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Who's going to win American Idol? We rank the finalists

By Jamshid Mousavinezhad | jamshid.mousavinezhad@am-ny.com

10:00 AM EDT, March 14, 2008

The top 12 American Idol contestants attend the American Idol Top 12 Party at the Pacific Design Center on March 6, 2008 in West Hollywood, California. [NOTE: There are 78 photos from the party here. After photo #16 of Nigel/Kristy, click 'Next' in the upper right to see more]. (Kevin Winter, Getty Images / March 7, 2008)

After week 1 of the American Idol marathon finals (remember, this thing goes through the end of May!), below is who one rabid fan likes.

I've gotta say I'm really enjoying this year; like Eileen, I'm jazzed about some of the competitors who are actually getting better and growing week-to-week.

Unlike last year, when it was pretty obvious early on that Jordin, Blake and Melinda were the class of the competition, I think a number of people have a shot at winning it all this season (assuming Archuleta's army sees some deserters at some point).

Note: Our L.A. Times colleague Richard Rushfield has pulled together his own rankings.

They differ pretty significantly from mine... all I can say is only one of us correctly predicted Jordin to win at the start of the Finals round last year (okay, I said either Jordin or Sanjaya....)

-Chikezie: His charisma and happiness really bubbled out this week, he's like a mini-Ruben in that it's hard not to smile when he's having a good time. Plus, like Ruben, he can sing!

- David Cook: He's so creative and down-to-earth; everyone compares him to Daughtry, but I think he's more like Blake Lewis in that you tune in every week wondering if he can keep walking that fine line between interesting and cringe-inducing.

- Brooke White: I had doubts about whether she was too adult, too unhip for this show; her big-time image makeover and savvy at picking songs mean there's no longer anything getting in the way of her great voice.

- Jason Castro: How can you not root for him? He's so obviously a nice, slightly nerdy guy, who's just really into music. There's some steel in him, too.

- David Archuleta: Even though I'm a big fan, I'm glad he stumbled this week--it makes him more human, and also this way if he wins he'll have shown he can overcome, it won't just be a foregone coronation.

And that's about it. I'm pretty sure the next Idol will be one of these five.

The other contestants for me range from I wish they would step it up because I like them ( Ramiele Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Kristy Lee Cook); to ehh, whatever ( Amanda Overmyer) to there's something about them I really don't like--generally smugness/fakery ( Carly Smithson, Michael Johns).

If I had to put money on it, I think Archuleta will win this year, because of his rabid fan base (it reminds me of Taylor's Soul Patrol in how they got together early and seem to be staying solid).

If I go with who I hope wins and think has a realistic shot at an upset, I'm saying Chikezie. There's just something about him that I think makes him a band-wagon contestant--I could see him building momentum and inspiring a national craze, with people walking around wearing "I'm with Chikezie" t-shirts.

Or something like that.