'American Idol' Crowns Top 24

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Syesha Mercado at her 'American Idol' audition

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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 13, 2008 9:39 PM EST
LAST UPDATED: February 14, 2008 11:01 AM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

"American Idol” unveiled the top 24 on Tuesday night, sending through a few early favorites, but letting go some of the contenders fans had already grown attached to.

At the end of the hour-long program, the top 12 male contestants were revealed as:

Chikezie Eze
Danny Noriega
Jason Yeager
David Cook
David Hernandez
Luke Menard
Michael Johns
Jason Castro
Robbie Carrico
Colton Berry
David Archuleta

Noticeably absent from the list was Josiah Leming, the 18-year-old Tennessee native who arrived at the Atlanta auditions, living in his Ford Thunderbird.

On Monday night’s two-hour show, the teenager covered British pop artist Mika’s song, “Grace Kelly,” drawing rave reviews from the judges. But in a later round, he kicked the band off the stage as nerves set in during his rendition of “Stand By Me.”

His strategy didn’t pay off and the baby-faced blonde, who sounds like former Winona Ryder flame Bright Eyes, was sent home.

Also packing his bag was Kyle Ensley, the spectacled young man in a pressed shirt and tie, but he wasn’t sent home by a vote from judge Simon Cowell.

“I completely and utterly disagree with this decision,” Cowell said as Colton Berry was passed through over Ensley. “I think you should have been given a chance. I think you would have had something people would have enjoyed.”

There were fewer upsets on the female side.

The following ladies made it through to the top 24:

Kristy Lee Cook
Amanda Overmyer
Alexandrea Lushington
Joanne Borgella
Brooke White
Syesha Mercado
Alaina Whitaker
Asia’H Epperson
Amy Davis
Kady Malloy
Carly Smithson
Ramiele Malubay

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