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'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
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To: laweeks
Who cares who wins? It seems if you can hold a scream for the longest and go up and down in the scale 50 times per second, you might win.

Have you even watched the show this season?

I became a reluctant fan...the chemistry between the judges this season is excellent (though they do sugar-coat their feedback at times), and the majority of contestants really show some talent; the best this season do anything BUT screetch or scream.

Not trying to make you a fan, but the brush you've painted with is WAY too broad.

61 posted on 04/08/2011 10:19:41 AM PDT by Lou L (The Senate without a fillibuster is just a 100-member version of the House.)
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To: SeekAndFind
As someone once told Simon on the show a few seasons ago, American Idol is not a singing competition, it is a VOTING competition. My guess is that the large majority simply figured Pia would make it to the top three, so they spend all their time voting for their other, quirky favorite. Rockers for rockerboy, Gospelers for gospelboy, country lovers for countryboy and girl. Etc.

This is by far the most talent left at this stage of the show, so each week, a lot of people will be sorely disappointed. I thought Pia was simply the best singer, based on singing talent alone, but there is much more to being the Idol than that.

I'll tell you who upped his game the other night, and while always good, I thought he lacked the star quality needed to win this show, it was Scotty McCreery. He was very, very good the other night and I'm not a Country Music fan. That kid has gotten slick, and his vocals in his higher range have gotten better. His coach deserves much praise.

62 posted on 04/08/2011 10:20:40 AM PDT by Paradox (Where is Obama?)
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To: Catsrus

MY wife and I were not surprised in the least to see her voted off.

While she has a beautiful voice, she had ZERO stage presence and even less charisma. This week her jerky movements on stage almost made us wonder if she was constipated or something because that is what it looked like, and when your mind wanders to thoughts like that during a performance you shut off listening to the song itself.

CLose your eyes as she performs and it is wonderful, but watching her perform was boring.

By contrast, Paul - who is not even in the same universe singing voice/talent wise - absolutely OWNED the stage Wednesday night. James is also an extremely dynamic performer, and Scotty is just has that sweet kid aura that makes grandmama’s world wide want to just hug and squeeze him to death. Casey also owns the stage on almost every one of his performances.

Haley and Lauren don’t own the stage but they have personalities that just shine through. They are likeable.

Stefano has the CUTE factor going for him, and everyone who has watched the show knows the power of the tween girl vote.

Jacob usually overpowers the stage with his voice, but he broke a cardinal rule by bringing his religion into his pre-performance interview and then compounded the mistake by basically challenging fans to not vote for him with his “If I end up in the bottom three it is because the viewers can’t handle the person they see in the mirror”. COnsequently he ended up in the bottom 3.


63 posted on 04/08/2011 10:25:45 AM PDT by commish (Freedom tastes sweetest to those who have fought to preserve it.)
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To: Psycho_Bunny

I find it a nice distraction to budget battles, earthquakes, tornadoes, crime, terrorism, gas prices, grocery prices, and joblessness.


64 posted on 04/08/2011 10:27:25 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012
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To: TheThirdRuffian
I think girls did not vote for her because they are jealous, as Pia is leave-your-wife-and-kids-hot.

I think that played a huge factor. She'd talked in little segments before about how she loved all the fashion stuff, and I'll bet there were a lot of women out there who resented her, if my wife is any indication. I wasn't watching, but my wife, who was at a friend's house, actually called me to gloat when she got the boot.

She was very good looking, but lacked that "girl next door" or familiarity component that leads other women to like her.

65 posted on 04/08/2011 10:31:05 AM PDT by Bruce Campbells Chin
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To: al baby

Oh My Damn! She is NOT GUILTY!!!


66 posted on 04/08/2011 10:36:32 AM PDT by Married with Children
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To: subterfuge

Nothing wrong with a good sexy armpit


67 posted on 04/08/2011 10:38:21 AM PDT by Married with Children
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To: ilovesarah2012; notaliberal

There’s a big difference between a distraction and the fetishization of a distraction.

When foisted on you, over and over, through every media venue, hype becomes annoyance: a caricature of the ridiculous.


68 posted on 04/08/2011 11:00:32 AM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Public employee unions are the barbarian hordes of our time.)
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To: Psycho_Bunny

Like I said: you and the Islamist agree—no fun allowed! No music, no laughter!


69 posted on 04/08/2011 11:54:20 AM PDT by notaliberal
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To: notaliberal

Oh please. Why not call me a NAZI while you’re at it n


70 posted on 04/08/2011 12:09:45 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Public employee unions are the barbarian hordes of our time.)
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To: notaliberal

Like the libs, the “nazi” thing is aways brought up when you can’t defend your position.


71 posted on 04/08/2011 12:28:51 PM PDT by notaliberal
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To: McGruff

RE: The black girl who does the Weightwatcher’s Commercials was far above the one who actually won.


Well, you would be glad to know that even though she was voted out too early (Number 7 in Season 3 if I remember correctly), Jennifer Hudson turned out to become one of the most successful the show has ever produced.

After the show :

* She starred and won a best supporting Oscar and a Golden Globe award for her role as Effie in DREAMGIRLS

* She has recorded two great albums, one of them winning a GRAMMY

* She lost her “Miss Piggy” look and has lost over 100 pounds making her one of the “biggest loser”.

So, all is not lost even if you do not win the show, all you need is to get noticed.

On eason 5 for instance, Chris Daughtry placed #4 but is arguably the season’s best selling artist.

In the meanwhile, Twitter is abuzz from many former Idol contestants and even movie and TV stars regarding the result last night ( apparently a LOT of show biz people follow the show ).

From Idols like Chris Daughtry, Mandisa and Jennifer Hudson, who were victims of shock boots themselves to Idol winners like David Cook, and fellow Idol 10 contestants like Stefano Langone and Naima Adedapo, there were a slew of tweets that basically expressed a collective WTF111???!

Here’s a sample of people twitting :


From Nigel Lythgoe:

I am still shocked and sad about last night’s #AmericanIdol result. I guess that’s going to happen every week now!!?

RT @adambonin: Then have the judges make clear who deserves to leave. [IT IS NOT ABOUT THE JUDGES OPINION IT’S ABOUT YOURS!! U R NOT SHEEP!]

Stefano Langone is still reeling:

Good morning everyone. Very very emotional night for me, for everyone I think. Jus want people to know I wasn’t upset about the reactions…Of the judges and audience.

Or even what people are thinking or saying now. We create relationships with these people, closer bonds then people will ever know. It’s jus super tough…

And to my fans, thank you so much. I know you guys will be wit me whether I stay or not!You as well as me know what I’m capable of specially After this competition! And that’s real! Much love always

Naima Adedapo: Gotta Love those teenage girl crushes! LOL. Ahhhhhh.

Jennifer Hudson: I can not believe they just eliminated pia ! ReAlly..???? Long as she walked away with that voice she will be alright !! Just hate to see talent like that go!

Chris Daughtry: What the crap!!?? I thought Pia was THE best singer on the show this year!

Mandisa: Hmm…based on ur tweets the rumors abt #AI10 r true. But u know what I realized? I was voted out n 9th place 5yrs ago too. #JustSayin

David Cook: Bad call tonight on Idol

David Archuleta: Man heard who got voted off of idol tonight. That is pretty shocking.

Carly Smithson: Im so Fucking shocked right now !!! America must have been smokin crack last night !! #STUPIDELIMINATION

Blake Lewis: I hate that I just looked at Facebook/Twitter and I know who was sent home on #Idol. Boooo!

Melinda Doolittle: I’m genuinely shocked by the AI results tonight. That’s all.

Elliott Yamin: Damn!…Pia’s hot when she cries too!..2 bad!..looks like the judges used their saves too early.

Katie Stevens: Why is it that America sends all the girls home? It makes me upset that the girls are equally as talented as the boys but majority of idol voters are girls and alot of times girls wont vote for girls? I don’t get it at all… America got it wrong tonight

Andrew Garcia: Still in shock. How’s everyone? It just means my boy Casey is gon handle it he’s always had my vote now I’m voting my brains out for him!!! Y’all do the same!!! Ya hearrrrd

Didi Benami: WTF!? Pia, Seriously?! umm… Her voice is insane! Unbelievable…

Aaron Kelly: I am shocked Pia was sent home!!!!???

Todrick Hall: American Idol will once again produce another flop and X Factor is going to put them out of business!

Michael Sarver: Wow! If there has ever been grounds for a vote recount on idol it is this week because this so doesn’t add up!

Brandon Rogers: America has made possibly one of the worst decisions in #Americanidol history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phil Stacey: Terrible result on Idol tonight. No way that person should’ve been voted off…

Haley Scarnato: Let’s just face it, Pia Toscano should not have gone home…. She was one of the best singers this season… WTF….

Kim Caldwell: Did Pia just get voted off idol?! She’s too hot for people to take her seriously! That’s crap

Janell Wheeler: I’m shocked and sad that Pia is out!!! Waaaa!!!!

Anthony Fedorov: I’m completely SHOCKED!!!! I cannot believe Pia just got eliminated!!!!!! WOW!!!!!

Chris Sligh: Way to go America. You apparently looked in the mirror then forgot to vote for the best singer.

Ashton Kutcher : Who are the people that vote on ‘American Idol’?,”That’s just crazy! That Pia girl is dope.”

Sammy Giancola of Jersey Shore :

“Nooo please tell me why Pia is in the bottom 3?!” early in the show, then following up with, “WHAT!!!!!!!!! ... wow. Upset over ‘American Idol’ right now.” Housemate Snooki wasn’t feeling it either, saying simply, “ ‘American Idol’ ... WTF ... Pia should have won the whole thing! I’m not watchin Idol anymore. I’m with JLO on this one.”

Tom Hanks wrote, “Don’t have an ‘Idol’ habit, but how could the USA vote Pia off? I may be done for the season!”

Ryan Seacrest tweeted about what the scene was like when the cameras stopped rolling.

“After we went off air no one in audience left their seat, everyone was in shock. Judges walked on stage to talk to her”

In the end, Pia herself tweeted a farewell (for now), telling her followers, “I’m truly going to miss my idol family! Thank you @JLo Randy and Steven for believing in me. Love you and love my fans!”


72 posted on 04/08/2011 12:47:41 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: Married with Children
Other Idol Contestants look as Shock as the audience as Pia Toscano sings her Swan Song:


73 posted on 04/08/2011 12:49:45 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I wouldn’t worry. Most of the Idol winners have flopped, while the ones who didn’t win have done better.


74 posted on 04/08/2011 12:51:14 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Dr. Ursus
Maybe Ricky Martin on Elton John?

I heard they're going to perform a duet together, "Don't Let Your Son Go Down On Me."

75 posted on 04/08/2011 12:52:43 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

When did “dope” become a positive word? I’m getting old.


76 posted on 04/08/2011 12:53:37 PM PDT by Helen
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m surprised NYers even watch the show. It’s a little too “fly over” for them, isn’t it?


77 posted on 04/08/2011 12:54:21 PM PDT by EDINVA
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To: EDINVA

??? What do NYers watch, rat wars?


78 posted on 04/08/2011 1:10:10 PM PDT by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: Dr. Ursus

Well, he might be for a specific audience, but I can see him doing a 90 minute stint of special love songs.


79 posted on 04/08/2011 1:12:31 PM PDT by PrincessB (Drill Baby Drill.)
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To: Lee'sGhost

“??? What do NYers watch, rat wars?”

Off hand I’d say Steven Colbert, Maher, Jon Stewart, SNL. But really don’t know, haven’t been one for 30+ years.

And, in fairness, there are New Yorkers and then there are New Yorkers. The over generalization tends to focus on the Upper West Side elites vs the working class stiffs scattered throughout the five boroughs.


80 posted on 04/08/2011 1:29:45 PM PDT by EDINVA
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