First Top 36er kickout out!

The drama's starting early this season. Via the official press release sent at 10:30 p.m. PT (a half hour after the Top 36 episode finished airing on the west coast), “It has been determined that Joanna Pacitti is ineligible to continue in the competition. American Idol contestant Felicia Barton has replaced Ms. Pacitti as part of the Top 36.”

Joanna is the contestant with the previous recording contract that has been stirring up a lot of controversy from those who think the contest should be all amateurs. Guess they got their wish, or at least one of them. We'll admit we loved Joanna in her first audition, but she floundered in Hollywood. UPDATE: Sources have told the Los Angeles Times that the decision was made to "avoid the appearance of impropriety"; tabloids have reported of a private relationship between Pacitti and executives of 19 Entertainment.

But who is Felicia Barton? We've not seen her in any of the Idol episodes so far have we? How did they choose her? Inquiring minds want to know. Anyway, she's the girl in the top right corner below.

NEW THEORY: Felicia Barton is Sandra Bullock in Mrs. Congeniality. She's an undercover FBI agent sent in to foil a plot against the other contestants! It all makes sense now. Of course we've never seen her. Stay away from the crown!

Meet your Top 36.