Within the last few days, we’ve read some rather disturbing headlines about some of our favorite former “American Idol” hopefuls — both of whom finished in third place the season they were featured on the show.

First came the pathetic revelation that season-one bronze-winner — and former exotic dancer — Nikki McKibbin had been booked for the next season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab,” following in the very troubled footsteps of fellow “Idol” alum Jessica Sierra. Nikki will join such luminaries as Rodney King, Rod Stewart’s son, hair-metal video staple Tawny Kitaen and Gary Busey.

Then, we learned that season-four third-placer Vonzell “Baby V” Solomon was slapped with gun-possession charges at a Florida airport, after security discovered an unloaded gun in her luggage. She had a permit to carry the gun but not a permit to carry a gun onto a friggin’ plane. So silly.

Hey, Syesha Mercado — are you paying attention? For some reason, with very few exceptions, “American Idol” second runner-ups seem to have a tough go of it after the program ends, which doesn’t bode well for Mercado. Here’s a look back at some other “Idol” third-place finishers, and what they’ve been up to (or not up to), as well as some of the trouble they’ve gotten into.

Remember season two’s Kimberly Locke? Well, after “Idol,” she became a plus-size model, participated in a season of “Celebrity Fit Club” and later put her business administration in marketing degree to good use by opening the Croton Creek Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Croton Falls, New York. Season three’s Jasmine Soriano Trias may be the one true success story. She’s released two records and has a tremendous following among Filipinos. What David Hasselhoff is to Germany, Trias is to the Philippines.

Season-five finalist Elliott Yamin broke his pinky finger in late 2006 in a freak accident. At the time, People.com reported that Yamin was picking up rocks and throwing them at a sign, after visiting a nightspot in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, when “his finger got caught on a rod holding down a rock.” He finished third, and look where it got him? Throwing rocks (and badly, at that) at street signs. What a shame. The luck of last year’s third-place finisher, Melinda Doolittle, hasn’t been much better. Aside from doing some commercials for Zaxby’s, a chain of casual restaurants that operates primarily in the Southeastern United States, Doolittle traveled the country this year, promoting “Idol”-branded Edy’s ice-cream flavors at Wal-Mart and supermarkets.

Apparently, she’s recording an album as I write this that should be out by fall — just in time for you to forget who she is.

So, Syesha, take heed. It seems finishing third on “Idol” is almost worse than finishing fourth (just ask Chris Daughtry) these days, but perhaps you could be the one to reverse the curse. Hey, who knows? If you’re really lucky, you could end up being huge in the Philippines, or you could end up operating your own steakhouse. Shoot for the stars, girl.