Remaining 12 Idol hopefuls are revealed

3/9/2007
ASSOCIATED PRESS

The top 12 American Idol finalists were revealed last night after America voted four more hopefuls off the hit Fox reality TV show.

Antonella Barba, 20, from Point Pleasant, N.J., and Sabrina Sloan, 27, from Studio City, Calif., were the two women who were eliminated from the top 12.

Also given a one-way ticket home after nearly 37 million votes were tallied were Jared Cotter, 25, from Kew Gardens, N.Y., and Sundance Head, 28, from Porter, Texas.

All three judges expressed disbelief at the fact that Mr. Head received fewer votes than Sanjaya Malakar, 17, from Federal Way, Wash.

I m speechless, judge Paula Abdul said. This is a singing competition, and Sundance here is one of our finest. No disrespect to Sanjaya. It s mind-boggling.

Judge Randy Jackson said he was shocked at America s decision to send Ms. Sloan home while Haley Scarnato, 24, from San Antonio, Texas, took a seat in the top 12.

Sabrina should be in the top 12, he said. I think America got that one wrong.

• See Erika Ray and Frank Corsoe haggle over American Idol. Note that their discussion took place Thursday afternoon before Thursday night's elimination.

• See Erika Ray's blog