American Idol pulled back the curtain on your Top 24 last night and in addition to driving my spellcheck insane (I mean ... Creighton Fraker? Eben Franckewitz? I've got more red squiggles than a Mortimer The Marker coloring book), the closing moments of the show revealed that one of the eliminated boys would be getting a second chance as their Top 12 was turning into a Top 13!
Jermaine Jones, Johnny Keyser, Richie Law and David Leathers are the four boys in contention for a comeback and while Idol will reveal which one is joining the Top 13 on Tuesday's live show, I feel pretty confident saying right now who it will be.
Here's why.
This choice was obviously made long after the Top 24 was assembled. That means the judges & producers felt something was missing from their competition. It also means they got the chance to watch fan reaction to the season and probably made this choice with that in mind.
Using that logic, I will say that we won't be seeing cowboy Richie Law again since he came off rude, egotistical and a Scotty McCreery-wannabe throughout Hollywood Week. And while that didn't stop them from putting the equally off-putting Brielle Von Hugel through to the semi-finals, I doubt they'll bring back another contestant America won't Dial Idol for.
And as much as I love me some Jermaine Jones (I was crying at his elimination too J.Lo, come rest your keppe on my shoulder girl), the fact remains that his voice isn't as good as his personality, so let's crown him Miss Congeniality and move on.
That leaves us with the equally talented and equally charismatic David Leathers and Johnny Keyser.
David barely missed out on the Top 24 last night when he was brought up to the stage alongside Eben Franckewitz for final judgment. But Johnny was eliminated waaaaaay back in Hollywood -- he didn't even make it to Las Vegas, so his inclusion in this Second Chance Final Four is the most telling.
There were countless other boys cut in Vegas that aren't being considered for reinstatement, so the simple fact that his name is in the mix should be enough to say he's lucky number 13, right? I'm not so sure anymore.
Let's all rewind to Group Round when Johnny performed alongside Bryce Garcia, Kristi Krause and Imani Handy. You may remember them as "those two other people and the girl who had a full-body seizure mid-song" [relive that moment here]. Now, while her collapse was shocking, leaving fans and the judges reeling, let's all be honest, you also rewound that moment more than once. And it was on one of those repeat viewings that I realized Johnny walks away from her slumped over body and continues to perform!
Hell, Randy Jackson had to tell him to stop singing! Randy. Jackson. The least empathetic person on this show recognized the need for decorum and halted Johnny's audition. That's saying something.
Now, while that Rachel Berry dedication to success is admirable, it also tarnished the All-American Boy I previously predicted would win the whole competition. I mean, that audition -- ooh boy!
But I'm guessing that given his previous performances and those Tiger Beat-esque good looks (which none of the other male finalists are bringing to the table) the judges are willing to overlook Johnny's heartless Hollywood moment and welcome him with open arms back into the competition!
