American Idol 13 Finalists

American Idol” picked its 13 finalists on Thursday, ending a week that saw the field of 24 semifinalists cut nearly in half.

Ten of the spots in the final baker’s dozen went to the top five vote-getters of each gender. The remaining three were wild-card selections from the judges, who made some unconventional selections.

It would have been very easy to choose Kendra Chantelle and Robbie Rosen, both of whom were among the six selected to sing for their lives one final time (as host Ryan Seacrest so ably exaggerated). Both look the part of an “Idol” contender, and presumably could be shaped to sound that way as well once music exec and “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine and his team of polishers gets to work with them.

Instead, the judges used one wild-card spot for Naima Adedapo, the 26-year-old with the huge voice. She’s older and has a jazzier sound than the typical woman who advances, and could easily go out next week. But if Crystal Bowersox can make the finale a year ago, there’s no reason Adedapo couldn’t make a run as well.