American Idol Producer: Pia Toscano "Never the Frontrunner"

The American Idol judges were shocked that Pia Toscano was ousted on last week's results show, and some fans are petitioning to bring her back.
Executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, however, is not up in arms.
“I know the [voting] results, so I know she was never a frontrunner,” Lythgoe said. “The fact of the matter, it appears, is that Pia didn’t connect with the audience as much as maybe we think she did. And she wasn’t voted through.”

To be fair, Nigel isn't anti-Pia, he's just stating facts.

Nigel, who also produces and judges So You Think You Can Dance, did say that Idol could consider changing the voting format next year to mirror SYTYCD.
On that show, America determines the bottom three, but the judges decide who leaves. That is ultimately a call for Idol creator Simon Fuller, Lythgoe said.
What do you think? Would you rather have Steven, Randy and J. Lo make that call in order to prevent another shocking result like we saw last Thursday?
Or, would stripping America of its final say actually hurt the format?

American Idol Fans Petition For Pia Toscano Return, Demand Stefano Langone Leave Competition

Irate American Idol fans are bombarding the show and Fox after the elimination of Pia Toscano, demanding that the singer be allowed back on this week.
To make room for her, they also demand Stefano Langone remove himself from Idol, since, not to put too fine a point on it, he sucks and has no shot.
They've reached out to him in an effort to plead this case.
Their VOTES, which actually determine the results of this reality TV competition show, could have ensured this last week, of course. Details.

American Idol insiders say that hundred of fans have been begging Fox to halt the grave injustice of kicking their girl off the show, and to bend the rules.
The fans' message is simple. Stefano has no chance and should be removed now as a sacrificial lamb so that the more talented Pia Toscano can return.
Nothing like this has happened before on Idol, and no way it's going to in this case, you have to admire their dedication to Pia (albeit a week too late).
Idol already instituted the judges' save last season, too, for just such an occasion. Too bad J. Lo, RJ and Steve blew it on Casey Abrams weeks earlier.

Pia Toscano and Mark Ballas: New Couple Alert!

In fun celebrity couple news bringing the worlds of American Idol and Dancing With the Stars together, Pia Toscano and Mark Ballas are dating.
Pia and Mark became acquainted while shooting their respective shows and went on their first date Friday. According to reports, it was a 10!
Maybe an awesome date isn't enough to soften the blow of her stunning elimination from American Idol this week, but it can't hurt, right?

Pia was the instigator of the romance with Mark Ballas, sources say, but there was a surprise matchmaker involved who played a role in setting them up:
WWE great and current DWTS contestant Chris Jericho!
Pia and Mark both shoot American Idol and Dancing With the Stars on the same CBS Television City lot in L.A., and it turns out Pia is pretty resourceful.
She has a friend who is friends with Jericho, so Pia gave her friend a piece of paper with her number on it, who then passed it to Chris to give to Mark.
Sounds so high school, but apparently it worked out. Peeps connected with both Mark Ballas and Pia Toscano say they really hit it off. Way to go guys!

Pia Toscano: The Most Shocking American Idol Elimination Ever?

The stunning elimination of Pia Toscano on American Idol Thursday night will no doubt go down as one of the show's most controversial in 10 seasons.
Despite her lackluster stage presence, her talent outclassed much of the field, with many predicting she would make it all the way to the May 25 finale.
No one understood why Pia was in the bottom three to begin with. As the results were revealed, the judges and her fellow hopefuls were dumbstruck.
When the show ended, no one in the studio audience moved.

In past eliminations, it's been an easy transition off the stage, but this was no ordinary elimination. Crushed, Pia buried her head in Jacob Lusk's chest.
Haley Reinhardt wiped away tears and prompted the crowd to cheer for Pia. Stefano Langone looked destroyed and guilty that he kept a spot over Pia.
Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler surrounded her to show their support, as if she'd just lost a loved one. It was that kind of shocker.
But the votes don't lie, and this wasn't the first such shocker on Idol. Still, it's gotta be top five, right? Here are four that ranked up there with it:

• Chris Daughtry. The presumptive winner of season five was ousted before Taylor Hicks (winner), Katharine McPhee AND Elliott Yamin. Wow.
• Melinda Dolittle. The veteran backup singer was on a collision course for a finale with Jordin Sparks (winner), but Blake Lewis beat her out.
• Michael Johns and Carly Smithson. They finished eighth and sixth in Season 7 (David Cook and David Archuleta finished 1-2) Far too low.
• Jennifer Hudson. The future Oscar winner finished 7th in Season 3. Fantasia (winner) has had a nice career, but finalists 2-? Unknowns.

What do you think? Was Pia Toscano the most shocking elimination of all?
Something to ponder as you watch her swan song last night, "I'll Stand By You." Some of the first words: "Why you look so sad ..."

Pia Toscano - I'll Stand By You (American Idol)

[Photo: Fox]

American Idol Results Stunner: Who Went Home?

The first two elimination rounds of American Idol featured the surprising save of Casey Abrams, followed by a double ouster of Naima Adedapo and Thia Megia.
Was the third contestant voted off tonight someone we expected, or did the voters have another surprise up their sleeves after Wednesday's performances?
Most pundits felt the Bottom Three would be made of Jacob Lusk, Paul McDonald and Stefano Langone. Two out of the three did in fact land there. But ...

The third member of the trio in danger was someone no one saw coming, and not only did that person land in the bottom three, they're the one going home!
Follow the jump to see which finalist left American Idol tonight ...
Pia Toscano was shockingly sent packing by voters this week!
American Idol viewers eliminated their fifth consecutive female singer tonight, leaving Jacob, Stefano, the judges and plenty of fans beyond shocked.
Many considered Pia to not just be safe tonight, but to have given Wednesday's best performance and to be almost a lock for the Season 10 finals.

"What a shock, what a surprise," Ryan Seacrest said amid boos.
Jennifer Lopez could not even hold back the tears. "I have no idea what just happened here. I'm shocked. I'm angry. I don't even know what to say."
"A mistake is one thing, but a lack of passion is unforgivable," Steven Tyler added, upset and nearly at a loss for words himself. "They're wrong."
"We're all in shock," said Randy Jackson. "I'm gutted."
Think they're regretting that save of Casey Abrams?!
After her swan song (The Pretenders' "I'll Stand By You"), Pia Toscano broke down and was given a standing ovation from all, with many in tears.
What do you think? Did America really blow it this week, or was Pia actually deserving of the heave-ho? Sound off in the comments ...

Pia Toscano is a Murderer on American Idol

Pia Toscano murdered Tina Turner's classic "River Deep, Mountain High" on American Idol last night. That's meant as praise by Steven Tyler - she rocked!
"Murderer! Murderer! You killed it!" Steven says.
Not to be confused with butchering it, which would imply a poor effort, Pia Toscano absolutely killed. Her inspiration for taking a page out of Tina's book?
"I want to shock everybody," she says, "'cause I've been doing the whole ballad thing."
Safe to say she succeeded in the best way with a powerful, self-assured, uptempo rendition. It was just a winning performance from a pro all around:

Pia Toscano - River Deep, Mountain High (American Idol)

"I'm going to keep pushing you," J-Lo said, saying she still must continue to do better. "You are spectacular, but just keeping studying, keep researching."
If that's the worst criticism lobbed at you, you're doing awfully well.