IDOL TRACKER: Results

The thin lines between being quirky and irreverent versus eccentric and disrespectful are distinctions upon which careers rise and fall on “American Idol.” In the latter category, some of the show’s most beloved contenders have made their names; in the former, many more have incurred the wrath of audiences wary of that nail that stands too far out.

Megan Joy, who was eliminated Wednesday night after a contest in which more than 36 million votes were cast, walked that fine line but ultimately fell on the wrong side once too often and saw her “Idol” days conclude in ninth place.

From the start, the Utah native was a barrel of contradictions and stood without clear precedent on “Idol”: a nice western girl whose arm was engraved with an extensive tattoo; a devoted single mother who acted on stage with the carefree abandon of a teenager; a sultry-voiced singer in the Amy Winehouse vein who often favored the corniest of standards such as “Rockin’ Robin.”

Joy was embraced by the anti-”Idol” site Vote for the Worst and celebrated as one of the most original singers to step forward this season; her version of “Walking After Midnight” on country week impressed even the doubters.

After two rocky weeks, Joy seemed ready to move on, laughing and joking as she awaited her fate, and swooping across the stage in a bizarre pantomime of a bird.

Further, with her fate potentially still on the line while she remained eligible for the judges’ one “save,” Joy, when asked what she thought of Simon Cowell’s blistering critiques, said that she loved him but “I don’t care.” Cowell returned the compliment by later announcing for the first time that the judges were not even considering using their save option. Next week, the eight remaining contenders will meet in a show devoted to ‘80s songs.

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richard.rushfield@latimes.com