'American Idol' results: And the eliminated contestant is ... Casey Abrams

At the beginning of Thursday night's "American Idol," in which Casey Abrams was (this time far less shockingly) eliminated to turn the top six into the top five, Ryan Seacrest gave us a hint about what was to come: "I can tell you this," he told us. "A lot of fans are going to be disappointed with tonight's result."

Well, count me among them, because Casey was one of my own personal favorites.

I liked his knack for surprising song choices and musical virtuosity. I liked his silly, self-deprecating humor and his wacky way with a stand-up bass. (He seemed like a stand-up guy with a stand-up bass.) I liked his tight little scoot around the stage and the peculiar way he had of slapping only one hand when he walked up to the throngs in the front row. I liked the audacity of his Jennifer Lopez kiss and its impetuous innocence. I even liked his shaggy 'do (before and after), his swoon the last time he was eliminated and his trademark growl, which, he explained Thursday night, stemmed from all his passion for music rushing to get out one very small aperture.

That curious theory was funny and honest and interesting and cute in a weird way. And that, right there, is the reason I like Casey.

Mentor Jimmy Iovine, who wrongly predicted that Casey would be safe this week, suggested that Casey's growl could get him into trouble. "Casey's got to realize that the family dog does not vote on this show," Jimmy quipped.

And maybe jazz fans don't vote either, because my guess is that it was Casey's refusal to play it safe (except for a few weeks there right after his remarkable save) and his stated desire to bring jazz to the masses that ultimately did him in.

If we had any doubt that Casey's "what the heck, I'm just milking this thing and having a blast" casual attitude had returned — especially after watching him nibble at his nails right there on live TV as the camera panned across him at the beginning of Thursday night's show (I know results shows are nerve-wracking, but ick, Casey!) — and that it might get him in trouble with voters, there could be little doubt after Ryan put a fan question to him: "If you could do a duet with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and what would you sing?"

Casey's answer: Oscar Peterson, the legendary jazz pianist and composer (an all-time great), who died in 2007. "He's a very famous jazz musician," Casey informed the millions of Americans who, very sadly, probably had no idea who he was talking about. Then he went on to explain that it was because of Peterson's remarkable chord progression, among other things. No amount of enthusiastically encouraging nods from Randy Jackson was going to save Professor Casey at that point.

Which will not make me miss him any less. Casey reminded us of all we were losing with his final number, "I Put a Spell on You." (Not that Ryan hadn't already reminded us: "This is what talent looks like, ladies and gentlemen," he said.) Casey kissed and hugged each judge, noisily bussed a whole row of women in the audience, embraced the family members of his fellow contestants and tackled a few of those contestants before ending by looking right into Haley Reinhart's eyes and singing, "because you're mine."

What a way to confirm that they're a couple. They're a couple, right?

Here's wishing those two crazy kids a long and happy and laughter-filled relationship — and long and happy (and healthy!) careers making music.

Because, as last year's runner-up pointedly sang on Thursday night's show, "If you want to sing a song, you just sing it." She also reminded us that the most talented contestant doesn't always win the "Idol" crown.

Casey's talent and passion for music will outlive his time on "Idol." And he'll assuredly find success, because dang if he didn't put a spell on many of us.

What do you think? Are you sad to see Casey go? Or did you feel it was his time?

'American Idol' recap: The top six take on Carole King

Full Show Tracker coverage of "American Idol"

— Amy Reiter

Photo: The final six, from left, Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery, James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams and Jacob Lusk. Credit: Michael Becker / Fox.

Comments

[Markus]

"Ick" used for someone biting their nails? What are you, three?

[Kim]

No I wasnt sad to see him go..surprised yes...Jacob needs to go. But face the facts, one will go each week until only one remains and Casey would have went before the top two are left standing anyway....my bet has always been on James....either James and Lauren or James and Scotty will be the top two....

[Joe Cheeks]

The purest and rawest talent since Daughtery, its not a show for the best singer (Jennifer Hudson-the best the year she was on and many others) hey, it is what it is, musicians arent voting the american public is , its a marketing game anyway, real artists, not just on this show are being discovered, found or somehow getting thier name out there!

[Robbie Hart]

I predicted it to be Casey and James in the finals....but it looks as if Scotty is going to beat James since he has almost half the votes literally. Scotty can sing but he is not a performer. I have not seen much improvement in singing but rather different song choice. My honest opinion is that Jacob and Scotty both need to go home, but even Jacob can sing better than Scotty despite his other "tendencies". I think Scotty should definately win if the show was called American Charmer or Sweetheart or something. I'm leaving my hopes with James!! if not James then I will never vote on american idol again...

[Alena]

I was sure he will make at least top 3. So sad to see him go...

[Mindy]

I honestly thought that it was Jacob's time to go, however in the back of my mind I wondered if Casey going back to the growling and crazy faces and shouting might result in him once again being voted off. No one should be all that surprise. This is what got him voted him earlier in the competition. There is no reason to be terribly sad, because he got the save and stayed on the show for another five weeks. He is on the tour, so it's all good. He sure seemed to be okay with it.

I liked Casey and thought he brought something different and unique to the competition this season. He obviously loves performing and always seems to be having a lot of fun on the stage. But he made some big mistakes with that performance. He started off actually singing and then, for some reason, decided to just lose the melody completely. Then he fell back on his trademark growling and worst of all, talked through some of the performance. It's about the singing folks! You can put on a great show, but you do still have to bring the vocals. On a night when Scotty and James really had moments, Casey just did not have the vocals to match them. He will move in with is career, is a better musician than a singer, will write and arrange material and still be able to put on a show in front of the right audience. I enjoyed hearing him do Elton John's "Your Song" and "Nature Boy". Also "Georgia On My Mind" earlier in the competition. He was never going to win this and top six is a decent finish for him.

Jacob obviously has a stronger fan base than we might have thought. People are voting for him, so I have to believe that there is a sizable voting block that will support an r&b singer. He actually gave a decent performance, sang better and had some fun. However, I think we are at a point where he should go. If Casey hadn't gone this week, it would have been next week. This is a strong group of singers and someone has to go home each week.

I am hoping for a Scotty/James finale, however I have learned that you never know with this show.

[screen]

People need to stop downing contestants that they don't like and instead, just praise the ones that they do like. By downing a contestant and wishing that he or she would be eliminated, just may be the reason for that talented singer to continue to be "safe" every week.

Like Ryan Seacrest said.. "you may be surprised at this weeks final results"; meaning.. just because you don't like someone.. doesn't mean that the contestant does not deserve the right to be the next American Idol... peace!

[Sharon]

All you people that say that you won't watch anymore since Casey the jerk is gone.......GOOD, we don't need your stinking votes or your stinking comments!!See Ya!

[Titina]

I am crushed. Casey was my absolute favorite since auditions He was someone who had the potential to become a new young fresh face to the jazz pop world. Example: Norah Jones, Michael Buble etc.
He liked rock too and with the right songs he was awesome. That Maroon 5 performance was incredible.
Someone who can do "Nature Boy" and " HArder to BReathe" and nail them both is special.
I won´t watch much anymore I know that either Lauren or Scotty will be in the finale with James. But I hope Casey gets a record deal soon enough. Such a talented kid! He deserves to be very successful!
And I agree with whomever said that when he started helping Haley he started to go down again while she shined. So unfair, but so is life.

It won´t matter Casey in the long run all your fans will be with you always waiting for your music. Can´t wait. We LOVE YOU.

[babajou99]

That is how it is the name of the game. I am pretty sure he will have his own success even if he is not the crowned idol winner. I should say some of the idol winners are not popular as the others that did not win and has vast of talents.

[Larry A]

Very disappointed that Casey was eliminated. He definitely was one of the most talented and created artists. Its so sad that the voting has changed over the last 10 years. This show was supposed to be about the best talented stars, that is why you have the judges to share their professional opinion. But with the 13-15 year olds who do not know talent such as the song Casey did on the last Idol episode. Its true this age group cannot relate to Jazz. They should definitely implement where the judges choose who of the bottom 3 should go home, like they do on So You Think You Can Dance. It balances out the unbalanced voting.