Everybody in this room is going on to the next round.
Wait, wait, wait.
Time out, time out!
We got a little announcement to make.
The numbers are so big this year... You're now all going tomorrow...
To Vegas for!
They may be happy now... But they're about to face their
toughest challenge yet.
What they don't know is that this is no vacation.
We're looking for superstars here.
They must learn and perform a Beatles song in just 24 hours.
No! Sing, damn it!
Fail this mission, and be sent packing.
They have one shot to prove themselves... Put the pedal down!
As they take the stage to perform the Beatles' biggest hits.
Oh, my God! Aah!
And the talent this year is unmatched... You rock my world.
Very, very nice!
Which make these final cuts that much harder... It's the end of the line.
As we whittle away at the remaining contestants...
We have to start making cuts.
To reveal your top 24.
And if you're lucky enough to survive Vegas... You'll still have to face the
final judgment.
And it honestly breaks my heart.
To say this, but you did not make it into the top 24.
I don't wanna do this anymore.
We started with 327... And tonight, only 61 remain.
These contestants may think that the heat of Hollywood week
is in the rearview mirror.
But really, their biggest challenge is on the horizon.
Right now, the contestants are aboard buses bound for Vegas.
I can't believe I'm going to Vegas right now.
To perform, dude.
I know.
Last night, they divided themselves into duos and trios.
Sophia, Ashley.
Yes.
They picked out songs they hoped they could do justice to.
Let it be, baby.
Though everyone was all smiles on the bus, 1/3 of them
will be cut when this round concludes.
Everyone's talent is ridiculous.
And what better place to hold this event than at cirque du
soleil's Beatles love at the mirage in Las Vegas?
It's make it or break it.
So they traveled on buses through the desert, and right
now the contestants are behind these doors, starting to
rehearse their Beatles songs.
It's now 10:00 in the morning, and performances start in 24
hours, so the clock is ticking as contestants desperately try
to get their Beatles songs together.
One more time.
Sing now.
In rehearsal room one, Milwaukee's thia megia and New
Jersey's Melinda ademi are getting some direct advice from
vocal coach peggi blu.
We're in work mode now.
We're gonna run this one more time, and if you're still
reading lyrics, that means you are truly not ready to do this gig.
This is a gig, kids.
This is a show.
And across the hall, Denise Jackson, Lauren alaina, and
Scotty mccreery are struggling with their song.
♪ To be true ♪
♪ and help me ♪
Um... we're gonna have to work on those... with those harmonies.
We'll fine-tune the harmonies.
Soon, the pressure of perfection bears down on Lauren.
♪ my heart ♪
Everyone loves the Beatles so much, and I don't wanna go in
there and not like... Impress them with it.
That would be like the worst feeling in the world.
I don't wanna go home.
I can't go home.
This means everything to me.
Oh, gosh.
And as the morning turns to afternoon... Everyone is becoming overwhelmed.
Aah!
And groups start to fall apart.
I really want your criticism.
It's just... it's coming down hard on me.
You guys gotta bring a whole lot more to the table than you brought.
By 4:00 P.M., the vocal coaches are also adding to the
anxiety as they ask for nothing less than perfection...
Especially the vocal coach from hell.
♪ little darlin' ♪
No!
What is that?
♪ little darling ♪
Sing, damn it!
Do it from the top one more time, and don't make a mistake!
Two, three, four.
♪ Here comes the sun ♪
♪ here comes the sun ♪
♪ and I say ♪
♪ it's all right ♪
Who's doin' it?
I said "it's all right."
Guess what.
You're gonna die on the stage in front of all those people.
I'm going to be layin' in my bed, watching you just croak.
And when I get the phone call that says, "did you do these
two?" I'm gonna go, "hell, no!"
But perhaps Peggy's most valuable lesson was her philosophy on teamwork.
Bury her ass on stage.
Tap right dance on her tongue.
I think you don't know what you're doing.
Make me a liar.
Show me that you know... And I will eat crow happily.
I'll put some salt on it and swallow.
But there is an even harder pill to swallow for other
contestants... learning just who the Beatles are.
I don't know very much about the Beatles other than that they're amazing.
I don't know many Beatles songs.
I have never heard a Beatles song in my life.
Enter our expert... Interscope mogul Jimmy iovine
who's worked hand-in-hand with the Beatles' own John Lennon.
And his impromptu visit means a surprise stress for the contestants.
They must now perform their song in front of him and his
team of the best music producers in the business.
First up to face the fire is Lauren, Denise, and Scotty.
♪ if I could ♪
♪ give my heart ♪
♪ to you ♪
♪ I must be sure ♪
♪ from the very start ♪
I believe we have a problem.
I think you can go to a new different song so... I don't think this song is
helping any one of you to show your voices off.
Why don't you go listen to songs, right?
You ain't gonna win singing that song.
Lauren's group goes back to the drawing board in search for another song.
It was just embarrassing, mostly, to be in front of all
those important people and just like... Totally screw up.
And back in rehearsal room, it soon became clear that
Jimmy's beatle workshop was not going to be a walk in the park.
That's not what we're looking for.
You're dead.
If you've seen it at a wedding, you've seen it at the happy hour
in a bar, or if you've seen it in karaoke, it's not what we're lookin' for.
Just when it seems the contestants have reached their breaking point...
Relief is on the horizon.
To gain some much-needed inspiration for tomorrow's
performances, the contestants were invited to see the Beatles
love by cirque du soleil.
♪ Love love love ♪
For the contestants, tonight the stage represents a whimsical dream.
♪ Love love love ♪
But tomorrow, the same theater could turn into their worst nightmare...
As several Idol dreams will come crashing down.
Over the next two hours... The competition heats up... very, very nice!
As the earlier drama... Sing, damn it!
Continues onstage.
It just didn't work.
Plus... Beatles love is in the air.
You may kiss your bride.
While back on the ground, cuts run deep.
I wanna lose both of these.
Yeah, I already did.
For many contestants, what happened to them in Vegas... I can't go home.
This means everything to me.
Will stay there.
You're goin' home.
Then the survivors take the stage for one last shot at their dream...
I think you're amazing.
Whoo!
Before facing the final judgment.
You made it into the top 24.
That's all happening tonight.
Daybreak. Las Vegas.
After a grueling night of rehearsals, the contestants are
onstage at the cirque du soleil's Beatles love going through some last minute
revisions.
These groups have had one day to perfect one song and try to
survive being eliminated this close to the live show.
So here's how this is gonna work.
The 61 remaining contestants will take the love stage here to
perform their Beatles songs in duos and trios.
Now, it should be a spectacle like we've never seen before on
the show, but this is still a competition.
As Jennifer and Randy settle in, Steven shares what these
auditions mean to him.
This is freaking me out because beatle land's where I live, you know?
Stand by.
That's the joy of this is something I grew up on, them
singing it for the first time.
We are rolling, everybody.
We are rolling.
First up are San Francisco contestants stefano langone and James durbin.
Four, three, two...
♪ jo jo was a man ♪
♪ who thought he was a loner ♪
♪ but he knew it wouldn't last ♪
♪ all the girls around her ♪
♪ said she got it comin' ♪
♪ but she gets it ♪
♪ while she can ♪
♪ get back ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ get back ♪
♪ get back to where ♪
♪ you once belonged ♪
♪ get back ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ get back ♪
♪ get back to where ♪
♪ you once belonged ♪
♪ oh, get back, get back ♪
♪ get back ♪
♪ get back to where ♪
♪ you once belonged ♪
♪ get back ♪
Unreal, you guys.
I don't think I've ever heard two higher voices together before.
James, man, you went up into the way-out-o-sphere.
Yeah.
You went up into squeak land.
Yes, sir.
That's insane.
I liked it too, you know.
Listen, I mean, stefano, it started off a little slow like
you were a little kind of timid there.
You were like, "aw, man..."
And I was like, "yo, come on, kick in, man, kick in, I know
you got it," and finally, you got it together.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Great kick-off.
So James and stefano leave the stage happy with their performance.
There we go, baby, there we go, baby, there we go, baby.
Our next contestants, pia toscano from new Jersey
and MySpace's Karen Rodriguez, this contest is pitting friend against friend.
And I caught up with them in the coke room.
How did you know each other?
All through high school.
High school.
We went to high school.
We went to laguardia high school of performing arts in New York
city, and we were in a group called music singers.
And we rolled together, we performed together, so we... all the time.
We were... we were like inseparable, kind of.
Like we were always together, working together, and we gel well musically.
So it's serendipitous that you're sitting here together...
Performing on this show.
Yes.
Definitely.
You go get set, and we'll do the introduction.
Thank you, girls.
Thank you so much.
Good to see you.
Nice to meet you.
♪ Can't buy me love ♪
♪ love ♪
♪ can't buy me love ♪
♪ I'll buy you ♪
♪ a diamond ring, my friend ♪
♪ if it makes you ♪
♪ feel all right ♪
♪ I may not have ♪
♪ a lot to give ♪
♪ what I got I'll give to you ♪
♪ 'cause I don't care ♪
♪ too much for money ♪
♪ money can't buy me love ♪
♪ can't buy me love ♪
♪ everybody tells me so ♪
♪ can't buy me ♪
♪ love ♪
♪ no no no, no ♪
♪ no ♪
Nice!
Beautiful, beautiful.
Well, you know what I love about that?
I feel like you guys get it, like you know what it is to be a
professional, that when you get up there, you have to give a
show, and I really feel like you guys did that, so I love that.
Your smiles are beautiful.
It's just... mmm.
I love the whole thing.
And you know, for me, it built so well because it started
off, and I got really worried.
I thought you guys picked the wrong key, it was too low, there
wasn't anything there for your voices.
And then you took off.
You jumped the fence and ran off into the field, and it was just perfect.
Really good job, you guys.
Very nice, very nice.
Thank you.
Yeah!
So a hard act to follow.
But backstage, Jacob lusk from Los Angeles and Milwaukee
contestant Haley rinehart and naima adedapo are ready for
their moment in the spotlight.
Yesterday, Jimmy gave them some hard-hitting advice.
You have a lot of firepower, like Bono.
If he used it all the time, he'd be working in a cafe in dublin or a pub.
You can't over-sing all the time.
That's the worst thing a singer can do.
Let me hear it again.
The group is singing a 1970s Beatles classic.
♪ The long and winding ♪
But will the judges agree that less is more?
♪ That leads ♪
♪ to your door ♪
♪ will never disappear ♪
♪ I've seen that road before ♪
♪ why leave me ♪
♪ standing here ♪
♪ let me know the way ♪
♪ many times ♪
♪ I've been alone ♪
♪ and many times I've cried ♪
♪ anyway, you'll never know ♪
♪ the many times I've tried ♪
♪ and still they lead me back ♪
♪ to the long ♪
♪ winding road, yeah ♪
♪ don't leave me ♪
♪ wait...lng ♪
♪ here ♪
♪ lead me to your door ♪
♪ don't ♪
♪ leave me waiting, waiting ♪
♪ here ♪
♪ hoo ♪
Very, very nice!
I love that!
That was really good, you guys.
You all sounded really great, really made it your own.
If you're a singer, you can sing anything.
You should be able to learn the notes and sing it and make it
your own, and you guys did.
And each one of you did that individually.
Really good job.
I love that.
Thank you.
Wow, that was stupendous.
That was...That was so over the top, that was great.
Harmonies were so beautiful.
Really, really good.
You really nailed them.
Oh, my God, Jake, whew!
It was just beautiful.
It was so well done.
Don't hold back, Jacob, ever.
Go for it, baby.
You got the gas in the car!
Drive it and go!
Put the pedal down!
I've never sang a Beatles song ever and... We were told to
be extremely, extremely, extremely, extremely cautious,
so I tried to give it a little bit, but I didn't want to take
it all the way to ebenezer baptist on y'all.
Yo, baby, yo!
Hey, let me tell you, can't many people live at ebenezer baptist,
baby, so... whatever.
Do you.
Always do you.
When in doubt, do you.
And Randy's advice was well-heeded as the day's contestants continued to put
their spin on some of the Beatles' most hauntingly beautiful ballads.
♪ No one comes near ♪
♪ look at him working ♪
♪ darning his socks ♪
♪ in the night ♪
♪ when there's nobody there ♪
♪ what does he care ♪
♪ all the lonely people ♪
♪ where do they all come from ♪
♪ when I find melf ♪
♪ in times of trouble ♪
♪ mother Mary comes to me ♪
♪ speaking words of wisdom ♪
♪ let it be ♪
♪ oh, let it be ♪
♪ somethin' in the way ♪
♪ she moves ♪
I love him.
♪ Attracts me like ♪
♪ no other lover ♪
♪ something in the way ♪
♪ he woos me ♪
♪ don't wanna leave her now ♪
♪ you know I believe ♪
♪ and how ♪
♪ you're askin' me ♪
♪ will my love grow ♪
♪ I don't know ♪
♪ don't wanna leave you now ♪
♪ you know I believe and how ♪
♪ ooh ooh ooh ♪
So some great performances, but how will they stand up to
the talent that's yet to come?
When we come back, beatlesmania continues... As your favorites take the stage.
I love that.
The gruesome twosome, man.
What an ending!
It's a fight to the finish.
Who's gonna go on... And who's gonna go home?
I didn't expect to be standing here crying in front of y'all.
I wanted to be happy.
And later, the most emotional cut we've ever seen, as your top 24 is revealed.
I feel millions of Americans crying right now.
Welcome back to sin city where the Beatles love stage has
been taken over by Idol.
Up next, and set to kick things back into action, are lakeisha
Lewis, ta-tynisa Wilson, and Jerome bell.
Hey, Randy's sneakers!
Nice!
♪ A-one ♪
♪ two, three, four ♪
♪ well, she was just 17 ♪
♪ if you know just what I mean ♪
♪ but before too long ♪
♪ I fell in love with her ♪
♪ well, she wouldn't ♪
♪ dance with another ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ when I saw her ♪
♪ sta-a-andin' there ♪
♪ well, my heart went boom ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ when we crossed that room ♪
♪ room ♪
♪ and I held her hand ♪
♪ in mine ♪
♪ oh, we danced ♪
♪ through the night ♪
♪ and we held each other tight ♪
♪ and now I'll never ♪
♪ dance with another ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ when I saw her ♪
♪ standin' ♪
♪ there ♪
♪ ooh oh ♪
♪ there ♪
Wow!
Yo, man, that was crazy right there.
All three of you can definitely sing.
I mean, you guys were really strong.
Jerome, you were okay.
I mean, it wasn't amazing for me today from you.
Lakeisha, you definitely got it.
You got them big old vocals, ala the whole aretha kind of a thing goin' on.
And ta-tynisa, I like it.
I liked it more at the end, though, than I liked the other parts.
Jennifer, what'd you think?
I think lakeisha... I feel like you're holding back a little bit.
I feel like you need to let loose a little bit more.
And ta-tynisa, I just feel like it just wasn't your best thing today.
I'm sorry, sweetie, it just... It felt like you didn't have the
breath and the vocal control there at the end the way that I know you can do.
Wow! Is that what you got to say?
Yeah.
That's a mouthful.
I thought you nailed it.
See, I thought she really did.
I thought you did, yeah.
I thought you nailed it.
It was good.
Thank you.
Thanks, guys.
So this trio leaves the stage with mixed reviews.
Steven Tyler seemed to like it a lot.
He saw that we were having fun.
He saw that we had control over everything.
He thought we nailed it.
Hoping for a more harmonized response... It's kendra and Paul's turn!
Are Nashville duo Paul McDonald and kendra chantelle.
♪ blackbird singin' ♪
♪ in the dead of night ♪
♪ take these broken wings ♪
♪ and learn to fly ♪
♪ all your life ♪
♪ you were only waitin' ♪
♪ for this moment to arise ♪
♪ blackbird singing ♪
♪ in the dead of night ♪
♪ I take these sunken eyes ♪
♪ and learn to see ♪
♪ all your life ♪
Yeah.
♪ You were only waiting ♪
♪ for this moment to be free ♪
♪ blackbird fly ♪
♪ into the light ♪
♪ of the dark black night ♪
♪ you were only waitin' ♪
♪ for this moment to ♪
♪ arise ♪
Wow!
That was so beautiful.
You guys sounded really beautiful together.
Kendra, you sounded nice and strong, and Paul, I just love,
again, the power of a soft, beautiful tone.
There's nothing like it.
Cuts right through.
So beautiful.
I really loved it.
Yeah, Paul, your voice was so different.
It was good.
In some instances, it's not so good.
This was beautiful.
This was really, really good, man.
Really well done.
Yeah.
I love your choices with the harmonies because it showed the
uniqueness in your voice, Paul, and the uniqueness in your voice, kendra.
So job well done.
Excellent!
Thank you.
And the trend for individuality continues as contestants sing Beatles
classics with their own Idol flair.
♪ Help me get my feet back ♪
♪ on the ground ♪
♪ won't you please ♪
♪ please help me ♪
♪ he's got a ticket ♪
♪ to ri-hi-ide ♪
♪ he's got a ticket to ride ♪
♪ and he don't care ♪
♪ my baby don't care ♪
♪ well, I get by ♪
♪ with a little help ♪
♪ from my friends ♪
♪ I get ♪
♪ high with a little help ♪
♪ from my friends ♪
♪ ooh ooh ♪
♪ ooh ♪
You guys are doing good with the Beatles songs.
Nice!
Really good song.
Give a hand to the Beatles, man.
Give a hand to the Beatles.
One hand clapping.
So as Steven gives a hand of support for the day's auditions... one hand.
Ashley Sullivan's hands are working on preparations for her big day.
I'm trying to figure out what I want to wear tonight.
Wedding tonight!
I don't know if I wanna get married in... Pleather... and like a white top.
Since the new Jersey auditions, Ashley's boyfriend David saryva has been by her
side.
Who is that dude up there, man?
I love you, Ashley!
I love you so much, baby.
And when she found out the next stop was Vegas, Ashley saw
the trip as an opportunity to become more than just an American Idol.
I'm trying to find a white dress for my wedding, 'cause
that's traditional, and I'm clearly a traditional kinda lady.
Ooh, should I do a white jumpsuit?
But polyester seems too informal.
No, that's... that's cheesy.
And nothing says love like pleather.
♪ Going to the chapel ♪
Here I come!
Ha! Getting married.
So we're heading downstairs to meet David.
Actually, we're getting married at the same place that Britney
Spears got married, and she's my hero, so... That couldn't be any cooler.
♪ Gee, I really love you ♪
♪ and we're ♪
♪ gonna get ♪
Now, if you have cold feet, I don't care.
You're going through with it, or I'll kill you in your sleep.
My precious.
Here we go!
Gettin' married today, right?
Yes, we are.
But it wasn't a true Idol wedding until... I'm the witness.
Thanks, Dave the camera guy.
In the presence of...
Ashley, would you repeat after me?
I, Ashley... I, Ashley... Take you, David... take you, David...
To be my husband.
I pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss your bride.
♪ I don't wanna live ♪
♪ without your love ♪
And so Ashley Sullivan becomes Mrs. Saryva.
Yay!
Yay! I cried a little bit.
♪ Always and forever ♪
♪ you and me ♪
This has been great and fun and getting married was a blast,
but I have a really big day tomorrow, so...Bye.
Well, congratulations to our newlyweds... But this isn't why we came to Vegas.
After the break... I just got married.
The nuptials are over.
Now can Ashley prove that she's a star?
It just was not hot today on any level.
Stay with us as we find out who is an Idol in the making...
You really gave the original a run for his money.
And who will go home.
They made me step forward.
Welcome back.
It's a new day in Vegas... And the second half of the
contestants are about to take the love's stage.
Yesterday, these hopefuls watched the first groups audition...
But now it's their turn.
Ready or not, for this second group of contestants, the show must go on.
Do it!
And as their audience of three enters the theater... Nerves begin to show.
But for two of our youngest competitors, can't get much
harder than rehearsal with the vocal coach from hell... no!
You're gonna die on the stage in front of all those people.
Or can it?
♪ little darlin' ♪
♪ it's been a long, cold ♪
♪ lonely winter ♪
♪ little darlin' ♪
♪ it seems like ♪
♪ years since it's been gone ♪
♪ here comes the sun ♪
♪ and I say ♪
♪ it's all right ♪
♪ oh, whoa ♪
♪ sun sun sun ♪
♪ here it comes ♪
Oh, lord.
Yo, yo.
Very, very interesting.
Listen, I gotta start first, Melinda.
It started a little shaky, but you kinda got it together during
the middle of the whole thing.
But...Thia, you found a way to keep the phrasing and your whole
thing intact, which was very interesting to me, 'cause you
got a very unique voice.
Yeah, it was cute.
You know, the combination of the two of you it didn't feel as
strong as I thought it was gonna be... Having two little powerhouses up there.
Yeah, I agree.
Um, Melinda, you were a little behind in your phrasing and
thia, it was... it was just all right for me.
Thank you, guys.
Thank you.
That thia is something special.
I wish I could have done better but, uh, you know, I hope
they see something in me and put me through.
'Cause I really wanna be here.
I really wanna be here.
Okay, well, good luck, girls.
Thank you.
I'll see you in a few.
Go relax. Okay, thank you.
So unsure of their fate, the two youngsters head back to their seats.
As the crew resets the stage for the next audition...
I get a chance to chat with our next contestants in the coke room.
We've got Ashley and Sophia here.
Let's start with the big breaking news.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
So Ashley got married.
I did, I got married!
Not like two seconds ago.
Pretty much, yeah.
I got married at the same place that Britney Spears got married,
which is... it meshed.
Your claim to fame.
Just made sense.
So how has that played on getting ready for this song?
Have you been mentally all there?
She's done a great job.
What song are you doing today?
We're doing we can work it out.
Well, congratulations.
Thank you.
♪ try to see it my way ♪
♪ do I have to keep on talkin' ♪
♪ till I can't go on ♪
♪ this of what I'm sayin' ♪
♪ we can work it out ♪
♪ and get it straight ♪
♪ or say good night ♪
♪ we can work it out ♪
♪ life is very short ♪
♪ and there's no ♪
♪ ti-ii-ime ♪
♪ so I will ask you ♪
♪ once again ♪
♪ huh huh ♪
♪ try to see it my way ♪
Sophia and Ashley... Wasn't your strongest performance.
Gotta say, Ashley, you sang good and I... and I like you.
I've always liked you from the start.
Wasn't sure if you sang it good.
And, um...Sophia.
Yes.
Not your best performance either.
Okay.
Listen, you guys are here.
You're trying to make it happen.
It just was not hot today.
None of it quite worked for me.
I don't know, I didn't quite get it at all.
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
So it's clear that Ashley and Sophia failed to make a good impression.
They were tough, right?
Mm-hmm.
Tough.
I heard it... heard it in there, but certainly not together.
No.
Yikes.
We kind of took a different adaptation of the song, but we
strayed a little too far from the beagles.
Beatles.
Maybe we should have stayed a little... Simpler with it?
I'm not quite sure.
Another group that has learned a tough lesson about the
Beatles...ls Lauren alaina, Denise Jackson, and Scotty mccreery.
We've had a very emotional week in Vegas.
We've been up and down, up and down.
♪ If I could ♪
♪ give my heart ♪
After a disastrous rehearsal with Jimmy iovine...
They're looking at today's audition as a chance to reintroduce themselves.
Good luck.
They've settled on a hit from magical mystery tour.
But can they solve their earlier problems onstage?
♪ You say yes ♪
♪ I say no ♪
♪ you say stop ♪
♪ and I say go go go ♪
♪ oh, no ♪
♪ you say goodbye ♪
♪ and I'll say hello ♪
♪ goodbye, goodbye, goodbye ♪
♪ hello ♪
♪ I don't know why ♪
♪ you say goodbye ♪
♪ I say hello ♪
♪ hello hello ♪
♪ I don't know why you say ♪
♪ goodbye, I say hello ♪
♪ you say high ♪
♪ and you say low ♪
♪ you say why ♪
♪ I say I don't know ♪
♪ oh, no ♪
♪ you say goodbye ♪
♪ and I say hello ♪
♪ goodbye, goodbye, goodbye ♪
♪ hello hello ♪
♪ I don't know why ♪
♪ you say goodbye ♪
♪ I say hello ♪
♪ goodbye, goodbye ♪
♪ goodbye hello ♪
♪ I don't know why ♪
♪ you say goodbye ♪
♪ I say hello ♪
Is this me?
Yeah.
No!
Yeah, yeah.
Okay...lt sounded good.
The song is a difficult song, I think especially for three
people to kind of trade off and all the parts.
You sounded good when you did some of the harmonies.
Denise, you weren't as strong as you always are.
Scotty, I love your voice.
It was nice to hear you go the octave up.
I wanted to show a little different... Yeah. I prefer you where you live.
Right down here.
Yes. Um... And Lauren, same thing.
You're an amazing singer, and again, I just don't feel like
this song really did anything for any of you.
That's exactly it.
The song didn't fit you guys.
They tried!
Yeah, they tried.
It was like the Marx brothers put our a fire thing.
But all in all, nice try.
Yeah.
Thank you.
It was definitely funny and entertaining.
It's just not the singer's dream, this song, is it?
We'll take that into consideration.
We'll take that into Consideration.
All right, guys, thank you.
Thank you.
Over these last two days, they weren't the only ones who
took some risks that might not have paid off.
♪ Come on ♪
♪ come on ♪
Carson Higgins and Caleb hawley also put a little something extra into their
performance.
♪ You ♪
Who came up with that arrangement?
♪ It's been a hard day's ♪
♪ night, yeah ♪
♪ and I been sleepin' ♪
Casey Abrams and Chris medina tried to give their audition
a boost by adding a little spring to their steps.
♪ I should be sleep sleep ♪
♪ sleep sleepin' like a log ♪
♪ so when I get home to you ♪
♪ I find the things ♪
♪ that you do ♪
♪ will make me ♪
♪ feel all right ♪
♪ will make me feel ♪
♪ all ♪
♪ Right ♪
Casey, Chris!
You freaks!
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, baby.
Taking risks is all part of the game.
But would it pay off in the end?
It'd kill me to hear no.
It would absolutely kill me 'cause I put my heart and soul
into every single performance I've ever done on American Idol,
and just, you know, it just... it's saying your heart and soul
isn't in the right place.
That's what it says if I get a no.
Coming up... 61 contestants face elimination.
We got so much amazing talent this year.
The top 24 is in sight.
Step forward.
Who will be one step closer to our Hollywood stage?
Today it's a no.
It's the end of your journey.
And who will fade away?
The top 24 is revealed next.
It's 10:00 P.M. here in Las Vegas, and over the past two days... ♪ right ♪
The Beatles love stage has played host to some one-of-a-kind auditions.
Are you ready?
Aaron Sanders, Robbie rosen, and Jordan dorsey hope to
provide the grand finale.
These three worked together on group day during Hollywood week.
But will the judges like this encore performance?
Please be great!
♪ I was alone ♪
♪ I took a ride ♪
♪ I didn't know what I would ♪
♪ find there ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ another road where maybe I ♪
♪ could see another kind of ♪
♪ mind there ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ ooh ♪
Oh!
♪ You were meant to be ♪
♪ near me ♪
♪ ooh ♪
♪ I just want you to hear me ♪
♪ say we'll be together ♪
♪ mm ♪
♪ every day ♪
♪ oh oh oh oh ho ah ♪
♪ got to get you ♪
♪ into my life ♪
♪ yeah ♪
♪ I got to get you ♪
♪ into my life ♪
♪ oh ♪
♪ what can I do ♪
♪ what can I be ♪
♪ when I'm with you ♪
♪ I wanna stay there ♪
♪ and if I'm true ♪
♪ I'll never leave ♪
♪ and if I do, I know ♪
♪ the way there ♪
♪ yeah yeah ♪
♪ then I suddenly see you ♪
♪ ooh ooh ♪
♪ did I tell you I need you ♪
♪ every single day ♪
♪ of my life ♪
♪ I ♪
♪ got to get you into my life ♪
♪ whoa-oh ♪
♪ got to get you ♪
♪ into my life ♪
♪ ooh ee ♪
♪ guh-guh-guh-got to ♪
♪ get you into my life ♪
♪ yeah yeah yeah ♪
♪ got to get you ♪
♪ into my life ♪
♪ life life life ♪
Wow. I-I was really impressed right there.
Thank you.
Jordan, you were good.
You weren't the greatest you've been, but it was good.
And the harmony started off a little rough, but you guys kinda
pulled it in and kinda worked it out.
I was really impressed.
Very nice, very nice.
Aaron, you always surprise me when you come out.
I forget how good you are.
I don't know what it is that you do.
Jordan, we have high expectations of you.
Yeah!
Because we see you up here.
You know?
Robbie, forget about it.
You nailed it again.
Fantastic, all three of you.
Really good.
Good job, guys.
Thank you.
Wow.
Wow!
The r & Beatles.
Nice, nice.
Congrats, congrats.
Now the performances are over, and the stage is cleared.
Brutal cuts must be made.
Results...Right now.
Hello, hello, hello.
So listen, you guys should give yourselves a big round of applause.
You did very well.
But as you know, in this point in the competition, we
definitely need to make some cuts.
So when we call your name, step forward.
Thia, step forward.
Scotty, step forward.
Jordan dorsey, step forward.
Ashton, step forward.
Robbie, step forward.
And Lauren, step forward.
We've got so much amazing talent this year, this is really,
really tough for us.
It's the hardest thing to do, and it's getting harder every time.
So you front seven...
Congratulations, you're through!
You made it!
So seven relieved hopefuls move one step closer to their Idol dreams...
Including 15-year-old thia megia and Lauren alaina.
I wanna find my mom.
Thought I was going home when they made me step forward, and
I thought, "great."
While some shared tears of joy with their loved ones... ♪ hey, jude ♪
It was not good news for everyone.
I'm sorry, but you didn't make the cut.
You're goin' home.
♪ Take a sad song ♪
♪ and make it better ♪
Sad to see you go.
♪ Remember to let her into ♪
Among those leaving are white house intern Molly dewolf.
I love to do this and I'd love to continue to do it, but
it's always been something that's on the side, and maybe
that's where it belongs.
Also heading home are Beatles teammates Carson Higgins and Caleb hawley who
both made a big impact early on.
Yes! Something new, something different.
That's the thing.
Wow, I think if we bottled your fire, we could light all of L.A.
You win some, you lose some, but I just lost a big one.
Totally unexpected but... ah... I mean, I was in some pretty
good company, though.
I mean, I'm glad I made it as far as I did, you know?
It's okay.
But unfortunately, the cuts kept on coming.
It's okay.
♪ Plays it cool ♪
And the journey also ended for Denise Jackson, Melinda
ademi, and newlywed Ashley Sullivan.
I got married in Vegas.
Like...How could I sit here and be like, "I wish I got more
from this," like don't be selfish.
I'm just like... I've been to American Idol.
That's... that's sick!
Those of you that remain with us now... Welcome... to the next round.
You're through.
We'll see you in L.A.
Good luck!
Bring your mojo with you.
Contestants have cause to celebrate... But not for long.
Coming up, Idol returns home to l. A....And the top 40 take the
stage to sing for their lives.
Then they must take that long walk and face that famous chair.
Who has made it into your top 24?
You've made it through.
Our judges hand down the news next.
Well, back to reality, 'cause this was nothing but a dream.
I don't want to do this anymore.
The competition has been fierce.
They have exceeded all expectations.
And now as a group, the contestants head towards their fate.
They have survived the most exhaustive rounds of elimination...
Battled through group night.
They have wowed the judges with their musical prowess.
I want to see that again!
And dazzled onstage with Beatles songs.
Very, very nice!
Now comes the final round... In this spectacular hangar.
These Vegas survivors will get one more chance to perform for the judges... ow!
Before they pick the most talented 12 guys and 12 girls to make your top 24.
I like that, man!
But who will take those slots?
And it honestly breaks my heart... Who's going to sing for your vote?
To say this.
Who will be the next... But you did not make it into the top 24.
American Idol?
Okay. I don't want to do this anymore.
The first steps were all smiles.
The next leg led them to our Hollywood stage.
Now their journey brings them to this path... The longest walk of all.
Either the dream will end or... It's the start of something remarkable.
Now, because the contestants were so stunning this year, the
cuts have been very difficult for our judges to make.
But they will be even more difficult for our contestants to handle.
The final judgment starts right now.
As the nervous faces wait in the tense holding room, first up to
take the lonely walk to the chair is Milwaukee's naima adedapo.
When we first met this mother of two, she was working as a
custodian at the local fairgrounds.
I'm like cleaning this huge amphitheater.
It's like thousands of people.
And I'm looking at the stage and I'm like, "that should be me."
But instead I'm behind stage cleaning the toilets.
And she proved to the judges that her dreams of stardom could be a reality.
♪ So love me ♪
♪ love me tonight ♪
♪ tomorrow ♪
♪ was made for some ♪
Okay.
I like you a lot.
I think she's voice-wise and the whole package-wise one of the best we've seen.
While naima has always worn her heart on her sleeve...
I'm sorry I'm such a crybaby.
She's found strength in her family.
I don't think there's a moment that I've been here that I
haven't thought of my children.
She fell asleep eatin'.
When I'm walking the walk, they're definitely with me.
And in yesterday's final performance for the judges, she gave her all.
♪ Girl, put your records on ♪
♪ tell me you favorite song ♪
♪ you go ahead ♪
♪ let your hair down ♪
♪ you're gonna find yourself ♪
♪ somewhere ♪
♪ somehow ♪
If anybody in the world experienced something like this
in being so close to making a dream come true, then of course
being cut would have an effect.
Hey, naima.
Hi.
Wow. Look at that dress.
Nice dress.
You just get prettier and prettier every time we see you.
Well, I figured, you know... Why are you crying?
I'm...Having a hard time today.
Why are you having a hard time, baby?
You know, you question yourself and everything that you've done.
And I'm a mama, so... I think that's why we fell in love with you, naima.
Because your emotions are in your songs when you sang.
But it's been hard.
It's been hard for us to pick from 40 people the very best of all the rest.
We can't say that you've been the most consistent through
this whole thing, and that's been hard for us, because we've
all been rootin' for you the whole time.
And your story was so beautiful, you know.
You got two little babies and all the while cleaning toilets
and just, you know, doing every little thing you could...To be it.
So I'm sorry I have to say that, um... That you're gonna have a long,
long haul in this business.
You've made it through.
No more crying for you today!
Congratulations!
Go!
Or maybe there will be... Tears of joy, tears of joy!
Oh, baby.
Don't let us down and be real consistent, okay, sweetie?
Stay strong, stay strong.
Stay strong.
Thank you so much.
I didn't get to tell you... 'Cause I didn't get to tell you before...
That when I was younger...
I used to watch in living color and wanted to be a fly-girl so bad!
You took it way back!
I used to... be that fly-girl.
Look at you.
Look at you, naima.
You're a flower.
Now bloom.
Good luck.
Thank you.
Ah, I'm happy for her.
I'm happy for her too.
Happy for her.
She deserves a shot.
If you're talking about people who deserve a shot, who have the full package...
She deserves a shot.
And she's different and unique.
And you know, now it's up to America.
I'm through, baby.
I got my shot.
So naima is the first girl through to the top 24.
And the judges are happy with their choice.
Jennifer, you gotta put the pound in.
Steven, put the pound in.
Yes!
But not everybody can make it.
Coming up...The hard part as the judges break the news.
There's only 24 spots.
Will your favorites survive the toughest cut of all?
Plus... a dramatic breakdown that nobody could have predicted.
I don't want to do this anymore.
Welcome back to the final judgment.
This room holds the fate of 39 anxious singers hoping to join
naima adedapo in the top 24.
This has been an emotional journey for everyone to this point.
This is really...lntense, man.
It's intense, man.
But perhaps no one more so than 17-year-old hollie Cavanaugh.
It's a very emotional room in here, isn't it?
It is.
I never expected it.
Like when you watch the show, you don't really think... but you
really do get so close to everybody and then...lt gets
really emotional just to see... yeah, it's not tv.
It's reality tv.
No. It's like real. Yeah.
And now the reality sets in as hollie takes her first steps towards judgment.
Back in Austin, hollie's journey got off to a very rocky start.
Yeah, you're not quite ready yet, love.
I say no.
Think you can do me a favor?
You think you can collect yourself to sing one more song?
One more chance?
♪ There's always gonna be ♪
♪ another mountain ♪
♪ I'm always gonna want to ♪
♪ make it move ♪
♪ always gonna be ♪
♪ an uphill battle ♪
♪ sometime I'm gonna ♪
♪ have to lose ♪
Yo! You nailed it.
That was really great.
Jennifer's support for hollie helped propel her through Hollywood and Vegas.
Jennifer saw something in me that she knew I could do better,
and I think she saw that I really wanted it and would really work for it.
So as hollie continues the long walk towards her fate, she
can only hope that her final audition has left no doubt in
the judges' minds of her true talent.
♪ No one, no one ♪
♪ no no ♪
♪ can get in the way of ♪
♪ what I'm feelin' ♪
If I make it through today, I will be ecstatic.
Like I really, really want this, so it gets your nerves going a lot.
If feels like it's been forever, so I'm just ready to know what's
gonna go on and hopefully progress in the competition.
Hello.
Hi.
Hey, hollie.
Hi. How are you?
How are you?
Good. How are you?
Good. Pretty nervous.
How's it going for you?
You know, a lot of emotions, but... I'm glad I'm here, so.
Yeah.
You know, hollie, when we first heard you sing back in Austin,
you know, I thought your melody was all over the place and...
I mean, to think that you wouldn't even have been here... I know.
If we just went with that first song and look how far you've come.
And I'm so thankful.
Thank you.
Well, because you did that.
You did that.
You were a standout in Hollywood week.
Amazing really.
And you started showing people, you know, that you belonged.
You belonged here.
I'm just so thankful that I made it this far.
Like, it's seriously been a crazy experience for me and I
feel like I've grown so much throughout the whole thing,
so I'm just thankful, so.
Oh, that's sweet, hollie.
Unfortunately, I'm sorry, but we're not gonna put you through on this time.
Okay.
Wait. Don't.
I don't want you to go yet, because... I was out-voted here.
I wanted to put you through, because I honestly believe you
have one of the best voices and you belong in the top 24.
But when we look at everybody else, I feel like Randy said
something that really hit home.
You're 17 years old.
In a year or two, I feel like, honestly, hollie, you could come back and win.
Win the whole thing.
That's how good you are.
That's how talented you are.
But right now, it's just I think you need to just grow a little
bit, figure out who you are as an artist.
And in that sense, I think they're right.
Okay.
But, again, I just want you to know that I would have loved to have put you in.
Okay, thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
But make sure you come back, okay?
I will. I will. Thank you.
You're awesome, hollie.
Thank you.
I don't know if I can do this anymore.
This is really...
I would have switched her out for somebody.
I'm just gonna keep singing.
I mean, it's what I love to do and it's what I'm gonna do,
so I'm gonna take it all as positive feedback.
So hollie becomes the first elimination of the day,
but with only 23 spots still remaining, she would not be alone...
Unfortunately... You didn't make the top 24.
As we also said good-bye to l. A. Native lakeisha Lewis...
You're one of our favorites, so we hate to see you go.
Thank you guys so much.
And the road also ends for Alex Ryan from new Jersey.
You didn't make it.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Alex.
Thank you so much, Alex.
I can't thank you enough.
It's a no.
Wow.
It's okay.
Didn't make it?
No, I did not.
The toughest part of the whole experience is definitely knowing
that I'm gonna have to watch the show and see all these people
that I've made friends with move on in the competition.
You haven't seen the last of me.
I hope not. I hope not.
Come on, family.
Let's get in here.
I mean, it hurts because it's your dream, but I'ma get there
one way or another, so.
Lakeisha's so great.
Like... and she really deserved to be here.
Like, it hurt.
I go back with her, like, so many years ago.
Like, she's like family.
You know, it's like... hoping for better results as
he starts his walk is karaoke host Clint gamboa.
♪ I want to be ♪
♪ a billionaire ♪
His first audition set the bar high in San Francisco.
The way you sang that song was brilliant.
One of the best I've seen in San Francisco.
Definitely yes from me.
Whoo! Yeah! Whoo!
But when he got to Hollywood, this R&B singer didn't always
stand out for the right reasons.
We just had to kick one of our group members out.
It had nothing to do with jacee's talent, because jacee is very talented.
It just had to do with how we wanted the group to go.
Clint was hoping his final solo during Hollywood week would
turn the judges back in his favor.
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ Georgia ♪
♪ no peace no peace ♪
♪ I find yeah ♪
And with his final performance, Clint showed off a softer side to the judges.
♪ Hello ♪
♪ is it me you're looking for ♪
I've worked so hard at music.
To make this next step, it would change so much in my life.
I mean, I kind of have a good feeling that something great is
gonna happen, so we'll leave it up to the judges.
Hi. I'm sorry.
What's up, Clint?
Don't mind me.
What's the matter?
I'm just... I was doing great today, but, like, I'm just
standing over there and, like, everything just hit me right now.
It's just, like, I haven't cried, like, this whole season
and then when I saw lakeisha get sent home, I broke.
This is the first time I ever broke 'cause I seen her get sent
home and I was heartbroken and it was, like, this whole day is just crazy.
Like, I don't even know what to say.
I just want to shout, like, "ahh!"
Like, I don't know.
Well, listen.
You've had an interesting journey.
I remember that there was some discrepancy with you kicking,
like, jacee out of a group or you guys not on in a group.
What happened with all of that?
You know... with the camaraderie and that team spirit?
Um, for all of us it obviously was overwhelming and it wasn't anything personal
towards jacee, because we all believe that jacee... he's great.
Just didn't work out?
Yeah, it just didn't work out, but I feel like he shined
more in the other group that he was in, and I hope that no one,
like, viewed that the wrong way, because it wasn't anything negative.
It was just... well, listen.
We took everything.
We looked at the whole journey of yours and took everything
into account... all the performances, everything that
you did, everything that was great, everything that was not
as good... and, you know, we've come to our final decision.
You're gonna have to see us a lot more, dude.
You made it.
You guys do that to me all the time!
You made it. You made it.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
You made it.
And I knew he knew it.
I was watching him go, "they're [Bleep] With me."
Did you know?
You didn't know. No.
We weren't trying... oh, my God!
Thank... oh, my God.
I... oh, my God.
Congratulations.
And you saved your life this time from singing so good.
Thank you so much.
You're a talented guy.
Whoo! Whoo!
Come on.
I'm still in, like, total awe.
Just like, "ahh!"
Ooh, okay, I got it.
I'm good.
I'm ready for America to see the kind of artist I really want to be.
Yeah!
Whoo!
As Clint gets hold of his emotions...
He can now rest easy as he becomes the first guy to reach the top 24.
So you made it?
Yeah.
Coming up, the long walk continues... As tough decisions have to be made.
Today, it's a no.
I'm sorry.
Which country voice makes the top 24?
It's the end of the journey for you.
And one decision is just too much for Jennifer to handle.
Find out who stays on to sing for your vote... You're a yes.
After the break.
Ah!
Congratulations.
Oh, my gosh!
Welcome back to the final eliminations.
It's mid-morning and the anxiety is intensifying, but for returning contestant
hayley reinhart, the wait is about to end.
I'm just hoping for the best, you know, but que sera.
Like, whatever will be will be, so just got to go with the flow.
Last year, when I tried out in Chicago, I was really devastated
that I didn't make it.
I just had a lot of hopes for what was to come.
But I feel like, you know, everything happens for a reason, you know?
Welcome to hollyweird, baby.
Congratulations, baby.
But once in Hollywood, Haley stumbled badly on the group song...
You made it through by the skin of your teeth.
Only to turn it around with her solo performance.
♪ Crowding round ♪
♪ your door ♪
♪ when you're gone ♪
♪ and spending ends ♪
♪ they don't come around ♪
♪ no more ♪
Redemption.
Very nice. Very nice. Yeah.
Hearing that word "redemption," I was just... you know, thank you guys.
It felt wonderful.
It really did.
But I really don't want it to end here.
I'll tell you that much.
Definitely don't want it to.
And she showed that yesterday when she sang for her life.
♪ You know I need ♪
♪ your loving ♪
♪ you know I need ♪
♪ your hugging yeah ♪
♪ baby it's you ♪
Whoo.
Goose pimples.
Thank you.
Hi, guys.
What's going on, hayley?
How are you?
Good.
Hi, hayley.
Hi.
So how do you feel about making it this far?
This is amazing.
I couldn't have planned anything different, you know?
It's just... it's been extraordinary so far.
You tried out once before, yeah?
Right.
And how did that go?
It wasn't the answer I wanted, but, uh, didn't keep me
from, you know, keeping on.
Do you think that you've grown more since then as you
went away and reflected on what you did last time?
I've definitely had a lot more experience.
Only in a year, but it's still a ton, just throughout school,
throughout just being in a own little group jamming out.
So it's... it's really been helping me a lot in defining who
I am, like, as a singer stylistically.
Well, we've been watching you and, you know... I'm really afraid to say that,
um... that you're a yes.
Yeah?
Yes, ma'am.
You've made it, hayley.
You made it.
Oh, thank you so much.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
You guys are wonderful.
Oh, thank you.
All right, I'll see you guys... good luck.
Thank you so much.
Oh.
She's a happy girl.
Today, she is.
So hayley's comeback is complete as she becomes the
second girl to enter our top 24.
But for 16-year-old Deandre brackensick, his last
opportunity for redemption may have come too late.
Deandre stood out as a member of the minors, the crew of
youngsters that brought down the house on group night.
♪ Somebody ♪
♪ somebody ♪
♪ can somebody ♪
♪ can anybody find ♪
♪ somebody to love ♪
Whoo!
Thank you so much.
But he had gained little attention for his solo performances, so it was all on
the line when he sang for his life.
♪ I want to give you ♪
♪ some love ♪
♪ love ♪
♪ I want to give you ♪
♪ some good loving ♪
♪ yeah ♪
Deandre, what's up, man?
What's up, y'all?
How are you?
I'm good. Very nervous.
It's kind of a crazy, nerve-racking day we got going on today.
Yeah.
You know, it's been hardest trying to get to this top 24
that we got, you know, going on.
And I know you've made a tough journey getting here.
You made it into the top 40, which you should definitely really be proud of.
I am.
I'm very proud.
How do you think you did, dog?
There are times that I didn't show my best and, um, I think
I have so much more I can do.
Well, you know, part of this thing is that it's about being consistent.
It about being great every time you get up there.
And, you know, we just felt that for you, that didn't quite
happen during this whole journey.
You came close, but I don't think close enough.
So today it's a no.
It's the end of your journey.
Thank you.
But I stress and urge that you should definitely continue.
You're 16, man.
You should work hard, come back.
Because honestly, of all the people that we have to let go
today, I really feel that you have a great, great chance at
being a recording artist right now.
I hate to see you go, but I just wanted to let you know that.
Thank you so much.
That that's something that I see and I don't want you to stop
or get discouraged at this.
I want this to do what so many auditions where people told me
"no" did for me, which was it just motivated me to just go
harder, go stronger, and really, really just do all I could to
fulfill my dream and I want the same for you.
Thank you so much.
You have a magic little voice.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Nice to meet you, man.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Absolutely.
Wow.
Hate letting him go.
I know. I know. I know.
He could come back though.
♪ Somewhere ♪
Aww.
You did a good job, man.
Thanks.
Did a very good job.
I'll been missing everybody.
Everybody here.
But, you know, what happens, happens.
I wasn't ready for the show this year.
Next year, I'ma bring it.
♪ Lullaby ♪
♪ ah I oh ♪
♪ somewhere ♪
Coming up... will Chris medina's journey end tonight?
I don't want to draw this out.
You know you had some good moments and you had some bad moments.
Did James durbin do enough to last the course?
I must admit, you know, you really let me down.
Is jacee strong enough to take the pressure?
It's really tough.
The dramatic cuts continue as emotions overwhelm the contestants and Jennifer.
Felt so bad.
Aww.
I don't want to do this anymore.
No, I can't.
Stay here.
I can't.
Welcome back.
It's 3:00 P.M. and so far, two ladies and one guy have
secured spots on our studio stage.
Hoping to follow in their footsteps is Paul McDonald.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and this would
just be one step closer to achieving that main goal.
We first met this laid-back musician in Nashville.
His distinctive voice took him all the way through Hollywood week.
♪ How can I handle ♪
♪ the changing ocean tides ♪
♪ can I handle the seasons ♪
♪ of my life ♪
It's hard to sing that soft and still captivate people.
You know what I mean?
And they continued to be impressed in Vegas.
♪ Blackbird singing ♪
♪ in the dead of night ♪
Yeah.
♪ I take these sunken eyes ♪
♪ and learn to see ♪
It's meant to be, you know, one way or the other.
I've got this far based on, you know, just doing my thing and, uh...
and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be, you know?
On his final performance, he took a risk with his outfit...
Hey, man, what were you doing in my closet?
You like this, man?
You know what?
That's not a suit you see every day.
Wait a minute.
That should be a crime.
That's a lawsuit.
Yeah.
I know, man.
That's beautiful.
I love it.
That's beautiful.
And an original song.
♪ She gon' do ♪
♪ what she wants to do ♪
♪ small-town girl ♪
♪ in a big city ♪
♪ yeah ♪
♪ yeah she's making her move ♪
♪ she got American ♪
♪ dreams don't come ♪
♪ from anyone else ♪
♪ they're born from the beat ♪
♪ deep inside your chest ♪
♪ yeah so do what you do ♪
♪ oh go on and make us a move ♪
♪ ooh ooh yeah ♪
♪ she got American dreams ♪
Thank you, Paul.
Ooh.
Hi, Paul.
What's going on, guys?
Hello, Paul.
What's going on, man?
Y'all all right?
Yes.
How are you, sir?
I'm doing very well.
Hi, sweetie.
Good to see you.
Hey.
Nice to meet you, man.
Have a seat.
How'd the last couple of weeks treat you?
Uh, it's been good, man.
Yeah?
Yeah, been relaxing, hanging out, you know?
Sign any autographs yet?
Oh, man.
I don't know.
Not too many.
Oh, my goodness, Paul.
You know, I remember your first audition so clearly because I
think everybody was kind of like... "What do we do with this person?"
Right. Right.
Like, there's something so unique about you, so special about you.
But at the same time, does it fit in with everything we're
doing and what this competition is, you know?
Just to touch on that a bit.
I mean, you know, I've been here... this is my tenth season.
People would say, "is this guy American Idol material?"
Well, guess what.
American Idol material is anybody great, unique, with unbelievable talent.
And we've said that over and over on this season.
We're looking for an artist.
And Steven and I were saying we liked the quirkiness about this guy.
We liked... right, Steven?
We were like, "he's different.
He's interesting."
He's like... you know what I mean?
That may be just the thing to make him a star.
Yeah.
So we're gonna bank on that and put you through.
You're in the top 24.
Yes.
You made it, man.
Yo.
You're that special.
Come on, Paul.
Thank you guys, man.
Paul is in.
Just keep doing exactly what you do.
I will try my hardest.
I'll try.
Yeah, the heat's on now, man.
I know, dude.
I got to do what I got to do.
Thanks, guys.
Good luck.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Made it.
I'm feeling good.
Now I just got a whole lot of work to do the next few weeks.
I got to learn some songs.
So the rhinestone cowboy will be performing next week for America's vote.
Congratulations, man.
Great to have you on board.
Top 24 right there.
There you go.
While he celebrates, fellow Nashville contestant ashthon Jones now faces the
judges.
But will it be for the last time?
Ashthon was a standout on group day, but it was her solo
performance that set her apart.
♪ I'm not running out ♪
♪ stop all the rivers ♪
♪ push strike and kill ♪
♪ there's no way I leave you ♪
♪ there's no way ♪
♪ I will ♪
I just loved that every time you come out here, I can count on you.
But did her final performance carry that consistency?
♪ I need a man ♪
♪ to take a chance ♪
♪ on a love that burns ♪
♪ a love to last ♪
♪ when the night falls ♪
♪ my lonely heart calls ♪
Now as ashthon takes her final steps, her fate will be decided.
Hey.
Hello, ashthon.
Ashthon, are you crying already?
No, I'm not.
I'm almost there, but I'm not.
I was fine until now.
You should be so excited you got... you made it this far.
I am.
I'm excited to see you guys again.
I kind of missed y'all.
We missed you too.
Oh, we missed you too.
Thank you for that.
We missed you too.
Wow.
So, ashthon... okay.
I'm sorry.
That's okay.
Give yourself a moment.
I'm sorry.
You know it's been a long journey.
You must have felt walking up there, like, "wow.
It could go either way for me,"
and you're right.
But I got to say, ashthon, you know, I had my eye on you
from the very beginning.
You have probably been one of the most consistent contestants we've had.
Yeah.
I can honestly say that about you.
Thank you.
You know?
I remember, you know, you getting up there in group week.
I felt like you pulled that whole group together, your group, you know?
Thank you.
But, you know, there were those moments throughout the
competition where you had moments where we were like, "ugh."
We're like, "can she stand this?
Will she be able to put up with all this pressure?"
You know?
And, uh, from the beginning, we've been saying that we want
to find the whole package.
Yeah.
The whole package.
Somebody who can sing.
Somebody who can dance.
Somebody who has presence.
Somebody who has confidence.
Man.
And I have to say that we feel we found that in you.
You made it into the top 24.
Oh, my God. Don't say that.
Congratulations.
Congratulations, ashthon.
Congrats. Congrats.
Ashthon, we're happy to have you.
Oh, my God. I'm so happy.
I can't wait for America to see you perform, really perform.
Oh, my God.
So those are happy tears, right?
Congratulations, love.
Congratulations.
I like that. I can't do that.
They said that... that... that my last couple of auditions
weren't that good, so... I'm in the top 24.
I don't know where she's gonna go in this business, but she deserves a chance.
She deserves somewhere to go.
Right?
She can make a name for herself.
Ooh, she made me emotional.
When we return... another Idol hopeful sweats it out in the hot seat.
You know, you had some good moments and you had some bad moments.
But his fate isn't the only one on the line.
With many destinies yet to be determined, will an unprecedented meltdown be the
end of the road for... I don't want to do this anymore.
Welcome back to the final judgment.
Building a top 24 has been a bittersweet process for our judges.
You didn't make the top 24.
Okay.
You've made it through.
No more crying for you today.
Congratulations!
Today it's a no.
It's the end of your journey.
Unfortunately, I'm sorry, but we're not gonna put you through on this time.
Okay, thank you.
An uneasy hush has fallen on the holding room as the
contestants reflect on their performances and calculate their odds.
Up next was Milwaukee's Chris medina.
I'm feeling scared.
No matter what happens, I did more than I thought I was capable of doing.
If I stay... You ain't seen nothing yet.
Chris and juliana's story touched the hearts of America.
That's... that's why he sings so good, 'cause he sings to you.
When he sang for his life, he chose a song that embodied the promise he made.
♪ When you feel so tired ♪
♪ that you can't sleep ♪
♪ stuck in reverse ♪
♪ when the tears ♪
♪ come streaming ♪
♪ down your face ♪
♪ and when you lose something ♪
♪ that you can't replace ♪
♪ and when you love someone ♪
♪ but it goes to waste ♪
♪ could it be worse ♪
♪ lights will guide ♪
♪ you home ♪
♪ and ignite your bones ♪
♪ and I will try ♪
♪ to fix you ♪
Hi.
Hey.
Hey, guys. How are you?
Hey, man.
Who got a haircut?
He just pulled it back.
He pulled it back.
He cleaned up.
I like that he cleaned up.
He scruffed it up.
Just a little bit.
Nice to see you, Chris.
How are you?
Feeling blessed.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Things changed a little bit for you since we last saw you, I bet.
Juliana's more popular than I am.
I'm just really happy that you guys met her.
I mean, if you ask her now, "what was the best time of your life?"
She will tell you, "when Steven Tyler kissed me on the cheek,
when I got to shake j-lo's hand and when I got to meet Randy Jackson."
Well, it was a special moment for all of us.
Well, it was just honestly a pleasure to meet you and to meet someone like you.
For me, that was a blessing and a moment in my life that I'll always remember.
Somebody who has the conviction that you do, the love in your
heart that you do, who stands up as a man in the way that you do,
that's why everybody was touched by your story.
You know, we've watched you through this competition.
You started out pretty strong.
'Cause at the end of the day, this is about singing and it's
about the voice, and it's about your talent.
I don't want to draw this out, because... As much as we love you, you know
you had some good moments and you had some bad moments in the competition.
Right.
And you know that we only have 24 slots.
And it honestly breaks my heart to say this, but you did not
make it into the top 24.
We wish you the best with everything.
We wish Julie with the best with everything.
And we'll miss you.
All right.
It was so nice meeting you guys.
It really was, you know?
And it was awesome being in this competition.
I really wasn't gonna even take the path of being a musician anymore.
Oh, Chris, don't stop.
I won't.
Don't stop, man.
I won't.
Don't stop.
I think I started to find my voice here.
So close, Chris.
All right.
Can I shake your guys' hands?
Of course!
Are you kidding?
Appreciate you, dude.
Give us a hug.
Are you kidding? Come on, man.
I appreciate you guys.
Tell Julie what's up, man.
I will. I will.
Good-bye, sweetie.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
So much respect for you.
Thank you.
Yeah, dude, big heart you got.
Give juliana a kiss for me.
I will. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you. Take it easy.
All right.
I just didn't want to tell him no.
I didn't want it... really hard for me to tell him no right there.
No.
No?
Aw, man.
Hey, man, it was a great run.
Aw, come here.
You did it... listen.
You did the best way possible.
And I think we were really real and we were really honest with
him, and I think it hurts us all, you know what I mean?
Like you said... like I said, I just don't feel like I told him in the right
way.
Oh, you did. Oh, no.
You so did. You so, so did.
I didn't want to tell him no.
No, you so did.
You so did. You really did.
You said the just-right, perfect words.
You're a good man.
All right, thank you, man.
Appreciate it.
It's a pleasure meeting you, man.
It was a pleasure meeting you.
Thanks.
Thank you.
I'm gonna kill you.
Now I'm gonna go home and keep writing music, you know,
take care of my fiance and make a miracle happen.
So honest and truthful.
And from your heart.
It was beautiful.
But you were great in that... it didn't feel... I felt so bad.
No, no, no, no.
See you later, guys.
Okay, I don't want to do this anymore.
Tomorrow night, will Jennifer find the strength to continue?
No, I can't. I can't.
I can't.
Or will Steven and Randy have to handle the eliminations alone?
Can we take a five?
Find out moves on...
Or heads home... what?
In our most dramatic final judgment ever.
Oh, my God! Oh!
Going back to reality, 'cause this was nothing but a dream.
Sync by Behzadt www.addic7ed.com