TOP 24 WEEK: Guys are up First!

One song and DONE.....that’s how the American Idol experience will end for many of this year’s 24 semifinalists.....and that's a darn shame if you ask me!
The drama begins tonight at 8 PM on FOX, when the 12 male semifinalists compete for spots in the finals in a special 90-minute episode of Idol. Thankfully, IDOL is squeezing 12 performances (18-24 minutes of singing) into a 1 1/2 hour time slot instead of stretching it over two hours as they’ve done in the past. The ladies will perform Wednesday night, and the voting results announced on Thursday night's show.
From my research, America's votes will select five males and five females for the finals this week. Each judge will then select a 'wild card' representative, making it the TOP 13 when it's all over on Thursday night. Not sure I'm liking this format, as for some contestants, it may be the first time we hear them sing a complete 90-second song! Geez!! I’m also a bit perplexed by the news that the performance episodes this week are 'pre-taped' rather than 'live', maybe FOX's way of ensuring the show ends on time, but....I'm more than a bit concerned, as pre-taping means editing, and I don’t trust Idol to 'play fair' all the time. Much like the way some contestants are constantly featured during auditions and in Hollywood Week while others are virtually ignored. Could and Idol favorite possibly get a do-over and we as voters not be aware of it? Could happen, and rumors will abound I'm sure on blogs everywhere that it did.
OK.....so check out the list below if you don’t mind knowing what the guys will be singing ahead of time on tonight's show:
1. Clint Jun Gamboa – Superstition by Stevie Wonder
2. Jovany Barreto – I’ll Be by Edwin McCain -
3. Jordan Dorsey – OMG by Usher
4. Tim Halperin – Streetcorner Symphony (Come On Over) (Rob Thomas)
5. Brett Loewenstern – Light My Fire – Doors
6. James Durbin – You Got Another Thing Comin’ by Judas Priest
7. Robbie Rosen – Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan
8. Scott McCreery – Letters From Home – John Michael Montgomery
9. Stefano Langone – Just The Way You Are – (Bruno Mars)
10. Paul McDonald – Maggie Mae by Rod Stewart
11. Jacob Lusk – House is Not a Home
12. Casey Abrams – I Put a Spell On You
Check back tomorrow and Thursday after the guys and gals perform for my assessment and who will be in the TOP 13 on Thursday night......more from Eddie Idol......after the break!