History EliminationHoudini / AmericanIdol

** A few saw Josiah Leming was this during Hollywood Week.

* Season 4 had Scott Savol, Anthony Federov and Constantine Maroulis.

* Season 4 had Scott Savol, Anthony Federov and, Constantine Maroulis.

* Season 4 had Scott Savol and Anthony Federov

* Season 1 had Nikki McKibbin

* Season 1 had Nikki Mckibbin

** Even Michael Lynche wasn't immune to this as some felt he wasn't really all that talented.
** Though he was fairly talented, some felt Casey James was this season's Ace Young and mostly got by the strength of his [[MrFanservice Fanservice]], especially to Kara [=DioGuardi=].

** Even Michael Lynche wasn't immune to this as he came off a little cocky at times.

*** Megan Zieger, a very conceited contestant from the Boston auditions, managed to only make it to Group Round out of the judges pity over her getting laryngitis during Round 1.

** Even Michael Lynche wasn't immune to this.

** Though he was fairly talented, some felt Casey James mostly got by the strength of his [[MrFanservice Fanservice]], especially to Kara [=DioGuardi=].

** Ace Young was somewhat accused for not being a true contestant and being more MrFanservice, specifically towards Paula.

** Subverted with the Brittenum Twins who, during {{UsefulNotes/Hollywood}} Week, were becoming increasingly [[LargeHam hammy]] and [[TookALevelInJerkass full of themselves]]. They would've most likely become this had either of them advanced. However, [[http://www.mtv.com/news/1521161/american-idol-twins-are-in-double-trouble-with-the-law/ a major run-in with Johnny Law]] completely nixed their shot at
the Top 24.
** Megan Zieger, a very conceited singer managed to only make it to Group Round out of the judges pity over her getting laryngitis during Round 1.

** Subverted with the Brittenum Twins who, during {{UsefulNotes/Hollywood}} Week, were becoming increasingly [[LargeHam hammy]] and [[TookALevelInJerkass full of themselves]]. They would've most likely become this had either of them advanced. However, [[http://www.mtv.com/news/1521161/american-idol-twins-are-in-double-trouble-with-the-law/ a major run-in with Johnny Law]] completely nixed their shot at the Top 24.

** Downplayed with Casey Abrams.

** Subverted with Tiffany Rios, who during round 1 of Hollywood Week made a tasteless remark on how she was better than everyone that season and ''still'' was advanced to Group Round. However, thanks to her mouth [[LaserGuidedKarma no one wanted to group with her]]. She managed to team up with one girl from another group, but the duo gave a horrendous performance and were booted right then and there.

** Though he was fairly talented, some felt Casey James mostly got by the strength of his [[MrFanservice Fanservice]], especially to Kara DioGuardi.

* Rayvon Owens from season 14 isn't a bad singer, but has managed to get in the bottom two ''four weeks in a row'', and then get saved every single time by the new "fan save", a feature where people can vote to save their favorite of the bottom two in real time provided they are living on the east coast (or voting hours before the show) and have a Twitter account. He then scraped by in the bottom two the next week when the fan save portion was over, before finally placing in fourth.

** Even Michael Lynche was immune to this.

** Brenna Gethers managed to make it to the Top 24 only because the Judges liked confrontational, catty personality.

** Brenna Gethers managed to make it to the Top 20 only because of her confrontational, catty personality and nothing else.
** Subverted with the Brittenum Twins who, during Hollywood Week, were becoming [[TookALevelInJerkass increasingly full of themselves]] and would've most likely become this had either of them advanced. However, [[http://www.mtv.com/news/1521161/american-idol-twins-are-in-double-trouble-with-the-law/ a major run-in with Johnny Law]] completely nixed their shot to be in the Top 24.

* And anyone with a {{Hatedom}}, so says the {{Hatedom}}. Adam Lambert got this a lot.
* Season 9 had Tim Urban, Haeley Vaughn, Paige Miles, Todrick Hall and Katie Stevens.

** Brenna Gethers managed to make it to the Top 12 girls ultimately because of her bitchy personality and nothing else.
** During Hollywood Week, the Brittenum Twins were becoming [[TookALevelInJerkass increasingly full of themselves]] and would've most likely become this had either of them made it to the Top 24. However, [[http://www.mtv.com/news/1521161/american-idol-twins-are-in-double-trouble-with-the-law/ some run-ins with Johnny Law]] prevented that.

Every season of ''Series/AmericanIdol'' has had at least one EliminationHoudini, usually endorsed by [=VoteForTheWorst.com=]:

* Season 6 had Sanjaya Malakar, who almost became the Trope Namer. Vote For The Worst plays a huge part in this.

** Arguably, David Archuleta, the runner-up for that season, is one.
* Season 8 has Nick/Norman and Tatiana going into the final 36

** Yet another candidate is Lil Rounds, who somehow held on despite several weeks of horrible performances, which had her in the bottom three each week.

* Season 9 has Tim Urban, Haeley Vaughn, Paige Miles, Todrick Hall and Katie Stevens.
** Tim Urban's powers of elimination avoidance also earns him the FanNickname "Teflon Tim." Coincidentally, Urban came in 7th place, which was where Sanjaya also finished.

** This season had Elise Testone and Hollie Cavanagh. While both are definitely not bad singers, both had landed in the bottom numerous times despite drawing praise from judge and mentor alike.

** There's also Philip Phillips, who manage to be safe from elimination and making it to the finale despite the judges and mentor consistently giving him mediocre feedback. He is also [=VoteForTheWorst=]-endorsed.
* Season 12 has Lazaro Arbos who is a shining example of how an "inspiring" backstory can get you much farther than you should.
* Season 13 featured Dexter Roberts, for being mediocre nearly every week, and CJ Harris who could be be good but was ''very'' poor the rest of the time.

* Rayvon Owens from season 14 isn't a bad singer, but has managed to get in the bottom two ''four weeks in a row'', and then get saved every single time by the new "fan save", a feature where people can vote to save their favorite of the bottom two in real time provided they are living on the east coast (or voting hours before the show) and have a Twitter account.

* Season 10's Stefano Langone.
** Jacob Lusk.

* Season 4 had Scott Savol

* Season 6 had Sanjaya Malakar, who almost became the Trope Namer

* Season 9 has Tim Urban, Haeley Vaughn, Paige Miles, Todrick Hall and Katie Stevens. Coincidentally, Urban came in 7th place, which was where Sanjaya also finished.

** This season had Elise Testone and Hollie Cavanagh. While both are definitely not bad singers, both had landed in the bottom numerous times despite drawing praise from judge and mentor alike. The first time, Elise was the girl with the lowest votes and had to be saved by the judges. She landed in the bottom five more times. Hollie suffered a severe case of BadassDecay making her land in the bottom 5 times in six weeks. Elise met her end on her 6th time (a week after both her and Hollie were spared over [[ShockingElimination fan favorite Colton Dixon]]) in 6th place, while Hollie survived once again. The following week, Hollie was spared yet again, this time over another favorite Skyler Laine. Hollie made it to the final four, where she met her end, making 4th place overall.