'American Idol' plans Double Elimination week, plus other scoop from top 13 party

It's been a week of serious reality show drama. First Jason chooses -- then unchooses -- Melissa on The Bachelor, and gets back together with Molly. Then Jewel and Nancy O'Dell drop out of Dancing With The Stars due to injury. And last night, American Idol shocked the country (and its contestants) by picking its first ever Top 13. KTV reporter Marisa Roffman hit Idol's finalist party yesterday evening to find out what's up...

"I actually thought it was over," revealed Anoop Desai, the surprise 13th contestant. "I started walking off stage [when I heard the 12th spot wasn't mine]. I thought I was going to be depressed on the flight home, but then Ryan [Seacrest] grabbed me by my shoulder and my life changed." Anoop said it was a special honor to be voted into the finals by the judges. "The way the show works is that America listens to the judges. To get in this way is like a star on my report card."

So why exactly did producers decide to pick an extra person? "A couple weeks ago, we realized there were quite a few really, really good kids," E.P. Ken Warwick told me. "And when it came to the Wild Card choices, it crossed our mind that if the talent rose to the surface like it should -- it doesn't always -- we were going to be in a bit of trouble because there were more than a dozen kids that deserved a go. So when it actually got to it, we thought Anoop and Matt [Giraud], they really were great, so we said, should we do the 13 thing? And we said yeah, let's do it. So it was in our minds, but it wasn't definite until we heard them tonight."

Had more people risen to the challenge, could we have gotten an even bigger group like 14 or 15?! "No, you simply can't do that," Warwick said. He also shared that since the finale date had already been set before they decided to add an the extra person, they're going to be doing a double elimination at some point.

But for the contestants, elimination was the last thing on their mind yesterday evening. Jorge Nunez, Jasmine Murray and Allison Iraheta were singing along at the top of their lungs to former Idol Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone." Jasmine and Allison also spent much of the night arm-in-arm... it seems two of the show's youngest contestants have quickly become BFF. Megan Corkrey and Danny Gokey also spent (separate) time on the dance floor mixing it up with many of the young actors from FOX's new show Glee (and damn can those Glee kids dance).

Danny in particular seemed to enjoy dancing at every opportunity he got, unable to even stand still when I spoke to him about his run on AI so far. "It feels good that they highlighted me," he said. "I just hope it doesn't bite me in the butt. I want to show people I can sing. I want to show people I can entertain." He also shared that next week's theme is "Michael Jackson" and seemed excited about that. He'll probably bust a few Jackson-like moves during his performance.

Michael Sarver, who's been in the top 12 since the first round of semifinals, confided that he was a bit overwhelmed by the party. "All these people here for us and seeing my picture on the [television] screens everywhere, that's big," Michael said, looking around in disbelief. "Extremely validating and incredible." He also seemed genuinely humbled by the fact that Simon Cowell asked the American public to vote to keep him around. "I have to say, Simon seems to like me. I don't know where that came from, but I appreciate it. I have a lot of respect for what Simon has to say. For him to like me, or to see something about me that he thinks people will enjoy, that's the most meaningful thing I think I've been told. Randy told me in Hollywood one time that I was the best of the day. So it's almost like a drug. To get that kind of feedback pumps you up, it really does. Getting to this point means you've already won. Not the show, maybe, but the country has voted you in. I can't tell you how much that means to me."

Adam Lambert, who already has controversy and rumor following him around, told me he's not letting the online haters get him down. "I'm not worried about anything. It's about the singing. That's the bottom line." He promised his fans a roller coaster ride with a lot more out there/risky song choices to come.

Also spotted partying with the Idol wannabes last night: Fringe's John Noble, 24's Annie Wersching, Family Guy/American Dad's Seth MacFarlane, So You Think You Can Dance's Cat Deeley, Sharon and Jack Osbourne, plus Idol alums Justin Guarini, Jon Peter Lewis, and Katrina Darrell (aka Bikini Girl).

Mysteriously MIA: Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest and Randy Jackson (I think Randy was over at the Dance Crew finale party).

So, are you happy with the Top 13? Or did one of your favorites get snubbed? Let's talk about this...