Michael Becker / FOXOn last night's surprisingly undramatic installment of American Idol, 14 hopefuls learned they had made it into the top 24 and would get a shot to perform live for votes.
The proceedings were cut off just as emotional family man Adam Brock, torn between missing his daughter and being put on this earth to sing, was sitting down in front of Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez at the La Rêve theater at the Wynn in Las Vegas to learn his fate.
"I love to watch a man cry, so I hate to do this," Steven teased.
Nothing wrong with a few manly tears of joy! Brock made the cut, as did the very talented Jeremy Rosado right after him.
Further down the line, the second time was not the charm for J.Lo fave Scott Dangerfield, who made it to Hollywood last year but had to leave the competition for undisclosed reasons. Lopez said she remained a fan but just didn't sense the same intensity from him this season.
But the second time was the charm for Deandre Brackensick, who made it all the way to this fork in the road last season and was denied at the pass.
"We could see your confidence had grown, that your voice had grown," Lopez informed him. "We'd be crazy people if we didn't ask you to be in the Top 24!"
A fair amount of tears were shed as the show said goodbye to Jermaine Jones, whose baritone was unique but needed a little more work before they could let him through, Jackson explained.
Ariel Sprague, Shelby Tweten and Hollie Cavanaugh—all teenagers—had to face the judges together to find out who scored the final spot. So it was a bittersweet (though largely pretty sweet) moment for Hollie when she found out that she was the one.
We were much more heartsick when the whole show came down to the equally adorable and charming David Leathers Jr. and Eben Franckewitz for the very last spot—and they had to be split up.
Eben's a great addition to the group, but we were sorry to see David go.
Or did he? Of course, there's a twist: David, Jermaine, Richie Law or Johnny Keyser (who didn't even make it into the final 42) is coming back next week to make it a neat 25. You know, for kicks!
In the meantime, America, here is your complete Top 24:
• Deandre Brackensick
• Adam Brock
• Baylie Brown
• Hollie Cavanaugh
• Hallie Day
• Colton Dixon
• Creighton Fraker
• Eben Franckewitz
• Reed Grimm
• Heejun Han
• Jen Hirsh
• Haley Johnson
• Skylar Laine
• Joshua Ledet
• Chase Likens
• Shannon Magrane
• Aaron Marcellus
• Phil Phillips
• Jessica Sanchez
• Chelsea Sorrell
• Elise Testone
• Erika Van Pelt
• Brielle Von Hugel
The top 13(!) guys sing first next Tuesday.
Are you satisfied with this group? Who do you want to see back in the competition? Who's already got your vote?! Sound off in the comments!