Is this another ploy for American Idol to garner publicity among fears the show will go downhill when judge Simon Cowell leaves? Or is it an honest-to-goodness mistake?

While viewers are still watching auditions on Fox’s singing competition show, a list of 20 of the Top 24 finalists has been leaked to press. Normally, we’d only find out the Top 24 after the auditions, and after the Hollywood round.

According to lists at Joe's Place blog, Vote for the Worst and MJ's Big Blog, we’ve already seen some of the contestants who’ve made it through in the Boston and Atlanta auditions. Here’s the full list – turn away if you wish to remain unspoiled.

The boys
Lee DeWyze
David Duke
Andrew Garcia
Christopher "Chris" Golightly
Tyler Grady (Boston)
Benjamin Honeycutt (Atlanta)
Casey James
Aaron Kelly
Alexander Lambert
Michael Lynche
John Park
Jermaine Sellers (Atlanta)

The girls
Lacey Brown
Michelle Delamor
Katelyn Epperly
Ashley Rodriguez (Boston)
Lillian "Lilly" Scott
Katie Stevens (Boston)
Haeley Vaughn
Janell Wheeler


Are you still watching Idol? melissa@tvguide.ca

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