When using the val() method on a SELECT element with a value in order to change the current selection, it fails when given an empty string. Suppose I have the following SELECT:

<select name="selectme">

<option value="">Select something...</option>

<option value="1" selected="selected">option 1</option>

<option value="2">option 2</option>

</select>

Using the following code will select the last option (instead of the first):

$("select[name='selectme']").val('');