Ranking the 8th Place Finishers

Read Hasta La Vista Haley: Top 8 Results
Read Idols From The Block: Top 8 Performances
Read Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Read Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Read Top 15 Performances of the Season So Far
Read Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time
Read Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time

There's been a lot of carping that Season 6 is the weakest talent American Idol has ever had, and while I have a strong hunch that this may actually be true, the best way to figure that out for sure (or as close to "sure" as we can get) is by seeing how the eliminated contestants from each season stack up against each other. Thus, as I have done the past couple of weeks (and will continue to do throughout the season), I have ranked each season's finishers, to see how they compare to each other. It's time for the 8th Place Finishers, with, Haley Scarnato, the most recent eliminee, coming in at #5.

Please note, rankings are determined on American Idol performances only, not on what they have accomplished since their time on the show.



1. Nadia Turner (Season 4)
Best Known For: Embracing each week's theme by changing hairstyle and style of dress
Best Performance: "Try A Little Tenderness" (Semifinals), "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (Top 12)
Worst Performance: "Time After Time" (Top 11)
Post-AI: Performing around the country; supposedly releasing an album in late spring '07; visit www.nadiaturner.com for more information



2. Rickey Smith (Season 2)
Best Known For: Charmingly (sometimes) chanting "Hercules, Hercules!"
Best Performance: "Endless Love" (Top 8)
Worst Performance: "I've Done Enough Dying Today" (Top 10)
Post AI: Toured signing back-up for Ruben Studdard



3. Jon Peter Lewis (Season 3)
Best Known For: Being "The Pen Salesman" guy; funky dance steps
Best Performance: "A Little Less Conversation" (Top 9)
Worst Performance: "Tiny Dancer" (Top 8)
Post AI: Released an album, called "Stories From Hollywood" (visit his website www.jonpeterlewis.com for more information)



4. Bucky Covington(Season 5)
Best Known For: Season 5's resident country rocker
Best Performance: "Fat Bottomed Girls" (Top 8)
Worst Performance: "Simple Man" (Semifinals)
Post AI: Releasing self-titled debut album next week; single "A Different World" is currently in the Top 30 on the Country chart; visit www.buckycovington.musiccitynetworks.com for more information



5. Haley Scarnato(Season 6)
Best Known For: She's got legs...and she knows how to use them
Best Performance: "Ain't Misbehavin'" (Top 9)
Worst Performance: "Because of You" (Semifinals)
Post AI: Who knows??



6. AJ Gil(Season 1)
Best Known For: Being devoted to his mother
Best Performance: "Star Spangled Banner" (initial audition)
Worst Performance: Everything else
Post AI: Popped up on American Idol Rewind