Fan Fare

13 becomes Anoop Desai’s lucky number on “Idol”

And then there were……13??

The judges expanded the “American Idol” top 12 to include Anoop Desai and make it a top 13 for the first time in a suspense-generating stunt.

 But Tatiana Del Toro, with all her tears, ambition, drama and unpredictability, will have to find a stage other than “Idol” to emote on. Is the show better off?

Instead, we get Anoop, who has emerged as Mr. Likeability with the judges. But does he have the same rapport with viewers, who eliminated him in week one in favor of Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey and Michael Sarver.

 Along with Anoop, the judges also brought back Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud and Megan Joy Corkrey.  Bringing them back is a way for the judges to correct the tyranny of the “Idol” majority, but do they have the chops to survive without a helping hand from the judges?

It’s a diverse line up, with Anoop, blind singer Scott McIntyre and Puerto Rican Jorge Nunez, along with teens Allison Iraheta and Jasmine.  Paula Abdul told Iraheta, 16, she reminded her of season one champion Kelly Clarkson.

Clarkson herself will perform on “Idol” next week when the competition at last gets down to serious business. Rapper Kanye West will also make a guest appearance in what could be a sign of the star quality to come over the next few weeks.

Did the judges do right by “Idol” comeback hopefuls?

Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre and Jorge Nunez moved on to the next round on “American Idol” Wednesday, but none of those names came as a surprise and the focus moved to the eight contestants who will compete in next week’s “wildcard” round.

Did the judges pick the right contestants?

 The always-dramatic Tatiana Del Toro immediately burst into tears again at getting a second shot while Anoop Desai, who Cowell called “original, likeable, talented”, looked stunned when his name was called.

The judges also brought back Megan Joy Corkrey, with judge Simon Cowell saying she was one of their favorites from the audition rounds and that it came as a surprise when the bubbly blond was eliminated in week two.

 When the “American Idol” crew reconvenes on Thursday night, the judges will make their pick of the top three from the eight. The wildcard round — brought back this season after being left out for a few years – gives the judges a chance to rectify mistakes made by the voters.

Did they hit the mark, and who should now go through to join the Top 12?

“American Idol” nixes nine

The Fox television show “American Idol” eliminated nine contestants on Wednesday night, allowing single mother Alexis Grace, widower Danny Gokey and oil rig worker Michael Sarver to advance.

A lot of contestants went home unhappy in the show’s first voter-driven elimination round. In past seasons, 24 contestants competed for votes. But the cast was expanded to 36 this season with nine contestants eliminated in each of three opening rounds of 12 contestants. Then, another three contestants will be brought back to the show as wildcards. Aside from some complicated math, the show’s new format also means numerous contestants are eliminated early on, just as viewers are starting to get to know them. 

 Contestant Tatiana Del Toro was reduced to tears during Wednesday night’s elimination. The night before, judge Simon Cowell called Del Toro a “complete and utter drama queen” and said she was “desperate to be famous.” In the context of a show about making it big in pop music, that could be an underhanded compliment. But on Wednesday night, Del Toro’s ambitious dreams were smashed, and while other contestants smiled amiably as they were cast off, she cried.

Del Toro received some praise for her singing from the judges on Tuesday night. Other contestants who also pleased the judges included Anoop Desai and Rick Braddy. Which one of those contestants could come back during the wildcard round? Did Anoop, who goes by the nickname “Anoop Dogg” in a joking reference to the rapper Snoop Dogg, suffer from descrimination because he is of Indian descent? Or did voters choose Michael Sarver instead because his working class background made his strive for fame more appealing?