Watch out, Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Hicks. Step aside, Ruben Studdard and Carrie Underwood.

Central Coast resident A.J. Tabaldo is preparing to take his turn on the “American Idol” stage after being named to the coveted Top 24 in Wednesday night's show.

While Tabaldo, who works in Santa Maria, hasn't gotten much airtime yet, he was spotted Tuesday night in one of the rooms full of giddy hopefuls that Simon, Paula and Randy told would make it to the next round, to be among 40 finalists out of the 172 contestants who made it to the coveted Hollywood auditions at the Orpheum Theater.

And Wednesday night, when the field of contestants was cut down to 24 - to include only the 12 best guys and 12 best gals - Tabaldo's name was on the list.

“A.J. man, whether you like us three or not, you've put up with us for a quite awhile. You made it baby,” Idol judge Randy Jackson told Tabaldo during the show.

Tabaldo, who had auditioned five times for the gig, was shown saying repeatedly, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

So Wednesday's Web site gossip that had Tabaldo's name on a predicted list of finalists was true: He has a real shot at becoming the next American Idol.

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The next step for the show will be the voting rounds. The remaining Idol hopefuls will take the stage to perform before the celebrity judges and, eventually (once the field is down to 12 contestants), record-size American television audiences who get to cast votes for their favorite performers via phone calls and text messages.

Those shows are scheduled to begin airing Tuesday.

Until then, eager fans can hear two of Tabaldo's decidedly R&B-style songs - “So Glad” and “Tell Me” - by visiting his MySpace.com Web site.

Mark Schilling, business manager of the UPS Customer Center in Santa Maria where Tabaldo works, confirmed that he took two weeks of vacation for the auditions.

Schilling hadn't seen the show until he became intrigued by Tabaldo's quest for fame.

But he has heard Tabaldo sing, and frequently asks him to belt out “Happy Birthday” to employees. Schilling recalled Tabaldo singing Christmas carols at the UPS loading docks to give the workers a bit of enjoyment during the hurried holiday period.

The typical reaction?

“Wow, this guy can sing,” said Schilling.

Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or ewelly@santa

mariatimes.com.

Feb. 15, 2007