American Idol 3, March 3: Pick a Wildcard, Any Wildcard

Ryan Seacrest welcomes us. He says there is a lot of work tonight – two more contestants will advance to the Top 12, and the Wildcard contenders will be revealed!

Intro the judges.

The friends and families of the contestants are in the red room.

Ryan introduces the contestants.

We get a recap of last night's performances. We're motoring! (Of course, you can read about last night’s performances right here.)

The judges’ picks are a bit spread. Randy and Paula predict Jasmine and George. Simon picks Jasmine and crooning John Stevens.

Of course, last night, I predicted Jasmine and George would advance.

Now it’s time to for the Top 3 vote getters to sit on those Ikea-rejected stools!

John Preator - not in the Top 3.

Lisa Wilson - not in the Top 3.

George Huff - Top 3! George is predictably all over himself, and Ryan has to ask him to stay calm. If he makes top two, we can only hope paramedics are standing by! Who can blame him? The story Idol won't announce publicly is George was number 33. If it had not been for Donnie Williams's dismissal, George would not be here. This has to feel amazing for George.

Heather Piccinini - not in the Top 3.

Tiara Purifoy - not in the Top 3.

Jasmine Trias - Top 3!

That leaves John Stevens and Suzy Vulaca. I already lost Tiara. Could it be crooning John Stevens in the Top 3, or did Suzy slip under the wire?

The third member of the Top 3 is... John Stevens! (Simon looks smugly at Randy and Paula, then at the audience).

Ryan asks who's sure to make it tonight. Randy says Jasmine and John. Paula also says John and Jasmine. Simon says he announced it last night (when he made his predictions that were shown a little while ago.)

The highest vote-getter with 28% of the vote is... John Stevens! Wow! I'm shocked! John Stevens performs a more confident "Always a Woman" than last night. That's what happens when the pressure is off. Ryan remarks that Simon looks "oddly proud." Simon says he was great last night. Randy and Paula agree that he was better tonight.

That leaves George Huff and Jasmine Trias. And Jasmine Trias will join the other seven members in the semi-finals. Jasmine says she is overwhelmed, gives a brief speech (I was sure she was gonna thank the Academy), and cries quietly.

Ryan says to those on the couch that it’s not over. Twelve more people will have a chance to "re-audition." Four more people will advance to the Top 12 (from the way Ryan says it, it almost seems like the four will definitely come from the twelve, unlike last year when Carmen Rasmusen was selected from beyond the Top 32. But, this is Ryan we're talking about. Who knows?)

Twelve more will be performing next week. Three of them are on the couch right now! (Commercial break, time for a quick prediction! I predict George, Tiara, and Suzy.)

But first, there are some folks probably watching from their own couches, with the fingers, toes, eyes, legs, and minds crossed. Hoping for a second shot. The lucky nine are:

• Jennifer Hudson
• Leah LaBelle
• Elizabeth LeTendre
• Lisa Leuschner
• Jon Peter Lewis
• Marque Lynch
• Matthew Metzger
• Katie Webber
• Eric Yoder

Now, who are the lucky in-studio couch sitters? They are delivered like selections from the judges, but I am sure the Wildcards were already determined, so we'll say they are "announcements." Randy announces Suzy Vulaca! Paula announces George Huff! Simon announces (based on her earlier audition, he is quick to distinguish) Tiara!

That's interesting. All of the third place finishers – Matt Metzger from Group 1, Lisa Leuschner from Group 2, Jon Peter Lewis from Group 3, and George Huff from Group 4 got in. I guess the rumor about the Canadian Idol Wildcard rule was true! And, everyone who sang "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" (Tiara and Elizabeth), also got a Wildcard nod! That, I bet, has nothing to do with anything.

That is an excellent group. And there are 12 of them! I have to say, Sting7 did pretty well with his predictions. Can they squeeze them all into an hour show? Either the show will be an hour and a half next week, or these folks will be singing jingles! If next week’s TV Guide is to be believed, it’s the former. At any rate, if any of you are out there, get off the computer and practice!

Sadly, no Briana, no Scooter Girl, no Erskine, and no Michael Keown. There is plenty of dismay already over some of the Wildcards (Katie Webber?), but that's what makes them fun! You'll be talking tomorrow, that's the point. Welcome to the machine!

Next week is gonna be hot! I really have no arguments with any of the Wildcards. I know some silly people are complaining that no one from outside the Top 32 got a nod. Well, that only happened once, last year, and with Carmen Rasmusen. That is hardly the norm. And, as for the argument that these are just "people who already screwed up," two words: Clay Aiken. One more: Trenyce.

I'm done.

Sting7 has been a respected published writer for 16 years, as a music editor, entertainment critic, columnist, and interviewer. He also has a curious love for pro-wrestling! You can email Stinger at stingseven@yahoo.com.

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