"American Idol" Season 11 (yes, ELEVEN) starts this Wednesday, and you know what that means: The next few weeks will be filled with some really good auditions...and some not-so-good ones, and some so-good-they're-bad ones. For many "Idol" viewers, it is this early stage of the competition, when various unknown singers with wildly varying talent levels walk into that audition room for the very first time, that's the best part of the season. Many of these auditioners don't end up going the distance--unless that distance is the short post-rejection walk of shame back to their cars in the parking lot--but they make lasting impressions nonetheless. And some of them even manage to stretch their fame beyond the expected 15 minutes.

Which bring us to the question: What have some of the most memorable "Idol" rejects been up to since leaving the show? Let's find out...

photo: Fox"So You Think You Can Dance" fans may remember Alex Wong as the dancer who was supposed to win the entire show in 2010. After having to pass on an opportunity to compete in Season 6 due to his inability to get out of his contract with the Miami City Ballet, he later wowed judges and fans in Season 7 with performances like his "Hallelujah" contemporary with Allison Holker and his "Outta Your Mind" hip-hop with Twitch, both considered to be two of the best routines in "SYTYCD" history. Alex's controversial decision to leave the professional ballet world was starting to pay off...but then a nearly career-killing Achilles tendon injury that he sustained during a rehearsal of a Bollywood number forced him to quit the competition. It was absolutely heartbreaking. A year later, a thankfully recovered Alex was invited to return to the show as an allstar...but then he lacerated his other Achilles tendon, and he had to bow out of Season 8 as well. This was one of the great reality TV tragedies.

So now apparently Alex is turning his focus to singing--a decidedly safer pursuit, assuming that he has learned proper from-the-diaphragm techniques and doesn't develop nodes on his vocal chords. (With Alex's luck as of late, I wouldn't be too surprised.) In fact, it looks like Alex's singing is going to earn him another shot in another 19 Entertainment/Nigel Lythgoe-helmed TV competition, since Nigel tweeted back in September during the early "American Idol" Season 11 tryouts: "Wow, Alex Wong just auditioned for #AmericanIdol. The boy has a good voice."

photo: FoxSeventh-placer Stefano Langone is the latest Season 10 "American Idol" contestant to land a sweet record deal, following an announcement earlier this week that sixth-placer Casey Abrams just signed to Concord Music. After weeks of speculation, it was officially revealed today that Stefano has inked with Hollywood Records, the Disney-owned label that's home to such teen-pop powerhouses as Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, the Jonas Brothers, Jesse McCartney, and, of course, Miley Cyrus. Stefano even posted a little video himself to tell fans the news.

Season 10 "American Idol" alum Casey Abrams has something to tell you all. Watch his latest video below for oh-so subtle clues, and try to figure out what that might be...

Astro raps on "Want U Back""X Factor USA" emcee the Astronomical Kid and "X Factor U.K." finalist Cher Lloyd both have their detractors--Astro turned almost all of America against him when he threw a fit on one fateful results show, and Cher is so polarizing in Britain, for some odd reason (side note: I think she is AWESOME), she defiantly titled her debut album Sticks + Stones.  But haters, back off: There is a lot to love about Cher's new video featuring a rap by Astro, "Want U Back."

Now here's an "American Idol" panel I could really get behind! Imagine how extremely awesome Wednesday and Thursday nights on Fox would be if the judges were Steven Tyler with Weird Al Yankovic and Alice Cooper, instead of with Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson. Well, that ain't gonna happen--at least not in Season 11, which starts January 18. But maybe a recent Hawaiian New Year's Eve  jam session by the rock 'n' roll dream team of Steven/Alice/Al will give "Idol" producers some bright ideas for Season 12. Or at least make producers decide that THIS should be the big centerpiece musical number for the Season 11 finale:

[photo: Durbin's official Facebook]Idol rocker James Durbin had a rockin' New Year's Eve indeed last night, when he married his longtime girlfriend Heidi Lowe at a small private ceremony in a redwood forest chapel in his hometown of Santa Cruz. According to People magazine, the 85 guests at the intimate, rustic wedding included James's Season 10 "American Idol" castmates Stefano Langone, Casey Abrams, and Haley Reinhart, while James and Heidi's 2-year-old son, Hunter, served as the ringbearer.

Kris's bubbly music videoIt's understandable that amid all the tabloid commotion surrounding Kim Kardashian's quickie marriage this year, a music video that Kim's mom Kris Jenner made in 1985 got overlooked. But I'm not entirely sure how a video that actually features Kris running OK Go-style on a treadmill; rocking a Martha Quinn mullet and some totally awesome, Olivia Newton-John-worthy '80s outfits; dangerously lip-synching while driving;  sleeping with Cabbage Patch Dolls; soaking in a champagne bubble-bath; receiving a happy-birthday greeting from her future ex-husband's infamous client, O.J. Simpson; and anthemically singing of her love for her friends and the Cheesecake Factory, fell through the cracks. Maybe it was just too difficult to fathom that this was actually a thing. But thanks to the Interweb and E!'s "The Soup," the so-bad-it's-amazing clip is now here to stay, as much as Kris probably wishes it'd just go away.