American Idol finalist Casey Abrams has been "saved."
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Although he received the fewest home viewer votes following Wednesday night's performance show, which featured the Top 11 finalists performing Motown classics, Abrams was allowed to remain in American Idol's tenth-season competition when the show's judges unanimously decided to use their one-time "The Judges' Save" ability to prevent his ouster during Thursday night's live results show broadcast on Fox.
"We know who you are, Casey. We don't need to hear you sing anymore, do we Steven?" Randy Jackson asked fellow Idol judge Steven Tyler after cutting Abrams off mid-performance as he "sung for his life" and attempted to impress the judges.
"Yeah, this is crazy wrong. We made a decision here to keep you on," Tyler told Abrams, a 20-year-old from Wilmette, IL, who currently resides in Idyllwild, CA.
"They're using the one save for Casey Abrams! ...The judges used their one save of the season for Casey Abrams, ladies and gentlemen. Congratulations," Idol host Ryan Seacrest said after the judges, including Jennifer Lopez revealed their decision to use the twist to prevent the elimination of Abrams.
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Abrams attempted to regain his composure in order to speak after he heard the decision. The singer was overwhelmed in excitement, couldn't catch his breath, and his hands were uncontrollably shaking.
"I thought that they were -- I knew that if there was someone that got cut tonight -- I thought that they wouldn't use the save because there's [still] 11 people. Oh my God! It's unreal! I started singing and the fact that you cut it scared the stuff out of me. I'll make you proud!" Abrams exclaimed.
Prior to Abrams' save by the judges, Seacrest had revealed that Stefano Langone, a 21-year-old from Kent, WA, and Thia Megia, a 16-year-old who currently resides in Mountain House, CA, were the other members of the week's bottom three vote-getters.
Abrams -- who was one of the 10 finalists voted into the season's Top 13 finalists by home viewers -- had received raving feedback from the judges following his performance of Marvin Gaye's "Heard It Through The Grapevine" on Wednesday's performance show.
"I think you are the perfect entertainer -- perfect pitch and perfect mix of crazy-ass out of control ego -- that's what makes an artist today. You're beautiful man, I loved it," Tyler told Abrams.
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"I'm trying to think. I'm listening to you and you're so specific who you are, like people already know who Casey is, what he sounds like, what you're going to do. That's such an incredible thing, and I was thinking, 'Is there anybody like you right now out there?' I don't even think there is. You might be the guy right now. You could really carve out a niche for yourself and be amazing," Lopez said. "Great to see!"
"Yo, Jennifer's right, man. Listen, you are definitely a true original. You know what I love? You come out, you take chances, you tell everybody that comes up here -- I don't care what the song is, do you -- You know what's so perfect about you? You can only do you and that you is great. We loved it!" Jackson added.
Afterward, Seacrest noted that the use of "The Judges' Save" means two of American Idol's remaining tenth-season finalists -- Abrams, Langone, Megia, Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Jacob Lusk, Scotty McCreery, Paul McDonald, Naima Adedapo, Haley Reinhart, and Pia Toscano -- will now be eliminated on next week's live results show.
"The bad news here is two people will go home next week, but I want to make an announcement -- good news -- because we will not have a Top 10 on tour. It's been predetermined should something like this occur, all 11 will go out on tour," Seacrest explained, referencing American Idol's summer tour.
Over 30 million home-viewer votes were cast following Wednesday night's performance show, according to Seacrest.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski