American Idol Season 8 Episode 20

When introducing the Judges' Save, Ryan shows pictures of Tamyra Grey (Season 1), Michael Johns (Season 7), Jennifer Hudson (Season 3), and Chris Daughtry (Season 4), as examples of contestants who had all been sent home too early, and a reason for having the Judges' Save. However the rule is that it must be done by Top 5 week and both Tamyra and Chris were sent home Top 4 week, so the Save wouldn't have been available for them anyway had it been in place.

For this year's good-bye song, Carrie Underwood covered "Home Sweet Home" by Motley Crue.

The new twist is revealed. Because of a number amount of former contestants being eliminated "too early", starting this season there is now a "Judges' Save". How it works is after a person is declared eliminated by America, they sing a song, the judges have the power to give them a second chance, however all the judges must be in agreement to keep the person. They only get one for the whole season and they can only use it up to the Top 5 week. The week they use it, no one gets eliminated, however the next week two are gone.