i didnt really follow through on that season but i remember something about nikko coming back? wasnt he voted off like before top 12? i cant remember why he came back? was he a wildcard spin off?

Well Mario Vasquez was voted into the top 12 but he quit the show the few days before the first top 12 show and Nikko replaced him because Nikko had the more votes than Travis (the other male who got voted off that night), so Nikko got in the top 12 that way and stayed awhile

Thankfully he faded back into obscurity

I've heard some of his debut CD, it's okay, but not great enough to keep him in the spotlight.