Dallas Cortez Shaw did not make American Idol top 10

But he can still be on the show if he wins a sing-off.

FOX

Cortez Shaw, from Dallas, is on American Idol.

Of the top 10 on American Idol, local singer Cortez Shaw isn't one of them.

Shaw, he with the gorgeous smile and bombastic voice, was eliminated from the show on Thursday night, along with four other sad-looking fellows. The elimination process itself was a bit painful; whose decision was this?

“OK, so we’ll have Ryan walk into a super-quiet room with the 10 remaining guys (and later, the 10 girls). They’re all freaking out so much that panic attacks may ensue at any moment. One by one, Ryan will reveal the name of another person who’s made the cut. That will be followed by awkward smatterings of applause from the other singers, because, well, they kinda want to know THEIR fate. Then Ryan will walk with the singer, making small talk — 'Nice weather we’re having' or whatever — until they get to some stairs and, finally, out to the fans. Who will then cheer wildly.”

Talk about a delayed reaction.

For the record, your new American Idol top 10 features the following happy people: Paul Jolley, Burnell Taylor, Curtis Finch Jr., Devin Velez, Lazaro Arbos, Janelle Arthur, Candice Glover, Angela Miller, Amber Holcomb, and Kree Harrison.

But Shaw has a chance of at least making it on tour; next week, the closest runners-up from the male and female camps will have a sing-off, after which America will decide who most deserves the spot. So along with the elimination awkwardness of Thursday night, that’s another new Idol twist.