I guess singing doesn’t really matter anymore? For what seems like the 47th straight night, ‘Idol’ basically put the actual singing on the back-burner last night for an incredibly long introduction to the potential top 24 and a whole lot of sitting in a darkened room.

Yes, there were some snippets of performances, but that was about it. Mostly it was talking, sob stories, and the judges judging things we didn’t get to see much of. I’m starting to wonder if the ‘Idol’ of the title is the person who talks in the confessional booth the best.

Of course, singing is just around the corner, now that we’re setting the top 24. We didn’t get to see the whole two-dozen last night (that will finish tonight), but we did get through most of the contestants.

Here’s who’s in and who’s out so far:

Jen Hirsch

This is the girl with the incredibly sultry voice that I’ve constantly compared to Jessica Rabbit. We know what she’s done so far, but last night it was nothing we’ve ever seen. It was bad. Kinda really bad. I’m not sure what she was singing, but it definitely caused her to shriek the word “Baby” a lot without her usual poise. Hopefully she can regain her old form because she’s sticking around.

SAFE

Creighton Fraker

This is the guy who combines church music with a jazzy rock vibe. We also found out tonight (or maybe before, I don’t remember it though) that his biological father is the lead singer of Flotsam and Jetsam. A killer pedigree to be sure but in his final song he didn’t really show it – he just kind of squeakily shrieked. Like chipmunk hair metal. We’ll see if that serves him down the road.

SAFE

Lauren Gray

This is the girl who was told, “There’s no crying in music,” by the vocal coach from Hell. She didn’t cry at all in her final performance and instead flashed a towering and confident voice that almost had a Pink vibe to it. The judges didn’t see it my way though as she was the first to get kicked off.

OUT

Joshua Ledet

This is the preacher’s son with a gritty soul voice. I was an unabashed Jacob Lusk last season, and I have no trouble saying this guy might be better. He’s got all the same tools (as he showed in a killer final performance), but has a better pop sensibility than last year’s soul star. I’m looking forward to see what else he’s got going forward.

SAFE

Haley Johnsen

This is the major blonde with the major voice who left coffee shop singing in college behind for the ‘Idol’ stage. She hasn’t distinguished herself much yet, but she’ll get her chance.

SAFE

Neco Starr

This is the guy with the crazy hair who came right out of the mid-90s soul school. He’s a total star. He’s got the bravado, the stage presence, and the swagger to absolutely sell himself and any song he’s singing. The problem is that he doesn’t quite have the voice yet and he hit some troublingly flat notes in his last performance. The judges were right to cut him, but definitely right to tell him to try again.

OUT

Caleb Johnson

I never saw this big fat rock guy before, at least not that I remember. When I finally did get to see him it was at his last performance where he chose a costume tux and ridiculous sunglasses. He also thought he messed up and stopped in the middle. Believe it or not, the judges did not keep him around.

OUT

Elise Testone

This is the struggling road rocker with a really smoky blues and the range of a big-time pop rocker to boot. She absolutely killed her final performance of “It’s a Man’s World” and showed she’s got the chops to make an impact. I wonder about the fate of the rocker chick in ‘Idol’ land, but she’s going to get the chance to test the waters.

SAFE

Reed Grimm

This is the crazy Pittsburgh auditioner who’s been onstage since he was a kid and seems just a bit unstable. You remember him, he freaked out in Hollywood week for no reason and then played the drums? Well, he did that again except this time he added some stupid scatting nonsense to the proceedings. He’s trying hard to be this year’s Casey Abrams. Which means he’s trying hard to make me despise him.

SAFE

Erika Van Pelt

This is the Pittsburgh Mobile DJ (still not sure what that is) with the mammoth voice. She stole the show at Hollywood week with a massive performance of “Glitter in the Air” by Pink. Her final performance was less than that, and I began to question what the judges saw in her. I guess I’ll have to keep doing that.

SAFE

Chelsea Sorrell and Baylie Brown

I don’t remember either of these two girls. The former is an R&B girl who forgot her lyrics at Hollywood the latter is a country girl with a very weak voice. Somehow they both got through. Maybe I can figure out who they are.

SAFE

Cowboy Guy

We don’t need to know his real name anymore, all we need to know is that he’s the poor man’s Scotty McCreery who messed with my boy HeeJun. Well, he won’t be able to do that anymore because he’s gone, though speaking of HeeJun

OUT

HeeJun Han

Yes! My favorite is safe. I’ll write much more about him tomorrow, I’m sure.

SAFE

Jessica Sanchez

I don’t remember much about her so far either, but she made a big impression with her final performance. She’s got a real solid R&B voice and really knows how to sell the emotion of the song. That’s probably why they let her performance go past the de facto 30 seconds they’ve been giving everybody else.

Phil Phillips and Colton Dixon

I’m combining these two because they have to be the two front-runners at this point. They’re both good-looking guy with instrument, the surefire formula to win here. The only hindrance for Colton could be his hair, so I’ll give the edge to Phil right now. But I’m going to go ahead and call one of these guys the winner right now.

SAFE

Brielle Von Hugel

Last but not least is Brielle of the crazy stage mom. I’m so looking forward to her in the front row at next week’s semi-live performance screaming over the band. It will be the sweetest accompaniment.

SAFE

Check back tomorrow to learn the fate of Adam Brock (seriously, another cliffhanger?) and this year’s edition of the Molly DeWolf Swenson Favorite Rankings.