Houston area churns out another (almost) American Idol

Even Houstonians who don’t watch American Idol have to admit that 16-year-old Will Makar’s success on the show is something to sing about.

Makar, a sophomore at a high school in The Woodlands, made the top 24 last week, and last night he stood as one of the remaining 20 contestants after four were brutally knocked out of the game by American voters.

During the initial Austin audition, which was actually filmed in California during Hurricane Katrina, judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell voted to move Makar on to Hollywood. But in a rare move, Paula insisted he stay behind because of his age. Nevertheless, Makar advanced, garnering only a weak “average performance” criticism from Cowell during Wednesday’s show. He will be a regular on future shows, and Season Five won’t end until May. So, if you feel inclined, call the show and vote for Makar.