MANILA, Philippines - “Idol history has been made!’’ host Ryan Seacrest exclaimed following the decision of American Idol (AI) judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi, and Paula Abdul to use — for the first time ever — their one-time power to save a contestant from elimination.
And the lucky hopeful was Matt Giraud, the 23-year-old piano player from Michigan. Matt received the fewest number of votes following last week’s performance night wherein he sang Bryan Adam’s Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? from the movie Don Juan DeMarco.
“I don’t really see that you have really any chance of winning, but Matt, it’s good news.” Simon said after Matt performed again during the elimination night, and thus officially making Idol history.
The “judges save” — to which the judges have been holding on tightly — was introduced at the beginning of Season 8. It allows the judges to save one hopeful from being eliminated but it can be used only once and it should be before the competition reaches the Top Five.
Catch AI Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. with replays at 8:30 p.m. on Q-11.