Last night, the top 40 gathered with only hope and prayer by their sides...
As they waited to walk down the shadowy path towards final judgment.
You're in the top 24, dog!
Yes.
Five Idol wishes came true.
While five other dreams ended in despair.
And it honestly breaks my heart to say this, but you did
not make it into the top 24.
And breaking the bad news broke Jennifer's heart.
Oh, I felt so bad.
Ohh.
With so many fates left hanging in the balance, and only
a few spots left to fill, will Jennifer find the strength to go on?
I don't wanna do this anymore.
Sync by Behzadt www.addic7ed.com
Welcome back to final judgment, where production has come to a halt.
The challenge of picking the final 24 has led Jennifer Lopez
to an emotional crossroads.
No, I can't, I can't.
Chris medina's story touched her heart, and while she felt he
deserved better... I just don't want to tell him no.
His singing was inconsistent.
Jennifer could only deliver disappointing news, and she's
not sure she can do that again.
I don't want to do this anymore.
After a few helpful moments of support from Steven and Randy...
He really took it really, really well, and I think he understood it.
We were all so moved by that story.
Yeah, let's... can we take a five?
She takes a short break.
But Jennifer knows the show must go on, and she composes herself.
Let's go!
As one of her biggest fans gets ready to take the walk.
Okay, up next, miss Rodriguez, Karen.
You got this!
All right, darling, so it is the... the big moment.
Yeah, I'm very excited.
I'm happy.
You have the best energy.
I love your energy.
All right, come on, let's go.
Go, Karen!
Good luck.
When Karen met Jennifer in Los Angeles, they made a special connection.
You don't know how much you inspire me; It's crazy.
Thank you.
And it became stronger throughout Hollywood week.
Life is all about taking chances, and I took mine today
singing if you have my love by Jennifer Lopez.
♪ You want me ♪
♪ you have to be ♪
♪ fulfilling all my dreams ♪
♪ if you really want me, baby ♪
Each contestant was given one last chance to perform for the
judges, and Karen chose a Selena song that was close to Jennifer's heart.
Right now, I'm feeling really anxious, and I'm so close.
I think I did good.
I feel it, and there's no regrets.
I'm just very, very happy.
Hi.
Hello.
It's nice to see you guys again; How are you?
Hi, Karen.
Hi.
How are you?
I'm good; I'm happy.
Yeah?
I'm happy, yes.
I'm excited.
You know, it's funny, from the very first time we saw you,
I've been a fan of yours from the very beginning.
Um...During this whole process, you know, different things happen.
And I think in the middle of the competition, a little bit, you
disappeared for some of the judges here.
And, uh, and that was... that was hard.
Then you kind of picked back up again and showed people what you were made of.
Um, but it was a tough one for us.
But I have to say you had me at if you had my love.
You're in our top 24!
Aah!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
Thank you, guys.
Congratulations.
And I promise I will work ten times harder.
I... I swear.
I will... I will... you guys just wait.
That song is always a winner.
I'll... of course it is!
It's Jennifer. Thank you!
Yeah, it's a number one song.
It's a winner.
She ain't no dummy.
Whoo!
So Karen has joined our top 12 girls.
Whoo!
Oh, my God, I feel so good.
That just motivates me to work ten times harder.
I can't wait till the next round.
And while this New York native prepares herself for the
big stage, another new yorker is taking the long walk to learn his fate.
17-year-old Robbie rosen fought through a childhood disability.
Entering kindergarten, I was in a wheelchair for a severe
case of hip synovitis.
And I remember it hurting a lot, and my dad had to carry me.
I couldn't really walk.
To get in front of the judges the first chance he got.
♪ For yester ♪
♪ day ♪
Breath of fresh air.
Beautiful.
And from then on, this 17-year-old seemed unstoppable.
Robbie, forget about it.
You nailed it again.
But this season, the competition is fierce, so when
he had the chance to sing for his life, Robbie knew his
performance had to be flawless.
♪ What have I gotta do ♪
♪ to make you love me ♪
♪ what have I gotta do ♪
♪ to make you care ♪
♪ what do I say ♪
♪ when it's all over ♪
♪ and sorry seems to be ♪
♪ the hardest word ♪
♪ it's sad, so sad ♪
♪ why can't we talk it over ♪
♪ always seems to me ♪
♪ that sorry seems to be ♪
♪ the hardest ♪
♪ word ♪
♪ the hardest ♪
♪ word ♪
When I walked off the stage, I really felt like I left it all out there.
I don't think I've ever seen a group as talented as this one right now.
If it's the end of the line for me, whatever happens, you know,
I think it's meant to be.
Hi, Robbie.
How are you, man?
I'm doing well.
How are you guys?
Tough day... tough day for you guys, tough day for us.
Definitely.
Robbie, man... you're so good.
Thank you.
Right out of the box.
You sang your [Bleep] Off.
You just really proved to us that you were, you know.
He sang his what?
His tushela off?
Yeah, that's better.
Okay, yeah, let's try that again.
But this is one of the hardest competitions... And, um...You know, I was just...
Positively sure that you made it through to the top 24.
Oh.
Congratulations, Robbie!
Ohh...Thank you guys.
Honestly, you're one of the best singers we have.
Continue being that consistent one that you've been.
All right, take care.
Thank you so much, guys.
Oh, ho, ho.
Dude, you know what I love about him?
He's so unassuming.
Oh, he's brilliant.
You wouldn't even know that he's a genius.
Made it.
He did.
What do you think?
Robbie joins the top 24.
But that means there is one less spot remaining for the guys.
Coming up, over the next two hours, the road to the top 24 continues.
The last chance to impress will fall flat for some.
Not sure if that's one of our "a" guys or what.
And others will leave the judges raving for more.
Aaow!
Thank you.
The competition is stiff.
The cuts will be severe.
Who of your favorites will survive to sing for America's vote?
Somebody gonna get that chair?
Welcome back to Los Angeles for the finajudgment.
So far, seven contestants have earned their spot in the top 24.
You made it.
And we've only just begun.
Now, hoping that this long walk is not the end of her journey is
20-year-old tatynisa Wilson.
She passed through with flying colors in Milwaukee.
But Hollywood proved to be a much more difficult obstacle.
♪ I hope you always feel ♪
Whew! I'm sorry.
Can I please start over?
I'm begging you to start over, please.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Okay.
Having already blown one second chance... I got onstage and, um, I
forgot my words.
Tatynisa knew that her final performance was do or die.
♪ Unbreak my heart ♪
♪ my heart ♪
♪ ooh ooh ooh ♪
A little nervous?
Nah, I'm beyond nervous right now.
Yeah, it's a... it's a wild day for us too, trust me.
Is this something you really, really want?
This is more than anything I've ever wanted in my life.
I've been performing my entire life.
It's something that I need to do.
It's just something about being onstage that just gives me,
like, that drive and the adrenaline that comes, like,
right before you get onstage.
That's just like my natural high right there, being onstage.
I need that.
I need it.
Those are great words, but Hollywood week, it took a little
bit of a... Unsure kind of nosedive.
And I mean, I think you probably disappointed yourself as well a
bit during Hollywood week, right?
I did.
Sorry.
It's okay.
On this show, it's about... Not having a bad day.
That's the brutal part of this competition, right?
You have to, every single time you're up there, give us all
that you know that you have inside you.
Even though you had a couple of rough spots, we still saw
what you just cried about.
We saw that in you.
And it's come out every time you sang.
So congratulations, girl.
You made it, tatynisa.
You're in the top 24!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much.
Congratulations.
This means so much to me.
I really appreciate it.
I really... thank you guys so much for believing in me.
I really appreciate it.
Thank you.
Good luck, okay?
Thank you so much. Thank you.
It's gonna get crazy now.
Thank you. I know.
And I'm ready; And I'm so ready.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
We know you are.
I am, I really am.
Yeah, we know you are.
Thank you.
Okay.
So cute. So sweet.
Oh, thank you, God.
Tatynisa...You got it!
So with tatynisa in the top 24, the remaining spots are dwindling fast.
♪ I'm comin' home ♪
I want to commend you on walking this walk with us.
You know, on making it this far, and everything we've been
through, but I'm sorry to say that you didn't make the cut this time.
Along with San Francisco contestant Brittany mazur, it
was also a "no" for Jimmy Allen from Nashville.
You just didn't make the cut this time.
♪ I'm comin' home ♪
No.
Ohh.
♪ Tell the world ♪
♪ I'm comin' home ♪
It hurts, but, you know, you gotta keep... you gotta keep going, you know?
This was a huge learning experience for me, so...I'm just
so grateful to have had the opportunity.
No go.
No go?
Nah. Nah.
Sorry, brother.
Nah, it's cool.
With an abundance of talent, there are no easy decisions.
These people all have something, or else they wouldn't
be in the top 40 out of 327 people.
So, you know.
There's no necessarily terrible judgments here.
No. Brutal.
♪ Comin' home ♪
Our next contestant, Tim halperin, has been proving
himself throughout each stage of the competition.
He was not a unanimous decision in l. A. , but he definitely charmed Jennifer.
Dude, I mean, I don't want to say this, Steven, but I felt
like we weren't even here.
How old are you?
23.
How old are you?
I'm young enough for you, don't worry.
Ahem!
Well, uh, hey.
I like that answer.
But Tim was able to impress all the judges throughout Hollywood and Vegas.
♪ Somethin' in the way ♪
♪ she moves ♪
I love him.
Then, his biggest supporter issued a challenge.
Now we gotta start seeing what your guys' messages are.
You know, as artists.
What do you have to say?
Do you believe what you're singing?
Where is that coming from?
Tim took it to heart at his final audition, where he chose an original song.
♪ When it's over ♪
♪ I go numb ♪
♪ and lose the feeling ♪
♪ for a while ♪
♪ all the pictures ♪
♪ make me wonder ♪
♪ if I'll ever find that smile ♪
Today I find out if... if the risk that I took in playing an
original song is gonna pay off.
I'm confident with my performances.
I feel like I gave it my best, gave it my all.
I really feel like I showed the judges who I am as an artist, who I want to be.
Hello.
Hi.
What's going on, Tim?
How you guys doing?
Good.
It's good to see you guys again.
All right, Tim, look... I see what you got around your
neck, but I'm here to blow the whistle.
Okay.
What's with you?
You came on, you were really good.
You're up, you're down.
Tell me how you're feeling.
Uh, you know, I felt like in my initial audition, it wasn't my strongest.
And, uh, Randy, you asked for me to try and find the artist who I
wanted to be, and so I began to choose songs I felt showed off
my voice and swed off what kind of artist I am.
And so I feel like I did that to the best of my ability.
And I know it lies in your hands now.
Hollywood week was, like, throwing a bunch of, like, stuff
at you guys that you never expected.
Yeah.
We looked at your overall... Thing, your overall journey,
and, uh, some ups and downs.
Yeah.
But I want you to know, I've always been a fan.
Thank you.
From the very beginning.
Thank you.
And I think, um, you actually... For me, got stronger.
So whatever happens here, I feel like you really got something
out of this, and... that you can take... we really are feeling who you
are now, um, as an artist.
We were a little worried in the middle there.
Okay.
So that's why, you know, we're a little confused here with all this, but, uh...
Okay.
You know, it's up to me, and, uh, I'm just sorry to tell you that...
Here we go, here we go.
I'm in the top 24!
Oh, my God, dude!
Oh, my gosh!
Oh, man!
Are you serious?
No freaking way!
Oh, yes!
My gosh!
Welcome to the top 24.
Thank you so much, dude.
Oh, my gosh.
Looking for the same news as she takes the long walk is Tim's
partner from Vegas, Julie zorrilla.
At her San Francisco audition, Julie shared the story of her
parents' ultimate sacrifice.
The '90s were a time of a lot of violence, um, in Colombia.
They just left everything.
I can't imagine what it would be like to move to a different
country, with two kids, without jobs, and doing everything that they've done.
It's just so inspiring.
After a strong audition, Jennifer revealed some very high expectations.
Wow.
Yeah, wow. Winner?
Aah!
With strong performances in Hollywood and Vegas, she seemed
to be coasting into her final audition.
♪ Try to stand up ♪
♪ tall before you ♪
♪ I fall in reverse ♪
♪ this love is my curse ♪
♪ I need a miracle ♪
♪ to free my soul ♪
♪ and I'm in ♪
♪ reverse ♪
Now it's time for Julie's judgment.
Hi.
Hi, you guys.
Hello. How are you?
I'm doing so well now that I'm here, finally.
This has been a long road for all of us, no?
With all the contestants, you know, we all are fans of some,
some people are not.
Some people have to be convinced.
We... we go back and forth.
And it depends on each moment.
You know, we want people to get up there, and we want to feel something.
I think sometimes, in some of your performances, it cked a little bit of depth.
Connection.
And emotion.
Just that connection with the lyric and that connection with
the listener, so... You get something here as opposed to
just getting something here.
At the end of the day, you just want people to feel
something when you're up there.
Of course, yeah.
End of the day... right?
That's what we all want to do as performers.
Thinking about all your performances up until now, um,
and all the things we had to take into consideration to get
to the decision that we had to make...
You're in the top 24!
Aah!
And we want to see you... You made it!
Let go!
You can't come from here.
You gotta come from here.
Feel, not think.
God, you are so beautiful.
Every time I see you, it's, like, blinding.
Thank you so much.
Congratulations, Julie!
We look forward to seeing you.
Aah!
Whoo-hoo.
♪ I'm beautiful in my way ♪
♪ 'cause God makes no mistakes ♪
♪ on the right track, baby ♪
♪ I was born this way ♪
♪ don't hide yourself in ♪
♪ regret, just love yourself ♪
Congratulations.
So Julie's through to the top 24.
And she gives the holding room a pick-me-up.
Yes.
Oh, my God! Oh! Oh!
That was almost really bad.
That's one of those moments that, you know, will be on the DVD.
Coming up, judgment day continues.
Two country boys will walk the path of enlightenment, but only
one will mosey on through.
Welcome to the 24.
And later, tough choices will be made.
You didn't make it.
By no means was this unanimous.
As the judges continue to cast Idol's top 24.
Welcome back American Idol.
There you go.
Is that... is that... is that like... Nah.
It's, uh, welcome back to American Idol!
Oh, I gotta get a little higher.
American! Yes, you have to be, like, half the size of you.
I'll try.
You gotta... go.
American Idol.
♪ Baby, lock them doors ♪
♪ and turn them lights ♪
♪ down low ♪
There you go.
You think there's a spot for two country singers like you guys?
I sure hope so.
I would hope so too, yes.
I think we... we both definitely bring something different.
What Scotty brought back in Milwaukee was one of the most
memorable auditions from the road.
With the right songs, we discovered him; He's legendary.
He's on his way.
But his strong start lost momentum in Hollywood.
First, his character was tested in group round.
For me, personally, I apologize for not sticking up for him.
Then he faced an even bigger struggle.
Ah, pick it up, pick it up.
I don't think I really performed up to my standards.
I've never forgotten lyrics in my life.
I'm kind of pissed off at myself.
Everything was riding on his performance in the hangar.
♪ well, I can hear ♪
♪ the whistle from a mile away ♪
♪ it sounds so good ♪
♪ but I must stay away ♪
♪ that train is a beauty ♪
Nice.
♪ Makin' everybody stare ♪
♪ but its only destination ♪
♪ is the middle of nowhere ♪
♪ but you know there's victory ♪
♪ hey, in the lord I say ♪
♪ victory, hey, in the lord ♪
♪ cling to the father ♪
♪ and his holy name ♪
♪ and don't go ridin' ♪
♪ on that long black train ♪
♪ yeah, watch out, Idol ♪
♪ for that long black train ♪
♪ that devil's a-drivin' ♪
♪ that long black ♪
♪ train ♪
Scotty, Scotty.
Scotty!
I told you, that's my favorite.
I like that, man.
Thank y'all very much.
You make a Bronx girl love country music.
My grandma told you to tell... to tell you, Jennifer, I know you can't tell,
but I am 1/4 puerto rican.
Ohh!
She told me to tell you.
That's where that soul comes from.
Yes, ma'am.
I can hear a little something, a little flavor in there.
But now, it's no laughing matter, as it's time for Scotty to take the chair.
You know, being here today is, uh... Is nerve-racking.
You've done all you can do, and, you know, sometimes you
haven't done as best as you'd like to.
All we're gonna do is walk up there, and it's yea or nay from here on out.
When you auditioned for the show, did you ever think, uh,
this is what the journey was gonna be like?
You know, in a little back compartment of my brain, I kind of was dreaming it.
I mean, I remember sitting there with my dad saying, "dad, I
think I'm in over my head."
I mean, just walking around hearing some amazing singers, you know, but, uh,
it's an honor to be here, especially in front of y'all.
Hollywood week was a little interesting.
There were some highs and lows in Hollywood week.
You know, for me personally, that whole night with jaycee,
that was more about me not being the man I should have been, and,
uh, not stepping up when I should have stepped up for him,
'cause he's a phenomenal kid, and he didn't deserve that.
That night I just went back to my bed and cried because I
wasn't the man I should have been.
I didn't step up.
Well, listen, dude, you're 17.
We were all a fan since day one.
Uh, that authenticity of the guy that you want to be and the man
that you want to be, and you stepping up, we love.
We're big fans.
Guess what that means.
Congratulations!
You're in the top 24, dog!
Yay, Scotty mccreery!
You made it, baby.
Thank you.
You made it, you made it, you made it.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Good night.
I love that he still stepped up in that moment.
You know what, there's good people in this world who stand
up for what's right, that make mistakes and then go back and do
the right thing, and he's a good... he's a good boy.
Whoo!
So Scotty's in.
♪ One day I could see it ♪
And his strong male country voice will be a part of our top 24.
Jaycee, I love you, man.
I love you, man.
Okay, we'll go to school tomorrow.
But, unfortunately, there wasn't room enough for two.
It's the end of the journey for you.
We just didn't think you were quite ready for it yet.
I agree.
I think you're a real performer.
Don't let this set you back even one little second.
Thank you so much.
Nice to meet you, man.
And I like saying the whole name... John Wayne schulz.
I love that name.
Tell your parents what's up, too.
Yes, sir, I will.
See you later, man.
Ooh, John Wayne is leaving us.
Hey.
I didn't make it.
You didn't make it?
What?
I'm sorry, man.
It's okay, man.
When you get to this point, I think you want it more than
anything, 'cause you can just see it at the... At the grasp of your fingertips,
and so I feel kind of like, um, I tripped at the finish line almost.
But this has been a blessing to experience everything up to this point.
Seeing some favorites go home is dampening the mood in the holding room.
Well, except for jovany barreto.
Okay, jovany.
Where's jovany?
Jovany, jovany, jovany.
You still got your tags on.
Yeah, I know.
Look it, jovany's still got tags on his stuff.
Rip it off for me.
Rip it off.
There it is.
We all remember shipbuilder jovany from his revealing audition.
So this is for you, Jennifer.
I'm sorry, Marc, I love you, dude.
You're the bomb.
Whoo!
Beforehand, I was like, I'm gonna take the shirt off, and so
I wanted to make sure that I got my golden ticket before then.
I want to make sure America knows that, you know, I'm here to sing.
I'm here to, you know, win a competition on my talent.
So our Latin lover bared it all for his final performance.
♪ Oh, now, baby ♪
♪ I-I-I-I ♪
♪ have tried to forget you ♪
♪ The spirit that won't let ♪
♪ me go ♪
Thank you.
How are you?
How are you? Good.
Fantastic.
What's up, man?
Have a seat.
How have you been?
Ha, uh... I don't know, just been, uh, working out, letting my hair
grow out a little bit.
How about you guys?
How's everything?
Well, we've been agonizing over this decision, you know.
Tough decisions.
From the last time we saw you guys perform, and taking
into consideration everything that's happened since the first time we saw you.
You know that there's only 24 spots.
Only 24.
And that means a lot of people are going home today,
people that maybe don't deserve to go home with great voices
and a lot of talent, and we want you to... We want everybody to understand
that.
But luckily for you, that doesn't matter, because you're in the top 24.
Oh, man!
You made it, dude.
Whoo!
Yeah, baby.
Oh, man!
Congratulations, man.
Mom!
Whoo!
Ha ha ha!
Whoo!
Yeah, baby!
Now jovany's in your hands, America.
Do with him what you will.
No more shipyard for me, baby.
No more shipyard for me!
I'm ready to rock and roll, man.
Top 24, boom!
After the break, only 12 spots remain, as Rachel zevita faces the panel.
I kept trying to figure out what you guys wanted to see from me.
We want to see you always.
We only want to see you.
Whose performances will take them to the main stage, and whose will fall flat?
Welcome back to the final judgment.
Time keeps ticking away here in the holding room, and the
tension is overwhelming.
Inside, the judges are awaiting the next victim in the chair.
And making her way towards them is 24-year-old Lauren Turner.
We first met this hardworking housekeeper in new Orleans.
Oh, I've wanted to be a singer ever since I was a little
girl, so American Idol would mean I don't have to clean houses anymore.
But did she change her destiny with this final performance?
♪ And I know it's late ♪
♪ but, oh, don't make me wait ♪
♪ so come on, baby ♪
♪ let's steal away ♪
♪ please, let's ♪
♪ steal away ♪
I feel that I did my best.
I really put my all into it, and I really want to make it.
♪ Here she comes again ♪
Hello.
How are you, Lauren?
Hi.
So listen, I know this has been a nerve-racking day for everyone.
When you came in and you sang in new Orleans, we were blown
away by the big voice.
Thank you.
The whole thing.
I think Hollywood week, if I'm honest, was kind of up and down
for you a little bit.
I mean, there were some bright moments, and there were some
moments that were a little questionable.
Okay.
You made it.
Congratulations.
You made it.
Yay, Lauren.
Aww!
Thank you.
Oh, no, don't cry like that.
So the maid makes it to the big-time.
Randy, who dat?
Who dat?
New Orleans in the house!
I made it.
You made it!
Awesome.
It's normal.
I hope he's kidding.
Okay, good, 'cause you have to understand.
You have to understand what that does to us for a moment.
We're thinking, oh, God.
For a moment, I was out.
Here comes the medic.
That may have been the world's worst fake-out, but inside the judgment room,
there was nothing more real than the feeling of rejection
for Milwaukee's tiwan strong and Erin Kelly from new Orleans.
I'm sorry to say that you didn't make the cut this time, baby.
All right.
I don't want to drag it out for you.
The truth is is that you did not make it into the top 24.
It's the end of the road.
Going back to reality, 'cause this was nothing but a dream.
Thank you, Erin.
Being so close, yet so far, is a tough thing to handle.
And that's something the next contestant is somewhat familiar with.
Next person is somebody that I have known for quite a long time.
Oh, God.
Uh-oh!
Peek-a-boo.
Hi.
Come on.
Oh, no, you don't want to put this off.
Come on, rache.
You have... you have evolved so much.
I feel like we've grown up together.
And now let's go get top 24, all right?
All right.
Good luck.
Thanks, man.
Go get 'em, go get 'em.
Let's do it.
A Hollywood veteran from season six, Rachel has never made it
this far in the competition.
So it's no surprise she brought some special guests with her.
Both my mom and my grandma came all the way from New York
to be here with me today.
You think I should put on a few?
No.
You got plans later?
Neither do I.
I honestly would feel horrible if my 83-year-old grandma came all the way over
here, and I come out there and I don't make it... I'm just gonna
feel like such a failure to her.
But if I come out and I'm on the show... I know they'll be
really happy.
I'm sorry.
And with so much on the line, did Rachel make the judges happy
when she last took the stage?
♪ I'll never ♪
♪ lo-o-o-ove again ♪
♪ I'll never write a song ♪
♪ won't even sing along ♪
♪ I'll never love again ♪
♪ why you so speechless? ♪
♪ some men, they follow me ♪
♪ but you choose ♪
♪ death and company ♪
♪ why ♪
♪ why you so speechless? ♪
♪ ohhh ♪
♪ oh! ♪
Ow!
Ya think?
That was the first time where I was, like, "I know I'm a good singer.
I know I can do this."
I'm really proud of what I did onstage.
And I hope they see that.
Hey, guys.
How are you?
I like the feathers on these shoes.
Beautiful.
Thank you.
Is that so you can fly, baby?
I hope so.
Well, listen, I tell you what, you impressed us when we first saw you.
I mean, I remember there were a couple of good moments, a couple
of "I'm not sure" moments for me personally.
I kept trying to figure out what you guys wanted to see from me.
We want to see you always.
We only want to see you.
We kept telling you that.
You know I've been a fan of yours for many years, not just
this year, and I've been rooting for you, rooting for you.
And when I wouldn't see that spark that I knew was in there,
it would... honestly, it was like I wanted to come up on stage and
just pull it out of you.
You can't be wondering, "what does that person in the third row want me to do?
Why isn't he smiling?"
That's not what it's about.
It's about really doing something sincere from your heart.
You feel it, they feel it, and then it all works.
And that's what this is about.
Well, that's why this is hard for us, so... Really sorry to have to say
that, uh... That you're coming through.
Wait.
We want Rachel!
Congratulations, Rachel!
You made it!
You made it.
We want the you that's been you.
You're in the top 24.
All of me?
Every bit of you.
We want Rachel.
All of Rachel.
I can't thank you enough.
And I can't believe it.
Oh, yes.
A stunned Rachel takes another spot for the girls.
I did it!
Yeah.
♪ These are the times in ♪
♪ our lives that we wait for ♪
Are you ready... for some news?
No.
♪ These are the days ♪
Look behind you.
♪ And the nights ♪
♪ that we pray for ♪
They want all of me!
♪ These are the times in ♪
♪ our lives that we wait for ♪
♪ whoa whoa ♪
♪ whoa ♪
It's a long-awaited moment for this family, and they certainly have a lot to be
proud of.
When Idol returns, will Jordan dorsey live to regret Hollywood week?
You had some little auditions of your own during group rounds.
I didn't want to dis anybody on the spot, but I was like,
"it's not gonna work."
You have to know that I fought for you the whole way
through, and that's what makes it difficult.
Has Lauren alaina's fire gone out?
I'm just not sure how you're gonna be able to handle it.
The pressure grows as we pick the people you will vote for.
Welcome back to American Idol.
As the holding room is getting tense, only 10 of the 24 spots remain.
Hoping to get one of those coveted spots is kendra Campbell.
Kendra, you are up.
Go get 'em, girl.
The moment I've been waiting for.
This is... this one?
Really? Thank you. That's sweet.
I'm flattered.
I can go home now.
All right, see you later.
No, come on.
They're ready for you.
Kendra came to us from Nashville.
♪ I keep on falling ♪
Shake it out.
Perform all that.
I mean, your whole spirit, everything about you needs to open up.
So she worked hard to give the judges what they wanted.
♪ You were only waiting ♪
♪ for this moment to arrive ♪
♪ blackbird ♪
♪ fly ♪
♪ blackbird ♪
♪ fly ♪
That was so beautiful.
It was really good.
Excellent.
Thank you.
And for her final performance, kendra makes a calculated move by singing her
Nashville audition song.
♪ I keep on falling ♪
♪ in and out ♪
♪ of love ♪
♪ with you ♪
♪ I never ♪
♪ loved someone ♪
♪ the way that I'm ♪
♪ lovin' you ♪
♪ oh, oh, oh, whoa ♪
♪ I never felt this way ♪
Now will the strategy pay off?
I feel like every performance I got progressively better, and
I hope that the judges picked up on that.
I think that that process would continue if they allow me to stay.
Hi.
How are you?
Hi, kendra.
Oh, you know, I'm nervous.
Really nervous, but... What are you nervous about?
Well, I don't know my future, and it's right there in your hands.
Oh, boy.
We're a little concerned.
Okay.
Um, 24 people now that we have to get through.
And they all have to be beyond good.
The whole package, you know.
I think it's a... Just an amazing accomplishment
just to get this far, you know.
Yeah.
Obviously, I hope I get the chance to do more, because
there's things that you haven't heard me do yet.
I just want to say, you know, I think that all the way...
all the way down to right here now, you've done the right thing.
Thank you.
Every time you sang, you blew us away.
I can't be upset with that no matter what happens, you know.
All right.
Well, they told me a few things.
I did a good job every time, but there's a lot of people that
had to get cut, but I'm not one of them.
I get to go through.
Why are you playing the trick on us?
Because I never get to do that.
Top 24!
Go get it!
All right!
So kendra earns her way into the top 24, but the remaining
contestants know that with each person that comes through the
door cheering, their chances dwindle.
Jordan is not messing around.
He wants to get his news.
Taking that long walk next is music teacher Jordan dorsey,
who we met in new Orleans.
I'm a very stern teacher.
I'm a very hard teacher.
No, no.
♪ Baby, lock them doors ♪
♪ and turn the lights ♪
Well, I can sing.
I feel it.
And in the end, it paid off.
♪ Was all it took ♪
Make it short and sweet, all of you guys are going through to the next round.
And in Vegas... ♪ yeah, yeah ♪
The judges gave Jordan a wake-up call.
♪ To see you ♪
We have high expectations of you.
You did a good job, but just know that that's why I think
we're particularly hard on you.
So Jordan knew, in his final audition, he would have to be incredible.
♪ I'm so high, baby ♪
♪ I'm so high, yeah ♪
♪ I'm so high ♪
♪ my shoes are scraping ♪
♪ the sky ♪
♪ ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh ♪
♪ you've got me up so high ♪
Ah!
Mr. dorsey.
Get out of here.
You, uh... get out of here.
Yeah, yeah.
So the question is, did Jordan live up to the judges'
expectations?
The final judgment is very vital for me, because I don't want to lose.
Um, I'm in this to win.
I'm confident, I'm aggressive, I like to get things done in
perfection, and I'm trying to win this thing.
Hello.
Mr. dorsey, what's up?
How's it going?
Good. How are you?
Great, I'm great.
You look good.
You know, Jordan, from the beginning, you were a standout
for me, and you have to know that I fought for you the whole way through.
At Hollywood week, I heard that maybe you had some little
auditions of your own during group rounds?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
What was that about, dog?
They were bringing them to me.
Because you were the teacher?
Right, basically.
Why, 'cause you're the teacher?
So they were going, you know, getting other people, and they
were coming to me, and, you know, I didn't want to dis
anybody on the spot, but I was like, "it's not gonna work,"
you know, 'cause we wanted top quality in our group.
But let me ask you something honestly, straight up, man to man.
Do you feel, though, that in that instant, some people felt dissed?
The way I may have said it may have came off, you know, the
wrong way to somebody, but I'm trying to make sure that our
group, you know, made it through, and we did.
Mm-hmm.
It's funny because even... it was just... There's 24 spots.
Yeah.
At the end of the day, and that means that, you know, a
bunch of people are going home today, and that's what makes it difficult.
But luckily for you, that's not the case.
Yes!
Congratulations.
Yeah!
Good luck, man.
Thank you, thank you.
Ooh!
And now, 16 of our top 24 have been named, as Jordan dorsey gets through.
Whoo!
Congratulations, man.
Good job.
After the break, take nothing for granted, as early judge
favorites come crashing down.
You didn't make it into the top 24 this time.
Plus, Jacob, James, and Casey sing for their lives.
It's been good.
Nobody gets this far without singing good.
We're back on Idol.
Next stop for the final judgment, for the walk which
will surely get the judges'
attention, is Lauren.
So... That's an interesting choice.
Right?
That's got as much personality as you do.
Yeah.
I like my boots.
Yes.
They're Barbie cowgirl boots.
That's what everybody's been calling me all day.
Tell me what's going through your mind today.
I'm freaking out.
Are you freaking out?
I'm freaking out, mm-hmm.
Why?
Because people are coming out and not making it that I knew would make it.
This is a nerve-racking day.
We're gonna send you out there right now, okay?
Okay.
We first met Lauren in Nashville, where she wowed the judges.
Whoo!
You've got real, natural, God-given talent.
I think we've found the one today.
In Hollywood, she continued to charm Mr. Tyler and to sing
herself easily through each round.
But in Las Vegas, things took a turn for the worse...
When nerves and the pressure of the competition... Led to a shaky performance.
♪ I don't know ♪
♪ I don't know why ♪
♪ you say good-bye ♪
♪ when I say hello ♪
She was trying to do her thing on it.
She tried to do it, but it was just, like, not working for me.
With hopes of redeeming herself, Lauren took the stage.
♪ I need ♪
♪ your love ♪
♪ I need ♪
♪ your love ♪
♪ God speed your love ♪
♪ to ♪
♪ me ♪
Thank you.
Now she's about to find out if she's done enough to make it in the top 24.
Hey, Lauren alaina.
Hi.
Hi, sweetie.
How are you?
I'm okay.
Hello, dear, how are you?
What's going on, man?
What's this outfit?
Tell me about this outfit.
I like this outfit.
Those pinboots, and all the sparkles.
Wow, have a seat.
I like the dress.
Did they make that special for you?
Yeah. Whoo!
Yeah, I can tell.
Did I break the chair?
No, you didn't.
God, no.
That would be so embarrassing tonight.
What if I sat wn on it too hard and it went whee!
No, we wouldn't let that happen.
So how you been doing?
Um, I'm kind of freaking out.
Yeah?
Well, I'll tell you what, we fell in love with you the first
time we heard your voice.
But it's been a long, crazy trip, huh?
Tough, tough journey.
You know, there was so many good... you know, when they opened it up to 15.
And you were 15 when you first auditioned... Now you're 16, right?
Yes.
Imagine that.
But when they opened it up, we got so much amazing talent at that age.
And you know, and they're still in the competition.
So it became such a tough thing for us to figure out who was
gonna stay and who was gonna go.
I'm just not sure how you're gonna be able to handle it.
Yeah.
In the big-time.
Since you're going through, girl.
Congratulations, Lauren alaina, you've made it!
You made it.
He's so mean, right?
Oh, no!
He's not really mean.
No, Randy's mean.
I'm not mean.
Whoo!
It was a really hard decision.
It was really tough.
But you made it easy.
I don't even wanna tell you how good I think you are.
But you gotta keep it up and you gotta do even better.
I feel like I'm gonna pass out.
No, don't.
Don't pass out.
Pass out out there.
Go out there and pass out.
So as part of our top 24, Lauren alaina will be performing for America's votes.
She's so cute.
She's like Dolly parton.
And as she celebrates with her family, stefano langone is
about to find out if he too will be singing on the main stage.
In San Francisco, he showed us the huge obstacles he's overcome to be here.
You know, they told me that I wouldn't be able to walk right or be the same.
And I got on my feet in less than four months.
And he passed through the hurdles of Hollywood and Vegas mostly unscathed.
Stefano, you're amazing.
Thank you.
But in his final performance, he took a risk with an original
composition that could determine if there was a place for him in the top 24.
♪ Come home ♪
♪ baby, baby, come home ♪
♪ no ♪
♪ just come home ♪
I'm very anxious today.
Very anxious.
But I feel in my heart that I'm here for a reason, and I'm
singing for a reason, and that I can do it.
We'll see what happens.
Stefano, what's the deal, man?
How you guys doing?
How are you?
I'm great.
Yeah.
I'm great; Living another day in the life.
You know? You know how it is.
Yeah.
You had some good moments.
You know, a lot of people had good moments.
Everybody had good moments.
Yeah, everybody... everybody did.
Everybody... you know what, you're absolutely right.
And so you can imagine how hard it was for us to choose who was
going to move on to the top 24.
I can't, but...
I can't.
I know that's right.
But you know, unfortunately, in these days somebody has to go home.
And we hate it.
And at the end of the day, we just really, really feel...
Like we'd love to have you in our top 24.
Welcome to the top 24.
Stefano!
I haven't slept in four days!
You can sleep tonight.
I can sleep tonight.
We haven't slept either, dog.
Trust me.
Whoo!
That's a talented kid right there.
I'm gonna be on the live show!
Oh, my goodness gracious!
That's crazy!
Whoo-hoo-hoo!
There you go!
Done!
All right, give it up for stefano.
The judges have chosen some outstanding talent already.
But coming up, who heads to the big stage, and who heads home?
You're not in our top 24.
Welcome back to the final judgment.
It's just after 7:00 pm, and the tension in the holding room is growing.
There are few spots left, and they've been filling up fast.
And Jackie Wilson is hoping there's one left for her.
She was an early favorite in Nashville.
♪ 'Cause I got to change ♪
♪ your view, baby ♪
Whoo!
Yo!
But when she delivered her final performance, she fell
short of the mark she had originally set for herself.
♪ Because of you ♪
♪ I learned to dah-dah-dah ♪
♪ just to forget everything ♪
Today the stakes are pretty high.
Pretty high.
You know, I hope and pray for the best, and hope that I'm still here tomorrow.
Hi, Jackie.
How are you, baby?
Good, how are you?
Good, you look great.
How you feeling?
I'm a little anxious.
How are y'all doing?
We're doing good.
You know, we've had to, like, really analyze everything and really
make some tough decisions.
Unfortunately, and I think if you look back with us, you'd
know that there was some moments where we felt that you could've
really, really, like, blown the roof off the place.
And you just didn't quite get there all the way.
It's kinda like you started off really strong out of the blocks,
and then it kinda fizzled out toward the end.
And I hate to tell you, Jackie, you didn't make it into the top 24 this time.
Yeah.
Really?
I'm so sorry, yeah.
Why?
That consistency is everything in a competition like this.
You started off like, oh, my God.
Gangbusters.
But by the end there, I feel a bit that you lost your confidence, really.
So there's no way to change the minds, huh?
I wish we could change our mind for everybody.
I wish we could.
I know.
Okay.
Thank you, Jackie.
It's great to meet you guys.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too.
Take care.
I don't agree with it.
I think that I definitely deserve for America to say yes or no.
But you know, it is what it is.
What have we got?
Nope.
No?
Nope.
As Jackie says good-bye to the competition, Jacob lusk is
hoping to hear a hello to the top 24.
Good luck, I hope you make it through.
I hope so too, man.
All right, let's go.
Let's go!
Why wait?
Come on, go get 'em.
We'll see you in a minute.
Jacob lusk has been coasting through the audition process on
the tails of his big voice.
♪ But when he died ♪
♪ oh, he loved us well ♪
Guess what?
I'm going to Hollywood!
Yes, yes, yes!
And even bigger personality.
Yeah!
♪ Without money, he's gone ♪
But his shining moment was his solo performance in Hollywood.
♪ They don't ♪
♪ da-da-da-don't come around ♪
♪ don't come around ♪
♪ no more, aah ♪
♪ mama, my mama may have, hey ♪
♪ and my papa ♪
♪ my papa may have ♪
♪ but God bless the child ♪
♪ that's got his own ♪
♪ ah ah aah ♪
Even getting one of the few standing ovations from the judges.
Whoo!
And in his final performance, he continued to showcase his powerful vocals.
♪ We're alone now ♪
♪ and I'm singing this song ♪
♪ to you ♪
♪ this song is for you ♪
♪ this song is just for you ♪
Making the live show would completely change my life.
It's an amazing thought, to know that, you know, this could be me.
I could be the next American Idol; I really could.
I'm in the top 40 right now.
But I really don't know.
Hello.
Hi, Jacob.
Hello, Jacob. How are you?
I'm good, how are you?
How are you, sweet pea?
I'm good.
Good?
Good.
Well, listen, this has been a tough journey for you.
Been a tough journey for us, getting... trying to get down to this 24 today.
And I must say... your performance of God bless the child I think is the single
best performance ever on Idol.
Ever! Ever!
I agree.
So we were all blown away.
And for that alone, my friend, cut to the chase, we are happy... aah!
That you are in our top 24!
Yes!
♪ Yeah! ♪
Shut the front door.
That was for you, baby!
♪ Yeah! ♪
What was that?
Congratulations, man.
Congrats, congrats, congrats.
Thank you so much.
Let's run, let's run.
We're running, we're running.
Good luck, good luck.
Go celebrate!
Run, run, run!
Yeah!
The poor guy... he's doing the church!
Yes, yes!
Church, church, church!
Do the church!
Church!
Ah!
Come on!
I can't keep up.
Yes!
Yes! Yes!
Yes!
I've never run so fast on this show in my life.
♪ I'm in the top 24 ♪
♪ yeah, yeah! ♪
Yes!
Coming up... my son and my fiancee are the whole reason that I'm doing this.
The decision that could change James durbin's life.
I must admit, you know, you really let me down.
They laid it all on the line.
And only a few coveted spots remain.
Three guys left, and one more spot.
And the three of you are gonna go in together.
But who will sing for your vote?
The person going through out of the three of you...
Welcome back to American Idol.
It is after 9:00 back here on the final judgment episode of Idol.
And as you can see, the room is emptying out, and the energy is much lower.
Not nearly as much enthusiasm and excitement as earlier in the day.
Wow, what a day.
Holy crumb cakes.
And it had been an arduous process for pia toscano too.
You get really tight with these people, and just...
To see them go home, I mean, it's tough.
It's been a long day, and you never know.
You don't know what's gonna happen.
We first met pia in our east coast auditions.
Hello.
Good morning, new Jersey.
In Hollywood, she blew the judges away as part of the group N.Y.C. In harmony.
♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪
♪ I would go through ♪
♪ all this pain ♪
♪ take a bullet ♪
♪ straight through my brain ♪
♪ yes, I would die ♪
♪ for you, baby ♪
With her friend, Karen Rodriguez, she tore up the stage in Vegas.
♪ 'cause I don't care ♪
♪ too much for money ♪
♪ money can't buy me love ♪
It was just incredible.
Very well done.
Thank you.
And then you had fun in the end, and it was just perfect.
But her defining solo moment came in the final hours.
♪ From above ♪
♪ seems I had it all ♪
♪ but it doesn't mean anything ♪
♪ mm ♪
♪ since you're gone ♪
It's so important to me now.
I feel mentally prepared, I feel ready for this.
And I can taste it.
I... I just... I want it so bad.
Hello.
Hi.
How are you?
Good. How are you?
Are you crying?
No, not yet.
Not yet, aww.
A little bit.
She said, "don't make me cry."
Yeah.
How you feeling?
Good.
I'm nervous, but I'm good.
I can understand that.
I mean, it's been a long day, you're now towards the end.
Well, we're gonna keep it short and sweet, okay?
You made it into the top 24.
We're very happy to have you.
Congratulations.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, you have no idea how much this means to me.
Thank you so, so much.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
You are such an inspiration.
Thank you.
You guys are so amazing.
You.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
I cannot thank you guys enough.
And just like that, the 11th spot for the girls is stolen away.
She's awesome.
Yes.
Congratulations.
She made it.
Only a few people left, so everybody cheer.
Crew!
So relief for pia.
But James durbin was still waiting for his verdict.
I was diagnosed with tourette's syndrome and asperger's, which is a
high-functioning autism.
At school, people would tell me "cut that out, stop that."
I was just like, "I can't."
His distinct style could either hit home... ♪ way ♪
My God, what a range.
Or fall short... as his passion sometimes overwhelmed his performance.
♪ Me ♪
The harmonies were almost painful.
The group was kind of a mess.
I've started my journey throwing my screams in, just like Adam
lambert, and it's like, what else can I do?
They're just gonna expect it, you know?
So when he sang for his life, he needed to show he had the
control to go with the power.
♪ Then I'd go ♪
♪ I'd go down to my brother ♪
♪ mm ♪
♪ and I said, brother ♪
♪ help me, please, yeah ♪
♪ yeah, yeah ♪
♪ then he winds up ♪
♪ knocking me down ♪
♪ back down on my knees ♪
♪ and oh, yeah ♪
♪ knocked me down to the floor ♪
♪ and when I looked below ♪
♪ but now I know ♪
♪ that I was able to carry on ♪
♪ it's been a long ♪
♪ a long time coming ♪
♪ but I know-ow ♪
♪ my change ♪
♪ my change is gonna come ♪
Whoo!
Nice, nice.
He's like, "I did it!
I got up there."
Yeah.
That's the reason your ears are unblocked.
That's not easy to do in a back bend, that's not easy to...
that'll unblock them right there.
Damn!
Yo.
Take that,
Tourette's, man, I'll tell you what.
What?
I'll take an order of that.
I'll have what he's having.
There's not a moment that goes by in this whole experience
when I'm not thinking about Heidi and hunter.
This isn't just my change; It's their change as well.
I want this so bad.
And this is my big, big opportunity to do this.
Hey, hey.
Hi, sweetie.
Hi.
What's up, man?
Good to see you guys.
Good to see you.
How are you?
I'm fantastic, couldn't be better.
You're just something else, man.
You're a lightning bolt, man.
You came on so, so strong.
Thank you.
You know, and blew us away.
And then, I must admit, you know, you really let me down when you did that song
I don't wanna miss a thing.
You did it better than I do it and...
That's what let him down, yeah.
No, man, you nailed it, you nailed it.
You know, I'm just gonna get right to the point, you
know... you're so good, you know.
I don't think that you will ever be selling pizza.
I think you're gonna go on to great heights.
As high as you say, my brother.
Thank you.
So welcome to the 24.
James, you made it, baby.
You're in it!
Congratulations.
Go big or go home, right?
Look at you.
I didn't know you were taller than me also.
Sup!
Thank you guys so much.
Really, good luck.
We now turn James over to you.
After the break, one place remains for the girls.
Will thia megia or Jessica Cunningham sing for America's vote?
One of you guys has to go home.
Plus, will the eccentric Casey Abrams make the cut?
Nice one.
And heartbreak for the guys as the final spots are given away.
The person going through out of the three of you...
Welcome back to the final judgment.
It's 9:30 pm in Hollywood.
The holding room is almost empty.
And the odds of making the top 24 have diminished significantly.
In fact, for the boys, there are only two spots left.
Anxious and ready to find out his fate is Casey Abrams.
I'm just ready for a yes or a no.
I'm just happy to hug the judges afterwards.
If I'm crying in happiness or in agony, I get to hug Jennifer Lopez.
That's a plus, right?
Casey blew the judges away with his raw talent in our Austin auditions.
Yes!
Oh!
Then sailed through Hollywood.
♪ And Georgia ♪
And Las Vegas... One unique performance after the next.
You are funny, you're fearless... and that's what I love about great artists.
Great artists are fearless first, right?
Really good job.
And I do love the fearlessness.
I do love that you just went all out and just did some crazy stuff.
After showing how versatile he can be, Casey took the stage
for the last time with one more thing to prove.
I'm here to prove that people like me can be sexy.
Nice.
Ha-ha.
♪ You had plenty money ♪
♪ 1922 ♪
♪ you let other women ♪
♪ make a fool of you ♪
♪ why don't you do right ♪
♪ like some other men do, yeah ♪
♪ mm-mm-mm-mm, yeah ♪
♪ why don't you do right ♪
♪ yeah ♪
♪ like some other men do ♪
♪ do, do ♪
♪ why don't you do right ♪
♪ like some other men ♪
♪ do ♪
♪ yeah ♪
Nice.
Wow.
Nice one, nice one.
Nice, nice.
Very nice.
Come on in, case.
Hey.
You better be scratching your beard, young man.
What do you got in that?
Yeah.
You don't wanna know, man.
Yeah, I can see.
Whoo.
Feels good to sit up here for a minute, right?
I like looking at you guys.
You're funny, you're funny.
So let me not bull you.
I mean, look, in the history of this show... this is the tenth
season... I don't think we've ever had a musician as talented as yourself.
When I hear you sing... and if you're singing and playing, or
whatever it is... it's like three people in one.
I mean, I don't think I've ever seen in my life, on this show
definitely, somebody as talented as you are in a musical aspect.
So, dude... Welcome to the top 24, Casey!
You rocked it, baby, you rocked it, you rocked it!
Yes!
What'd I tell you in the airport?
Whoo!
He knocked over the chair.
What'd I tell you in the airport?
Let the bass rule.
Bass rules!
Oh, my God, I'm so happy.
Thank you.
What'd I tell you?
You told me, man.
I loved it, man, I loved it.
Listen, you're a wild rock star musician, throwing furniture and stuff.
I'll get that, I'll get that.
I'll pay for it, I swear.
What's going on around here?
No trashing your hotel rooms.
I'll try, I'll try, I'll try.
Please. Please.
I love you guys.
Congratulations, dude.
Is somebody gonna get that chair?
Oh, my!
So Casey has made his point.
And now he's a part of the top 24.
You ready for this crazy ride?
No.
Oh, my God.
Thank you.
Welcome, man.
Top 24.
Whoo!
But reality has yet to set in.
Top 24?
It is real.
Back inside the holding room... The last two girls are also
getting a reality check.
So we're down to the end of the day, the end of the line.
The two of you left.
The two of you are gonna go in there together.
I do not know the results, and I don't know what they're gonna tell you...
But they wanna see both of you at the same time.
Okay.
Okay?
You are the undertaker right now, to me.
We're about to find out if Jessica's premonition has any life to it.
We first met 15-year-old thia megia back in Milwaukee.
♪ Should I give up ♪
♪ or should I just keep ♪
♪ chasing pavement ♪
And she was one of the first signs that lowering the age had its upside.
Thia encountered her first hiccup in the competition during
the Beatles challenge.
Sing, damn it!
Bury her [Bleep] Onstage.
Tap-right-dance on her tongue.
Melinda and I were terrified.
In the end, I guess it turned out to be such a great help for us.
Thia, everything you do just seems very natural.
And I love that.
Thanks, guys.
And nothing could stop her from shining each time she walked onto the stage.
♪ You raise me up ♪
♪ so I can stand on mountains ♪
♪ you raise me up ♪
♪ to walk on stormy seas ♪
♪ I am strong ♪
♪ when I am on your shoulders ♪
♪ you raise me up ♪
♪ to more than I can ♪
♪ be ♪
Having been there before... This is actually my seventh time auditioning.
And this Idol veteran auditioned in new Jersey.
♪ Hold me ♪
Where she quickly won the approval of our panel.
Especially Steven.
You are so fine.
Your voice... oh, thank you.
You're the complete package.
Jessica used her experience to get herself back in the
running to be in the top 24.
♪ Trying to see it my way ♪
♪ do I have to keep on talking ♪
♪ till I can't go on ♪
From the beginning, they have had the same goal.
And as they continue down their paths, this walk ends with a fork in the road.
Hi, girls.
One Idol journey continues, and the other will end.
How you guys feeling?
Today's my birthday.
Is it your birthday, sweetie?
To make you feel worse if you cut me.
Right.
Happy Birthday, baby.
Thank you.
Happy Birthday.
How old are you?
1/4 of a century.
Wow.
25, yeah.
That's a good time.
But you know, we had a lot to take into consideration for everybody.
We have our rocker... our only rocker in the whole
competition, and we have one of our 15-year-old phenoms.
I mean, were we right to open it up to 15-year-olds at this point, you know?
Are they ready for the pressure?
There's only one slot left for one girl, and one of you guys has to go home.
Okay.
And you both have done great.
Both had great moments, both had moments that were a little bit shaky.
Yes.
And remember, no matter what happens... There's always next year.
You can always come back, 'cause you guys are both... This is my seventh time.
This is your seventh time?
Yeah, I made it to this part last year.
So I don't know if I can handle it three more times.
You know what, I understand how you feel.
I really do.
Mm.
As tough as it is, we're gonna ask thia to stay... And Jessica, it's the end of
the road for you this time.
I hope you do decide to come back.
Thank you.
Congratulations, thia.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
Good luck, girl.
You'll do wonderful.
Getting cut on my birthday is evil.
'Cause for the next few birthdays, I'm gonna think, "oh,
crap, I got cut that day.
Awesome.
And I turned 25.
"Awesome."
So yeah, they ruined my birthday.
You know what I have to say to that?
Yeah.
You guys know you deserve it.
You can't see what it is.
Probably got American Idol bubbles around these fingers
right now, but you ruined my birthday.
I love you, but come on.
As Jessica just pointed out, her Idol journey is now over.
I love you, mom.
Thank you for all the inspiration.
As thia takes the last spot for the girls.
So... when we return... Three guys remain.
But only one will move on to sing for your votes.
And two of you, it's the end of this journey.
The person going through out of the three of you is...
Find out who's going home after the break.
We're back with you here on Idol, after a very, very long day.
And look, the room empty except for the three guys left.
And one more spot for the guys.
I hate to correct you, but there's two more spots.
There's one spot.
Are you sure?
Don't, no.
We were doing that all day.
Don't scare us like that.
There's one spot.
There's two spots.
There's one.
You got the math?
There's two spots left.
There's one spot.
Two spots.
Brett... I promise you.
And the three of you are gonna go in together.
Oh, my goodness.
Okay?
All right.
Good luck.
Thanks.
It's time for the long, dreaded walk.
Three guys, one spot.
But who will it go to?
We met jaycee badeaux and Brett loewenstern in new Orleans,
where they both charmed the judges for that golden ticket to Hollywood.
You are so sweet and so cute!
Yes!
Hollywood!
After jaycee found himself stranded on group day...
They decided that they didn't want me in it anymore, so... I don't know.
Brett was quick to welcome him into his.
Nice to meet you.
We're really happy to have you.
And with all the emotion in making it through... Jaycee, you got some fans out
there, dude.
The two have been buddies ever since.
But was jaycee's final performance good enough to pass him through?
♪ Born to amuse ♪
♪ to inspire, to delight ♪
♪ here one day ♪
♪ gone one night ♪
♪ like the sunset dying ♪
♪ with the rising of the moon ♪
♪ gone too soon ♪
I've come so far, and it'd be horrible to get out right now.
There's nothing more I can do.
So I have to be happy about that, that I did my best.
Can we hold hands?
And did Brett make a mistake by singing one of his own songs?
♪ Every time I look ♪
♪ in the mirror ♪
♪ I see a stranger ♪
♪ staring back at me ♪
♪ wanna hold his hands ♪
♪ tell him it'll be okay ♪
♪ but it's gotta come from ♪
♪ deep within ♪
♪ 'cause I ♪
♪ I've got my, I've got my ♪
♪ I've got ♪
♪ my bulletproof vest ♪
♪ and I am no longer scared ♪
I'm confident.
I've got this.
I've given it my all, and that's all I could've done.
And I'm just really hoping for the best.
Colton Dixon turned up with his sister skylar at the Nashville auditions.
Hollywood!
Yes!
Hollywood.
He had been flying quietly under the radar until he sat at
the piano on solo day.
♪ What about now ♪
♪ what about today ♪
♪ and what if you're making me ♪
♪ more than I was meant to be ♪
The judges saw his true potential shine once again in his final performance.
♪ How did we get here ♪
♪ I used to know you so well ♪
♪ hey, yeah ♪
This is the opportunity of a lifetime.
I never dreamed I would be here.
And I'm so thankful that I've gotten to this spot.
I hope I get to continue.
♪ I think I know ♪
Hello, boys.
Hello.
How are you?
Hi.
Good.
Hey, jaycee.
Hey, Randy.
Hey, hey.
Hello.
Hi, guys.
What's going on, man?
How you guys doing?
Freaking out.
I'm pretty nervous, I'm not gonna lie.
The last three of the day.
The last three.
Yeah.
It's been a tough, tough, crazy day for us as well.
This is probably the toughest of these we've ever done.
Look at them.
Look at these three here.
They're killing me already.
I'm looking at these faces.
You're all so talented, and spial, and unique.
So young, and... Young and beautiful.
All of you, in your own way.
Jaycee, man, I know you had a hard time, you know.
And your story, you know, about how you were brought up.
Touched a note with me.
And you're just crazy good.
Thank you.
So it's really hard for us.
And you guys are all so young that you can come back as
many times as you want and probably do really, really well.
And we believe that about each one of you.
So we hope that happens.
So... the person going through out of the three of you... is Brett.
Congratulations, Brett.
Colton and jaycee, really sorry.
Love you guys, man.
This has been the toughest... Colton, I hope both you and
jaycee please come back.
Jaycee... please come back.
Jaycee, my Louisiana brother.
It's a humbling moment.
Brett is in, and we say good-bye to Colton Dixon and jaycee badeaux.
Oh, sweetie!
Listen, I told you you have magic in that voice.
Thank you.
And you know I believe that.
See what happens, okay?
Thank you.
The guys head back to the holding room to deliver the bittersweet news.
Did you make it?
Congratulations.
And as we say good-bye to jaycee and Colton, Brett has one last thing to add.
It doesn't matter out of all three who made it because we're all shining stars.
I'm serious.
To be in the top 40, out of hundreds and thousands of
people, we gotta give ourselves a round of applause.
Hey, guys.
Good luck to you, Colton.
We'll see you soon.
Jaycee, good luck, go get 'em, all right?
Thanks, guys.
And that is the final judgment.
We'll see you next time on American Idol.
Good night.
So it's official... we have our top 24.
12 girls, and the 12 guys.
The boys are up first Tuesday night.
Let's meet them.
Brett loewenstern.
Jovany barreto.
Jacob lusk.
Paul McDonald.
Clint "June bug" gamboa.
Robbie rosen.
Stefano langone.
Jordan dorsey.
Tim halperin.
James durbin.
Casey Abrams.
And Scotty mccreery.
And then on Wednesday, it will be the girls' turn.
Here they are.
Naima adedapo.
Julie zorrilla.
Karen Rodriguez.
Lauren Turner.
Kendra chantelle.
Ashton Jones.
Rachel zevita.
Haley reinhart.
Thia megia.
Lauren alaina.
Pia toscano.
And tatynisa Wilson.
Three big nights.
Vote for the guys on Tuesday, vote for the girls on
Wednesday, and see your results live on Thursday.
Sync by Behzadt www.addic7ed.com