American Idol 2011

As we first reported, Casey was hospitalized Wednesday after complaining of severe stomach pains. He received a blood transfusion at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center this morning, and was released about an hour ago.

Casey has now done two rehearsals for the taping tonight -- featuring the top 12 male finalists.

Sources connected to the show tell us ... 19-year-old Abrams was rehearsing at CBS Television City when he began to feel sick.

We're told Abrams was taken to a nearby hospital -- where he's expected to stay overnight ... possibly longer.

And it gets worse -- now that Abrams has made the top 24, he's scheduled to tape a performance on Friday ... along with the rest of the top 12 men. But if Abrams is not well enough to take the stage on Friday, we're told he will be eliminated from the competition.

TMZ has learned ... "Idol" execs gave the top 40 finalists the opportunity to select a law firm that would represent the singers ... to review and negotiate the A.I. contract the singers must now sign.

We're told three firms gave their best pitches to the group -- and after the presentations, the singers had to vote by a show of hands on which firm would get the job ... majority rules.

In the end, the gang picked Craig Marshall and Gary L. Gilbert (see above) from the mega-firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips -- a firm which boasts huge clients like Coca-Cola, Sony and The Eagles.

It was all part of an interview he gave with his band "The Hollywood Scars" -- they were competing in a local battle of the bands in Santa Cruz last April ... and during the interview, Durbin says his favorite things to write songs about are "having sex with women ... whores ... [and] having a good time."

It's pretty ironic considering how Durbin was portrayed on his "Idol" episode -- as a kind, genuine 21-year-old father of a new baby ... who suffers from Tourette's ... and can barely make ends meet.

We're told the money began pouring in from caring "Idol" fans after Chris explained how the couple was barely managing to cover the exorbitant medical bills. So far, we're told the donations have hit the $27,000 mark.

But the generosity isn't all in cash -- a local air conditioning and heating company donated a $4,000 furnace to Medina after hearing his heater was on the fritz. The company -- King Heating and A/C -- even installed it free of charge.

Lara Johnston and her band Pinot have been making their way through the party circuit at USC -- playing all kinds of ragers ... at the bargain basement rate of $500-$1,000 a night.

FYI -- Johnston is the daughter of Doobie Brothers singer Tom Johnston ... and if she looks familiar, it’s because she also starred on an MTV reality series back in 2008 called "Rock the Cradle" ... a singing competition for rock star spawn.

According to the lawsuit -- filed in April last year -- Jacob Sheppard collided with Stefano's car in King County, Washington.

Sheppard admitted to drinking beers and doing shots before the accident -- which left Stefano with two broken arms, a fractured pelvis, and other serious injuries. Sheppard was charged with two counts of vehicular assault and served more than a year behind bars.

He's actually not that bad -- but the best part of the video ain't his singing ... it's his incredible collection of fully-functional Transformers outfits.

Inessa Lee -- a belly dancer who's lived in the Ukraine for most of her life -- tells TMZ she met her husband on a specialty "dating" site called Elena's Models.

It's technically NOT a mail order bride website -- though, according to the site, it "specializes in introducing Russian and Eastern European women with Western men."

The site also brags the ladies they represent have high moral and family values.

Nick Fink and Jacqueline Dunford claimed they've been dating ever since they met in their college choir ... but an "Idol" spy who spent a bunch of time with the wannabe "power couple" in Hollywood tells us they never "acted" like a couple when the cameras weren't rolling.

Our source tells us, "It was very obvious that Jacqueline had no interest in Nick whatsoever" ... noting they were never seen kissing or holding hands during the downtime.

However, we spoke with Nick's father -- who adamantly stated the couple has been together for at least 8 months and are "madly in love."

Turns out, 23-year-old John Wayne Schulz has a pretty impressive past in the music world -- a past "Idol" producers conveniently neglected to mention when they painted him as an "aww shucks" wannabe who finally stumbled off the family ranch for the first time in his life to try out for the show.

JW not only released an album by the time he was 14 years old -- one of his songs was considered for 7 Grammy nominations!!!!

The CEO of John Wayne's old record label tells Billboard.com John only recorded that one album -- explaining, "He's of Mormon faith, and he had to go on his church mission. He was gone for two years, and we just weren't able to reconnect once he returned."

Apparently, it's easier to connect with the folks over at "A.I."

Sources close to 28-year-old Wendy Taylor tell TMZ, the blaze roared through her Houston home Friday night -- right after she tucked her three boys into bed.

We're told Wendy had stepped outside to make a phone call when she heard her dogs scratching at the door -- at which point, she discovered massive amounts of smoke billowing through her house and dialed 911.

She and the kids made it out in one piece -- sadly, the same can't be said for her kitchen.

If 'Idol' doesn't work out ... sources close to the former Miss Teen USA tell us she's got a helluva backup plan -- Henley's been taking lessons at Trapeze School New York for the last month and a half ... and "loves the rush."

Sources in Nathaniel Jones' Civil War reenactment group -- called "Muskets and Memories" -- tell TMZ, the 22-year-old from Wisconsin has attended the historical dramatizations for years with his family.

Our sources had no comment on Nathaniel's singing ability (or lack thereof) -- but said they were excited he was reppin' for their pretend regiment.

As for Nate's fake soldiering ... we're told he usually sports a Union uni -- and is "always serious, but very polite."