How does the American Idol wildcard show work?

I read that the 4th place vote-getter gets into the wildcard show. (why didn't they announce this person on the show instead of telling everyone they were going home.) The other singers are judges choices and the total number of participants may be 10, 11 or 12.

This is where I'm confused. Does American vote or do the judges determine the best singers for those final 3 slots based on their performance in this show?

Why is American Idol being so vague about the wildcard show?




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Hello Jakson you must be new to this forum, welcome.

That particular season how they did the top 12 was 9 of the contestants were voted on by the public while the other remaining 3 seats that make up the top 12 were actually decided by the judges. In order to be fair several of the eliminated contestants of the top 36 were brought back to once again compete for the public and judges pick. The judges however did actually pick 4 contestants instead of 3 which is why Anoop Desai managed to make it into the top 12. By the way, this show does not always use that wild card feature. It was not used this season.

Hope this helps.

Yes, I noticed they didn't use the wild card this season like last time. However the save was used again.

the wildcard is a joke only letting three of 12 contestants go though, just so the judges can have their say. When i first heard of it i thought the wildcard would be someone that made it to the chairs in H-week, but not the voting rounds. Nothing was farther from the truth.

The show went seven seasons without the save, and needs to go away far far away. Even though the save was use to save one of my favorties this season, Micheal Lynche, i still don't like it.