Save the rocker. Save the diva. Save 'Idol.' Save the world?

'Idol' is notorious for its "shocking" results shows, but some contestants just plain go home too soon. Each season, one talented front-runner has failed to advance as far as the judges predicted, and the Judges' Save -- which allows for the 'Idol' judges to keep one eliminated contestant in the competition, despite America's having voted him or her off -- was created to solve that very problem.

Last season, it was used for pianist Matt Giraud, who ultimately placed fifth; last week, it came in handy for Michael Lynche, who must now try to avoid the dreaded double-elimination.

The rule was only introduced in season 8, but it would have been useful on 'Idol' during most prior seasons. Read on to see who we think the judges would have saved had the rule been in place from the start.

After nine inspiring, crazy, unpredictable seasons on the air, the only thing certain is that even an appearance on 'American Idol' can launch you toward off-the-charts success.

For a performer of any kind to make it to Broadway, though, you need more in your quiver than arrows pointing to image or personality. You need the solid, confident, cultivated talent that not only catapults a song across the footlights, but the chops to do it eight times a week. Acting ability, imagination, perseverance -- these are all key. The 'Idol' contestants and winners who have starred on the Great White Way know this. After all, if you've survived week after week, facing and conquering new musical challenges over and over, you're probably in good enough shape to make Broadway your home.

Quite a few 'Idol' favorites have come to the New York stage. Some stay for months, eating up the adoration of fans. Some are jazzed by the rigor of playing a role night after night. Some job in for a spell, then spearhead national tours, able to sing for the public wherever they live. However they do it, performing on Broadway is a mark of pride and distinction for nine 'Idol' favorites -- with the 10th set to arrive, we hope, later this year.<

Kelly ... Ruben ... Carrie ... David ...

They may all own the title of 'American Idol,' but winning is one thing -- turning in one of the show's most memorable performances is something else entirely.

We scoured through the past seven seasons to come up with the 16 best. Then YOU, the fans, voted for the No. 1 greatest 'Idol' performance of all time. See who topped the list.

Welcome back to "AI Aftermath," where we explore Idol's past. Each installment, as one more American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated at the same point. We'll examine how they did on the show and what they've been up to since their eliminations. In honor of Jason Castro's elimination last week, we'll be looking at other fourth place finishers.

This week: 4th place finishers, featuring featuring Tamyra Gray (Season One), Joshua Gracin (Season Two), LaToya London (Season Three), Anthony Federov (Season Four), Chris Daughtry (Season Five) and LaKisha Jones (Season Six).

Before Carrie Underwood was a Grammy-winning superstar, she was just a small-town girl from Checotah, Oklahoma.

But with the help of 'American Idol,' Carrie, Jennifer Hudson and others were given the full Hollywood treatment, transforming their everyday looks into red carpet glam.

Click through our gallery to see the before and after shots of some of your favorite 'Idol' contestants.

Bad performances on 'American Idol' aren't just limited to the audition room.

In just seven seasons, we've seen over a handful of performances bad enough to shut down any karaoke bar in the country -- everything from Carmen Rasmusen's 'Can't Fight the Moonlight' to Jon Peter Lewis' 'A Little Less Conversation.'

The members of Votefortheworst.com (VFTW) recently narrowed down the performances and compiled a definitive list of the top 20 guiltiest 'Idol' pleasures of them all.

Click through the gallery to see their picks. Just don't forget to bring your earplugs.

Like every TV show, 'American Idol' couldn't survive without a headline scandal.

In just seven seasons, 'Idol' has had its fair share of juicy gossip items: nude photos; arrests; wrong numbers -- not to mention Corey Clark's alleged affair with Paula Abdul.

We've compiled a list of the biggest 'Idol' scandals ever. After the jump, click through our gallery to relive moments every 'Idol' wants you to forget.

Susan recently emailed us at TV Squad to ask: What happened to Tamyra Gray? Did she have any hits? I thought that she would do well. I remembered her being in a few shows on TV. Thanks, just curious. That would be one Idol, that I'd like to see come back to guest star and sing.

Well, Susan, funny you ask. It was just announced last week that Tamyra Gray will be hitting the Broadway stage once again. She is set to join the cast of Rent in the role of Mimi Marquez. Tamyra will be with the show from May 29 to November 25. Tamyra made her Broadway debut in November 2004 in the Bollywood-inspired musical, Bombay Dreams.

There are three bits of news involving former and current American Idol stars so I thought I'd lump them into one post. First, President Bush appointed Clay Aiken to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Oh, there's a political joke here but unfortunately this is a television blog. It's not just some random appointment. Clay actually has a degree in special education and worked with disabled kids before appearing on American Idol.

Also, season one star Tamyra Gray got married to a guy who used to be in Color Me Badd. Yes, that '90s group that sang "I Wanna Sex... You Up" (since then he's been a successful songwriter and producer). Tamyra, 27, and Sam Watters, 36, wed in Capri, Italy on Saturday, according to People Magazine. Check out their wedding photo: they look downright gloomy. Tamyra had a short run on Boston Public in 2003, but there's no word on whether she's returning to television.

The funny thing about each and every season of American Idol is the contestants with mediocre talent who continue to sail through to the next round. You know what I'm talking about. They're cute and cuddly and have oodles of personality, but they're a little short on the talent category. There's a faction of television-watching, telephone-using Americans out there who insist on keeping these people on the show while other contestants with more talent get the boot.

I have five examples of American Idol contestants who wouldn't go away:

5. Constantine Maroulis. Yeah, I said it. Constantine thought he was sexy and talented. Not an attractive characteristic on a man who only has mediocre looks and talent. Constantine regularly sang out of tune and falsely advertised himself as a rocker. He was in Rent, for crying out loud! A musical! The dude was a poser and I wanted to slap that pout right off his face. I think we all know who the true rocker was last season. (P.S. More proof he's a poser: his new album is Adult Contemporary. Watch out, Clay!)

People online has a nifty little photo-story updating us on some of our favorite American Idol contestants who didn't win the title. Here are a few:

• Diana DeGarmo: after spending the holidays entertaining the troops abroad, she's joining the cast of Hairspray on Broadway on February 7.
• Frenchie Davis: proving that racy photos on the internet aren't the end of all things, she's a cast member of Rent on Broadway, where she's been since she was prematurely booted off the show in 2003.
  
• William Hung: thinking he's entitled to more than 15 minutes of fame, he's still performing crap from his three, yes three, albums.
• Tamyra Gray: the one who should've gone against Kelly Clarkson in the finale, Tamyra is working on her second album and persuing more acting roles.
• Josh Gracin: lookin' a little thick around the middle, Josh just kicked off a tour where he is opening for Trace Adkins. He and his wife, Ann Marie, now have two children.
• Corey Clark: ah, who the hell cares?

The story also includes new photos and updates on Ruben Studdard, Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London, and Justin Guarini.