Anoop is in the top 36

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill grad student Anoop Desai has officially made it to the top 36 contestants on “American Idol.”

Spoiler sites had speculated for a week that the Chapel Hill resident would be featured on the viewer voting rounds, but it was confirmed Wednesday night when decision was announced.

Anoop, 21, was the first contestant to move into the top 36. The judges said it was a unanimous decision.

Friends and fans of Anoop were gathered at Players in Chapel Hill for a special viewing party. They planned to watch “Idol” and the UNC/Duke game.

Chris Melly, a friend of Anoop’s for 5 years, said he has kept in contact with Anoop through text messages throughout his “Idol” journey.

“He basically tells me everything,” Melly said during a viewing party Tuesday at the Siena Hotel on Franklin Street.

Melly and Anoop are members of the all-male a capella group the Clef Hangers at UNC.

“He likes to sing R&B but he can sing anything,” Melly said. “I think he has a very adaptable voice to anything.”

Friends say they encouraged Anoop to audition for the Fox TV show, but only he agreed only after getting his American Studies degree from UNC last year.

At first, Anoop didn’t tell any of his friends he was even trying out, Melly said.

“Once he made it through the earlier rounds he only told close friends,” Melly said.

Clef Hanger Pablo Vega, said he is “starstruck” seeing his friend since their high school days perform on TV.

“It’s pretty surreal. It’s like watching a brother,” said Hogan Medlin, who is also a Clef Hanger.

Anoop has developed a fan base. His Web site was created by a Florida man who saw Anoop on the show. Melly and other members of Anoop’s publicity team, made up of Clef Hangers and friends, have made signs, shirts and stickers with his image.

There is even talk of “Anoopdog Millionaire” merchandise, spoofing the Academy Award nominee “Slumdog Millionaire,” Melly said.

Anoop, who friends said is “very single,” has also helped boost Idol’s fanbase.

“He’s the only reason I watch it (Idol),” friend Erin Stubb said at Tuesday’s viewing party.

Anoop’s parents Nalini Desai and Manoj Desai watched Tuesday night’s episode with some of the neighborhood children.

Nalini Desai said she has always watched the show but never phoned in to vote. She said she would vote if her son made it through to the voting rounds.

Anoop’s father Manoj Desai said the attention he and his family has received has been great and overwhelming.

“It’s exciting but also a little bit scary,” Manoj Desai said.

Manoj Desai said the support the community and coworkers have shown for Anoop has been amazing.