American Idol Drops One Like It's Nothing

Well, it wasn't coming into Thursday's elimination show, when the fates of seven bright-eyed hopefuls still hung in the balance.

What did we learn tonight, besides that Casey Abrams, James Durbin and Scotty McCreery should never sing "Viva La Vida" all together ever again?

Nothing new, really.

Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk made up the bottom two and the trapdoor ultimately opened underneath Stefano.

It was the Ne-Yo, we tell you, the Ne-Yo! If you want to do dance-party R&B on this show...just don't.

Hence, it was the end of the road for the 21-year-old wild card from Kent, Wash., who recovered from a devastating accident in just enough time to give his singing career a jolt by trying out for Idol.

"It started my career, and that's something you can't put a price on. That's everything," he told Ryan Seacrest after the elimination. "I'm just so blessed, I came this far, and it's great! It really is!"

So, another close shave for Jacob, who avoided the bottom three last week after performing Simon & Garfunkle's "Bridge Over Trouble Water," but was right back in it after last night's emotional rendition of Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father."

But who was alongside them in the bottom three?

"Scotty, wow, you are safe," Ryan informed the perpetually safe country singer, sending him to sit with Casey, James and Lauren Alaina, and sending Haley Reinhart to fill the last bottom-three stool—for about 30 seconds.

Instead of making her wait through Katy Perry and Kanye West's "E.T" performance, Ryan sidled up to Haley, told her to return with him to the middle of the stage, and then shooed her off to safety.

And then there were six. Next week, Haley, Casey, Lauren, James, Jacob and Scotty will try to weave a pretty tapestry with the tunes of Carole King.

'American Idol': James Durbin finds his Muse

Musically speaking, James Durbin and Casey Abrams may not be everyone's cup of tea. But there's no denying that, with their envelope-pushing ways, the two California kids are bringing the most edge and energy to "American Idol" as the show steams toward its stretch run.

They hogged the spotlight during Wednesday's Top 7 presentation of "music from the 21st century" -- Durbin with his soaring rendition of Muse's "Uprising," and Abrams with his revved-up version of Maroon 5's "Harder to Breathe."

And both singers had the judges raving, but only Abrams had Jennifer Lopez blushing after he sealed his performance with a kiss.

Depending on your perspective, Durbin either looked like a rock 'n' roll storm trooper, or a homeless dude off the beaches of Santa Cruz as he took to the stage in dark tattered overcoat.

(He said was going for a "post-apocalyptic" vibe). Accompanied by a marching-band drum section (surely a first in "Idol" history), Durbin, as always, dove full-throttle into the song, which closed out with the kind of super-high notes that may have shattered TV screens in some homes.

JLo was blown away. "Wow. I think that was the highest we've ever heard you sing," she remarked.

Added Steven Tyler, "I love it that you're out of your mind, beautifully so."

Not to be totally outdone, Abrams strapped on an electric guitar and did what some may have thought impossible -- bring some intensity and passion to a Maroon 5 song. But he softened things up at the end, approaching the judges' table and planting a peck on J.Lo's cheek. A brazen move for the bearded wonder from Idyllwild. It isn't everyday, after all, that you get to kiss the "most beautiful woman in the world," according to People magazine.

"You did what I've been trying to do for four months," blurted Steven Tyler, who tossed in some expletives that woke up the guy in charge of the "bleep" button.

JLo said she loved Abrams' performance -- and that his "soft lips" weren't bad either.

The judges also found plenty to like about Jacob Lusk's touching performance of the Luther Vandross classic, "Dance with my Father," which had an emotional Lusk recalling his own late father. In addition, Haley Reinhart's gutsy take on Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" received glowing reviews.

But one singer accustomed to praise -- country warbler Scotty McCreery -- finally heard a touch of criticism (long overdue, from my standpoint). His listless version of "Swingin' " by LeAnn Rimes was called "safe and kinda boring" by Randy Jackson, and JLo said, "we were expecting more from Scotty."

Before the Top 7 did their thing, fans of Thia Megia got a treat when the East Bay singer returned with other eliminated contestants (Pia Toscano, Naima Adedapo, Karen Rodriguez, Ashthon Jones and Paul McDonald) for a rousing group sing of Pink's "So What."

"We miss this group," chirpped Jackson when it was over. "Come back. Come back."