# American Idol Top 36 Pool **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 6, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733 "2009-02-06T18:41:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/1 "2009-02-06T18:41:42Z")
Ok, each year we have our AI pool, but this time around I thought we’d expand it a bit. The SDMB _AI_ Top 32 Pool is open for signups! Come on over [here](http://www.funofficepools.com/joinpool.php?Passed_Pool_Key=131bd30ed26) and sign up using the password “ **cecil** ” (although I just tested it out, and once you register for the site, it pre-populates that password…go figure). You’ve got just over 12 days until the first picks are due – get on over there! A small bit of forewarning: reading the rules below is almost guaranteed to make your eyes glaze over and think “Naaa…too complicated”. No, it isn’t – it just reads that way. Once you’re signed up and see the game page, it’s really quite easy – just bet points on who you think will be booted each week. * * * ## **Idol Top 36 Pool Info:** …•Stage 1 starts when the top 36 contestants are announced …Each week in Stage 1, twelve people compete for 3 spots in the top 12 …Assign 20 points to who you think will advance to top 12 …You can assign your points to one person, several people, or everyone if you want to hedge your bets …Receive the points assigned to the singer(s) who advance that week …•Stage 2 starts when the top 12 are announced …At the start of Stage 2, pick who you think will be the American Idol (overall winner - initially worth 36 points) …Each week in Stage 2, the remaining contestants compete and one person is eliminated each week …Assign 20 points to who you think will be eliminated each week …You can assign your points to one person, or hedge your bets and assign points to multiple people …Receive the points assigned to the singer who is eliminated …You can change your overall pick anytime (worth 3 points \* number of remaining contestants) …•Stage 3 starts when the top 2 are announced …Assign 40 points to who you think will WIN (not who is eliminated) …You can assign all 40 points to one contestant or split them among the two finalists …Receive the points assigned to the American Idol winner …Receive overall winner points (1st, 2nd and 3rd place points are given) …•All stages …Answer bonus questions for additional points …Sample bonus questions: …Who is the last contestant to learn they are safe? …Is the first person to make the top 12 a male or a female? …Is the first person who finds out they are safe a male or female? \*\*Most points wins! \*\* …•Total score = points won each week + bonus points + overall winner points ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/2 "2009-02-06T19:13:27Z")
I signed up, but I’m still trying to figure out how stage 1 works. Each week, will we have 36 people to choose from, or 12? Or 9? Will 3 of the 12 (or 9?) be chosen to go on to the top 12, or 4? Or a variable number? I’m so confused… ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/3 "2009-02-06T19:26:21Z")
Part one is played out over the first four weeks of the game (after the top 36 are announced – I have a bad thread title here – that should read “Top 36”, not “Top 32”). In each of those four weeks, twelve contestants will sing, and the top three will make it to the “Final 12”. In each of those weeks, you’ll be betting points on who you think will make it to the Final 12. You’ll have 20 points with which to bet, and you can spread them out however you like – you can bet on one person or all 12. Naturally, you only get credit for those who do make it to the next round. So, short answer: Four rounds of 12 people each week (three normal rounds and then a Wild Card round like in Season 2), try and pick who wins each week. Easy-peasy. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/4 "2009-02-06T19:31:24Z")
OK, I get it. So each week we’ll see a list of the people that will be competing for that week, and we just distribute the 20 points amongst them? I think I can do that. ---
**Author:** ![RachelChristine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RachelChristine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RachelChristine)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2009, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/5 "2009-02-07T22:55:29Z")
Very nice! I think this looks fun and an easy way to keep track of points. We should do one for TAR too, since that starts next week! ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/6 "2009-02-09T15:54:16Z")
I just signed up - thanks, this looks like fun. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/7 "2009-02-10T09:22:34Z")
I’m signed up. All aboard! ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/8 "2009-02-10T19:38:57Z")
I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/9 "2009-02-10T19:44:11Z")
I’m so there. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/10 "2009-02-10T21:19:49Z")
I signed up. I’m still not clear on what I need to do next. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/11 "2009-02-10T22:01:42Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I signed up. I’m still not clear on what I need to do next. You hold tight for a week. The next move is to pick who you think will move on after seeing them sing _next week_. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/12 "2009-02-11T04:53:18Z")
Me too! ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/13 "2009-02-11T11:36:00Z")
I’m not sure I understand all the rules, but I’m giving it a go. Should be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Adversary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@Adversary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adversary)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/14 "2009-02-11T16:09:20Z")
I am in as well… Thanks for the site, I am going to use it for my work pool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/15 "2009-02-12T05:58:54Z")
That user interface for picking people is really nice. Good work by the web guys. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/16 "2009-02-12T06:04:41Z")
I just finished telling him that. ^^ ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/17 "2009-02-12T11:04:46Z")
Hope everyone enjoys this! I will not take part since they booted Katrina Darrell off. (Yes, I realise she’s bitchy, but she was so hot…) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/18 "2009-02-12T12:47:04Z")
Hey everyone, there is an option for bonus questions that I currently have turned on, which allow you to pick up bonus points. This week it’s asking “Do two guys or two girls make it through this week?” and “Is the first person to find out they make it male or female?”. A correct answer is worth two points each. Question is, do you want to use bonus questions? I have the option to leave it as is, change it to one question, or eliminate them completely. Personally, I’m fine with the first one, but the second one is purely random – unless you think it’ll be three men or three women going through, it’s complete guesswork. Unfortunately, if I were to change it to one question, I don’t know which one would be dropped. Anyway, I’m fine with it either way, but I wanted to put it out to the group. Vote here please, and I’ll go with the consensus over the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/19 "2009-02-12T13:50:01Z")
The questions seem kind of random, so I guess I vote against it. No big deal either way, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgonzola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e480ec/32.png) [@Gorgonzola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgonzola)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733/20 "2009-02-12T13:51:26Z")
I like the bonus questions. Limited material to choose from now, but they could get more controversial down the line. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-top-36-pool/484733.md?page=2)