Casey leaves with class

With consummate class and a showman's flair, Idyllwild's Casey Abrams left the American Idol stage, leaving an impression that will last for many seasons. Singing "I Put a Spell on You," Abrams showed why this "Jazz Messenger" has found his way into the hearts of not just his Idyllwild fans but fans the world over.

What's next? Perhaps, like Jennifer Hudson, he'll snag that movie roll. He has acting chops. But what he did, more than any other contestant in recent memory, was push the envelope, by bringing his quirky intelligence and sense of humor along with an awesome fearlessness to each week's song interpretation.

More in this coming week's article.