American Idol narrowed its pool of 162 twelfth-season female Hollywood Week hopefuls during Wednesday night's Fox broadcast of the week's initial elimination rounds.
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Each hopeful was allowed to give a single a capella performance while standing in a line of 10 women total onstage in a round called "sudden death." After all 10 contestants sang, the judges decided whether they would advance to the week's subsequent group round or be eliminated immediately.
According to Idol host Ryan Seacrest, there were many more girls than guys who made it to Hollywood this year, so the judges had to make some "massive cuts."
The female contestants that were cut right away on Day 1 included Megan Miller, Mariah Pulice, Ashley Smith, Anne Defani, and Sarah Restuccio.
The women shown advancing to the group round were Angela Miller, Victoria Acosta, Rachel Hale, Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Isabelle, Kez Ban, Briana Oakley, Melinda Ademi, and Ashley Feliciano.
By the end of Day 1, only 76 girls remained and would be moving on to the group round.
The following day, the remaining women were given 24 hours to prepare for the notorious group round. However, in a special twist revealed by American Idol producers -- in another Idol first -- the contestants were told the producers would decide who goes in what group, and once placed, they could not change their group. In seasons past, the contestants themselves were able to form their own groups and work with whomever they pleased.
Once the groups were established, they each had to collectively select and agree upon one song to perform from a list of 20 choices, choreograph a routine and master the song's lyrics. Those to make it through the group round would move onto the solo round, while the cut contestants would learn their fate right on the spot.
Day 2 began with only Carey, Minaj and Urban present on the judging panel, as Jackson was apparently tied up in the studio.
Kamaria Ousley, Ademi, Glover, Denise Jackson, Morgan Leigh Boberg, Lauren Mink, Brandy Hotard, Kriss Mincey, Janel Stinney, Cristabel Clack, Sarina-Joi Crowe, Tenna Torres, Kiara Lanier, and Jett Hermano all survived the group round.
Once Jackson returned to the panel, the other women shown moving onto the solo round were Zoanette Johnson, Erin Christine, Liz Bills, Daysia Hall, Stephanie Schimel, Holly Miller, Britnee Kellogg, Kree Harrison, Haley Davis, Ban, Breanna Steer, Miller, and Arthur.
The women who failed to advance to the upcoming solo round included Savannah Votion, Lizz Weiss, J'Leigh Chauvin, Shubha Vedula, Aubrey Cleland, Seretha Guinn, Lauren Bettes, Shira Gavreilov, Alisha Dixon, Courtney Calle, Alex Delaney, Kalli Therinae, and Brandy Neelly.
Thursday night's one-hour American Idol broadcast will air on Fox at 8PM ET/PT and feature the remaining women performing their solos and then the judges revealing the season's Top 20 male and Top 20 female contestants.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
