‘America Idol’ twist keeps local singer's hopes alive

During Thursday night's American Idol, the last local seemed to be a goner.

But after a last-second twist, is it possible that two could be coming back?

Definitely still alive is Jermaine Jones, the "gentle giant" and "soulful baritone" from Pine Hill, Camden County.

A very emotional segment showed him upset even before his final meeting with the judges.

Host Ryan Seacrest: "After suffering hours of torment from gout and apprehension, Jermaine's composure began to crumble."

The drama! His mama! Then the bad news!

"I think you got a talent, I think you really have something that just needs a little bit more work," said judge Randy Jackson. "So this year, dude, you did not make the Top 24."

Jennifer Lopez in tears!

"You did a great job, and you got so far," said Jones's mother, Katrice Cornett, hugging and consoling her 6-foot-8 son after his dismissal.

But then ... at the very end of the show ... the BIG TWIST.

Four booted male singers will get another chance to join the Top 12 guys on Tuesday's show (8 p.m. on Fox29). And Jones is one of the four.

The others: North Carolina's David Leathers Jr., Florida's Johnny Keyser and Colorado's Richie "Cowboy" Law, with whom Jones sang a memorable duet.

It's interesting to note that Keyser didn't even make the final 42, apparently part of off-camera cuts, perhaps because he failed to seriously prepare.

His sounds a bit like the case of Philadelphia's Courtney Williams, another off-camera cut. Her group apparently failed to fully rehearse in Las Vegas, and she got upset when judge Randy Jackson criticized how she took too many chances, before the judges officially kept her in the competition.

But not for long, it seemed. Like Keyser, she wasn't among the final 42, whose yeas and nays were broadcast on Wednesday's and Thursday's shows.

A call to Williams on Thursday afternoon - hours before the show - seemed likely to yield some answers. Surprisingly, it didn't.

Normally, cut contestants feel free to talk, but she declined to talk about her elimination.

Not permitted, she said.

Did say she got to know Jones, and said she always takes the positive attitude that "No means next," as her mother, Alfredia, would say.

Keep watching, the Immaculata University grad suggested.

Earlier shows resurrected some singers - was she hoping for a similar reprieve? she was asked.

"It's TV. They gotta keep you guessing," she said.

Indeed. Williams might be back. Or maybe having ex-contestants act coy is simply an Idol decoy.

Who knows? Maybe the journey could even continue for Lancaster's Naomi Gillies, a student at Boston's Berklee School of Music.

That seems unlikely, since she barely got any camera time in getting banished Tuesday.

Or maybe the twist part two will be that there won't be one - even if that seems sexist.

Host Ryan Seacrest was right:

The move announced at the end of Thursday's show would get fans talking.

For more, go to www.americanidol.com.