The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

After Wednesday's results:

As anyone with a pair of ears could have predicted, Danny and Alexis made it into the Top 12. Lovable oil rig dude Michael Sarver got the third spot from tonight's dozen.

Here's hopin' the judges see fit to put Anoop in there with them in three weeks.

Next week "Idol" is on Wednesday and Thursday (presumably because of President Obama's speech on Tuesday night).

Included in next week's batch of 12 is dark-haired dynamo Adam Lambert, songstress Jasmine Murray, goofy Norman Gentle and a bunch of other people I barely remember seeing during the Hollywood rounds.

After Tuesday's show:

OK, cheeseheads: We have a real contender here.

Not that we didn’t already know that Milwaukee’s Danny Gokey, 28, rocks. Those of us paying attention totally knew. And it’s true that performing last on an otherwise quite painful first live “Idol” show only makes him seem better than he probably is.

But, wow. I pretty much hate Mariah Carey, so when I heard he was going to sign “Hero,” I braced myself for the worst. But he nailed it. He made it his own. It wasn’t overly cheesy (the song itself is kinda cheesy, so you can’t totally avoid it). And he let his ever-so-slight husky tone come through. Loved it! I was “woo-hooing” at home right along with Paula and Kara, and I’m not embarrassed to say it. Well, maybe just a little embarrassed. But I’m sayin’ it anyway!

So he’s definitely the top guy.

The top girl? My girl Alexis Grace, hands down. Single mom Grace, 21, of Tennessee, gave us a fabulous, soulful performance of Aretha’s “Never Loved a Man.” I love that that voice comes out of that little blonde-haired body. She was lightyears beyond the other women on the show.

And I think the third top vote-getter will be Anoop (Dogg) Desai, 22, of North Carolina. He did pretty well with Monica’s “Angel of Mine.” It wasn’t amazing, but he’s already got a nickname. That alone, I think, will edge him past fellow North Carolinian Ricky Braddy, 26. Braddy is a top-notch singer, but I think Simon’s right. He lacks the charisma that 'Noop Dogg has.

Everyone else was either completely forgettable or so horrible that I wish I could forget. Jackie Tohn, 28, of New York, tried to win us over with Elvis but I was too distracted by her disco-era spandex. Brent Keith, 29, Ohio, bored me to death with a country song (disclaimer: I’m not a country fan). Stevie Wright, 17, of California; Casey Carlson, 20, Minnesota; and Ann Marie Bosckovich, 22, of Tennessee were just uncomfortable to watch (sigh -- I had high hopes for Ann Marie …).

Likeable oil rig dude Michael Sarver, 27, of Texas, and lyric-forgetter Stephen Fowler, 26, Ohio, were notably underwhelming (Michael Jackson?! Really, Stephen?)

And as if Ryan's new dark, unfrosted ’do wasn’t enough to weird me out, spazzy Tatiana Del Toro, 24, of Puerto Rico, was so super-chill that I swear she took some valium before the show.

She gave an OK performance of Whitney’s “I'm Saving All My Love for You,” but the comedy really kicked in when the judges were all “Hey, you didn’t stink up the place!” and “Hey, where’s the drama queen we love so much?” In other words, they pretty much admitted that they never thought she was that good but they let her through for the train-wreck potential. So when she shows up all mellowed out and singing halfway decently, they’re all flustered. Whatever. I guess they still have the chance to let her through in the fourth week if they want.

So the top guy, top girl and third-highest vote-getter get through Wednesday night. The next two weeks will go the same way with each group of 12. Then in Week 4, the judges pick the last three for the Top 12 from the contestants who didn’t get voted through. Confusing enough for you?

Who did you love? Who did you hate? And do you think the “Idol” peeps will get their act together on their second live show (tape miscue, random shot of camera guy walking backstage at the end of Fowler’s performance … what, did they have the interns working the show Tuesday night?)

A little “Idol Chatter” blog note: I’ll be on vacation the next two weeks, so an “Idol” fan in our awesome Internet Production department has agreed to fill in writing the blog while I’m gone.

Is it weird that I’m thinking of watching a portion of “American Idol” with the mute on?

So we have our Top 36, and I knew -- I knew -- they’d let that psycho screamer Tatiana Del Toro onto the show. She’s this year’s Sanjaya. Only I’m pretty sure she’s much more delusional than Sanjaya ever was. And unless the party poopers over at that “Vote for the Worst” site have their way, I don’t see her sticking around for long.

But the shrieking and laughing alone is enough to drive a person batty. “Try not to be annoying for once,” Simon Cowell tells her. Indeed. Hasn’t happened yet. I guess she’s an OK singer. But I don’t see her ever winning, and that’s one criterion the judges kept talking about -- which made some of their choices even stranger.

Take “Norman Gentle,” or Nick Mitchell in his “normal” state. He could sing. And as his character “Norman,” he was good comic relief. Paula Abdul basically said that’s why they like him and that‘s why he made it onto the show. Wha...?! So she thinks “Norman Gentle” could be this year’s Idol? Um, no. You must be off your meds again, Paula.

Obviously being “winnable” is not as important as being someone who could bump up those ratings. Nothing wrong with that -- just don’t pretend that it’s for any other reason. We’re not as think as you dumb we are.

So that’s two questionable decisions. The third is a little more debatable for me. Drama queen Nathaniel Marshall (mom’s in prison, lives with his grandma) also made it. He can sing OK, but I’m not sure about all the weeping. I don’t know if he can handle the pressure. But maybe he’ll do OK. He’ll definitely keep Kleenex in business.

I’m also not happy about overconfident belter Von Smith making it through. I remember when he was on “The View” -- Rosie O’Donnell brought him on, thinking he was the best thing since Streisand. Not so much. I’m not a fan of over-singing, and that’s pretty much his niche. I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m seriously doubtful.

But I didn’t hate everyone they put through. I’m thrilled that my fave Danny Gokey from Milwaukee made it! It was a bummer that his good friend Jamar didn’t, though. But at least we have someone local-ish to cheer for! Go Danny boy!

I’m also excited that dark-haired rocker dude Adam Lambert (who did a really cool version of Cher’s “Believe” on Tuesday night) is in the Top 36. I also like almost-blind-guy Scott MacIntyre, mom of three Lil Rounds, Puerto Rican crooner Jorge Nunez, lyric-forgetter Stephen Fowler, Matt “the welder” Breitzke, Micheal “oil rig guy” Sarver, single mom Alexis Grace and Ann Marie Boskovich (OK, that last one is mostly ‘cause we share a first and middle name … )

And what’s up with all the forgotten lyrics in Hollywood?! Simon makes this announcement of doom in the first round that if anyone forgets their lyrics, they’re out. But apparently that was just in the first round. ‘Cause all kinds of people who forgot their lyrics in subsequent rounds are on the show. Sigh. I guess consistency has never been a strength for “Idol” judging …

So next week we get our first group of 12, including my boy Danny and Shrieky McShriekerson Tatiana. Also in that group: Stevie Wright, Ann Marie Boskovich, Jackie Tohn, Casey Carlson, Alexis Grace, Anoop Desai, Michael Sarver, Stephen Fowler, Ricky Braddy and Brent Keith.

So who did you like? Who do you hate? What did you think of the “sing-offs” they did Wednesday night? And how about that new judge?