Ah, the life of an American Idol contestant. It seems like just weeks ago that they came together for the Top 24 Party, while Thursday (March 6) night saw another gala as the American Idol field was cut to its Top 12.

While the Top 24 party at The Day After in Hollywood was thrown by the show's production company and its sponsors, Thursday's festivities at the Pacific Design Center were a vintage FOX affair. That meant Wolfgang Puck catering -- with the BBQ chicken pizza, the tomato confit cones and the tuna tartare cones as stand-outs -- and the usual assortment of stars from whichever shows the network is trying to push. That means Mark "Not Marky Mark" Wahlberg was rubbing shoulders with New Amsterdam leading man Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, late night stand-by Spike Feresten (yes, his show is still on) was drinking near Back to You available cast member Josh Gad and the assortment of previous American Idol non-winners in attendance included Justin Guarini, Kim Caldwell, Constantine Maroulis and Gina Glocksen, who looked fantastic.

For the first time in my memory -- and I'm pretty encyclopedic about these things -- the last four pre-Top 12 bootees were in attendance. So just hours after their American Idol dreams ended, Kady Malloy, Asia'H Epperson, Danny Noriega and Luke Menard got to enjoy one last free meal on FOX's dime, going through the buffet just as the West Coast feed of their elimination aired on HiDef TVs all around the room.

While our photographer stood at one end of the Red Carpet shooting our super gallery shots, I stood at the other end waiting patiently for the contestants to make it through an onslaught of TV and radio interviews. Brooke White whizzed by me. I missed David Cook while talking to Michael Johns and Syesha Mercado slipped by while I was gabbing with Carly Smithson. I'm not sure how I missed Jason Castro and Presumptive American Idol Winner David Archuleta was losing his voice.

But I talked to seven members of the Top 12, which isn't bad.

Here are some choice quotes:

Chikezie [Eze]

On improving after a rough first week: The first week I was trying to fit the theme, which was stupid. Honestly. Really, really dumb. Because we don't live in the '60s. I came to the realization, thanks to the judges' words, even Simon's -- As much as I talk back, I still listen to what he has to say, there are still little kernels of truth in there -- but I had to hear what they said. It was old-fashioned and I had to bring up to the new millennium. I'm like 'You know what? I'm going to be an artist in the new millennium. I don't have a time machine. I'm not going to go back 40 years to do my songs. It's now.' Honestly, I feel like a lot of the music that I grew up on is now, so why would I be singing songs like they're 40 years old?

Ramiele Malubay

On the toughest part of the Idol experience: You get so stressed out with song choices. I think I have the record for changing my song. But I'm doing it anymore. My family keeps telling me to change my song, but I'm not listening to them anymore! Oh my gosh. Seriously, I'm tuning my family out for the whole song-choice thing. I'm going to tell them that I'm going to do that song that they want me to, but I'm not. They'll get so mad at me, but I don't care.

On what she'd like to tell Ryan Seacrest next time he makes a short joke: 'Ryan, you know how tall you are. Don't even front.' I'm gonna wear five-inch heels and I'll be the same height as him.

Kristy Lee Cook

On her ongoing health problems: I've been having vocal problems the past three weeks. I've been sick and trying to get over it and my voice has been about 75 percent, so Simon has been right about my performances vocally. I'm just hoping and praying that next week my voice will be back and I can just belt it out. I'm doing everything from vitamins to taking some of the nastiest organic oil crap you can ever think of, stuff that will make you want to throw up that's just vocally good for you. I'm trying to rest and seriously trying to do everything, because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Amanda Overmyer

On whether she's having fun even if she isn't smiling: I have fun even when they slam me for everything. The whole objective of coming on this show was for a minute-and-a-half every week, giving America a glimpse into what they would see if they paid to buy a ticket and see me live. That's what I'm trying to do every week and I have fun doing that every time I sing. Even if it's not my best performance, it's still fun and it's still what I love to do. I still want to share with everybody.

On how she'd react if the Idol stylists ask her to change the streaked 'do she's had for four or five years: No! No! No!

David Hernandez

On how he's bounced back after tepid early reviews: The first week, I was really nervous. I opened the show for American Idol 2008, 35 million people, I've never done it before in my life. The second week I got my confidence back and I realized this is fun! This is my job. I put that all into perspective and I said, 'I need to get out there and do what I was put on here to do.' I think every week I'm going as an entertainer and a singer.

On his hopes for the Top 12: You know what? I want to win really really bad, but I know that if I don't win, I'm still thankful for the opportunity and I know that I'll still have a successful career and I won't have to go back to serving pizza. But I want it just as bad as anybody else if not more.

Michael Johns

On Randy confusing INXS and Simple Minds this past week: I wasn't going to call out The Dawg on national TV, you know? But yeah. It's OK. It's all good. I think he got a little confused because he made the the Michael Hutchence reference because that's what he thinks I look like when I'm up on stage, but hey, it's Randy Jackson, so he can flub every once in while.

On his previous career experience: I'm one of the contestants who have had a career before. I've been trying to make it in this business for 10 years and Idol has proven over the last six years that there's nothing in the business right now, finding new talent, nurturing it, selling records, getting careers off the ground, the industry's not doing that now like it used to. With the whole downloading and everything, it's just people losing their jobs and A&R departments going under, so for me, when Idol came up and the time worked out, I was so thankful for the opportunity. All you want as an artist is to sit there and go 'Just give me a chance. Let me show what I can do to a big audience' and there's nothing like Idol.

Carly Smithson

On whether her Idol experience has lived up to her dreams after visa problems stopped her two seasons ago: This is beyond the dream. I honestly didn't think it would ever get like this. This is incredible and I can't believe it. There's no words that can describe what happened tonight. This is just nuts. There. That's my word. Nuts.

On whether her previous experience is an advantage: I made a record, but I never did stage performances at all, so a lot of these other people have. It's like a balance between the two and I think one of my major weaknesses is stage presence and I really need to work on it. It'll take time. I think having past experience only means that you've been trying to get this far for so much long. I really, really want it. I worked very hard and I will work very hard. Whatever it takes, I want to be here.

Comments

What, no Brooke interview? Blah!

Patty | Mar 7, 2008 1:19:55 PM | #

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Daniel - Wimped out on the stripper question huh? I would have too. YEah right going back to sell pizza? Perfect opening there for a question.

So after talking to them about their previous experience do you have a different perspective on the ringer thing?

You got a pretty cool job. Which girl is the most beautiful in person? Cause Kristy Lee is a Knockout on tv.

Jason S. | Mar 7, 2008 3:26:50 PM | #

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David H job serving pizza?

Mae | Mar 8, 2008 12:00:40 AM | #

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aww man! no david archuleta interview? now i'm sad....=(

miranda | Mar 10, 2008 1:41:30 PM | #

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david you really have worked hard to get where you are, keep up the good work!!!we love you!!!!

piasilva66 | Mar 11, 2008 9:05:05 AM | #

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hey i watch the show thre are some good singers but i love simon he gets to the oint and he isso cool

margy wallace | Apr 7, 2008 8:08:30 PM | #

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