Anyone who tuned into season six of "American Idol" knew to expect the unexpected of Blake Lewis.

The Washington native, who admitted he hadn’t watched a single episode before auditioning in Seattle, arrived in Hollywood without a hint of a plan, other than to be himself. Yet through talent, instinct, creativity and unapologetic brashness, Lewis managed to make it all the way to the finale as the first runner-up to Jordin Sparks, each week showcasing a different side to his endlessly eclectic musical identity.

Guy Shalem emigrated to the US from Israel in 1993 after establishing himself as an award-winning commercial and music video director by the age of 19. He spent eight years as an editor on various independent films, commercials, and TV projects. He got his first break directing on a reality show pilot called Aphrodite Jones Investigates.

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring — it was peace.” - Milan Kundera, Czech author of "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being"

“I love my cats because I love my home, and little by little they become its visible soul.”- French playwright Jean Cocteau

You know how some singers have that presence, that certain je ne sais quoi that immediately commands you attention? Frenchie Davis is one such performer—and that is even before she starts to sing.

Blessed with a rich, powerful singing voice reminiscent of Aretha Franklin, her singing prowess has kept her working long after the artificial and mercurial limelight of American Idol has faded. Unlike so many other ex-Idols, Frenchie has a promising career ahead of her; whether it be in music or, as she’s hoping, TV and film.