The "American Idol" spoiler blogs were right -- two Minnesota women are among the final 36 as the elimination process marches on.
Jesse Langseth, sister of noted blues singer/guitarist Jonny Lang, made the cut during Wednesday night's episode in a sing-off with another contestant. Langseth, 26, of Minneapolis, has bounced around the Twin Cities music scene, playing in various clubs the past few years.
On Tuesday night, Eden Prairie's Casey Carlson sweated it out on the FOX reality show and survived despite flubbing her lines. The 20-year-old University of Minnesota student caught the eye of national gossip websites when a calendar bikini shoot she did went viral on the Internet.
Over the next three weeks, the 36 contestants are broken up into groups of 12 and perform during live episodes that will include viewer voting. The first dozen, including Carlson, are up on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST. Langseth will appear either Feb. 25 or March 3. Live "results shows" are scheduled for Feb. 18, Feb. 26 and March 4, when three will be chosen from each group. Then a "wild card" episode airs March 5, when the last spot in this round will be awarded by the judges.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
