Popular reality show American idol is down to 16 contestants. This is the latest update in entertainment in the USA. The reality singing competition is immensely popular and has followers all over the world. The recent show had 20 contestants vying for the top spot. The event kick-started with the song “I Gotta Feeling” from Black Eyed Peas. Many of them weren’t expecting an elimination but the show had some nasty surprises. The group performance was good with the singers picking the right song. However, one of the judges, Simon Cowell had other ideas. He didn’t much appreciate the ladies’ singing. He mentioned that one of them was “so bad” that he turned off the TV. The male singers too didn’t put a good show together. John Park who sang “Gravity” was the first contestant to be shown the door this Thursday. Meanwhile, voters correctly decided to give Andrew Garcia another chance to prove his mettle. This meant that contestant Jermaine Sellers was forced to leave the show although the church choir-trained 27-year old’s rendering of “What’s Going On” was his best so far. The usually rude Jermaine said, “In God there is no failure…so I leave here happy. I appreciate y’all to the fullest. I really do”. He nodded for the last time in the show to a jam-packed audience “and everybody need to go out and get a onesie” was his parting shot. Danny Gokey was spared the trauma this time and made a comeback to the show. After this it was the ladies’ turn. Michelle Delamor’s “Arms Wide Open” was a bad effort and she was the first to go. This meant that Didi Benami made it to safety zone. Haeley Vaughn was the last contestant to be eliminated. She and Lacey Brown were given the cold Cowell stare for a long time. Cowell said Haeley was the “obvious” choice to be sent home. The 16-year old bore the brunt throughout with a never-fading smile. Thus, Idol is down to 16 contestants now. The latest update is that the 8 ladies will compete on Tuesday followed by the 8 gentlemen on Wednesday.