“American Idol” Results Show Brings Elimination, Memories of Chris Daughtry Shocker

Something about top four week on “American Idol” does not want to be compatible with hard rock contestants.

Back in 2006, it meant the surprising end of the journey for Chris Daughtry, who was viewed as Taylor Hicks’ only legitimate competition for the “Idol” crown. This season, it meant the end of James Durbin’s glorious “American Idol” run.

After initially getting panned for what seemed like an attempt to mimic Adam Lambert’s unique style from season eight, James Durbin quickly became a judge and fan favorite for his electric performances. He was best known for his authentic rock showmanship, credibly performing legitimate rock songs like Muse’s “Uprising,” Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” and Sammy Hagar’s “Heavy Metal.”

He also, however, was able to deliver sensitive vocal performances, stealing the show with numbers like “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” Both Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson had recently claimed that he was the frontrunner to win, with Jackson noting that “Idol” season ten became Durbin’s competition to lose.

But for as disappointing as Durbin’s elimination was Thursday, it was not totally unexpected. Sure, most were still forecasting a James Durbin vs. Scotty McCreery finale, but factors recently made it seem likely that Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart could take his place in the Top 3. For Alaina, it meant bouncing back after a tearful trip to the bottom two last week. For Reinhart, it meant generating excessive online support in the face of what some feel was unfair, biased treatment from Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez.

And, even if the rebel factor had not been in the picture, Reinhart has generally been viewed as the MVP of the past several weeks, scoring multiple standing ovations and generating support from various past-“Idol” contestants. Durbin, though never criticized by the judges, had started to falter, having two consecutive lackluster weeks after a streak of absolute excellence.

Seacrest randomly went through the results, first sending Alaina to safety Thursday. When Seacrest opted to next send Reinhart to safety, it became crystal clear to Durbin that he was in trouble. Durbin’s face told the whole story–there was no way he was beating odds-on favorite Scotty McCreery for that final slot. Sure enough, Scotty McCreery was pushed into the top 3.

Durbin’s elimination was definitely a tearjerker. Perceived as “arrogant” and a bit detached from the syrupy nature of “Idol” in the early weeks, Durbin’s demeanor had greatly changed late in the competition. He definitely made the level of fun he was having clear, and it became very obvious from his reactions that he really wanted to win (rather than just take the exposure to launch a rock career). His tears, combined with the look back at his journey, made for yet another emotional “Idol” moment.