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The audition rounds are finally over. I think those things get longer every year. Now we can get on with the real competition.

So without further ado, here are the finalists, singing the songs of Diana Ross.

Melinda Doolittle
Home

Stephanie Edwards
Love Hangover

Gina Glocksen
Love Child

Lakisha Jones
God Bless The Child

Blake Lewis
You Keep Me Hanging On

Sanjaya Malakar
Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Chris Richardson
The Boss

Brandon Rogers
Can't Hurry Love

Haley Scarnato
Missing You

Chris Sligh
Endless Love

Jordin Sparks
If We Hold On Together

Phil Stacey
I'm Gonna Make You Love Me

This year's Top 12 hit the stage and right away, I think we have a winner (or loser, as the case may be). Brandon Rogers was the first up, and he forgot his words right out of the gate. He also wasn't very good. Bottom three for sure, and likely gone. He certainly would have been if he was in Hollywood.

From the other contestants, I will say that Melinda Doolittle stood out as being quite good, as did Jordin Sparks, but it was Lakisha Jones who stole the show. As with the earlier rounds, the girls really have the goods this year and the guys have some catching up to do.

In fact, while I liked Chris Sligh in Hollywood, I didn't really like him much here. I did quite enjoy Blake Lewis, so we'll see how that goes. Sanjaya Malakar just has to go.

For the bottom there, I'll add Sanjaya to Brandon, and throw in Haley Scarnato. She is, in fact, the weakest of the girls, with little talent. Good thing for her that she can tart it up a bit.

Update: Sanjaya and Brandon were in the bottom three, and Brandon was sent home, but they were joined by Phil, not Haley. Two out of three. Not a bad start.