Michael Lynche muscles his way into 'Idol's' Top 24

Last week, America learned who made the semifinals for Season 9 of "American Idol," although Web leaks nearly a month ago pegged all of the contestants correctly and stirred up a controversy about St. Petersburg, Fla., native Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, 26, now a personal trainer living in Astoria.

In January, "Idol" spoiler site Joe's Place reported Lynche had been selected as one of the Top 24, but subsequently said there was online chatter he had been cut after his father, Marque Lynche Sr., confirmed his son's ascension to the semis to the St. Petersburg Times, in violation of the program's confidentiality agreement. Widespread media coverage turned the rumor into a "fact."

So had Michael made it after all? Joe's Place reiterated on Jan. 27 it still believed Lynche was in contention, weeks prior to "Idol's" on-air reveal that he, indeed, was. Lynche won viewers' hearts as he frantically communicated with his wife via phone during Hollywood Week as she gave birth to the couple's first child. Perhaps more interesting, his brother, Marque Lynche Jr., was also a semifinalist on the show during its third season.

We predict Lynche will make it to the finals, as well as these contestants, who also got a lot of "face time" during the preliminary rounds: Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Katie Stevens, Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia and Casey James.