Hey now!  We’re finally at the stage of the game where America votes.  Read the entire recap here on TV Grapevine, including the new semi-final system.  Exceprt:

Now that the American Idol producers and judges have put the soup through the strainer, so to speak, it’s America’s turn to vote!!!

This year, the 36 semi-finalists have been divided into 3 groups of 12, and only 3 singers from each group will move on.  Then, we’ll have the return of the “wild card” where the judges pick 3 more people to round out the Top 12.

This system moves the whole thing along faster, and we don’t have to watch singers who obviously don’t belong there week after week.  However, I still like the old format better!!!  I thought that splitting it up between boys and girls was more fair – and plus, eliminating two people (instead of like, 9) allowed us to get to know the contestants before they hit the finals.  Anyway, whatever…we have to live with it.

The judges look great in the studio setting – much more comfortable than in conference rooms or a mansion where they don’t live!!!

Filed under: American Idol, TV Shows by jenkwok