Photo Flash: AMERICAN IDOL'S Top 16!

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's Top 16 are: Crystal Bowersox, Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Paige Miles, Didi Benami, Sioban Magnus, Katie Stevens, Lacey Brown, Tim Urban, Casey James Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Andrew Garcia, Alex Lambert, Lee Dewyze and Todrick Hall.

"American Idol" is a reality competition to find new solo musical talent, created by Simon Fuller. It debuted June 11, 2002 on the Fox network and has since become one of the most popular shows on American television. It is currently the #1 TV show in the Nielsen Ratings and is one of only three that have been #1 for five consecutive seasons. The cast of "Idol" includes judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and Ellen Degeneres, and host Ryan Seacrest.

The program aims to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nation-wide auditions, and subsequent viewer voting. Through telephone voting, America has chosen past winners Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks, David Cook, and Kris Allen.

Several "Idol" contestants have been seen on the Broadway stage, including Barrino (The Color Purple), Hicks (Grease), Clay Aiken (Spamalot), Diana DeGarmo(Hairspray), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), Tamyra Gray (Rent, Bombay Dreams), and Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages).

"American Idol" airs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights on Fox at 8PM EST.

Photo Credit: Michael Becker FOX.

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