A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

I AM SORRY TO SAY ... THAT WE WILL BE HAPPY ... TO SEE YOU LEAVE THIS COMPETITION . . . AS THE WINNER : And then there were 24 Idolists, and this seems to be a significantly older crowd than the norm. There are no kids like Diana DeGarmo or Paris Bennett, nor are there wussy boys like Anthony Federov and Kevin Covais.

Yes, we'll be rooting for a lot of people, including the former backup singers (and against Antonella Barba), but let's not kid ourselves: Chris Sligh, fellow tuffle-head and fellow blogger, starts with a significant lead in our hearts. His favorite song list is heavy on Muse and MuteMath, neither of which I know, but anyone with Ben Folds' "Army", S&G's "The Only Living Boy In New York" and Everclear's "AM Radio" on such a list is clearly someone to be watching. He writes on his website today:

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all your support and love . . . I am undeserving and eternally thankful. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is a near impossible one: vote the chubby kid to #1. It is your love and support (and voting) that will ultimately give me the chance to fulfill all my dreams and vow to never forget how much you all have helped me. One day, in May, I hope to look out into the Kodak and see half the crowd wearing afro wigs.

Fro Patro'

With love,
Chris

And it was awfully comforting to see the ritual Line Dance of the Semifinalists to wrap up tonight's show. Next week, it's on, America.

edited to add: And here they are. Eight competitors are 27 or older; only three are under twenty.

edited #2: Per Blurred, this also is the least Southern of the semifinal groups we've seen.