Jessica Sanchez Gets the Save from American Idol Judges

Though considered by many to be one of the front-runners on the current season of “American Idol,” the voting public of America voted to send contestant Jessica Sanchez home last night. Fortunately for Sanchez, some of the “many” that consider her a front-runner in the race include the “American Idol” judges.

For only the fifth time in the history of the show, the judges used their “save” to prevent Sanchez from being sent home, keeping her safe for at least another week.

Judge and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler announced the save during the show.

“We’re gonna use our card tonight,” he said, “especially with an outcome like this.”

Each season, the judges get one “save” to prevent a contestant at the bottom of the voting count from being sent home. Had Sanchez been voted off, she would have finished in seventh place for the season. The other two contestants in the “bottom three” last night were Joshua Ledet and Elise Testone.

After host Ryan Seacrest announced which contestants were in the bottom three, judge Randy Jackson condemned the choice of voters. Saying that he had never seen anything like it in his 11 seasons on the show, he said that America “got it wrong tonight. They got it so wrong.”

After this, it was revealed that Ledet and Testone would be safe, meaning that Sanchez would be sent home, and that she would sing a final song as a farewell. But the judges jumped up on stage before this could happen.

“We’re not letting you sing,” they said. “This is crazy.” “Yes, we’re using the save.” “We are saving Jessica without any doubt.”

Jackson later reiterated his previous point about voters choosing the wrong contestant.

“This girl is one of the best singers in America, ever,” he said. “Please vote for the best… It’s about find the best. I mean, come on.”