[kevkrom]

The judges had them come back after they were voted off? I don't recall any of that.

Like I said, yes and no. After four weeks of semi-finals, they had filled 8 of the 12 finalist spots. They invited back 12 people (from any stage of the competition, though most came from failed semi-finalists) for a wild-card round, and then eliminated 4 of them after rehearsals. The remaining 8 sang, the audience voted. The judges then each picked one of the wild cards to go to the finals, and the highest vote getter of the remaining 5 contestants got the final slot.

I did't watch Season 2, but my understanding is that Clay made it to the finals in a similar fashion.

[Netizen]

I think I kind of understand what you are saying but to me I don't get too wrapped up in the stuff prior to the final 12. At that point the real show begins. It is only from this 12 that I pay attention to. I understand how Velasquez left and that brought in a new 12th person. But, that is the only return that I can think of. I didn't watch the first season and only caught the last episode or two of the second season.