If you think Randy, J.Lo and Steven were alone in picking their wild-card favorites on Thursday night’s “American Idol” final-cut night, think again.
As the casting decisions during Fox’s live two-hour broadcast got more intense, so did the executive power surrounding the judging table during the commercial breaks.
After 10 contestants earned their places in the finals as the result of the public vote, judges — and producers — had their final opportunity to tinker with season 11’s marquee cast members, recalling six rejected contestants for a final chance to perform to be a judge’s “wild-card” selection.
Also read: “American Idol”: Top 13 Finalists Are Set
Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe was a constant presence in front of the judges during breaks.