American Idol News/Recaps/Predictions/Commentary

Ranking the Top 12 Guys: Jason Castro Makes Quite a First Impression

POLLS: Which Top 12 Guy Was Your Favorite? Who's Going Home?

Will David Archuleta, Michael Johns or Luke Menard Be This Year's Heartthrob?

Why It Doesn't Matter That Carly Smithson Had a Record Deal

Video of David Archuleta on Star Search

Eight Burning Questions About The Top 24

It's Official: Top 24 Revealed!

Best. Hollywood Week. Ever. Ranking the Top 12 Contenders

Seven Reasons American Idol Might Really Be Better Than Ever This Year

Omaha Auditions: Hiccups, Goth Wrestlers and David Cook, Oh My!

MAJOR SPOILER: American Idol 7 Top 24 Finalists Revealed!

Four Cities In: The 15 Best Auditions So Far

Charlston American Idol Auditions Are a Hot Southern Mess

American Idol Contender Perrie Cataldo Has a Rap Sheet

Shocker: More Good Auditions Than Bad in San Diego! Ranking the Six Best

Ranking Idol: Dallas' Six Best Auditions

Ranking Idol: Philadelphia's Eight Best Auditions

American Idol 7 Spoilers -- Top 50 Finalists Myspace Pages and Photos

American Idol Season 7 Schedule

Is It Wrong That I'm Dreading the American Idol Audition Episodes?

Where is American Idol Season Six' Breakout Star?

More Charity: 'Idol Gives Back' Will Return

Idol Judges Claim This Will Be Strongest Season Yet

Spoiler: American Idol Tour Set List

The Ten Best and Five Worst Moments of the American Idol Finale

Idol Thoughts Person of the Day: Jordin Sparks

Jordin Sparks Wins American Idol

Live Blogging of the American Idol Finale Pre-Show

Lots More Buzz on Tonight's Finale: Spoilers!

And The Winner of American Idol Will Be...

American Idol Finale Performances Recap: Blake and Jordin Battle It Out

What to Expect From Tuesday's Show: Potential Song Choices Revealed

Paula Abdul Breaks Her Nose

Simon Cowell is Idol Thought's Inaugural Person of the Day

Five Reasons Blake Should Win American Idol...And Five Reasons He Shouldn't

Five Reasons Jordin Should Win American Idol...And Five Reasons She Shouldn't

American Idol Finale Buzz: Will Britney Be There?

Simon Cowell Gives Kelly Clarkson Her Due

Blake vs. Jordin: Performance by Performance

Coin Toss Determines Blake Lewis Will Sing First in Tuesday's Finale

Ranking the 3rd Place Finishers

No, Not Melinda! American Idol Results

American Idol Producer Says The Girls May Have Split the Votes

American Idol Top 3 - Who is Going Home Tonight?

Three Sing Three: American Idol Top 3 Performances

Elliott Yamin, Maroon 5 To Appear on Tomorrow's American Idol Top 3 Results Show

American Idol Top 3 - Who is in Danger This Week?

Song Spoilers for Top 3 American Idol

I Am Telling You She Is Going: LaKisha Jones Eliminated From American Idol

American Idol Producer Says Genre Didn't Suit LaKisha

Top 4 - Who is Going Home Tonight on American Idol?

Three Ladies and a Little Man: American Idol Top 4 Performances

American Idol Producer Says Tonight's Results are Far From Shocking

American Idol Season 6 Tour Dates Announced

Top 6 - Which Two Are Going Home Tonight on American Idol?

Hail to Bon Jovi: American Idol Top 6 Performances

A Retrospective on Marky Mark

Nowadays he's an Oscar nominated "serious actor" (The Departed), but remember when Mark Wahlberg was just Marky Mark, the impossibly cute (and well-built) "rap" star? I do!

I thought I'd take a moment to have a little retrospective on the days of Marky Mark. Enjoy!

Watch Queer as Folk Video series









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Appreciating the Beauty of Kevin Zegers

He showed he's got some acting chops in Transamerica, but let's be honest -- we love Kevin Zegers 'cause he's hot. Here's some photos proving that.

Mmmmmmmm.









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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

Hasta La Vista Haley: Top 8 Results

Finally!

I don't hate Haley, I really don't. If I was on a cruse ship and she was that evening's entertainment, I'd probably be pretty psyched. But Top 8 of American Idol, the show that has given us the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Daughtry? Gimme a break.

The saddest part of her elimination this evening, in all honesty, was that we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her legs, which were cruelly covered up with long pants.

Yes, it was time for Haley to go, and now she's gone (with Phil Stacey making his debut in the Bottom 2 and Chris Richardson slipping into the Bottom 3). Sure, it would have been nice to get rid of Sanjaya this week, but hey, as far as I'm concerned this is the next best thing. And at least we have put a halt to three straight contestants leaving before they should have. Maybe, just maybe, we'll actually wind up with a deserving Top 4 after all, which would be quite a feat considering this crazy season.

Let's hope I didn't just jinx it.

As for the rest of the show, at double the length it was, predictably, double the torture. That segment on "the public's opinion"? Obnoxious. The Tony Bennett audition? Painful, and no way to treat a legend. The judge's contribution to the evening? Practically nothing.

La Lopez, however, was in fine form, showing us (and the contestants) how Latin music is really meant to be performed. I've gotta say, I am a much bigger fan of Jennifer Lopez now than I was 30 hours ago. And that group number was unintentionally hilarious, with the corny, dramatic choreography and Sanjaya's whispered final line. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a cheesy group number.

But hey, despite some of this evening's more painful moments, I'm not complaining. As I predicted in my post Who's Going Home Tonight, we bid Haley adieu. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

When you book that cruise ship, Haley, lemme know -- I'll even come to both the early and the late show!