Down to the Dozen on 'American Idol'

By Rick Porter, Zap2It Staff Writer | March 9, 2006

Ayla Brown

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No big surprises in final 12

LOS ANGELES -- How do we know Thursday's "American Idol" results show is important? Let us count the ways.

Ryan Seacrest has abandoned the tie-and-jeans look and suited up, all monochromatic and serious. Also, he's in full "after the break" mode as he teases the contestants about their fates.

Paula Abdul is on her best behavior. Nary a mention of pizza, salad or melon-eating moths.

The Brittenum twins are in the house. Wait, what? Last we heard they were facing fraud charges for allegedly using another man's identity to buy a car. Yeah, they were entertaining, in a certain look-at-me fashion, during the early rounds, but what the hell is FOX thinking inviting these guys to the show, let alone giving them screen time?

Before we get to the announcement of this season's finalists, last year's runner-up, Bo Bice, gets to perform for us. Presumably he's there to show the Top 12 what it takes, but all I can wonder is who this Bo impostor on stage is, singing some sub-Nickelback song that allows him to display not any of the fire that got him there in the first place.

Glad he's bonding with his kid, though.

The ladies are up first, and Ryan goes down the line, telling Lisa, Melissa and Ayla they're not in last place. It's the woman on the end of their row, Kinnik, who gets the first boot -- somewhat unceremoniously, it should be noted. Seacrest doesn't even give her an "America voted ...," just a goodbye.

The low-scoring guy is next, and it's Will Makar, who probably shouldn't have performed "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You" Wednesday night. So that's one teenage guy down, two -- ever-smiling Gedeon McKinney and weirdly popular Kevin Covais -- left.

They have to wait, though, as the women are shuttled back on stage and get to start filling the shiny, ashtray-looking silver chairs that represent a spot in the Top 12. Paris, Katharine, Kellie, Mandisa, Lisa -- yeah, pretty much what everyone figured. It comes down to Melissa and Ayla, and in a bit of a surprise, 17-year-old baller Ayla is sent home.

We've been led to believe that everything's come easy for Ayla to this point in her life, so to see her so broken up over her elimination really kinda makes me feel bad for her. Here's hoping she tears up the ACC next year on her hoops scholarship to Boston College.

Taylor, Ace and Chris are the first guys sent to the Top 12 stools, then Kevin. I know I said last week that I can understand why people like him, but I take it back. I really don't get it.

Someone didn't seat the guys right, because Ryan has to jump to the end of the row to tell Elliott he's made it to the finals, leaving Gedeon and Bucky on the middle of the couch. This one's pretty much a toss-up, but Bucky gets the final spot, making for a rather homogeneous group of males.

Tune in Tuesday to watch the newly minted finalists murder Stevie Wonder.