Nobody Leaves This Week On "American Idol"

(CBS/AP)  "American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest opened Wednesday night's special two-hour results show by saying, "We have the most shocking result in our history" – and he wasn't kidding.

As the show was about to come to a close, all six "American Idol" finalists sat nervously on stage, waiting to find out which one of them would be sent home.

Finalists LaKisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle, Phil Stacey, and Chris Richardson had been told earlier in the evening that they would be returning next week.

The last two finalists, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, were told to stand and learn their fate. When Lewis was told he was safe, it looked like Sparks — a fan and judge favorite — would be packing her bags.

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Photos: "American Idol" Season 6

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The real shocker? Sparks was safe too and, for the first time in "American Idol" history, nobody would be sent home.

"How could we let anyone go on a charity night?" Seacrest said.

The show will make up for this week's reprieve by sending home two finalists next week.

This week's competition and results shows were part of a fundraising effort titled "Idol Gives Back."

On Tuesday's show, the six finalists performed what Fox called "life anthem" songs of compassion and hope. Viewers voted as usual for the contestants, with donations coming in from corporations. Fox parent company NewsCorp gave $5 million, according to Seacrest.

The audience was invited to contribute on Wednesday during a two-hour show from the "American Idol" stage and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Viewer donations were made by telephone via toll-free pledge lines or on the Internet. At the end of the evening Seacrest said they had raised $30 million so far.

Wednesday's star-studded lineup included Ellen DeGeneres; Madonna; Rascal Flatts; Celine Dion in an interesting "duet" with Elvis; Bono; Earth, Wind & Fire; Il Divo; Josh Groban with the African Children's Choir; Jack Black; Jeff Beck; Quincy Jones; Annie Lennox and past "Idol" winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

"Idol Gives Back" is intended to raise awareness and money for the newly formed Charity Projects Entertainment Fund and other organizations that fund relief programs for children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa, Fox said.

The U.S. organizations benefiting are Save the Children; America's Second Harvest: The Nation's Food Bank Network; Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Children's Health Fund. In Africa, funds are earmarked for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Malaria No More; Nothing But Nets; Save the Children and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

[mjwdj]

Jordin Sparks is no Melinda Doolittle. She chooses songs that are way to big for her voice, and she gets votes because she is young. Jorin's performance on Tuesday was good, but "the best performance ever on idol?" Maybe on Mars? Melinda knows what she can do with her voice, something Jordin doesn't, she squeeks, screams, and is often off-pitch. Sorry, but no fan here.

[cmnsense]

Excuse me, but wasn't it CHRIS and Jordin (NOT Blake)?

[bunnybaum]

Say what you want to about Melinda, sure she is good....however, she is NOT as talented a singer as Jordin Sparks is. Jordin can hit the high notes without even trying, that's one thing Melinda has some trouble with. Yes, I like Melinda and I feel she should be in the top "3", but the true favorite should be, and is, Jordin Sparks.

[drinuk]

Melinda Doolittle is truly everything the judges say she is. Thank goodness she is there, I have watched her performances very carefully and I have yet to hear one bad note. Without her the show would be banal to say the very least, a real poor crop this year. If anyone doubts Melinda's consistency against the others, go check each of her performances on YouTube, just amazing how she emulates her previous, week after week. My Funny Valentine should have won her the whole series, it was sang perfectly in the tradition of the American legends and if she is not the overall winner it will be a FIX !

[themartyred]

Jack Black was hilarious - Ben Stiller needs to seriously RETIRE (ZZZZZZZ), The Simpsons parody was GREAT, seeing Sanjaya was fun, but then they used his quasi-celebrity too much b/c they knew a good chunk of people watching for the 1st time, or who won't watch anymore now that he's gone, wanted to see him.

I find it ridiculous they didn't send someone home, but at least they're sending two home next week, I was gonna gag if they were going to extend the kinda boring season an extra week.

Finally, it's kinda rigged, right? I mean, seriously, Chris had the mic in his hand before he was told he was safe, to make it appear like he was the one going home, AND the mic was very clearly in the pic when Jordin's reaction was shown to try and make it appear shocking -- they both knew (maybe none of the others knew on the show), and, I don't trust fox anyhow, and to have them in charge of the votes just doesn't seem right.