Anoop Manoj Desai (born December 20th, 1986) was a contestant on Season 8 of American Idol.
Audition[]
Anoop auditioned in Kansas City. He sang "Thank You" by Boyz II Men. All four judges voted "yes", sending him to the next round.
Hollywood Round[]
Anoop was shown in the first part of Hollywood Week in the same group of eight as Nathaniel Marshall, Jasmine Murray, and Rose Flack. He sang "If It's Magic" by Stevie Wonder. Everyone in his group advanced. During his final solo performance in front of the judges, he sang "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown. He was placed in a holding room with Matt Giraud, Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Stevie Wright, Jorge Nunez, Danny Gokey, Jamar Rogers, Lil Rounds, Scott MacIntyre and Jackie Tohn among others and the judges revealed that they all advanced. At the judges' mansion, they revealed that he did enough to make the Top 36.
Top 36[]
Anoop was shown in Group 1. He sang "Angel of Mine" by Eternal. He was initially eliminated, but was chosen to compete in the Wild-Card round.
Wild-Card[]
Anoop sang "My Prerogative" by Bobby Brown. Although the Top 12 finalists were already named, the judges decided to break the rules and name Anoop the 13th finalist.
Top 13[]
Anoop sang "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 11[]
Anoop sang "Always on My Mind" by Willie Nelson. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 10[]
Anoop sang "Ooo Baby Baby" by The Miracles. He received enough votes to be considered "safe" for another week.
Top 9[]
Anoop sang "Caught Up" by Usher. He was placed in the Bottom 2 for that week.
Top 8[]
Anoop sang "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. He was placed in the Bottom 2 for that week.
Top 7 [Week 1][]
Anoop sang "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by Bryan Adams. He was placed in the Bottom 3 for that week.
Top 7 [Week 2][]
Anoop sang "Dim All the Lights" by Donna Summer. He, along with Lil Rounds, received the lowest number of votes that week, eliminating him from the competition.
After the Show[]
Anoop appeared in a guest spot as a convenience store owner in two episodes in the second season of Russian Doll and had other guest spots on Billions, Little Voice and What We Do in the Shadows.
Season 8 |
Finalists |
Kris Allen ยท Adam Lambert ยท Danny Gokey ยท Allison Iraheta ยท Matt Giraud ยท Anoop Desai ยท Lil Rounds ยท Scott MacIntyre ยท Megan Joy ยท Michael Sarver ยท Alexis Grace ยท Jorge Nunez ยท Jasmine Murray |
Semifinalists |
Ricky Braddy ยท Tatiana Del Toro ยท Jesse Langseth ยท Von Smith ยท Arianna Afsar ยท Felicia Barton ยท Kendall Beard ยท Ju'Not Joyner ยท Nathaniel Marshall ยท Kristen McNamara ยท Taylor Vaifanua ยท Alex Wagner-Trugman ยท Matt Breitzke ยท Mishavonna Henson ยท Kai Kalama ยท Nick Mitchell ยท Jeanine Vailes ยท Ann Marie Boskovich ยท Casey Carlson ยท Stephen Fowler ยท Brent Keith ยท Jackie Tohn ยท Stevie Wright |