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“American Idol’: Meet the rest of the top 24

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Dale Roe writes about television for the Austin American-Statesman.

He's worked at the American-Statesman for 10 years and has written family movie and video game reviews as well as watched lots of TV. Dale directs, writes and performs with Austin's Gag Reflex comedy ensemble, is a freelance illustrator and has contributed stories and reviews to Macworld magazine. He lives in Round Rock with his wife, two children and a dog named Apollo who barks whenever he hears another dog bark on television.

Dale Roe writes about television for the Austin American-Statesman.

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The entry titled ""American Idol': Meet the rest of the top 24."

Austin360 blogs > TV Blog > Archives > 2010 > February > 18 > Entry

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By Dale Roe | Thursday, February 18, 2010, 08:53 AM

Finally.

Wednesday night, Fox’s “American Idol” finally got around to revealing the top 24 — 12 men and a dozen women who will compete for the Season 9 crown. The choices weren’t particularly surprising, except that it’s always odd to see so many people get through who have so seldom appeared on camera while others with plenty of face time get sent packing. Still, early exposure does not always mean a long ride on the “Idol” train.

The Internet is abuzz this morning with the last-minute replacement of L.A.’s Chris Golightly with Duncanville, Texas’ Tim Urban (Golightly appeared in the group of 24 finalists huddled around host Ryan Seacrest onstage, but was nowhere to be seen in those goofy montages “Idol” runs at the end of the selection process every year in which the winners dance awkwardly and mug for the camera). A statement released by Fox said only that Golightly was “ineligible to continue in the competition,” but Internet chatter suggests that the singer was unable to prove he was no longer bound to a previous recording contract. Last season a female contestant was similarly replaced because she had ties to the “Idol” production company.

Intrigue!

The last-minute switch left the finalist roster Texas-heavy: in all, six contenders hail from the Lone Star State.

Check out the 17 finalists chosen Wednesday below (you can find the previous seven contenders here). We predict Andrew Garcia, Crystal Bowersox, Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami, Casey James, Lacey Brown and Todrick Hall are in it for the long haul. Who are you pulling for? Tell us in the comments section, below.