Casey James News

Pop sensations Ke$ha and Orianthi will take the stage on this week's live AMERICAN IDOL results show Wednesday, March 17 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Pop sensations Ke$ha and Orianthi will take the stage on this week's live AMERICAN IDOL results show Wednesday, March 17 (9:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

A night with a number of surprises rounded out the final separation of the guys and girls, as America found out the twelve contestants that will make up the finals of "American Idol." Each of the contestants sent home this evening had standout performance within the past three weeks and many contestants who did make it through were shocked at their fate.

"Idol" tonight saw the last separation between the men and women, with the top eight gentlemen performing before learning to the top twelve. The guys gave a solid show, showing versatility and an ability to adapt songs to their personal styles. It seems that, tonight, the guys as a group gave an overall better performance than the women did last night, in a surprisingly strong showing.

The top 16 contestants of FOX's 'American Idol' pose for the camera as they get ready to move ahead to next week's showdown.

"Idol" surprised viewers tonight, sending the gentlemen on to perform instead of the previously scheduled women. At the top of the episode, Ryan Seacrest explained that fan favorite Crystal Bowersox was taken to the hospital and was recommended to not perform by her doctors. "Idol" producers, as well as the guys themselves, were accommodating and decided to go tonight and allow Bowersox the night to rest.

After last night's disappointing performance from the women, America, as well as the judges, was hoping from a step up from gentlemen. And, while they did have a better overall showing than the women, it was another disappointing night from the "Idol" contestants. Several of the performers were good, but none seemed to up the ante and knock their song out of the park.

After learning the first seven of the Top 24 last night, tonight's episode left audiences in anticipation, waiting to see if their favorite singers would be selected through to the next round. Some of the choices seemed obvious (i.e. Andrew Garcia), while others left audiences wondering if they would receive good news or leave the judging room in tears.

On Wednesday, AMERICAN IDOL revealed the remaining 17 semifinalists in the season's top 24 contenders. (Spoiler Warning: Do not read ahead if you don't want to know yet who the top 24 are.)

In an 'American Idol' first, seven of the Top 24 contestants were revealed on tonight's episode. After featuring snippets of many contestants' performances, 'Idol' split the hopefuls into three groups, sending one-third of the contestants home before the final judging. Then, each remaining contestant sat down with the judges to learn whether they would be singing in front of America or ending their journey in Hollywood. Some performances worked, others fell surprisingly flat, but the big news from tonight's 'Idol' is who made it through Hollywood.

Here is the audition of Todrick Hall, who was seen on Broadway opposite Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple. Hall has also appeared in 'High School Musical 2' and in a 'Beauty and the Beast' production at Disney World. He has also appeared on Disney cruise ships as well as writing, choreographing and directing his own original production called 'Oz, the Musical.'

Here is the audition of Todrick Hall, who was seen on Broadway opposite Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple. Hall has also appeared in 'High School Musical 2' and in a 'Beauty and the Beast' production at Disney World. He has also appeared on Disney cruise ships as well as writing, choreographing and directing his own original production called 'Oz, the Musical.'

For the first time in the history of AMERICAN IDOL, the first 7 contenders of the top 24 have been announced, reports TVGuide.com.

Tonight episode of 'American Idol' brought the always-entertaining group auditions. The remaining contestants form groups of three to five people, choose from a select list of songs, and choreograph the number to perform in front of the judges. Group auditions always provide for an excellent episode, as it is the only time in the show when contestants are forced to depend on others in their performance.

The first round of Hollywood auditions on 'American Idol' brought the welcome addition of Ellen DeGeneres to the judging panel. Ellen replaced Paula Abdul, after Paula was not hired back for 'Idol's' ninth season. Ellen was a refreshing change to panel, being brutally honest to the contestants, as well as providing several amusing comments about the performances.

The 'American Idol' auditions made their last stop tonight, visiting Denver, the home to one of the biggest rock stars to come from 'Idol,' Daughtry. Since season five when Daughtry appeared on the show, the number of auditions to be the next 'American Idol' more than doubled, bringing the total number of contestants in Denver to over 9,000. Guest judge Victoria Beckham was back on the judging panel, bookending the auditions after joining the show on its first stop in Boston.