How Will The Wild-Card Round Work On ‘American Idol’?
‘There will be more personality, more interest and just more diversity,’ Simon Cowell says of this season’s twist.
The round — which in the past has saved such future stars as season two runner-up Clay Aiken and season three’s Oscar-winning seventh-place finisher, Jennifer Hudson — will be back in the mix next Thursday (March 5). Up until now, though, “Idol” has been tight-lipped about how the round will work, which has led to rampant online speculation and some wild Internet theories about how the show will add to the nine audience-chosen finalists. Some fan sites speculated that the contestants with the next-highest vote totals, i.e., those who came in fourth or fifth during the first three rounds, will automatically make it to the wild card. Others have guessed that 12 contestants will be competing for the three spots next Thursday. The sometimes-reliable “Idol” fan site Mjsbigblog.com also reportedly heard that wild-card contestants will sing the same song they performed during their semifinal week.
While those rumors have been creative, an “Idol” spokesperson said they are mostly off-base. Quite simply, each judge can pick two contestants from the top 36 — from which everyone is eligible — and those eight (or possibly nine) singers will perform a song on the one-hour March 5 show, with three advancing into the top 12. (Are you as confused as we are about when the show airs? We have the coming weeks’ American Idol” schedule in the Newsroom blog.)
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Sounds good to me. But somebody better bring back Anoop!
He deserves to be in the top 12. 
I agree with Brooke, Ann Marie and Anoop need to be brought back for the wildcard round!
Phewww! I’m glad this is the case because this kinda gives me the feeling that Tatiana will not be brought back. If Norman doesn’t make it based on viewers, Paula will probably pick him as one of her wildcards. Thank God we have Simon and Kara, because Randy and Paula’s choices will be absolutely horrible.
Called it. This is what I thought would happen.
Why is it “eight or nine” instead of just “eight” … Which judge might get the option of picking three?
my predictions for the wildcard contestants:
paula: ricky braddy, nick mitchell
randy: anoop, taylor vaifanua (if she doesnt make it) or alex wagner trugman (if he doesnt make it)
kara:kristen mcnamara (if she doesnt make it), ann marie boskovich or jasmine murray
simon: megan corkery, kris allen
train is calling the wild cards before the people even sing. LOL
you know what they should do? pick 4 people to advance to make it a top 13, and also so each judge can pick one. then eliminate 2 people that first top 13 show. i don’t think it matters if it’s 12 or 13 since only 10 will tour.
Here’s what I think might happen. Each judge will select two contestants from the remaining 27 “Top 36″ contestants who did not get in. Then, in a “surprise” move, all of the judges will unanimously pick one contestant from Hollywood week who did not make it to the top 36 to be part of the Wild Card round.
My guess is that it could be Osmond.
All I know, is SOMEONE better bring back MATT GIRAUD!
Kai Kalama, listen to the itunes again, just to his voice. He deserves a second chance. Bad song choice the first time, give him another chance. Kara said she wanted to hear him sing something more modern. Me too.