JoesPlace posted on our board a message from Shaun Barrowes that confirms what we've heard, he does not make the top 24. Good for him, because he was actually one of the few talented people we heard out of the top 50. He also says that AI wasn't looking for originality (go figure) and that they mostly let through rockers and 16 year olds. Click "read more" to view his post.

When American Idol debuted in 2002, its supposed goal was to find the best undiscovered talent in America. Singers like Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken, who had dreams of stardom but never had the connections, were catapulted to megastardom. The producers found diamonds in the rough and launched their careers. But a disturbing trend has surfaced with the spoiled contestants of American Idol 7 – they’re no longer even remotely undiscovered talent. A large percentage of them are failed singers and entertainers who have already had their shot at fame. Yet Idol thinks that repackaging these failures is a good idea to make us watch their show. Gone are the days where you or your friends could try out for Idol and make it big. Now you have to already have connections. Read on to find out more about how this year’s show will just be a boring hash of recycled pseudo-celebrities who weren’t good enough to make it the first time around. And keep checking back as this article is updated almost every day with new information.

(Last updated 1/26/08 with the top 24)