Ray Mickshaw / FOXSomeone always has to go first.
Though usually not after being cast off for good by Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.
The big American Idol twist promised by Ryan Seacrest turned out to be the introduction of a onetime-only save the judges can invoke if they feel a contestant has been voted out before his or her time—à la Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson and Michael Johns (or so went the introductory explanation of the new rule).
There were no such reprieves Wednesday, however, for 16-year-old wild-card finalist Jasmine Murray and the charming Jorge Nuñez, and now only 11 remain on Idol after Michael Jackson night made stars out of some and sideshows out of others.
If the judges ever choose to save someone, two will get the boot a week later. And once they've saved someone, the privilege is available to no one else.
While a save might have been in order for standouts like Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds, Cowell & Co. were not faced with such a predicament, as the trio garnered enough of the 33 million votes to sail on through to next week.
Not so did Jasmine, who had one more chance to convince the judges she deserved another shot—but her only option was an encore of "I'll Be There," and it just wasn't going to happen.
Kanye West showed up to rap "Heartless," and then Jorge and Anoop Desai, both of whom thoroughly underwhelmed last night, had to sweat it out on dueling chopping blocks while original Idol Kelly Clarkson belted out "My Life Would Suck Without You."
But Anoop wasn't told to "Beat It" just yet, and it was Jorge who failed to change the judges' minds—and how was he supposed to with only "Never Can Say Goodbye" to work with?!—and the 20-year-old from Carolina, Puerto Rico, was the second to go.
At least Jasmine got Randy Jackson to break the news to her. "No, sorry," Simon said curtly when Seacrest inquired whether Jorge would be saved.
We had already said unceremonious goodbyes to 23 Idol contestants over the past few weeks. But Wednesday brought back the tearful montage, this year to the tune of Carrie Underwood doing Mötley Crüe's "Home Sweet Home," giving Jasmine and Jorge one final bittersweet moment to remember.
Along with Danny, Lil, Adam and Anoop, Michael Sarver, Alexis Grace, Scott MacIntyre, Megan Corkrey, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Matt Giraud remain. And next week, with the double elimination out of the way, someone's going to have to take that trip down memory lane alone.