Who Went Home on AMERICAN IDOL?
April 7, 2011 by Kath Skerry
I’ve been staring at this screen trying to figure out what to write. Just moments ago I watched the AMERICAN IDOL results show and I am not only shocked but also a little rattled by the contestant who left the competition tonight.
I don’t want to spoil those of you on the West Coast, so I’ll continue after the break.
What happened? How? And most importantly, why? Why did Pia Toscano, not only one of this season most talented performers but one of the most talented singers ever to take the IDOL stage, go home so early in the competition? Sure, I get it…she didn’t receive as many votes as the other contestants, but how did America not pick up the phone and vote for her? Is there a whole contingency of people out there who think Pia has weaker vocal abilities than Stefano Legano? Or perhaps, is it that the tween girls think Stefano is cute and adorable and that’s why they vote for him. Just a coincidence that there are only two girls left in the top eight? Maybe, but I doubt it.
Jacob and Stefano joined Pia in the bottom three tonight, but when those guys were declared safe and Pia was sent home, you couldn’t hear much outside of the cacophony of boos from the audience (and in my living room). The judges were noticeably stunned. When asked to comment, Randy conveyed what I’m sure a lot of IDOL fans were feeling in saying, “I have no idea what just happened here. I’m shocked. I’m angry. I don’t even know what to say.”
Me neither, Randy.
I’m left wondering if the judges are wishing they hadn’t given that save to Casey. Even as a big Casey fan, I’m wishing we had a do over tonight.
Is anyone else as shocked as I am that Pia is out of the competition? I am honestly so disappointed.
You will be missed, Pia. But not for long – no doubt you have a HUGE career in front of you!
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Filed under American Idol, American Idol Recap
shame on american idol that they didnt have a safety for this
there was no way that pia shouldnt have been in at least the top three if not first … cant wait till her albums come out … forget idol
Pia could come out alright. She’s going to get a record contract – no doubt – record labels will be fighting over here. Selfishly sad I won’t hear her sing next week.
I’m so sad right now. I would have been upset even if Pia left FIFTH. 9th is just preposterous. Waaay too early.
She has THE best voice in the competition, period. Her ONLY fault was that her stage presence was lacking. But Carrie Underwood had the same problem. And look at her now. That’s the sort of thing that’s easily learned. J.Lo was spot on last night in telling her she needed to study other performers. But where was the honest judging when it came to Jacob and Stefano? They keep praising Jacob instead of teaching him to reign it in, and for once Randy was the only voice of reason when he told Stefano he started off a little jerky, as Jennifer and Steven shushed him. I fear that the voters listened too much to the judges in that respect, and that’s why we had the shitshow of tonight’s results.
While I do agree in the thinking that most voters are tween girls, I think that doesn’t explain this result because little girls do idolize talented GIRLS! (Case in point, Christian Slater’s daughter, who had a sign expressing her admiration for Pia and Lauren during last night’s show). I would think that Pia would have a better hold of that audience than, say, Paul, who I would imagine garners more of a cougar vote (even though I totally dig him and I’m not in my 40s) or Jacob, who I don’t see as being a heartthrob by any means. Scotty, Stefano, James and maybe even Casey I could see getting votes for being cute boys, but there are so many of them at this point that it should have split the vote, and leave the girls-voting-for-their-girl-heroes lead wide open for Pia! I don’t know. I’m confused.
I do wish her the very best and would love to say I believe her career will go far. However I have a hard time convincing myself that will happen. In addition to talent, it takes the right people and a lot of luck to make it in the music business. I don’t remember anyone who has finished 9th. It took Jennifer Hudson, who finished 7th, an Oscar-winning movie role, several years after her season, to come back into the spotlight and enjoy the success that she does now. Daughtry managed to make it work without winning, but he placed 4th. I think Pia is someone who needed to win to be successful, or at LEAST place really really high, and it is a damn shame that she didn’t. But who am I to say if she will or will not make it? These are just my concerns, and I hope I am proven wrong.
I too will miss seeing her every week, she will definitely be missed.
(btw, Kath, I believe that quote was said by Jennifer, not Randy.)
I really wish Jacob had gone home tonight. Is that wrong for me to single him out? I almost don’t care. His ego is out of control, he isn’t as great as he thinks he is and while he has some talent, I don’t understand how people are voting for him.
Pia…wow. I’m shocked. I’ve watched AI since the first episode and this is certainly one of the most shocking eliminations. Unfortunate she left because she really was talented.
Can’t believe we have a top 8 with only two girls. And only one really talented girl. Eek.
I love jacob, scotty and jamesn lauren is one of my av girls they performed Pia can sing but she need to know how to performed she dont have the moves she did a upbeat song but was stiff she did get the crowd going like the rest of them this season they have too many good talent and you have to do something to wow the crowd they all good singers now its time to not just sing good but performed to do something the crowd will remember. Pia just sing beautiful but she dont performed well she lack that, Pia i wish you luck i love your voice now it time to learn how to performed dance pump up the crowd do something to keep your audience attention!
I see Simon’s criticisms now as being “cruel to be kind.” He picked the ones that he wanted to stay in and targeted those weaker than them for his harshest criticism. I have found myself thinking, “What would Simon say?” The judges have absolutely been too easy on the contestants, not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, but instead have hurt the stronger contestants and the show overall, now that Pia has been eliminated. Ridiculous. Shameful.
They might as well just have robots on the judging panel and run their comments on a loop. They’d save millions on the paychecks they’re giving to these useless, complacent judges who spout glitter on contestants irrespective of pitch problems (Paul), awful phrasing and musicality (Stefano), and over-the-top performing (Jacob). I had so much hope when J.Lo had that one week where she was so good, calling Stefano out on his “emotional” face yet total disconnect to the song. And then she crashed and burned. Kind of missing Simon Cowell and his “you’re like the drunk uncle who gets up to sing at a wedding” critiques.
We’ve been Idol fans for years. And during those yrs, time after time, people have said that the voting was “rigged”. I’ve never believed it. But I’m telling you.
This year has left us shaking our heads. From the beginning we said that among the finalists would be Casey and Pia (and that at the end of the game it would be between them). Casey and Pia are the most talented. There are several incredibly talented people this year. But there are a few still there that are down right annoying and are still there?!! Really?! Casey is literally an artist. And Pia, she has “it”, the whole package- she’s classey not gimmicky and that girl can sing!! And they got eliminated? We said all along that she was the winner by a long shot. And who got eliminated? Casey… w/the only “save” bringing him back.When Pia was even in jeopardy we were shocked. But when they eliminated her the look on Steffano’s face looked just as shocked as everybody else’s. We are so beyond disappointed, but disgusted and angry. And now agree that all the ppl that said Idol was rigged over the yrs for marketing ploys… it’s too obvious this year. I don’t know if the show thought it would initiate interest in the show. But we don’t even care if we see it again. I think ratings will go way down and as for the integrity of the show being “America’s” vote, yeah right. If it had come to the end of the show w/Casey and Pia. And Casey had won- that would’ve been more believable. If this was suppose to be genius work on the part of the marketing crew….not only have they made the show obvious on the rig.