'American Idol': Casey Abrams cuts his hair - and goofball act

The jokester played it straight on "Idol" Wednesday night. Not that he had a choice.

Casey Abrams, who nearly got axed last week, knew he had to do something radical to earn his save by the judges. So, not only did he finally wipe the smirk off his face by performing a sincere take on Elton John's most earnest hit ("Your Song"), he got a hair cut.

Not to worry fuzz-fans. Abrams still had the beard and the 'fro. It's just that now they're tamed a bit.  Likewise, Abrams' straighter performance didn't fully domesticate his character. It just showed he could conform to the audience's need for something more literal.

By definition, Abrams' performance on Wednesday proved the most dramatic. His resurrection last week represented the judges' only shot at vetoing the tyrannical democracy of the voters. From now on, what the viewers say, goes. More, as a result of that save, two singers will get the shaft on Thursday.

Luckily, Abrams-gate didn't prove the only notable point Wednesday night. The eleven remaining gladiators offered some of their burliest, and most surprising, performances to date, inspired by the material at hand, plucked from the Elton John catalogue.

Nearly all of the singers chose ballads, with just three exceptions. Among the rocker-singers, two did radical things with the arrangements. Naima Adedapo turned "I'm Still Standing" into a reggae piece, which flattered her by showcasing her personality over her normally wobbly singing. Likewise, the often-wavering Haley Reinhart soared by beginning "Bennie and The Jets" with jazz phrasing that built to a bluesy grind, giving this repetitive song more movement than it ever had.

Thia Megia failed to impress the audience or the judges with a dull version of ballad 'Daniel.' (Micelotta/Fox)  

Lauren Alaina flipped her own script by shunning her usual rocker persona on the more toned down "Candle In The Wind." In the process, she wound up sounding like a Dixie Chick (a good thing).

Three other singers kept closer to character: Judges' pet Pia Toscano added oomph to "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," forgiving the fact that it was her nine millionth ballad, while the equally reliable Stefano Langone delivered a perfectly balletic vocal on "Tiny Dancer." Rocker James Durbin offered a hair-metal take on "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting," putting more emphasis on his stage antics than his vocal chops.

Elton's esteemed catalogue couldn't save every singer from themselves. Thia Megia tried to make "Daniel" more intimate but just made it sound dull, while Texan Scott McCreery's typecasting take on "Country Comforts" found him once again running through the same old twangy tics and baritone affectations. Paul McDonald's flinty voice practically disintegrated during "Rocket Man" while Jakob Lusk chewed the face off "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," making it seem less like an apology than a boast.

What will "America" make of it all? Suffice it to say, if they could vote Casey off last week, anything can happen now.

jfarber@nydailynews.com

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