Anoop Desai: Survives 'American Idol' elimination round

Anoop Desai: Survives 'American Idol' elimination round

Tuesday night, the judges branded him "karaoke" for singing "Beat It" on "American Idol", but the public decided to give Anoop Desai another chance, as the North Carolina singer was saved from elimination during the program's results show on Wednesday evening.

Although, as Anoop Desai, a popular contender who gained online fans during Hollywood week, will perform again next week alongside the 10 other remaining "Idol" hopefuls, two of the Top 13 were indeed sent home, after they failed to receive a saving vote from the judges - a new rule just introduced into the competition.

"Idol's" new game changer was unveiled by Ryan Seacrest, which allows Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and new judge Kara DioGuardi to save one hopeful, just once in the competition.

Ryan explained that the move came as a result of the shock that fans expressed when former "American Idol" contestants Tamyra Gray (Season 1), Jennifer Hudson (Season 3), Chris Daughtry (Season 5) and Michael Johns (Season 7) were all booted from the show well before the finals.

"America, you told us that they left the competition too early and in response to that we're introducing a new rule this season: The Judges' Save," Ryan explained. "From this point forward, up until the Top 5, the judges can save one contestant from elimination, just once. It has to be unanimous, and, once they use the save, they cannot use it again the entire season. The week they use the save, no one will be eliminated, but the next week, two will go. That's the new rule."

Simon said he expected the voting public to be OK with the new rule.

"The whole point of this competition is America votes for who they wanna save," the Brit said. "If someone happens to be at the bottom and if we think they deserve another chance, we're going to give them another chance."

But it wasn't to be for Jasmine Murray, 17, who was the first to be let go.

"Jasmine, we discussed it. Sorry baby, you're heading home. Not gonna work," Randy said as the young woman burst into tears.

It was bad news too for Jorge Nunez from Puerto Rico.

"No, sorry," Simon said when Ryan asked if the judges would save the 20-year-old, who had already made fans out of Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony.