by Ellen Carroll on March 5, 2009

American Idol, Anoop Desai, Jasmine Murray, Jess Langseth, Kara DioGuardi, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy Corkrey, Nick Mitchell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, Ricky Braddy, Simon Cowell, Tatiana Del Toro, Von Smith

If you watch American Idol religiously, like a good American, then you know all about the Wild Card show.  If you don’t watch it every week but happen to flip it on tonight, you’ll probably be thinking, “Wait a minute, is this a rerun? I thought all those people were out of the competition!” You’ll be right, of course, about the latter. The Wild Card contestants are back with a little help from the judges, who racked their brains to come up with the eight lucky singers who will get a second chance on tonight’s episode.  Each of them had been left behind by votes cast by the public during the previous weeks of competition, but were held ‘just in case’ for the judge’s final pick.  While there are obviously those that don’t think these singers should get a second shot at stardom, Idol judge Simon Cowell thinks differently.

“Historically, this process enabled people like Jennifer Hudson and Clay Aiken to make it into the 12,” said Cowell, explaining why the process was brought back after four years without it’s use.

“If we didn’t have a wild-card pick they wouldn’t have made it,” Cowell said. “Certain people we think made stupid song choices, or they were just in a tough group, so we totally, totally support this system. I think it’s fair, and it gives somebody, a few people, a second shot. And you know what? One of these wild-card picks could actually win this show.”

This is good news for the eight chosen for a second chance. Three of the eight will advance after tonight’s show- adding the last quarter of the envied Top 12 to the stage. So, who’s back? Sadly, although not surprisingly, the headbands and 80’s glow didn’t cut it for the entertaining favorite, Nick “Normund Gentle” Mitchell.  Those chosen weren’t a surprise, either. Matt Giraud, Megan Joy Corkrey, Anoop Desai and Tatiana Del Toro were easy choices, each thrilled with the chance to show the audience how talented they really are.

Randy Jackson brought back the “really, really talented” Von Smith, who was eliminated one round earlier. Kara DioGuardi brought back the ‘commercial’ Jasmine Murray, and reminded her to “kill” the judges with her vocals. Paula Abdul saved Ricky Braddy, who had been eliminated in the first round. Also brought back was the bluesy Jesse Langseth.

Who will make the cut and continue on to the Top 12? Tonight’s show promises to be a good one as these hopefuls give everything they’ve got for one more chance at fame and fortune. My picks: Anoop Desai, Von Smith and Jesse Langseth. We’ll see…. tonight, on American Idol!

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