American Idol Season 10: Top 13 Revealed!

Okay, so I lied!  Looks like for at least THIS week I am doing a results show recap!  But there were performances so I feel like I kind of need to say something!  We had no idea how this episode was going to go down, but I gotta say that I am a fan of this format.  Sure, they drew it out as much as they could to get some additional ad dollars.  (Hey, if we need to watch additional half hours of Idol to keep shows like FRINGE on the air, bring it on!!)   But I just liked the idea of a 1 week sudden death semi-finals.  We have been theorizing for years on how the show could be improved.  The road from auditions to the Top 12 seemed to take forever.  I think we're a couple weeks earlier this season than usual and with a Top 13 instead.  Hey, it's a good compromise!   And do you know what the best part is?  I picked 8 of the Top 10 correctly AND 9 of my 10 got through!  Maybe, my threatening to retire has gotten me back on my game!  We'll see.  After the jump I'll reveal the TOP 13! 

Season 10 Top 13 Finalists  (my original picks in blue) 

Top 10 Vote Getters

1. Scotty McCreary
2. Lauren Alaina
3. Pia Toscano
4. Karen Rodriguez
5. Jacob "Purple Shoes" Lusk
6. Casey Abrams
7. Thia Megia
8. Paul McDonald
9. Haley Reinhart
10. James Durbin

3 Wildcards

1. Ashton Jones
2. Stefano Langone
3. Naima Adedapo

Not a bad top 13 at all!  I couldn't imagine a top 10 without Scotty, Lauren, Pia, Jacob, Casey, Thia or Paul and all of them made it via the voters.  Great stuff!  There is a lot of talent in this competition and it's going to be one crazy ride to the finish.  Personally, I thought Ashton was the weakest of the 6 contestants that got one more shot.  She was flat the whole performance of "You're Gonna Love Me".   But, I figured she was a judges' favorite for awhile now.  No question after Stefano and Naima's performances that they belong there.  Stefano blew me away with "I Need You Now" and Naima's "For All We Know" was breathtaking too.   Though, it was sad to see Kendra not make it after her amazing rendition of "Georgia on My Mind".  No disrespect to Jovanny who brought back Jon Secada to America's collective memory, but I understand him not making it.  If he's going to bring the sappy ballads all of the time, it wouldn't be too exciting!  Though, he has inspired me to go find that box of CDs that didn't make the cut during my MASS iTunes ripping of years ago and find that Jon Secada CD of mine.  That dude was the bomb back when saying "was the bomb" was in style!!  

I also loved the interview clips they did with all of the contestants.  They managed to make every contestant except Clint "Tears" Jun Gamboa likable.  The dude was seriously hyper ventalating at his potential ousting?  I loved every second of it.  It was almost cathartic for what he did to poor Jaycee!  No sympathy from me for that dude!  I'm also happy to see that only one person I can't stand made the Top 13.  And, I have a feeling that James Durbin might grow on me a bit.  He doesn't seem as annoying as he did in the pre-taped shows.  But the scarf tail needs to go! 

Anyway, I'm not gonna ramble on and on here.  Just wanted to share my quick thoughts on the results!  Like I said before, usually Thursday nights is a heavy lineup of TV at Casa "V" so regular results show posts may not be a reality.  But, maybe if they're warranted I'll find a way to do it.  I have already found myself way more invested in season 10 than I ever thought I would be.  I guess that's one hearty "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" and "WELL DONE" to the American Idol producers for finding a way to keep the show relevant!  So that's all for now and really, I'll see you next week! 

CHECK OUT MY NEW BLOG!

I've been recapping any and all TV over at the TV Addicts Blog (www.tvaddictsblog.com).  Mainly The Event, Fringe and The Walking Dead.  Occasionally, I'll comment on other shows I'm watching.  I'm already looking ahead to some other returning shows this spring as well as some potentially big shows in Fall 2011.  Keep tuning in and join the discussions!   

• The Event returns Monday, March 7th on NBC. 
• Fringe airs its next episode Friday, March 11th on FOX.