American Idol's Wild Card Round Surpasses Audience Expectations

Fans of American Idol may be feeling the grind of the seemingly endless process of selecting the 12 finalists this year. However, last night's Wild Card sing-off round culminated in a surprising twist in which judges chose 13 finalists, rather than 12. As a longtime fan of Idol, I do feel the need to celebrate the addition of an extra contestant to break up the monotony of the previous finalists. The Wild Card episode, then, stood as a chance for the judges to add their past favorites into the mix. The following contestants have secured the final spots in the newly-constructed Top 13:

Megan Joy Corkrey, memorable for her hip movements and unique voice, won my heart in earlier rounds. A contestant like Corkrey is what viewers need for the next few weeks of competition - someone who is unafraid of taking chances and playing up her quirkiness. It's hard to stay whether she'll stick around for long, as her particular genre may not relate to the pop-loving crowd of Idol fans.

Jasmine Murray, who is Idol's youngest contestant at 16, brings on the cuteness and powerful voice this week. Her costume choice of a fierce magenta dress makes her seem older than her years, and she offers a nice command of the stage. Much like Corkrey, Murray brings a certain uniqueness through her youth and desire to be on the show. The following weeks will prove whether she'll continue to be able to belt power ballads.

Matt Giraud, an early judges' favorite, lost fans with his overly ambitious performance of Coldplay's "Vida La Vida" last week. However, he came back this week with a stellar rendition of "Who's Loving You." This week, he seemed more relaxed and comfortable, which was a much-needed improvement over his grandstanding last week.

Anoop Desai got the lucky number 13 spot for the competition. The judges seem to be in agreement that Desai isn't the strongest singer in the competition, but his personality stands out. Though fans may be worried about a repeat of Sanjaya Malakar, Desai actually has a pleasant voice. Hopefully he can hang in for a few rounds and really prove himself to the crowd.

This season of Idol has continue to leave fans guessing throughout. With a final 13 contestants instead of 12, it's easy to see that the judges are playing by their own set of rules this season. Nonetheless, the final choice rests in the hands of the viewers, so in a few short weeks, America will have a new Idol.