Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'American Idol’: Why Pia Toscano Was Sent Home (One of the biggest upsets in the show’s history)
Wall Street Journal Entertainment Section ^ | 04/08/2011

Posted on 04/08/2011 8:45:08 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Well, if you’re reading about “American Idol” tonight the comments on Twitter, Facebook and just about anywhere you look aren’t pretty.

Some fans are vowing to never watch again and the curse words are flying. That’s because we might have witnessed one of the biggest upsets in the show’s history. Idol darling Pia Toscano was sent home tonight.

The judges looked furious and the sobs were pouring out for this New York contestant. Even the guys on stage looked like they were teary-eyed and everyone look shocked.

Maybe the judges were part of the problem. They have been sugar-coating all of their comments lately, but last night they gave Pia the mildest of criticism. Maybe it was enough to shift the vote, because those were the only negative words of the night. Pia rocked Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High,” but Jennifer Lopez suggested for her to get to the next level, she should do what Michael Jackson used to do – study the greats. JLo said Jackson used to watch Gene Kelly and Pia should start studying as well.

In past performances, they compared her to Celine Dion, and Mariah Carey, and made comments like “you are the closest star in the American Idol universe.”

But there was always the subtle and not so subtle suggestion that she stop singing ballads. The judges clearly loved her and told her she had the full package, but told her to start owning the stage and making it big. Maybe America listened.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: americanidol; piatoscano
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: SeekAndFind

Most blue state political voters are dead and the dead can’t call in to vote on Idol.


21 posted on 04/08/2011 9:01:19 AM PDT by rightsmart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Moleman

She can sing; I admit I watch the show.

She was head and shoulders better than the rest of the other contestants.


22 posted on 04/08/2011 9:03:10 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

No, Chris Daughtrey was the biggest upset in Idol history. Pia was a great singer, but she didn’t have the pop icon quality that many of the others have.

I personally think that Lauren has the best natural voice I’ve ever heard on the show, and now that there are only 2 girls left, she should make it to the top 5 at least.

Stefano and Jacob should be worried as all of the mediocre entertainers are gone.

Scotty, Paul and Casey are all different enough to hold their core fans.

Haley has been great the last two weeks and has the Blues/R&B crowd’s vote.

I think Lauren and James are the wild cards. If they have a couple of bad weeks in a row, it could be the end for them.

But I think Stefano is the one to worry this next week.


23 posted on 04/08/2011 9:03:39 AM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Pia is just the first of the girls to be let go. It's a shame but when the power is taken from the talent savvy judges and given to millions of idiot teenage girls, you can bet the guys will be the last on stage and one of them will be the winner. If I am right, Scotty is my pick. No doubt though that all ten of them have great careers in the future and I suspect Pia will be one of the best of them.
24 posted on 04/08/2011 9:03:46 AM PDT by fish hawk (R. Emmett Tyrrell: Liberalism is dead. What we see now is "soft Nazis-ism".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“See anything in common ? THEY’RE ALL FROM RED STATES !!”

Most votes come from NY, NJ, and CA. I saw a study.

I think girls did not vote for her because they are jealous, as Pia is leave-your-wife-and-kids-hot.


25 posted on 04/08/2011 9:04:44 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I think anyone who cares about what happens on American Idol is simply expressing their need for a lobotomy-reversal procedure.


26 posted on 04/08/2011 9:05:49 AM PDT by doyle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I’m a New York city resident and theres no way you get me to turn on a show like that. Not Dancing with the stars,no ‘reality’ shows.


27 posted on 04/08/2011 9:05:53 AM PDT by wiggen (The teacher card. When the racism card just won't work.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
There just isn't any room in pop music for people who can actually sing. Christina Aquelera(sp?), a person who can certainly sing (National Anthem notwithstanding), had an album last year that bombed. Today, the music is all urban.

The only place (new) singers actually have a home is in Country Music. Carrie Underwood, the last commercially viable American Idol, proves this point. And, many long-established artists have made or are making the transition to country music - Jewell, Jessica Simpson come to mind immediately. Even Bon Jovi did a "country" album.

There are some rare exception. Katy Perry comes to mind - but even she isn't the strongest of vocalists, and I doubt that she'd do much better than Pia on Idol. BUT, Perry does write some or even most of her own music. That helps.

All things considered, American popular music is very "urban" right now.

28 posted on 04/08/2011 9:06:19 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: all the best

I agree. The one thing the bottom three had in common was they were all good singers but charisma deficient. It’s funny how the judges are saying they are all really good, but shocked when one of them goes home. Really? Someone has to go home every week. Which of the other ones that they priased would they want to leave instead?


29 posted on 04/08/2011 9:06:28 AM PDT by Hugin ("A man'll usually tell you his bad intentions if you listen and let yourself hear it"--- Open Range)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: bigbob
she may have a voice like Rosanne Barr

She's definitely an excellent singer too.

This isn't much of a setback imho, she'll become a star.

30 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:01 AM PDT by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Frankly, I didn’t care whether she was voted off. She wasn’t going to make the top three IMHO, and to me the order of going home 4-10 don’t really matter. She has a fantastic lower register and can hold a note, but that’s it. I noticed on the last two performances her big note seemed strained.

While she’s very beautiful there wasn’t an “it” factor. In her case, I think it could be developed. I think she’s trying too hard to be perfect. To me she seemed a little uncomfortable moving around the stage and it showed.

When I vote I vote for people I could a) sing with on the radio b) would consider buying an album from c) would like to see in a full live show.

She didn’t make my cut.

As a note of vanity - Is it me or should Jacob be studying Englebert Humperdinck and Wayne Newton? I think he would be fabulous in a Vegas like show like that.


31 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:01 AM PDT by PrincessB (Drill Baby Drill.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ilovesarah2012

“... I just don’t get it”.

What I am wondering is this: did she not get many votes because the highest % of voters are women. Perhaps, some gals out there saw her as “too pretty”? Or, they simply wanted her to fail? Personally, I think she is absolutely stunning and was gifted with a truly beautiful voice. I think she will still get a record deal of some sort (at least that is what I am hoping). Just a thought.


32 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:17 AM PDT by momtothree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ilovesarah2012

She is so talented and beautiful. Hope she goes on to do great things.

I am sure she will go on to better things. Talent scouts, producers, etc. watch that show because there is a lot of natural talent on AI. I believe without question she will get scooped up very shortly! I was shocked when she lost! Never should have happened.


33 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:20 AM PDT by Bitsy ( i)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
I find the entire concept ridiculous but if some like it and enjoy it, more power to them. If these people were really the next big thing... they would hardly need this trumped up reality show.

LLS

34 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:40 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I have never watched this show because at the outset, I strongly objected to the premise underlying the show’s title. A true American Idol should be a great patriot who preserved liberty or kept the Republic from serious harm.

That ain’t some friggin’ singer wannabe.

Just my view.


35 posted on 04/08/2011 9:08:58 AM PDT by 2nd Bn, 11th Mar (The "p" in Democrat stands for patriotism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
"No, Chris Daughtrey was the biggest upset in Idol history."

Mhm, I did forget about him. He probably has had the best after-Idol career as a loser, and is one of (after Underwood) the most successful, probably even more successful than the first girl that won. Everyone talks about Jennifer Hudson, but she hasn't done anything musically. Sure, she won an Oscar but she hasn't sold squat in albums.

36 posted on 04/08/2011 9:11:37 AM PDT by OldDeckHand
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

The two best singers (beyond a shadow of a doubt) in this year’s group are Pia and Jacob. Just based on raw singing ability they are head and shoulders above the rest and the rest of the group is very, very talented. The fact that both were in the bottom three, and that Pia got the boot is due to the fact that the voters on this thing are kids. They are looking for pop stars, not performers like Jacob and Pia.

Jacob really can be the new Luther Van Dross as JLo put it, and Pia, if she can learn to show more of the fire that is in her belly, can be the next Celine Dion. Probably the only thing that saved Stefano is the ‘Archuleta factor’ — the kind of cuteness that appeals to 12-14 year old girls.

Pia can have pretty much any kind of music career she wants as can all the other finalists. This exposure has been terrific (even getting prematurely booted might be better than wining in some ways). Top to bottom this is the most talented group of finalist the show has ever produced.


37 posted on 04/08/2011 9:12:12 AM PDT by newheart (The trouble ain't too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right. -Mark Twain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

American what? Never watched the mindless crap. Who cares. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Who cares.


38 posted on 04/08/2011 9:15:09 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (Read: Ecclesiastes 10:2. The Bible tells you RIGHT is right and left is wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rightsmart

Why not? They vote in local, state and federal elections.


39 posted on 04/08/2011 9:15:23 AM PDT by ataDude (Its like 1933, mixed with the Carter 70s, plus the books 1984 and Animal Farm, all at the same time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

All from red states and TWO FROM SWEET HOME ALABAMA!!! Yeah, we vote!!! In real elections that is.


40 posted on 04/08/2011 9:16:37 AM PDT by RetiredArmy (Read: Ecclesiastes 10:2. The Bible tells you RIGHT is right and left is wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson