The auditions conclude when judges Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler reveal – in an exciting new twist – 24 semifinalists: 12 guys and 12 girls.
Full Recap
We open the show waiting to find out the remaining nineteen in the top 24. Randy Jackson asks for a five minute break to help J-Lo out. She composes herself and moves on, like a true professional.
Karen Rodriguez, 21, from NYC, is the first of the bunch tonight to face her final judgement. For her final audition, she sang a Serena song that J-Lo seemed to know well. Tonight she sits across from the judges, and J-Lo tells her she's been a fan of hers since the beginning. She thinks Karen disappeared a little bit in the competition, then picked it up again. She had J-Lo at If You Had My Love, and has made the top 24. She tells the judges to "just wait." She's motivated now to work harder.
Robbie Rosen, 16, of Merrick, NY, is next up. He sang Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word for his final audition. We're treated to a really long clip of it, instead of the short bits we were seeing last night of these songs. Steven tells Robbie he was so good right out of the box. He of course makes it to the top 24.
Tatynisa Wilson, 20, a waitress from Aurora, IL, really struggled with her lyrics in her solo performance after group round, but for her final audition, she sang Unbreak My Heart and brought it. Randy asks her if this is something she really, really wants. She says it's not want, but need. It gives her adrenaline to be onstage. She needs it. The judges tell her Hollywood took a nosedive for her, and she probably disappointed herself. J-Lo explains it's about not having a bad day. Steven tells her they still saw what she just cried about, so she's in the top 24. She thanks them for believing in her.
Brittany Mazur, 21, a dance studio manager from Tucson, AZ, and Jimmie Allen, 25, a waiter from Franklin, TN, both hear noes. He says it hurts, but you have to keep on going. She's thinking of it as a learning experience.
Tim Halperin, 23, in advertising sales in Fort Worth, hasn't bene seen a lot through this process, despite charming J-Lo at his audition. For his final audition, he took J-Lo's words to heart that it was time for them to show who they are as artists and sang an original tune. He wonders tonight if that risk is going to pay off. Asked about his up-and-down performances, Tim explains his initial audition wasn't the strongest, but Randy had told him to find the artist he wanted to be, so he tried to choose those types of songs. J-Lo has always been a fan, since the beginning, and feels he got stronger. It's up to Steven, who tells him he's in the top 24.
Julie Zorrilla, 20, of L.A., sang Something with Tim Halperin in the Beatles round. For her final audition she sang and played the piano. She looks very confident tonight. J-Lo tells her they're fans of everyone and want to feel something when the singers are up there. For some of Julie's performances there seemed to be a lack of feeling or emotion. J-Lo does a good job faking her out, but Julie's in. Celebrating with Ryan Seacrest, she tried to pick him up and spin him around, but fell.
Ryan shares some couch time with Scotty McCreery, 16, from Garner, NC, and John Wayne Schultz, 23, a cowboy from Karnes City, TX. Ryan wonders if they think there's spots for both of them as country singers.
Scotty screwed up the lyrics to I Hope You Dance, then sang Long Black Train for his final audition. It's a type of country that you just don't hear anymore. He tells J-Lo his grandma told him to tell her that he is a quarter Puerto Rican. In regards to what happened with Jacee Badeaux, Scotty says that was a case of him not being the man he should have been to Jacee. Still, the judges are big fans. He makes it through to the top 24.
There's not room for two cowboys, though, so this leaves John Wayne Schulz out. He says when you get to this point, you want it more than anything and can just see it. Yet, he knows it's all been a blessing.
Jovany Barreto, 23, a ship builder from Harvey, LA, the guy who took his shirt off in his audition for J-Lo, is up next. For his final audition he sang . J-Lo tells him it was an agonizing decision, and points out there is only twenty-four spots, meaning some people who don't deserve to go home are. But it doesn't matter for him, as he's part of the top 24.
If Lauren Turner, 19, a maid from Covington, LA, makes it on the show, it would mean she doesn't have to clean houses anymore. For her final audition, she sang Steal Away. Facing the final judgement, and Randy tells her they were blown away by her big voice in New Orleans, but Hollywood was filled with ups and downs for her. Regardless, she made it.
Tiwan Strong, 29, a daycare teacher from Chicago, IL, and Erin Kelly both get their Idol pink slips from the judges. Erin says afterwards it's back to reality, as this was nothing but a dream.
Rachel Zevita, 22, a singer from NYC, had been in Hollywood before, but she never made it this far before. Her mom and grandma came from New York to spend some time with her. She doesn't want to appear as a failure to her grandmother. She sang I'll Never Love Again for her final audition and hit some amazing high notes. Randy admires her feathered shoes. He talks about being impressed with her in the beginning, but notes it got questionable. J-Lo mentions being a fan of hers since she auditioned in an earlier season and feels it's a matter of grabbing people so they know who you are. But, after all this time for her, Rachel is in.
Kendra Chantelle, 22, an office manager from Loudon, TN, sang Fallin' for her final audition, the same song she sang in her original audition. She feels she got progressively better with each performance. Steven tells her they're concerned because everyone has to be beyond good and the whole package. Randy talks about the accomplishment of just making it this far. She wants to do more, saying there are things they haven't seen her do yet. She'll get a chance to show them, as she makes it through.
Jordan Dorsey, 21, a musician from LaPlace, LA, was thinking a little too much of himself, auditioning others for the group round. In his final audition, he sang So High. Tonight, J-Lo tells him he was a standout for her since the beginning, and he needs to know she fought for him the whole way through. Randy mentions Jordan auditioning the others for the group round, and Jordan tries to pass it off as the others wanting to audition for him. The judges are looking past his bravado and make him the sixteenth person to move on.
Lauren Alaina, 15, of Rossville, GA, shows off her boots to Ryan, who calls them "Barbie cowgirl." She's freaking out, because people she thought for sure would make it are being sent home. Nerves and pressure got to her in Las Vegas. For her final audition, she sang Unchained Melody. She talks with the judges about her outfit that was made special for her. Steven tells her they fell in love with her the first time they heard her, but it's been a crazy journey. He isn't sure how she'll be able to handle it because of her age ... because she's going through. She calls them mean to have teased her.
Stefano Langone, 21, of Kent, WA, got through Hollywood easily, then sang a song of his own for his final audition. He feels he's here for a reason as he walks up to the judges. J-Lo talks about his good moments, but explains everyone had those. She mentions how hard it was to choose, but somebody has to go home, and they hate it. Yet they'd love to have him in the top 24. He says he hasn't slept for four days. As he walks away, J-Lo says "that's a talented kid there."
Jackie Wilson was an early favorite after her audition, and sang Because of You for her final audition, screwing up the lyrics and not sounding very deserving of singing this Kelly Clarkson tune. J-Lo tells her tonight they had to make some tough decisions, and there were times they felt she could blow the roof off, but she didn't do it. She didn't make it this time. She asks why and is told it's because of inconsistencies. Randy thought it was about confidence. She asks if there's a way to change their minds, and of course there's not.
The big voice and big personality of Jacob Lusk, 23, a spa concierge from Compton, CA, have brought him through. He got a standing ovation in his solo performance, and in his final audition, he sang A Song for You. Randy talks to him about the tough journey for everyone, yet tells him he thinks his performance of God Bless the Children is the single best performance ever on Idol. For that alone, they're happy he's in the top 24. He sings, jumps, screams, and runs his way out. Jacob runs into Ryan, picks him up, and spins him around.
Pia Toscano, 22, a makeup artist from Howard Beach, NY, calls it tough to watch some of these people go home. She blew the judges away in Hollywood and Las Vegas, then sang Doesn't Mean Anything and blew them away again. She's crying just walking up to the stage. J-Lo vows to keep it short an sweet. Pia made it. She cries more and thanks them.
James Durbin, 21, unemployed from Santa Cruz, CA, has never once failed to impress, except for the group round. For his final audition, he had to prove he had some control for all that power, and sang A Change Is Gonna Come, as J-Lo and Randy bopped along with him. He's been thinking about his baby and fiancée this whole time. Steven tells him he's something else and a real lightening bolt, but he let Steven down when he sang I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing, as he did it better than Steven. He's in the 24. Was there ever any question?
Casey Abrams, 19, a film camp worker from Idyllwild, CA, is just happy to hug the judges after the judgement, good or bad. For his final performance he picked up the bass again and said he's here to prove people like him can be sexy. He sang Why Don't You Do Right, and I think he proved it. He sits down with the judges and says he likes looking at them. Randy tells him he doesn't think in all these seasons they've had a musician as talented as him. When he hears him sing, its like three people in one. "So Dude, welcome to the top 24!" Casey is so excited, he kicks the chair over, then pinches himself to be sure it's real.
The final girl's spot is going to go to either Thia Magia, 15, from Mountain House, CA, or Jessica Cunningham. Thia struggled through the Beatles round, but did well with You Raise Me Up for her final audition. Jessica has been here before, but is hoping this time she makes it. It's her 25th birthday as well. It's the young girl against the mature rocker. Even though Jessica admits this is her seventh time, she'll have to hope for an eighth, as it's Thia moving on with Jessica getting cut on her birthday. She flips the the camera the double bird before she leaves. Hmm. Maybe there won't be an eighth.
For the last guy's spot, it's three guys, Brett Loewenstern, 16, of Boca Raton, FL, Jacee Badeaux, 15, of Lafayette, LA, and Colton Dixon, 19, of Murfreesboro, TN. Brett thinks there are two spots left and is upset to find out it's just one, arguing with Ryan the whole time.
Brett and Jacee ended up in the same group together. Jacee sang Gone Too Soon for his final audition, and Brett sang one of his own creations. Colton sang What About Now at the keyboard on solo day, and for his final audition sang Decode, again with the piano. Randy calls this one of the toughest he's ever done. Steven mentions the stories behind Jacee and Brett, and calls Colton just crazy glue. The one moving on is Brett. Randy begs Jacee and Colton to come back.
