American Idol

Three, two, one, and cue Ryan.

This is not just a stage.

This is a platform that will launch

one of these 24 faces into super stardom.

Tonight the girls go live battling for your votes.

It's time for you to take the reins because this is American Idol!

Good evening.

I'm Ryan Seacrest.

And we are live.

The auditions are over.

Hollywood week's drama has been put to rest

and now we get serious with your top 24.

But it's your job to cut that number down and create your top 12.

The girls are up first, and here they are.

Paige Miles.

Ashley Rodriguez.

Janell Wheeler.

Lilly Scott.

Katelyn Epperly.

Haeley Vaughn.

Lacey Brown.

Michelle Delamor.

Didi Benami.

Siobhan Magnus.

Crystal Bowersox.

And Katie Stevens.

The six of them will be in your top 12 as well as six of the guys.

Say hi to the gentlemen.

How do you feel it?

Please go back to big Mike for a second.

Be careful with your clapping.

You're going to elbow a chin there. It's dangerous.

They're on tomorrow night.

Here's the map.

For the next three weeks,

each group will take the stage separately and based on your votes,

we will lose the bottom two girls

and the bottom two guys until we get down to your top 12.

Sounds easy, but you're going to have to

make some tough calls because this year's group

really is incredible and has great potential.

Let's give it up for the people who found them.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ellen Degeneres.

Randy Jackson.

Kara Dioguardi.

And Simon Cowell.

So let's start with Mr. Cowell.

I heard the big news.

I saw the New York Post.

You've said that it's going to be the girls' year.

Yep.

W... what is it...?

That's the first time I've ever seen you look nervous.

What is it that stood out about this group of girls?

You know, we've got an interesting mix.

This is a very close group.

I've watched a little bit of the rehearsals.

Some were good.

Some not.

And so it begins.

Kara, does it seem to you like America knows this group better at

this stage of the competition?

I think so.

I think that's important.

You know, it gives people a frame of reference to kind of

figure out why they pick certain songs.

I think it's a good thing.

And, Mr. Jackson,

Let's give these girls some fair advice.

What's on your mind?

Listen, I'm telling you this is make it or break it right here.

On this stage right now, the competition really begins.

So you've got to be great or you've got to be mad at yourself.

It's up to you to really wreck the stage with your vocals.

And Ellen, you've been excited about

this first week of the live show, haven't you been?

I'm very excited.

Don't be mad at yourself,

Whatever you do.

Don't be mad at yourself.

I agree.

I think this is... you knwo you're all good,

but now we're looking at what's going to

keep people glued to the television instead of

like looking away and waiting for the next person.

Be... you know, everything that you possibly can be right now,

because it could be over tomorrow.

When I walked out,

I was surprised to see you there at the table.

During Hollywood week, you were next to Simon.

Yeah, yeah, ah, we had a little problem.

And... and I just feel like it's safer over here.

And I think... - She wanted to be next to the door.

Well, the problem is Simon wants me.

And he... he's got like a thing for me and I get it, Simon, I get it.

but it's not going to happen,

and I... he just keeps... his

hands are like wandering hands,

And I...

I actually... you know what,

I hate to do this to you, Simon,

but no one's going to believe me unless I have tape to prove it.

So, just to protect myself in case there's a suit of some sort,

Can we just show the tape?

Yeah, let's roll that tape. - OK.

Let's see that.

# baby I want you to hold me #

# control me #

# come closer #

# come closer #

Proof, Ryan, proof.

He did that to me, too.

He did it to me. I mean, yeah.

Naughty, naughty.

Got it. All right.

It all makes sense to me now.

Randy's very grateful that we made this choice. - Yes, yes.

For the next three weeks,

the top 24 will be singing hits from the billboard charts.

Tonight we've got everything from The Beatles to Alicia Keys

and we're going to kick it off with Paige Miles.

Here we go.

I'm 24 years old.

I'm from Naples, Florida.

I'm a pre-school and after-school teacher.

My day-to-day activities have changed drastically.

I went from having to wipe snot off kids' noses.

Now I'm just living my dream.

My favorite moment so far was definitely the final performance.

There was just completely amazing

because I had Michael Jackson's backup singers.

I've been a devout fan since I was, geez, 5 years old.

That was my moment.

# hey, hey #

# hey, I'm leaving the moment #

Having the drums, the music,

everything, I seriously went to another planet.

I think that performance I really gave them Paige.

I think I can only just get better from here.

I cannot wait to go live.

I can't wait.

Here we go. "It's All Right Now" by Free,

Paige Miles.

# there she stood in the street #

# smilin' from her head to her feet #

# I said, hey, what is this, now baby #

# maybe she's in need of a kiss #

# I said, hey, what's your name, baby #

# maybe we can see things the same #

# now don't you wait or hesitate #

# let's move before they raise the parking rate #

# all right now, baby it's all right now #

# all right now #

# baby, it's all right now #

# I said slow, don't go too fast #

# don't you think this love can last #

# she said, love, Lord above #

# now you're tryin' to trick me in love #

# all right now #

# baby, it's all right now #

# all right now, now, now, now #

# ooh #

# all right now #

# baby it's all #

# right #

# now #

Hi. - So, how's it being?

Am I going first?

Okay.

I didn't know.

Here we go.

Live TV.

I think... how old are you, by the way?

24.

24.

Okay.

I think out of all the girls,

you have the best voice.

I genuinely do think that.

Having said that,

I wouldn't have chosen that song

because it is a wedding singer type of song.

It's a cheap type of song.

I think tonight you could have come out with something much more original,

made a huge impression, because you can really, really sing.

And I think it's about self-belief as well

and you've got to believe that you are a star.

So I think you're going to be fine.

But you've got to be really careful in your song selection.

Kara?

I disagree with Simon.

I did compliment about it. - I know.

But I think that the song was actually brilliant because

it's a rock song and you got to really put your soul into it,

which is what you have, a lot of soul with a lot of dynamics,

and you showed that in the verse.

You slayed those verses.

My only criticism would have been the chorus.

I think you could have done more with it,

but you've got a ridiculous voice, girl.