von Smith – Odd kid, but he does have some pipes! I said he was one to watch from the auditions, and if he can ever just SING and NOT SCREAM, he could go deep! TOP 24….dark-horse for TOP 12!!

EDDIE’s ‘Who Should have Been Here’ LIST…..and ONE that WILL BE…

Felicia Barton—Bar Singer/Mom from the Louisville auditions who I had as my ‘dark horse’ candidate to crack the TOP 24! SHE WILL….SHE’s IN as a replacement for Joanna Pacitti!!!! Woo-Hoo! J
Frankie Jordan—Stay at home 23-yr old mom who sings and looks like Amy Winehouse….had here as a LOCK for my Top 24! Bummer!!!!! L
Cody Shelton—This kid really got hosed! He should be here!!
Jenn Korbee—Could very easily have made it over a half dozen others…..think it was a big mistake not putting her through!


Well…..there’s my thoughts…for now anyway! You’ll notice I have 9 listed as ‘sure-bets’ for the TOP 12 and have several others as ‘dark-horses’ to make up the final 3 spots! I’ll reserve the right to change/revise my list after we see all 36 perform, which will be done in groups of 12 over the next 3 weeks. After we’ve seen all 36 perform, from which it sounds mathematically at least, that 4 contestants will be booted OFF in each of the next three weeks….then….we’ll get down to the TOP 24!!

So tell me….who do you think should have made the TOP 36 that did NOT? And….who made the TOP 36 that you think should NOT have made it through? Let me know your thoughts! I’d also really like to see everyone else’s ‘TOP 12’ predictions, come on, go out on a limb and be a little gutsy & brave here!!

Until the 1st Group of 12 performs on Tuesday night….and after what I hope was a very HAPPY VALENTINE’S WEEKEND FOR ALL….it’s Eddie Idol….OUT!!