LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) "American Idol" will begin its Final 12 on Tuesday (March 15) with a different dozen than viewers saw unveiled last Wednesday night. In a surprisingly move, Mario Vazquez has withdrawn from the popular FOX talent show and will be replaced by Nikko Smith.

Offering no explanation beyond the always vague "personal reasons," FOX announced on Sunday (March 13) that Vazquez would no longer be competing on "Idol." A 27-year-old from New York City with smooth dancing moves and a pure voice, Vazquez had been one of the favorites since his "Idol" audition in Las Vegas.

A recent set of odds put out by an offshore betting group had Vazquez as a third betting choice, behind only Anwar Robinson and Bo Bice.

Smith, son of Cardinals and Padres great Ozzie Smith, will take the place in the Top 12 that many viewers had assumed would be his before his unexpected departure last week. Smith had been considered another of the competition's favorites after strong renditions of "Georgia on my Mind" and "Let's Get It On" in the previous two weeks, but was not originally one of the six leading votegetters among the "Idol" men.

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