One of the most popular, though unsuccessful, performers in this week's "American Idol" shows watched himself on TV from an Alabama jail.

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Leroy Wells, 23, of Grand Bay, Ala., was taped at an open audition in New Orleans last August, E! Online reported Friday.

Alabama authorities arrested him Jan. 5 in a Dec. 10 incident that left a 39-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his hip.

Wells was booked on charges of carrying a pistol without a permit, firing a gun into a car and second-degree assault, jail records show.

He finally made the $12,500 bond Wednesday night, but not before spending Tuesday evening watching himself from the jail.

Fox gave lots of airtime to Wells, whose catchphrase "Can you dig it," amazing energy and nearly identical renditions of Ol' Dirty Bastard's "Got Your Money" and James Brown's "I Feel Good" got the judges dancing.

"You ain't right for this, but we love you, man," judge Randy Jackson said.