AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8 - THE FINALISTS OF FIRST 12 (EPISODE 13)

The 36 contestants of American Idol Season 8 will be split into three groups of 12, and for three consecutive weeks, one group will perform each week. The live performance shows air Tuesday, February 17 8/7c, Wednesday, February 25 8/7c and Tuesday, March 3 8/7c on FOX.

At the end of each performance show, viewers will be able to vote for their favorite contestants for at least two hours in their region.Â Fans can use the branded toll-free telephone numbers until 12:00 AM ET/PT (11:00PM CT/MT), subject to time zone restrictions.Â Additionally, for two hours at the end of the show in their region, AT&T Wireless subscribers can use their cell phones and text the word "Vote" to the four-digit short number representing the contestant of their choice.
Then on the weekly live results shows airing Wednesday, February 18 8/7c, Thursday, February 26 8/7c and Wednesday, March 4 8/7c, Ryan Seacrest will announce the three semi-finalists -- the top male, the top female and the next top vote-recipient -- America has chosen to move on in the competition.

On Thursday, March 5 8/7c, the special "Wild Card" episode will feature the judges' favorite remaining contestants battling it out live for a coveted spot in the next phase of the competition.

The Top female semi-finalists are:

Alexis Grace
Allison Iraheta
Ann Marie Boskovich
Arianna Afsar
Casey Carlson
Felicia Barton
Jackie Tohn
Jasmine Murray
Jeanine Vailes
Jessie Langseth
Kendall Beard
Kristen McNamara
Lil Rounds
Megan Corkrey
Mishavonna Henson
Stevie Wright
Tatiana Nicole Del Toro
Taylor Vaifanua

The Top male semi-finalists are:

Adam Lambert
Alexander Wagner-Trugman
Anoop Desai
Brent Keith
Danny Gokey
Jorge Nunez
Ju'Not Joyner
Kai Kalama
Kris Allen
Matt Breitzke
Matt Giraud
Michael Sarver
Nathaniel Marshall
Nick Mitchell
Ricky Braddy
Scott MacIntyre
Stephen Fowler
Von Smith

THE FIRST 12 OF TOP 36 AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 8