American Idol revealed eight girls and nine guys that are semifinalists and members of the thirteenth season's Top 30 contestants during Wednesday night's broadcast on Fox.
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On "Final Judgment Day," more than half the Top 30 contestants were determined by American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr. during last night's show. The semifinalists will be rounded out during Thursday night's one-hour episode at 8PM ET/PT in which a Top 15 girls and "Top 16" guys will be announced.
The two guys left standing at the end of the broadcast will be in jeopardy of elimination and America must vote only one of them into the Top 30.
Wednesday night's show featured numerous solo performances and, one by one, the contestants learning their fate of whether they would advance in the competition.
The female singers who have made the Top 15 girls thus far are as follows: Emily Piriz, a 17-year-old student from Orlando, FL; Jillian Jensen, a 21-year-old performer from Rochester, MA; Malaya Watson, a 16-year-old student from Southfield, MI; Bria Anai, a 16-year-old student from Lithonia, GA; Jessica Meuse, a 23-year-old student from Slapout, AL; M.K. Nobilette, a 20-year-old from San Francisco, CA; Kristen O'Connor, a 24-year-old nurse tech from Sebastian, FL; and Andrina Brogden, a 19-year-old shoe store employee from Fargo, ND.
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Jensen may seem familiar to reality TV viewers. She had previously auditioned for The X Factor's second season and made it all the way to the "Judges' Homes Round." However, she was cut by mentor Demi Lovato at that point in the competition.
As for Nobilette, she is the first openly-gay contestant American Idol has ever had.
The male singers who have made the Top 16 guys thus far are as follows: Sam Woolf, a 17-year-old student from Bradenton, FL; George Lovett, a 24-year-old student from Baltimore, MD; Spencer Lloyd, a 19-year-old worship leader from Bryant, AR; Maurice Townsend, a 26-year-old music minister from Grand Rapids, MI; Dexter Roberts, a 22-year-old dog trainer and farm hand from Fayette, AL; Emmanuel Zidor, a 24-year-old airline ramp agent from Miami, FL; Jordan Brisbane, a 15-year-old student from Savannah, GA; Malcolm Allen, a 21-year-old deli grocer from Wrightsville, AZ; and Alex Preston, a 20-year-old student from Mont Vernon, NH.
Many contestants were also shown getting cut during "Final Judgment Day." Madelyn Patterson; Shelby Ann Marie Miller; Connor Zwetsch, a 20-year-old musician from Tampa, FL; Keri Lynn Roche; Jesse Roach; Casey Mcquillen; Nica Nashae, a 24-year-old student from Milledaeville, GA; and Leah Guerrero were eliminated from the competition.
American Idol host Ryan Seacrest also announced Michael Simian, Lebryant Crew and Sabrina Latini had been cut from the show's thirteenth season although the spelling of their names and bio information were not disclosed.
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In an Idol first, the show's judges forced four contestants to perform in a sing-off with no warning or time to prepare when facing their fate on "Final Judgment Day." Meuse and Roach were required to sing on the spot and attempt to outshine one another. Both artists were very similar, but Meuse ended up becoming a member of the Top 30 following the high-pressure situation.
Likewise, the judges asked C.J. Harris, a 22-year-old guitar teacher from Jasper, Al, and Casey Thrasher, a 22-year-old musician from Tuscaloosa, AL, to face off via singing. However, the episode concluded in a cliffhanger, so the results of that sing-off will be revealed during Thursday night's show.
Next week, American Idol will introduce its new "Rush Week," which will feature two nights of live performances and the thirteenth season's first results show. In a new twist, not all 30 singers will get to perform, as the judges will select only whom they believe are definitely worthy of America's vote.
On Tuesday, February 18 from 8-10PM ET/PT, former Idol judge Randy Jackson will return as the new in-house mentor and the Top 15 girls will take the stage. Then, on Wednesday, February 19 from 8-10PM ET/PT, the Top 15 guys will perform.
Idol's first thirteenth-season results show will air on Thursday, February 20 from 8-9PM ET/PT and the Top 10 finalists -- the five girls and five guys determined by America -- will be revealed. Lopez, Urban and Connick Jr. will also be afforded one "Wild Card" pick each, making the Top 10 a Top 13.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski