'Idol' Judges Spare Kalamazoo Crooner

PopEater / Wire Services

posted: 110 DAYS 3 HOURS AGO

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filed under: Gut Reactions, American Idol, Music News, TV News

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(April 16) - "'Idol' history has been made!" host Ryan Seacrest blurted out after the show's judges used their one-time power to save a contestant from elimination. Their choice? Matt Giraud, the 23-year-old piano player from Kalamazoo, Mich., who crooned Bryan Adam's 'Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?'

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With the other three judges excitedly gathered around him, SimonCowell seemed to be foreshadowing Giraud's exit by telling him thathis last-chance performance was not as "good as you were lastnight" and that Giraud did not "really have any chance of winningthe competition." But Cowell relented and delivered Giraud's goodnews - and then some bad news.

"I wouldn't be so quick to congratulate him," he prattled asthe other singers huddled around Giraud.

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Cowell said because Giraud was rescued this week, two finalistswill be dismissed after next week's disco-themed performances, asstipulated by the new rule introduced this earlier season. Theother bottom vote-getters were 24-year-old mother of three LilRounds from Memphis, Tenn., and 22-year-old college student AnoopDesai from Chapel Hill, N.C.

"I thought I did a good job last night," Desai mused. "I wasencouraged by the judges and everything."

Some members of the judging panel used Wednesday's episode toadd their two cents after being denied the opportunity Tuesday.Jackson praised Danny Gokey, whose rendition of "Endless Love" hewasn't able to critique Tuesday, while Cowell complimented KrisAllen, whose "Falling Slowly" performance had previously beenpanned by Jackson and Kara DioGuardi.

"You know we didn't get a chance to talk last night," Cowellsaid. "Kris, you were brilliant."

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After running eight minutes over last week, the show attempted -and failed - to end on time Tuesday by allowing only two judges toreview a singer, but the competition still ran three minutes overschedule. On Tuesday, Jackson and DioGuardi reviewed Giraud, Desaiand Allen. Cowell and Paula Abdul judged Rounds, Gokey, AllisonIraheta and Adam Lambert.

It wasn't just the judges who were talking back Wednesday.Seacrest offered Lambert, the over-the-top 27-year-old theateractor who sang "Born to Be Wild" from "Easy Rider" duringTuesday's performance episode, the chance to respond to Cowell'staunt from the night before that his edgy performance reminded himof "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"I think that's a great movie," Lambert quipped. "I mean, didhe mean it as an insult?"

2009-04-16 08:07:50

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