The bottom two guys and bottom two girls went home tonight. They are:

Ashley Rodriguez
Janell Wheeler

Joe Munoz
Tyler Grady

SCORES

Zinni: 3 out of 4
Zoey: 0 out of 4

We're making some changes to Predict Idol before Season 9 really gets rolling. We hope to be back in business by Tuesday for the beginning of Hollywood week. Thanks for your patience!

The Season 9 American Idol premier was on last night with guest judge Victoria Beckham. Here at Predict Idol we're going to be making a few changes, one of which being that we won't be writing regular commentary at the audition stage of the show. But we wanted to let you know that we are here, we are watching, and we'll see you soon when the "real" show starts!

Congratulations to Alexandra, who posted the most clever anagram for “Nick Mitchell Normund Gentle.” True, there were only two contestants to choose from, so she had a 50-50 shot, but we think her anagram “Chuckler: Tellin’ Mm Not Ending” may have done quite well even among a larger pool of entries. Is it perfect? No, but the meaning is instantly clear to any Nick/Normund fan in view of his performances of “And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going.”

Runner-up (obviously!) is JM with “Long Time Nut, Clench Milk,” which starts out, at least, with a very apt description of Mr. Gentle. Thank you to both for entering our contest.

Alexandra wins a $10 iTunes gift certificate. Keep your eyes peeled for future anagram contests at Predict Idol, and join us on Tuesday night for the top 11 performance show!

We will announce the winner on Monday, March 16. Thanks for playing!

There's still time to get in on the anagram contest using the words "Nick Mitchell Normund Gentle"! Here's the anagram contest post. You can win a $10 iTunes gift certificate, which would be great for downloading American Idol performances...hint, hint! Deadline is 12:00 midnight Sunday, March 15; that's only 26+ hours away! C'mon, give it a shot.

As we did last year, we're going to have a little fun anagramming the names of the top 13 contestants. We entered the names into an anagram server and picked out some of the more interesting results. Where the contestants' middle names were available, we used them to give us more letters to work with. Then check out our anagram contest below.

Kristopher Neil Allen
Eh, ill interloper sank
He kills an interloper
Shriller alien kept on
Plainest heron killer

Megan Joy Corkrey
Anger, joy, mockery
Enjoy croaky germ
Geeky or corny jam
Am coy, jerky goner

Anoop Manoj Desai
Pea jam, onion soda
Moo as a dope ninja
Does a jam on piano
Snoop on a jam idea

Matthew Scott Giraud
Matt, a twisted grouch
Was cutthroat midget
Scam attitude growth
Matt's wet dog haircut
Twitch damages tutor

Daniel J. Gokey
Lo, king deejay
A joky legend, I
Okayed jingle
Joy in geek lad

Alexis Grace
Rag as I excel
A girl as exec
Gas exec liar

Allison Iraheta
Hello aria saint
Steal a lion hair
A lite hair salon
Hail la senorita
Noisier at a hall
Aha, a trill noise
Has ill aria note

Adam Lambert
Bad metal arm
Am rat bedlam
Bald arm meat
Am drab metal
Lamb made art
Mad metal bar
Embalm a dart
Mad male brat
Debt alarm, ma

Scott Douglas MacIntyre
So cat got Dynamite curls <---best one
Monocular cat gets ditsy
To magic tasty scoundrel
Egomaniac clods try tuts
Musicology attracts Ned
Dynamite cactus log rots
Idolater accosts gym nut
Organist cad mostly cute

Jasmine Murray
A merry jam in us
May injure arms
My jam is a rerun

Jorge Nunez
Jeez, no rung

Lil Rounds
Doll ruins
Do ill runs
Drill on us

Jeremy Michael Sarver
A charmer merely jives
Each smarmy jeer viler
Jeer my cashmere rival
Calmer rhymes are jive
Sire, rhyme a clever jam
Jeer my arrival scheme
Hammy racer jeers live

ANAGRAM CONTEST!

Now here's your chance to anagram an “also-ran” Idol! The person who comes up with the most clever, fitting anagram for “Nick Mitchell Normund Gentle,” as determined by Burke and Bunny, wins a $10 iTunes gift card. Please submit your entries (maximum of 3) in the comments below. Keep it clean; this is a family site. Use the anagram server link above or just your own little ol' brain. If the same anagram is submitted by more than one person, the earliest one wins. Comment by Sunday, March 15 at midnight Eastern time. Have fun—we can't wait to see what you come up with!

Know an American Idol fan/word nerd? Share this post below!

Family matters took precedence over entertainment this week, and we were not able to bring you a full recap of Wednesday night's 2-hour saga detailing who is in the top 36, who is out, and who is still wacko/annoying/just plain weird. But we have listed the 36 contestants here, along with our predictions as to who will win.

1. Anoop Desai
2. Von Smith
3. Alex Wagner-Trugman
4. Adam Lambert
5. Taylor Vaifanua
6. Jasmine Murray
7. Arianna Afsar
8. Casey Carlson
9. Megan Corkrey
10. Mishavonna Henson
11. Stevie Wright
12. Joanna Pacitti Felicia Barton
13. Kendall Beard
14. Kristen McNamara
15. Alexis Grace
16. Scott MacIntyre
17. Lil Rounds
18. Jesse Langseth
19. Allison Iraheta
20. Danny Gokey
21. Ricky Braddy
22. Matt Giraud
23. Ju’not Joyner
24. Jorge Nunez
25. Brent Keith
26. Stephen Fowler
27. Nick Mitchell (Norman Gentle)
28. Jackie Tohn
29. Tatiana Del Toro
30. Nathaniel Marshall
31. Jeanine Vailes
32. Kai Kalama
33. Anne Marie Boskovich
34. Kris Allen
35. Michael Sarver
36. Matt Breitzke

Last year, we had fun predicting who would win right after the initial auditions were done and before Hollywood week. This year, since we missed a couple cities, we wouldn't have been able to make a fully educated guess, so we decided to wait until the top 36 were revealed. It won't be as impressive a guess if one of us is right, but it will still provide plenty of bragging rights

Bunny: Having chosen Robbie Carrico to win last year, I know my credibility, if I had any, is shot. (Remember, it was right after the original auditions!) However, this year I think my pick will stand up better. I'm going with Megan Corkrey. So, Burke, whaddaya think?

Burke: I chose Brooke White last year, which means I'm crazy good at this. Fifth place ain't bad. This year, I say Michael Sarver goes all the way.

Prognosticats: We don't care about the singing. We don't care about the pitiful and/or inspiring stories. We don't care about the drama. We are still waiting for the tuna. However, if forced, we would have to choose Alexis Grace for the win.

See you next week for the first performance show, where 12 hopefuls sing and 3 advance to the next round!

Click here for American Idol photos, apparel, tickets, everything Idol!

Since Season 7 ended, are you at a loss what to do? Do you miss your twice-weekly dose of botched lyrics and pitchiness, conflicting judging, annoying "mosh-pit" swaying, and in-your-face advertising? No, us either

Okay, so we lie. A true Idol fan misses it in spite of all the above. From May to January, what are we to do? Watch other TV shows? (There are other TV shows?)

In the meantime, if you'd like to pick up some contestant memorabilia, please visit our American Idol store and check out the hundreds of Idol-related items available, including photos, apparel, tickets, and much more.

(aired 4/10/08)

Bunny: After a recap of last night’s Idol Gives Back extravaganza, Ryan informs us that so far the total raised is $60 million. I guess there’s a way to go before they hit a googillion.

Then the top 8 sings “Shout to the Lord” again. I’m sure there will be lots of interesting buzz on the web about that.

After the break, we get a montage of “I’m a Believer” lip-syncing stars. I’d forgotten that they did a similar thing last year, I think with better results.

But let’s get to the results. Brooke White is called to the stage first. Ryan lets her read for herself from the card that she is safe; unfortunately/fortunately, she will not be attending her sister’s wedding on Saturday.

David “Bedhead” Cook is next. He does so much with so little. After some Ryan/Simon banter, he is pronounced safe.

David #2, the Archulator, is up. Who thinks he isn’t safe? Well, you haven’t been paying attention. Of course he is.

Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown are here to sing “No Air.” I just can’t get excited about this song. It sounds like someone’s first attempt at songwriting. I really like Jordin’s voice, though, and I expect that in a few years, as she matures, I’ll become a bigger fan. After the song, Ryan and his helpers present Jordin with awards for sales of her album and singles so far.

It’s time for the Ford commercial, “I Just Want To Celebrate,” which is very colorful.

Ryan calls Jason Castro. He admits he just bought the ukulele last week. Rainbow Man is safe.

Kristy Lee Cook comes out, looking like she’s dreading another trip to the stools. I knew it! I knew as soon as she came out that Ryan was going to tell her she was safe and the three left backstage were the bottom-dwellers.

Michael Johns, Carly Smithson, and Syesha Mercado nervously await their fate while we watch clips from the three frontrunning presidential candidates. Then Ryan asks the judges whether America got the bottom three right. Randy sucks air through his teeth, Paula is typically noncommittal, and Simon thinks America is listening to him. On to another commercial.

This time, Ryan isn’t sending one of them back to the couches, but rather recaps what each of the three sang, and then announces that Syesha … and Carly are safe. Unbelievable. Michael Johns is going home, and everyone is in shock, including Michael. Ryan’s teaser that last year during Idol Gives Back they didn’t eliminate anyone, but this year they are, is kind of mean, although I’m sure it wasn’t his idea.

Michael hasn’t even been the bottom three before. Is this voter complacency at its worst, a consequence of holding the first performance slot of the evening, or is it an accurate reflection of America’s tastes?

Those of you who dodged a bullet tonight, you’d better bring it next week! I’m talking to you, Syesha.

SCORES

Bunny: 0 out of 1
Wrong about Syesha Mercado
(Bunny’s Bomb: 0 out of 1)

Burke: 0 out of 1
Right about Syesha Mercado
(Burke’s Turkey: 0 out of 1)

Prognosticats: 0 out of 1
Wrong about Brooke White
(Prognosticats’ Hairball: 0 out of 1)

Bunny: We'll see you again next week!