Anoop Is Lucky Number 13 - American Idol

Anooooop!

The (not so) Wild Card Round.

If you watched last night's American Idol Wild Card Round you know two things. First, that the results were all but certain from the start. And second, that the Top 12 was not the Top 12 at all, but the Top 13! Because, third (oh, yes, there's a third - and most important)... Anoop was in!

I couldn't believe it; he couldn't believe it. Some of you probably couldn't even see it if you had recorded the show, because your DVRs cut off right before the final announcement. In case you missed it, check out Anoop's priceless reaction to the judge's "there will be 13" prerogative.

As much as I wanted to see Anoop in the Top 12, I was glad he didn't take a spot away from Matt Giraud. On the other hand, I wasn't a huge fan of either Megan Corkrey or Jasmine Murray. Neither of them wowed me with their performances; I actually thought Megan's was one of the worst of the night. But just as I was about to fall into the "but this is a singing competition" trap, Simon issued a timely reality check:

''One of the jobs we're gonna have to do tonight is that we've gotta cast this next stage, so that we're not just gonna put the boring singers through. We've gotta put some personality through as well.''

And so Megan and Jasmine made it in, while Von Smith, Jesse Langseth, Ricky Braddy and Tatiana Del Toro were out. This was no surprise to the judges who clearly knew who would be moving on before the first note was sung.

Did they really expect us to believe they made their decisions during the commercial break? The American Idol ads are notoriously long, but c'mon.

The Top...13!

As Simon said, the Wild Card Round showed us that this show is about casting ratings-grabbers as much as chart-toppers. Harsh but true, and in this case it benefited Anoop Dogg, so who am I to argue with this cynical logic?

Here are your Top 13. Do you have a favorite? We found some girls who certainly did. Check out the video at the end of this post. And read on for the rest of the Wild Card Round action:

'American Idol' recap: Boys Gone Wild Card! [ew]

Exalted and Merciful American Idol Gods Grant Four More a Stay of Execution. [gawker]

Well, surpriiiiiiise, America! This year, we have ourselves a top 13. [buzzsugar]

American Idol Seats Wild Cards, Completes Top...13? [eonline]

'American Idol' Judges Pick Four Wild-Card Winners. [mtv]